Discovering Your Place in God’s Kingdom: According to Kingdom Standards

Matthew 24:1-14 (AMP)

Jesus left the temple area and was going on His way when His disciples came up to Him to call His attention to the [magnificent and massive] [a]buildings of the temple. 2 And He said to them, “Do you see all these things? I assure you and most solemnly say to you, not one stone here will be left on another, which will not be torn down.”

3 While Jesus was seated on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, and said, “Tell us, when will this [destruction of the temple] take place, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end (completion, consummation) of the age?”

4 Jesus answered, “Be careful that no one misleads you [deceiving you and leading you into error]. 5 For many will come My name [misusing it, andappropriating the strength of the name which belongs to Me], saying, ‘I am the Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed),’ and they will mislead many. 6 You will continually hear of wars and rumors of wars. See n that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end [of the age]. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish and the time of unprecedented trouble]. 9 “Then they will hand you over to [endure] tribulation, and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 At that time many will be offended and repelled [by their association with Me] and will fall away [from the One whom they should trust] and will betray one another [handing over believers to their persecutors] and will hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will appear and mislead many. 12 Because lawlessness is increased, the love of most people will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures and bears up [under suffering] to the end will be saved. 14 This good news of the kingdom [the gospel] will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end [of the age] will come

What is the Gospel of the Kingdom

ØThe word “Gospel” simply means, “Good News”

ØWhen translated, the word kingdom means “the king’s domain.” It is a literal, spiritual dimension accessible only to born-again believers. This realm encompasses the power and resources essential to the believer if he or she desires to manifest heaven on earth. In the Kingdom, life is lived with the perspective God originally intended and fulfills the mandate presented in Genesis 1:28.

ØGenesis 1:28 (KJV): And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that movethupon the earth.

ØIn Genesis 1:28, God gave man seven mandates concerning his earthly domain. The assignments concern the upkeep of man’s proverbial “garden.” If he adheres to the commands, a prosperous, successful Kingdom lifestyle will be achieved in the earthly realm.

The seven-fold mandate was, and still is, to:

1.Be fruitful: Grow from within (gifts, talents, abilities and potential). This mandate according to John 15 requires that one goes through the process of pruning.

2.Multiply: Exponential progression.

3.Replenish: Restore wealth, luxury, and extravagance.

4.Subdue: Master, conquer, overcome.

5.Have dominion: Dominate spheres, realms, territories of authority and influence.

6.Maintain a healthy lifestyle: Detox and decontaminate.

7.Maintain productivity: Maximize potential.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO STUDY THE KINGDOM?

•God the creator chose the concept of a kingdom to communicate His purpose, will, and plan for mankind and earth to us. The message of the Bible is primarily and obviously about a Kingdom If you do not understand kingdoms, it is impossible for you to understand the bible and its message.

•For the most part, we in the Western world know very little about kingdom and the concept of royalty and monarchy.

•My investigation into the concept of kingdom has convinced me that the success of your life and mine depends upon how well we understand and live out what I will call the kingdom life.

•Matthew 6:33 (AMP) - 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

What IS A Kingdom?

•The kingdom concept was born in the heart of man, placed there by his Creator as the purpose for which he was created. Despite the fact that there were many types of kingdoms throughout history, there are certain characteristics common to all kingdoms.

•The concept of kingdom is rooted in the desire of the Creator to design and sustain both the unseen and seen realms in order to express, represent, and manifest his nature.

•Kingdom definition: The governing authority and influence of a sovereign ruler who impacts his territory through his will, purpose, and intentions, which are manifested in the culture, lifestyle, and quality of his citizenry.

•While the phrases Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are essentially the same, you could say that the kingdom of heaven is the place, while the kingdom of God is the influence. The kingdom of heaven is the headquarters, the invisible country where the Father resides. The kingdom of God is the influence of that country on its territories.

Righteousness, and Peace and Joy In the Holy Spirit

•Romans 14:17 (NKJV) – for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.

•It encompasses countless other principles, but these primary attributes reflect the power God purposed for his earthly kings – to who He gave complete dominion over all that exists in the earth.

•What this scripture is saying is that the Kingdom of God does not consist of meat, drink, and outward religion. It consists of three things here:

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Righteousness (Romans 3:21-31; 4:1-25:8:4);

Peace (Romans 2:10; 5:1;8:6; 10:15); and

Joy (Romans 5:11; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 1:8)

Any man who has these three things : righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost has three (3) other great blessings (Romans 14:18):

Joy (Romans 5:11; Galatians 5:22; 1 Peter 1:8)

He is a servant of Christ;

He is acceptable with God; and

He is approved of men.

The Kingdom of God is Righteousness, and Peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost

•Let’s unpack this from a kingdom perspective.

•Matthew 24:14 says and the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

•If the kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, then the gospel of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit has to be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, and then the end will come.

•If we are to align with lives with this, then our lives must be different from the world. Our lives must be a witness to the people that do not know God. Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, this is what the Word of God says that the Kingdom would produce in our lives.

•If we are not experiencing righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, then the kingdom is not functioning in our lives. The interesting part about this is that you cannot have one of them without having all three of them. The manifestation of the Kingdom of God in your life is righteousness, peace, and joy. This can occur when you submit to the Kingdom. To the degree that you have righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit is the degree of the kingdom you have functioning in your life.

•The Holy Spirit assignment is to bring in our life righteousness, peace, and joy in our lives.

•The Holy Spirit has been set to us to manifest the Kingdom to us, and as we submit to Him, we will experience righteousness, peace, and joy in our lives.

•The Holy Spirit is the Kingdom representative in the earth.

According to Dr. Myles Munroe, “There are solutions for the problems and crises in our families, communities, business, nations, and world. As a planet under siege, we need help from a higher authority, help from a greater world that has the ability toaddress our needs. We need someone from that world who has experience in bringing light into darkness, life into bareness, and order out of chaos. If we could identify that person, and he came to earth to solve all our problems, he would naturally be called the most important person on earth.

Only one person has those qualifications. Actually, he is already here on earth. We must meet him, come to understand him, and discover his purpose, intent, program, and strategy to enable us to regain our authority and power, and to influence life on earth as we were meant to.”

(Excerpt from Dr Myles Munroe Book, “The Most Important Person on Earth; The Holy Spirit, Governor of the Kingdom)

Therefore, if the kingdom of God is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, let’s look at what the word says about the Holy Spirit.

From a kingdom perspective, the Holy Spirit has always been the most important person on the earth even in the beginning, in:

Genesis 1:2, “The earth was without form, and void and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water.” Hovering connotes “sweeping” or “moving” rather than staying stationery. The Holy Spirit is the “executive arm” of the Trinity, so He was quite active as God spoke each word.

Genesis 2:7, And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” One translations says that man became another speaking spirit like God. Man had the Spirit of God inside of him.

Fast forward, Jesus, whom Paul referred to as the “last” or Second Adam comes to John the Baptist, joins his School of Thought and get baptized by him.

Matthew 3:13-15, Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me? But Jesus answered, and said to him, Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he allowed Him.

….Fulfill all righteousness…..we will put a pin in that and come back to that a little bit later.

According to Luke 1:15, the angel of the Lord told Zecharias, John the Baptist father that his son would be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. Filled with the Holy Spirit indicates that the source of his ministry will be God’s Spirit. The Spirit coming to John even from his mother’s womb (meaning, “prenatally”) is unprecedented and anticipates the permanent, personal coming of the Holy Spirit to all believers for salvation and ministry.

Matthew 3:16-17 - 16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and [a]He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. 17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

The Holy Spirit anointed Jesus for His ministry. From this experience the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matt. 4:1).

Then in Matthew 4:17, we see where Jesus starts his ministry and use the exact same words that John the Baptist used, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” the same School of Thought as John the Baptist.

In the Book of Acts, we see in Chapter 1, where Jesus spent forty days speaking to His disciples of things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:3). For someone Who went to the cross, shed His blood, took back the keys of death, hell and the grave and spoiled principalities and powers and defeated the devil and He spends forty days before His ascension back to the Father, speaking of things pertaining to the kingdom of God, this has to be the most important thing for us to be focused on.

Acts 1:8 – But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnessesto Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of earth.

What did Matthew 24:14 say, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witnessto all the nations, and then the end will come.

When you receive the power of the Holy Spirit, you shall be a witness unto God everywhere you go; when you preach the gospel of the kingdom in all the world, you are demonstrating righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit to all nations.

Before Jesus ascended back to heaven, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait on the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4,5). Ten (10) days after the 40 dayKingdom Summit, Holy Spirit entered and brought empowerment, they received their heavenly language and now the Holy Spirit is back on the scene in man as before the Fall ready to produce righteousness, peace, and joy in our life.

Matthew 6:33 (Amplified Bible)

33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

This mean that if I can get the kingdom, I can get everything. If I can just follow the kingdom in the kingdom, is everything I ever need. We do not have a King that will not take care of His citizens

He said if I can get everyone to sell out to me and seek My way of doing and being right, you will never have a need in your life.

This text is at the end of context where He is telling people not to worry about what they eat, what they should wear, don’t worry about trying to serve two masters, don’t worry about your provisions. He said, look at the birds, they don’t sow nor reap, they do not gather, the birds don’t go to work and get a check, the birds just fly. They get up every morning and they don’t put in 40 hours,they don’t labor somewhereand they get a paycheck. The birds don’t eventhink about it, they just get up every morning and go and eat. He said that I provide for themand they don’t even sow, they don’t even work for their food. But He said I provided for them. Then He said look at the lilies of the fields, they don’t toil, they don’t spin, and even Solomon in all of his glory was not cloth like the lilies.

He is trying to tell us to quit looking at another system for your provisions. Don’t worry about that, that is taken care of in the kingdom. If I can get you to seek my kingdom, my ways and my righteousness, these things will be so added to you, you will not have any need in your life.

So now righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost is what the kingdom manifests.

So that tells me to the degree that there is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit, in your life, is the degree that the kingdom of Heaven has manifested in your life.

You will see these things as degrees in your life. I want life more abundantly.

The Holy SPirit

The scripture says that the kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Spirit, which means the Holy Spirit assignment is to bring into your life, righteousness, peace and,joy.

Sothis tells me that righteousness, peace, and joy is in the Spirit.

That means, that it is the Spirit’s job to produce this in your life.

The Holy Spirit has been sent to you manifest the kingdom, and as He manifest the kingdom to you, and you submit to Him, and His kingdom rule in you, you will experience righteousness, peace and joy.

This means that the Holy Spirit is the kingdom representative in the earth, and His assignment is to manifest the kingdom of Heaven in your life.

Jesus will teach you the kingdomthrough the Holy Spirit. He is the only One here on earth that can teach you the kingdom, that can walk you into the kingdom, that can show you the kingdom, and that can reveal to you the things of God.

Remember Jesus said in essence that the Holy Spirit is going to remind you of His teachings, and He would guide you into further truth, which the apostles could not bear at that time

Remember Jesus said in essence that the Holy Spirit is going to remind and guide you..

John 16:5-15

5 “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. 15 All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He [a]will take of Mine and declare it to you.

God the Father, said I am sending Christ into the earth to be the kingdom representative in the earth, to establish the kingdom in the earth.

Jesus leaves and said I am sending the Holy Spirit and He is going to be the One sent to earth to establish the Kingdom of God in the earth and in people.

Sothe Holy Spirit’s job is to reveal the kingdom to you.

Matthew 12:28

28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Remember, Jesus said these words.

The Holy Spirit job is to manifest, teach, and enforce the Kingdom of Heaven on the earth. You need the Holy Spirit to show you how to get this kingdom manifested in your life.

The Holy Spirit is saying if you will allow Me to rule your life, it will produce the kingdom of heaven in your life which will a life of righteousness, peace and joy.= in the Holy Ghost.

Sothe Holy Spirit is working in you and Ito bring us in alignment with the Kingdom of Heaven so that He can produce this in our life.

Remember Jesus comes to the earth and says I must be about my Father’s business, been sent as a man to establish the kingdom on earth.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

Matthew 6:33 (AMP)

33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

In addition to seeking first the Kingdom of God, we are to seek also His righteousness. This is not a first and second priority but two parts of one complete whole. God’s Kingdom cannot be separated from His righteousness. A kingdom always reflect the nature and character of the king. God is righteous and therefore His Kingdom is also righteous.

This righteousness that He is talking about in this passage of scripture is different from the righteousness that is in 2 Corinthians 5:21 - 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, If I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ when I accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. It is though I have never sinned. My status with God is that I am righteous, which means that I forever have peace with God and grace of God covers my life, even when I mess up. It was a work of Christ.

This righteousness in Matthew 6:33, and it spells it out in the amplified version of the bible, it is God’s way of doing and being right---the attitude and character of God.

This righteousness that He is talking about is about being right, not from the standpoint of being righteous with God. But now that you have been made righteous with God, now you have to live righteous.

So then the Holy Spirit assignment in your life is to keep you doing right, acting right, being right, and doing things right. You do right because it is right.

Everything in your life is about doing right and living right.

So now if I am not living right, doesn’t necessarily affect my relationship with God, then why does he tell me to live right?

What a lot of people have thought is that,I have to live right because if I don’t live right, God is going to get me. God is not out to get anyone. It is not about God getting you, God has so much mercy and grace for you that it will never run out. He told His disciples forgive each other 70 time 70 in one day. We cannot even fathom the mercies of God.

So if doing right is not about messing up your relationship with God, then what is it about?

Doing right is about doing right, meaning it is about obeying God’s ways so that you can experience peace and joy. You can’t experience peace and joy living wrong.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV)

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

So it is not about God getting you, it is about you obeying God and doing it His way so that your life does not become a wreck. It is about not allowing Satan to destroy your life because if you are not living right, you are living wrong. If you are not doing things right, you are doing things wrong, which means, you are His child being constantly in the hands of the devil and he is going to be destroying your life while you are in the family of God.