54.4 The Kingdom Is Not Of This World; It is For Those Who Are Committed To Truth

(John 18:33-37)

  Pilate went back into the palace and called Jesus. "Are you the king of  the Jews?" he asked him.

  Jesus Answered, "Does this question come from you or have others told you about me?"

  Pilate replied. "Do you think I am a Jew? It was your own people and the chief priests who handed you over to me.  What have you done?"

   Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world; if my kingdom belonged to this world , my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish authorities. No, my kingdom does not belong here!"

   So Pilate asked him, "Are you a king, then?"

   Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. I was born and came into the world for this one purpose, to speak about truth.  Whoever belongs to the truth listens to me." 

54.3 The Kingdom Is For Those Who Are Ready

(Matthew 25:1-13)

"At that time the Kingdom of heaven will be like this, Once there were ten girls who took their oil lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were foolish, and the other five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any extra oil with them, while the wise ones took container full of oil for their lamps.  The bridegroom was late in coming, so the girls began to nod and fall asleep.

It was already midnight when the cry rang out, "Here is the bridegroom! Come and meet him!" The ten girls woke up and trimmed their lamps. Then the foolish ones said to the wise ones, 'Let us have some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.' 'No, indeed,' the wise ones answered, 'there is not enough for you and for us. Go to the store and buy some for yourselves.' So the foolish girls went off to buy some oil' and while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived.  The five girls who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was closed."

"Later the other girls arrived. 'Sir, sir! Let us in!' they cried out. 'Certainly not! I don't know you,' the bridegroom answered."

And Jesus concluded, "Watch out, then, because you do not know the day or the hour."

54.2 For People Who Are Humble As Children

(Matthew 18:1-3)

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, "Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"

So Jesus called a child, had him stand in front of them, and said, "I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven."

54.1 It Is As A Mustard Seed And Yeast: It Grows: The Whole World Will Be Filled With The Spirit of God

(Matthew 13:31-33)

Jesus told them another parable:  "The Kingdom of heaven is like this.  A man takes a mustard seed and sows it in his field.  It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it grows up, it is the biggest of all plants.  It becomes a tree, so that birds come and make their nests in its branches."

Jesus told them still another parable: "The Kingdom of heaven is like this.  A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises."

53.4 Lord, You Know Everything, Guide Me

(Psalm 139)

Lord, you have examined me and you know me.
You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts.
You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions.
Even before I speak, you already know what I will say.
You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power.
Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding.

Where could I go to escape from you?
Where could I get away from your presence?
If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there.
If I flew away beyond the east or live in farthest place in the west, you would be there to lead me, you would be there to help me.

I could ask the darkness to hide me or the light around me to turn into night, but even darkness is not dark for you, and the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.

You created every part of me; you put me together you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful.
I know it with all my heart.
When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother’s womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there—you saw me before I was born.
The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.
O God, how difficult I find your thoughts; how many of them there are!
If I counted them, they would be more than the grains of sand.
When I awake, I am still with you.

O God, how I wish you would kill the wicked!
How I wish violent men would leave me alone!
They say wicked things about you; they speak evil things against your name.
O Lord, how I hate those who rebel against you!
I hate them with a total hatred; I regard them as my enemies.

Examine me, O God, and know my mind; test me, and discover my thoughts.
Find out if there is any evil in me and guide me in the everlasting way.