Weekly message: Get hold of God persistently not of the answer by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

Weekly message: Get hold of God persistently, not of the answer

By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

Christian Arts Ministries; Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & counseling

Date: 1/28/2023

                                                                                                                 

           Are you a person of dejection, easily give up, blame God, self and others? Are you a person of insistence on the point that God answers prayer? When prayers are unanswered, you become dejected and blame God?  If depression and oppression visit you, you are to blame, God is not, nor is anyone else.  “Dejection springs from one of two sources I have either satisfied a lust or I have not. Lust means I must have it at once. Spiritual lust makes me demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God who gives the answer.”[1]  My friends, ask yourselves this question in every scenario “Am I a person demand an answer from God instead of seeking God who gives the answer?  Am I a person get hold of God instead of the answer? 

           Jesus unveiled that “the Son of Man on the third day he will rise again.” (Luke 18:33), but the disciples didn’t understand any of this.  In a village called Emmaus, Jesus appeared to His disciples, yet, they didn’t recognize him, they stood still, their faces downcast and said, “ Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these day? … But we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place…” (Luke24: 21).  Jesus’ presence is with His disciples on the third day, yet, disciples’ face still were downcast and had hoped that Jesus was the one who was going to redeem Israel and it is the third days since all this took place.

          Today, you may demand the answer is now immediate present, but Jesus said is “on third day” and He has not done it; therefore, you imagine that you are justified in being dejected and in blaming God. The meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God, not of the answer.

Ø  Keep seeking God persistently, not for the answer, but to hold of God. When the Son of Man comes, He will find faith on the earth

             Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said, “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, “Grant me justice against my adversary.” For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this wisdom keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming.”  And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:1-8).

         This parable indicates that persistence of seeking God, who gives the answer, and she gets hold of God, God finally bring the justice for her and gives an answer to the desires of her heart. The question is, in this gradation, do we have such faith persistently hold of God?  And when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?    

Ø  What is impossible with men is possible with God, when God grants the answer, shows your gratitude.

                 There were many sickness came to Jesus and sought God for healing, by their faith, Jesus granted them healing and restored their health. When Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee, as he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When He saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nice? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:11-19)  

            The priests had to certify the cleaning of a leper (Lev.14:1-32). The ten men exhibited faith by starting on their way to the priest before being cleansed. Ten men had leprosy followed Jesus’ instruction, “go” and show themselves to the priests, by such faith and believing, ten men were healed, but just only one who was a Samaritan came back, threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him and praised God. “What is impossible with men is possible with God” (Luke 18:27). When God grants the answer, and restores your health, show your gratitude to God.  

            My friends, the meaning of prayer is that we get hold of God persistently, not of the answer, let God grants you answer in His time instead of demanding an answer from God.  By your faith, belief and inclined to persist in a course, you will receive the answer, ““Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” (Luke 18:42) or “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity” (Luke 13:12). “It is impossible to be well physically and to be dejected. Dejection is a sign of sickness, and the same thing is true spiritually. Dejection spiritually is wrong, and we are always to blame for it.”[2]  Keep seeking God, get hold of God and pray persistently until God grants you an answer, do not let your spirit become dejection, but keep rejoicing in the Lord and have faith! 

 

Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

            Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc, 1935.

 

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[1] Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc, 1935. p.38

[2] Oswald Chambers, 1935, p.38

Weekly Message : God’s covenant with Abram (Gen.15) By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce

 Weekly message: God’s covenant with Abram (Gen.15)   

  By Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce    1/18/2023

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts& Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling

         

 God’s covenant with Abram narrative unveils in Genesis chapter 15. The word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” (Gen.15:1). “Look up at the heavens and count the stars if indeed you can count them…so shall your offspring be.” (Gen.15:5) The Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him…

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. (Gen.15: 9-12) Then Lord said to him, “ Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years, but I will punish the nation they serve as slaves and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your fathers in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” (Gen.15:13-16)

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing touch appeared and passed between the pieces. On the day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land…(Gen.15:17-18)

God’s covenant with Abraham, it requires Abram  fully trust in God Himself, and place his confident in God Himself alone, not in His blessings, wealth, nor in flesh, self, family and relative; Not in godly men or women, nor in a church denomination or political party.  Abram’s transformation into Abraham, it took few steps of mistaken by human’s national intervention who acted implosively without waiting upon the Lord God. After thirteen years of silence, and waiting, God’s promises to Abraham and Sarah were come to reality.  Once God becomes real, other people become shadows. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever disturb or upset the one who is built on God.  

When God unveils a vision to you and darkness come over you or follows, wait, be still, stand firm, keep watching and listen, God will direct, intervene, and prevail according to His will and in His time. Never try to help God fulfill His word. God will make you in accordance with the vision He has given if you will wait His time.

My friends, Have you place your confident in the flesh? Have you got beyond all confidence in yourself and in men, and women of God instead of God Himself? Is your confidence place in God, Lord Jesus Christ, not in His blessings and wealth? Jesus instructed about how to receive eternal life? He said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark12:30). We are the seeds of Abraham through the New Covenant of Jesus, Jesus said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me (1 Corinthians11:25). The night Jesus was delivered up; Jesus took bread and gave thanks. He said to disciples,“ Take, eat, this is my body which is given for you do this in remembrance of Me.” (Mark14:22; Luke 22:19) For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He come.” (1 Corinthians 11:26). God’s New Covenant to us through Jesus is eternal life, God Himself. Therefore, place your confidence in God Himself alone, stay upon God, and wait upon the Lord. 

 

 Bibliography,

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

            Chambers, Oswald. My Utmost for His Highest. NY: Dodd, Mead & Company, Inc, 1935.

 

A new heart with renew spirit ( Message ) by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

A new heart with renew spirit message was produced in 2018,  five years later today is 2023,  the word of God is same yesterday, today, forevermore. My friends, may the Lord renews your vision day by day.    

Message: A new heart with renew spirit                                        1/7/2018  & 1/15/2023

 by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce Christian Arts Ministries : Biblical Precepts & Gospel Music

 

  Happy New Year 2018! My friends, in this New Year may Lord renews our spirits, our hearts, and our vision in Christ. May Triune God: Holy Father, Holy Son, Holy Spirit, continually guide us and lead us into His perfect will, and fulfill His purpose on this earth as it is in heaven.

 My friends, do you give up or walk away from your faith in Christ because earthly sorrows, worries, burdens, and sickness wear you down? Or Words of God are too hard to understand and too difficult to be perfect like Jesus? When Jesus explicitly stated,

 “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I  will raise him up at the last day.” (Jh9:53:54).

Many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching, who can accept it?” and they were grumbling about this. Jesus affirmed his disciples, “What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life, the flesh counts for nothing. The Word I have spoken to you, are spirit, and they are life”. (John6:62-63). There were twelve disciples did not forsake nor walked away from Jesus, and Simon Peter confirmed, “the Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”(Jh.6:68). Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, one of twelve, was later to betray the Jesus for money. Jesus didn’t entrust himself in men, for he knew He came to the world to fulfill the will of Father and the testimonies about Jesus as follows, He stated,  

1) The Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. (Jh.5:37) Father vindicated Jesus is Son of God by raised him from death at Calvary. “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. (Jh.3:14) In Gen.3 Satan, the serpent, injected his nature into man’s flesh. When the children of Israel sinned against God, they were bitten by serpents (Num.21:4-9) God told Moses to life up a bronze serpent on their behalf for God’s judgment, that by looking upon that bronze serpent all might live. The Lord Jesus applied that type to Himself, indicating that when he was in the flesh, He was in the likeness of the flesh of sin (Rom.8:3), which likeness is equal to the form of the bronze serpent. Christ was made in the likeness of the flesh of sin, but he did not participate in the sin of the flesh (2Cor.5:21). When he was lifted up in the flesh on the cross, by His death Satan, the old serpent, was dealt with. [1] When a man is regenerated with the divine life in Christ, his satanic nature is annulled or abolished. Jesus redirected Nicodemus who needed to be born again. Because Nicodemus might have considered himself a moral and good man, but he needed the Lord not only to be the Lamb of God to take away his sin, but also to be in the form of the serpent that his serpentine nature might be dealt with on the cross and that he might have eternal life.  

             2) The Word Jesus has spoken to us are spirit, and they are life”. (John6:62-63). Many Jews did research the scriptures to gain the knowledge as literature understanding. But, their hearts didn’t open up to the Lord Jesus; they needed to contact the spirit of God directly. For God is spirit, the Spirit gives life, flesh count for nothing. In John 6:62-63 Jesus affirmed his disciples, “The Word, I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life”. Jesus convicted Jews, “you have never heard his voice nor seen his form, nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that be them you possess eternal life, there are the scriptures that testify about me, yet, you refuse to come to me to have life.” (John5:40). Jesus indicated that they needed to contact the spirit of God directly, not only do the research to satisfy the literature knowledge. For God is Spirit, and the Spirit gives life.

 3). “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (Jh.4:34). Jesus refused to become a political revolutionist. After people saw the miraculous sign two fishes and five loaves fed the five thousand people, many people intended to come and make Jesus to be a king by force. “Jesus had to escape from the enthusiasm of the crowd, which would have forced Him to lead them in revolt against the Roman government. Jesus refused to become a political revolutionist.”[2] He withdrew again to a mountain by himself. And urged his disciples “do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John2:27). And He said, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” (Jh.4:34). He inspired his disciples, Messiah ministry will be sustained by the ministry, and they should not worry about what to eat or what to drink? seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness first, all their needs, father will add upon it.  

 4). If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. (John5:46). Jesus didn’t accept praise, nor glory from men, in contrary; he did everything to please Father alone. Jesus unveiled Jews’ hearts and motivation. They love the praise and glory from men and pursue to be popular in the public acts. Yet, Jesus urged them, “I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your heart. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me, but someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.”  (John5:41-43). If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say? (Jh.5:41-47).                            

5). Jesus unveiled himself as coming Messiah Christ to Samaritans woman. Jesus had conversation with Samaritans woman directly, and redirected her, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem… God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. (Johm4: 21, 23-24). Samaritans woman who knew that Messiah He who is called Christ, Jesus affirmed her, “I, who speak to you, am He” (Jh.4:26)

 My friend! Does your heart longs for God and earnestly seek God?   Do you research all the scriptures for literature assignments; yet, neglect to contact Jesus in Spirit? Do you like Samaritans woman who had tasted the worldly passion through five husbands; yet, she had never contented nor satisfied, until she drank the living water that savior Jesus provided? Do you pursue worldly successful as a good man- Nicodemus, but you need born again? Or you are like Simon Peter, love Lord and want to finish the work? Or maybe because of money you betray Jesus as Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot?  No matter, what roles are described you?  My friend! You need renew heart, renew your spirit and refresh your vision. You need to open your heart to Jesus, contact Jesus directly in Spirit. Jesus ensured his disciples, “He who believes in me, as the Scripture had said, “Stream of living water will flow from within him. By this he meant Spirit…” (John7:37-39). In Greek “ποταμοι” literally, interpret as “of flowing water river, stream.” Metaphorically, interpret as “of the water of life as a flowing river”, signifying “fullness of life from God.” therefore, “ποταμοι υδατος ζωντος” in John 7:38 can be interpreted as Rivers of the water of life. It’s same the river of water of life in Rev.22:1 “ποταμον υδατος ζωης”. It symbolizes that God in Christ as Spirit flowing himself into his redeemed people to be their life.  In another words, to experience fullness of life from God, we need to be redeemed by Christ Jesus and by believe in Him, open our hearts to the Spirit of Christ, worship and contact God in Spirit. For the Spirit gives life, flesh count for nothing. The Words Jesus has spoken to us are spirit, and they are life”. (Jh.6:62-63). To contact Jesus Christ in Spirit, simply call upon His name “O Lord Jesus; O ΄Ιησους Χριστου; 主耶穌” Moreover, reading the Word of God daily basis, from the book of John each chapter. Asking God unveils His truth, refreshes, and renews His vision to you. The Lord will speak to your heart; you will taste the stream of living water, the river of water of life, and experience God in Christ as Spirit flowing himself into your inner most being, and enjoy fullness of life  from God till eternity. And you heart will be filled with satisfaction and no long thirsty. Amen!

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[1] Witness Lee, the New Testament. (Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985),377.

[2] Charles C. Ryrie, the Ryrie study Bible (NIV). (Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986),1462.

Bibliography,

Bruce, Katherine L. Weekly message :A new heart with renew spirit Orlando FL: Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts, 2018. https://biblicalprecepts.blogspot.com 

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Bruce, Katherine L. “weekly message: God’s restoration to his people-Davidic covenant (Jer.32:40-33:1-26) Orlando, FL: Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts, 2014.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

           Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

Message: Matthew 13: 18-23 (Mark4:1-20) Sower parables interpretation and application by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Matthew 13: 18-23  (Mark4:1-20) Sower parables interpretation and application      

by Rev. Katherine Liu Bruce                                                                                11/13-16/2023

Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts & Gospel music; Pastoral ministry & Counseling                                                              

 Scriptures reading  Matthew 13:18-23 & Mark 4:1-8; 13- 20 

                Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. (Matthew 13:18-23)

           Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because  the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, multiplying thirty, sixty or seven a hundred times.(Mark 4:3-8) 

              Then Jesus said to them, " Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? The farmer sows the word. Some people are life seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy, but since they have no root they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop -thirty, sixty or even a hundred times what was sown. (Mark 4: 13-20).

Interpretation and understanding of sower, birds, rocky places, thorns, and good soil 

 The sower was the Lord Himself; the seeds are the word of the kingdom, The Lord being in this word as life. “Seed by the way side” it is hardened by the traffic of the way; therefore, it is difficult for the seeds to penetrate it. The wayside signifies the heart that is hardened by worldly traffic and cannot open to understand, to comprehend, the word of the kingdom.(v.9). The birds signify the evil one, Satan, who comes and snatches away the word of the kingdom sown in the hardened heart.(v.19).  The rocky places that do not have much earth signify the heart that is shallow in receiving the word of the kingdom. Deep within such a heart are rocks –hidden sins, personal desires, self-seeking and self-pity which hinder the seed from taking root in the depths of the heart. The sun with its scorching heart signifies affliction or persecution (v.21). The scorching heat of the sun causes the seed that is not rooted to wither. The heat of the sun is for the growth and ripening of the crop, which take place once the seed has been deeply rooted. But because of the seed’s lack of root, the sun’s heat, which should cause growth and ripening, becomes a deathblow to the seed. The thorns signify the anxiety of the age and the deceitfulness of riches, which utterly choke the word, preventing it from growing in the heart and causing it to become unfruitful (v.22). The good soil signifies the good heart that is not hardened by worldly traffic, that is without hidden sins, and that is without the anxiety of the age and the deceitfulness of riches. Such a heart gives every inch of its ground to receive the word that the word may grow, bear fruit, and produce even a hundredfold.

 Life  application / implication of Matthew 13: 18-23 and Mark 4:1-20

  My friends, what kind of soil are you? are you perceiving the word of God and produce a crop a hundred times ?  how to be the good soil? how to produce a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty? There are few facts you must to practice it as follows,

 1) By receiving the Spirit of Jesus Christ, recognizing, relying on Him, obeying Him as He brings the Word of God, and life. Jesus says, “How “much more” your Father who clothes the grass of the field will clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him”. So often, we have allowed the cares of the world to come in, and have forgotten the “much more” of our Heavenly Father care about us”.

 2) Don’t worry, nor anxious about your life what to eat? What to drink? Look at the birds, their main aim is to obey the principle of life that is in them and God looks after them, Jesus says that if you are rightly related to Him and obey His Spirit that is in you, God will look after your feathers.

 3) Take no thought for your life. A warning which needs to be reiterated is that the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, will choke all that God puts in. we are never free from the recurring tides of this intrusion on a person territory or right. If it does not come on the line of clothes and food, it will come on the line of money or lack of money; of friends or lack of friends; or on the line of difficult circumstances. Unless we allow the Spirit of God to raise up the standard against it, these things will come in like a flood.

 4) Your relationship with Jesus is key point. Jesus Christ understands our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things so as to make them the one concern of our life. Whenever there is competition, be sure that you put your relationship to God first.

 5) Keep your mind on the “much more “of your heavenly Father.

Bibliography,

Bauer, Walter. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. 3^rd Chicago: The University of Chicago press, 2000.

Brown, Robert, Philip W. Comfort and J.D. Douglas, ed. The New Greek English Interlinear New Testament. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.1990.

Bruce, Katherine L. “weekly message: God’s restoration to his people-Davidic covenant (Jer.32:40-33:1-26) Orlando, FL: Christian Arts Ministries: Biblical precepts, 2014.

Chambers, Oswald. My utmost for His highest. N.Y.: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1935.

Friberg, Timothy, Barbara Friberg, and Neva F. Miller et al., eds. Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament.1^st ed. Victoria BC: Trafford Publishing, 2005.

Lee, Witness. The New Testament (R.V.) Anaheim, CA: Living Stream Ministry, 1985.

Ryrie, Charles C. The Ryrie study Bible (NIV). Chicago, IL: The Moody Bible Institute, 1986. 

 Strong, James. Strong’s: the expanded exhaustive concordance of the Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2010. 

 

Repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:5) by Rev.Katherine Liu Bruce

 Bible in one year from Jan 13 to Jan. 19 2023 we start to read Mark 1-16

The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near; Repent and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:5)

  In Greek word μετάνοια interpret as (1) religiously and morally as a change of mind leading to change of behavior repentance, conversion, turning about.  (2) As feeling remorse regret, feel sorry. Therefore, “To repent” is to have a change of mind with regret for the past and a turn for the future. On the negative side, to repent before God is not only to repent of sins and wrong doings but also to repent of the world and its corruption, which usurp and corrupt people whom God created for Himself, and to repent of our God forsaking life in the past. On the positive side, it is to turn to God in every way and in everything for the fulfillment of His purpose in creating man. It is repentance unto God and is to repent and turn to God. Repentance is mainly in the mind, believing is mainly in the heart.  

            To enter into the kingdom of God, people need to repent of their sins and believe in the gospel that their sins may be forgiven and that they may be regenerated by God to have the divine life, which matches the divine nature of this kingdom. All the believers in Christ can share the kingdom in the church age for their enjoyment of God in His righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

 This kingdom will become the kingdom of Christ and of God for the overcoming believers to inherit and enjoy in the coming kingdom age that they may reign with Christ a thousand years. Then, as the eternal kingdom it will be an eternal blessing of God’s eternal life for all God’s redeemed to enjoy in the new heaven and new earth for eternality. (Rev.21:1-4; 22:1-5,14,17).