Love In The Kingdom In A Season Of Wisdom!

2 Corinthians 13

We are walking in today:  Love In The Kingdom In A Season Of Wisdom!

Witness bound throughout the Bible:  H1366 gĕbuwl--border, territory, bound, limit

The Torah testifies...............

 Exodus 23:31 And I will set thy bounds H1366 from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines, and from the desert unto the river: for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand; and thou shalt drive them out before thee.

The prophets proclaim..................

 Jeremiah 5:22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound H1366 of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

The writings bear witness..........................

 Psalm 104:9 Thou hast set a bound H1366 that they may not pass over; that they turn not again to cover the earth.

Hosea 5:10 The princes of Judah were like them that remove the bound: H1366 therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water.

A King’s Love for His Citizens-- Love is the nature of the King and his kingdom. 

Love’s Voluntary Limitation To fully understand the nature of the kingdom we have an opportunity to enter, we must see that the King-Son’s motivation for coming to earth was unqualified love for its inhabitants. He loved the people of the world so much that he voluntarily limited himself in significant ways in order to restore them to the kingdom. The New Testament writer John penned one of the best-known statements from the gospel writings: “For The Most High so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Love is the nature of the KingFather and the King-Son. Yeshua is the perfect representation of The Most High in human form. He came to show us what The Most High is like and to take away our fear of Him, enabling us to call him not only our King, but also our Father again, because we have the same Spirit within us. 

The Governor’s Limitation

The King-Son’s voluntary limitation of himself was prompted by the limited way in which the Governor had been able to work with the earth’s inhabitants since the rebellion of humanity. As we noted earlier, the Governor could only come upon people in Old Testament times to do the work of the kingdom in specific instances; he could not work from within them yet. When the Son came to earth as the man Yeshua, the Spirit could now live on earth within his body. Yet the Governor still could not dwell in all of humanity. The King-Father’s plan was for the Governor to eventually be released into all human beings who would receive him through the provision of the King-Son. 

The King-Son Limited Himself in order to Become Unlimited 

Yeshua's teachings were filled with seeming paradoxes that contain great truths. For example, he taught that in order to live eternally, one had to die to oneself; in order to be strong in kingdom power, one had to be weak in oneself. He lived out a paradox by voluntarily limiting himself so that he could become unlimited in the lives of his followers—those who became children of the King and received the Governor within them. Yeshua limited himself in the following ways. He… √ emptied himself so that we could be full; became poor so that we could be rich. 

√ placed himself under the restrictions of a world of space and time so that we could be connected to the eternal kingdom. 

√ subjected himself to law so he could free those under it. 

√ submitted to physical death so we could have eternal life. 

Paul wrote to the kingdom citizens in Philippi that Yeshua, being in the form of The Most High, did not consider it robbery to be equal with The Most High, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the stake. All the above are demonstrations of the King-Son’s powerful love for the inhabitants of earth. He did these things so that he could send the Governor back to us—and in us—without limitations. The Holy Spirit continues the ministry of Yeshua on earth. Yeshua told his disciples, And I will ask Abba, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. Let’s take a closer look at the ways in which the King-Son limited himself for our sakes. 

Limited Himself from Glory

 In a letter to the followers of Yeshua in Corinth, Paul wrote, “For you know the grace of our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach , that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he become poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” The King-Son emptied himself of his heavenly power, glory, and riches to live as a physical, earthly being dependent on the King-Father for everything through the Spirit. Yeshua said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” When the Son became a man, he temporarily set aside his former glory. Just before his death, Yeshua prayed, “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” Only three of Yeshua's disciples were given a glimpse of this glory when he was on earth, when he was “transfigured” by the Father for a short time: Yeshua took with him Peter, James and John, the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Yeshua. Peter said to Yeshua, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” The effect of this experience on Peter, James, and John was overwhelming. The Son had set aside this magnificent glory to fulfill his mission on earth. 

Limited Himself to Time and Space 

The eternal King-Son also allowed himself to become restricted by time. He who owns the universe limited himself to a small region on a small planet during an earthly life of thirty-three years, where he could be in only one place at a time. He lived there, died there, rose again there, and even ascended to heaven from there. Eternity allowed itself to be limited within time, so that those in time could be reconnected to the eternal kingdom.

 Limited Himself under Law 

Paul wrote, “When the time had fully come, The Most High sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.” The law of Moses and the sacrificial system had been instituted for those who were disconnected from the King. Yeshua had full access to, and total communion with, the heavenly Father; yet he submitted himself to all the requirements of the law so that he could perfectly fulfill them. Then, when we receive his perfect sacrifice on our behalf, we are enabled to obey The Most High through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The book of the prophet Ezekiel says, I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their The Most High. Yeshua also submitted himself to the laws of nature in this physical world. Can you imagine The Most High having a tired body? Being thirsty? Hungry? the Most High who created the whole world and all its oceans, lakes, and rivers had to ask someone else for a drink of water.  The Most High who made the trees and their ability to bear fruit had to stop to pick fruit to eat. The Most High whom the psalmist said “neither slumbers nor sleeps” had to rest. In fact, Yeshua was once so tired that he kept sleeping in the middle of a violent storm! He temporarily submitted himself to physical limitations in order to give back dominion power to humanity. 

Limited Himself by Death 

The Author of life had to look into the eyes of death. He met it face-to-face and submitted to it. Then he conquered it, taking away its sting from humanity. The prophet Isaiah said it pleased the King-Father for the King-Son to suffer and die. Why would it please him to have the Son experience agonizing suffering and death? Again, it is because he didn’t want the earth’s inhabitants to experience spiritual death as a result of their rebellion, and therefore the King-Son willingly died in our place. He allowed himself to be limited in a physical human body, and to be limited by the experience of death, because only another human being could be a viable substitute for humanity. Paul wrote, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of The Most High is eternal life through Yeshua HaMashiach  our Lord.” Yeshua had no sin, but he took all our sins on himself, and that is why he—the perfect man, the Second Adam—died. Yet Yeshua was resurrected, never to be limited by death again. In the same way, when we enter into the kingdom, we receive eternal life, and death can’t keep our bodies in the grave forever. Again, Paul wrote, “By his power The Most High raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” The Son’s limitation of death brought unlimited life for us! Death has no ultimate claim on us because Yeshua paid the punishment of death for us. As Paul said, “The Most High made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of The Most High”—so that we could receive eternal life and be in right standing with the kingdom again. The King-Son’s limitation of death brought unlimited life for us! 

This is another clear difference between the heavenly King and the human leaders we are familiar with. You don’t hear of presidents or prime ministers dying in office for the purpose of freeing their citizens. A leader may be assassinated for standing up for a cause or because of someone’s hatred or insanity. But to choose to die for his citizens? This is unheard of in our experience. Remember the words of the disciple John: “For The Most High so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Yeshua compared his sacrifice for humanity to a shepherd laying down his life for his sheep: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” His death was a demonstration of pure love for his people. 

The Promise of Unlimited Kingdom Influence 

Yeshua's limiting of himself made possible the return of unlimited kingdom influence on earth. I’ve heard some people say longingly that they wish Yeshua HaMashiach  was on earth today. They believe that if he were, and they met him personally, their lives would be different. Perhaps you wish for the same thing. I used to, also. But I’ve come to see that this is a bad wish; it’s not in our best interests. The transformation of our lives is possible because Yeshua is no longer physically on earth. Why is this so? First, let’s consider the logistics of it. If Yeshua was physically here, and you wanted to visit him, you’d have to pay for the plane fare to Palestine. After you arrived, you’d have to make your way through all the crowds just to try to get near him. And then, you couldn’t expect him to spend all his time with you. Think of the millions or billions of people who would also want to meet with him every day. Even so, we seem to hold on to the idea that Yeshua's physical presence on earth is what we need. This is because we haven’t realized that the Governor is now available to all people at all times. Yeshua's disciples made the same error we do. When the King-Son told his followers he was leaving earth to go back to the KingFather in the heavenly home country, they became depressed. They had become attached to Yeshua's physical presence in their lives, and they were afraid to lose it. Yet let’s look at Yeshua's response to this perspective: Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, “Where are you going?” Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you….In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me. Yeshua was saying that he had to return to heaven so that he could send the Governor to be with them always. They would not see Yeshua after he went away, but when he sent the Governor from heaven shortly thereafter, they would be indwelled with the Holy Spirit, who would guide them into all truth and remind them of everything Yeshua had said to them. When the Governor came, he wouldn’t be with them only in a limited way, such as Yeshua had to be when he was ministering to someone else or alone praying to the Father. Before, if Yeshua was in Samaria, he couldn’t be in Galilee. If he was in Jerusalem, he couldn’t be in Bethany. We should be glad that he has returned to heaven because now the kingdom can be all over the world at the same time through the Holy Spirit, who lives in all kingdom citizens. Yeshua assured his disciples, in essence, “My going away is for your good. The Governor is with you now, but he will be in you.” It wasn’t Yeshua's purpose to physically remain on the earth because this would have stopped the King’s plan of restoration right before its culmination in the return of the Governor. When Yeshua was arrested and crucified, Lucifer thought he had won the victory over the King that he had been looking for. Actually, he was being set up for total defeat. If Yeshua hadn’t gone to the stake and been resurrected, we would still be trapped in rebellion and in the kingdom of darkness. If Yeshua hadn’t returned to the heavenly home country and sent the Governor to fill us, the kingdom of The Most High would not have been able to fully return to the earth. Yeshua had said, in effect, “If I go to the stake, I will be able to draw all people to me and into the kingdom. I will be able to release billions of people into their original purpose of kingdom rulership and dominion.” Yeshua limited himself, in the many ways that he did, out of self-sacrificial love and devotion to the estranged children of the King. He made reconciliation and restoration possible for all the inhabitants of the world. 

A Priceless Gift for Humanity 

We have seen all along that the most important person on earth is the Holy Spirit, the Governor of the heavenly kingdom. He is a priceless gift to humanity, and it delighted the King-Father to restore the Governor to us. Luke the physician recorded Yeshua as saying to his disciples, “If you then, though you are evil [controlled by the kingdom of darkness], know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven [Ruler of the kingdom of light] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” He also said, “Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Shema selah!!!!! This is why and how Yeshua died to restore us back to the kingdom of heaven--this is our reset to the original intentions of the King of kings!