KingSHIP 001

"KingSHIP"  001 
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Gloom and Doom - Doom and Gloom

They're really nothing new and other than the fact they make everything very uncomfortable, they're not out of God's sight or withdrawn from His concern and attention.  But Satan loves to scare the children of God and get their eyes off the Master and on to the Mess.  Well, let's not be tricked by that - OK?

As you begin your new 365 consider:

  Luke 12:22-31 ESV
And he said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. [23] For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. [24] Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! [25] And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? [26] If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? [27] Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. [28] But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! [29] And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. [30] For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. [31] Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

Consider verse 26 especially:  "If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?"

The key here for me is, "why are you anxious about the rest?"  My response to God is a resounding, "Becaue of three reasons:  First, I'm a weenie.  Second, I still think I can and need to make it all work.  Third, it's not that my faith is weak - it's more like I don't use it first but wait until I've tried all my ideas first."

Instead of anxiety (not the neurochemical kind ;-}) He calls us to: "Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you."

Remember the song, "Don't worry be happy"?  Well, he seems to be saying, "Don't worry get busy (specifically busy!)"

"Seek His Kingdom!"  Proposed:  There is no real difference between God's Kingdom and His Kingship - so we can legitimately use either term - Ok?

So, the alternative (and perhaps the remedy) for anxiousness is Kingdom/ship seeking.  Mmmmmm - that's a pretty big seekiing.

But let me suggest that you consider that it all begins with "ship" and you.  What I suggest is that we first seek to live out His King SHIIP over us - individualy and uniquely before we run off trying to do the King DOM thing.  

So, we begin a series on SHIP KingSHIP which, on the other end of the stick, is submission as vassals to the King.

I'll try to keep these brief - just hints and suggstions from scripture and my own turbulent seeking.

First step:
James 4:7 ESV
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Second step:
James 4:8 ESV
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

Just consider and pray about these imperatives and NEVER forget -----

2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.