Friday, May 16, 2025
Home Blog

See God’s Kingdom Come and Will be Done Overcoming the Forces of the World

Harvey L. Diamond
-
0
See God’s Kingdom Come and Will be Done Overcoming the Forces of the World

Jesus teaches profound realities and pearls of wisdom in the Sermon on the Mount. He shares about the presence and values of the kingdom of God. He, therefore, declares a profound reality. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24)

Hear Jesus express the heart our Heavenly Father.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on…33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:25-33).

RELEVANCE

Mammon is one of the dominating forces of the world. It is a spirit that seeks to dominate our thinking, values and actions. It, therefore, leads us to focus on materialism, excesses, greed and unrighteous worldly gain. It so subtly works to deceive us and entrap us. It can, likewise, so subtly become our god.

Simply put, the word mammon means riches. God isn’t against money. So, He wants us to steward it wisely. He is, however, against the love of money. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). The world places its values on material things money can buy. Our Heavenly Father essentially wants us to value the things money can’t buy– like the knowledge of God, real love and wisdom that brings real joy and peace.

My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.
(Proverbs 2:1-5)

We don’t typically see it, but realities of mammon can show up in many ways. It isn’t always through a continual lust or drive for more money. It can show up if we envy others’ wealth or material things. It is also displayed if we are anxious or worry about potentially unmet needs and unrighteous desires. Even worrying about what we might be losing rather than gaining can indicate mammon is influencing us. Additional fruits of mammon’s dominance is fear, hardheartedness, anger and selfishness.

Truly, our Heavenly Father wants us to prosper. However, He loves us too much to see us dominated in our motivations by loving anything or pursuing anything that finds its root in the love of money or material things. For, He knows how such love makes us susceptible to deception, which comes in subtle ways. Therefore, first and foremost, God wants our soul to prosper. John speaks volumes of wisdom in his simple statement:

“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” (3 John 2)

Yes, God cares about our physical and spiritual welfare. So, He looks first at our heart. Hear Jesus’ profound statement, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).

God’s Word and Holy Spirit will steer us towards God’s greatest treasure—our eternal inheritance in Him. His kingdom is filled with many treasures. He looks for us to pursue them “on earth as it is in heaven.”

REFLECT– RELATE – RESPOND

Meditate on the things that bring you the greatest joy in life. What things keep you from experiencing that joy all the time? What things cause you to go down detours, get in ruts, or get entrapped? God purposes for us to experience life “more abundantly.”

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Deuteronomy 28:11-14; Proverbs 2; John 10:10

Serving God Faithfully as a Way of Life Expresses Realities of God’s Kingdom

Harvey L. Diamond
-
0
Serving God Faithfully as a Way of Life Expresses Realities of God’s Kingdom

We read in the book of Exodus how God delivered the Hebrew people out of the bondage of Egypt. His purpose was to establish a people who would serve and worship Him as a way of life. This is still His purpose. He calls us out of worldly and carnal ways (sin) to bring us into dimensions of freedom that enable us to live as overcomers and truly experience the joy of the Lord. “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

RELEVANCE

Consider the Hebrew word used in the Bible God used to call His people out of bondage to freedom, avodah. It means to serve, worship, work. So, God sees our serving, worship and work as an integrated way of life. From His perspective, our serving Him and people and our work is how we express our worship towards Him.

God essentially looks for an attitude of humility and heartfelt devotion towards Him in all we do. He considers that worship. It reflects our gratefulness towards Him. It shows our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus how we are grateful for His ultimate sacrifice. He gave His life that we might find our life in His love. God, therefore, looks for gratefulness as we live. He responds to our faithfulness in measures of grace and blessings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart

(Psalm 51:17)

The MESSAGE version puts this in an interesting way.

I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. (Psalm 51:17 MSG)

Hear the heart of the prophet Samuel address the people at the coronation of Israel’s first king, Saul. He encourages the people to serve God faithfully in response to God’s faithfulness.

“Only fear the Lord, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” (1 Samuel 12:24-25)

We can also be encouraged by Solomon’s wisdom. He equates receiving and living in God’s grace and truth as ways of living faithfully unto God. It brings God’s favor and blessings.

“Do not let grace and truth leave you — bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and esteem in the sight of God and of people.” (Proverbs 3:3-4 CJB)

REFLECT – RELATE – RESPOND

In whatever you do, consider the following ways as you serve and work in faithfulness, worshiping God.

Thank God for His salvation and that He is with us at all times;

Surrender to the will of God in humility and gratefulness for His grace;

Ask God for wisdom and strength to understand His will and walk in His ways;

Watch for opportunities to honor and glorify God in situations;

Work and wait patiently for God’s purposes to be fulfilled.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Psalm 34:18-22

Serving God Faithfully Within Your Gifts and Calling Advances His Kingdom Forward

Harvey L. Diamond
-
0
Serving God Faithfully Within Your Gifts and Calling Advances His Kingdom Forward

Hebrews 12:25 says something powerful. “Since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

As we look at serving God “acceptably” consider how we serve God, our family, and in our vocation and towards people in general. The apostle Paul grasped hold of a Kingdom perspective. Therefore, he shows us some powerful concepts relating to serving God. He understood that one aspect of serving God is related to knowing our gifts and calling and serving through God’s grace in humility and love.

“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8 Therefore He says: “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” (Ephesians 4:1-8)

Paul also saw our serving is holy to God. So, he encourages us to grasp hold of God’s purposes. That centers our serving according to God’s will and purposes He hopes to achieve through us. It takes our motivation off self. It helps us come out of a self-serving or feel-good-about-our-serving mode that is prevalent in the world and centered in self. It brings us to delighting in passionately serving God and serving others through compassion.

“according to the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:8-9)

Paul understood that in gaining God’s perspective, our vision is strengthened. We can, therefore, see the big picture of things easier. This enables us to cultivate forward-looking vision. As a result, we can better see how things can progress forward. This gives us hope for the future. Most importantly, it also helps us see into eternity. This encourages us and motivates us to pursue God-centered, God-initiated goals according to His higher purposes and upward call for us.

“reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

REFLECT – RELATE – RESPOND

Consider how a seed grows into a large plant. What gifts do you realize God has given you?

Meditate on how these gifts can be applied in a progressive way, leading you to express and move in these areas of gifting in greater measures as God strengthens you in faith and in trusting in His abilities.

Embrace God’s realities. As you do, He will enable you to overcome your fears and work within your gifts in a greater way. Be blessed as you do!

 

Serving God in Gratefulness and Love Brings His Kingdom Forward

Harvey L. Diamond
-
0
Serving God in Gratefulness and Love Brings His Kingdom Forward

The writer of Hebrews makes a powerful statement about how to respond to His amazing love, power and grace. It boils down to serving God from a heart of gratefulness. It’s about being in awe of God’s awesomeness as our Creator. It shows God we appreciate and value His unlimited power, His greatness, His steadfast love. This brings us to honor Him in humility and the fear of the Lord.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:25)

Jesus shows us manifold dimensions of His love towards us. He likewise leaves us with an imperative, “that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Paul interpreted and applied the kind of serving in love that exemplifies and expresses in a nutshell the reality of serving God from a kingdom perspective:

“the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.” (Romans 14:17-18)

So, what does serving Christ “in these things” imply? What does serving God and people from God’s perspective “in righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” look like?

Serve God from the heart: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

Serve God sacrificially in the Spirit: “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28) “having died to what we were held by, so that we should serve in the newness of the Spirit” (Romans 7:6)

Serve God freely and faithfully: For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13)  “Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. (Matthew 25:21)

Serve God from a heart of pure worship and way of life, in Him: “you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9)

REFLECT – RELATE – RESPOND

Meditate on the scriptures cited. In what ways can you apply these scriptures in simple ways and serve God right where you are?

Who has God put within your midst to serve with the gifts He has already given you?

Embracing Realities of Receiving God’s Kingdom Brings Great Blessings

Harvey L. Diamond
-
0
Embracing Realities of Receiving God’s Kingdom Brings Great Blessings

Hebrews 12:28 says, “we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken.” Therefore, God is faithful to show us a variety of realities of His kingdom purposes. He shows us dynamics of His ways and intentions. In fact, one Bible story that illustrates the dynamics of receiving His blessings is the story of Him sending the twelve spies to explore and scout out the land across the Jordan River, the promised land.

RELEVANCE

Of the twelve, only two, Joshua and Caleb gave a good report. They all brought back great fruit from the land. They also told of the giants of the land. Ten, however, gave a bad report. They were filled with fear. They lacked vision and faith. They said relating to the giants, “we were like grasshoppers in our own sight” (Numbers 13:33). You could say they had a glass-half-empty perspective, or a negativity bias. So, they couldn’t receive God’s grace. Therefore, they would likewise find it difficult to receive all the promises and blessings God had put before them.

Joshua and Caleb, on the other hand, had a different perspective. They saw things from a lens of faith. They trusted in God’s power. They believed God loved them. Therefore, they could receive from God. It gave them inner strength and courage. They believed all things are possible with God. In fact, the Bible says they had a different spirit (Numbers 14:24). They had an overcoming attitude and mentality. So, they gave a good report. Hear their report.

“Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” (Numbers 13:30)

“If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’  9 Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:8-9)

Yes, life is filled with challenges. So, God would have us regularly assess our perspectives to keep our relationship with Him in a healthy state.

REFLECT – RELATE – RESPOND

Do we see things through a lens of faith towards God and His abilities, grace and faithfulness or fear based on our own human shortcomings, worldly opinions, and negativity bias?

To what degree do we trust in God’s Word and see His eternal and higher wisdom and ways in it or see His word as merely fables?

Do we trust too much in our pain and wounds from life’s battles or the Comforter, the Holy Spirit Jesus said dwells in us to guide us in all truth and comfort us in His peace?

Do we live in our own presumptions or pursue God’s promises, realities and higher truths?

Do we have courage to put our faith into action or be paralyzed in fear?

Do we ask the Lord for His counsel and direction?

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

1 Samuel 23:1-5; 1 Samuel 30:1-8; 2 Samuel 5:22-25; 2 Samuel 21:1-5;

1 Peter 1 :10-12

Being Blessed by Being Willing to Receive God’s Kingdom Grace and Truth

Harvey L. Diamond
-
0
Being Blessed by Being Willing to Receive God’s Kingdom Grace and Truth

God loves us more than we can imagine. That’s why He allows us to go through trials. His purpose is bringing us to overcome and experience His great grace and redemption. The world and our humanity have a hard time getting this. But if we seek God and His kingdom with all our heart, we will truly find Him, and His solutions. This enables us to live as overcomers. Our challenge is being willing to seek Him and receive His solutions. Truly, His ways are higher than ours.

RELEVANCE

God truly offers us grace in His great love. As we receive it, we can endure life’s trials in the grace of His strength. We can also receive His blessings. This is His intention. So, the more we intentionally seek Him, and the more we are willing to participate in His working in our situations, the more we receive His blessings. We get to experience His overcoming strength and redemption. This brings great joy!

“Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord — that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:11)

Jesus, our Good Shepherd, offers to lead us in God’s higher ways as we receive Him. His ways are filled with God’s lovingkindness, grace and wisdom. His ways lead us in God’s faithfulness.

“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:11-13)

As we receive Him, we receive the reality of His abundant grace gifts. We receive great dimensions of our Heavenly Father’s love. As a result, we get to participate in a host of blessings as children of God. This includes the manifold grace gifts of the very presence of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. The more we actively receive Him and His grace gifts, the more He acts in real ways in our life.

Therefore, willingness is a powerful virtue. It takes believing, even more, beholding God’s grace and truth. So, the more we can receive this reality, the more we can behold His goodness and glory.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:14-18)

REFLECT – RELATE – RESPOND

Read the following scriptures and meditate on these reality principles of the kingdom of God. Let the Holy Spirit work in you to receive the grace of God’s refreshing and His work of transformation.

Matthew 11:14    Be willing to receive God’s prophetic views

Matthew 22:3      Be willing to accept God’s invitations

Matthew 26:41    Be willing to yield to the Holy Spirit

Matthew 5           Be willing to embrace the heart issues discussed in the Beatitudes

Romans 12:1-2   Be willing to sacrifice the ways of the world and our carnality by renewing the mind

God Brings Us through Shaking to Advance His Kingdom in our Life

Harvey L. Diamond
-
0
God Brings Us through Shaking to Advance His Kingdom in our Life

The book of Hebrews presents some great realities of the kingdom of God. As much as Hebrews 11 recounts testimonies of great heroes of faith, Hebrews 12 ends with a huge statement revealing God’s greater purposes. He brings us through aspects of shaking to advance His Kingdom purposes. It’s all for our good and His glory. He helps us understand what this is about.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

RELEVANCE

God helps us understand His perspective. He, therefore, purposes to bring us through a transformation process. This enables us to reflect and walk in greater measures of His goodness—His love and His ways, His grace, mercy and truth, His greater righteousness and justice. His kingdom’s foundation is all about this reality.

“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne;

Mercy and truth go before Your face.

Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!

They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance.”

(Psalm 89:14-15)

God knows our needs. He anticipates trials we will go through. So, He provides solutions and strategies that we live as overcomers in life. His heart is bent on redemption. In His great love, He looks forward to us receiving and participating in His solutions. This is how His kingdom comes and His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.

Yes, this means we will go through a re-alignment process. So, God pours out grace. And truly, as we receive it, He strengthens us inside and helps us through the process. His grace is truly sufficient.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

REFLECT – RELATE – RESPOND

Meditate on the reality of knowing the “joyful sound” of God’s mercy—His lovingkindness and truth.

How do you see your life benefiting from the reality of greater measures of God’s lovingkindness and truth impacting you?

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

Psalm 89; Hebrews 12

Experience the Kingdom of God through God’s Covenant of Grace and Peace

Harvey L. Diamond
-
0
Experience the Kingdom of God through God’s Covenant of Grace and Peace

The Bible is framed through several covenants God made with people. This includes Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses and King David. In the new covenant mediated by Messiah Jesus, God purposes to bring the hopes and expectations of His prior covenants into fulfillment and expression. This happens through Christ and the grace, presence and power of the Holy Spirit. It’s what Kingdom of God life is about.

RELEVANCE

We see through God’s covenant that He promises to:

  • put his Spirit in us to empower us to love Him and obey his commands and instructions
  • write the spirit of His law on our hearts
  • bring complete forgiveness of sin in His grace and mercy
  • govern us in His Kingdom ways through King Yeshua, Jesus our Lord and Savior
  • bring us into a state of unity and alignment with Him
  • grant us bold access into His presence
  • enable us to be salt and light to a needy world through His grace gifts

The new covenant is an unconditional covenant of grace. So, God gives promises and brings His covenant fulfillment through the grace of Christ and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

The new covenant offers total forgiveness of sins. Jesus cleanses us from shame. He offers us powerful dimensions of grace gifts. As we repent and turn from our former ways, we are given refreshed hearts. This helps us renew our minds through the indwelling Holy Spirit. It also enables us to live in a dynamic relationship with God.

As a result, we can love God intentionally. We can also walk more in his ways, and serve and worship Him faithfully. We can also act in ways bringing His justice in His righteousness. This is being a light and salt to the world around us.

In addition, In Him, we can walk in great dimensions of real freedom and light, rather than sin and darkness. We are granted bold access to God (Romans 5). We are also positioned to live as joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8). Truly, we can stand and walk in vibrant dimensions of His grace and resurrection life. That’s why Jesus encourages us to learn how. He is the way, the truth, and the life.

Truly, we can experience God’s joy and peace as we serve and worship our loving and faithful King Jesus. We do this living Christlike, through the grace and anointing of our priesthood and authority of His kingship. All this is possible in and through Him, our perfect covenant-keeper. It behooves us to learn about living as kings and priests unto God. (Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10)

So, what does God look for in us? He looks at our measure of faith. He also looks at the integrity of our heart and our state of mind. He also appreciates our heartfelt worship.

So, we are called to love, serve and worship Him with all our heart, to be devoted to Him, and obedient to Him. So, He looks to trust us through our willingness and obedience, our faithfulness—in His faithfulness—by His grace. Truly, life is a journey. We go and grow from faith to faith, glory to glory as we overcome trials and tests of faith. All for our good and His glory.

REFLECT – RELATE – RESPOND

Meditate on the scripture references below. As God to elevate the reality of His covenant promises and blessings in your life.

Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 37:24-28; Acts 2:38; Mark 5: 1-5; Luke 19:37-38; John 18:36-37; John 17; Romans 5:1-2; Matthew 5:13-16

123...60Page 1 of 60

Arise In Glory International

3301 Coors Blvd. NW
Suite R Box 144
Albuquerque, NM 87120

505-504-5289

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name

copyright © 2024 Arise in Glory International, a 501(c)(3) organization