{"id":1127,"date":"2017-01-10T18:34:57","date_gmt":"2017-01-10T18:34:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/?p=1127"},"modified":"2017-01-10T18:34:57","modified_gmt":"2017-01-10T18:34:57","slug":"prayerfully-value-christs-kingdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/2017\/01\/10\/prayerfully-value-christs-kingdom\/","title":{"rendered":"We Prayerfully Value Christ’s Kingdom"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Doug Beacham<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

There are some books that I read in seminary that continue to impact my thinking. One of those is Hans Kung\u2019s book The Church<\/em>. Near the close of the Epilogue <\/em>he writes:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Church is a minority serving a majority. This fellowship of believers, this community of those who confess and bear witness is a sign among the nations, often hidden yet always becoming visible again; it is a living invitation to the world to unite itself with the Church and join in testifying to the great things the Lord has done, not only for the Church but for the whole world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole of mankind is called upon to share in giving praise and thanks, to hear the word of grace and to celebrate the meal of love once again, in order to bear witness to Christ in everyday life by being men who not only love each other, but all men. The Church does not wish to remain isolated. It wishes to be a vanguard.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the image of the Church as a \u201cvanguard\u201d that has often caught my imagination. This is how I think of the Church and her mission in relation to the kingdom of God. The Church is the vanguard, the advance party of a movement that is here and is still coming.<\/p>\n

The kingdom of God did not begin with the ministry of Jesus. God\u2019s kingdom began in the Garden of Eden. Rebellion and disobedience have caused humanity to dwell in the realm known as \u201ceast of Eden\u201d (Genesis 3:24; 4:16). The whole created order is suffering from this rebellion. But\u00a0God\u2019s kingdom has been seeking God\u2019s estranged children and creation ever since. The story told in the Hebrew Scriptures is the story of God seeking His lost sheep.<\/p>\n

This is why the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth must be seen as part of this Hebrew Scripture story. Jesus\u2019 life is the fullest revelation of God\u2019s quest for His sheep. Jesus\u2019 life is the centering point of the work of God for this lost world. Jesus the Christ is the center that holds and links together God\u2019s love and humanity\u2019s lost condition.<\/p>\n

Thus, St.Mark\u2019s Gospel account quickly gets to the content of Jesus\u2019 preaching: \u201cThe gospel of the kingdom of God\u201d (Mark 1:14, NKJV). Jesus\u2019 life is a literal fulfillment of kingdom oriented prophecy: His birth (Isaiah 7:14\/ Matthew 1:23), His anointed ministry (Isaiah 35:5\u20136\/Matthew 11:5; Isaiah 61:1\/Luke 4:18), His atoning death (Isaiah 53:1\u201312\/ John 19:21\u201334).<\/p>\n

Jesus understood that His mission was to establish a \u201cbeachhead\u201d that would extend for and through Israel for the sake of the whole world. That beachhead is visible to the world and is known as the church. The book of Acts is the story of how that beachhead grew in the first decades of the Christian era. Sociologist Rodney Stark in The Rise of Christianity, <\/em>has shown how this \u201cbeachhead\u201d expanded across the Roman Empire in three hundred years.<\/p>\n

I think the beachhead imagery is fruitful for us as we reflect on what it means to extend the borders of the \u201creign of God\u201d (the kingdom of God) in our world. We are not called to set up a theocracy; we are called to live holy and loving in our homes, work places, and everywhere else. Our Christian faith is not merely a Sunday faith for our brains and emotions. Our Christian faith is manifested everywhere we place our feet, every time we open our mouth, every decision-making moment.<\/p>\n

We need to live out our faith wherever our feet tread! This is why Joshua 1:3\u20139 is important in our understanding of extending the kingdom of God. It\u2019s through our daily lives that kingdom influence occurs.<\/p>\n

If we can discern this and grow in this knowledge, we become more effective ambassadors of reconciliation and peace in this world. We do our part to extend the beachhead of what Jesus is doing in every generation.<\/p>\n

We <\/em>Prayerfully Value Christ\u2019s Kingdom <\/em>is the fourth of the IPHC core values. As we grow as a place of hope and a people of promise, we are on a journey of learning what it means to faithfully serve Jesus through this movement. Through 2017, and as a special focus on our General Conference, this core value will be our emphasis.<\/p>\n

As the fourth of seven core values, Christ\u2019s Kingdom is the \u201cdoor\u201d that connects the other core values. The first three, Scripture, Pentecost, Holiness, reflect the spiritual work of God in redeeming, sanctifying, and empowering us for service in the world. The final three, Every Generation, Justice, and Generosity, are the daily outflowing of God\u2019s work in finding us as lost\u00a0sheep, saving us, bringing us into His folds, and preparing us for His service.<\/p>\n

The kingdom of God is the door through which we walk into the world. We discern the world as God\u2019s place. We take on John Wesley\u2019s motto, \u201cthe world is my parish.\u201d Through the kingdom door we discern that God is at work among people and places we would not easily discern. The kingdom takes us beyond our own denominational history, traditions, culture, and practices. The kingdom opens the door to God\u2019s great work of grace among the peoples of the earth past, present, and future.<\/p>\n

Kung concluded his Epilogue <\/em>by asking the question \u201cdoes the church have a future?\u201d He answered it by writing, \u201cthe Church has a future; it has the <\/em>future.\u201d I concur. God has entrusted to the church the mystery of His kingdom. God calls us to live as fully as we can in the blessings of that future that has been revealed and displayed.<\/p>\n

With such obedience, we live with confidence in the future that is yet to be revealed.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This article was published in\u00a0the January 2017 issue of Encourage<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Por Doug Beacham<\/strong><\/p>\r\nAhora estamos llegando a las \u00faltimas semanas y meses de 2016. El IISP ha permanecido durante este a\u00f1o se centra en nuestra raz\u00f3n de ser fundamental:<\/em> la santidad. Fuimos fundados en 1898 como una de las numerosas reposiciones, movimientos y denominaciones paridos de un avivamiento de la santidad, sobre todo la santidad Wesleyana. Nuestra comprensi\u00f3n de la santidad fluy\u00f3 de la Escritura, John Wesley, y los escritores y predicadores a finales del avivamiento de santidad del siglo XIX. Tenemos recursos adicionales a iphc.org\/holiness<\/a> . Os animo a visitar este sitio y tener tiempo para leer el archivo PDF de NJ Holmes ' Provisi\u00f3n<\/em> de Dios<\/em><\/a> \u00a0<\/em> de la santidad<\/em><\/a> . Escrita a principios del siglo XX, Holmes escribe como uno santificado durante este per\u00edodo. Al llegar al final de 2016, con el Adviento y la Navidad en mente, ofrezco algunas reflexiones sobre la santidad de 2017, mientras nos preparamos para centrarse en nuestro cuarto valor central: en<\/em> oraci\u00f3n Unido de Valor Cristo.<\/em> debido a la llegada del Mes\u00edas de San Lucas es \u00fanico entre los cuatro Evangelios. Dentro de las narrativas del nacimiento de Juan el Bautista y Jes\u00fas, Lucas incluye dos poemas \/ canciones que incorporan temas del Antiguo Testamento. Creo que de estos salmos como de introducci\u00f3n a la llegada del Mes\u00edas. Son salmos del nuevo pacto, arraigadas en los prop\u00f3sitos de Dios en Israel, que encuentran su cumplimiento milagroso en los vientres de las dos mujeres. La primera mujer, que representa la Antigua Alianza, es Elizabeth. Ella es una mujer mayor, que al igual que Sarah casi 2.000 a\u00f1os antes, se piensa m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de la edad de la concepci\u00f3n (ver G\u00e9nesis 17, 18, 21). La segunda mujer, que representa el nuevo pacto, es Mar\u00eda, una mujer de la joven virgen profetizado en Isa\u00edas 7:14 unos 700 a\u00f1os antes, y no est\u00e1 casado. La mujer lleva el esc\u00e1ndalo de la falta de hijos; el m\u00e1s joven lleva el esc\u00e1ndalo de un ni\u00f1o concebido por alguien que no sea su marido prometida. La vida de la mujer mayor proclama el poder del Dios de Israel para romper el vac\u00edo humano, la esterilidad y la esterilidad. La vida de la mujer m\u00e1s joven proclama el poder del Dios de Israel para superar la maldad humana y la costumbre social. A diferencia de las burlas que encontraron (y que las mujeres siguen encontrando hoy en d\u00eda), Dios habla bendiciones a estas mujeres. Los hombres en sus vidas llegan a discernir, respetar y proteger el poder de Dios en acci\u00f3n en estas mujeres. Si bien numerosos temas del Antiguo Testamento se nombran en estos salmos, mi atenci\u00f3n se centra en c\u00f3mo la santidad se refleja en los dos. El primer salmo es en Lucas 1: 46-55 y es de los labios de la Virgen Mar\u00eda. M\u00e1s temprano, el \u00e1ngel Gabriel se le apareci\u00f3 con el anuncio de que iba a ser superada y eclipsado por el Esp\u00edritu Santo (1:35) que sobrenaturalmente caus\u00f3 la concepci\u00f3n de un beb\u00e9 en su vientre. Gabriel inform\u00f3 a Mar\u00eda sobre Elizabeth, que ya estaba embarazada de seis meses (1:36). Mar\u00eda reconoci\u00f3 la calidad milagro de que el anuncio y respondi\u00f3 con fe al mensaje ang\u00e9lico (1:38). La visita de Mar\u00eda a Isabel confirm\u00f3 el doble milagro que ocurre en su vida (v\u00e9ase Lucas 1: 39-45). respuesta elogio de Isabel es una de confirmar bendici\u00f3n, y afirmar el poder de creer lo que Dios ha hablado (1,45). Es en respuesta a la confirmaci\u00f3n y afirmaci\u00f3n de Isabel que Mar\u00eda irrumpe en el salmo llamado el Magnificat<\/em> (Lucas 1: 46- 55). Aunque Mar\u00eda reconoci\u00f3 su estatus \u00fanico de la bendici\u00f3n, su salmo es una letan\u00eda de alabanza al Se\u00f1or. La Biblia de las Am\u00e9ricas utiliza el pronombre personal \u00e9l o sus quince veces en su relaci\u00f3n con el Se\u00f1or, Dios de Israel, Dios es poderoso y misericordioso; \u00c9l hace proezas, Derrib\u00f3 a los poderosos, los hambrientos, y ayud\u00f3 a Israel. Dios ha hecho todo esto de acuerdo a las promesas del pacto hechas \"a Abraham ya su descendencia para siempre\" (01:55). La referencia de Mar\u00eda a la santidad est\u00e1 relacionada con la poderosa naturaleza de Dios lo que le permiti\u00f3 hacer grandes cosas m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de la comprensi\u00f3n humana (Lucas 01:49). La trascendencia divina, por encima y m\u00e1s all\u00e1 de la condici\u00f3n manchado por el pecado de la humanidad, es capaz de penetrar en este mundo oscurecido con la luz, la vida y la redenci\u00f3n. fiel respuesta de Mar\u00eda al recibir la bendici\u00f3n y nutrir la bendici\u00f3n se basa en el poder de Dios santo de Israel. El segundo salmo, conocido como el Benedictus,<\/em> es proclamado por el esposo de Elizabeth Zacar\u00edas (Lucas 1: 67-79). El anciano sacerdote respondi\u00f3 al milagro de la concepci\u00f3n y el nacimiento de su hijo, al afirmar la fidelidad santo de Dios a trav\u00e9s de los profetas y del pacto con Abraham (1:70, 72, 73). La respuesta adecuada a una pantalla de la fidelidad santa este tipo es que \"podr\u00edamos servirle sin temor, en santidad y en justicia delante de \u00e9l, todos los d\u00edas de nuestra vida\" (1: 74-75). Tenga en cuenta que la palabra traducida santidad en Lucas 1:75 no es el habitual hagios<\/em> palabra griega. M\u00e1s bien, es hosiotes<\/em> y describe la piedad personal que refleja la transformaci\u00f3n santo en el coraz\u00f3n y la vida hacia Dios. La misma palabra se usa en Efesios 4:24: \". Eso se pone en el nuevo hombre, creado seg\u00fan Dios, en verdadera justicia y santidad (hosiotes)\"<\/em> hijo de Elizabeth Juan es el profeta que anuncia el uno en el vientre de Mar\u00eda, que es autor de la nueva creaci\u00f3n (Hebreos 12: 2; 2 Corintios 5:17). Jes\u00fas es el que trae el Reino de Dios en carne humana en medio de los reinos de este mundo. La santificaci\u00f3n, la santidad, la piedad, la justicia y la rectitud y encarna puntos a su santo reino que brilla, ya que vivimos en esta oscuridad presente. Al celebrar la venida del Ni\u00f1o Jes\u00fas durante la temporada de Navidad, ruego se le llena de asombro y que va a experimentar un renovado deseo de servirlo en santidad. Este art\u00edculo fue publicado en la edici\u00f3n de noviembre \/ diciembre de 2016 Anime<\/a> .<\/em>","author_name":"","jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2017\/01\/Dr.-Beacham-Article-Photo-e1484073228518.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pb62Bx-ib","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1127"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1127\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/gso\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}