That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

1 John 1:1-4 KJV

Jesus came to Earth and spoke concerning the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven.

He uttered secret things, things hidden from the foundation of the World.

He spoke in metaphors, parables, so that the masses might not hear, yet hearing not receive.

He, the Teacher, taught to not be understood?  He was the perfect one, who knew that all righteousness and perfection must be fulfilled, perfectly.

Why would a teacher intentionally come to be misunderstood?  Because He was right, we were all wrong, and He knew it.

He brought the secrets of the universe, the kind hidden in plain sight, yet lost amidst the crowd.

He said it was like the smallest thing, the most imperceptible thing, which when given it’s full life, would fill the Earth and be the largest of all.

This is the Kingdom.  Not was.  For until the time of John the Baptist were the Law and the Prophets, and since that time, men are forcefully entering the Kingdom.

In a measure, it was here all the time.  Whenever a man cried out to God and was heard, it was the Kingdom that responded.  Whenever a woman cried for the loss of a child, it was the Kingdom that answered.  God spoke, and worlds were created.  God heard, and cries were answered.  From His abode, He lets loose His voice, and the Earth responds.  This is who God is.

This seed, that when planted, though it be but a seed, contains the whole.  This so small and so inconspicuous, so minuscule that men might pass it by as insignificant, is that which when it produces it’s fullness, it far surpasses all others.

This is His mystery, His Christ, and His Kingdom.  Like the children in the wilderness, we cry, “What is it?”, we say, “Manna!”  We don’t see where it comes from, or how it goes, we don’t always understand what Jesus said like we should, but the truth is there, and though it may come in a thousand other forms, the Truth is His Truth, because it is the Truth.

The Holy Spirit has been teaching people the Kingdom whether they understood His sayings or not.  The perfect Breath knows how to bring a man, or a woman, into the place of perfect abiding in Him.  It is not so much that you understand it, but that, with your all your heart and all your soul, you do it.

This, truly, is the heart of the Message.  It can’t be taught by a man; it can’t be shown you in a book.  You couldn’t learn love if your life depended on it (and it does!).  But, rather, the Word is in you, it is in your mouth, it is the Word of Faith, which we speak!

What is the message, this Gospel of Good News?  It is Jesus Christ, He is the Word, and He is our Faith!

What is revival?  When Jesus comes into the hearts of civilization, often making them a little less “civilized”, and a little more like children–living, laughing, playing.

What is the heart?  Being alive because Jesus, the true bread from heaven, the living water, is in you.  This is, from cover to cover, back to front, and all around again, who He is.

Who can teach you who Jesus is, except Jesus?  When we see Him, and make Him our life, then we have obeyed the Gospel, nothing more and nothing less.

The leaders and the teachers didn’t see Him–they only saw their lives.  The lawyers didn’t see Him–they saw their texts.  Yet, the Living Word spoke, as He did at the beginning, and life came.

The heart of the Message is a man who lives by His Spirit among us.  This is it.  The greatest in the Kingdom will be the one most fully living by His Spirit, and will thereby fulfill God’s righteous law, because God doesn’t break His own things.  If He created it, it was good.  To be perfectly God is to perfectly keep the law that God gave.  So, to live by God’s Spirit is the same, to the measure we measure so it will be measured back to us!

But who is the least?  Those who think they can do anything at all, and prove it, which is the point.  Those who break the least command and teach it will be least in the Kingdom.  For, no love and no joy and no peace guided them there, but the devices and wheels of their own heart, to prove they were not yet in step with the Master.

Who is this beautiful man?  And why is He so much better than all the others?

Most Happy is the man who is poor in Spirit, for his is the Kingdom of Heaven.

This is Him, in need of the Father.  It is the Lord Jesus the Christ, and it is us, as we follow after Him in His Spirit.

It is the law of the Kingdom, Old Covenant and New, that those who are broken hearted have the Lord draw near.  He comes to us when we are at the end of our rope.  He visits us with His power when our strength is gone.  As Paul wrote, His strength is made perfect in weakness.

In a word, why fear when supply runs short, emotionally, financially, physically, because, right then, Heaven’s supply is yours to the full.  What does that mean?  Jesus knows!  And, He knows best!  Maybe it means a ray of sunshine.  Maybe it means a smile on a hard day.  Maybe it means a parking space when you didn’t want to walk in the rain.  Maybe it’s a pay raise.  Yet, for all of these, it’s none of these.  For, it is the Kingdom, and it is the Kingdom that answered your call.  It is the Kingdom that moved, and made a way where there seemed no way.  And, what you see makes little difference, so long as the need is supplied.  Whether it was ravens or a grocery store, Elijah was fed, and the brook remained, until it was time to leave.

Most Happy are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Jesus said His disciples would mourn, and afterwards they would be comforted.  For, those who mourn are comforted.  For those who live in faith, Most Happy is a way of life, for knowing the end, our circumstances are opportunities for faith, and the promise out-weighs the price.

Most happy are they who mourn, for without true mourning, there can be no comfort.  When we look at at mourning, yet know that the Father hears our weakness and knows the sorry of loss, we know it is His heart to comfort.  And, He will.  This is the message of the cross.  Whatever the mourning, though it might not be right now, comfort will come, and the sting is gone.

Most Happy are the meek, for they shall inherit the Earth.

For those who live by the sword will die by the sword.  There is a time for swords, and a time to listen.  As it is said, to hear the birds, you must become part of the quiet.  Unless you listen and follow, you will find it hard much of the way.

Yet, those who learn not to push, yet to rely upon the Hand of their Father in Heaven will say with Jesus something to the tune of, I can only be who I am.  God will see to it that all my prophesies are perfectly fulfilled.  For, He has ordained it, and it is written in heaven, so that even if you do not praise me, God could raise up even these stones.  My way is so secure as that, and God will be God, and I will have my due on my day, irregardless of how much I push.  This is meekness, and if the nation had not welcomed Him, the very Earth would.

Most Happy are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

For the Lord has assured us that, no matter how great our need for His righteousness, sooner or later, there will be a filling.  If you have a hunger great enough for the stars, even that, according to the Lord, will be met.  For, His justice is perfect, and His winnowing fire is hot, and He guarantees that for whatever your hunger for His righteousness, no matter what pure zeal for integrity you have, you will not only be satisfied, but gorged and completely filled upon His house.

The heart of man could easily give up hope, for the constant hungering of the heart wears upon the soul.  But, when we know our heart is right, and prepared, we do not lose hope.  We do not grow weary in doing good, for we know we shall reap if we faint not.

Most Happy are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.

Most Happy.  Even Jesus, in the garden, gave mercy to the disciples who could no longer abide.  In the night, in the horror, their bodies could not take the strain.  Their spirits were willing, but He remembered their frame.

And, on a long road up a longer hill towards an even longer night, a bloody “Convict” lost His strength, as well.  And, the same mercy He gave the night before was given to Him, and another was chosen to carry His load, even as He carried theirs.

For perfect is as perfect does, and my concept of perfect does not even come close to His.

On that road, who can stand?  For every action receives its just reward, and every idle word is heard.

His way is perfect, and He bids you count every cost.  For what in jest is forsaken, cannot always be easily restored.  And the mercy you have shown will always be repaid.

Most Happy are the pure in Heart, for they shall see God.

For, this One Thing we seek, to dwell in His house, to see Him, and to inquire there.

For in one glance, all else is stripped away.

For in one moment before the King, everthing!

Nothing is impossible for God.

Who could know that day, the day the world changed.  When men saw God Almighty, and ate and drank and stayed.  All of Israel’s leaders looked on upon the Holy, and all were changed forever, prepared, established, strengthened.

Most Happy are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

When we want recognition, His way is perfect in the heavens.  For, even as He died, and made peace with men, the Roman guard uttered these words, “Surely, this man was the Son of God.”  Mark 15:39.  He couldn’t help himself.  If he hadn’t, someone had to, for the words are true.

And, so too, as we walk in Him, there is no choice.  The words will be spoken.  Someone will look on, and see God, and it will come forth from their lips.

Men will honor.  And, when no one else can or does, then even the Father will speak from heaven, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, listen ye to Him.”

Honor matters, and to the King, He will be sure you receive your due.

Most Happy are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

Most Happy.  For in faith, we are most happy.  Though the righteous encounter many trial, the Lord delivers him out of them all.  For, though wicked man advance against me to eat up my flesh, it is they that stumble and fall.  The a camp encamp against me, even in this, my heart will be confident.

God does not allow His laws to be broken forever.  But, He allows it for a time, and when that time is done, His light is on your side.

Fear not, little flock, for He has promised His wealth and resources to you then.

There is no shortage of persecution for right in this world.  It does not have to be sought.  If you are righteous enough, you will have trials, but fear not.

Jesus, a righteous man, died for His righteousness.  Yet, it was His Father that stepped down to bring Him back from the grave, because of His righteousness.

And, in His poverty of spirit, and in His persecution for righteousness sake, the Father saw, and He answered.  But, the wait was three days.  Three days of hell.  Three days of death.  Three days of night.  But, the Father saw.

And what was the end, but that with the highest Name He was honored.  With the greatest reward He was rewarded.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Matthew 28:18

He was the greatest man, the perfect man.  Yet, on that hill, He received none of His due, but lack.

He was poor, yet the Father did not answer.

He mourned, yet the Father did not comfort.

He was meek, meeker than anyone else on all the Earth, as a lamb before the slaughter, yet no aid came.

He hungered, and thirsted, for the righteousness of the World.

He was offered mercy to those who knew no better.

He was pure, yet God turned away.

He made peace, and while a soldier could see, all His friends ran away.  And, though the guard spoke, He never heard it, for  He died before they came.

He was persecuted, yet Heaven let the spear come in His side

Most Happy are you when men insult you, and persecute you, and say all manner against you falsely, for great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way, they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

When things don’t look like they’re going your way, just wait, they’ll turn around.  What are you living for anyway, today or forever?  A meal or a crown?

When all of life is supposed to be working out for you, and it isn’t, it merely means the Kingdom, in greater measure than you know or can possibly imagine, is yours.

And, if you die with none of it, you have it all.  He is a debtor to no man.  And, in all of Eternity, He will owe to none at all.

He, in ransom for us, received our due for us, that we might know His.  For it is His desire that we be with Him, and that we might remain.  For in Him, is abundance of life, and with Him is fullness of joy.

This is life, to know Him, and this is to follow, to live like Him.

Would you lay down your life, for your friends?  Would you take the fall, that others might receive your good?  Would you lay your dream aside so that another could have theirs?

What does love look like when the walls fall down?  God never stops being God, nor being holy.  He withheld nothing, yet He could not step away from perfection.  His ways are absolute, yet He hears the cries of men.

What is life like when living for Him?  What stoop is too low?

For, peradventure, for a good man a person might dare to die, but God demonstrated His love for us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Yet, those who do not believe are condemned already.

What is this littlest seed?  This Spirit of Truth, this way of Life, this Perfect Man.

If a man were to give all he had for love, it would be utterly scorned; he would despise the recognition that he had done anything noble.

This is the way of life–this is the way of love.  He who abides in love abides in God.  He who does not love does not know God nor has ever seen God, for God is love.

The man who sees the end knows that God will supply.  The man who can trust in, rely on, and firmly believe that God will see and answer will know that his is the Kingdom, right then, in his trial, and his gloom will turn to happiness.  While he might have been happy before his trial, because he knows the brightness of his rising in the Lord will be that much higher.  He is most happy in his trial because he knows what is coming.

But, the man without faith does not know this.  The man without faith sits at the door, begging for it to open.  When the way finally is cleared, if he does not faint on the way, he simply rolls through the door, licking his wounds praying that he have a rest.  But, the man in faith is like a race-horse in the gates!  As soon as they open, he is released to run for his next race!

All because of His Word.  Because, his is the Kingdom.

When we mourn, there is no need to fear, for, if we knew the comfort that comes only from Him can only come to those who mourn, and will far outweigh our sadness, we can arise and know we will be better, and knowing that, we are most happy.

For, in all the promises, we see a ray of hope.  We see that the man who sees is Most Happy all the time.  The harder things get, the greater the life, the greater the joy.  For, in the wake of salvation’s glory, the light gets lighter, and we see His face.

There is no greater joy than His touch.  There is no other way to live other than by His breath.

For, this is His glory, and He makes us partakers and no longer mere men.

This is the walk, to be imbibed by Him, to be sucked up into His cup for Him to drink, and be drunk to the last.

To be that drink offering, poured out, again, and again, and again.  There is no other joy, and no other rest, other than in His Salvation.

Any other walk is dross, and any other gain is loss.  For nothing but the cross, and nothing but the shame, will I take from this world, until I remain, spotless in Him.

His is the way, and He is the truth.  He is the life, and that is the best.

When He spoke in the Beginning, He spoke and life was created.

When He spoke in the Earth, life came forth.

As He spoke in the beginning, so He, the Word, spoke forth.

Yet, to a man in a Garden, He spoke that He was to subdue and take over.  To those on a hillside, He said they were the salt, and they were the light.  They were what makes the difference.

In what was created once, God put a man to rule.

In what was to be restored, God put His own body, with us as its members, to subdue and take over.

A city on a hill cannot be hidden, and neither could He.  Though He tried to rest, the crowds found Him.  Though He sat in a house, they tore off the roof.  Though He walked across the water when there were no boats, unbeknownst to the crowds, even then, they found Him there.

This was the message that was heard from the beginning.

In the beginning, God gave His command, and man violated it.  Those who break His commands and teach, will be called least, yet those who do and teach others to keep them will be called great.

Those, like Him, led by His Spirit, will be called great within the Kingdom and His Spirit because they live by them, and keep them, for in living by Him, we do not fulfill the flesh.

At the start, God had a law, and man violated them.  And, man died, and lost His place.  Yet, in Christ, is reconcilliation.

Yet, man continued to sin in the beginning.  And, anger turned to rage, murder, and violence, of all sorts.

Yet, the way back is quite often walking the very path you departed upon, coming back to where you left life, and beginning. There are very few alternatives.  You can keep going, and the world did, and God sent His flood to save only Noah and eight.  Sometimes, God in His gracious favor breaks in and carries you to where you should be.  But, usually, and difficultly, through His blood, though you will always be his son, you must walk the very miles you strayed away, and then put foot to path towards your the right, your destination, to your goal, His face.

He will always love you, you will always be His, but unless decisions are made to pursue, He will have to find someone to do what He always wanted to do through you.  Because, He needs to.  Because He has to.  Because, He will not give His glory to another.  Because His purpose must be fulfilled.

This is His way.  If you want His glory, and His anointing, if you truly want to be His disciple, and be like Him, you must pay full price, or get nothing.  What profit is it to gain the whole world and lose your soul?  Count the cost, and then decide to pay it, for it is worth any cost.  Only, do not look back.  Simply remember, this one thing, and it is enough.

A man named Cain grew angry and slew his brother.  Why are you angry, Cain?  Do right, and you wont feel so down, your face will turn up again!

But, instead, anger and murder came, crouching at the door.

Yet, anyone who is angry with his brother is subject to judgement, whoever calls names and reviles is subject to worse.  As it was then, so it is now.  Though today we may be “sophisticated” in our ways, and we have ways to kill a man without touching them, the way down that slope is still the same.  Sin is crouching at the door, and you must master it.  Do good, and your face will lift, and you will have no need for shame anymore.

Cain didn’t have options.  He didn’t know how to hide his heart like many do today.  He was simpler that some, maybe.  It was either to forgive or give in to worse.

It’s not a good thing to know how to hide.  Adam may have started it, but we continue it with our own hearts.

And, when anger and insults grow, and remain unstopped, nothing stands in its way.  Adultery, divorce, broken words, vengeance, and hatred abound and fill the Earth, unchecked except for the Word.

His teaching was merely a history lesson.  For those who wouldn’t see the way, it was all to readily understood what the consequences were.  The law was powerless to do it, but it was to keep the slide in check.  It did keep it some, yet all had sinned, and all were bankrupt.

The words spoken condemned all, for none were good.

Yet, in them, was a call to all.  In them, the impossibility of men being asked for.

For, precisely what He came to do was to give them precisely what the Law was powerless in.

For, as the law spoke death, His words were life!

In that He was perfect, He spoke the perfect, flawless word, and spoke over the hearers the Father’s heart.

He spoke the diligence of the Father, to love all, and to not hold back in giving.

What man alive would give His own son, but God sent all His servant and then Him on top, and still calls out, and hears their cries.

If you would be perfect, go and sell all that you have, and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven, and then come and follow me.

There was no middle ground in Jesus.  There was no half-way.  He was everything, all the time.  In the morning, rising to pray, in the evening, praying alone.

For, little to nothing moves in the heavens on our behalf except men pray.  God will still be God, He will still have His way, but it may not be today, and it may be some other way.  For in prayer, we come to know God.

This is His Sermon, and His message.  Not that men would follow a rule, but that they would come to know God, in a true and real way, and become united with Him in love and faith, with all joy and hope in believing.

This was the message, and the results, for two thousands years, have always been out of this world, super-natural.

Our Father, the one central prayer.  Our Father, the one need.  Our Father, where He received all of His instructions.  Our Father, where He received all His support.  Our Father, Our Father.

Consume our desires, Oh, Father, that we might be one.  Overtake and ravish us with your desires, that we might see, know, understand, and behave like you.  Invade us, Holy Ghost, that we might live by you alone.  Blind us, and keep us from every evil thing and every wicked way.

For, you alone are God, you have proclaimed it in the heavens.  You alone are perfect, who sit between the cherubim.

Show us your glory, that we might be changed. Reveal to us your likeness, that we might be modeled after you.  Let us behold the Image of the Invisible, that we might be ever like Him.

For, in His image we were created, and to Him we belong.  If to Caesar what is Caesar’s, then to God’s what is God’s, and as I bear His image and inscription, to my God do I come.

Whom have I in Heaven besides you, and besides you, I desire nothing on Earth.  Though Heaven and Earth may pass away, you remain, and you are faithful.

Yet, of all His requirements, one remains.  That we forgive, as we will be forgiven, for even as Noah left the ark, and He required a reckoning, so that reckoning will be, and it will be each one for the lifeblood they carry, and each one for his neighbor.

For, He has placed it upon us, and He requires it of us.

For, just as the world descended into wickedness, He requires us to depart it through His life.

What the law was powerless to do, God did, sending His Son.

But, the gift was not like the tresspass, for as through one man’s sin, all died, through the free gift, life came to all men.

But, the Kingdom was of the heart.  And, a new heart He died to give.

As the first Adam lost, so the last came to restore.

And, every piece that was misplaced, was gathered to Him.

The first stepped beyond the lines of grace the Father had provided, and the last drew them back again, and offers Himself to sustain.

For, no man could live the life of the Covenant, but with God, all things are possible.

What was impossible, that a man would live holy, God did, through sending His Son, that we might live through Him!

For, what is life?  Though we fail a thousand times, we rise again, and we set off again, towards the blood, and through the cross, hating everything of the flesh.

And, though we may not see perfection, mayhaps we will, but one thing is for sure, we will not stumble, and we will not stop, until we see His likenss.

A thousand disagreements may arise about whether a man must or must not, yet the Word says that those who live by the Spirit are not under the law, yet those who break the least demonstrate that it was they who failed, not Him.

What is the point of the Gospel? That we come into Christ, and in the coming in, we live like Him, in life, breath, in depth, in death.

In all things, that we might resemble Him, and be like Him, forsaking this world.

What do we have to worry then, in truth, of anything else?

We have a Father, our needs will be met.  It is enough.

And, if we judge, we will be judged.

What does it mean to be perfect?  Jesus knows.

Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.

If you ask for it, God will not give you a stone.

Our God is a good Father.  Even the Lord did not reign separate from His Father, but depended upon Him.

He did not rise up in Himself, He only followed.

Like a weaned child, He had stilled and quieted His soul.  Like a mighty warrior, He ruled over His own Spirit, being greater than one who takes a city.  Like a walled city, He ruled His own heart.  Like a sealed garden, He protected His well and kept it for His God.

Nothing else mattered.  Nothing else flowed.

When it was time to pour, he poured, when it was time to leave, He left.  Until it came time for Jerusalem, and He went, and He died.

What is the narrow Gate?  Living by and following Him.  Following His Spirit.  Being like Him.

Not like a church, not like a denomination, but like Him.

Not just calling Him Lord, but doing what He says.  Not just agreeing with doctrine, but doing it!

It is in the fruit that a tree is tested.

It is not even in the giftedness.  He could have taught and imparted the masses if He’d wanted, but He wanted the Father’s heart.

These are the Words of the Master, the one who built it all.

Yet, as He led, who are those that will hear and do?  Who will be the man to “dig deep” (Luke 6:48) and build his house on the rock?  It is not done by accident.  It is because He said them.

They are written for a purpose, not so we could fulfill them ourselves, but, perhaps, in that we can’t, we must do what it says, to seek, knock, and ask, until He shows us how.  To realize, finally, what light really is.  To see, as John wrote later, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.

What is this germ of truth?  His Light.  His Spirit.  His inspiration, meaning, His Holy Breath, His Spirit.

This is the revelation of the Gospel, the light, from the Father of Lights.

In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Not in a doctrine, but in Truth!  In Him.  In His Name.

Those who hear His words and doing them who stand.  And in doing, pass the tests, while those who do not, will not.

There is something about faith when it really is faith.

Faith is the substance and it is the proof.  When you really have faith about something, and Jesus did, you cannot have an opinion any longer.  It is, and it is not anything else.  You may meet some with an argument, but you cannot stop a man with faith.

Jesus spoke with Authority, because He had this faith.  He could speak from absolute assurance, because, to have this faith is to have the thing in actuality, in its spiritual structure or state, whether or not you possess the thing in the natural yet.

His Words spoke into the core of substance, and created life in their hearers.  Peter attested to this, saying, Where would we go?  You are the one with the words of Eternal life.

His Words, The Word, is still speaking.  Let Him who has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying.

To Him who has, more will be given.

If you have it, keep it, and keep getting more.  If you don’t, don’t just sit there, ask, or you will lose that too!

You will seek for Him and find Him, when you seek for Him with all of your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13, adapted