No Other

God is an orderly God. Everything has a place and a purpose. Nothing is done by chance or fate. It was all created by Jesus Christ, Who is The Word (John 1:1).

That's the kind of faith that is spoken of in this verse. It is by faith in Christ Who is the Word that we are able to see the truth of this passage, and also how we understand Creation itself.

Hebrews 11:3 (AMP) - "By faith we understand that the worlds [during the successive ages] were framed (fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose) by the word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible."

The difference between an evolutionist and a creationist is not science. The difference is faith in Jesus Christ. 

We believe the world was formed by Jesus Christ.

John 1:1 (AMP) - "IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself."

That SHOULD settle it. And it does for those who believe. For those who do not believe (or have faith) the issue is wide open and there is no other solution forthcoming. That's because there is none.

There are no other fathomable solutions, theories, hypotheses, doctrines, philosophies, or facts.

The issue has been settled by Truth. It's Jesus. Everything physical and spiritual to do with man and the universe that surrounds him is squarely centered in and surrounded by Jesus Christ.

THAT is where faith is placed. THAT is why we do not hedge our bet with false attachments of Creation/Evolution hybrid theories.

In life it is going to be Jesus Christ or it is going to be nothing but disorder and disarray.

Jesus NEVER fails!

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Unlocking

Power, miracles, financial solvency, salvation, healing, impartation, spiritual authority over darkness, etc.

I had wondered many times over the years. I felt it in my bones but it was always just "out of reach". I craved it, but craving isn't enough. I prayed for it, but praying isn't enough. I laid claim to it, but that also is not enough. 

I realized at one point through a revelation and vision that the one thing that was lacking was that we were not, I was not, experiencing the Kingdom of Heaven. I may have been in the midst of the Kingdom of God, but not the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Then God revealed it all to me in an instant in a vision. It took me several weeks to figure it out, but when I did it was as if a lightning flash went off in my brain! There are "keys".

The keys unlock the power and authority of Heaven itself. Remember earlier this week I mentioned the verse "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand"? It's right there and accessible, and until we reach out and seize it (violently, as if we cannot live without it, Matt.11:12), then we will never unlock all it holds for us, and what it holds is the answer to everything the Church is lacking.

Who ever thought that it would all be contained in the one simple, redundant, repetive prayer we learned as children? 

"Our Father Who is in Heaven".

"Your will be done, ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!" In my opinion, that's THE KEY!

From that we can understand what Jesus ACTUALLY meant here...

Matt. 16:19 - "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven."

This is the LITERAL establishment of KINGDOM living in our present environment, whatever and wherever that may be. 

I'll tell you what is illegal and unlawful. Sin, sickness, poverty, strife, immorality, that's what is illegal in Heaven! And if it is illegal in Heaven then Jesus says we can declare it illegal here on earth!  I can LOOSE what is LAWFUL here on earth because it is what is legal and binding in Heaven.

If Jesus is really saying (and I believe He is) that His will is completed here on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, than is it any wonder we have missed it by vainly reciting it like a religious mantra? Power filled words recited without power! 

All I can say is WOW! I am undone. There is no going back. 

God has moved in accordance with His revelation to me. He has moved people out, and has moved people in. He has changed the hearts of people, He has excited people to a greater degree than we could ever accomplish in the flesh. The carnal, the fleshly, the sensory, is slowly fading away and is being replaced by a new fire. Out of the dusty doldrums of repressed worship and praise has sprung new Kingdom Living!  The future is bright and inviting!

It has ripped me from my comfort zone. I am not the same person, the same pastor, that I was even a short time ago. There are people who are being changed Sunday by Sunday, week by week. 

It's God. We have wrestled with Him and refused to let go until He has blessed us! We have stood on each others shoulders and pulled down the Heaven within our reach! 

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Pulling The Trigger

This is not an indictment against people with money. In fact, the more I read and study it the more I think it means most of us. We are all rich in comparison to those who are poor. This could be as much about spirit as physical.

In the story of the rich young man and Jesus the man was captivated and held in bondage to the earth way of living by his stuff.

He was also religious ("All of these commandments I have kept from my youth").

Matthew 19:23-30 (Amplified Bible) - "And Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, it will be difficult for a rich man to get into the kingdom of heaven."

Religion, pride, and materialism. Three things that will keep the Kingdom of Heaven just past the tips of our fingers.

When Jesus said it's difficult (not impossible) for a rich man to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, it's a lot more far reaching than the Gates' and Trump's of the world. You may just be surprised to find it's you.

Some see the Kingdom at hand and seize it. Remember Jesus says it is to be taken by violence. Fight for it, even wrestle with God like Jacob did ("I'll not let you go until you bless me!"). There is a risk you'll walk funny later but you still want it. You need it.

"Riches" are represented in prideful stubbornness. Jesus always says before we get "This" we must get rid of "that".  Getting rid of something simply means leaving it behind.

There are a great many people striving for the Kingdom but it will always remain just outside of their reach until they leave something behind. 

What are your "riches" that Jesus says is making it difficult for you to enter in? You may crave it, you may think you are fully consecrated. I will tell you something. If you are not experiencing the full measure of the glory of His Kingdom living than you have not been made to be uncomfortable enough. Or you are uncomfortable but you have learned to live with it. If that is the case you will end up forlorn and saddened like the rich young man.

The young man saw something he wanted. It was Jesus and Kingdom of heaven living. Miracles. Wonders. Joys beyond comprehension. It was all worth 1,000 earthly kingdoms and all the wealth that goes with it, but he just couldn't pull the trigger.

How about you today? No, I mean TODAY! Can you pull the trigger? Can you dissolve your own little kingdom of selfishness, pride, and riches and just simply say "I must have this Kingdom that is at my fingertips or else I will die!"?

That's what it takes. A decision. Change your life. Go with Jesus or stay with yourself. Surround yourself with those on a journey, or with those who are woefully stagnated.

I am on a journey. If I have to lose every solitary person around me and go it alone I will do so. But I won't. There are enough hungry people, enough people fed up with religious ritual, enough people who crave to see the miracles and power of God, who will journey with me.

Are you one of those people this morning? Then just do it. Cut the string. Reach out your hand. The Kingdom of Heaven is now within your grasp.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Shatter The Glass

I want to focus upon the Kingdom of Heaven as it pertains to us now.
Particularly that it is within our grasp.

Jesus said it is essentially right at our fingertips. We don't have to wait.

Matthew 4:17 (Amplified Bible) - "From that time Jesus began to
preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily
amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand."

Within reach. Touch it. Even if you only manage to brush your
fingertips against it. Touch it. Hold it. Draw it in upon you.

I'm going to revisit this during the week. There are many reasons why
Jesus has informed us how close it really is.

I have become a violent seeker of the Kingdom of God. I understand
what Jesus meant when He said "the violent take the Kingdom of Heaven
by force". It's a desperate "pressing in", an urgent and demanding
need to pull Heaven into our reality. Yes, I am increasingly more
violent in my approach that I must have the Kingdom here and now!

If it's within our grasp, truly "at hand" then we need to be reaching,
even groping as if in the dark. Apprehending. Embracing. Like grasping
for the life preserver in choppy waters. And we violently pull it into
ourselves as if our lives depend on it. Because it does. Your life
depends on it. Spiritually. Physically. Everything is on the line.

We must be willing to even leave places of comfort and familiarity to
apprehend it. We must be willing to BECOME uncomfortable right where
we are. We must be willing to have our minds rewired by the Holy
Spirit.

The Father is there. His Kingdom comes. His perfect will for us is
wrapped up in it. He wants it to be here as it is there (Matt.
6:9-10).

I had a vision some time back which I shared with many. I didn't have
closure on it as I did not understand what God meant when He forced me
to my knees in a public park and spoke to me the words, "Believe it!"

It was to prepare me for what is coming. There is a great pressing in
ahead. The ceiling is either made of glass or brass. We are either
going to shatter it with our violent and aggressive upward surge, or
we are going to break our fingers against it in frustration.

Those who believe will shatter the glass. They can see through it.
They know it's "at hand". They will not be denied.

I will not be denied. I want you to join me. I want you to come with
me. I can show you exactly where it is. Stick with me. There are
glorious days ahead.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

The Parsimonious Son

A lot of fuss was made over the return of the lost son in what has been called the "Parable of the Prodigal Son".

It's a beautiful story. It's particularly meaningful for us who have been given so great a salvation in Christ because essentially the story is about us. 

We are the Prodigal. We were once lost, but now we are found.

There are other characters in the story. We must not forget that there are two sons. One has returned after being lost in sin in the far country. The other had remained in his father's household.

One would think that we could draw the conclusion that if we were to divvy up the accolades between the two sons, that the latter son would be considered the "good" son.

Let's take a gander at the "good" son:

Luke 15:29-30 - "But he answered his father, Look! These many years I have served you, and I have never disobeyed your command. Yet you never gave me [so much as] a [little] kid, that I might revel and feast and be happy and make merry with my friends; (30) But when this son of yours arrived, who has devoured your estate with immoral women, you have killed for him that [wheat-] fattened calf!"

We could ask if he would like a little cheese with that "whine".

Ahh...the way the Kingdom turns.  The "bad" son turns into the "good" son, and the "good" son... well here's the kicker...he actually didn't turn into anything. He was probably always that way, but had been considered a faithful and loving son because he had everything he ever wanted so he never complained. He was spoiled, and like most lavishly spoiled people, he seethed with resentment and anger underneath. We see what he really thought of his little brother when he refers to him as "this son of yours".

That's who this is about. The sneaky, resentful, and angry Christian. I thank the Lord I have only had that displeasure a few times in my pastoral life.

Ever notice that in many instances the people you help the most resent you the most? The more love you show them, the more you give to them, the more you care for them, after awhile it will somehow be turned back against you? It's a phenomena that we wouldn't expect in the Church,  but it's there. 

It's been there all along and God has shown us so in this parable.  The older son has never gone without, yet here we see him complaining that he never received what his returning brother just received. Well, he also never had to go through the pain and torment his younger brother did either. Essentially there is really nothing to complain about.

It could easily be the "Parable Of The Parsimonious Son".

The father (who represents God in this story) replies most graciously.

"(31) And the father said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. (32) But it was fitting to make merry, to revel and feast and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!"

Having been in the position of the father a few times in my life, I can't help but think that he must have at least thought "Where's this coming from!"

Sometimes petty jealousies and bitterness will not allow people to see the blessing. They will go so far as to put themselves into an undesirable situation, cutting off their noses to spite their faces so to speak, because of their inner rage and unhappiness. 

This is why Jesus spoke of love and forgiveness and why the commandment of love is the one we are to keep above anything else. This older son had some hate in his heart and the Father reminded him that there was no need for it because "all that is Mine is yours".

Have you contemplated that lately? Especially when you're feeling like your being passed over or not getting enough attention?

All that He has is yours. Ask yourself if that could be sufficient for you today.

Wow.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

I Love The Smell Of NEW In The Morning

There is a peculiar understanding of what exactly happens to the person who accepts Christ into their life and becomes born again.

Some people believe that we basically stay the same, but only forgiven, that our sins are merely "covered" rather than completely washed away by the blood of Christ.

This first of all contradicts 2 Cor. 5:17, which testifies that when we come to know Jesus we are regenerated, or born again, into a completely new person. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)  - Therefore if any person is [grafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 

Jesus Himself spoke about this spiritual and supernatural phenomenon. 

Luke 5:37-38 - "And no one pours new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the fresh wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled and the skins will be ruined (destroyed). (38) But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. 

The New Wine is Jesus.

We like to think we can have the New Wine of Christ inside our old defective and sin wrecked wineskin.

We can't. We must be willing to receive a new wineskin. We must be willing to allow Jesus to make us into a completely new person.

Understand this today because it is critical. This is not a refurbished old wineskin. 

We become BRAND NEW. A literal new creature in Christ!

I'm not sure why some folks find that so hard. Jesus is the Author and Creator of everything (John 1:3). Could He not create us anew in Him?

Yes He can, and He does!

Our old self had a lot of religious ideals that had to be tossed out. It was never going to adjust and accept what Jesus has in store. 

All of our faulty schemes and plans, religious or otherwise, were going to burst at the seams under the new enlightenment and illumination of Christ.

We would never have been able to withstand Jesus as we were.

Yet, some try to make it work. They like the idea of having Jesus to turn to, but they want to have Him live inside of a garbage dump. Resistance.

It's just not going to work. We will become undone. We must be changed into something greater.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com

Cultivate

What is your method of communication with God? How do you keep the conversation fresh over time? What energizes you to keep seeking, even craving, a close relationship with Him?

Believe it or not my main way is by writing these devotionals every day. It keeps me accountable. It forces me to get into the Word even during those times that I'd rather be doing something else.

Yes, even doing something else.

What? Do you think it's any different than maintaining any other relationship? It takes commitment and cultivation and sometimes we just don't feel like putting in the time.

The good news? God always feels like it.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hears and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

"Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).

"This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of Him" (1 John 5:14,15).

Three random passages that speak of ourselves and God. What we do. What He does. And how that all comes together in fellowship.

My best advice? Relax. God's relaxed. It's not some formal business meeting. Talk. Enjoy. Smile. Laugh. Cry. Express yourself. Even get angry if you feel a need to. In all healthy and solid relationships there is as much listening as speaking. 

Talk to Him today. There is a wealth of health to be gained in body, soul, and spirit.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><

www.reallifect.com