subscribe, view past issues  and  Get the Book Kings – You're a Treasure Pt3 If you missed Part 1 When Will Thy Kingdom Come or Part 2 Kings and the Gospel of the Kingdom, the three topics complement one another. "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Matt 13:44 NIV Treasures - The traditional view on this parable is that the Kingdom is the Treasure and we should sell all to obtain it. Last week I was talking with Mike Nelson (Red Rock Energy) and he pointed out the proper view was more like this: Jesus is the man that found a treasure (you) in a field (the world) and in his joy he "bought us with a price." (1 Cor 6:20) This view helps us have God's perspective on our own lives. "Sinners saved by grace" is true but doesn't completely describe who we are in God's eyes. We're a treasure that brought joy to God's heart and caused him to pay the highest possible price to redeem us. God personally takes delight in you and rejoices over you! No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.  Isa 62:4-5 You're valuable - Many commentators worry that the "man" was dishonest; he failed to tell the owner about the treasure before he bought the field. The reality is that we were of no value to anyone but God. The devil certainly doesn't place any value on you and most of the world doesn't either. What I'm realizing is that once we enter the Kingdom (or have the Kingdom in us) we can see people through God's eyes - They are treasures already paid for and waiting to be esteemed the way God sees them. The next parable repeats the same message. The pearl isn't the Kingdom that we buy. Your works don't buy anything. You are the pearl purchased by Jesus because of the value he sees in you. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. Matt 13:45-46 NIV   When the Kingdom is in you - When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees they were anticipating a natural kingdom and missing the fact that the Kingdom was already present. Similarly, many of us have been waiting for the rapture, hoping for the kingdom to come... and missing that fact that it's already here in many respects. Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:20-21 NIV Examples - I'm privileged to meet many of God's people that have the Kingdom within them. They are ministering in the marketplace as Kings and they've got this "Kingdom" thing operating. I just met William Vana and put up his interview - What a joy! There is a whole army of people that are being raised up right now for the Kingdom. God is opening my eyes to see the joy he has over them. Plus there are certain distinctives that make them standout as peculiar treasures zealous of good works. When I say "zealous of good works", they are not earning salvation, but they are having a great time co-laboring with Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 2:14 KJV   See if you can see "Kings" you know in the following 10 characteristics. They truly are treasures and they are no longer hidden. More importantly, can you see yourself? 10 expressions of the "Kingdom within you"   1. Networking - There is an amazing synergism that leads those that operate with a kingdom mentality to find one another and the opportunities for increase and ministry. It's like God is leading them!   2. Heart's desires - These folks are creatively moving toward their heart's desires. They love what they do and find ministry in the course of doing it. They are entrepreneurial as a result.   3. Vision - They have given themselves permission to pursue a portion of the kingdom they understand to be their "Land" or assignment (Metron). They don't expect their pastor to define their ministry or the will of God for them.   4. Enthusiasm - They are excited about their life and fueled by the experience of being personally used by God to bless others and build the Kingdom. They already hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."   5. Abundance - They have given themselves permission to prosper financially; they have a practical means to make it happen; they have a plan to convert their resources into ministry and lay up treasure in heaven. Poverty mentality is absent.   6. Favor - They expect blessing. Their lives have an amazing string of "coincidences" pointing to God's favor on their lives.   7. Persistence - They experience their fair share of problems, but they are never defeated by them. They just find a way around or through them... Trouble never fazes their belief that God will carry them through. They find opportunities in obstacles. They joyfully resurrect once after every death... as a way of life.   8. Fun Loving - They know how to play, dream, take vacations, and not take themselves too seriously. They act like God's kids on a great adventure that can't go wrong. They love to promote others to their level of blessing or more.   9. Witnessing - An amazing number of them can preach and teach, but they are not preachy, condescending, or compelled to cast others in the mold of sinners needing needing to repent. They attract unbelievers by the favor on their lifestyle and by being personable. Unsaved people start to see themselves as treasures when exposed to this crowd.   10. Beyond Prophetic - They converse with Jesus "face-to-face". Their concept of responding to God is not strictly obedience but partnership. They operate out of a sense of doing what the Father is doing and they are not afraid to take initiative and fill in the blanks associated with knowing the general will of God. They are not afraid of mistakes and view mid-course adjustments as a normal part of their co-adventure with Jesus. They interact with the person of God, not just the direction of God or words from God or the work of God. "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams.  7 But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. 8 With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD.  Num 12:6-8 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.  John 15:15 NIV   Personal note: Went to Montana for 2 weeks. Check out the new crop of colts. Life is an adventure. People are a blessing. God is amazing. We're winning.   Love, John & Harold     (are dancing - Join us) New Book - Our goal in Releasing Kings was to articulate a theological basis for marketplace ministry such that people naturally mature toward being more entrepreneurial and more generous. Harold has continued that theme in a new book that I really enjoyed. This book is a brief explanation of Resurrection-based Christianity entitled Jesus Came Out of the Tomb, So Can You. It also appears on our Recommendations Page. There are four other books that tie closely to the chapters in Part 2 of Releasing Kings that are all worth while. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married. As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.  Isa 62:4-5 ____________________________________________________________________ You can get your copy of Releasing Kings for Ministry in the Marketplace at 1-800-308-5837 (or) www.releasing-kings.com