WBS.031
FUNDAMENTALS OF
DISCIPLESHIP
A KINGDOM HEART - I
Genesis 6:5
And Elohim saw that the wickedness of man
was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see Elohim.
Many Bible schools and seminaries teach that there is significance to the “first appearance” of words in the Scripture. These are the first verses where the word “heart” is found in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Notice that at the time of the Creator’s decision to judge the world by flood in the days of Noah, the thoughts of man’s heart “was only evil continually;” but, when He sends His son, the Messiah, into the world, the first mention of the heart in the New Testament is that “the pure in heart…shall see Elohim.” This is no coincidence. The more one studies the Scripture, the more one receives revelation of Truth from Elohim, the more it becomes evident that IAUE is searching for a people whose hearts are devoted to Him.
What is the first and great commandment?
Matthew 22:37 Yahushua said unto him, Thou shalt love IAUE
thy Elohim with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
After nearly 2,000 years from the time IAUE cut the covenant with Abram, changed his name to Abraham and made him the father of many nations, what was the condition of the hearts of those whom IAUE chose to follow after Him?
Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Matthew 15:18 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves
before men; but Elohim knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is
abomination in the sight of IAUE.
The Hebrews, then, not unlike the Christians of today, rested upon their laurels of being the “chosen people” of Elohim. They were made to be different from all the other peoples on the earth, by their circumcision, their dress, their hair, their laws and their deity…all things that could be done to them or done by them without having any effect upon their heart. They went along with the basic dictates of the Law of Moses and the social standards of Hebrew society; but they were never known for being a people of faith. They were feared by other nations because of IAUE’s reputation in the earth; but even that was attributed to His relationship with Abraham, and not his relationship with the people in the succeeding generations.
The Hebrews embraced the promise of Messiah; a savior that would come from the line of David, assume David’s throne to establish the Kingdom of Elohim, vanquish all their enemies and establish a world-wide reign; leaving the Jews to bask in the resulting glory and safety; and live like kings in the earth. It was not very different than the contemporary Christian perspective of Heaven. While the Jews await what they believe to be the “coming” of Messiah; Christians recognize that Messiah has already come the first time and they are awaiting the “second coming” of Messiah. That would be a day when all their enemies would be vanquished, the Kingdom of Elohim will be established; and they can bask in the resulting glory and safety, and live like kings for eternity. Both the Hebrews and the Christians believe they have passed the entrance exam to such a promise, and they are merely waiting for their Messiah to appear and make it all happen for them. In the meantime, they comply with the basic expectations of the outward life (attend synagogue/church, observe festivals/religious holidays, and appear to be Jewish/Christian when seen in public). Having become a Jew/Christian, there is no need to be changed on the inside. Changing the inside has a direct impact on how much we are able to enjoy the world; and man does not want to decrease his enjoyment of the world. This is why we have developed philosophies and religions that have allowed us to “have our cake and eat it too.”
The “first coming” of Messiah was a mystery hidden in Elohim. Paul tells us that if the rulers of that age had known of IAUE’s plan, they would never have crucified the Master (2 Cor 2:8). The prophet Malachi told the Hebrews that they were wrong to be looking forward to the day of IAUE; because in their condition of heart, they would most certainly be judged and rejected by Him. The prophet chided them for their compromise, their faithlessness, their pride, their self-gratifying pursuits and their wicked deeds.
Malachi 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith IAUE of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
The last verse of the OId Testament was a warning that their hearts needed to be changed before they had any reason to look forward to the day of IAUE.
Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet
before the coming of the great and dreadful day of IAUE:
6 And he
shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Messiah appeared the first time, not to set up a worldly throne; but to remove the impediment that prevented both Jew and Gentile, alike, from participating in the Kingdom of Elohim. No man could have an everlasting relationship with Elohim while sin still separated him from Him; and while the lack of righteousness was still a glaring void in man’s experience. Yahushua came as the sacrifice lamb to “take away the sin of the world” (John 1:29); and to offer his own righteousness to man (1 Corinthians 1:30, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 3:9).
The “second coming” of Messiah (what the Hebrews look to as “the coming” of Messiah) is being delayed to afford mankind the opportunity to change their hearts. The obstacle to relationship with Elohim has been removed for both Jew and Gentile and the time of preparation for participation in the Kingdom of Elohim has begun.
Luke 17: 20 And when he was
demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of Elohim should come, he answered
them and said, The kingdom of Elohim cometh not with observation:
The Jews expected that when Messiah appeared, He would come with glory
and with power, defeating all of the enemies of Israel, and magnificently
restoring the kingdom of David to the Jews, placing all the nations of the
earth in subjection to His rule. Yet, here, we see Yahushua speaking to
the Pharisees, the religious "scholars" of the day; telling them that
"The kingdom of Elohim cometh not with observation." They
clearly had no basis in their scholarship to comprehend what Yahushua
meant. In their minds, Messiah was going to come and put down their
enemies and restore the Kingdom to Israel. What could He mean by saying
the Kingdom would not come in a manner that could be observed with the
eyes? How else COULD it come?
Their confusion and the inevitable question surfacing in their minds was
the lead-in that Yahushua was anticipating. He answered their unspoken
question in his next breath.
Luke 17: 21 Neither shall they
say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of Elohim is within you.
You will not be able to observe the kingdom of Elohim coming and being
restored to Israel all at once under the invincible rule of Messiah. No,
Messiah is steadfastly building His kingdom right now within the hearts of men
and women who are embracing the forgiveness that His blood has purchased for
them; and who are laying down their own self-will to take up obedience to the
will of Elohim in their lives.
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
No longer does man have an excuse not to change on the inside. No longer does he have the opportunity to believe in philosophies and religions that say if you “do” certain things or “believe” certain things, your relationship with the Creator will be established and your eternal destiny confirmed. The Jew may have no confidence in his observance to the Law of Moses (which could only regulate the outward behavior). The Christian may have no confidence in the subjective experiences of praying a specific prayer or of being “born again.” Yahushua is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the true and undisputed King of Israel; and He is conscripting members into his kingdom by conquering hearts. Those whose hearts are hardened or resistant to His command are not qualified for his kingdom, no matter how much outward activity the person may offer on his behalf.
Matthew 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Master, Master, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Master, Master, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Notice the appeal for acceptance in the Master’s kingdom is
based upon outward activity, even activity associated with his name. The Master says they will be rejected because
he never knew them…because they were workers of iniquity. Iniquity is what proceeds from a wicked
heart. I am sure we have all seen
ministers who preached a fiery sermon, who aroused an emotional response from
his congregation; or those who even ministered in the gifts of the Holy Spirit
to prophesy or to cast out demons, or to perform healings or miracles; but deep
down inside your mind you were thinking that despite how accurate the teaching
or how legitimate the miracles, he was using it to manipulate his audience to
regard him. It looks impressive on the
outside to the uninitiated; but it is iniquity because it proceeds from a heart
that seeks to promote its own interests.
This is what Messiah is rejecting.
Messiah is building his kingdom on the inside of man. He is looking for those who will have “a
kingdom heart.”
Kingdom heart - a heart that offers no
resistance to the performance of the will of IAUE.
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