THE KINGDOM OF GOD

THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

 

I recently got a question to explain the kingdom of God. That lead me to many Scriptures in the Bible. We can say that the kingdom of God is in us and outside   us. We read in Matthew 4 that Jesus moved to Capernaum when He heard that John was sent to prison. Jesus was now beginning His ministry, and He said in verse 17: “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” I believe that Jesus meant that the kingdom of God could be manifested through Him. Jesus called His disciples, and He started to teach them. He said in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” In verse 10 it says: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness` sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The apostle Matthew uses the word the kingdom of heaven more than the other apostles. They would say the kingdom of God. When Matthew writes about being poor in spirit, it doesn’t have to do with being poor, but to have a humble spirit, understanding that you cannot do anything in your own power. One is dependent on God.

We continue in the Gospel of Matthew and go to chapter 6 and verse 33. It says that we should seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first and then everything else will be added to us. What does it really mean? Should we seek a geographical area? No, I think that we first and foremost should seek God and everything that belongs to Him before we start with our daily routines. It might be to seek His presence, His Word, be in worship, just to mention some areas. You might not have a lot of time in the morning, but do not start the day without God. Do not start with your shopping list when you seek God. Some people use God as a cola-automat. God is like a Daddy desiring a relationship with His children. I share communion quite often with Jesus and I thank Him for everything He has done for me and everything He does for me. We read in Colossians 3:2 that we should set our mind on the things above and not on the things on earth. It says in Matthew 6 that God takes care of everything here on earth. We can therefore cast our worries on Him.

We can continue in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 21. We read about a father with two sons. The father asked one of the sons to go and work in the vineyard. He first said no, but then he regretted and did it anyway. The other son said yes, but he never did it. Jesus asked the chief priests and the elders who did the will of his father. The chief priests and the elders answered the first one. Jesus reminded them that John had come to them in the way of righteousness, and they had not believed him. Harlots and tax collectors had, and they will enter the kingdom of God before them. Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God as a kingdom where the devil has no authority. We are often calling it the kingdom of Light as the opposite of the kingdom of darkness.

The next Scripture is Luke 13: 18-22. Jesus compares the kingdom of God with a mustard seed then. It grew and became big, and the birds could live in its branches. Another comparison was that a woman took some leaven and the whole dough was penetrated. God said already in the first chapter in the Bible that we should be fruitful and multiply. That is a divine principle that God has put in us. The kingdom of God should grow and becoming bigger and bigger.

The devil got to get dominion over the earth when Adam and Eve sinned, but Jesus became the second Adam and a counter poison to the devil. Since Jesus lives in all who has received Jesus as a Savior, His nature lives in us in our spirit, and we can expand God’s kingdom om earth. Each and everyone of us Christians has gotten an area of authority where we should build God’s kingdom. Are you building God’s kingdom?

I can almost hear some of you asking how you might build the kingdom? You have received certain material for building. God’s Word and God’s spirit are some. You have also received a new nature that is similar to that of Jesus. Philippians 2:12 says that we should work on the salvation of our soul. That means that more and more of our new nature should get room in our soul. In Romans 5:5 we read that God has poured out His love in our heart. In Philippians 4:7 we read that God has given us peace that surpasses all of our understanding. I could continue to mention all the other things that we also have received. We do have the building materials.

We read in Luke 17:20-21 that the Pharisees came and asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus answered: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, See here! or See there! For the kingdom of God is within you.”

When Jesus was on earth, the Jews thought that Jesus should come as a majestic king, but when Jesus stood in front of Pilate, He said that His kingdom was not of this world. In 1Corinthians 4:20 it says that the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. The apostle Paul wanted to come to the Corinthians with love and gentleness.

Sometimes we talk about heaven when we talk about the kingdom of God. It actually says in Philippians 3:20 that our citizenship is in heaven. We are eagerly waiting for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

             The kingdom of God is in us, around us and in heaven.

AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD!

 

Mother Else