By Chester Leverette (Contributing Writer)
Hello The Source Readers!
My name is Chester Leverette, and it is a privilege and an honor to be blessed by GOD to write about my Father’s business and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ from a Kingdom perspective.
I will be submitting devotional writings on a regular business with the hope of uplifting your spirit and strengthening your love and trust in the Lord.
Part 3
Receiving God’s Kingdom
Jesus declared God’s love for humanity through one of the most recognized passages of Scripture: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16–17)
God’s redemptive plan is received by faith in Jesus Christ. Salvation is more than forgiveness of sins – it is restoration into God’s Kingdom. When we receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we acknowledge His rightful ownership over our lives. The word “Lord” signifies one who possesses authority, ownership and sovereign rule.
The psalmist declared: “The earth is the Lord’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” Psalm 24:1–2)
Because everything belongs to God, Jesus has every right to redeem His creation. The word “redeem” means “to buy back” or “to restore ownership.” Likewise, the word “receive” carries the idea of taking hold of something that is being offered. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we receive once again what was lost in the Garden of Eden – our relationship with God, our identity in Christ, and our place in His Kingdom.
“Re” is a prefix which is attached to words to give it meaning. The word “received” means to have again. So, mankind, through and in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by Faith we get back what we lost, which was the Kingdom’s authority on earth.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says: “All scriptures were given by the inspiration of GOD and is profitable doctrine, reproof, correction for instructions in righteousness.” Verse 17 says: “That the man of GOD may be perfect’ and thoroughly furnished into all good works.” Doctrines mean teaching or instruction. Reproof means to blame, criticize or disapprove for faults of negative behaviors going against the will of GOD, his Authority to correct us for the disobedience to his warnings to his people.
Restored Through Christ
Mankind must receive again what was lost in the Garden of Eden. Through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are restored to the Kingdom authority that God originally entrusted to mankind. This restoration begins when a person confesses Jesus Christ as Lord and receives Him as his or her personal Savior. The Apostle Paul writes: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9–10)
Saving faith is more than intellectual agreement. It is believing from the heart and publicly confessing Jesus Christ as Lord. The heart is the center of our faith, trust and commitment to God. The heart is the subconscious part of the mind in which the issue of life flows. Proverbs 4:23 says that is our action, words and our emotions. Paul further explains God’s redemptive work: “For our sake He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Through Christ, God restores fallen humanity into right standing with Himself. Today, the world’s population numbers more than eight billion people, and only about 2.6 billion identify themselves as Believers of Jesus Christ, Matt. 9:37 says “The harvest is plentiful, but the labors are few.”
What Is A Christian?
A Christian is a person who believes in Jesus Christ and follows His teachings. The name “Christian” comes from the Greek word Christianos, meaning “a follower of Christ.” According to Scripture, the followers of Jesus were first called Christians in the city of Antioch.
“The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.” (Acts 11:26). Interestingly, Jesus Himself never instructed His followers to call themselves Christians. Instead, He spoke about building His Church. He called them believers, followers, my sheep, friends and disciples, church.
Jesus declared to Peter: “Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18). The word, translated church, comes from the Greek word ekklesia, meaning “the called-out assembly.” In biblical understanding, the Church is not merely a building or denomination; it is God’s governing assembly – a body of believers called to represent His Kingdom on earth. This truth points us back to God’s original purpose for mankind.
Chester Leverette is a resident of Lexington, North Carolina. Through various churches, he has gained vast knowledge of the inner workings of ministry and developed a love for teaching others about the Kingdom of God. Chester’s initial sermon (2007) was conferred by S. T. Green at New Hope Holiness Church. Chester attended classes as a Bible college student at Love and Faith Ministries under the leadership of Michael Thomas.