Welcome to Jack Taylor's Blog

A FORMULA FOR LIFE: THE PATH OF BLESSEDNESS

 I am not usually given to formulas but this morning I was awakened with a blast of blessing from a Scripture that, sad to say, I had not recently considered.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding; in all your way acknowledge him and he shall direct your paths.   (Proverbs 3:5,6)
   It fell into place as I meditated on it.           
   The Prerequisite: Total trust in God (with all your heart).

  The Program:
       1. Negative: Avoid self-trust: Don’t even lean toward your own thinking.
        2. Acknowledgement of God in everything
    The Payoff: God’s guidance in our walk.

   This passage is gladdening my heart as if I had just discovered it for the first time. I find it intensely practical, immediately applicable and instantly rewarding!

  You know, I feel the Bible is full of passages like this one that we have not thought much about recently that would break over our heads with great benefit if we would simply stand still for a moment to hear what God might say and is ready to do.

   Try it!  You'll like it.  I have.  I did.

Where Are We Headed?

Are you feeling prodded, shoved, pushed, pulled, nudged?  You’re not alone! All these issues are involved in moving along with God.  We can’t always hear but we can most always “feel”.  I have good news for you.  We are being “put upon” by our Heavenly Father in order to taking us somewhere and that gives being prodded, etc., a delightful perspective.  We’re going somewhere and though there may be a few “providential bruises” along the way, you’ll really like it when we get there.
“. . . til we all come in the unity of the faith and
in the knowledge of the Son of God
and become mature
unto the measure of the stature of Christ
 (Ephesians 4:13)”.
   Wow!  That’s where we’re headed.  The trip may be rough but the destination will be royal.  Take heart, Dear Saint.  The sweat and struggle of the journey will soon be forgotten in the beautiful blaze of glory that will be revealed in us.  Feel the knots, view the scars, celebrate the pain . . . then go happily on!
   Think about it.  Much!

KINGDOMBITE # 10

THE KINGDOM: RELATIONAL

   The Kingdom of God is nothing, if not relational.  It begins and continues with a vital relationship between God and man. The moment we are related to God through the new both we are simultaneously related to one another, whether on earth or in heaven. When you and I are connected with God, we are immediately connected spiritually with like citizens on earth and in heaven.  As our relationships on earth are changed, due to our citizenship in the Kingdom, our relationships include those in heaven.  We are part of “all the saints”.  We have been changed from the common to the cosmic!
   As this idea is soaking in our souls, we will find it more difficult to exclude any fellow Kingdom citizens from our circle of love and cooperation.  We are all part of the same Kingdom, universal and infinite.  We are part of one another and parts together comprising the unending Kingdom.  We must give up the philosophy behind the adage:
To live above with saints we love,
Now that will be glory!
To live below with saints we know,
Now that’s another story.!
   It’s not another story; it’s a part of the whole story and a glorious part as we learn to enjoy, not endure, Kingdom relationships here and now.  “As it is in heaven”, the scope contained in the model prayer (Matthew 6:9), will put heaven on exhibit as we “live below with saints we know, exhibiting Kingdom love (agape).
   The Kingdom is inherently relational.  God’s kingly rule on earth, while including all citizens of the Kingdom,  call for a Kingdom, corporate and unified in experiencing and extending.  At no time are we to lose the individual facet of our relationship to the government of God on earth. It is from a healthy concept of our individual relationships to the King and His Kingdom that we facilitate the corporate aspects as well.
   I must think “cosmic” and if I don’t I will narrow and diminish my concepts and practice of life until I am alone and left out of the wider plan of God.
   I am not sure what all it will involve, but I feel strongly that God’s greatest waiting initiatives are held in check until we report For duty.
   For my part, count me in!  Reporting for duty, Sir!  Oh, by the way, the “relational” designation covers both the personal and corporate! 

Jack Taylor

KINGDOMBITE # 9

THE KINGDOM: IMMINENT

   I have this day, in my study, while engaged in seeking to consume the Kingdom one bite at a time, made what to me is an astounding etymological discovery (never mind the word, it simply means “study of words”),
    I know this is confusing but allow me to throw this other word into the mix, sounding the same as “eminent” and “immanent, the word, “imminent”! 
   No lesser than Webster’s New World Dictionary (from which the other words were defined) gives this word’s meaning as “likely to happen without delay; impending”.  Well hello “at hand” . These words are used in the declaration of the Kingdom by John the Baptist, “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 3:2).”
   There are many opinions about this term “at hand”, most of them based on whatever predisposition one has taken on whether the Kingdom is now or later. Parenthetically, let me declare, from where I stand, that it is both!
   As a single word “imminent” is as near “at hand” as it could possibly be, Remember, it means “likely to happen without delay; impending”.  Such is the Kingdom of God, it is near, so near, in fact at it is at hand or reachable.  Every day this Kingdom does happen again and again as it is accessed and released.  So to summarize the last three KingdomBites, the Kingdom is:
“Eminent”, high, lofty, prominent, distinguished/  
“Immanent”, operating within; inherent; present throughout the universe
“Imminent”, likely to happen without delay; impending.
Consult your Bible for Kingdom descriptions, then look at these words through the eyes of God’s Word.
Consider!

Jack Taylor

KINGDOMBITE # 8

THE KINGDOM: IMMANNENT

Another word, sounding the same as the previous “eminent” as used in the last bite, is the word “immanent”. The word may be defined as “operating within; inherent; present throughout the universe, said of God”.  This is a powerful descriptive word relating to the Kingdom.  There is a key attribute of God (aren’t all His attributes “key”?) referred to as “immanence”.  It stands to reason that if God is immanent, then His Kingdom is likewise immanent.  It has come to me in the midst of this study (just now!) that this one word stands as a perfect description of the Kingdom of God.  I would ask a further word of the
“dictionarians” (the ones who coined and defined the word): Can you think of the name of an entity or person rather than God who fits this description?  If not, I rest my case __ there is none like He or His Kingdom.  They stand alone as “immanent”!
Two of Robert Farrar Capon’s observations on the implications of the parables to the Kingdom are that (1) The Kingdom has inherent energy and power and  (2) The Kingdom is at work all the time, everywhere in every way.  This, in a word is, immanace.
   I say “hurrah” for immanence!
   At this present, throbbing moment the King and his Kingdom are present within each of us and, at the same time, present and operating throughout the world and entire universe!  
   You best think about this but, before you do, open up for another word by the same sound that I just discovered.  Next KingdomBite please.

THE KINGDOM: EMINENT

The word “eminent” is often mistaken for its phonetic twin “immanent”.  While they do not mean the same, they both reflect the nature of the

Kingdom

of

God

. Used with reference to this Kingdom, they take on new meaning.

   “Eminent” simply refers to an entity that is “lofty and high, superior in rank and position and distinguished by renown and prominence”.  The

Kingdom

of

God

is such that this is the only entity that can be described with such words at its level.  It has no viable challengers to its incumbency, no valid threats to its permanence and no beings in the whole realm of creation who may take it by force except those to whom it rightly belongs.

Add to it these thoughts and our realm is filled with even greater joy:

   The word used above, “eminent”, is an adjective, describing a noun and attaches to the Kingdom’s ultimate standing.  “Eminence” is a noun carrying with it the meanings of all its descriptives.  You and I, as Kingdom citizens, have no right or reason to consider ourselves as a part of something “common” while our lives have standing amid such “eminence”.

   Any way you cut it, we have a good deal in that we are connected to the cosmic, the eternal and the limitless Eternal Kingdom of God. And to think that we, who once belonged to the kingdom of darkness, have been translated into the Kingdom of light and have the ability through his Spirit to experience, express and extend the Kingdom of God on earth (Colossians 1:18)!  Think on these things!

 

Jack Taylor

KINGDOMBITE # 6

THE KINGDOM: CORPORATE

   While entrance into the Kingdom is totally personal through being born again, it is corporate in its expressions of divine life. Though each of us is responsible in seeing that our lives are lived as individual expressions of this Kingdom, its full purposes cannot be carried out on earth without vital relationships between Kingdom citizens.  There are descriptions that characterize the Kingdom of God in words like “we”, “us” and “one another”.  It is neither accidental nor coincidental that with all the mentions of “saints” in the Bible, 24 in the Old Testament and 45 in the New Testament, there is not one usage of the word in the singular.  Let me repeat: The entrance into the Kingdom is personal; the experience and expressions of the Kingdom are corporate.  No one of us in as island, there are no lone rangers, we are in this together.  And this togetherness forms a great corporate expression of the eternal government of God.
   As vital as the Kingdom is to be perceived as personal, for its fullest expression, it must be perceived, in addition, as corporate.  As indispensable as it is for us to be connected to our Ruler by our union with Him, such a wonderful truth is fully declared and demonstrated mainly in the power and nature of our corporate relationships with one another.  This truth must trump and transcend all differences, in culture, race, gender or social standing. Until this happens, the world of kingdoms will not behold the Kingdom!
Think about it!

Jack Taylor

KINGDOMBITE # 5

THE KINGDOM: PERSONAL 

      The Kingdom is from God in the heavens.  It was not created, did not originate and will never terminate.  The Kingdom cannot be disassociated from God, the Father, Jesus Christ, His Son or the Holy Spirit. It can thus be said:
The Kingdom came from God in the heavens.
The Kingdom was enlarged to come with Jesus to the earth (without ceasing to be in the heavens).
The Kingdom is in the Holy Spirit, the only God Who is on the planet right now.
All this having been said, the only viable conclusion is that this Kingdom is intensely personal. 
We are personally born again and made one with God through Jesus Christ. 
We are personally related to God as sons and daughters of the Father/King.  We are personally affected by our relationship with God, the Father, Jesus, His Son and the Holy Spirit as well as by the rules or principles of the Kingdom.  Each of us is a Kingdom citizen, related to Father, Jesus and Spirit.
As vital as the personal aspect of our Kingdom connection is what follows . . .it is corporate.
I may prove the existence of a Kingdom by declaring, according to God’s Word that:
God is the King.
I am his subject.
There are rules which I recognize between me and him.
   There, the Kingdom exists!

Jack Taylor

KINGDOMBITE # 4

THE KINGDOM: A TRINITY

   A kingdom, any kingdom, is a trinity.  It is comprised of (1) A ruler, (2) A realm and (3) rules to effectively connect ruler and realm.  In this way, every kingdom on earth has the potential to illustrate the Eternal Kingdom of God.  But alas, these kingdoms have flawed rulers, a sinful people in the ruler’s realm and laws that do not reflect righteousness.  For these reasons all these kingdoms are destined to fail and fall.
   This King who rules over this Kingdom, however, is the God of Glory, perfect Ruler, with righteous rules.  And, though those who make up this Kingdom are flawed, we are being sanctified and the Kingdom is given to us.  Thus, we become a part of something that will never fail, not because  of us but because of God..
   This Kingdom is in the Holy Spirit and is identified with righteousness, peace and joy, other descriptions we will deal with later.
A good confession of a Kingdom citizen:
  “Father, I recognize you as Father-King of the Kingdom that I have entered by being born again.  I recognize and confess your Sovereign rule and declare my citizenship in this Eternal Kingdom. You have taught me to pray through Christ, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”.  I say YES to every facet of your rule and every venue of your Kingdom.
   Welcome to the Kingdom!

Jack Taylor

KINGDOMBITE # 3

THE KINGDOM: ETERNAL 

    The word “eternal” not only means without end but with without beginning. It has always been and always will be.  The Kingdom of God is eternal.  Its history is measureless, transcendent.   Observe antiquity and you will not find its beginning. It has no such.  Look to the future and imagine as far ahead as you are able, yet you will not see its end.  It if has never not been and never will not be, it is now!  It is timeless, yet is timeful; it is beyond time, yet deeply involved in time.  It transcends time in every direction, yet is intimate with time and gives respect to time’s dimensions.
    Being eternal, the Kingdom of God is indestructible, unshakable, and wins by sheer permanence.  It disturbs tyrants, mocks pretenders to its authority and presides over the decay and destruction of mighty nations.
    Hey, it’s nice to be a part of something that will be around a trillion years and then some!  The Kingdom is eternal.

Jack Taylor