One of the greatest proofs that we are, indeed, partakers of Christ’s Life is that we will be living and sharing His Agape Love to all we come in contact with.

I hope and pray that you had a very blessed Holiday Season. Truly, even with all that’s going on in many of our personal lives, and all that’s happening in our country, we still have so much to be thankful for.

The real test of faith comes when we can trust God even in the depths of our trials, even before the victory is realized and even before the promises are fulfilled.

Faith is the principle by which we obtain Christ’s Life and the means to God’s Power. It’s the foundation of our walk with the Lord. But, obedience and trust are the principles by which we live that “faith” out.

Faith is the means by which God’s divine power can work in our lives. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God.

Jesus describes both a true disciple and a nominal believer in His story or narrative about the “faithful and wise servants” in Matthew 24:42–51.

What exactly is a true disciple of Christ? The answer is: A true disciple has “a lifestyle alongside his belief.”

Jesus says that in order to live the abundant Life, we must be willing to surrender anything and everything that stands in the way of God’s Spirit working freely through us. Then, and only then, will we inherit blessings in the coming future kingdom.

Until our souls are broken of their own strength through the Cross, they will continue to influence, lead, and direct us. Once our souls are submitted to the Cross, however, and our natural strength broken, we’ll be able to serve God as He desires, in His power and in His strength.

God’s supernatural power resides in every Christian, but it requires a submitted and sanctified life in order to partake of it. The outworking of that power—the fruit that is produced—is the hallmark of a true disciple.

Last month we explored what I believe is the most important thing we can do as believers. And that’s to learn to love Him. Only if we love Him can we then love those God has put in our lives.

John 13:35 tells us that one of the ways other people can tell if we are “Christians” or not is if we are sharing God’s Agape Love...

In last month’s newsletter, we explored the importance of being a “partaker” of Christ’s Life. Partaking of Christ’s Life not only means receiving His divine nature when we are born again, but actually living His Life—His Love—here and now and producing godly “fruit.”

I want to thank Pastor Tim Tyler for stepping in for me the last few months with his wonderful articles about the coming Kingdom.

This is our third article on the Parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. It’s part of an ongoing survey of our book The Kingdom, Power and Glory. As we said in our last issue, this parable is very controversial and many see it quite differently than we do, so be sure to use Acts 17:11 as you read:

Last month we began a three-part series on the Parable of the Ten Virgins. This is part of our ongoing survey of our book, The Kingdom, Power and Glory. This particular parable is very controversial and many good scholars see it very differently than we do. So again, be as the Bereans and see what the Holy Spirit confirms to you.

Last month we talked about the Jewish Marriage ceremony and its parallels to the Christian life. In summary, our Justification can be compared to the Jewish betrothal. Our Sanctification can be compared to a Jewish woman preparing herself for her future wedding.

For the last several months, we have concentrated on the Judgment Seat of Christ (the Bema Seat as it is often called) and learned what it is, what happens there and what some of the rewards are that will be handed out. The next event that occurs in heaven is the gathering of the “bride” to attend the Marriage Ceremony itself (Rev 19:7-8).

Last month, we talked extensively about the Judgment Seat of Christ—what it is and what will happen there. This month, we want to continue our discussion and explore what will be the results of the Judgment Seat.

Last month, we began to explore what exactly happens after the Rapture. The first event to occur is the Tribulation here on the earth and, at the same time, the Bema Seat Judgment in heaven.

One of the questions that The Kingdom, Power and Glory hopes to answer is not only, “why are we here?,” but also “where are we going” and “what do we have to do to get there?”

In the model prayer that the Lord taught His disciples—commonly called “the Lord’s Prayer”—one of the key petitions is “Thy Kingdom come.” Most Christians today, however, have no real idea what this means. Yet there are more promises and prophecies about this “kingdom” than any other period in the entire Bible!

In our last newsletter, we examined in detail the terms “outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth” in the Parable of the Ten Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). After reading our article, hopefully you came away with a new understanding of these terms and what exactly Jesus meant by them.

Last month we read Jesus’ Parable of the Ten Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) with its emphasis on “the outer darkness” and “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Before we begin to dissect these terms, we need to understand what exactly a parable is.

Last month, in our article entitled “Life is Like a Contest,” we stated that every one of us, whether we like it or not (if we are believers), is enrolled in a life race.

So far in our Kingdom, Power and Glory series we have learned that not only our rewards, but also our place of responsibility in the coming Millennial Kingdom will either be won or lost according to our faithfulness in this life.

The subject of “overcoming” is not only important to the Lord, it’s crucial to our own understanding of God’s plans for the future. We saw proof of this last month when we studied the incredible Millennial promises He makes to the “overcomers” in the churches of Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos and Thyatira.

So far in our series, we have learned that the way we live our lives here and now will have eternal and unchangeable consequences in the coming kingdom. In other words, what we do after we have been born again dramatically affects our roles, our positions, and our places in the future reign of Christ.

Before we go further in our series on The Kingdom, Power and Glory, it’s important we again visit the topic of “overcoming,” as we stress this subject so often throughout these articles.

Continuing our series on The Kingdom, Power and Glory, we learned last month that as a result of the Judgment Seat of Christ, there will be two kinds of inheritance.