Month: August 2025

Kingdom Kernel #23 – A Kingdom Divided

The Unassailable Kingdom: Christ’s Logic of Divine Unity

Kingdom Kernel Collection

And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. (Matthew 12:25–28)

Introduction

In Matthew 12:25–28, Mark 3:22–30, and Luke 11:17–23, Jesus dismantles accusations of demonic collusion not by asserting Satan’s internal division but by exposing the absurdity of such a premise. The Greek term διαμερίζω (diamerizō), meaning “to divide” or “rend apart,” becomes the linchpin of His argument: if Satan’s kingdom were divided, it would collapse—a reality antithetical to Christ’s unified, divine mission. This emphasizes Jesus’ logical defense of His authority and the present reality of His lordship.

Key Words and Phrases: A Conditional Argument

Jesus employs διαμερίζω (Strong’s G1266) in a hypothetical conditional clause (εἰ + aorist passive, “if Satan were divided”) to refute the Pharisees’ charge. The term’s passive voice (diameristhē) in Luke 11:18 underscores a theoretical scenario, not an observed fact. By framing division as a self-annihilating impossibility, Jesus reveals Satan’s kingdom cannot logically oppose itself while maintaining power. The Pharisees’ accusation collapses under the weight of this syllogism:

Satan’s dominion relies on cohesion to endure.

If Satan were divided (διαμερίζω), his kingdom would self-destruct.

Since Satan’s kingdom persists, Christ’s power must originate elsewhere—the Spirit of God (Matthew 12:28).

Theological Implications: Satan’s kingdom is Doomed

Jesus’ exorcisms—acts of “plundering the strong man’s house” (Mark 3:27)—prove Satan’s kingdom remains externally besieged, not internally divided. The Enemy’s authority is intact but inferior, as Christ’s miracles demonstrate God’s kingdom is already “upon you” (Luke 11:20).

Christological Focus: The Binding of the Strong Man

Jesus’ lordship operates in two dimensions:

Present Subjugation: By casting out demons “by the finger of God” (Luke 11:20), Jesus enacts Isaiah 49:24–25, binding Satan (the “strong man”) to liberate captives. This is not a future hope but a current reality (Colossians 2:15), affirming His authority in this age.

Eternal Reign: The kingdom’s ultimate fulfillment—a “new heaven and earth” (Revelation 21:1)—rests on Christ’s undivided unity with the Father (John 10:30).

The Pharisees’ accusation inadvertently highlights Satan’s strategic coherence: his kingdom endures precisely because it remains united in opposition to God. Jesus’ rebuttal thus elevates His divine authority, not Satan’s disarray.

Transformative Truth for Believers

Unity as Identity: Just as God’s kingdom thrives on Trinitarian unity (John 17:21), the Church must reject division (1 Corinthians 1:10), embodying Psalm 133:1’s “good and pleasant” harmony.

Spiritual Warfare Clarity: Satan’s undivided front demands vigilance (1 Peter 5:8), but Christ’s victory assures believers they “overcome by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11).

Proclaiming Present Authority: Disciple-makers must declare that Christ’s reign is now—binding evil (Matthew 16:19), healing brokenness, and gathering disciples (Luke 11:23).

Conclusion

Jesus’ conditional statement—“if Satan were divided”—serves not to diagnose the Enemy’s condition but to highlight the irrefutable logic of divine power. In a world where Satan’s kingdom persists through malignant unity, Christ’s undivided lordship offers liberation and purpose. The Church, as the “pillar of truth” (1 Timothy 3:15), stands unshaken, not by denying spiritual conflict but by resting in the King whose kingdom—already advancing and eternally secure—cannot be divided.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story – A Divided Kingdom?

The aroma of dark roast and quiet chatter filled “The Daily Grind,” Eric’s usual sanctuary after morning prayer walks. Today, the comforting atmosphere did little to quell the frustration simmering within him as he absently swirled the remaining foam in his cup.

“Rough morning?” Rodney’s voice, warm and perceptive, cut through Eric’s brooding. His mentor settled into the worn armchair opposite him with the ease of longtime friendship.

Eric sighed heavily. “You wouldn’t believe it, Rodney. I met this guy, John, on my walk. Seemed genuinely open. I started sharing the gospel, everything flowing naturally, when I mentioned my church—and suddenly, it was like hitting a wall.”

Rodney raised an eyebrow, inviting elaboration.

“He’s a Christian,” Eric explained, incredulity edging his voice. “Professing and all. But because I wasn’t part of his denomination, because our interpretations differed on some peripheral doctrines, he completely shut down. Said we couldn’t possibly have a meaningful conversation.” Eric’s knuckles whitened around his cup. “I was reading Matthew this morning—’a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.’ If we, Christ’s body, are this fractured, this unwilling to even listen across our self-made barriers, how can God’s kingdom possibly endure?”

Rodney leaned forward, compassion softening his weathered features. “That’s a weighty question, Eric, and your frustration is legitimate. But let’s examine that verse in context.”

Eric frowned. “Isn’t Jesus emphasizing unity?”

“He is,” Rodney nodded thoughtfully, “but in that passage, Jesus was refuting the Pharisees who accused him of casting out demons through demonic power. His point was logical: would Satan undermine his own authority? Of course not.”

Rodney’s gaze intensified. “The kingdom of God isn’t as vulnerable as we fear. It’s not a political entity that collapses under internal discord. It’s anchored in Christ himself, the unshakable cornerstone. Our flaws can wound others, impede our growth, and mar the church’s witness—but they cannot fundamentally fracture what God has established. His kingdom transcends our divisions.”

“So what’s the solution?” Eric pressed. “How do we navigate these theological chasms while presenting a united witness, especially with fellow believers?”

Rodney smiled, wisdom gleaming in his eyes. “It begins with humility—acknowledging our understanding is filtered through personal experience and bias. It demands genuine listening, even in disagreement. It means prioritizing our faith’s core tenets—God’s love, Christ’s sacrifice, the Spirit’s power—above the secondary issues that typically divide us.”

“But doesn’t truth matter?” Eric challenged.

“Absolutely,” Rodney affirmed. “But truth wielded without love becomes merely a weapon. Ephesians calls us to speak truth in love—engaging in respectful dialogue seeking understanding, not victory. Remember, we’re parts of one body striving toward the same mission: making disciples of all nations.”

He paused, sipping his coffee. “Think of God’s kingdom as a mighty river. It encounters rapids, bends, even debris on its surface, but flows unstoppably toward its destination. Our divisions are like those obstacles—they may create turbulence but cannot halt the river’s course.”

Eric pondered this, his frustration gradually receding. “What about John then?”

“Pray for him,” Rodney suggested. “Ask God to soften his heart and grant you wisdom to engage truthfully yet lovingly. Remember that Christ’s love compels us toward reconciliation. Try to find some common ground and discuss that. And ask God to use even your disagreements as demonstrations of His grace.”

“What drives you to live this way—to be like Jesus?” Eric asked.

Rodney’s expression deepened with profound purpose. “I want to reflect Jesus because I witnessed how he loved people. He could stand among religious leaders plotting his death and still offer them only love and truth.”

Eric nodded slowly, a fresh resolve forming within him. His encounter with John wasn’t a failure but an opportunity—to practice humility, extend grace, and demonstrate Christ’s unifying love. Pursuing unity wasn’t merely about minimizing division; it was about embodying God’s very nature. It was about becoming more like Jesus.

As they stepped out into the morning sunshine breaking through clouds, Eric felt renewed purpose. God’s kingdom stood unshakable not through human effort, but through Christ’s steadfast love—a force capable of bridging any divide.

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Doing Leads to Deeper Knowledge – #129 

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see what advice Jesus gives to acquire deeper knowledge of God.   

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

John 7:11–24

So the Jews were looking for Him at the feast and asking, “Where is He?” Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.” Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.  About halfway through the feast, Jesus went up to the temple courts and began to teach. The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?” “My teaching is not My own,” Jesus replied. “It comes from Him who sent Me. If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own. He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory, but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps it. Why are you trying to kill Me?” “You have a demon,” the crowd replied. “Who is trying to kill You?” Jesus answered them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. But because Moses gave you circumcision, you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath (not that it is from Moses, but from the patriarchs.) If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath? Stop judging by outward appearances, and start judging justly.”

My Thoughts 

I love this little kernel of wisdom tucked deep into this passage. 

If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether My teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own. (John 7:17)

Let me paraphrase what I think Jesus is saying here; “If you do, you will know.” If you do the Father’s will, experience His person through obedience, you will see the alignment between Him and His Son.

Now usually we think of the formula in just the opposite; “If you know, then you can do.” Both formulas are very true and appropriate but why is Jesus emphasizing the first? I think it’s because many of the Jews had a lot of knowledge but not the kind of knowledge that is validated by experience. For many of them it was just lofty theory without application. And knowledge without application leads to hypocrisy. If we profess to know something and don’t do it, our character lacks integrity. And when our character lacks integrity in keeping with our knowledge we are known as hypocrites. 

For example, I can study information on how to ride a bike and then turn around and tell everyone how to ride a bike. But even if I have exact information and never ride one myself, do I really “know” how to ride a bike? And even worse, if I teach everyone in such a way as to give the impression I’ve ridden a bike and haven’t, my hypocrisy is evident. I have robbed myself of the true knowledge of riding a bike and misled those I have taught. 

Another example is when I say “I know God loves lost people” and yet do not obey His command to share the gospel, there is a disconnect between my knowledge and my obedience. But when I share the gospel, I learn more deeply how much God loves lost people. Obedience brings a deeper understanding of the knowledge that prompted me to obey in the first place. 

Jesus was not only putting His finger on the people’s biggest problem, lots of knowledge, very little application in accordance with that knowledge, but He was also saying something about Himself. He had obeyed the Father perfectly and “knew” the Father. No one did this better than Jesus.

He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is a man of truth; in Him there is no falsehood (John 7:18b)

As disciple makers we need to take this admonition to heart. If we really want to be a disciple of Jesus and make true disciples of Jesus, we have to know by doing, know by obeying. This will not only help us go deeper in our relationship with Him, we will have the kind of influence in others to help them go deep as well. 

My Story

When I joined the Army I learned how to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. I became a paratrooper by going through three weeks of arduous training and five actual parachute drops. I could tell my high school buddies back home that I knew something about “hittin’ the silk.” (Actually, modern parachutes are made of nylon. Details) But did I really “know” after five misley jumps?

I would spend half my career in the Army jumping out of planes, helicopters, and even graduating from Jumpmaster School and earning my Master Parachutist Wings. I stopped counting after a hundred jumps.

Once, the Air Force couldn’t fly so they loaded us on trucks, drove down the middle of the drop zone and pushed us out one by one to “simulate” the drop. Now what if, after that one experience of jumping out of a truck on a drop zone, I told you I was a paratrooper. Redonkulous you say!? I would certainly agree with you and you would have to have a long talk with me about “real knowledge” and integrity. (Now, all you HALO guys with thousands of jumps, cut me some slack would ya!?)

As disciple makers we need to be the real deal. We are doing what we know and knowing more by what we do. 

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas;

  • Do a personal inventory, is there anything you teach others to do that you are not doing yourself?
  • Is that a problem with truly “knowing” what you are teaching?
  • Make a plan to start doing what you’re teaching others to do!

Our Western culture over emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge apart from application. Our teaching methods are proof positive of this problem. And yet our Master teaches us that true “knowledge” comes from both gathering data and putting it to good use in His kingdom. Let’s take Him up on His offer to go deeper with Him. 

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Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

La práctica conduce a un conocimiento más profundo – #129

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver qué consejo da Jesús para profundizar en el conocimiento de Dios.

Comencemos.

Juan 7:11-24

Los judíos lo buscaban en la fiesta y preguntaban: “¿Dónde está?”. Muchos entre la multitud murmuraban de él. Algunos decían: “Es un buen hombre”. Pero otros respondían: “No, engaña a la gente”. Sin embargo, nadie hablaba públicamente de él por miedo a los judíos. A la mitad de la fiesta, Jesús subió al templo y comenzó a enseñar. Los judíos, asombrados, preguntaban: “¿Cómo llegó este hombre a tal erudición sin haber estudiado?”. “Mi enseñanza no es mía”, respondió Jesús. “Viene del que me envió. Si alguno quiere hacer su voluntad, sabrá si mi enseñanza es de Dios o si hablo por mi propia cuenta. El que habla por su propia cuenta busca su propia gloria, pero el que busca la gloria del que lo envió es un hombre veraz; en él no hay falsedad. ¿No les dio Moisés la ley? Sin embargo, ninguno de ustedes la cumple. ¿Por qué intentan matarme?” «Tienes un demonio», respondió la multitud. «¿Quién intenta matarte?». Jesús les respondió: «Hice un milagro, y todos están asombrados. Pero como Moisés les dio la circuncisión, circuncidan a un niño en sábado (no porque sea de Moisés, sino de los patriarcas). Si un niño puede ser circuncidado en sábado para que no se quebrante la ley de Moisés, ¿por qué se enojan conmigo por sanar a un hombre en sábado? Dejen de juzgar por las apariencias y comiencen a juzgar con justicia».

Mis Pensamientos

Me encanta esta pizca de sabiduría que se esconde en este pasaje.

Si alguno quiere hacer su voluntad, sabrá si mi enseñanza es de Dios o si hablo por mi propia cuenta. (Juan 7:17)

Permítanme parafrasear lo que creo que Jesús está diciendo aquí: «Si hacen, sabrán». Si hacen la voluntad del Padre, experimentan su persona mediante la obediencia, verán la armonía entre Él y su Hijo.

Ahora bien, solemos pensar en la fórmula justo al contrario: «Si sabes, entonces puedes hacer». Ambas fórmulas son muy ciertas y apropiadas, pero ¿por qué Jesús enfatiza la primera? Creo que es porque muchos judíos tenían mucho conocimiento, pero no el tipo de conocimiento que se valida con la experiencia. Para muchos de ellos era solo teoría elevada sin aplicación. Y el conocimiento sin aplicación conduce a la hipocresía. Si profesamos saber algo y no lo hacemos, nuestro carácter carece de integridad. Y cuando nuestro carácter carece de integridad acorde con nuestro conocimiento, se nos conoce como hipócritas. Por ejemplo, puedo estudiar cómo andar en bicicleta y luego decirle a todo el mundo cómo hacerlo. Pero incluso si tengo la información exacta y nunca he montado, ¿realmente “sé” montar en bicicleta? Y peor aún, si enseño a todos de tal manera que parezca que he montado en bicicleta y no, mi hipocresía es evidente. Me he privado del verdadero conocimiento de montar en bicicleta y he engañado a quienes he enseñado.

Otro ejemplo es cuando digo: “Sé que Dios ama a los perdidos” y, sin embargo, no obedezco su mandato de compartir el evangelio; hay una desconexión entre mi conocimiento y mi obediencia. Pero cuando comparto el evangelio, aprendo más profundamente cuánto ama Dios a los perdidos. La obediencia me brinda una comprensión más profunda del conocimiento que me impulsó a obedecer en primer lugar.

Jesús no solo estaba señalando el mayor problema de la gente: mucho conocimiento, muy poca aplicación de ese conocimiento, sino que también estaba hablando de sí mismo. Había obedecido al Padre a la perfección y lo conocía. Nadie lo hizo mejor que Jesús.

El que busca la gloria de Aquel que lo envió es un hombre de verdad; en él no hay falsedad (Juan 7:18b).

Como hacedores de discípulos, debemos tomar en serio esta exhortación. Si realmente queremos ser discípulos de Jesús y hacer verdaderos discípulos de Jesús, tenemos que conocer haciendo y conocer obedeciendo. Esto no solo nos ayudará a profundizar nuestra relación con Él, sino que también ejerceremos la influencia necesaria en los demás para ayudarlos a profundizar.

Mi Historia

Cuando me uní al Ejército, aprendí a saltar de un avión en perfecto estado. Me convertí en paracaidista tras tres semanas de arduo entrenamiento y cinco saltos en paracaídas reales. Podía contarles a mis compañeros del instituto que sabía algo sobre saltar de seda. (En realidad, los paracaídas modernos están hechos de nailon. Detalles). ¿Pero realmente lo sabía después de cinco saltos fallidos?

Pasaría la mitad de mi carrera en el Ejército saltando de aviones, helicópteros e incluso graduándome de la Escuela de Maestros de Salto y obteniendo mis Alas de Maestro Paracaidista. Dejé de contar después de cien saltos.

Una vez, la Fuerza Aérea no podía volar, así que nos subieron a camiones, condujeron por el centro de la zona de salto y nos empujaron uno a uno para simular el salto. ¿Y si, después de esa experiencia de saltar de un camión en una zona de salto, les dijera que era paracaidista? ¡Qué disparate! Sin duda, estoy de acuerdo contigo, y tendrías que hablar largo y tendido conmigo sobre el “verdadero conocimiento” y la integridad. (Ahora, todos ustedes, los de HALO, con miles de saltos, ¡déjenme un respiro!).

Como hacedores de discípulos, necesitamos ser auténticos. Hacemos lo que sabemos y sabemos más con lo que hacemos.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es momento de aplicarlo. Aquí tienes algunas ideas:

Haz un inventario personal: ¿Enseñas a otros a hacer algo que tú mismo no estés haciendo?

¿Es eso un problema para saber realmente lo que enseñas?

¡Planifica empezar a hacer lo que enseñas a otros!

Nuestra cultura occidental sobreenfatiza la adquisición de conocimiento sin aplicarlo. Nuestros métodos de enseñanza son prueba fehaciente de este problema. Sin embargo, nuestro Maestro nos enseña que el verdadero conocimiento proviene tanto de recopilar información como de ponerla en práctica en su reino. Aceptemos su oferta de profundizar en su relación.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #22 – The Kingdom Conflict

The Spiritual Warfare Between God and Evil in Daniel 7:9-28

Kingdom Kernel Collection

9 “I kept looking until thrones were set up, and the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was ablaze with flames, its wheels a burning fire. 10 A river of fire was flowing and coming out from before Him; thousands upon thousands were attending Him, and myriads upon myriads were standing before Him; the court sat, and the books were opened. 11 Then I kept looking because of the sound of the boastful words which the horn was speaking; I kept looking until the beast was slain, and its body was destroyed and given to the burning fire. 12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but an extension of life was granted to them for an appointed period of time. 13 I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven one like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. 14 And to Him was given dominion, glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed. 15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was distressed within me, and the visions in my mind kept alarming me. 16 I approached one of those who were standing by and began asking him the exact meaning of all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of these things: 17 ‘These great beasts, which are four in number, are four kings who will arise from the earth. 18 But the saints of the Highest One will receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come.’ 19 Then I desired to know the exact meaning of the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its claws of bronze, and which devoured, crushed, and trampled down the remainder with its feet, 20 and the meaning of the ten horns that were on its head and the other horn which came up, and before which three of them fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth uttering great boasts and which was larger in appearance than its associates. 21 I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them 22 until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. 23 Thus he said: ‘The fourth beast will be a fourth kingdom on the earth, which will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth and tread it down and crush it. 24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will arise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings. 25 He will speak out against the Most High and wear down the saints of the Highest One, and he will intend to make alterations in times and in law; and they will be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time. 26 But the court will sit for judgment, and his dominion will be taken away, annihilated and destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, the dominion, and the greatness of all the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Highest One; His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all the dominions will serve and obey Him.’ 28 At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself.” (Daniel 7:9-28)

Introduction: Context of Daniel 7:9-28

Daniel 7:9-28 presents a prophetic vision of a cosmic struggle between divine authority and the forces of evil. The passage is rich with apocalyptic imagery, including the “Ancient of Days” (God), the “Son of Man” (Christ), and the “fourth beast” with its blasphemous “horn.” This vision symbolizes the ultimate triumph of God’s eternal kingdom over all earthly and spiritual opposition. At its core, the passage illustrates spiritual warfare—a battle between good and evil that transcends human history and points to Christ’s messianic reign.

Defining Spiritual Warfare: Linguistic Roots

The term warfare in this context can be understood through the Hebrew and Aramaic words used in Daniel. The word “wage war” in Daniel 7:21, rendered from Aramaic as qarab (Strong’s H7128), denotes conflict or battle. Its root carries connotations of drawing near for confrontation, emphasizing the direct opposition between the horn (evil) and the saints (God’s people). Similarly, the Greek term strateia (used in New Testament contexts like 2 Corinthians 10:4) refers to spiritual conflict, highlighting that this warfare is not physical but deeply rooted in divine versus demonic forces.

Theological Significance of Spiritual Warfare

The concept of spiritual warfare in Daniel 7 reveals profound theological truths about God’s sovereignty, justice, and redemptive plan. The “Ancient of Days” is depicted as a majestic judge seated on a fiery throne, symbolizing His ultimate authority to judge evil (Daniel 7:9-10). The “books were opened” (v.10), signifying divine omniscience and accountability. This judgment culminates in the destruction of the beast and the horn (v.11, 26), affirming God’s power to decisively defeat evil.

The warfare also underscores the temporary nature of evil’s dominion. The horn’s persecution of the saints for “a time, times, and half a time” (v.25) reflects God’s sovereign control over history, allowing evil only limited influence before divine intervention.

Christological Fulfillment: Jesus as the Son of Man

The “Son of Man” in Daniel 7:13-14 is a direct messianic reference to Jesus Christ. This title, which Jesus frequently applied to Himself (e.g., Matthew 26:64), signifies His role as both divine King and human representative. In Daniel’s vision, the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days and receives everlasting dominion, glory, and a kingdom that will never be destroyed (v.14). This scene prophetically points to Christ’s victory over sin and death through His crucifixion and resurrection.

Jesus embodies the perfect example of spiritual warfare. In His earthly ministry, He confronted Satan directly during His temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11), using Scripture as His weapon. On the cross, He disarmed principalities and powers, triumphing over them (Colossians 2:15). His victory assures believers that evil has been defeated, even as we await its ultimate eradication at His second coming.

Divine Attributes Revealed in Spiritual Warfare

  1. Sovereignty: God’s control over history is evident in His timing—allowing evil to prevail temporarily but ensuring its ultimate defeat.
  2. Justice: The judgment scene highlights God’s commitment to righteousness and accountability.
  3. Faithfulness: The promise of an eternal kingdom for the saints (v.18, 27) reflects God’s covenant faithfulness to His people.

Implications for Understanding God’s Kingdom

The warfare described in Daniel 7 illuminates key aspects of God’s kingdom:

  • It is eternal and indestructible (v.14).
  • It is inclusive, encompassing “all peoples, nations, and people of every language” who will serve Christ (v.14).
  • It integrates believers into its reign; they are co-heirs with Christ who will possess the kingdom forever (v.27).

This vision challenges believers to view Christ’s lordship not merely as a future reality but as an active truth today. Though not yet fully realized, Jesus’ reign is already present through His resurrection power and the work of the Holy Spirit.

Transformative Power for Believers

For Christians today, understanding spiritual warfare equips us to live victoriously amidst trials:

  1. Christ-Centered Identity: Recognizing Jesus as our victorious King empowers us to resist evil with confidence.
  2. Spiritual Readiness: Like Jesus, believers are called to wield spiritual weapons such as prayer, Scripture, and faith (Ephesians 6:10-18).
  3. Hope in Tribulation: The certainty of God’s judgment against evil provides hope amidst persecution or suffering.

Conclusion: Jesus’ Kingship Now and Forever

Daniel 7:9-28 reveals that spiritual warfare is not just a cosmic struggle but a testament to God’s sovereignty and Christ’s kingship. Jesus’ victory over evil assures believers that His lordship is both a present reality and an eternal promise. As we await His ultimate reign, we are called to live as faithful participants in His kingdom—empowered by His Spirit to overcome darkness with light.

This transformative truth invites us into deeper worship and service under Christ’s lordship, knowing that His eternal dominion will one day be fully realized when every knee bows before Him as King of kings.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story – The End of All Wars

The desert sun blazed relentlessly, its heat shimmering over the endless expanse of sand. Patti wiped the sweat from her brow, her fingers brushing against the grit that clung to her skin. Beside her, Tisha heaved another crate into the MILVAN, her movements sharp, her expression grim.  

“Will the wars never end?” Tisha muttered, her voice low but laced with frustration. She straightened, brushing sand from her fatigues. “Every time we think we’re done, another conflict flares up. What’s the point?”  

Patti paused, her hands resting on the edge of the crate. She’d heard the weariness in Tisha’s voice before, but today it seemed heavier, almost suffocating. She glanced at her friend, noticing the shadows under her eyes, the way her shoulders slumped as if carrying the weight of the world.  

“I was reading something this morning,” Patti began, her tone gentle but deliberate. “Daniel 7. It’s about a vision of the end times—of a kingdom that will never end.”  

Tisha raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. “Another prophecy? Sounds like more of the same.”  

“Not exactly,” Patti replied, her voice steady. “It talks about a time when all the wars, all the suffering, will finally be over. There’s this beast—a symbol of evil—and it looks unstoppable. But then the Ancient of Days steps in. He’s God, sitting on a throne of fire, and He judges the beast. It’s destroyed, and the Son of Man—Jesus—is given an everlasting kingdom.”  

Tisha crossed her arms, her gaze fixed on the horizon. “Sounds nice, but what does that have to do with us? We’re stuck here, packing up gear, while people are still fighting out there.”  

Patti stepped closer, her voice softening. “It’s a reminder that we’re on the winning side, Tisha. As disciples of Jesus, subjects of God’s kingdom, no matter how bad things look now, no matter how much evil seems to be winning, it’s temporary. One day, Jesus will reign, and all this—the wars, the pain, the suffering—it’ll end. Forever.”  

Tisha’s eyes flicked to Patti, a flicker of something—hope? doubt?—crossing her face. “How can you be so sure?”  

“Because it’s not just a story,” Patti said, her conviction unwavering. “It’s a promise. And promises like that don’t get broken. We might not see the end of it here, but we’re part of something bigger. Something eternal.”  

For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the distant hum of machinery. Then Tisha sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly. “I want to believe that. I really do. But it’s hard to see past all this.”  

“I know,” Patti said, placing a hand on Tisha’s shoulder. “But that’s why we keep going. Why we keep fighting. Not just for the battles here, but for the kingdom that’s coming. And when it does, we’ll be on the right side of it.”  

Tisha nodded slowly, her gaze drifting back to the horizon. “I guess it’s something to hold onto.”  

Patti smiled, a small but genuine expression. “It’s everything to hold onto.”  

As they returned to their work, the heat of the desert seemed less oppressive, the weight of their fatigue a little lighter. For in that moment, they weren’t just soldiers packing equipment; they were warriors of faith, standing firm in the promise of a kingdom where wars would cease, and peace would reign. And though the battles around them raged on, they knew—deep down—that the ultimate victory was already assured.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

What Kind of Spirit? – #128

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospels of Luke and John to see where some of our crazy wicked thoughts come from.   

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

Luke 9:51–56, John 7:10

But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, then He Himself also went up, not publicly, but as if, in secret. When the days were approaching for His ascension, He was determined to go to Jerusalem; and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him. But they did not receive Him, because He was traveling toward Jerusalem. When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And they went on to another village.

My Thoughts 

I’m sure the guys thought they were thinking and saying something good. After all, James and John were just protecting the reputation of their Master. I mean, who do these ungrateful Samaritans think they are, disrespecting the Son of God? They deserve a little hell fire and brimstone, don’t they? The two had a perfectly human response to this rudeness. Or did they? 

Jesus attributes this kind of thinking and behavior to a “spirit” and not to the Holy Spirit for sure. Several times we see the disciples being influenced by the spirit of the evil one. When Peter rebuked Jesus for talking about His crucifixion, Jesus outright calls him Satan (Matthew 16:21-23). Satan enters Judas’ heart (Luke 22:3). And again, Satan’s request to sift Peter like wheat (Luke 22:31). No wonder Peter gives us this sobering warning;

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:8-9)

Spiritual warfare is a very real thing! As disciple-makers we need to not only be aware of such demonic activity, we need to be equipped and equip those we are discipling with the tools to ward off such attacks. 

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

My Story

For the last three years I have been working hard on my “thought life.” You know when you have an initial thought that is pretty benign and then all of a sudden you realize you’ve walked halfway down the path to the pit of hell. This can be sexual, judgmental, fearful, etc… I have been known to say “On the outside, I’m a pretty good guy. But if you spent five minutes in my brain, you’d probably throw up.” But I have a sneaky suspicion I’m not the only one with this struggle.

I’ve done some reading and memorizing of Scripture to help me tame the wild jungle in my head but one thing really stands out as most helpful; “Not everything I think originates with me.” I learned that Satan loves to feed us lies and initiate thoughts that tempt us into sin. 

First, this was quite a relief. I now realize the thought of stabbing grandma in the back with a butcher knife is not something I dreamt up on my own and has helped me resist immediately checking myself into a psych ward. It is the enemy planting seeds of evil hoping they will grow into full blown trees of destruction bearing the fruit of sin. (Come on now, don’t judge me. You’ve had some crazy thoughts go through your head and wondered where in the world it came from! Now you know.)

Second, I needed to take immediate action against such spiritual attacks and pull out the machete of truth and hack the evil thought or lie down before it even sees the light of day. A helpful practice was given to me by Craig Groeshel in his book “Winning the War in Your Mind.” He talks about immediately responding with a mantra or saying that will address the lie or evil thought and stop it in its tracks. I went a step further by issuing a command appropriate to the ones the thought came from; “Demons and their thoughts be cast into the depth of the sea by the name of Jesus and stay there until the final day of judgment!” Not only has this been effective at cutting these intrusive thoughts off at the pass, I have experienced tremendous peace in knowing that I have enlisted the right power to redirect my thinking in a more healthy vein. (I also imagine thousands of chained demons at the bottom of the ocean as a result of proclaiming this command multiple times a day. Tongue in cheek.)  It has been truly liberating. 

PS. All my grandmothers have died of natural causes. 

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas;

  • What are some of the troubling thoughts you have on a routine basis?
  • Look up some Scriptural truths you can use to combat these lies.
  • Ask those you are discipling how they are doing with their “thought lives.”

Not all that is in our heads originates with us. We have an enemy that would destroy us starting with our hearts and minds. Let’s monitor our thinking and take appropriate actions to expose the lies and replace them with the truth.

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

Organic Writing – No Artificial Intelligence or Sweeteners Added

¿Qué clase de espíritu? – #128

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos los Evangelios de Lucas y Juan para ver de dónde provienen algunos de nuestros pensamientos más perversos.

¡Comencemos!

Lucas 9:51-56, Juan 7:10

Pero cuando sus hermanos subieron a la fiesta, él también subió, no públicamente, sino como en secreto. Al acercarse los días de su ascensión, decidió ir a Jerusalén; así que envió mensajeros delante de él, los cuales fueron y entraron en una aldea de samaritanos para preparar su viaje. Pero no lo recibieron, porque viajaba hacia Jerusalén. Al ver esto, sus discípulos Santiago y Juan dijeron: «Señor, ¿quieres que mandemos que descienda fuego del cielo y los consuma?». Pero él se volvió y los reprendió, diciendo: «No saben de qué espíritu son; porque el Hijo del Hombre no vino a destruir las vidas de los hombres, sino a salvarlas». Y se fueron a otra aldea.

Mis Pensamientos

Estoy seguro de que los chicos creían que estaban pensando y diciendo algo bueno. Después de todo, Santiago y Juan solo estaban protegiendo la reputación de su Maestro. Es decir, ¿quiénes se creen estos samaritanos ingratos que le faltan el respeto al Hijo de Dios? Se merecen un poco de fuego y azufre del infierno, ¿no? Ambos reaccionaron de forma perfectamente humana ante esta grosería. ¿O no?

Jesús atribuye este tipo de pensamiento y comportamiento a un “espíritu” y no al Espíritu Santo, sin duda. Varias veces vemos a los discípulos influenciados por el espíritu del maligno. Cuando Pedro reprendió a Jesús por hablar de su crucifixión, Jesús lo llamó directamente Satanás (Mateo 16:21-23). Satanás entró en el corazón de Judas (Lucas 22:3). Y de nuevo, Satanás le pidió que zarandeara a Pedro como trigo (Lucas 22:31). Con razón Pedro nos da esta seria advertencia. Sean sobrios y estén alerta. Su adversario, el diablo, ronda como león rugiente, buscando a quién devorar. Pero resistan firmes en la fe, sabiendo que sus hermanos en el mundo están padeciendo lo mismo. (1 Pedro 5:8-9)

¡La guerra espiritual es muy real! Como hacedores de discípulos, no solo debemos estar atentos a esta actividad demoníaca, sino también equiparnos y dotar a quienes discipulamos con las herramientas necesarias para protegernos de tales ataques.

Finalmente, fortalézcanse en el Señor y en el poder de su fuerza. Pónganse toda la armadura de Dios para que puedan mantenerse firmes contra las asechanzas del diablo. Porque nuestra lucha no es contra sangre y carne, sino contra principados, contra potestades, contra las fuerzas de este mundo de tinieblas, contra las huestes espirituales de maldad en las regiones celestes. Por tanto, tomen toda la armadura de Dios, para que puedan resistir en el día malo y, tras haberlo hecho todo, mantenerse firmes. Manténganse firmes, ceñidos sus lomos con la verdad, revestidos con la coraza de justicia y calzados con el apresto del evangelio de paz; además, tomen el escudo de la fe con el que podrán apagar todas las flechas encendidas del maligno. Y tomen el yelmo de la salvación y la espada del Espíritu, que es la palabra de Dios. (Efesios 6:10-17)

Mi Historia

Durante los últimos tres años he estado trabajando duro en mis pensamientos. Ya sabes, cuando tienes un pensamiento inicial bastante benigno y de repente te das cuenta de que has recorrido la mitad del camino hacia el abismo. Puede ser sexual, crítico, temeroso, etc. He dicho: “Por fuera, soy una buena persona. Pero si pasaras cinco minutos en mi mente, probablemente vomitarías”. Pero tengo la ligera sospecha de que no soy el único con esta lucha.

He leído y memorizado las Escrituras para ayudarme a dominar la jungla salvaje que hay en mi cabeza, pero hay algo que realmente me ha ayudado: “No todo lo que pienso proviene de mí”. Aprendí que a Satanás le encanta alimentarnos con mentiras e iniciar pensamientos que nos tientan a pecar.

Primero, esto fue un gran alivio. Ahora me doy cuenta de que la idea de apuñalar a la abuela por la espalda con un cuchillo de carnicero no es algo que se me haya ocurrido y me ha ayudado a resistir la idea de ingresarme inmediatamente en un hospital psiquiátrico. Es el enemigo sembrando semillas de maldad con la esperanza de que se conviertan en árboles de destrucción maduros que den el fruto del pecado. (Vamos, no me juzgues. ¡Has tenido pensamientos locos y te has preguntado de dónde salieron! Ahora lo sabes).

En segundo lugar, necesitaba actuar de inmediato contra tales ataques espirituales y desenvainar la verdad para acabar con el pensamiento maligno o rendirme antes de que siquiera vea la luz del día. Craig Groeshel me dio una práctica útil en su libro “Ganando la Guerra en tu Mente”. Habla de responder de inmediato con un mantra o una frase que aborde la mentira o el pensamiento maligno y lo detenga de golpe. Fui un paso más allá al dar una orden apropiada para quienes provenían del pensamiento: “¡Demonios y sus pensamientos, sean arrojados a las profundidades del mar en el nombre de Jesús y permanezcan allí hasta el día del juicio final!” Esto no solo ha sido efectivo para cortar de raíz estos pensamientos intrusivos, sino que también he experimentado una paz inmensa al saber que he encontrado el poder adecuado para redirigir mis pensamientos hacia una dirección más sana. (También me imagino a miles de demonios encadenados en el fondo del océano por proclamar esta orden varias veces al día. Es irónico). Ha sido realmente liberador.

PD: Todas mis abuelas han muerto por causas naturales.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es momento de aplicarlo. Aquí tienes algunas ideas:

¿Cuáles son algunos de los pensamientos que te preocupan habitualmente?

Busca algunas verdades bíblicas que puedas usar para combatir estas mentiras.

Pregunta a quienes estás discipulando cómo les va con sus pensamientos.

No todo lo que hay en nuestra cabeza proviene de nosotros. Tenemos un enemigo que quiere destruirnos, empezando por nuestro corazón y nuestra mente. Vigilemos nuestros pensamientos y tomemos las medidas adecuadas para exponer las mentiras y reemplazarlas con la verdad.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #21 – Repent! – Matthew 3:1-2, Mark 1:14-15, and Matthew 4:17

Repentance: A Requirement for Entrance into the Kingdom of God


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“Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (Matthew 3:1-2)

“Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:14-15)

“From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”” (Matthew 4:17)

Introduction: The Call to Repentance

The message of repentance is central to the teachings of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, as seen in Matthew 3:1-2, Mark 1:14-15, and Matthew 4:17. These passages emphasize that repentance is not merely an optional response but a divine requirement for entering the Kingdom of God. John the Baptist proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 3:2), and Jesus echoed this message, beginning His ministry with the same call (Matthew 4:17). This essay explores the biblical concept of repentance by examining its linguistic roots, theological significance, and connection to Jesus as the Messiah and King. It also highlights how repentance reveals God’s redemptive plan and points to Christ’s eternal reign.

Etymology and Meaning of “Repent”

The Greek word for “repent” used in these passages is metanoeō (Strong’s G3340). Etymologically, metanoeō combines meta (change) and noeō (mind or understanding), signifying a transformative change in one’s mindset and direction. It implies turning away from sin and toward God with a renewed purpose. This term transcends mere regret or sorrow for wrongdoing; it entails a decisive redirection of life toward obedience to God’s will.

In Hebrew thought, repentance aligns with the term shuv, meaning “to turn back” or “return” (Strong’s H7725). Both terms emphasize an active response—leaving behind sin and embracing God’s righteous path. Jesus’ use of metanoeō in Matthew 4:17 underscores this profound shift in allegiance, calling individuals to prepare their hearts for the arrival of God’s kingdom.

Theological Significance of Repentance

Repentance as Preparation for the Kingdom

The call to repent is intrinsically tied to the nearness of God’s kingdom. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus by urging people to repent, symbolizing their readiness to receive the Messiah (Matthew 3:1-2). Jesus continued this message, declaring that “the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). This dual command—repentance and faith—demonstrates that entering God’s kingdom requires both a turning from sin and a turning toward Christ.

Repentance as an Act of Grace

Repentance is not merely a human effort; it is initiated by God’s grace. Acts 11:18 describes repentance as something “granted” by God, highlighting its divine origin. It reflects God’s mercy in offering sinners an opportunity to turn back to Him before judgment arrives. Thus, repentance becomes a response to God’s gracious invitation into His kingdom.

Christological Fulfillment in Repentance

Jesus embodies perfect obedience and serves as the ultimate example of allegiance to God, demonstrating that genuine obedience is indeed possible for humanity. As both fully divine and yet fully human, Christ was sinless and had no need for repentance, but instead showcased unwavering submission to God’s will throughout His earthly life. His sinless existence fulfilled all righteousness (Matthew 3:15), offering believers a model of complete obedience and extreme allegiance to God.

In His humanity, Jesus experienced temptation, hunger, weariness, and the full range of human emotions, yet remained without sin. This demonstrates that obedience to God is attainable, even in the face of human limitations and trials. Christ’s perfect obedience was not merely passive but active, as He fulfilled both the moral and ceremonial laws, as well as the specific mediatorial commands given by the Father.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus not only exemplified perfect obedience but also provided the means for believers to be reconciled to God. His sacrifice enables forgiveness and empowers believers to pursue a life of obedience, as they repent and respond to God’s grace and Christ’s example of unwavering allegiance.

Jesus’ message that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” points to His role as King. Through His miracles and teachings, Jesus showed that God’s rule is real and accessible through repentance and belief. While the fullness of His reign awaits His second coming, His lordship is already present in this age. Repentance acknowledges Jesus as King now, anticipating His ultimate reign in the future.

Implications for Believers

Transformative Power of Repentance

Repentance transforms believers by aligning their hearts with God’s purposes. It produces spiritual fruit (Matthew 3:8) and leads to ongoing sanctification through the Holy Spirit. As Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret.” True repentance involves not only turning away from sin but also embracing a life characterized by faithfulness and obedience.

New Testament Examples of Repentance

In the following examples identify the act of repentance and the proclamation of absolution or forgiveness;

1. Zacchaeus (Luke 19.1-10)

2. Sinner’s Prayer (Luke 18:9-14)

3. Repentant Woman (Luke 7:36-50)

4. The Wayward Son (Luke 15.11-24)

5. The Woman at the Well (John 4:4-38)

6. Simon the Fisherman (Luke 5:1-11)

7. The Thief on the Cross (Luke 23:32-43)

Proclaiming Repentance as Disciple-Makers

As followers of Christ, believers are called to preach repentance as part of their mission. Just as John prepared the way for Jesus, Christians are tasked with preparing others for Christ’s return by proclaiming the gospel message: “Repent and believe” (Mark 1:15). This call remains urgent because God’s kingdom demands a response from every individual.

Conclusion: The Eternal Reign of Christ

Repentance is foundational for entering God’s kingdom because it reflects a heart transformed by grace and aligned with God’s will. It reveals divine attributes such as mercy, justice, and holiness while pointing to Christ’s redemptive work on behalf of sinners. By responding to Jesus’ call to repent, believers acknowledge His present lordship while anticipating His eternal reign.

Ultimately, repentance serves as both an invitation and a command—an invitation into God’s grace-filled kingdom and a command to live under Christ’s authority today as their King. For those who heed this call, it offers not only entrance into God’s kingdom but also participation in its expansive and eternal reality.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

There’s Something Missing

The bus hummed softly as it rolled through the quiet streets, its passengers scattered in their seats. Bud sat near the middle, his Bible resting on his lap, while Matt leaned forward across the aisle, his face still lit with excitement from the day’s events. They had spent the afternoon sharing the gospel, and Matt had taken a big step by talking to one of his friends about Jesus for the first time. Bud had been proud to see him take that leap of faith, but now it was time for some feedback.

“You did really well today,” Bud began, his voice warm and encouraging. “You were clear, and your friend seemed genuinely interested.”

Matt grinned. “Thanks! I was nervous, but I just kept thinking about what you taught me—how important it is to share the good news.”

Bud nodded. “That’s right. But there’s something I want to talk about.” He paused, giving Matt a moment to prepare. “When you told your friend that ‘Jesus doesn’t expect you to do anything,’ I think you missed an important part of the gospel.”

Matt frowned slightly, leaning back in his seat. “What do you mean? I thought salvation was a free gift. Isn’t it just about believing?”

“It is a free gift,” Bud said gently, “but Jesus calls us to respond with repentance. It’s not just about believing facts; it’s about turning away from sin and surrendering to Him as King.”

Matt tilted his head, clearly thinking it over. “I didn’t want to make it sound too hard to follow Jesus.”

“I get that,” Bud said with a smile. He leaned forward slightly, his voice taking on a storytelling tone. “You know, this reminds me of my Army days. Back in basic training, we learned a command called ‘About, FACE.’ When the drill sergeant shouted it, we’d pivot 180 degrees on our toe and heel and turn to face the opposite direction.”

Matt’s eyebrows raised slightly as he listened.

“Repentance is like that ‘About, FACE’ command,” Bud continued, his voice steady and calm. “It’s a decisive turn in your heart and mind—a complete change of direction. You turn away from sin and face God instead. And here’s the thing: where your heart and mind go, your actions will follow. Just like in the Army, when we turned our bodies to face a new direction, repentance leads to a change in how we live.”

Matt nodded slowly as understanding dawned on his face.

Before he could respond, a voice from behind them broke into the conversation. “Wait—what does that mean? To repent?”

Both men turned to see Steve sitting two rows back. He had earbuds dangling around his neck and an uncertain look on his face.

Bud shifted in his seat so he could see him better. “It means turning away from your old way of living—your sins—and turning toward Jesus with a heart that’s ready to follow Him.”

Steve hesitated for a moment before leaning forward slightly. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” he admitted quietly. “I don’t like who I’ve become. I want to change… but I don’t know how.”

Matt looked at Steve in surprise but stayed silent as Bud spoke again.

“Steve,” Bud said gently but firmly, “Jesus invites you to come as you are—but He doesn’t leave you there. When you turn to Him in repentance and faith, He forgives your sins and gives you a new heart—a heart that wants to follow Him as King.”

Steve swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. “So… I have to be willing to give up everything?”

Bud nodded slowly but kindly. “Everything that keeps you from Him—yes. But what you gain is so much greater: forgiveness, peace with God, and the joy of living under His rule.”

Steve looked down at his hands for a long moment before meeting Bud’s gaze again. “I think I’m ready,” he said softly.

Bud smiled warmly and motioned for Steve to come closer, inviting him to pray together. As Steve sat down beside him, Matt watched intently, feeling humbled by the moment.

Bud asked Steve if he believed that God loved him, sent His Son Jesus to die for his sins, and rose from the dead three days later. Steve nodded in affirmation, saying, “I do.”

“Are you ready to make Him your King and let Him guide your life?” Bud asked. Steve straightened up with conviction and replied, “I am.”

Bud then led Steve in a heartfelt prayer, confessing sin and surrendering to Jesus. Matt felt something stir deep within him, realizing that sharing the gospel wasn’t just about presenting facts, but about inviting people into a life-changing relationship with Jesus as their King.

After they finished praying, Steve looked up with tears in his eyes, yet an unmistakable peace on his face. “Thank you,” he said simply.

Bud placed a hand on Steve’s shoulder and smiled warmly. “This is just the beginning,” he said. “Since we ride the bus together daily, let’s discuss next steps as you learn to walk with Jesus next time we meet.”

As the bus slowed to their stop, Matt stood up with renewed determination in his heart. He wanted to be more like Bud—not just knowledgeable about the gospel but someone who lived it out with grace and truth. More than that, he wanted to be like Jesus—the King who called people not only to believe but also to turn and follow Him wholeheartedly.

As they stepped off the bus together into the cool night air, Matt glanced at Bud and said quietly, “Thanks for teaching me today.”

Bud chuckled softly as they walked toward their apartment building—three men now bound by their shared hope in Christ—and replied simply, “We’re all learning.”

Kingdom Kernel Collection

Timing is Everything – #127

Index for all posts in the Gospel Sync Series

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospel of John to see how Jesus maintained perfect timing in His obedience to the Father.

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

John 7:2–9

The Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near. So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His own brothers did not believe in Him. Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil. Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.” Having said this, Jesus remained in Galilee.

My Thoughts 

Have you ever noticed that Jesus always had this sense of impeccable timing. He reminded various people that “His hour had not yet come.” (Once He even reminded His mom – John 2:4) Here He is drawing a contrast between Him and His brothers. He says their time is always at hand but His was later. What’s the difference? How does one know perfect timing?

I think the answer is in the way Jesus lived His life. It was always in perfect alignment with the Father’s will. He didn’t do or say anything that was out of sync with His Dad in Heaven.

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. (John 5:19)

“I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. (John 5:30)

“For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” (John 12:49-50)

On the other hand, His brothers did what they wanted to do when they wanted to do it. And quite frankly, that’s the normal human way to do things. We want to do it our way as the old song goes. 

And how’s that working out for us?

I like Jesus’ way better but to tell the truth there are several things working against me.

  • I like doing things my way
  • There are times when I’m not in close communication with God
  • I have an enemy tripping me up every chance he gets
  • People don’t like when I do it God’s way
  • And the list goes on

But as hard as it may be to resist the natural pull of self centeredness and self reliance, we have to keep fighting to remain aligned with God’s purpose for our lives. As disciple-makers it is imperative that we learn to be on time, in sync, and under Jesus’ authority as we live life and serve others. The only way to do that is by abiding deeply in Him and becoming more and more like Him.

By the way, Jesus did end up going to the feast. (John 7:10-13) Did He lie to His brothers? No, He was abiding in the Father and He did what the Father told Him to do when the Father told Him to do it. So between the time of the discussion with His brothers and Him leaving for Jerusalem I’m sure the Father said, “Ok, now go to the feast.”

My Story

When I left the Army to pursue God’s calling to leave the Infantry to become a Chaplain, I tried to speed things up. I wanted to fast track my way through the seven years of educational and pastoral experience. So I found a college and seminary that worked together that would use the first year of seminary as the senior year of college. That would essentially cut seven years into six.

One problem. Neither the Army nor God liked that idea. The shortcut would rob me of some crucial (and not so fun) experiences that would make me a better chaplain and disciple-maker. So in order to slow the process down, I believe God got creative. The medical examination done by the Army exposed that I had a hearing loss so significant it eliminated me from any opportunity for active service. I was told by the Chief of Chaplain’s Office I would never be a chaplain. That was quite the blow and more on the way I responded in another post. Needless to say, I was absolutely undone. I thought I had a clear calling from God.

A year later, the National Guard wanted to promote me to Master Sergeant but couldn’t because of my hearing profile. Unbeknownst to me they held a medical review board and downgraded my profile so that the commander could promote me. I arrived at the monthly drill to receive congratulations that I was now Master Sergeant Wood. Ironically, the change in medical status was not only good for the National Guard’s desire to promote me but it also qualified me for candidacy to become an active duty Army Chaplain. I applied and I was commissioned a First Lieutenant a year later. 

Timing is Everything!

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ides;

  • Do a life inventory and identify when you tried to speed things up or slow things down and God had other plans.
  • Share your story with those you are discipling as a lesson on being in sync with God’s perfect timing.
  • Do a Bible study with those you are discipling on “waiting on God.”

Aligning ourselves with God’s perfect timing is challenging for so many reasons. But as we continue to seek His will in our lives and practice hearing His voice, we’ll find ourselves in sync with His will at His time.

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El Tiempo lo Es Todo – #127

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos el Evangelio de Juan para ver cómo Jesús mantuvo un ritmo perfecto en su obediencia al Padre.

Comencemos.

Juan 7:2-9

Se acercaba la fiesta judía de los Tabernáculos. Entonces los hermanos de Jesús le dijeron: «Sal de aquí y ve a Judea, para que tus discípulos vean allí las obras que haces. Porque nadie que quiera ser conocido públicamente actúa en secreto. Ya que haces estas cosas, muéstrate al mundo». Porque ni siquiera sus propios hermanos creían en él. Por eso Jesús les dijo: «Aunque vuestro tiempo siempre está cerca, el mío aún no ha llegado. El mundo no puede odiaros a vosotros, pero a mí me odia, porque doy testimonio de que sus obras son malas. Subid vosotros solos a la fiesta. Yo no subo a esta fiesta, porque mi tiempo aún no ha llegado». Dicho esto, Jesús se quedó en Galilea.

Mis Pensamientos

¿Has notado alguna vez que Jesús siempre tuvo ese sentido de la puntualidad impecable? Les recordó a varias personas que “su hora aún no había llegado” (en una ocasión, incluso se lo recordó a su madre – Juan 2:4). Aquí establece un contraste entre Él y sus hermanos. Dice que su tiempo siempre está cerca, pero el suyo llegó más tarde. ¿Cuál es la diferencia? ¿Cómo se sabe cuál es el momento perfecto?

Creo que la respuesta está en la forma en que Jesús vivió. Siempre estuvo en perfecta armonía con la voluntad del Padre. No hizo ni dijo nada que no estuviera en sintonía con su Padre en el Cielo.

Por lo tanto, Jesús respondió y les dijo: «De cierto, de cierto os digo: No puede el Hijo hacer nada por sí mismo, a menos que vea hacer al Padre; porque todo lo que el Padre hace, también lo hace el Hijo igualmente.» (Juan 5:19)

«No puedo hacer nada por mi propia iniciativa; como oigo, juzgo; y mi juicio es justo, porque no busco mi voluntad, sino la voluntad del que me envió. (Juan 5:30)

“Porque yo no hablé por mi propia cuenta, sino que el Padre mismo que me envió me dio mandamiento de lo que he de decir y de lo que he de hablar. Yo sé que su mandamiento es vida eterna; por tanto, lo que hablo, lo hablo tal como el Padre me lo ha dicho.” (Juan 12:49-50)

Por otro lado, sus hermanos hicieron lo que quisieron cuando quisieron. Y, francamente, esa es la manera humana normal de hacer las cosas. Queremos hacerlo a nuestra manera, como dice el dicho popular.

¿Y cómo nos va con eso?

Me gusta más el método de Jesús, pero a decir verdad, hay varias cosas que me perjudican.

Me gusta hacer las cosas a mi manera.

Hay momentos en que no tengo una comunicación cercana con Dios.

Tengo un enemigo que me hace tropezar en cada oportunidad que tiene.

A la gente no le gusta que lo haga a la manera de Dios.

Y la lista continúa.

Pero por difícil que sea resistir la atracción natural del egocentrismo y la autosuficiencia, debemos seguir luchando para mantenernos alineados con el propósito de Dios para nuestras vidas. Como hacedores de discípulos, es imperativo que aprendamos a ser puntuales, estar en sintonía y bajo la autoridad de Jesús al vivir la vida y servir a los demás. La única manera de lograrlo es permaneciendo profundamente en Él y pareciéndonos cada vez más a Él.

Por cierto, Jesús terminó yendo a la fiesta (Juan 7:10-13). ¿Mintió a sus hermanos? No, él permanecía en el Padre e hizo lo que el Padre le dijo que hiciera cuando el Padre se lo dijo. Así que, entre la conversación con sus hermanos y su partida a Jerusalén, estoy seguro de que el Padre le dijo: «Bien, ahora vayan a la fiesta».

Mi Historia

Cuando dejé el Ejército para seguir el llamado de Dios de dejar la Infantería y convertirme en capellán, intenté acelerar el proceso. Quería acelerar mis siete años de experiencia educativa y pastoral. Así que encontré una universidad y un seminario que funcionaban juntos y que usarían el primer año de seminario como último año de universidad. Eso, en esencia, reduciría siete años a seis.

Un problema: ni al Ejército ni a Dios les gustó la idea. El atajo me privaría de experiencias cruciales (y no tan divertidas) que me harían mejor capellán y discipulador. Así que, para ralentizar el proceso, creo que Dios se puso creativo. El examen médico que me realizaron en el Ejército reveló que tenía una pérdida auditiva tan grave que me eliminó de cualquier oportunidad de servicio activo. El Jefe de la Oficina del Capellán me dijo que nunca sería capellán. Fue un duro golpe y más adelante respondí en otra publicación. Huelga decir que estaba completamente deshecho. Pensé que tenía un claro llamado de Dios.

Un año después, la Guardia Nacional quiso ascenderme a Sargento Mayor, pero no pudo debido a mi perfil auditivo. Sin que yo lo supiera, realizaron una junta de revisión médica y rebajaron mi perfil para que el comandante pudiera ascenderme. Llegué al ejercicio mensual y me felicitaron por mi ascenso a Sargento Mayor Wood. Irónicamente, el cambio de estado médico no solo favoreció el deseo de la Guardia Nacional de ascenderme, sino que también me calificó como candidato a Capellán del Ejército en servicio activo. Presenté mi solicitud y un año después me ascendieron a Primer Teniente. ¡El momento lo es todo!

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es momento de aplicarlo. Aquí tienes algunas ideas:

Haz un inventario de tu vida e identifica cuándo intentaste acelerar o ralentizar las cosas y Dios tenía otros planes.

Comparte tu historia con quienes estás discipulando como una lección sobre cómo estar en sintonía con el tiempo perfecto de Dios.

Realiza un estudio bíblico con quienes estás discipulando sobre cómo esperar en Dios.

Alinearnos con el tiempo perfecto de Dios es difícil por muchas razones. Pero a medida que seguimos buscando su voluntad en nuestras vidas y practicamos escuchar su voz, nos encontraremos en sintonía con su voluntad en su tiempo.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #20 – A Catalytic Message – Matthew 4:23, 9:35, Luke 4:43, 8:1

Kingdom Kernel Collection

Preaching and Teaching the Kingdom: A Catalyst for Transformation

The Biblical Concept of Proclaiming God’s Reign

Jesus Christ, the perfect exemplar of kingdom proclamation, demonstrated a powerful ministry of teaching, preaching, and healing that serves as our model for spreading the good news of God’s reign. The Greek terms used in Matthew 4:23, 9:35, Luke 4:43, and 8:1 provide rich insight into this transformative mission.

Linguistic Analysis

The key Greek words in these passages are:

Didaskō (Strong’s G1321): “to teach”

Kēryssō (Strong’s G2784): “to proclaim, preach”

Euangelizō (Strong’s G2097): “to bring good news, evangelize”

These terms collectively paint a picture of comprehensive communication, combining instruction, public declaration, and joyful announcement.

Jesus as the Messiah-King

Jesus embodied these actions as the long-awaited Messiah and King. His teaching (didaskō) in synagogues demonstrated authoritative exposition of Scripture. His proclamation (kēryssō) of the kingdom gospel was a royal announcement of God’s reign. His evangelizing (euangelizō) brought hope to the masses.

The Present and Future Kingdom

Christ’s ministry emphasized that God’s kingdom was both “at hand” (Matthew 4:17) and yet to come in fullness. This dual nature of the kingdom—present reality and future hope—was central to Jesus’ message and remains crucial for our understanding today.

Implications for Disciple-Makers

Comprehensive Communication: Like Jesus, we must employ varied methods of sharing the kingdom message—teaching, proclaiming, and evangelizing.

Authoritative Teaching: Our instruction should be grounded in Scripture and delivered with Christ-given authority.

Public Declaration: Bold, open proclamation of the kingdom should characterize our ministry.

Joyful Evangelism: The good news of God’s reign should be shared with enthusiasm and hope.

Holistic Ministry: Jesus’ pattern of teaching, preaching, and healing calls us to address both spiritual and physical needs.

Wide Reach: Christ’s itinerant ministry challenges us to expand our influence beyond comfortable boundaries.

Present Reality: We must emphasize the current Lordship of Jesus, not just future expectations.

Conclusion: The Transformative Power of Kingdom Proclamation

The concept of teaching and preaching the kingdom as exemplified by Jesus reveals God’s heart for comprehensive restoration. It demonstrates His redemptive plan unfolding in history and points to Christ’s eternal reign. By embracing this model, we participate in the expansion of God’s kingdom, inviting others to experience the transformative power of His reign—both now and in the age to come.

This approach to ministry, rooted in Jesus’ example, has the potential to catalyze profound change in individuals and communities. As we faithfully teach, proclaim, and demonstrate the reality of God’s kingdom, we become agents of His divine purpose, extending the influence of His reign “on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

“The Ripple Effect”

Isaac leaned against the weathered oak outside the college library, the faint hum of campus life swirling around him as the day slipped into dusk. Nathan approached, his backpack slung over one shoulder, weaving through the throng of students chattering about the upcoming outreach event. The crisp autumn air carried the scent of fallen leaves, but Isaac’s furrowed brow hinted at a weight far heavier than the evening’s promise of fellowship.

“Nathan, I’ve been thinking,” Isaac began, his voice tinged with hesitation. “Maybe I should step back from evangelizing for a while. I’ve got so many guys to follow up with in discipleship, and I’m feeling overwhelmed.”

Nathan, a seasoned mentor with eyes that sparkled with wisdom, raised an eyebrow. “Is that so?” he mused, his tone gentle but probing. “Tell me, Isaac, did Jesus ever stop sharing the gospel?”

Isaac’s brow furrowed. “Well, no, but—”

“Let’s sit for a moment,” Nathan suggested, gesturing to a nearby bench. As they settled, he continued, “Consider this: Jesus focused intensely on the twelve disciples, yet He never ceased proclaiming the kingdom to the masses. In fact, He often brought the twelve along as He spread the message. It was a brilliant strategy of multiplication.”

Isaac leaned back, skepticism etched on his features. “That sounds great in theory, Nathan, but I’m not Jesus. I don’t know if I can manage both.”

A knowing smile played on Nathan’s lips. “Let me share a story that might change your perspective. Do you remember the account of the demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes?”

Isaac nodded slowly, curiosity piquing his interest.

“This man was tormented by a legion of demons,” Nathan recounted, his voice taking on a storyteller’s cadence. “Jesus freed him from his bondage, and the man was so grateful he begged to follow Jesus. But do you recall what Jesus told him?”

Isaac shook his head, engrossed in the narrative.

“Jesus said no,” Nathan revealed. “There was no room in the boat. Instead, He instructed the man to return home and share the good news with his people. And do you know what happened?”

Isaac leaned forward, anticipation building.

“That one man,” Nathan continued, his eyes alight with passion, “went on to spread the kingdom message throughout the entire Decapolis—ten cities! Imagine the impact of his testimony.”

A moment of silence fell between them as Isaac absorbed the implications. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, mirroring the dawning realization on Isaac’s face.

“I… I never thought of it that way,” Isaac admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Nathan continued. “You see, Isaac, by continuing to evangelize while discipling, you’re not just adding to the kingdom—you’re multiplying it. Each person you reach has the potential to become a catalyst for transformation in their own sphere of influence.”

Isaac’s eyes widened, a newfound determination kindling within them. “Like ripples in a pond,” he murmured.

“Exactly,” Nathan affirmed. “Jesus understood the power of this two pronged approach. He focused on discipling a few leaders and yet taught, proclaimed, and brought good news of the kingdom to the masses. It was a comprehensive communication of the kingdom, addressing both immediate needs and eternal truths.”

As they stood to resume their walk, Isaac’s steps had a renewed vigor. “I want to be more like Jesus,” he declared, his voice firm with resolve. “To balance the intimate discipleship with the wide-reaching proclamation of the kingdom.”

Nathan nodded approvingly. “Remember, advancing the kingdom of God is a both/and activity. Focus on a few while helping many. By embracing this dual nature in your ministry, you become an agent of divine purpose, extending the influence of His reign ‘on earth as it is in heaven.'”

The campus came alive around them as students gathered for the outreach event. Isaac surveyed the crowd, no longer seeing a daunting task but a field ripe for harvest. With a deep breath, he stepped forward, ready to teach, proclaim, and bring the good news of the kingdom—just as Jesus did.

As Nathan watched his protégé move into the throng, he smiled, knowing that the ripples of Isaac’s renewed commitment would spread far beyond this campus, touching lives in ways neither of them could yet imagine.

Kingdom Kernel Collection

Champions of Forgiveness – #126

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Welcome Back! Today, we’ll be looking at the Gospels of Matthew to see what Jesus says about God’s forgiveness and what our response should be as disciples and disciple-makers.

So let’s get started.

(Click here to get a copy of the Gospel Sync document) 

Matthew 18:21-35

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents. Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’ But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt. When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master. Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

My Thoughts 

God’s expectations for us to be like Him are high, especially in the area of forgiveness. This exercise of imitation takes five steps to becoming a Champion of Forgiveness;

  1. Understand the righteousness and justice of God
  2. Understand how sinful we are in the eyes of God
  3. Experiencing the forgiveness of God
  4. Extending the same forgiveness to others
  5. Teach others to do the same

That’s the most logical process to follow when we stop and think about it. So why is it so hard to do? I like to say “Our forgetery is better than our memory.” We forget how far gone we were in our own sin. That applies to the adulterer as well as the teenager who stole candy from the convenient store. The penalty is the same, death. There may be degrees of sin but they all lead to the same destination. God is obligated by the demands of His character to levy justice. And yet, He is as equally obligated by that same character to love and provide a way for mercy and grace. (Notice I said He is obligated to His own character, not to us). The choice is our own to receive and respond appropriately in repentance and faith. But if our response is to take His mercy and grace for granted and not extend the same to others, we are in great danger of fooling ourselves into believing we are “owed” such a gift. We are mistakenly under the impression that God is obligated to us to extend His lovingkindness with no regard for our personal response to it.

As disciple-makers, we realize that being a disciple of Jesus means becoming like Him. We also realize that He is the model of our influence on others. He was the Champion of Forgiveness. We need to not only be champions like Him but to help those we disciple to do the same.

My Story

My mom and dad started out to be pretty evil people. The pain and suffering they inflicted on my brothers and me was cruel and perverted. And yet, when I came to Christ, I forgave them. My reasoning? I was a cruel and perverted person myself. As I became acquainted with the holiness of God, I saw the absolute disparity between Him and I. As I read in the Bible about the penalty for such rebellious acts, I became deathly afraid I would spend all eternity in hell separated from Him. And as I began to grasp His heart for me to turn to Him and be forgiven, like the first man in Jesus’ parable, I readily and eagerly received it. But unlike the man in the story, when I was given the opportunity to forgive others like my own mother and father, I lavished forgiveness on them the way Jesus lavished it on me. I’m no fool. I know a good thing when I see it.

My dad started following Jesus about the same time I did when I was twenty years old. It was easy to tell him “I forgive you.” However, I had been estranged from my mother since I was eight. When I was 29 I learned of her condition and that she was living in Fort Stockton, Texas. I was on my way to El Paso from Georgia and decided to stop along the way to tell her in person that I forgave her. I made a phone call to meet her at her “house.” To my surprise and shock, she was living in two single wide trailers crammed together in the middle of a junk yard. Her place was filthy and she was just as drunk as I remembered her being when she abandoned us four boys when I was eight years old. Instantly , memories of neglect and abuse came flooding back. I swallowed my pride and anger and told her, “I forgive you for everything you did to us.” It was awkward and the words didn’t come out the way I rehearsed but I felt an immediate sense of peace and hoped she did as well. I left thinking I would probably never see her again. 

Fast forward another 25 years. We had moved to San Antonio, Texas and somehow learned that my mom had moved just an hour and half away. When Deb and I decided to visit her, I was just as surprised as my first visit but this time in a good way. She was living in a clean apartment, she was sober, and although cancer had ravished her body, she was glowing with a sweet peaceful spirit. She had come to know Jesus 10 years after my last visit. When I asked her how she came to Christ she responded, “I was at the end of my rope and reading the Bible where Jesus is hanging on a cross and praying, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.’ I told God He was exactly right. I didn’t know what I was doing. I gave my life to Jesus Christ that day and He changed me.” My mom died a couple of months later but I was so glad she went knowing that both Jesus and I had forgiven her. 

Our Action Plan

Now it’s time for application. Here’s some ideas;

  • Do an inventory of the people who have hurt or wronged you in some way. Forgive them from your heart.
  • Ask those you are discipling, “How are you doing at forgiving others.”
  • Answer these questions; “Can you forgive and forget? and “Can you forgive from your heart?”

Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not an option. We need to be Champions of Forgiveness like He is and teach others to do the same.

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Campeones del Perdón – #126

¡Bienvenidos de nuevo! Hoy analizaremos los Evangelios de Mateo para ver qué dice Jesús sobre el perdón de Dios y cuál debe ser nuestra respuesta como discípulos y hacedores de discípulos.

Comencemos.

Mateo 18:21-35

Entonces Pedro se acercó a Jesús y le preguntó: «Señor, ¿cuántas veces debo perdonar a mi hermano que peca contra mí? ¿Hasta siete veces?» Jesús respondió: «Te digo que no solo siete veces, sino ¡hasta setenta veces siete! Por eso el reino de los cielos es como un rey que quiso ajustar cuentas con sus siervos. Al comenzar a ajustar cuentas, le presentaron a un deudor que debía diez mil talentos. Como el hombre no podía pagar, el amo ordenó que lo vendieran para pagar su deuda, junto con su esposa, sus hijos y todo lo que tenía. Entonces el siervo cayó de rodillas ante él. «Ten paciencia conmigo», le rogó, «y te lo pagaré todo». Su amo, compadecido, le perdonó la deuda y lo soltó. Pero cuando ese siervo salió, encontró a uno de sus consiervos que le debía cien denarios. Lo agarró y comenzó a estrangularlo, diciendo: «¡Págame lo que me debes!». Entonces su consiervo se postró y le rogó: «Ten paciencia conmigo, y te lo pagaré». Pero él se negó. En cambio, fue y mandó meter al hombre en la cárcel hasta que pudiera pagar su deuda. Cuando su compañero Los siervos, al ver lo sucedido, se angustiaron mucho y fueron a contarle todo esto a su amo. Entonces el amo lo mandó llamar y le dijo: «¡Siervo malvado! Te perdoné toda la deuda porque me lo rogaste. ¿No debías haberte compadecido de tu compañero, como yo lo hice contigo?». Enfurecido, su amo lo entregó a los verdugos para que lo torturaran hasta que pagara todo lo que debía. Así les tratará mi Padre celestial a cada uno de ustedes, a menos que perdonen de corazón a su hermano.

Mis Pensamientos

Dios espera mucho de nosotros que seamos como Él, especialmente en cuanto al perdón. Este ejercicio de imitación consta de cinco pasos para convertirnos en un Campeón del Perdón:

  • Comprender la rectitud y la justicia de Dios
  • Comprender cuán pecadores somos a los ojos de Dios
  • Experimentar el perdón de Dios
  • Ofrecer el mismo perdón a los demás
  • Enseñar a otros a hacer lo mismo

Ese es el proceso más lógico a seguir cuando lo pensamos. Entonces, ¿por qué es tan difícil? Me gusta decir: «El olvido es mejor que la memoria». Olvidamos lo profundo que estábamos en nuestro propio pecado. Esto aplica tanto al adúltero como al adolescente que robó dulces de la tienda. La pena es la misma: la muerte. Puede haber grados de pecado, pero todos conducen al mismo destino. Dios está obligado por las exigencias de su carácter a impartir justicia. Y, sin embargo, está igualmente obligado por ese mismo carácter a amar y a proveer un camino para la misericordia y la gracia. (Observen que dije que Él está obligado a su propio carácter, no a nosotros). Es nuestra decisión recibir y responder apropiadamente con arrepentimiento y fe. Pero si nuestra respuesta es dar por sentado su misericordia y gracia y no extenderlas a los demás, corremos el gran peligro de engañarnos creyendo que se nos “debe” tal don. Erróneamente, creemos que Dios está obligado a extender su bondad amorosa sin importar nuestra respuesta personal.

Como hacedores de discípulos, comprendemos que ser discípulos de Jesús significa asemejarnos a Él. También comprendemos que Él es el modelo de nuestra influencia en los demás. Él fue el Campeón del Perdón. Necesitamos no solo ser campeones como Él, sino también ayudar a quienes discipulamos a hacer lo mismo.

Mi Historia

Mis padres al principio fueron personas bastante malvadas. El dolor y el sufrimiento que nos infligieron a mis hermanos y a mí fue cruel y perverso. Sin embargo, cuando llegué a Cristo, los perdoné. ¿Mi razonamiento? Yo mismo era una persona cruel y pervertida. Al conocer la santidad de Dios, vi la absoluta disparidad entre Él y yo. Al leer en la Biblia sobre el castigo por tales actos de rebeldía, me entró un miedo terrible de pasar la eternidad en el infierno, separado de Él. Y al comprender su deseo de que me volviera a Él y fuera perdonado, como el primer hombre de la parábola de Jesús, lo acepté con entusiasmo. Pero a diferencia del hombre de la historia, cuando tuve la oportunidad de perdonar a otros, como a mi madre y a mi padre, los perdoné generosamente como Jesús me lo hizo a mí. No soy un necio. Reconozco algo bueno cuando lo veo.

Mi padre empezó a seguir a Jesús casi al mismo tiempo que yo, cuando tenía veinte años. Fue fácil decirle “te perdono”. Sin embargo, había estado distanciado de mi madre desde los ocho años. A los 29, me enteré de su condición y de que vivía en Fort Stockton, Texas. Iba de camino a El Paso desde Georgia y decidí hacer una parada en el camino para decirle en persona que la perdonaba. La llamé para encontrarme con ella en su “casa”. Para mi sorpresa y conmoción, vivía en dos caravanas individuales apiñadas en medio de un desguace. Su casa estaba sucia y ella estaba tan borracha como recordaba que estaba cuando nos abandonó a los cuatro, cuando yo tenía ocho años. Al instante, los recuerdos de abandono y abuso me invadieron. Me tragué el orgullo y la ira y le dije: “Te perdono por todo lo que nos hiciste”. Fue incómodo y las palabras no salieron como las había ensayado, pero sentí una paz inmediata y esperé que a ella también. Me fui pensando que probablemente no la volvería a ver.

Veinticinco años después. Nos mudamos a San Antonio, Texas, y de alguna manera nos enteramos de que mi mamá se había mudado a solo una hora y media de distancia. Cuando Deb y yo decidimos visitarla, me sorprendí tanto como en mi primera visita, pero esta vez para bien. Vivía en un apartamento limpio, estaba sobria y, aunque el cáncer la había devastado, irradiaba un espíritu dulce y apacible. Había conocido a Jesús 10 años después de mi última visita. Cuando le pregunté cómo llegó a Cristo, respondió: «Estaba al límite de mis fuerzas, leyendo la Biblia donde Jesús está colgado en una cruz y orando: ‘Padre, perdónalos, porque no saben lo que hacen’. Le dije a Dios que tenía toda la razón. No sabía lo que hacía. Le entregué mi vida a Jesucristo ese día y Él me cambió». Mi mamá falleció un par de meses después, pero me alegré mucho de que fuera sabiendo que tanto Jesús como yo la habíamos perdonado.

Nuestro Plan de Acción

Ahora es momento de aplicar. Aquí tienes algunas ideas:

  • Haz un inventario de las personas que te han herido o agraviado de alguna manera. Perdónalas de corazón.
  • Pregunta a quienes estás discipulando: “¿Cómo te va perdonando a los demás?”.
  • Responde estas preguntas: “¿Puedes perdonar y olvidar?” y “¿Puedes perdonar de corazón?”.

Jesús deja claro que el perdón no es una opción. Necesitamos ser campeones del perdón como él y enseñar a otros a hacer lo mismo.

Si ve un problema importante en la traducción, envíeme una corrección por correo electrónico a charleswood1@gmail.com

Kingdom Kernel #19 – The Kingdom Belongs to the Poor in Spirit

Kingdom Kernel Collection

Introduction

In Matthew 5:3 and Luke 6:20, Jesus introduces a profound concept that challenges conventional wisdom: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This beatitude, part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, reveals a fundamental truth about the nature of God’s kingdom and those who inherit it.

Linguistic Analysis

The Greek term for “poor” in these passages is “πτωχός” (ptōchos, Strong’s G4434), which literally means “reduced to beggary” or “destitute”. This word goes beyond mere financial poverty, especially when coupled with “τῷ πνεύματι” (tō pneumati, “in spirit”) in Matthew’s account. It describes a state of complete spiritual destitution and dependence on God.

Theological Significance

The Nature of Spiritual Poverty

To be “poor in spirit” means recognizing one’s utter spiritual bankruptcy before God. It is an acknowledgment that we have nothing inherently worthy to offer God for our salvation or to earn His favor, and we are entirely dependent on His grace. While God delights in our worship and allegiance, these are responses to His goodness rather than transactions to gain His blessing. This attitude of humility stands in stark contrast to the self-righteousness of the Pharisees and reflects the proper posture necessary to enter God’s kingdom.

Jesus as the Perfect Example

Jesus Himself exemplifies this spiritual poverty. Despite being divine, He “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant” (Philippians 2:7). Christ’s incarnation and ministry demonstrate complete dependence on the Father, showing us the way to true blessedness.

The Kingdom of God

Present and Future Reality

The kingdom Jesus speaks of is both a present reality and a future hope. When He declares, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” He uses the present tense, indicating that those who are poor in spirit already possess the kingdom. This underscores the Lordship of Jesus Christ as a current reality, not just a future promise.

Inverted Values

Jesus’ teaching inverts worldly values. In God’s kingdom, it is not the self-sufficient or materially rich who are blessed, but those who recognize their spiritual need. This concept challenges believers to reassess their priorities and dependence on worldly resources.

Implications for Believers

Cultivating Spiritual Poverty

Disciples of Christ are called to cultivate an attitude of spiritual poverty. This involves:

  • Recognizing our complete dependence on God
  • Approaching God with humility and openness
  • Continually seeking God’s grace and provision

Transformative Power

Understanding and embracing spiritual poverty transforms believers by:

  • Fostering genuine humility
  • Increasing reliance on God’s strength
  • Deepening appreciation for God’s grace

Conclusion

The concept of being “poor in spirit” is central to understanding the nature of God’s kingdom and our place within it. It reveals a God who exalts the humble and fills the hungry with good things (Luke 1:52-53). As we embrace our spiritual poverty, we paradoxically become rich in the things of God, inheriting the fullness of His kingdom both now and in eternity.

Disciple-Maker’s Short Story

The Wealth of Humility

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the soccer field as Lucas and Noah sprawled on the grass, their cleats discarded beside them. Sweat glistened on their foreheads as they gulped down neon-colored sports drinks, the silence between them comfortable after an intense practice.

Lucas fished his phone out of his gym bag, his brow furrowing as he scrolled through his Bible app. “Hey Noah,” he said, his voice tinged with concern, “what do you make of this verse? Luke 6:20 – ‘Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.'”

Noah propped himself up on his elbows, sensing the weight in his younger teammate’s question. “What’s on your mind, Luke?”

Lucas hesitated, his fingers tracing the outline of his phone case – the latest model, a gift from his parents. “It’s just… my family, we’re not poor. Far from it. Does that mean we can’t inherit God’s kingdom?”

Noah sat up fully, his eyes softening with understanding. He’d mentored Lucas for months now, both on and off the field, and he knew the struggle his young friend faced reconciling his faith with his family’s affluence.

“It’s not that simple,” Noah began, choosing his words carefully. “Remember Matthew’s version? ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit.’ It’s not about how much money you have in the bank, but about your heart’s posture before God.”

Lucas’s brow remained furrowed. “But what’s the difference? Isn’t being rich kind of… the opposite of what Jesus wants?”

Noah reached for his own gym bag, pulling out a battered leather-bound Bible. He flipped through the pages with practiced ease. “Look here,” he said, pointing to a passage. “In 1 Timothy, Paul writes to Timothy about instructing the rich. He doesn’t tell them to give everything away, but to ‘be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.'”

Lucas leaned in, his eyes scanning the verses. Noah continued, “Being ‘poor in spirit’ means recognizing that no matter how much we have – money, talent, status – we’re utterly dependent on God’s grace. It’s about humility, not bank accounts.”

A glimmer of understanding dawned in Lucas’s eyes. “So… it’s not wrong to be rich, but it’s wrong to trust in riches instead of God?”

Noah nodded, a smile spreading across his face. “Exactly. Jesus had wealthy followers too, you know. Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus – they used their resources to serve God’s kingdom.”

Lucas sat back, processing this new perspective. “But how do I make sure I’m being ‘poor in spirit’ when I have so much?”

Noah’s eyes lit up with an idea. “Remember last month when your family donated those new uniforms to the youth league in the inner city? That’s using your wealth for the kingdom. It’s not about feeling guilty for what you have, but being grateful and generous with it.”

Lucas nodded slowly, a weight lifting from his shoulders. “I want to be more like that – more like Jesus. Using what I have to serve others, not just myself.”

Noah clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s the spirit, Luke. It’s a journey we’re all on – learning to hold our blessings with open hands, ready to use them for God’s purposes.”

As the sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow across the field, the two friends continued to talk. Their conversation flowed from scripture to practical applications, from personal struggles to dreams of making a difference. In that moment, on a simple soccer field, a profound truth was taking root in Lucas’s heart – the paradoxical wealth found in spiritual poverty, and the joy of using earthly riches for heavenly purposes.

The true wealth of humility reveals itself not in what we possess, but in how we steward our blessings. Lucas had begun to understand that wealth itself wasn’t an obstacle to faith, but rather an opportunity for service. That evening, walking home with his gym bag slung over his shoulder, he noticed details he’d overlooked before – the elderly neighbor struggling with groceries, the community center with its fading paint, the homeless man on the corner with eyes that held untold stories.

Each scene sparked ideas in Lucas’s mind – ways his family could engage, invest, and embody the kingdom values Noah had spoken about. He realized that being “poor in spirit” wasn’t about denying abundance but acknowledging its source and purpose. It meant approaching life with open hands rather than clenched fists, seeing resources not as entitlements but as tools for transformation.

When he arrived home to his family’s spacious house, Lucas didn’t feel the usual twinge of guilt. Instead, he felt a new sense of responsibility and possibility. The wealth around him wasn’t an indictment but an invitation – to practice generous living, to cultivate gratitude, and to partner with God in bringing glimpses of His kingdom to earth.

Kingdom Kernel Collection