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Post by GorgeousNgreen on Feb 17, 2008 11:52:27 GMT -5
I need some direction with that part of the scripture.....
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Post by Cambist on Feb 17, 2008 12:32:48 GMT -5
<<== Extreme Layman but will take a stab at it...
The scripture is warning about the the pitfalls of arrogant, selfish and self indulgent behavior.
That verse sums up the chapter...essentially. The chapter talks about not getting caught up in loving money or things you can't change.
I have always thought of it as a verse that meant I should always do the right thing and live doing right by others. I'm sure water will say this is a very Humanistic interpretation and it may be but.....I love him anyway! LOL!
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Post by GorgeousNgreen on Feb 17, 2008 13:11:31 GMT -5
when "seeking His Kingdom" though...
what doest that mean specifically? like, His reign? or the actual kingdom itself? or just the ways of the kingdom?
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Post by Cambist on Feb 17, 2008 13:36:42 GMT -5
I take it to mean that we should strive to do the things required to enter His kingdom. In doing this, you should not be mechanical. That's where the seeking His righteousness comes in.
It's one thing to do things so you can get into heaven. You know, like showing up at parties, public programs, service projects in order to prove your dedication to being considered for membership into a sorority. Well, that's seeking his Kingdom. Seeking his righteousness is another animal.
One definition of righteousness, as it relates to God, is sincerity. An interest to an organization can do all of the above mentioned things and not believe or truly care about any of them. This is a very selfish approach and leads to high levels of inactivity. The righteous candidate (i'm stretching here) does community service on his or her own and has the courage to tell someone that they are not big partiers but will come if it helps. Or tells the members that they will attend all functions but not parties because it's not part of who they are. That person is seeking membership and the (theoretical) rightenous that goes along with it.
Same thing with the verse. We must seek Gods kingdom (deed) and His righteous (sincerity of purpose).
This may have made no sense but if you can extract any good, then i'll be happy! LOL!
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Post by GorgeousNgreen on Feb 17, 2008 13:48:20 GMT -5
I could!
I was thinking that it meant consume yourself in His ways, seeking who He is...like absorbing everything about Him like a sponge maybe..its just sometimes when i read it, in the bible, i get confused
the analogy was good Cam!
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Post by No Screen Name on Feb 17, 2008 16:05:57 GMT -5
I always interpreted it to mean to just spend more time focusing on the things of God...and His Righteousness. The second part of that scripture (I think) is "and all these things shall be added unto you". We can spend so much time focusing on the things of this world that we want...money, jobs, fine homes and clothing, the rat race, climbing the corporate ladder, organizations, people...all kinds of things. But if we put more focus on GOD--and being RIGHTEOUS--God will bless us with those things that we desire. So by focusing on the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness to me means basically studying His Word, following His commandments, and trying to be holy and righteous.
That is just what *I* gather from the scripture.
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Post by water on Feb 17, 2008 18:08:37 GMT -5
Lets first deal with the Kingdom of heaven or God ...samethang...read matthews 13 and meditate on those parables the concept to those who are born again will come forth...in your spirit..and then will be understood in your mind. seek the kingdom of Heaven..John 3:1-5 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Yahshua by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." Yahshua answered him, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Yahshua answered, "I tell you the truth, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Once you are born again you recieve the Holy Spirit now this act will allow you to be able to resist the wiles of the devil and follow the commandments of Yahshua....... 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (NAS, Mark 12:28-31) John 14
15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Yahshua is the Kingdom of Heaven(God) Yahshua is Sabbath(Rest) Yahshua is Salem(Peace)
Enter into Heaven, Rest ,and Peace now while you are living through the passover Lamb of God and your steps will be ordered
1 John 3
18My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.I love Camel Too  |
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Spawn1963
OOA Interest
I will NOT lose
Posts: 34
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Post by Spawn1963 on Feb 21, 2008 15:12:38 GMT -5
To me, His Kingdom, is God's vision of how people should interact. In the parables, Jesus usually makes a statement, "The Kingdom of Heaven/God is like <insert parable>". The Kingdom of God isn't a word, just like the United Kingdom isn't a word. It's a system, and those not of that Kingdom find the system weird. Like we think Britains driving on the left side of the road are weird. Seek His system, seek to be under His dominion, seek to submit to His will.
To me, His Righteousness, is God's way of doing things right. I don't believe God wants to control our feelings. Even Jesus cried and prayed for His own life, but gave it in obedience. I believe His righteousness is putting God's system in action in our lives, despite the fact that our physcal location is in this world. This goes into my understanding of being an ambassador of the Kingdom. In your personal embassy, you are to follow all the rules and laws of your Kingdom, as if you were in the boundaries of the Kingdom.
For more, I suggest studying the teachings of a wonderful Man of God, Myles Munroe. He has a whole series on the Kingdom.
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Post by GorgeousNgreen on Feb 21, 2008 18:02:05 GMT -5
I know about Myles, I will need to go check out his books
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