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

TESTIMONY:  Jewish Dr. Dauermann found Jesus to be the door to real Jewish life!

WORSHIP: 

Yeshua | Jesus Image Worship | Meredith Mauldin | Michael Koulianos | Jesus ‘19

Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you into a new experience.  It's so worth it!

The Kingdom of God (pt.1)...DOMINATE!

God created man to dominate HIS Kingdom on earth...DOMINATE!

God is supreme over all.  HE created the heavens and the earth. HE gave man power to rule with authority over the territories of the earth.  Man was made in God's image.  An image is a reflection of the original.  Man was made in God's likeness, a 'mini me'. God dominates, and he gave man the power to do the same.  In order for man to dominate, he needed something and somewhere to 'dominate over'.

What is God's command?

Genesis 1: 26 - 29

26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

27 So God created mankind in his own image,
    in the image of God he created them;
    male and female he created them.

28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so.

In the beginning God gave man dominion over the earth. God commanded man to rule over everything on the earth and to be fruitful.  In order to be fruitful, then you have to increase and/ cultivate whatever you possess.  Cultivation takes time and good management.  Good cultivation leads to reproduction.  A seed becomes an orchard.  It doesn't matter the size of the seed.  It's the influence that it will have on the soil that matters.  For instance: the significance of the Kingdom of God on earth is for it to have influence in the earth.  Wherever there is a 'hint of Kingdom' there should be influence.  If you represent the Kingdom of God you should be influencing those around you, your territory.

What kind of influence?

Influence is extremely important in the Kingdom of God.  Often times God uses small things and circumstances to cause major differences in different environments.  David used a sling.  Moses used a rod. Yeast, though it is a very small portion that is poured into the dough; silently it works its way through all of it.  Eventually, the increased size and shape of the dough is as a result of the presence of the yeast.  Same as with a mustard seed.  Even though it's so tiny, it grows to become and have a major positive effect in its environs.  So too should the ambassadors and or citizens of the Kingdom of God.  We too must have a positive and enlarging effect on and in the world today.  The places where we live, work and play should be influenced by our presence.

Matthew 13: 31-33

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

In addition, God also commanded man to multiply and subdue everything under our dominion.  So, if there's disorder or confusion then that simply means that there's a lack of proper control.  You can't control what you don't master, and mastering takes training and experience.  The reason why several things are 'out of control' in our lives is because we've never mastered them to begin with.   God did not leave it up to us to figure out what was the best way to 'reign in the earth'.  Instead HE gave us The Holy Spirit when Jesus left to teach us how to do so properly. READ John 14   At the end of the day it's our choice.  

 

We have to invite The Holy Spirit into our lives and circumstances, much as we entertain any other relationship.  HE guides our decisions correctly, but it's our choice to be obedient.  A lifestyle of obedience to God is the responsibility of every child of God.  Submission to God is for your protection.  Your body needs to be submitted to the spirit. For those who worship HIM must worship HIM in spirit and in truth.  READ John 4  One very effective way to bring the physical into submission to the spiritual is through prayer and fasting. Train yourself to master the things you're responsible for; the most important of which is yourself.  Develop self-control.  READ Galatians 5 God has faith in you, or HE wouldn't have given you the opportunity nor charge to rule.  Everything that God expects from you is based on the fact the HE has already equipped you with the necessary tools to accomplish the task.

 

2 Peter 1: 3- 11 

 

 ³ His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ⁴ Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. ⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; ⁶ and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; ⁷ and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. ⁸ For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, ¹¹ and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

The question isn't if you can do it, but rather if you will.  Will you dominate the areas of your life where God has planted you?  

TESTIMONY: TRUST GOD FIRST - One of The Most Inspiring Videos Ever (very powerful!)

WORSHIP: Dominion is God's

Your role is to dominate, so DOMINATE!