“Your Kingdom Come...”

One of our highest priorities should be everyday to build the Kingdom...

People today have two options: to build their own ‘kingdom’ accumulating wealth, possessions and fame for their own benefit, with themselves as 'king'. Or to step down from their throne and serve God’s eternal Kingdom here on earth which will last forever.

When a person is fixated on keeping up with the Jones' of improving their home, buying expensive cars/properties, and wearing the latest clothes/accessories, it is all for their personal 'kingdom' which will all rust, fade and disappear. This is all in vain as the reality is every person ever born came into the world with nothing and will likewise leave with nothing. 

The comparison trap is self inflicted torture because you will always feel second and never measure up. History shows that the most miserable people are those who have apparently everything the world can offer. However, money and possessions doesn't make people happy, just more anxious and empty. What we choose to live for is therefore essential. 

When a believer is planted in church, serving and giving in faith for the benefit of others, being stewards of their gifts, surely they are building God’s Kingdom which will endure forever. In eternity, all that will matter with everything we ever did and accomplished in life was if we contributed to building the Kingdom of God. Surely he will never be shaken; his righteousness endures forever (Psalm 112:6).

Matthew 6:9-10 - In this manner pray .... Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

It is amazing that there are 365 mentions of the word ‘kingdom’ in the bible, meaning a city, nation, people or empire. Many of these refer to earthly kingdom’s that came and went and are now nothing today. However, God’s Kingdom is forever and all the faithful saints who contributed to it will be remembered and rewarded forever. 

Jesus’ model prayer for us was that God’s Kingdom would come above all other things in our lives. Today, the church is God’s vehicle for advancing the Kingdom. Church is a place of community, breakthroughs, miracles and victory. It is the greatest place we can ever build and invest our lives into that will surely last forever. We are assured that when we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will give us all our needs and desires, without having to strive for them (Matt 6:33). 

Matthew 16:19 - And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Whatever is bound in heaven is bound on earth. Sickness, poverty, disease and fear can not reside in heaven. Additionally, whatever is loosed in heaven is loosed on earth. Blessing, Favour, Peace, Joy and Breakthrough are unlimited when declared over your life. If these are not taking place, speak what is not into existence today. Your confession is powerful because your words are powerful. 

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like….”

Matthew 13:24 - Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field…”

Of the forty parables Jesus taught, almost half are directly related to explaining the mystery and greatness of the Kingdom. In Matthew 13, there are twelve direct references alone describing the Kingdom of God:

1) The Wheat and the Tares – God’s true people will be clearly identified from the false

2) The Mustard Seed – starts small but becomes the greatest of all kingdoms

3) The Leaven – takes over every area of a person’s life

4) The Hidden Treasure – our greatest joy and happiness

5) The Pearl of Great Price – worth selling everything we have

6) The Dragnet – the final separation of the righteous and the wicked

Prerequisites for the Kingdom

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God...

The Kingdom of God is not open to just anyone. It is a place of holiness, peace, freedom and perfection. Anything evil or unrighteous will never be allowed to enter for the safety of its inhabitants. We are living now in the age of Grace with time to change our ways and become citizens of the Kingdom. 

But those who are blinded to their own agenda and hold on to their own 'kingdom' will never know how amazing they could have had it serving God's Kingdom. Some of the main prerequisites for entering the Kingdom are:  

1) Childlike faith - Matthew 18:1-4

2) Forgiveness to others - Matthew 18:22-24

3) No love for the things of this world - Matthew 19:23-25

4) Available to all people who accept willingly and humbly - Matthew 22:1-3

5) Personal holiness, sacrifice and attentiveness- Matthew 25:1-13

6) Faithful with multiplying our gifts & talents - Matthew 25:14-30

7) Faith with good works of social justice - Matthew 25:31-46

8) We must be born again/genuine salvation experience - John 3:1-8

9) We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God - Acts 14:21-23

Make it your aim this year and beyond to re-evaluate your life and if your living for the temporary or the eternal. Never sacrifice the eternal for the temporal which doesn't satisfy because it was never meant to satisfy. Ultimately, since we are receiving a Kingdom which can not be shaken, let us serve God acceptably with sincere motives and a joyful heart (Hebrews 12:28). 

Heart Condition

The most important priority you have in life is taking care of the internal condition of your heart…

Our spiritual heart affects literally every single area of our lives. It makes our decisions, determines our direction and controls our choices. When a person, object or habit has our heart it impacts everything we have, say and do. Who you are now, where you are going, what your doing and why you speak is all dependent on your current heart condition.

Our spiritual heart is to be closely looked after and guarded at all costs. If you were to have your door open at all hours of the day in an unsafe city known for stealing, violence and crime, would you sleep at night? Definitely not. But this is what a person’s life looks like when the door to their life is open for all the world to come in and out. They are moved by their circumstances and emotions which go up and down - everyday!

Our heart is the open door to every area of our life – emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially and relationally. No wonder Proverbs exhorts us: ABOVE ALL ELSE, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do! (4:23) How sad that people choose to carry things in their heart for decades refusing to let go of the pain of the past; not just for others sake but for their own.

Similarly, I heard a story about a man requiring a heart transplant. He was a happy and friendly man who didn’t touch alcohol, but the heart the doctors put in him the medical history of the deceased discovered after that they were an alcoholic and struggled with anger issues. Weeks after the operation the man was struggling with alcoholism and battling strong emotions of anger towards his family. Is there a connection?

1) Deceitful Heart

Jeremiah 17:9-10 - The human heart is the deceitful of all things and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.

Our heart can be incredibly deceiving and wicked when we live for self and sin. Our sinful nature is to have a dark and rebellious heart when sin takes root within us. Human nature can be incredibly wicked and commit acts of total depravity. Of course we would never believe we might do something evil, until circumstances and life’s pressures squeeze out what is really inside of us.

What will take you out of the faith more than anything is the hidden insecurities, anxieties, fears and evil cravings within our hearts. It seems with every year God is always doing a good and mighty work within us each year. To get the garbage out of us through the trials, storms of life and wilderness seasons behind closed doors.

Christianity isn’t behaviour modification – it is a heart transformation. When we are saved God promises to give us a new heart and a new mind to live for Him and to set us free (Ezekiel 36:26). From this place is a journey of God healing and cleaning our hearts so we can draw near to Him closer every day. 

2) Whole Heart

Luke 6:45 - A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Scripture abounds it seems with specific references to the importance of our heart. The NKJV has 923 references to the heart in the bible alone!

What is inside our hearts is very important to God. The heart and the spirit are closely connected and it is our spirit that connects us to Him. Your heart and thoughts can keep you from God’s best because they are so powerful. When Jesus said if we desire within to hate our brother or to have lust towards someone it is no different than doing it in real life (Matt 5:21-30). Furthermore, Job in his greatest trial said ‘what I feared came upon me’ (Job 3:25).

What we align in our heart will eventually become our reality. Depression, misfortune, poverty and sickness follow those with a sick heart. In contrast, joy, peace, blessing and creativity are the atmosphere of heaven which follow you when you have a healthy heart. For as a man thinks on his heart so is he (Proverbs 23:7).

3) Heart for God

Acts 13:22 – David was a man after God's own heart, because he ruled the people according to the Divine will.

David had a heart after God's own heart and was used powerfully in his generation. A heart after God is to stay happy, holy and humble. God is looking all over the world for those who are genuinely after His own heart. In all truth God doesn’t need you to have anything to be chosen; just a willing and surrendered heart, flexible and soft to do whatever He calls you to do in life.

You will know what’s really inside your heart when you look in the mirror of God's Word (James 1:27).
A man who looks himself in the mirror but forgets and walks away unchanged is a fool. It takes great humility and discipline to look and examine yourself and change areas that are hindering you in life.

Truly thank God that He doesn’t give you all the self centered desires of your heart, which if He said yes to them all would have ruined you. The three highest priorities God has for you right now is Faith, Character and Capacity. All of these begin with the heart and He has the perfect plan to orchestrate them in your life to grow!

4) Sick/Healthy Heart

Proverbs 13:12 - Hope deferred makes the heart sick

Deep wounds and inner scars can keep us far from God. Likewise, pride, lust, greed, unforgiveness, depression, anxiety, fears, bitterness, hatred and idolatry are all brick walls that keep us from a blessed relationship with God. A cold heart is insensitive to His presence and deceived of His character. If God has to offend our minds to expose our hearts He will.

It makes perfect sense that psychiatrists and modern medicine earn billions of dollars trying to fix and heal people’s broken hearts. Their outer body is working perfectly fine but on the inside their heart is either seriously sick, broken, limping or dying. Their emotional world is a mess and they have no control over what they think or do.

Put simply, YOU CAN NOT AFFORD A SICK HEART in life. Your negative internal world will not bring success or victory to your external world. However, there is hope. If your heart is sick or not in good shape, God is the Master healer and cleaner for your greatest possession. 

Prayer is a heart condition more than anything. It changes you first which will impact your circumstances second. I have found God doesn't speak to you at times when our heart condition is far from Him (disobedience, cold, dead, deceived, bitter, unbelief). All of these are barriers that are like loud noises keeping us from hearing from the words of our Father.

But good news! God doesn’t see you today, He sees who you can become. The first step is to get in touch with our true Heart Condition, see it for what it really is and surrender it to God. Remember: Salvation comes by surrendering our hearts to Jesus first. Out of this place salvation will come to all other areas of our lives.

Finally, God is not looking for a perfect heart – He is looking for a directed heart. When we surrender our hearts to Him we are in a place He can use us and set us free in the areas we are sick or not whole. What’s more God knows what in our hearts but He loves you the same. Let this encourage you today and desire each day to make sure you living with a Heart Condition that is happy, holy and humble. 

The Mystery Revealed

Everyone is fascinated by mysteries...

Mysteries are something that is dark, obscure, a secret, or puzzling to the majority. When a mystery is revealed it inspires and empowers our knowledge. The Greek word is mysterion - a truth hidden from human knowledge or understanding but now disclosed by the revelation of God. Specifically, in Ephesians 3, it is several things hidden since the beginning of time.

1)      The Dispensation of God’s Grace

Ephesians 3:1-4 NKJV - For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— ² if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, ³ how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, ⁴ by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)…

The grace of God is a combination of forgiveness, salvation, undeserved kindness and empowerment. Of all these most references in the NT refers to grace as empowerment. This is a supernatural power given to us that transforms our hearts and minds daily. It is God’s sanctifying, renewing, empowering and transforming power that we become more like Christ. Paul’s theme over and over through his letters is this mysterious transformation power received through faith and humility. The best evidence of a real God is a changed life. The sinful nature no longer has control over our lives in addictions, negative emotions, bondage and pain. We can now live in freedom and victory as overcomers through the power of the Holy Spirit. This is the mystery

2)      The Salvation of the World

Ephesians 3:5-7 NKJV - which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: ⁶ that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, ⁷ of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power…

For thousands of years only the Jewish race of Israel was given the privilege of being God’s people. They were blessed with God’s provision, protection and prosperity when they walked in obedience and faith. As God’s people they had a special covenant of promise. But after thousands of years of separation the unthinkable happened. Through Jesus’ work on the Cross all people around the world now have the invitation to walk and live in relationship with God. To have the privilege and honour of being part of His people – loved and treasured unconditionally. This is the mystery.

3)      Heaven on Earth Channeled through God’s Church

Ephesians 3:9-12 NKJV - to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; ¹⁰ to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

Finally, God’s perfect plan from the beginning of time was that believers would gather together in communities of love and fellowship called the Church. It would be a place of unity, serving one another, encouraging and growing together in the knowledge of God. Heaven on earth is no better displayed than when God’s people live and walk in grace towards each other in fellowship. God’s eternal purpose from the beginning of time was that the universe of the heavenly places of His manifold wisdom would be expressed through His Church. This is the mystery.

Paul marveled at the grace given to him which he was called to preach the gospel that makes the mystery a reality. When we consider his life before Christ and life as an apostle, we see that his calling really was all a powerful work of grace. Furthermore, it is indeed amazing that God would take a reformed Pharisee, and a persecutor of the church to be the main minister of the mystery. Bringing the hostile relationship between Jew and Gentile together into one new body called the Church.

In his letters Paul wanted everyone to know, “I’m not making this up. This isn’t my invention. God gave me the revelation and I am only His messenger of this truth.” It cost Paul a lot of persecution and sacrifice to hold on to this mystery, so he could never have made it up himself. He wants everybody to see and share in the fellowship of this mystery - which it precisely was because it was unknowable until God revealed it.

The ancient Greek word for God’s wisdom is polupoikilos, which has the ideas of intricacy, complexity, and great beauty. God’s dream was that the church would shine brightly and be glorious on the earth, in reigning over the nations. For it is through the church that the infinite wisdom of God might be made known.

This explains how God will reveal His wisdom, and to whom He reveals it. He will reveal it by His work in the church, and He will reveal it to angelic beings (principalities and powers) both good and evil. This is God’s eternal purpose in Jesus, that in the fullness of the times, God will gather together and resolve all things in Jesus.

The church appears to be God’s pilot scheme for the reconciled universe of the future, the mystery of God’s will to be administered in the fullness of the times when the things in heaven and the things on earth are brought together in Christ – anonymous.

Now that you understand this mystery, what are you going to do about it?

Plans vs Purpose

There is a significant difference between plans verses purpose it seems. Proverbs 19:21 says Many are the PLANS in a mans heart; But it is the LORD’s PURPOSE that prevails


1) PLANS
Mans plans are our dreams, ideas, choices and decisions. They come from us, from others and from the influences around us. They can be to get married, buy a house, move cities, change churches ... anything! Generally, they are the big decisions that determine what we do, where we go and who we do them with.

2) PURPOSE

God’s purpose is His intention for what happens in our lives. Purpose is a set direction and a final destination. God’s purpose is His best. His purpose should become our purpose. His Ways are Higher than our Ways. Purpose doesn’t always make sense until you arrive at the destination. You may fight God all the way kicking and screaming, but He will be right all along in the end. If your plans are contrary to God’s purposes, He will orchestrate events so His purpose will prevail within you. Scripture simply abounds on this powerful concept:

Philippians 2:13 For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good PURPOSE.

• The power of God’s grace and the Holy Spirit are alive in us, transforming us to desire and do God’s great purposes. He gives us a new heart and mind to live for Kingdom assignments and no longer foolish earthly activities


Matthew 8:28 All things work together for good, to those who love God and are called to His PURPOSE.

• Not that all things are good that happen to us. But in heavens eyes anything that strengthens your faith, character and capacity is God’s good purpose to those who love Him

Ephesians 1:11; 3:11 In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the PURPOSE of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will... This was according to the eternal PURPOSE that He has realised in Christ Jesus our Lord.


• God’s great purpose which was once hidden is now revealed to us in Christ. God calls us to consider the greatness of God’s great purpose for the eternal ages to come. He invites us to be part and take our place in His amazing purpose!

Isaiah 14:24; 27 The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have PURPOSED, so it will stand” …. For the LORD Almighty has PURPOSED, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?

• Whatever God plans can not be changed or altered. What has been spoken stands as divine and Truth. Once it has been declared it can not be taken back. His Word will not return back void and empty. His purposes are His good plans that will bring Him alone glory. There is simply no wisdom, no insight and no plan that can succeed against our God.



Ultimately, letting go of our plans to take hold of God’s purposes is to be our constant objective. No matter how good or amazing our plans are, they will simple never measure up or exceed God’s perfect purposes. Good is always the enemy of God’s best. For He can do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask, think or imagine!

The Significance of Your Legacy

It is a question most of us never really think about...

Or if we do we tend to put it aside and try to ignore it. The big question we have all been asked so many times: What do you want to be remembered for? What do you want to accomplish that will have a lasting impact? That your footsteps mattered and your life counted. In one hundred years time people will still remember your legacy...

Another word for legacy is influence. Influence is any type of positive pressure, control, persuasion, encouragement or inspiration that impacts others to yourself. It is the power affecting a person or course of events produced by influence. All leadership is influence, yet not many know the true power of it.

Like everything, influence can be positive or negative and used for good or evil. Leaders are held to a high standard before God and must give an account of their entire life, influence and legacy (2 Corinthians 5:10).

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a Christian preacher and theologian who was central to bringing the First Great Awakening. His descendants went on to be influential ministers, college presidents, financiers, surgeons and judges. Compare the lives of Edwards with a standard person of his day...

A Brief Family History of Max Jukes

Max Jukes was an atheist who lived in New York during the 19 century. Of his 560 known descendants:

• 7 were murderers
• 60 became thieves
• 67 reported having syphilis
• 100 were alcoholics
• 50% of the women in his family line became prostitutes
• 300 died prematurely

  

The Family History of Jonathan Edwards

• 300 were preachers
• 295 were college graduates
• 100 were missionaries
• 100 were lawyers
• 80 held public office including 1 Vice President of the United States (Aaron Burr), 13 US senators, 1 state governor, 3 big city mayors and 1 US controller
• 75 military officers
• 65 college professors including 13 college presidents
• 56 physicians including 1 Dean of Medical School

Jonathan and his wife Sarah Edwards are among the most notable parents in American history. By 1900, the descendants of their eleven children left a legacy of hundreds of significant and respectable individuals who changed their world. The generational legacy of Edward's children reflects how the influence of a sincere follower of Jesus Christ is passed down through history. 

Why was Jonathan Edwards able to pass on such an incredible legacy? He was a man of prayer. Few know that though he was an incredibly busy man, he was also a very devoted husband and father. Edwards spent at least one hour per day praying for and speaking blessing over each of his eleven children. Because of his commitment to pray for his children on a daily basis God blessed not only them but his entire generational line!

Genesis 22:17-18 -“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.  Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

God is a generational thinker and long range multi-generational planner. He honours the covenant He made with Abraham in order to perpetuate blessing down Abraham’s family line. If you are IN Christ that include you and me.

What legacy do you want to leave?

Sources:

Roberts Liardon, God's Generals: The Revivalists, Whitaker House, 2008, page 131

familylegacyinternational.org/.../Leaving%20a%20Family%20Legacy.doc

Ramblings of a Roman Soldier

That day was a day I won't forget. I had never seen anything like it. In my time spent with the Legion in Jerusalem, I had helped perform many executions, but this one was different. This day there were three men condemned to die. The sentence proclaimed on each of them had been death by crucifixion. 

At the palace, we tied the large crossbeams of rough hewn wood across the backs of each of the condemned. Their arms were outstretched on the wood demonstrating to everyone throughout the city what was going to happen to them. We took "the parade route" through town. We wound down every street to warn the people that the Roman Empire was serious about crime. Everyone knew where we were headed. There was this hill called "The Skull" where we performed the executions. As we wound down the streets, the weight of the beams dug into their back. Several splinters from the rough wood slivered deep into their skin. 

The first man hollered curses at the crowd. There was no remorse there, only bitterness. I can still hear his angry voice yelling at the top of his lungs. The bitterness came out with his words and hung around him condemning him yet further. He made no appeals for mercy. I guess he was holding onto the only thing he had left. His strength had been robbed from him in the prisons. I had to prod him with my sword several times to keep him moving.

The second man was almost the opposite of the first. In his tears, he cried out for mercy. He mentioned his child and tried to tell a heart-rending story to the crowd. But all they did was jeer back. I had to wonder about the wisdom of killing this repentant man. But mine was not to wonder, mine was to take orders.

As the third man came by, I heard the whispers and murmurs going through the crowd. I overheard that this was Jesus. I figured this must be the guy that had whipped the city into a frenzy and the reason why we were having this execution so quickly. He didn't look like the criminal he was supposed to be. Also on his head, there was a wreath of thorns. Each one had dug deeply into his flesh encircling his head with blood. His olive skin was hanging in strips on his back. He was so badly beaten that the pain had to be unbearable. 

I glanced at him and saw such a peaceful look in his eyes that I couldn't help but stare. This peace didn't make sense. Did he not realise that he was about to die one of the most gruesome deaths possible? Did he know that he would die from lack of air as he started to lack the strength to pull himself up by his nail pierced wrists and finally his lungs would fill with liquid? 

After an eternity of marching, we approached the site of execution. The sound of a hammer hitting a nail into the flesh of the condemed echoed throughout the countryside. As we finished each one we would lift the post up and into the hole in the ground. About three hours later, the entire land went dark. This was an unusual dark. It wasn't like night. It was a stifling darkness. This day was getting weirder and weirder. I just wanted this execution to be over with so I could go my own way. Then about three hours later, the darkness left and I heard Jesus scream out "Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani" I wondered who he was screaming at. 

The cry was with such agony that I can still hear it in my ears. It was not merely a physical agony. It went much deeper. It was the agony of a heart breaking. I was used to seeing a sense of desperation from these men watching their life slip away.I was thinking about this when he screamed out his final word, "Tetelestai". It echoed throughout the countryside. It was long and drawn out and painful for him to say. The timing and the tone of his words had me troubled. Tetelestai means something that is utterly and totally complete. That nothing else could possibly be done to add to it. 

My curiosity could take it no longer. I went up to the cross and asked a woman there who this Jesus was. She broke down in tears and I couldn't understand her through her sobs. But the man with her explained to me all the wonderful things he had done. That He was the Messiah. Right then the earth shook and everyone was frozen in fear. The soldiers standing by were silent and had their eyes wide open. Finally I exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” 


Source: Inspirational Stories, Ramblings of a Roman Soldier, website: http://www.pointsoftruth.com/inspire/ramblingsofroman.html

‘Live as Foreigners…’

Currently, as I write this I am overseas far away from home…

When I arrived I had to learn a completely different culture, etiquette and vocabulary. How and where to go for transport, places to visit to eat, where to go and what to do for sightseeing and history landmarks. It was all daunting and at times difficult. All the comforts of home and familiarity of conveniences now a world away. But then, as believers, this is to be expected.

The last 18 months have been especially difficult. Through a series of unfortunate circumstances I have lost my dreams, vision, passions, confidence, hopes, convictions and enthusiasm in my faith. My life had gone upside down and everything I depended on has become nothing. Slowly these are coming back, but at a price.

1 Peter 2:11 - Dear friends, I warn you as temporary residents and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

Just this week I was walking in Green Park, London seeking God with the hours ticking by like minutes. An overwhelming sense of wandering aimlessly with no direction or vision for my life came upon me.

But then, as believers, this is to be expected.

A pilgrim (traveler or wanderer) is one who travels to a distance from his own country to visit a holy place, or to pay his devotion to his God. The meaning here is, that the Christian has no permanent home on earth; their citizenship is not here; they are mere sojourners, and passing on to their eternal home in the heavens. In more details there true understanding is they should not:

1)      Regard the earth as their home;

2)      Should not seek to acquire permanent possessions here, as if they were to remain here, but should act as travelers do, who merely seek a temporary lodging, without expecting permanently to reside in a place;

3)      Should not allow any such attachments to be formed, or arrangements to be made, as to impede their journey to their final home, as pilgrims seek only a temporary lodging, and steadily pursue their journey;

4)      Even while engaged here in the necessary callings of life - their studies, their farming, their merchandise - their thoughts and affections should be on other things. One in a strange land thinks much of his country and home; a pilgrim, much of the land to which he goes; and even while his time and attention may be necessarily occupied by the arrangements needful for the journey, his thoughts and affections will be far away;

5)      Should not encumber ourselves with much of this world's goods. Many professed Christians get so many worldly things around them, that it is impossible for them to make a journey to heaven. They burden themselves as no traveler would, and they make no progress. A traveler takes along as few things as possible; and a staff is often all that a pilgrim has. We make the most rapid progress in our journey to our final home when we are least encumbered with the things of this world.

1 Peter 1:17 - And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners in the land.

A pilgrim does not give himself up to the indulgence of sensual appetites, or to the soft pleasures of the soul. All these would hinder his progress, and turn him off from his great design. The word ‘foreigners’ means a sojourner, one without the rights of citizenship, as distinguished from a citizen. Specifically, Christians are not properly citizens of this world, but that their citizenship is in heaven, and that they are here as mere sojourners.

Hebrews 11:8-10 - By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham was in a similar place. He wandered the earth with no real sense of purpose and vision when God called him. He was far away from the comforts of home, probably lost and confused. But he had faith that His God was leading him to a better place. That His best was worth taking the risk of a lifetime. He saw a heavenly city prepared for him long ago. Deep down, he knew he didn’t belong here on earth…

Hebrews 11:13-16 - All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Being strangers and pilgrims we profess to seek a heavenly country, not entangling in the affections with earthly things which are only temporary. Others spend all their time and efforts acquiring earthly wealth at the neglect of the salvation of their souls. But we do not gain the world and lose our soul. The children of God live not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

We have a heavenly city of the New Jerusalem. We have rights and privileges which are heavenly and eternal. Our fellowship is with God the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, and the spirits of the redeemed mankind of the Church. We have crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts; and regard not the body, which we know must perish. We confidently expect we shall be raised from death and be glorified with Christ in heavenly bodies.

Friend, heaven is your home and God is your portion. All kinds of earthly desires, whether those of the flesh or of the eye, or those included in the pride of life, are here comprised in the words fleshly lusts.

Philippians 3:20 - For our citizenship is in heaven.