* Light -vs- Dark

And He said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 

Luke 18:27

'And now, let the weak say that I am strong, let the poor say I am rich.  Because of what the Lord has done, give thanks with a grateful heart.'

I think of that refrain often as I reflect on the complete turn around in my life since giving myself -  heart, mind, body and soul  - to our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.  When we begin our journey, we begin by God bringing us out of darkness into His marvelous light!

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;  1 Peter 2:9

As we become citizens of the kingdom, we must release the principles and standards of this world.  Scripturally, we shed the old creature as all things become new in Christ.  

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17

We let go of worldly standards, opinions and ideologies as we accept God's way.  We find, as the word of God tells us, that we are no longer to be conformed to the ways and standards of this world, but rather we become transformed  through the renewing of our mind.  

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Romans 12:2

That renewing comes from knowing and applying the word of God to our life.  

Everything about the kingdom of God is in direct opposition 

to the kingdom of darkness

®    THE LAST ARE FIRST:

Those who are first in the kingdoms of the world are last in God's Kingdom: 

But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.  Matthew 19:30 

So the last shall be first and the first last. . .  Matthew 20:16 

®    SMALL BECOMES GREAT:

Jesus illustrated this principle by the natural examples of a mustard seed, leaven, and a widow's mite:

. . .The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field; Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. . .

. . .The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.   Matthew 13:31-33   (See also Mark 4:30-32)

And He looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And He said, of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.  Luke 21:1-4

®    THAT WHICH IS HIGHLY ESTEEMED IS LOWLY VALUED:

And He said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men: but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.   Luke 16:15

®    ADULTS BECOME AS CHILDREN:

In the Kingdom of God, adults must become as children. This means they must accept the Gospel of the Kingdom in the same way as a child; in simple faith.

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto them and set him in the midst of them. And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.  Matthew 18:1-4 

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.   Matthew 19:14 

But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the Kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.  Luke 18:16-17 

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.   Mark 10:15

®    LOSE YOUR LIFE TO SAVE IT:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.   John 12:24 

For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it.  Mark 8:35 

He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.  Matthew 10:39 

We lose our life by denying our self of worldly pleasures and standards in order to follow the King:  

Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.  Matthew 16:24-25

®    HATE LIFE INSTEAD OF LOVING IT:

When we understand that we are living our life now to live again; when we realize that our life is no longer our own and everything about this world is temporal, it becomes easy to lose the ways of this life.

He that loveth his life shall lose it: and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.   John 12:25

®    GIVE TO RECEIVE:

Give, and it shall be given unto you: good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.   Luke 6:38

®    THE IMPOSSIBLE IS POSSIBLE:

And He said, the things which are impossible with men are possible with God.  Luke 18:27

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.   Matthew 19:26

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.   Mark 10:27

®    THOSE WITHOUT SIGHT SEE AND THOSE WITH SIGHT ARE BLIND:

Jesus came to give spiritual vision to those lost in spiritual darkness. Those who thought they had spiritual vision through religious tradition were actually blind.  

And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.  John 9:39

®    TAKE A YOKE AND BURDEN TO REST:

You find true rest by being yoked together with Jesus to carry His burden. His burden is that the Gospel of the Kingdom be extended to the nations of the world.

A yoke is a piece of equipment used to pair up two animals to pull a plow. It speaks of labor. A burden is something that is carried. It is a weight. Jesus said:  

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: for I am meek and lowly in heart; and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30

®    HEAVENLY RATHER THAN EARTHLY TREASURES ARE EMPHASIZED:

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus compared those who emphasize earthly treasures to a fool:  

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.   Luke 12:20-21 

®    HEAVENLY RATHER THAN EARTHLY GLORY IS SOUGHT:

He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh His glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.  John 7:18 

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only.  John 5:44 

Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing; it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that He is your God.  John 8:54

®    DIVISION INSTEAD OF PEACE RESULTS:

Jesus is peace. When He came to the world in fleshly form, peace was on earth.

But Jesus brought division instead of peace to the kingdoms of the world. Families, cities, and kingdoms were divided because of Him. Some believed and accepted Him as King. They became residents of the Kingdom through spiritual rebirth. Others did not accept Jesus as King and did not become part of the Kingdom. This resulted in division:  

Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.  Luke 12:51-53 

. . . And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.   Matthew 10:36

®    THAT COVERED IS REVEALED:

. . . There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.  Matthew 10:26-27

®    THE KINGDOM IS EXTENDED TO SINNERS INSTEAD OF TO THE RIGHTEOUS :

. . . for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.   Matthew 9:13

®    SPIRITUAL RATHER THAN NATURAL IS EMPHASIZED:

For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.   Romans 14:17 

For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.   1 Corinthians 4:20



(Biblical Studies)



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