Thy Kingdom come

Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Brendan Mc Crossan One

Psalm 33:4 5 The Message

For GOD’s Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out. He loves it when everything fits, when his world is in plumb line true. Earth is drenched in GOD’s affectionate satisfaction.

In my younger days, I was a bricklayer; so when I built a wall the corners had to be in perfect plumb, {straight, level,} so that the next part of the building would fit perfectly into its place otherwise the wall would have to come down again, as nothing would fit; for example the door frame could end up in the wrong place and the windows would also be wrong they simply would not fit and all because I didn’t follow the plans that every builder has to follow.

Did you know when a house is being built the foreman has the main plans; he then gives the men who lay out the foundation, a portion of the plans concerning the outlaying foundations. And the concrete to be poured and levelled for the next part of the plan

He then gives the bricklayers the next set of plans and the bricklayer sees where he is supposed to set up his corners for the brickwork; he has to mark out where the door frame is to be set in place, then when building has begun he has to set out where the pipes for the sewer have to be, and where the pipes for the water are supposed to go, then when he has begun building he must make sure each corner is in perfect alignment with the other corners so

‘’

Life is a jigsaw; are you taking your rightful place in that jigsaw so that others and you may be blessed together?’’

that everything is perfectly in place, he must measure everything out to perfection to within a fraction of an inch, he cannot afford to go beyond his measurements for his bricks would not fit tidily and perfect, nor go less, for the frames coming up next would fit too loosely and cause problems for the next group on men the joiners, who come next. The builder has to have the window frames level and in perfect position for the joiners, and so it goes right up onto the roof level.

After he is finished the joiners take over with their set of plans in their hands and they begin their work fixing the frames to the walls the bricklayers built, and if the bricklayer has done his job right then the door frames and window frames will fit perfectly and make life easier for the joiners.

I have see houses where the bricklayer did not follow the plans perfectly and I seen door frames not fitting, or fitting tightly or loosely, and the poor joiners were left with a mess to clean up.

It is the same with the born again Christian who is not following God’s plans but following his own agenda and plans, sometimes thinking he is following God’s plans, doing things he thinks is right for him because it said something that seemed right to them in the word of God, but they didn’t check with the foreman, the Holy Spirit, who is the master builder.

1-Corinthians 3:10-Amplified Bible

According to the [remarkable] grace of God which was given to me [to prepare me for ‘’my’’ task], like a skilful master builder I laid a foundation, and now another is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds on it,

The earthly design is a copy of what is in heaven that is why Jesus said, ‘’thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven,’’ for the fulfilment of the perfect will of God.

Can you just see it in your mind the same plans laid out on top of each other each in perfect detail on both sets of plans? The builders have the finished copies of the master plans. God gave us his plans for he said in Jeremiah

Jeremiah 29Living Bible (TLB)

11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.

Are we following the perfect plan of God for our lives are we even asking the Holy Spirit whom Jesus said will lead us into all truth for wisdom and direction in our everyday life. God says he knows the plans he has for us, it says

plans

not just one plan, and they are

plans

for good and not for evil things to happen to us.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to lay out God’s plans on the table, and let us ask him that he would lead us into the perfect place, and with the people he wants us sharing our every moment with, those that share this every moving moment, sharing their rightful place in this jigsaw puzzle of life; they fitting with others, and us fitting into their parts as part of their jigsaw.

And some of the people that share our portions of the jigsaw we may not even like, but God has created each person to come into alignment with all the other pieces. For instance most good marriages have partners of opposite thinking, natures, or habits, and it is in learning to accept the others persons nature and personalities means that we grow more and more like Jesus who fits us with the opposite natures of the people around us, for each is positioned there by God for all of our good. God does not just fit us in with the holy religious people of this world; no! he usually fits your piece of the jigsaw in with someone of the opposite nature as you; someone you may not originally like or accept, but he has you there to bless you all as you grow into the body of Christ he designed you to be like.

Matthew 6:10-King James Version (KJV)

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

In heaven everything is always in perfect alignment, so that is why we need to pray that his will be done on earth as it is in perfect alignment in the heavenly plans in heaven, so that both sides are in position for miracles to take place on earth, for when we are in the perfect will, {alignment, position} then the miraculous happens. When you are in perfect position with all those around you on this earth as God planned it to be in heaven, then you are in the perfect will and plans of God.

Chapter two

Life is God’s jigsaw puzzle

‘’

Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth just as your will is in heaven for me.’’ That is, your will concerning me, so that I fit into place in your heavenly jigsaw in perfect place, not out of alignment, but slotting in perfectly; this is my now prayer that I have decided to pray from now on, for I want to be where God wants me to be always.

For life is like a jigsaw puzzle, each piece must fit in perfectly with the other parts of the ‘body of Christ Jesus,’ otherwise we are out of sync with the rest of those around us, and we may miss God’s perfect will and plans for us at this moment in time in him.

We have an effect on all those around us in the perfect plan of God, and I wish to always to be in that perfect place so that others may display the glory of God as well as me, in my place. I have no desire to be seen as important or special for we are all parts of the one body and if one is glorified then all are glorified.

Romans 12:4 5 Living Bible

Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.

God waits until everything in his divine plans fit into their rightful place before he answers all prayer; for nothing happens just by chance, everything is in the plans of God. God laid our lives out from before time even began that we should be in such and such a place in line with others, so that his perfect will may be done. And if we disobey the leading of the Holy Spirit or if others disobey his leading then everything does not go according to his plans; so he rearranges the pieces to fit equally again. God does this so that we may enter into the place of permanent blessing and receiving from him.

Ephesians 4-12-Living Bible (TLB)

12 Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is that God’s people will be equipped to do better work for him, building up the Church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity; 13 until finally we all believe alike about our

salvation and about our Saviour, God’s Son, and all become full-grown in the Lord yes, to the point of being filled full with Christ. 14 Then we will no longer be like children, forever changing our minds about what we believe because someone has told us something different or has cleverly lied to us and made the lie sound like the truth. 15 16 Instead, we will lovingly follow the truth at all times—speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly—and so become more and more in every way like Christ who is the Head of his body, the Church. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way

helps the other parts,

so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

Why is it that he gives us these special abilities to do certain things best? It is certainly not to build us up more than others, or to give us a position of lordship over the rest of the body. If God chooses to use you to work miracles through, it is not for your glory, but for his, for it is he who does the miracle working not you, of yourself you have nothing; no one has anything to offer to God from themselves for he made you, and gave you what you have as a gift from him to help his body. I have come to realise that in the healing ministry I need others to surround me and to support me, either by prayer or by action.

I know I am not God, and I need help when there are too many people needing prayer for healing, so I have teamed up with my son in law Des, who now prays with me for people also on our healing nights, and sometimes he prays with even more people than I do, and God heals more people through him than he does me some nights, but can I afford to be jealous, no! Now the devil would delight in trying to make me feel jealous, but I know that it is God getting the glory as people receive him into their hearts and get saved and healed, my delight is in seeing people come to Jesus and seeing him heal them; it doesn’t matter to me which of us he uses to heal someone.

There are times we need to pray with some people together as their faith or disease is terminal or serious, and we both agree in prayer that they are healed according to the word, so there is no jealousy between us as to whom God uses that night, we know we need each other and we know we need the prayer support of those who pray with us, or for us. God fits us in together with his body for his glory. Under his direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly, and each part in its own special way helps the other parts, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.

In place for miracles or blessings

We must remember that everyone or everything around us is not always in perfect position but should be if we all are following God’s plans. In heaven I am slotted into perfect place; for in heaven ‘’I am in Christ Jesus’’ as one in him in perfect union with the body of Christ; so I pray that I will be in perfect union in my flesh as well as with my spirit.

Ephesians 4Living Bible (TLB)

Now your attitudes and thoughts must all be constantly changing for the better. 24 Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good. Clothe yourself with this new nature. 25 Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves.

23

Have you ever asked God for his perfect will to be done in you, as his perfect will for you is in heaven; so that you may live his life here on earth and that Jesus may live his new life in you as joined together in union with and in him? We are not the only ones that are fitted into the body of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 2Living Bible (TLB)

21

everyone else seems to be worrying about his own plans and not those of Jesus Christ.

Paul said there was no one like Timothy for following God’s plans, and searching for God’s plans, and not his own plans, I would love to be like Timothy. It is my heart’s desire to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit for it is all too easy to be mislead by the worlds spirit, even into thinking I am following the promptings of the Spirit and instead I am being lead down the garden path thinking the good I am doing is pleasing to God, and will make him more pleased by my actions, and this is deception for we cannot please God any more than he is pleased with us. We can’t make God love us or accept us any more that he already does, for it is him that loved us first, and is pleased by what he has made, for we are made in his image and likeness.

12 And so, dear brothers, I plead with you to give your bodies to God. Let them be a living sacrifice, holy the kind he can accept. When you think of what he has done for you, is this too much to ask? 2 Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but be a new and different person with a fresh newness in all you do and think. Then you will learn from your own experience how his ways will really satisfy you.

3 As God’s messenger I give each of you God’s warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you. 4 5 Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.

6 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, then prophesy whenever you can—as often as your faith is strong enough to receive a message from God. 7 If your gift is that of serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching. 8 If you are a preacher, see to it that your sermons are strong and helpful. If God has given you money, be generous in helping others with it. If God has given you administrative ability and put you in charge of the work of others, take the responsibility seriously. Those who offer comfort to the sorrowing should do so with Christian cheer.

9 Don’t just pretend that you love others: really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. 10 Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honouring each other. 11 Never be lazy in your work, but serve the Lord enthusiastically.12 Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble and prayerful always.

There are many parts to our bodies and there are even more parts to Christ’s body, and we are actually parts of ‘’his’’ own body, each having their own specific place and position and angle and depth; so that we fit in perfectly attached to others to glorify the living God in who we serve.

Without the wife God gave us we would be incomplete; so we need her or a husband, or brother or sister or friend on a nosey neighbour; even a person that you do not get on with, for they are there to help make you grow into the image of Jesus more and more as you learn to accept them, and to finally get along with, and so learn to love them.

1 Corinthians 12-4-Living Bible (TLB)

4 Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. 5 There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving.6 There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are his. 7 The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.

We may have many gifts and powers but it is the same ‘’Holy Spirit’’ that gives us those tremendous gifts and powers; just as he gives other gifts to other people and the purpose for giving those gifts and powers is to help the church, it is not so that we could lord it over anyone or feel above anyone. Nothing belongs to us and it could disappear just as fast as it appeared, though God’s word says his gifts are ‘irrevocable’ they can never be taken away, but the use of them certainly can, there could be no one to come to receive healing for instance or need a miracle; I experienced that in my life, when there was not even one person looking for a prayer and that lasted for years. The last thing God wants is us getting puffed up thinking we done something to deserve his gifts and powers, no, we are all called together to serve the living God, and one Jesus Christ, along with each other. You do your job, I’ll do mine as directed by the Holy Spirit, and in this way we will see the church grow in strength and power for the glory of God the Almighty father.

We were never called to stand alone for a person on their own is an easy target for the devils hoards; we need others to support us.

1 Corinthians 12 14 Living Bible (TLB)

14

Yes, the body has many parts, not just one part.15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And what would you think if you heard an ear say, “I am not part of the body because I am only an ear and not an eye”? Would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 Suppose the whole body were an eye—then how would you hear? Or if your whole body were just one big ear, how could you smell anything?

18

But that isn’t the way God has made us. He has made many parts for our bodies and has put each part just where he wants it.19 What a strange thing a body would be if it had only one part!20 So he has made many parts, but still there is only one body.

21

The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

22 And some of the parts that seem weakest and least important are really the most necessary. 23 Yes, we are especially glad to have some parts that seem rather odd! And we carefully protect from the eyes of others those parts that should not be seen,24 while of course the parts that may be seen do not require this special care. So God has put the body together in such a way that extra honour and care are given to those parts that might otherwise seem less important. 25 This makes for happiness among the parts, so that the parts have the same care for each other that they do for themselves. 26 If one part suffers, all parts suffer with it, and if one part is honoured, all the parts are glad. 27 Now here is what I am trying to say: All of you together are the one body of Christ, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it

Each part is a necessary part, there is no part of God’s body that is not necessary, you may not like some parts but that is wrong on your part. You are called to serve each other whether you like certain people or not for they are in your life for a reason.

Did you see the jigsaw puzzle of Jesus on the next page, well imaging you are the green part, look at how many parts there are surrounding you keeping you in your proper place, and at the same time look how important you are to the rest of the parts, each part fits in perfectly with the other parts, even if you don’t like the colour, religion or class of some other parts, those different coloured parts are all equal to the rest, not one part is useless or of no importance or value.

Without you the jigsaw is incomplete, without some other piece the jigsaw is incomplete also, without any part of the jigsaw the jigsaw is useless and incomplete, unfinished, until that last remaining part is fitted in then the fullness of the picture is complete at last.

You may think you are of no great use, that you’re nothing special in life and everyone could do without you, but that is a lie told to you by your great enemy, the devil, or one of his cohorts. Look at the green piece which I called ‘’me,’’ now imagine that is ‘’you,’’ and now see that this jigsaw is Jesus.

without it.

The green piece is very important; it is not the full picture and renders the picture incomplete, it is a ‘’picture in progress.

All of us make up the fullness of the lord Jesus for we are his body; you only make up one percent of the body, the other pieces of the jigsaw make up ninety nine percent, the biggest percent are those who make up the body of Jesus, and without them how could anyone make out the jigsaw picture and know the complete picture is Jesus body, all they could see is the green piece on its own,

you.

Just imagine

Now just imagine that the foot said to the leg, ‘’I don’t need you, or even like you,’’ so I will have nothing to do with you, I will not share any part of my life with you; what would hold the foot onto the body? It couldn’t exist for there is nothing to sustain the foot; there is nothing to attach the foot on to.

21 The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.”

And that is the same when we become go it alone Christians there is no one to sustain us, and in arrogance we separate ourselves from one another completely destroying the work of God in his body.

This is only a jigsaw picture but it a reality; we are parts of the one body of Christ Jesus and we need each other, if one piece is missing and not in their rightful place then the enemy can get at you very easily, but if we love and accept each other, no matter what our colour, creed, or religions are, or from what part of Ireland, or the world, do we think we belong to, we should be living for one country only, ‘’heaven!’’

Heaven is our home and it is here we should have our attention focused on, not on this earth or what it offers you.

For GOD’s Word is solid to the core; everything he makes is sound inside and out. He loves it when everything fits, when his world is in plumb line true. Earth is drenched in GOD’s affectionate satisfaction.

You and I have a duty to God to fit in with the most unlikely people, some of which we do not even like, some that get up our noses in terrible ways; we are to learn to love them and if you cannot fit in with someone you are wary of, and they are in your life for quite a while, then you are the problem not them, for God wants them in your life whether you want them or not; so it is time for you the Christian to get your act together, and accept, and involve those you don’t like or even trust, ‘’for if they go away God will replace them with someone even more dislikeable ’’ I see this in churches; people separate into their own group types and stay away from those who are different from them. I hate churches where these things are going on for I see hypocrites and not true Christians.

Everything we do we do it for the lord and not for our glory or fame, and we need to fit into our place in God’s jigsaw of life, for only he knows where each part must fit to make a completely ever moving picture, we are like a movie being made when one part is filmed and checked by the director. He checks out the backgrounds, as well as what is in focus for the background, those objects not moving, or moving parts, or people, making sure everything is in its perfect place and are all doing the proper thing and every tree, bush, shop, street, is perfectly laid out in proper sequence or the actors would be made to look stupid no matter how good they are.

Just imagine if they were shooting an alien film on an imaginary alien planet, and the set director placed a cowboy town in the background, how ridiculous would that make the film, no matter how good the actors are.

And the director even directs the actors into their rightful place and position on the set to make his film as realistic as possible. Well we have a director called the ‘’Holy Spirit’’ directing us in our every movement, leading and showing us the way he wants us to act, and he wants us to act in ‘’love and obedience’’ all the time, to get the best from us at all times, and then he closes the part we have to play and moves on to the rest of the cast until the film is complete, and he is pleased with it, and so our life ends and begins anew on a different planet called heaven our eternal home with God our heavenly father.

Hebrews 13:14 Living Bible

For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven.

Living Bible

Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.

Matthew 6:10-13The Message (MSG)

7 13 “The world is full of so called prayer warriors who are prayer ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: