Weekly Bible Study

We all have expectations, and naturally speaking one would say that there is nothing wrong with having expectations!

The Bible on the other hand, in fact God Himself tells us …

Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.
--- Heb. 10:38

Does this mean that we should not have expectations?

Well, in the very next chapter in Hebrews, the Bible goes on to say …

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
--- Heb. 11:1

This certainly would seem to indicate that faith expects,
… that we should have a hopeful expectation
so that we would receive that which we have put our faith in.
In other words,
… that we will receive those things hoped for!

Jesus, in referring to things in our lives, said this to us …

But seek first the kingdom of God,
and all these things shall be added to you.
--- Luke. 12:31

So, according to what Jesus said in Luke and in Matthew, ch.6,
it would seem that receiving those things hoped for
… has nothing to do with expectations!
In fact, Jesus linked it all directly with the Kingdom of God!

What does all this mean in my life?
What does the kingdom of God have to do with faith, hope and with things?

According to Jesus …to seek first the kingdom of God
…is the key to God and to a relationship with Him,
and thus obviously is also the key to receiving from God.

So, let’s find the kingdom of God,
… and its secret to life and the things in life!

Where is the Kingdom of God ...
… in heaven?
… beyond the heavens?
… on earth?
Where?

Well, as distant or difficult as it may sound,
… the reality of the kingdom of God is both easy and simple,

For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.
--- Luke 17:21

How is that possible?
What is the Kingdom of God?
What is inside of us?

If you study Jesus’ parables,
… in particular those in which He describes the kingdom of God or of heaven,
you will notice that the parables mostly describe
… someone doing something,
… or some natural occurrence
and the result thereof!
In other words, Jesus was describing characteristics and their potential!

What does this have to do with the Kingdom of God?
Well, what is it that God put in man when He created him?

Then God said,
"Let Us make man in Our image,
according to Our likeness;
--- Gen. 1:26

What is the reality of that likeness, that image?
… God’s Character!

So, the kingdom of God we should be seeking,
… the kingdom of God Jesus described in the parables,
… the kingdom of God that is within us
is indeed …
God Himself, His character, His life and ways … in us!

What are we seeking?
What is God’s character?
How will we recognize God and His character?

By studying God’s character in the Bible
… as expressed in His actions,

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
--- John 3:16

… it is obvious that the very essence of God Himself,
… and the centre point of His character, is …
Love ...

The apostle John, who was the one disciple of Jesus who had a real, close relationship with Jesus,
in describing who God really is, said …

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
--- 1 John 4:8

Love …
What does love have to do with faith, things and expectations?
Love is not a feeling, but an action, out of a value, because of a value!
… A characteristic that expresses a value!
So, …
where does love fit in?

Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God
with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
--- Matt. 22:37-40

Love reaches out to others, it is the foundation to expressing value,
… the motivation, the heart and the manifestation of God Himself!

What indeed does love have to do with faith and hope?

There is a basic law God set in motion which governs life …

While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat, Winter and summer,
And day and night Shall not cease.
--- Gen. 8:22

What you sow is what you reap!
In other words … what you put in dictates or governs what will come back.
Therefore, whatever it is, we make it happen, not God!
God’s part in this is, as Paul tells us …

So then neither he who plants is anything,
nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
--- 1 Cor. 3:7

God, Love Himself, confirms what we set in motion through our sowing!
Love … the source of life and of faith!

We so easily only see ourselves, our needs and expectations!
But Jesus clearly tells us that the kingdom of God is about others,
… about love, seeking to reach out and be there for others …
That releases the power in faith, that is the result of hope!

Why do we need to seek the kingdom?
… Not because it is lost,
but because the reality of God and His kingdom is lost in us!

So seek first to love … (the kingdom of God)
and all these things will be added unto you … faith!

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three;
but the greatest of these is love.
--- 1 Cor. 13:13

Why?

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
avails anything, but faith working through love.
--- Gal. 5:6