Outcasts

P 3512 Someone else’s thoughts.

/ DVH

“Keep turning away from your sins and come back to  God, for heaven’s kingdom realm is now accessible.” Matthew 4:17 TPT. Some words in Scripture don’t merely give us information. They give us a new way of seeing reality.

One of those words is basileia – the Greek word usually translated “kingdom.” But basileia isn’t primarily about geography—a territory with borders, a palace, or a throne. When Jesus announced that the Kingdom of heaven had come near, He wasn’t simply telling people where they could go after they die. He was announcing something far more radical: The unseen realm of heaven is constantly breaking into the visible world of earth.

Jesus was introducing a fresh worldview—a way of understanding reality that says the physical world we see isn’t the whole story. There is another dimension of reality. And Jesus was showing us, in His main point in the heart of the Lord’s Prayer and most of the parables, how the two realities overlap.

A new way of seeing the world: Israel had been waiting for God’s Kingdom for centuries. The prophets envisioned a day when God would reign, justice would be established, evil would be defeated, and creation would be restored. Daniel saw a kingdom that would outlast every human empire: “His dominion is everlasting and will never pass away, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14 TPT.

Then Jesus appeared and made an astonishing announcement at the launch of his ministry: “At last the fulfilment of the age has come! It is time for God’s kingdom to be experienced in its fullness! Turn your lives back to God and put your trust in the hope-filled gospel!” Mark 1:15 TPT. The Greek ēngiken means “has come near” or “has drawn close.” Something from God’s realm has moved toward ours. The Kingdom has come near, and King Jesus came to announce it! Jesus wasn’t merely teaching people about a future Kingdom, although it is eternal, He was revealing that God’s reign was already breaking into the present.

And suddenly, people could see it. The blind saw. The lame walked. The oppressed were set free. Sinners were forgiven. Outcasts were welcomed. The dead were raised. These weren’t isolated displays of supernatural power. They were signs of another reality invading this one. Jesus was showing people what happens when heaven’s rule touches earth.

The Kingdom is a world view: This is why basileia is more than a theological word. It gives us a potent way to perceive our world. We tend to divide reality into two categories: What we can see—and what we can’t. The physical world feels real because we can touch it, measure it, photograph it, and analyse it. The spiritual world can seem distant, mysterious, abstract, or even absent. But Jesus presents a radically different picture. The invisible realm of God is not less real because we cannot see it. And the physical world isn’t disconnected from it. Heaven and earth intersect.

That’s the worldview Jesus introduces. The Kingdom is where God’s rule becomes present in the world we inhabit. Think of it as an intersection. Heaven isn’t merely somewhere far away. God’s Kingdom is the very source of our physical reality. And Jesus teaches us, through His miracles and through His parables how to look for it.

“Your Kingdom come:” This is why Jesus taught His followers to pray:“Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 TPT. Notice the direction of the prayer. We’re not simply praying, “Help us get to heaven.” We’re praying: “Let heaven come here.” Let what is true in God’s realm become true in our realm. Let God’s peace enter our anxiety, relationships, and communities. Let God’s healing enter our brokenness. Let God’s generosity break the grip of our fear. Let God’s truth penetrate our confusion. Let Your Kingdom come. This changes the way we walk through ordinary life. The Kingdom means that the kitchen, workplace, hospital room, campsite, classroom, church, and difficult conversation can all become places where heaven touches earth.

We have access to the Kingdom’s power: Here’s the astonishing part. Jesus doesn’t merely tell us that the Kingdom exists. He gives us access to it. He teaches us to pray for it. He invites us to seek it. He sends His followers to announce it. And He gives His followers authority to participate in its work. When Jesus sends out the disciples, He tells them:

“As you go, preach this message: ‘Heaven’s kingdom is accessible, close enough to touch.’ You must continually bring healing to lepers and to those who are sick, and make it your habit to break off the demonic presence from people, and raise the dead back to life.” Matthew 10:7–8 TPT. Notice the connection: Announce the Kingdom. Demonstrate the Kingdom. Words and works. Proclamation and participation. The disciples weren’t merely supposed to tell people that God reigns. They were supposed to show evidence of God’s reign. Power evangelism. And that invitation extends to us. We don’t create the Kingdom. We don’t manufacture God’s power. But we can recognize it, receive it, pray for it, and participate in it.

Learning to see what’s already happening: Perhaps one of the great challenges of Christian spirituality is learning to perceive the Kingdom. Jesus said:“The kingdom is not discovered in one place or another, for God’s kingdom realm is already expanding within some of you.” Luke 17:21 TPT. The Kingdom isn’t always spectacular. Sometimes it looks like forgiveness. Sometimes courage. Sometimes unexpected peace. The Kingdom is God’s reign becoming visible in human lives and in the physical world. Once you begin looking for it, you start seeing the world differently. The question changes from: “What is happening to me?” to: “What is God doing here?” That’s basileia.

The Kingdom changes everything:  Jesus didn’t come merely to give us better religious information. He came announcing that another King is already ruling. And if Jesus is King, then reality is bigger than what our eyes can see. The Kingdom means that your circumstances are not necessarily the final interpretation of your life. The physical world is real—but it isn’t all there is. There is a greater reality pressing into this one. Heaven is touching earth, all the time, right now and forever.

And Jesus invites us to live with our spiritual eyes open. So today: when you walk into an ordinary day, try this simple prayer: “Jesus, help me see Your Kingdom here and now.” Amen. Look around. Where is God bringing life? Where is love overcoming fear? Where is forgiveness breaking through resentment? Where is truth defeating deception? Where is generosity overcoming scarcity? Where is healing beginning? Where is the Spirit prompting you to act?

Then ask the second question: “How can I participate?” Because the Kingdom isn’t merely something we wait for. It is something Jesus has brought near to you. It is the reality we learn to perceive. It is the power we learn to receive. And it is the reign we are invited to embody. The King has come. Heaven has touched earth. And because of Jesus, you live at that intersection. And until earth looks like heaven, we have work to do.”

My guest author is David Housholder, Fulbright scholar, writer, broadcaster and senior pastor at Robinwood church, Southern California. As an aside the Passion paraphrase itself has caused some controversy and it is not a recognised translation. Personally I found this overview of the Kingdom of God helpful and insightful. However, it is certainly not every point of view available to us… and no substitute for legitimate recognised translations of the bible! Bye 👋.🙏.

P 3417 Hard questions.

/ DVH

“Then He (Jesus) added, “Now you should go and study the meaning of the verse: I want you to show mercy, not just offer Me a sacrifice. For I have come to invite the outcasts of society and sinners, not those who think they are already on the right path.”” Matthew 9:13 TPT.

That’s a wonderful instruction, we should all do that. Hmmm … so when is the last time someone at your church — or you, asked a street person; or people of a different sexual persuasion;  or someone who has been in prison;  or a devoted gossip; or a liar; or someone with an incurable disease that is contagious;  or a corrupt person;  or someone who follows satan;  or someone who has a faith that is very different than ours, to our churches? You can make your own list, those people are on the list of the people in this world that I came up with.

Right here in the above scripture Jesus Himself tells us to show mercy to them. Then the Lord said the most amazing thing … He came to CALL people like that! Jesus’ death is clearly stated as an action that saved the world – the Grace that was released toward mankind was for ALL. We cannot afford to think of mercy and grace as something that is only available to the people we regard as good candidates, or those who could be worthy in our own eyes … or … even let money influence us. Even if we don’t happen to like these would-be recipients of the gospel or what they currently do or how they live. 

“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come!’ Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.”  Revelations 22:17. “Whosoever will may come!” The only word that matters is COME!! Salvation isn’t a free gift if we limit whoever may participate in it with our own prejudices. I know this is not going to be a popular subject with everyone, but it is what the scriptures teach, and what Jesus Himself said and did. We are told to invite these people to come, and have mercy on them.

Jesus deliberately touched lepers, He showed mercy to promiscuous people, He ate with people who really enjoyed their food, and a drink … He even supplied the wine once! He ministered to people from an unacceptable country when the opportunity came up. He didn’t seek them out, but He saw real people, human beings — not labels or political preferences or skin colour, or revolting or sinful practices.

He didn’t approve of their sins but He actively loved those people. The religious people of His day took offence at these things, but even those people who took offence at what He said and did, didn’t influence Him! It is a sad sad day when we use God’s Word in one place to cancel out His Word somewhere else. We’d be better off asking Him: “This is what You’ve said Lord so how do we do it?”

I think it is time that we threw open the doors of our churches and let the whosoevers in! Some of those people who want to be saved and come through our doors will be messy. Their lifestyles may not suit us. We need to understand that the Holy Spirit is the One Who finds and calls people, and He is the One Who transforms them. In other words we have to stop thinking that the ‘other people’ who come through our doors have to be our definition of ‘nice.’ It wouldn’t hurt to stop thinking of them as “other people” either! Some of us don’t look so hot anymore, because we have adopted a whole heap of prejudices… 

Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to truly change our hearts and minds. Meanwhile, we must start addressing all of our own prejudices, with true repentance. If people don’t know the way they are living is wrong in God’s eyes, then why can’t we show them His grace so they can experience Him? Disapproval sure doesn’t work! What they do after encountering the love of God is not our concern – we are to love people, we don’t have to like who they are, what they do, or how they live. Jesus is still working on me — how about you? Some people simply bother our theology.

Catching fish is dirty and smelly, and kind of slimy and ugly, I mean no offence when I say that drawing up our robes around us, like a Pharisee would, is not to our credit. I think that’s why Jesus called fishermen to walk with Him. Those men weren’t specialists of the law, or religious men … they made a living doing ordinary tasks. They understood the less elite side of life from personal experience. We must expect all kinds of people come to us to have their lives changed by His Grace – the grace is meant to be daily flowing through us. Our Saviour came here to help everyone.

I’m a whosoever! When I heard God loved me and wanted my heart, I stampeded my way into a church, cheering loudly about what Jesus had done for me, and I probably drove a whole lot of really, really nice folks crazy. I’ve since repented for annoying people with my unbridled enthusiasm for the things of God — but, as it happened I had never heard any of that stuff before. Who knows who we might be, without HIS Grace touching our lives and hearts? 

Let’s choose to minister to the desperate, demon-possessed, broken-hearted, rejected lost souls of this world. Jesus once talked about a wedding feast where those who were already invited begged off – so the master of the feast sent out his servants to compel anyone they found to come in! We don’t have to approve of how others live, but our reactions to other people gives us an opportunity to look good and hard at what we are actually doing. It’s time we asked ourselves some hard questions. Are we fulfilling the Gospel Jesus  preached?  Bye 👋. 

P 2910 What’s NEXT?

/ DVH

When God kisses whatever is currently going on with His peace and power, maybe we would like to look like the guy in Psalm 18 who said:“For by You I can run through a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect! The Word of the Lord is tested and tried; He is a shield to all those who take refuge and put their trust in Him. For who is God except the Lord? Or Who is the Rock save our God,

The God Who girds me with strength and makes my way perfect? He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places. He teaches my hands to war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have also given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your right hand has held me up; Your gentleness and condescension have made me great. You have given plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip.” (verses 29-36.) 

I know this mythical guy talking here is actually King David — but I call him leaping Larry! You’ve met someone like this too. They pirouette around other people like Nijinsky. They have a perfect spiritual life, and while you are slogging away fighting off stuff on every side, spiritually speaking — they dance all around you telling you about how yesterday they defeated 45 demons, healed 19 sick people and reorganised their closet all on the same day … And they still had time to cook a three course dinner! …I’m not jealous or anything…😳

There are things that we do and say to each other  😱 … without even a thought for where the other person is. When we leave our humanity and faults out of our testimonies, we instantly eliminate most of His army from identifying with us. His army consists of people who continue to get it wrong as well as the broken, the down-trodden, the outcasts. Even Paul told us once he almost despaired of life itself!

We need to stop inflating our spiritual image so we can feel like we belong to His kingdom. I know that God can win anything with just a few people, but … He wants us ALL to live in the blessing of doing the work of the kingdom together!  And sometimes the guy we need the most is on the floor with his marriage in tatters, and his kids have walked away from all things spiritual..

We cannot afford to stand about simply observing the half-dead person walking next to us, even though we can see that they are staggering. Maybe that person is carrying more stuff than 12 people could. Of course we pray for them, but unfortunately, we are often spectators, instead of participants in whatever is happening around others. And we optimistically call that fellowship!

If your brother is up to his neck in deep trouble and he is not coping, then we need to take that suffering human being by the arm to a quieter place, and ask if we can pray for them. Then ask if there is anyway we can be of help … AND THEN, we need to start suggesting, and doing, helpful stuff!! Privacy can sometimes be overrated. Meanwhile when someone is overloaded, and burdened — trying to think up what someone else can do to help you, ends up overtaxing your brain, emotions, energy and time! Love carries people. It recognises difficulties and the weight of sin upon an individual’s life, without judgment, and it HELPS others.

True fellowship is far more than tea or coffee and cake at interval at church. Here’s a fantastic scripture to chew on …“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3. This is what happened to Jesus – people hid from His suffering and pain too! This fatal flaw has become almost normal behaviour in today’s world. We think support means throw money at it, but we are His servants, so we need to actively accept and adopt an attitude that says: “I will not let you suffer alone, I’m standing with you. SomeBody Else already did the work for both of us.” 

I am not saying we should take over someone else’s life, or leave our own lives endlessly dangling over an abyss while we are ‘helping.’ But at the same time we need to do something concrete, that makes our love for others something they can stand on. Love is an action that can be seen.  God’s Love, the love we are all aiming at … covers sin, plus it has a strong belief for good when the other party can’t find any! It hopes for everyone’s future. It puts up with all kinds of rubbish, and stuff simply rolls off a God-prompted person like water off a duck’s back! We can’t fail each other when we participate in His kind of love. 

Waiting for that kind of love to fall on us is folly. We get this kind of all-purpose, all-encompassing love for others, by being obedient … doing whatever He tells us to do in the bible. This means that we don’t sit around waiting for a “voice” to tell us to help people. Instead we’ve read the book, on purpose, and we know how to obey what it says. We don’t excuse ourselves, or hide away from reality. Our true spiritual life is all about growth, so we don’t pretend we have arrived! 

Let’s treat the people we know, and even those we don’t, the same way we would treat our own family – simply because everybody is valuable to Him. In these troubled times, my prayer often consists of ‘what’s next?’ That way I can’t easily miss anything. Bye 👋