Kingdom Paradigms

Truth and Love

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms
“Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.” 2 JN. 1:3 NIV.

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We all argue over what is Truth. Than we also have different images of what is Love. If the starting point of knowing either comes solely from human history or philosophy, then we may as well continue to argue and live in disarray. However, if our basis of Truth and Love is found solely in the God of Jesus Christ, then maybe there is hope for everyone.

Truth and Love go together like peanut butter and jam, man and woman, and fish and water. When emphasized separately, one will lean in one direction or the other. Then typically, the outcome is like fish without water.

To do something out of Love without concern with reality leads to disorder and eventually disharmony with the order of creation. To do something based on Truth without Love toward others is likewise throwing the baby out with the bath water. Only when Truth and Love are looked at together does one view reality through the eyes of the creator of reality: the Triune God.

When we accept Jesus Christ as Lord in our life, the joining of us with Him becomes a reality. He begins to transform our thoughts and thinking by shaping our worldview to be more like His. Throughout Scripture we come across examples of how Jesus dealt with a conflicting matter. To those who emphasized love, he raised the issue of Truth. For those who challenged the Truth, He questioned the motive of their hearts. He would constantly then, and even now, view a situation from both perspectives.

What makes the real Christian walk so dynamic is He lives within us via the Holy Spirit extending the same principles in our life today. His life is built on Truth and Love. He extends the same to us and more so leads us to do the same with others. So when we find ourselves leaning one way or the other, maybe we need to take a timeout and ask Him to clarify the situation. Again, we may find ourselves pleasantly surprised by the Truthful and Loving answer. Unless of course we don’t want to know His answer, but just continue living our rebellious way and always wondering in hindsight what if we took the high row and Trusted Him in the matter back then – what would be different now?

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

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Who Do You Trust?

Dr. Mike Business & Faith, Kingdom Paradigms , ,
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Psalms 28:7 NIV.

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The best marketing tool any person or organization has at their disposal is available to all. It doesn’t require a college degree, large capital investments, nor a unique sales strategy. It is as old as the universe, but as young as a new born baby. When employed it saves time, paperwork, and builds strong relationships for a life time. It is a five letter word that needs to be exercised in every conversation and repeated out loud when negotiations seem to be falling apart.

That word is TRUST.

Trust is becoming a rare commodity in today’s world. We have witnessed the disintegration of the marriage relationship; the hostility between races; and the ineffectiveness of governments around the world. Whenever trust is broken, lives are shaken. Dreams are dismantled. Both parties become losers – some in the short term, others in the long term.

Former president Ronald Reagan is given credit for resurrecting the phrase “Trust but verify.” Maybe we all need to practice this concept more often with the people in our world.  In fact, maybe we need to first begin the process with the Creator of the universe. Do we truly Trust Him?

His #1 seller the Bible provides multiple scriptures of the relationship between Him and His people and the importance of Trust. There are a multiple of scriptures where God wants us to trust him. And how do we learn to trust Him? One way is simply to put Him to the test. For starters, don’t ask him for something to spend it on yourself (James 4:3). Instead ask for the sake of others. Learn to lean on Him. Take baby steps. Ask, Seek, Knock (Luke 11:9-10).

Trust is built over time. It is two people coming together and first agreeing on the primary principle of the matter. From there, the talk is verified with action. The action leads to more talk. More talk leads to more action steps. Trust is slowly built after both sides verify each other’s action and witness the true character of the other person. When the real character appears, only then can we know how far we can truly rely on the other person’s words and actions.

So no matter if it’s a business matter, a family matter, or a governmental matter,  trust is the glue that strengthens, magnifies, and unleashes the potential in all relationships. Let trust be your friend today.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!

Kingdom of God versus World Governments

Dr. Mike Kingdom Paradigms , , ,
“…neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21 ASV.

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Have you ever notice the natural conflict between the governments of this world and religions? Don’t both institutions operate from the same perspective? They seek power over the same masses to bring about peace, law, and order. They make promises feeding on the hopes and carnal desires of their members. When they fail to deliver, they blame others. In fact, like two political opponents, they use whatever means at their disposal to bring about their ambitions at the expense of their citizens.

This is what makes God’s Kingdom far above the governments and religions of this world. Governments and many religions build their foundation through a platform of fear. Through manipulation, punishment,  or collusion, those in power decide what is best for the masses. Freedom may be promised for all, but reserved for a minority. The majority are led by a minority who set themselves up through power, intimidation, and fear.

However God’s Kingdom is unlike anything man has developed. Everything designed by humanity is based on using power from the outside-in. It seeks to manipulate you into agreement through outside means. Like the rat chasing his cheese through a maze, mankind follows the same principles. External rewards, punishment, and social manipulation are some of the tools used. Throw in lying, stealing, killing, and destruction, and you have the general means employed by the majority of groups in search of a better world for themselves.

So what makes God’s Kingdom so much more effective? First it is a government operating from the inside-out. It already has an established, proven leader in Jesus Christ. He is the uniting factor for all people; there is no more room at the top. He sets the standards and demonstrates the methods and techniques used to serve and lead others. And most of his ways are just the opposite of mankind’s failed approaches.

He operates from the inside of a person. He motivates, encourages, and equips his citizens with the necessary tools and methods to live a life that unleashes the human potential as originally designed by the Creator. Via the Holy Spirit, he restores the relationship between all parties by making the Triune God the central core of one’s life. From the love of God, through the hearts of each citizen, the government of God operates in an orderly and abundant fashion. The goal is to minister and serve others for the glory of God. Politics, selfish ambition, and carnal desires are removed from the scene. In their place, service toward others in love becomes the standard of all Peoples.

When one captures the real vision of God’s Kingdom on earth, one quickly understands the Book of Revelations 21 – 22 and the merging of heaven with earth.  With God making his Kingly home on earth, His kingdom will cover the entire planet. Isn’t that the new heaven and new earth we all wait for? When the Kingdom of God will be fully operating on this planet.

Meanwhile, those of us who have already surrendered to Lord Jesus have the privilege and honor to learn today how to live under the King’s domain. We have the opportunity to experience his abundant grace, mercy, and trust with our everyday lives. As His faith grows in us, and as we see the fruit of His ways, we can only lift up our arms in praise to Him and share His story with others who truly want to experience real freedom and joy and love and peace in this life while we await the physical return of our King.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

Executive Director & Founder
Marketplace Bible Institute
& Resource Center, Inc
Author of e-Books:
 *  Great Business Emulates a Good God
 *  Be Radical…Follow Christ!
 *  Simply The Messenger
 *  Unequally Married

Does a Friend Need Encouragement…Share Today’s Message!