The Kingdom of God(pt.5)...What is it?

The Kingdom of God(pt.5)...What is it?

Understanding the Kingdom of God....

In order to understand the Kingdom of God, you've first got to understand how 'a kingdom' operates.  Much of the western world has no idea of a kingdom because we've only experienced citizenship in/ under a republic or democratic government.  The idea of 'kingdom' today tends to be very ancient.  Only very few nations in the world continue to be governed by a king.  Rome was the greatest empire.  When they conquered the Greeks they embraced their government system of democracy and adopted much of their doctrines.  Since then the concept of democracy has been practised throughout the entire world.  Prior to this win, the nations of the world were basically governed by kings. 

In a kingdom the king owns everything including the people and their belongings.  Prosperity in a kingdom is a public issue. The welfare of the citizens of a kingdom is the responsibility of the king.  Therefore the wealth of an individual was a reflection of the wealth of the king.  A king chooses his citizens.  He has the authority to give anything he wants to anyone.  Citizens do not vote in a kingdom.  They have no referendum. A king is born a king.  Disobedience to a king often meant death by capital punishment.  The king is the law.  A king's word is the constitution.  It cannot be changed by anyone.  A king is the embodiment of a kingdom.  Kingdom is not a religious word, it's governmental.  It's not an organisation, fraternity, nor club.  

"A kingdom is a government headed by a king who influences a territory by impacting it with his personal will, purpose and intent, producing a culture, morality and value system that is reflected in its citizens."...Dr. Myles Munroe 

A kingdom has certain characteristics which include:

• a king
• a territory
• citizens
• a constitution
• laws
• a government administration
• privileges
• code of ethics
• an army

The most important thing in a kingdom is obedience to its laws, because you either succeed or fail as a result of your knowledge and understanding.  Ecclesia is a government word, not a religious word.  It's origin is in Greek. The Ecclesia was a group of people selected by the king who reflected the mind and thoughts of the king.  It was their responsibility to turn the king's ideas into practical policies in order to get the empire to do what the king intended. It was the king's cabinet.  As a citizen, privileges in a kingdom are a part of its culture.  It's the norm.  For instance: education is free.  Festivals and medical attention are rights.  If the king's chariot or army is passing in the streets you stop and give-way.  As a citizen you always salute royalty; and the army protects the kingdom.

In the Kingdom of God....

So too, in the Kingdom of God there are citizens, privileges, laws, an army, a territory etc....  God Almighty is the Sovereign over all.  HE rules the entire universe.  Heaven is HIS headquarters.  HE created man and gave man dominion over the earth's territory.  Genesis 1 HIS son Jesus Christ is HIS representative to man on earth.  Jesus came to earth from heaven as royalty.  HE is the King of all kings in the earth.  Jesus is the mediator to the Almighty God in heaven.  1 Timothy 2 But in order to have access to Jesus we need to interface with the Holy Spirit. No one just walks up to a King.  There is protocol at every level.  The army in God's Kingdom are the angels.  Psalm 103 Citizens do not fight the enemy. Citizens are protected by the army because they reflect the glory of the King(dom). The citizens are the people who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Philippians 3 The laws are the ten commandments.  And the constitution is the bible.  Grace is mercy for disobedience to the law, not a replacement of the law.   Laws are in place to maintain order.  Matthew 5

The more you know and understand the laws and culture, the more you become aware of the privileges of the Kingdom.  For instance: healing and abundance are natural facets in God's Kingdom.  Miracles are the norm.  Jesus when HE was on earth didn't pray to do miracles.  HE just did them, like breathing in air.  Sure HE prayed early every morning for long hours.  But once HE was done praying, all HE had to do was just speak the word of God.  The word of the King is always powerful in HIS Kingdom. Prayer is commune with God.  It includes regular conversation as well as getting instructions from God for HIS mission for your daily life.  As a citizen, you represent the Kingdom wherever you go; and you're supposed to influence your environment like yeast in a dough every occasion you get.  Matthew 13 As God's children, you are royalty.  1 Peter 2 Hence you have power and authority to dictate to the circumstances you encounter, like Jesus stilled the storm.  It is imperative that you allow the Holy Spirit to tutor you in the ways of the Kingdom.  John 16 It's like moving to a foreign land.  You're not familiar with the language nor norms and you need an instructor to advise and train you in the ways and lifestyle which are appropriate.  'Tongues' is the language of the Kingdom, like french is the language of France.  And faith is the currency in the Kingdom like yen is the currency in China.  You never vote in a kingdom, nor disobey the edict of the King.  Popularity and self-sufficiency nor independence are all unacceptable.  The King is the source of and for everything.  The more you understand the nature of the Kingdom, the better and easier your lifestyle.  You'll have to change your original way of thinking, i.e. repent, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.  HE is the governor in the Kingdom of God.  It's not hard.  It's just a totally different mindset. Romans 12

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The Kingdom of God(pt.3)....The Gospel for who?

The Kingdom(pt.3)The Gospel for who?

If the gospel is necessary, that implies that whatever was it's substitute was not suffice to accomplish the purposes for which it was intended.  The gospel is good news.  The Gospel is good news from God to HIS people.  This begs the question, what was the bad news?  What were God's people believing that wasn't true?  What was wrong?

What was God's intent towards HIS people?

Genesis 1 - 3

When God created mankind HE gave them dominion over the earth and access to a personal relationship with HIM.  Adam and Eve knew what God looked like, what HE sounded like and had access to eternity.  But when they disobeyed God's command HE banished them from access to HIS presence.  God had so many good plans for man's dominion of HIS Kingdom on earth.  HE wanted man to replicate HIS order and power in the earth all along.  But in order for this to be sustained man would have to remain in constant communication with heaven; to get directives and resources for continued success. 

What happened?

After Adam disobeyed God and was banished from God's presence, sin grew to dominate the earth, so much so that God decided to destroy the entire earth. Genesis 7 God told Noah to build an ark for himself, his family and the animals because all the other people displeased HIM.  HE reiterates HIS plan and purpose for mankind on earth to Noah. Something about the human nature why we keep reverting to sin; because even after the flood, Noah's offspring decided to build the tower of Babel.  Men did what they thought without asking God's opinion, nor paying attention to HIS decrees. Constantly men are drawn to pagan worship instead of acknowledging God as the only supreme God worth worshiping.  God is merciful.  Inspite of our shortfall, HE remains faithful to HIS word. HE promised Noah HE would never destroy the earth again completely.  Genesis 8: 20-22 So from time to time HE pulls the obedient people away from the disobedient ones to start over again. 
Constantly HE reiterates HIS plan and purpose for mankind on earth.

Genesis 9: 1-6

9 God said to Noah and his sons:

I am giving you my blessing. Have a lot of children and grandchildren, so people will live everywhere on this earth. 2 All animals, birds, reptiles, and fish will be afraid of you. I have placed them under your control, 3 and I have given them to you for food. From now on, you may eat them, as well as the green plants that you have always eaten. 4 But life is in the blood, and you must not eat any meat that still has blood in it. 5-6 I created humans to be like me, and I will punish any animal or person that takes a human life. If an animal kills someone, that animal must die. And if a person takes the life of another, that person must be put to death.

Not long after Noah, HE pulls Abraham.

Genesis 12: 1-3

12 The Lord said to Abram:Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.

Genesis 17 God's one condition to Abraham was that he should remain obedient to God.  Nevertheless, God promises to be their God no matter what.  Over and over throughout the different generations God keeps pulling away HIS righteous people to start over on a new slate.  So it was with Moses and the Israelites. Finally, God promised to send someone, a part of himself to fix the problem.

Isaiah 9: 6-8

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
8 The Lord sent a word into Jacob, and it hath lighted upon Israel.

Jesus changed the  Jewish paradigm

Jesus brought the government of heaven to earth to  help us to finally get it right.  Now we can do things the right way with all the right resources in abundance.  The great news is that 'of the increase of HIS government there will be no end, meaning: once HE brought it, we have all we need and this government will never be overthrown. God fulfilled HIS promise to the Jews by sending HIS son Jesus Christ as the solution of reconciling mankind back to a right relationship with HIM as well as to a rightful position as rulers in the Kingdom of heaven on earth. 2 Corinthians 5: 11-21

Initially, the Jews did not accept Jesus as the Messiah.  They didn't believe HE was from God nor even God himself.  As a result, Jesus invited other 'non-jews', i.e. gentiles, to benefit from HIS actions. St. John 1  Jesus brought truth and grace for all peoples.  Reconciliation to the Father and HIS Kingdom is for anyone who will accept by faith what God promised.  This is the parable of the King who had a great feast with specially invited guests.  But when he sent his servants to get the invitees they were pre-occupied and refused to attend.  So he told the servants to go back out and invite the 'forbidden'.  The Jews and the Gentiles did not mix. Gentiles were considered forbidden and unclean. Luke 14 The gospel is for anyone who will believe Jesus and obey HIS commands of reconciliation to God.  There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.  God gave Peter this confirmation in a dream about no longer calling different animals unclean.  Acts 10 This is the good news for the gentiles.  The centurion though gentile was now entitled to partake of God's promises according to his faith. Today, our only pre-condition to God is faith in Jesus.

TESTIMONY: Son of Imam starts preaching the Gospel on the streets of GAZA!! - Pod for Israel - Arabic Ministry

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The Kingdom of God(pt.2)...It is the Gospel, not the Cross!

The Kingdom(pt.2)...It is the Gospel, NOT the Cross!

Man was created in God's image to have dominion over the earth.  In the garden of Eden man sinned by transferring that authority to the devil when he disobeyed God.  God's way of restoring man's dominion was to send HIS son Jesus Christ - 'The Messiah' to take back rulership from the devil by HIS death on the cross.   

 

Matthew 25: 34 

 

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.   

 

Kingdom governance of man on the earth was God's plan all along. That's what God commanded Adam to do when HE created him. The laws of God's Kingdom state that without the shedding of blood there can be no remission of sin.

  

Hebrews 9:22

22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

The significance of the cross

The cross was the means, but the end was the restoration of a relationship and the rulership of the Kingdom of God to man on earth.  A sacrifice was needed, but the blood of animals nor humans wasn't sufficient to redeem man's position, i.e. dominion.  The only sacrifice good enough to appease God the Father, was the blood of  Jesus Christ.  That's why Jesus died.  Jesus died to restore a right relationship between God and man, and to grant us re-access to a right representation of God's dominion on earth.  God loves mankind. John 3 Separate and a part from the fact that HE created man to 'be occupied' with governing the earth, HE wanted to be in a personal relationship with man.  

 

Before Adam and Eve were banished from the garden it was God's custom to 'walk and talk' with them daily. Genesis 3 God cares about man's ideas and well-being.  As a result of God's love towards man HE gave man HIS best, and that's what HE expects of/ from man.  God expects man's best. The Almighty God is firstly interested in man's attitude towards HIM.  HIS possessions are a bonus, not the prize.  The real prize is HIM. Dominion is a possession.  The earth is The Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein.  Psalm 24 When Jesus died HE recovered man's dominion from the devil by taking back the keys that our forefathers had given to the devil.  God did not give the devil dominion, man did.  Man did not fall from heaven, he fell from dominion over the earth. 

Matthew 16:19

19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Luke 4: 43

43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”

Mark 1: 14-15

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

The reason for our shortfall....

 

Jesus while HE was on earth spoke mostly about the Kingdom of God.  HE only ever spoke once about being born again to an old priest who was trying to understand HIS explanation about the Kingdom.  Understanding and accepting the fact of the Kingdom was of utmost importance.  For, why would you want access if you don't understand it's culture and precepts? And why would I grant it to you if you couldn't/ wouldn't maintain its privileges?  God doesn't want subjects.  HE wants children. We've been misled.  Repentance was/ is primary.  It challenges us to reject our concept of God and heaven and to change our attitudes towards both.  The Almighty God is interested in 'right relationship' with man.  The Jews wanted God and 'The Messiah' for the wrong reasons.  The objective of the Kingdom of God therefore was to attract a 'people with a different motivation and mindset'.  Romans 12 

 

God's motive is love.  HE expects our to be the same. Appreciation for the King and The Kingdom is priority. We are heirs and co-heirs to HIS throne.  Romans 8 If we don't value its privileges we will 'do what Adam did and give it away again'.  God cannot afford for 'that to happen again' i.e. our ungratefulness and nonchalance.  Hence there's a qualification process. Adam and Eve got if for free.  Jesus paid the price for our repossession. But there is a clause. Without faith, it is impossible to please God.  Hebrews 11 Access to the King and Kingdom of God is via The Holy Spirit.  Jesus introduced mankind to the gateway for our shortfall.  But we needed to understand 'the reason' first.  Nicodemus visited Jesus privately by night and Jesus told him that he must be born again in order to access the Kingdom of heaven.  Jesus focused on faith. Access to God is based on faith in the counsel of The Holy Spirit.  HE didn't preach on deliverance or healing, nor religion, church membership nor condemnation.  HE went about instead proclaiming the gospel of faith in the Kingdom of heaven on earth.  HIS parables continuously alluded to it.  That was HIS mandate.  When HIS disciples asked HIM to teach them how to pray HE said: ...THY Kingdom come, THY will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6: 9-13

Why is it good news?

In order for man to be reconciled to God and his position, a better way/ system had to be put in place.  Man wasn't understanding his purpose, nor how to maintain it.  Even after the Israelites were delivered from Egypt, and had experienced God's multiple miracles and grace, they constantly reverted to their old way of thinking and doing things as if they were still in bondage in Egypt.  They didn't make it to the promise land; only the children born in the wilderness did.  Yet it was all theirs.  But their mindset was incorrect.  They didn't understand the ways of God's government. They didn't understand god's original intent. They didn't understand God's heart. They didn't understand the value of their relationship with the Almighty God. They complained a lot rather than take charge over their situations.  Constantly they were ungratefully misled. They just didn't get it.  Over and over, men continuously subjected themselves to being ruled, rather than ruling.  God's chosen people didn't understand what God had in mind when HE created them.  They didn't understand 'dominion over the earth, nor the value of their relationship with God.'  

Adam and Eve gave up their 'birthright' before they ever began to really enjoy it.   The devil tricked them, just like in the story of Esau and Jacob.  They didn't understand the significance/value of what they had. That's why Jesus kept alluding to the Kingdom of God, and preached so much about it's value. For instance: the parable of the treasure

Matthew 13: 44-47

44 “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.

45 “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.

47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.

The benefits of the Kingdom....

The Kingdom of God gives us personal access to God as our Father, not just King.  God wants our actions to be driven by our relationship and not just our fear. As a result we won't abuse HIS grace, but rather use it to improve our attitudes towards our responsibilities, HIMSELF and HIS Kingdom. We are not to abuse them. The Kingdom also gives us power for change.  It changes our wealth and capabilities.  It is supposed to change our entire lifestyle.  It puts us in a better position, we gain more, we control more, and our outlook is transformed.  We fear less, command more, and give God the glory. For instance: if your bank account is $1 million dollars you are rich until it finishes.  But if you father owns the bank you have unlimited access to money.  Jesus came to change our mindset.  

 

In a Kingdom the King owns everything.  As children of God we are 'stewards' i.e. managers.  Our role is to share and maintain, not hoard.  God's resources are unlimited.  Two fishes and five loaves of bread fed over five thousand people. We are a part of a 'body'.  1 Corinthians 12 God has many children and no grand children.  We all have the same access because of the cross. The Cross is extremely significant.  God doesn't entertain sin.  There's no way we could have access to the Kingdom without the cross.  The Cross is like crossing the Red Sea - the pathway from slavery to freedom; and the Jordan River is our mindset which we have to get over too.  But the Kingdom is Canaan - the Promise Land with all its milk and honey.  Don't get stuck in the wilderness.  It's time to cross over the Jordan.  Claim what God has already ordained for you.  You are entitled to it.  Stop stumbling, complaining, and being distracted; and instead, focus and take charge!

Picture this:  The Cross is the socket.  Jesus Christ is the plug.  The Holy Spirit is the cord. The Good News is the lamp.  The only way to see and experience what's going on in the room (Kingdom) is to use the light from the lamp.  The reason why most Christians live defeated, enslaved lives is because they wander around in the darkness 'feeling for stuff' rather than using the light to enjoy it. Isaiah 9: 1-8

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