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!

Yeshua - JESUS...The Messiah

Have you ever just been waiting with such anxiety for something/ someone special to arrive like a grandma, a friend, a graduation, a date, a wedding day or a special birthday, etc...  This particular person or thing fills your heart with joy just by thinking about them.  That's the history of THE MESSIAH. 

  HE was promised by God to a nation, Israel, who was often always being held captive by another nation and they were just tired of being in bondage.  After they were delivered from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites were led by Moses towards the Land God had promised them since Adam their forefather.  They were so used to being in bondage that when God offered them a new way of life they refused and reverted to their traditions of worshiping idols.  Nevertheless, God continually delivered them from their enemies.  HE wanted to be their King, but they wanted to be like the other nations around them with a physical king.  

 

God's intent....

 

All along, God made man to rule the earth while they were being submitted to HIS rulership.  They didn't understand that.  They didn't know how.  Constantly they failed. That's why The Almighty God had to send Jesus - 'The Messiah' who would give them 'The Governor' - The Holy Spirit to teach them how to. After Moses died, Joshua led them into the "Promise Land'.   God gave them Saul their first human king, and then David.  David was a King who loved and honored God so much that God destroyed all of their enemies and gave them extended peace and wealth.  Finally they enjoyed freedom, peace and wealth all at the same time.  David was a man after God's own heart.  1 Samuel 13; Acts 13 But then sometime after David's death they went back to idol worshiping.  Once again they were taken into captivity because of their disobedience. Over and over again they got caught in a cycle of bondage. They dreamt of a freedom which was growing vague in their memories.  Once upon a time they used to be rich and prosperous and peaceful and happy.  They wanted to experience that again - to be at peace with a leader, someone who had their best interest at heart, in their own town. Zechariah 9 

 

God loves all people, everyone of HIS creation....

 

But there's a flipside to this same MESSIAH.  HE didn't just come to save a 'Chosen Nation' - the Jews.  God decided to deliver them once and for all and from every enemy that could ever attack them in the future.  HE decided to destroy the source of their opposition - the devil.  There are two 'realms' in the earth: the physical and the spiritual.  The spiritual realm is more powerful and real than the physical.   Also there are two kingdoms in the earth: the kingdom of this world which is governed by the devil, and the Kingdom of God (heaven on earth) which is governed by God's children.  

 

When Jesus came to the earth HE brought with HIM from heaven the power and authority of the Kingdom of God for the people of God.  Once HE established this Kingdom ' the rest was history'.  Jesus brought the dominion of the spiritual realm into the physical realm. HE destroyed the devil's kingdom and left man in charge of his freedom under the supervision of The Holy Spirit. Isaiah 9 God in HIS Great Love extended that invitation to the Gentiles - whosoever will.  HE didn't just resolve to save HIS people from their existing enemies but to remove all enemies from their experience once and for all even though they did not deserve it.  They rejected HIM.  But true love is inspite of, not because of.   It is a choice in advance.  It's like a mother's love for her newborn baby.

 

John 3: 16

 

For God so loved the world that HE sent HIS only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in HIM shall be saved.

 

Also, God's intent was to reconnect man to HIS presence.  Adam and Eve used to walk with God.

John 14:3 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also  

God - Elohim has given each of us a chance to live a life so fulfilling, yet so undeserving based on HIS sacrifices, not ours.  Who does that?  Who intercepts your judgement for his? Who dies for his enemies? Who bequeaths to the ungrateful?  Who gives up his best to a stranger who does not have enough to pay for it?  Philippians 2 Which King invites a peasant to live in HIS castle at HIS expense?   This is the true essence of THE MESSIAH.  HE has chosen to love us and to give us the privilege to be in an individually intimate relationship with a generous and all powerful King.   

Isaiah 53

Who has believed our message
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
    and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
    nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
    a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
    he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

4 Surely he took up our pain
    and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
    stricken by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
    and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
    each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
    yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
    and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
    so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
    Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
    for the transgression of my people he was punished.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
    and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
    nor was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
    and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
    and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
11 After he has suffered,
    he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
    and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
    and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
    and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
    and made intercession for the transgressors.

 

Romans 8:1 

 

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 

 

HE doesn't condemn us based on our past; but HE forgives us and embraces us inspite of our flaws.   Who does that?  Are you flawed today, broken even?  Do you need acceptance, peace, and protection? Are you being held captive physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually? Turn to God.  Accept HIS love.  HE is a deliverer, your deliverer! THE MESSIAH came to give you life and life more abundantly.  Only HE can free you from any and every bondage you face today in your life.  HE restores control, your control of your life and destiny according to God's original plan for your life.

Galatians 5:1 

It is for freedom that HE has set us free.  Stand firm then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. 

Wherever you fall short - let HIM fill you up. Let HIM empower you with HIS Holy Spirit who teaches you how to live in HIS freedom!  

           TESTIMONY:  Two Israeli Jews explain the gospel in Jerusalem like you've never heard before!!!

WORSHIP:  Jesus The Lion and the Lamb

Let HIM free you because that's why HE came!