S10E9 - Come To Me
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
When Jesus appeared on earth He engaged 100% in His mission. He was sent by His Father (Father-Son-Holy Spirit) to buy back the lost souls of mankind and to offer escape to every son of Adam and daughter of Eve. He extends Kingdom partnership to any and all who see the need and live out the same heart of rescue Jesus embraced. This is the nature of deep connectivity with the purposes of our King. Let's break down Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-29. These words give us incredible practical insight into experiencing...
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S10E8 - Believe In Me
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
Knowing Jesus is very personal. Even though millions have and will believe in Him, every relationship is individual. Unique. Filled with potential for personal honor. Jesus' disciple John watched all of this unfold with his own eyes, and several decades later wrote down his gospel so that we, too, could experience belief that would be able to sustain us in this life and carry us into the life to come. This growing belief (faith) helps us to interact for our own personal spirituality. John used the word "believe" to describe this in his gospel and his letters. Believe means to entrust...
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S10E7 - The Mysteries
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
How do you navigate true mysteries? What things are already known? What is becoming known as the story unfolds? While the Word of God is plain concerning most things, there are also aspects of God's will which are filled with unfolding mystery. This occurs on a global scale (no man knows the hour or the day) while throughout time things continue unfolding personally - generation after generation (such as people awakening to God). About God mystery: “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8/the first...
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S10E6 - Eyes to See
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
What does it mean to see with spiritual eyes? Because we are created in God's image we have body, soul, spirit, heart, mind, and conscience. From this amazing mixture comes our ability to live out His greatness. When Adam and Eve disobeyed the Lord God we dishonored Him. Our inherent greatness would now become a millstone of self-perpetuation and arrogance. We would no longer see the world through our God-eyes. Paul summarized this well: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which...
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S10E5 - I Am Here/Turn to Me
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
For many the image of the word "repent" has negative connotations. Finger pointing. Judgment. Fear. But what if the original word itself is consulted? We then find that repent means a change of mind. A change of purpose. A new perception. John the Baptist: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 3:2 Jesus the Son: "From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 So it appears that our turning away results in a freedom of turning toward. We leave one focus and begin to turn the eyes...
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S10E4 - Kingdom Roots
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
Probably the best Kingdom example we have from history is found in King David's story from the Bible. David was a "type" of the One Who was to come. This is why his story prepares us not only for the arrival and nature of Jesus - the King of the earth, but also for the Kingdom His followers will share with their king. We will reign with Him! There are many specific prophecies and words that prepare the Jews (and the entire earth) for the coming King. What is cool about this is that David experienced a heart unique in scripture and among the world of kings. This is why so many of his...
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S10E3 - The Kingdom and Me
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
If you look up the meaning of the word organic you will find “living, animated, and authentic.” The word Kingdom means “a realm of influence - both of living organisms or groups of people.” Over the last several years we have learned some things we would have preferred to experience in a tech download. It appears, however, this part of our journey was meant to occur in order to acquire deeper wisdom. Those who read the words of Jesus and His Father know that knowledge is a life-long journey gift, but wisdom arrives through deep testings of the soul and many experiences. Challenges...
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S10E2 - What Is Kingdom Organic?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
This podcast season may be a stretch for you. It is for many. For context we must keep in the forefront what we learn from Jesus in His gospels about His Kingdom. Church is only mentioned a couple of times in the four gospels while the Kingdom is spoken of over 100 times. So everything Jesus said and did concerning the church flows from this pattern: King First - then Kingdom - then Church. Kingdom Organic traces the unfolding roots of the calling out and purifying of the Bride of Christ. The King of the earth has arrived to save the souls of mankind. Mankind had failed. God's people (the...
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S10E01 - What Am I Looking For?
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
What am I looking for right now? What is it that is not working? In what ways am I disillusioned? Hungry? Thirsty. Fearful? At peace? THIS IS BIG: How do hope, fear, and faith overlap? √ Where does true hope originate? It is a supernatural gift given by God. √ In what ways does fear kill hope? We are predisposed (our human nature) to choosing fear - which consumes our hope. √ In what ways does faith unlock personal peace of mind? There is a time-tested and quite effective mechanism for people to find hope. It can help settle fears, find clarity, and stimulate freedom...
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S9E14 - Song Of The Wind
Fourthstream - Finding Hope
"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8) There are reasons Jesus uses this descriptive analogy. If we are to find God we must do so through God's wind - His Holy Spirit. This God Story thread begins in Genesis 1:1,2 and completes in Revelation 22:17. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters." "The...
info_outlineBecause understanding the Kingdom is so critical to our spiritual lives, let's take some time to absorb the core message of Jesus when it comes to building in a manner that is pleasing to Him. We have already mentioned that the Kingdom is mentioned in the Gospels over 100 times and the church only twice. So the Kingdom message was clear to Jesus and to His disciples. In the book of Acts after the "church" (called out assembly) begins to emerge:
"To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God." Acts 1:3
CONTEXT
The world was corrupt and dying, and the Father, Son, and Spirit moved to save us. The King would need to come and willingly sacrifice Himself. King first. Then He would bring the message of the Kingdom to all who would listen, and build this Kingdom work through His own followers - who will become His Bride at the end of the age. The word ecclesia literally means a called out assembly. So the Church (the Bride) is called out of this lost world to enjoin the work of the Son of God Himself.
Because of this, Fourthstream.com is built around the biblical Kingdom model. We take great care to accurately represent the King through everything He taught and did. We preserve the purity of this by allowing the Bible to interpret itself. The complete Word of God is an intricate and robust series of woven threads of truth, unfolding in all 66 books of the Testament of the Living God (note: nowhere in the Bible are the books identified as the old and new testaments - and yet we accept this idea from tradition and history - like so many things). The scribe who takes the time to process the Kingdom message of Jesus operates from a considerably different vantage point than much of what we see in secular and even church history. We are often obsessed with preserving tradition (and preferences and distinctions) rather than searching out the truth that has been so carefully brought to us.
As we look deeper through the lens of the Kingdom we see many patterns and teachings emerge, such as the one in the diagram at the top. As Jesus explains the Kingdom (Matthew 5) He teaches us how the pure in heart are the ones who see God. What this means is we are to subject everything through the lens of humility rather than human business-as-usual (pride/self-absorption).
When we experience a pure heart (Jesus' words, not mine) we are made free to know God as He IS rather than who we want Him or shape Him to be. Then we become able to do kindness in the Spirit, where the works of God begin to flow through our own lives into the people and souls around us. And so - we become His instruments to grow life. We call this the Kingdom Circle. It is quite superior to religion in that it is powered by Jesus and the Spirit of grace.
So to apply the Word of God properly we must set aside religion and tradition and embrace the power of the King and His Kingdom. Fourthsteam.com carefully sifts through what is authentic to find connectivity with Jesus that changes us from the inside out, rather than the outside in. This is why Jesus said: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you." John 16:13-15
To find authentic King and Kingdom Church we must go to the Source. "He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of death will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:15-19
Think how often this passage is represented to be understood regarding tradition, yet we fall short of understanding its meaning. The goal of Kingdom structure is to let the King tell us how His Kingdom operates and grow this Kingdom within His Church - in any and every age. Some get this - and some do not. But this is where God-honor and discipleship begin. Make sense?
We offer several foundational things to move within the Kingdom understanding given us by Jesus. Last episode we mentioned the basics which help us to understand the God Story. Here we discuss what needs to be focused upon to live the Kingdom life our King outlined for us in that God Story. If this intrigues you (or is new to you) - take time to reset your mind narrative from religious to Kingdom structural. It could change your life!
Peace upon your heart and home,
Dave and Burnadette Nadler
More:
All About the Kingdom
Kingdom Pursuit
Kingdom Spirituality