30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 14 34-35 Being the Salt 03 Establishing His kingdom
📖 Luke 14:34-35
15Jan2020 - *Establishing His kingdom* - _Luke 14:34-35_ - Bible reading: _Ephesians 3:8-12_
_Luke 14:34-35 “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? (35) It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men._
What is salt that our Lord is teaching us about? Salt is Jesus, Himself. Just as the light is Jesus, salt too is Jesus. Jesus has to be operational in our lives. It is the life of Jesus that is operational in us that makes us to be the salt of the earth.
By Jesus being operational in us and us being the salt of the earth, what is God’s overarching plan? God is establishing His kingdom and He is establishing His kingdom through the church.
_Matthew 16:18-19 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church,_ (Peter had declared that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus was the anointed one, the King, and God was setting up His eternal rule through Jesus) _and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. (19) And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,_ The keys of the kingdom of heaven has been given to the church. _and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."_
_Luke 12:32 “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom._ The kingdom rule has been entrusted to the church, which is operational in Jesus.
This is the mystery that Paul talks about so excitedly. _Ephesians 3:8-12 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (9) and 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,* The rule of God through the church, is over principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This rule is not only in the present age but also in that which is to come. _(12) in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him._
_Hebrews 2:4-8 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? (5) For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels._ The rule of God in this age and also in that which is to come, has not been given to angels but to man. _(6) But one testified in a certain place, saying: "WHAT IS MAN THAT YOU ARE MINDFUL OF HIM, OR THE SON OF MAN THAT YOU TAKE CARE OF HIM? (7) YOU HAVE MADE HIM A LITTLE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND SET HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS. (8) YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him._
*Thought to ponder*
Is the church, even conscious, of its role to be custodians of God’s rule in heaven and on earth?