13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14 They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 20 Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ. (Matthew 16:14-20)

There are lots of understandings that can be taken out of this passage, but we need to confine ourselves here to the kingdom principles involved.

Firstly, the kingdom revelation that Peter had. Peter had made the transition here from being simply a believer in the Son of Man to being a fully committed follower, or disciple, of the Christ, the Son of the living God.

What does the word 'Christ' mean?

CHRIST: the Messiah or anointed one of God as the subject of Old Testament prophecies

The revelation of Christ is not simply a belief or understanding of the mind, but rather, an all inclusive revelation of the Father, that we too must receive in order to fully participate in the kingdom; for us to be prepared to become sold out, 100 fold, followers of Jesus, prepared to sacrifice everything to, and for, Him. To join the group prepared to live out the proclamation, they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. (Revelation 12:11) To become living martyrs for Jesus.

It is these ones who build the church, the everlasting kingdom, upon the rock of Jesus.

24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-7)

Where is your 'church' built - upon the sand or the rock?

Secondly, we also need to receive a revelation of the connectedness of the heavenly and earthly kingdom (in the singular). There is but one kingdom! But it is not a mythical place way up there in the sky, out of reach until we die; a kingdom of fluffy clouds, gold pavements and 5 star mansions!

As we saw a few weeks ago, the heavenly and earthly kingdom is one. It is a living vibrant place of harmony, that was first seen in the Garden of Eden. The kingdom was removed from the earth after mans decision to sin (for God and sin cannot co-exist), but restored to the earth by the Father through the reconciling sin sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, confirmed through His resurrection, and empowered through the Holy Spirit at the first Pentecost. The kingdom is now being progressively reestablished on the earth, and will reach its fulfillment with the return of Jesus to rule and reign with His kingdom saints.

4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:5-6)

To comprehend this, we need to understand the ongoing, progressive principle that applies to so many things in God For example....

I HAVE been saved (at my time of commitment to Jesus)
I AM being saved (process of sanctification, of becoming like Jesus)
I WILL be saved (to reign with Him in the kingdom fulfillment.)

Remember too, our look at prophecy, which we saw could have PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE fulfillment.

This same progressive principle applies to the kingdom. The kingdom is not a resting place for 'fluffy ducks' but a living vibrant being that, in spite of the wiles of satan, is being re-established today upon the earth. Hallelujah!

We need to get this revelation from the Father, for it is beyond our human ability to comprehend.

My friend, if you choose, if I choose, through 100 fold commitment to Jesus, we can both participate in the kingdom building taking place upon the earth, right now.

It is not religion, it is not even the present church, for the church tends to separate itself from the world. It is a kingdom of vitality, a kingdom of change in the physical as well as the spiritual. We are so blessed to live in this day and age when we can look forward to seeing the kingdom growing like amoeba multiplying, until its establishment is obvious, even to the world.

We have not understood the words of Jesus at the transfiguration until now.

And he said to them, "I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power." (Mark 9:1)

The kingdom of God returned to earth at the time of the crucifixion, resurrection and Pentecost, and the power is of the kingdom is progressively being re-established since that time. We may not have seen, or understood, or grasped hold of it yet. But it is there waiting and available to us. Jesus said so!

"A great and wondrous sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads. His tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that he might devour her child the moment it was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne. The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down-that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." (Revelation 12:1-12)

The Thousand Years

"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time. I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years." (Revelation 20:1-6)

The Transfiguration

... doing the right thing because we want to, not because we are expected to.

... being a servant both to God and man.

... honouring God with body, soul and spirit.

... loving the Lord with all our heart, soul and mind.

... being 100% committed to the Lord's cause.

... putting the Lord first in all things.

... placing the Lord's desires ahead of our own.

... applying the Lord's will to our mind and emotions.

... accepting the Lord's correction graciously.

... being joyful in the Lord - even while being corrected!

... subverting our will to His.

... centred upon giving rather than receiving.

... becoming a little more like Jesus every day.

... being prepared to die for our Lord.

... honouring and worshipping God as Lord, rather than a 'holy Father Christmas.'

... being the one God would like us to be.

... placing God's needs and others godly needs ahead of our own.

... helping others attain to their ministries, even to the expense of our own.

... being Jesus to others.

... retaining the joy of the Lord in times of personal sadness.

... putting wrongs right - graciously!

... walking as one with the Lord, night and day.

878. 'A disciple' has no need of 'a title'.

879. A disciple turns words into actions.

880. Believers believe, while disciples live what they believe.

1315. A disciple 'walks the walk', not just 'talks the talk'.

341. UNMERITED FAVOUR
A preacher phoned the city's newspaper. "Thank you very much," said he, "for the error you made when you announced my sermon topic for last Sunday. The topic I sent you was 'What Jesus Saw in A Publican.' You printed it as 'What Jesus Saw in a Republican' I had the biggest crowd of the year!"

340. A MINISTER LEARNS FROM A STUDENT
A minister was chatting with a University student about the doctoral paper he was preparing. Through reading and exacting studies with many patients, the student was prepared to report that the type of conversation that went on in the operating room had a definite impact on the recovery rate of surgical patients.

The minister was especially interested in the finding that even though a patient under anaesthesia was totally "out of it", in a comatose like condition, positive conversation by doctors and other attendants had a very beneficial affect on the patient. As the pastor listened to this revelation, his face suddenly lit up, and he said, "At last I've found some hope for the people who attend the Sunday morning church service."

ANSWER:
The substance chemically closest to blood is seawater. In fact, the saline solution which is used in intravenous injections, 'normal saline', is 0.9% salt to water, the same salinity as seawater. It's also the salinity of amniotic fluid, the liquid that surrounded all of us in utero, before we were born. Of course, seawater contains lots of other 'trace minerals', which are mostly also present in blood. Yes, human plasma closely resembles seawater. (So sailors really do have the blood of the sea coursing through their veins?)

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION:
Which Roman emperor succumbed to smallpox?

SOME FUN FACTS

67. SIGNATURE
'The Pieta' is the only sculpture on which Michelangelo is believed to have carved his name. (He didn't need to be so modest - was just the best!)

68. A FORTUITOUS ERROR
Ovaltine, the drink was from milk, malt, egg and cocoa, was developed in 1904 in Berne, Switzerland. Originally named Ovomaltine, a clerical error changed it when the manufacturer registered the name. (The recipe has never changed though.)

69. CHEWING RIGHT
If you are right-handed, you will tend to chew your food on the right side of the mouth. If you are left-handed, you will tend to chew your food on the left. (You 'chew-se'!)

A WORD PUZZLE FOR YOU

Make another word from this word using all the letters.

PREMIERS

A - dwells in the hearts of believers.
B - is in heaven.
C - walks with in our footsteps.
D - has no place to lay his head.

Source: www.biblequizzes.com

1. Slow down; God is still in heaven. You are not responsible for doing it all yourself, right now.

2. Remember a happy, peaceful time in your past. Rest there. Each moment has richness that takes a lifetime to savor.

3. Set your own pace. When someone is pushing you, it's OK to tell them they're pushing.

4. Take nothing for granted: watch water flow, the corn grow, the leaves blow, your neighbor mow.

5. Taste your food. God gives it to delight as well as to nourish.

6. Notice the sun and the moon as they rise and set. They are remarkable for their steady pattern of movement, not their speed.

7. Quit planning how you're going to use what you know, learn, or possess. God's gifts just are; be grateful and their purpose will be clear.

8. When you talk with someone, don't think about what you'll say next. Thoughts will spring up naturally if you let them.

Paddy said, "I'm gonna do dat when I win da lotte___'

"What's dat den?"asks Mick.

"Send me lawn away to be cu___

342. FULL SERVICE STOP
A guy comes into a coffee shop and places his order: "I want 3 flat tires & a pair of headlights".

The waitress, not wanting to appear stupid, goes to the kitchen & asks the cook, "This guy out there just ordered 3 flat tires & a pair of headlights. What does he think, this is an auto parts store?!"

"No," the cook says, "3 flat tires means 3 pancakes & a pair of headlights is 2 eggs sunny side up."

"Oh," says the waitress. She thinks about this and then she spoons up a bowl of beans and gives it to the customer.

The guy says "What are the beans for?"

The waitress replies "I thought that, while you're waiting for the flat tires & headlights, you might want to gas up."

341. THE TRAIN TICKET
Three women and three men are traveling by train to the Super Bowl.

At the station, the three men each buy a ticket and watch as the three women buy just one ticket.

"How are the three of you going to travel on only one ticket?" asks one of the men.

"Watch and learn," answers one of the women.

They all board the train. The three men take their respective seats but all three women cram into a toilet together and close the door.

Shortly after the train has departed, the conductor comes around collecting tickets. He knocks on the toilet door and says, "Ticket, please."

The door opens just a crack, and a single arm emerges with a ticket in hand.

The conductor takes it and moves on.

The men see this happen and agree it was quite a clever idea; so, after the game, they decide to do the same thing on the return trip and save some money.

When they get to the station they buy a single ticket for the return trip but see, to their astonishment, that the three women don't buy any ticket at all!!

"How are you going to travel without a ticket?" says one perplexed man.

"Watch and learn," answer the women.

When they board the train, the three men cram themselves into a toilet, and the three women cram into another toilet just down the way.

Shortly after the train is on its way, one of the women leaves her toilet and walks over to the toilet in which the men are hiding.

The woman knocks on their door and says, "Ticket, please."

340. PARDON!
John: I got this great new hearing aid the other day

. Mary: Are you wearing it now?

John: Yup. Cost me four thousand dollars, but it's top of the line.

Mary: What kind is it?

SYDNEY, Australia -- Australia is becoming a popular destination for Muslims leaving Asia and the Middle East, which is troubling to some natives of the land Down Under. But, the country's Christians are using this as an opportunity to win followers for Christ.

Forty years ago, residents would rarely see Muslims on the streets of Sydney or Melbourne, since only about 20,000 lived in Australia at the time.

Now, as many as 500,000 Muslims reside in Australia. And when they immigrate to the island nation, they settle into neighborhoods that are exclusively Islamic.

But Al Hayat Television -- also known as Life TV -- is working to make sure these Muslims have an opportunity to hear the gospel.

The Arabic television channel was launched in Australia by Michael el Masry, a former Muslim. He started the channel with his own limited finances and persevered despite fierce opposition from the Islamic community.

"I had many threats," el Masry recalled.

"But you are not afraid anymore?" CBN News asked.

"No, because the Lord protects. I believe in a special mission like that the Lord will provide extra protection," he said. "He died for them. They deserve the message of salvation. Who is going to give them the message?"

Crossing Over

El Masry told CBN News Al Hayat TV Australia airs Christian programs in a way that Muslims understand.

"It's so important for Muslims that we expose religion. We love him as a man, we love her as a woman and they are beautiful people. But they are deceived," el Masry said.

Australian Muslims aren't only hearing the good news on the television airwaves.

Former Muslims recently attended a Christian worship in Arabic at a church in Sydney. Ali Bazzi has pastored the Al-Obour Church for nearly two years.

Al-Obour means "crossover" in Arabic. Most members are Muslims who converted to Christianity.

Some come to the church secretly because they fear being discovered by Muslim family members. Several attendees have received death threats for leaving Islam.

"Because the religion from the Koran encourages you to harm people," Bazzi explained.

Bazzi has also received many death threats since becoming a Christian. But he says he won't stop proclaiming the gospel.

Getting to Know Christ

He spent his youthful years as a radical Muslim in Lebanon. A Muslim friend who converted to Christianity introduced him to the Bible and to Jesus.

"I like the personality of Jesus Christ," Bazzi said. "The way they present Him in the Bible. How He used to share with people, healed them, fed them. I said, 'Mom, I'm a new man and she said, 'If there is a God able to change Ali, I want to believe in Him.' All my family became Christians except my dad."

Members of Bazzi's family are now serving in the Australian church. His brother is an active leader and his sister leads worship.

Helena Menadue, a former Muslim from Egypt, migrated to Australia after converting and accepting Christ.

"The national security police were coming to my house to take me away," Menadue recalled about her time in Egypt. "They could kill me. They could torture me. They could torture my sister. They could do terrible things."

She also experienced the rejection of a loved one and societal condemnation.

"After the rejection, which was sexual rape, I felt like I lost my identity. I don't know who I am anymore," she recalled.

Menadue says she was strengthened by a scripture that lifted her spirits.

"Come to me who are weary and heavy burden and I will give you rest. The only way God can reveal to me or I can receive even His peace and joy is only through Jesus," she said.

A Divine Mission

Former Muslim Alya Raad came to know Christ after she married a Christian.

Her parents initially didn't want her to marry outside the faith. They changed their minds after she was healed of lymphoma because of the prayers of Christians.

"I was cured from cancer and God actually made my parents change their mind so that I could marry my husband and I could live the Christian life that I wanted to live," she said.

Despite ongoing pressure from Australia's Islamic community, the former Muslims continue to share their testimonies with Muslim immigrants and others.

DRIPS AND DROPS

Relaxing in the spa, after my workout,
Pondering awhile, what life is all about,
When a drip of rain, upon me, it did fall,
These musings to my mind, it did recall!
A drip of inspiration for me!

After a shower, I ran to my office downstairs,
Recording my thoughts - yes, somebody cares,
Then upstairs again, to help the wife,
Always good, to keep out of strife!
Going back down on my computer to type,
Now getting caught up with all the hype,
Punching out the words I have been given
Before I forget them - with joy I am driven.
And so this poem begins to flow,
Full of good cheer, with me aglow.
The keyboard is now being punched so fast,
Sweat on my forehead, it breaks out at last.
A drip of perspiration for me!

But as so often is the case,
When the words I do chase,
They decide to run away,
No longer know what to say.
Sitting staring at the screen,
With frustration I do scream!
A teardrop falls from my eye,
No one's here, on me to spy!
A drip of desperation for me!

"Do you want my help?" says a voice inside,
"Now I have your attention, you cannot hide!"
"Yes Holy Spirit, you sure have it indeed,
Need you - please bring me up to speed!"

"David, there's a difference between a drip and a drop,
You need to learn it, if your education's not to stop,
I'll show you some disciples, from the Bible my son,
How they learned their lessons, a real good job done!"
A drip of revelation for me!

"The Apostle John on the Island of Patmos,
Sat on a hard rock, there at a bit of a loss,
Cried out to me in frenetic frustration,
Gave him there, his greatest inspiration.
For a drop of 'Revelation' he was given.

The Apostle Paul on the other hand,
In dedication, he travelled the land,
Much perspiration was his thing,
Salvation messages he did bring,
To the peoples of the known world,
The banner of God indeed unfurled.
He was rewarded in a special way,
Allowed to visit heaven, just for a day.
For a drop of 'Visitation' he was given!"

Jesus himself is the ultimate example
Whose experience, all need to sample.
Set out in life to do his Father's word,
Doing all of it, that is, not just a third.
He came to earth, to give up his life,
Living for his Father, without a wife.
So many drops of blood he did perspire,
Fulfilling God's purpose, his only desire.
Finally to die on a godforsaken cross,
Separated from above, the ultimate loss.
After three days, in rising from the grave
With rejoicing, eternal life to us he gave.
Already three have seen glimpses of this heavenly glory,
Followers of the cross, this has become our eternal story.
For a drop of 'Transfiguration' they were given!

Mulling over what the Spirit has said,
Of the glory of Jesus, alive and dead.
Realising a drip I'd been, for far too long,
Ignoring his drops of blood, oh so strong.
No longer can deny what he's done for me,
In giving himself, there upon that tree.

At work, a neighbour of the new building we are proposing to move into (our current one has been bought by the opposition!) gave verbal consent to use some of their land for parking, a necessary requirement to get planning permission. A real answer to prayer!

We had a good day in the shop and were also given 40 operational computers to sell.

All in all, a great day, and in contrast to so many when you seem to be fighting fires all the time, particularly in today's economic climate when business is tough for all.

Jesus never promised that life would be 'a bed of roses', but that there would be summer and winter seasons in life.

All too often we cry out to Him in the bad times, but forget to thank Him in the good!

'Jesus, today I thank you for being with me at all times, in the bad and the good."

Now to set my body new targets.....

Until next week___

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD.

His servant and yours

David Tait

Today's 'Word Puzzle' Answer: SIMPERER