The Kingdom Series - “The King’s Business”

FRESH BREAD

The Kingdom Series - “The King’s Business”

 “And I, Daniel, fainted and was sick for days; afterward I arose and went about the king's business. I was astonished by the vision, but no one understood it” (Daniel 8:27).

    

     Daniel was given understanding of what would happen to God’s people in the latter days (see Dan 10:14). What he saw coming was so concerning that it literally caused him to faint and become sick.

     Daniel saw a time when the rebellious, lawless and transgressors on the earth will “have reached their fullness” (Dan 8:23), and where a king and kingdoms would rise up against the saints of the Most High. He saw deceit prospering, prosperity being destroyed, his own friends running in fear and the proud in heart seemingly having their way. But what really caused Daniel’s grief was what he saw concerning the saints, most of which had little, if any understanding of the times. 

     Daniel saw and understood that what was coming would be a great test to those who dared to call the Lord their God. These times would require a vision that could only come from above. Yet that is exactly what Daniel received, not only understanding, but the strength that enabled him regardless of the times, to arise and go about the king’s business.

     Daniel clearly saw a kingdom coming that had no end. He knew that every king and kingdom would not endure the power of this eternal Kingdom.  Seeing this enabled Daniel to arise!

     The Scriptures remind us that when God arises His enemies will be scattered (see Ps 68:1). So the question needing to be answered today is, will we arise, regardless of the test and the times?

     In spite of the grief caused by what we see happening around us, a testimony written of this generation will one day emerge that will read, “and they arose and went about their King’s business.” May our names be included in this list!   

David White

The Kingdom Series - “Doing the Works Jesus Did”

FRESH BREAD

The Kingdom Series - “Doing the Works Jesus Did”

     Jesus promised that all those who believe in Him would do the works He did. Or did He? And if He did, then we have to be honest and ask ourselves why so few believers are actually doing the exact same works He did? Haven’t we been called to even greater works? What is missing? 

     What’s missing may be found in the word ‘do’. In other words, Jesus did not say believers would do the works He ‘did’, but what He is doing right now! What Jesus did (in the past), and what He is (presently) doing are two different things. The former is based on what we have read and is a great encouragement, while the latter is rooted in an up-to-date living relationship with the One who’s Kingdom is in us and right in front of us.

     Shortly after making this promise Jesus told His disciples, “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15). While a servant works for someone, a friend works with someone.

     Wanting to do the works Jesus did is admirable, but doing the works He is doing requires friendship, or to put it another way, a fresh ongoing relationship. Its sort a like trying to put butter on yesterday’s toast, verses the slice that’s just popped up out of the toaster. 

     The Kingdom of God is not just something we read about, it’s a very present reality where Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever and where what He did yesterday, He is doing now. Doing His works is not about doing something for Him but doing it right now with Him, just as we would do something with a friend.

     Let’s pray and believe, but let’s also be so close to Him and spend so much time with Him that He will tell us what He and the Father are doing, and then do it with Him. That’s the Kingdom Jesus told us was at hand! 

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:12-14).

David White

Welcome to Fresh Bread

Pastor David White will be posting "fresh bread" from Heaven on this blog.