THE KINGDOM OF GOD (2)

INTRODUCTION

Today we are living in a world that is off target, we are living in a world that off its centre. every where you look, whatever statistics we take, whether economically, socially, physically we are looking at communities and nations and people spiraling downwards. when we look at families and marriages and even individuals the picture is not good. And unless we are like ostriches with their heads in the sand we know that things are not good in whatever dimension we look at them from. lives are falling apart, marriages are falling apart, our culture is falling apart.

but there is an answer to all these predicaments we are in, there is answer to all these unstable conditions that concern even the best scientific, political, social minds. that answer is something most people do not look for, but it is the answer to the concerns of the world, it is the Kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is the single most important theme in all of the bible. if we are to understand our bible from Genesis to Revelation

Adam and Eve, Noah and the flood, Abraham, Moses,

the children of Israel, David, the Exile, Jesus, the church,

there is a very simple way to understand the scriptures. understand the Kingdom of God and you have it.

The Kingdom of God reveals the purpose of God, the plan of God, the program of God. his plans and purposes for the kingdoms of this world and where we fit as individuals in his plan and program.

so in light of all this allow me to take you through a little journey of history that will lay the foundation of what we will share later on about the kingdom of God.

I) THE DISTANT PAST OF THE KINGDOM

A) THE HEAVENLY KINGDOM

Long before there was ever a universe or an earth there existed a kingdom in heaven where God ruled.

now God has always worked through delegated authority and so he created angels and organized them in a hierarchy with some angels in a higher position than others.

Chief among these angels was the one called Lucifer who was created with striking beauty and splendor. he belonged to the highest class of angels called the Cherubim.

however he became fascinated with his own beauty and magnificence and desired to be like God. ,,

leading a rebellion in heaven with a 1/3 of the angels he was cast down from heaven.

He was changed from the anointed Cherub to Satan or the devil and he formed another kingdom that is apart from the Kingdom of God.

He was changed from the anointed Cherub to Satan or the devil and he formed another kingdom that is apart from the Kingdom of God. This kingdom formed opposes every plan, purpose and pursuit of God, it is a counter kingdom

This kingdom formed opposes every plan, purpose and program of God, it is a counter kingdom

NOW WE CAN ASK THE QUESTION, WHY DIDN’T GOD JUST JUDGE THE DEVIL AND HIS DEMONS AND DESTROY THEM?

B) THE EARTHLY KINGDOM

The answer is God does have such a plan but not in the way we think, for his ways are much higher than ours, his thoughts past finding out.

God chose to defeat the devil with a lesser being than him. as long as that creature was dependent upon God in obedience.

Therefore God created another kingdom, God’s earthly kingdom and created another being to rule and have dominion over it

Adam and Eve and that is where Genesis begins. In we hear these words

So God created mankind in his own image,

in the image of God he created them;

in the image of God he created them;

male and female he created them.

The New International Version Chapter 1

So God createdu mankindv in his own image,w

in the image of Godx he created them;

male and femaley he created them.z

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

male and female he created them.

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.”

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.

C) EARTHLY KINGDOM IS LOST

The earth did not belong to Adam and Eve, it belonged to God and he apportioned delegated authority to Adam and Eve. They were given moral freedom, a will and choice.

They were also given rule and dominion over all that the Lord had created. To ensure that freedom and choice is real freedom and choice

God placed a tree in the garden and commanded them not to eat of that tree.

However when the devil came along Adam and Eve fell into sin and gave over the kingdom they had been given to Satan and his dominion.

That is why the Bible calls the devil the god of this world 2 for 4:4. After the fall of man

God initiated a plan to reclaim his kingdom from the devil and we hear the first hints at

A bruising and a crushing would take place to reclaim God’s kingdom- the seed of the woman would be bruised, the head of the serpent would be crushed.

history, our present and the future to come is all about the conflict between these 2 kingdoms. The devil and his demons have one goal and that is to destroy this kingdom, God is about one goal and that is to be glorified through his kingdom.

history, our present and the future to come is all about the conflict between these 2 kingdoms. The devil and his demons have one goal and that is to destroy this kingdom, God is about one goal and that is to be glorified through his kingdom.

II) THE CHRONOLOGY OF THE KINGDOM

The devil went about trying to destroy the race of men so that seed would not come to be.

So we see the devil killing Abel using Cain. But God then gave Eve another son called Seth.

The devil then attempted to contaminate the entire human race in with the co-mingling of the daughters of men and the sons of God so that another race other than human beings could exist on the earth.

God blocked it with the rescuing of Noah and his family. He then destroyed the entire earth and got rid of that contaminated race that had been mingled by satan.

the devil then tried to have humans build the Tower of Babel, an alternate place to worship a different god ( this is the beginning of idol worship by the way and the Lord countered by confusing their languages.

God then initiated his purpose with the calling of Abraham. listen to what he told him

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

2 “I will make you into a great nation,

and I will bless you;

I will make your name great,

and you will be a blessing.

I will make you into a great nation and i will bless you- the children of Israel and the kingdom of Israel.

3 I will bless those who bless you,

all the peoples of the earth will be blessed- through the offspring promised- all the peoples on earth would be blessed.

and whoever curses you I will curse;

he formed the kingdom of Israel after the rescue from bondage in Egypt and later on called King David to rule them as the king after God’s own heart.

he formed the kingdom of Israel after the rescue from bondage in Egypt and later on called King David to rule them as the king after GOd’s own heart.

Through Abraham the promised seed of would come and through David the promised seed would rule as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

The conflict went on and the devil attempted to destroy Israel through idol worship and rebellion,

Israel instead of reflecting the values of the Kingdom of God became more and more like the kingdom of darkness that was around them.

and all peoples on earth

but God kept a remnant every single time and the devil tried to kill them in the days of Esther using Haman, but God delivered them. finally after 400 years of silence after the last prophet Malachi we hear

but God kept a remnant every single time and the devil tried to kill them in the days of Esther using Haman, but God delivered them.

finally after 400 years of silence after the last prophet Malachi we hear

The New International Version Chapter 3

In those days John the Baptistz came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heavena has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for him.’ ”a b

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

will be blessed through you.

make straight paths for him.’”

III) THE ARRIVAL OF THE KINGDOM

God had finally come in human flesh to take care of this conflict with the devil and with it the kingdom of God.

Jesus is born in a manger and the devil through Herod kills every boy trying to destroy the seed that had been promised in . the seed of Abraham, the King through David had arrived.

Jesus goes to the desert in and like Adam in the garden of Eden is tempted of the devil, but where the first Adam failed, the second Adam succeeds and the devil knows his time is short.

Jesus comes declaring like John the Baptist. Repent for the kingdom of heaven has come near ( ).

through 4 gospels we see healings, blind eyes opening, deaf ears opening, dumb people speaking.

the dead being raised the poor being fed supernaturally, sinners coming to the savior, demon possessed people being set free.

THE KINGDOM HAD BROKEN THROUGH AND WAS TAKING OVER THE KINGDOM OF SATAN, BINDING THE STRONGMAN AND TAKING OVER HIS POSSESSIONS.

Jesus tells his disciples in - upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The devil finally acts again and this time has Jesus crucified and he thinks he has finally gotten rid of the seed of Abraham, the king that is to come, not knowing that he has committed his greatest blunder.

Christ confronts him at his very throne with all his demonic forces and defeats him. listen to .

15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

mmmmmm

after the resurrection Jesus told his disciples as the Father sent me so send I you ( ), all authority has been given me. therefore go and make disciples of all nations.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

in other words the authority that I have is delegated to you and it is now for you to extend the kingdom of heaven that I have been extending.

That is the advancement of the kingdom, making disciples of the kingdom.

That is the advancement of the kingdom, making disciples of the kingdom.

Christ is now working through his church and by the power of the Holy Spirit

vanquishing the powers of darkness and destroying and breaking down the kingdom of satan, his powers and dominions.

in fact at the end of this age the Angel in heaven will shout.

:

15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:

“The kingdom of the world has become

the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah,

and he will reign for ever and ever.”

IV) THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS CONTRARY-OPPOSITE TO THIS WORLD

THIS KINGDOM THAT WE ARE A PART OF IS SO DIFFERENT AND CONTRARY TO THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD THAT IT LOOKS TO BE OPPOSITE OF WHAT WE CONSIDER NORMAL.

so what is this kingdom anyway. when we say the kingdom of God what do we mean? let me briefly define it for you.

The kingdom of God/Heaven is the demonstration of the comprehensive rule of God over every area of Life. it is the manifestation of the will of God with its accompanying blessings.

for instance this kingdom does not have a location. it is not geographical in nature. it doesn't have a boundary or a political structure. it is not from this world, it is a divine kingdom. Jesus told pilate

so in every area of our life that is surrendered to God the Kingdom of God rules in that area. and in every area that is not surrendered to God either our own little kingdoms or the devils kingdom rules in that area.

so in every area of our life that is surrendered to God the Kingdom of God rules in that area. and in every area that is not surrendered to God either our own little kingdoms or the devils kingdom rules in that area.

so opposite, so contrary is this kingdom of heaven to this world that when asked by pilate Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world.

in other words my kingdom has no earthly location, it has no political structure or boundary,

it is not of human origin but divine in its origin.

now notice that he did not say my kingdom is not in this world, he said it is not of this world.

A) what are some of the factors that show this kingdom to be different?

THE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENT TO THIS KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WORLD.

ILLUSTRATION

Kenya has one of the toughest requirements of African countries if you want to be a citizen.

you have to show amongst many things that you have been legally in this nation for 7 years. that you pay your taxes and if married you have to show a stable marriage.

you also have to show that you have been a model legal permanent resident, no crimes, no illicit behavior, no evasion and breaking of our laws. in other words you have an impeccable, First class character.

but with this kingdom of God to enter you must show that you are a sinner.

this kingdom is looking for the bad and the ugly, those who are immoral, those who are outcasts, the wicked, the evil, the murderers, the prostitutes, those struggling with evil habits and addictions. only if you can demonstrate that then you can be a citizen

if you come with your merits and good behavior trying to use those to enter the kingdom of God you will be denied entrance.

romans 5:8  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

God didn't wait until we had cleaned up our lives, he didn't God helps those who help themselves and then you can come in. NO!! it was while we were still sinning, still drinking and getting drunk and throwing temper tantrums and sleeping around! that is when Christ died for us.

That is how contrary this kingdom is to the kingdoms of this world

ANOTHER

THE LEADERSHIP VALUE SYSTEM OF THIS KINGDOM IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE OF THE WORLD

LOOK AT ITS LEADERSHIP VALUE SYSTEM.

 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The rulers of this world LORD it- the word there is KATAKYRIEUO- to subjugate, to dominate, to suppress and overcome by force.

but not so with you- he would be a leader in the kingdom must serve as a slave and give his life in a sense as a ransom to many. leadership in the kingdom is not entitled, it is earned.

ILLUSTRATION

There are 2 kinds of leaders today, those who are interested in the fleece and those who are interested in the flock.

ANOTHER FACTOR THAT SHOWS THAT THIS KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD IS ITS

3. THE CHARACTER OF THE CITIZENS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE OF THE WORLD

3

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbori z and hate your enemy.’a 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,b 45 that you may be childrenc of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.d 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?e Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.f

The citizens of the kingdoms of the world love their friends and hate their enemies- the natural human tendency is to love those who love us and hate those who are our enemies.

The citizens of the kingdoms of the world love their friends and hate their enemies- the natural human tendency is to love those who love us and hate those who are our enemies. but the citizens of the kingdom, you and me are called to be opposite in our character,

to love those who hate us

to pray for those who persecute us

to feed our enemies and give them water to drink when they are thirsty. to overcome evil with good.

The rulers of this world LORD it- the word there is KATAKYRIEUO- to subjugate, to dominate, to suppress and overcome by force.

When we do this we fight the kingdom of darkness and advance against the devil and his kingdom and bring in the kingdom of God, the rule and reign of the King.

4. THE PURPOSE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS DIFFERENT FROM THE PURPOSE OF KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD

The purpose of the Kingdom of God is not to set up political kingdoms and rule people by political force

it is not to set up moral behavior though that is important

it is not primarily to setup social institutions that assist people though those are important,

because if all we do is to setup social institutions and help people but those people do not become citizens of the kingdom

then all we have done is to make a better place for people to go to hell from.

The purpose of the kingdom of God is to destroy the kingdom of darkness, to confront it, deliver people and translate them from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Light.

the root of this conflict started in the Spirit and once it is overcome in the spirit then it manifests in the physical and emotional.

therefore the purpose of this kingdom is to attack the root which is in the spirit, to confront the spiritual authorities in high places and once it does that then can change appear in the natural.

 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.

the reason the son of God appeared is to destroy the works of the devil. and like we looked earlier we him healing, we see him raising the dead, feeding the 5000, delivering the demoniacs, cripples walking, blind eyes seeing. sinners getting saved.

the kingdom of God advancing against the kingdom of darkness and bringing change to the kingdoms of men.

that is the purpose of the Kingdom of God, to confront the kingdom of hell and reclaim the souls of men and women for the kingdom of God.

after conversion discipling these men and women and boys and girls to conform them to the image of Christ and then sending them out into the world to confront the different spheres that they are in

and slowly by slowly like the little yeast that works its way through the whole dough of flour the kingdoms of men are transformed by the kingdom of God and the kingdom of darkness is defeated.

CONCLUSION

I have given this illustration here before but it bears repeating again. The Chinese once did a research and asked themselves what is it about western Europe that it developed so much faster than most other continents. This question perplexed the Chinese because the Chinese were the ones who developed gun powder.

when half of Europe were still walking around wearing animal skins,

the Chinese were already wearing silk.

they had discovered mathematics and were already doing calculus, they had superior architecture and advanced education systems.

they had discovered martial arts and science.

how come all of a sudden Europe had come from behind and passed them? they discovered that the only difference that Europe had that the Chinese didn't have was Christianity.

you see the Church of Jesus Christ is the kingdom of God in this dispensation and

where the Church goes and lives out the creeds of its confession,

then the kingdoms of darkness is confronted and dethroned and the benefits of the Kingdom are released to the nation.

then the kingdoms of darkness is confronted and dethroned and the benefits of the Kingdom are released to the nation.

so with Christianity western Europe saw hospitals opened,

schools opened, political and social reforms came,

morals were changed.

Idolatry was destroyed and the gospel propagated and the whole landscaped breathed fresh air

because the Kingdom of God was on the move advancing against the kingdom of darkness.

that is why one of the things that excites me so much when I come to deliverance church Umoja is the gospel I hear from the pulpit and

the school and high school for youth I see here.

because whoever owns the children and youth owns the future.

because whoever owns the children and youth owns the future.

so as this children, as these families come to this church and build their lives according to the gospel taught here the Kingdom of God is advancing and conquering the kingdom of darkness.

conquering in the spirit and manifesting in the flesh the purpose of God, the Plan of God and the program of God

demonstrating the comprehensive rule of God over every area of Life.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT OF THIS WORLD BUT IS IN THIS WORLD

Jesus in said My kingdom is not of this world, notice he didn’t say it is not in this world. The kingdom of God is in this world, it does not have a geographic location, it is not a political kingdom, it is not a financial kingdom, it is not a social kingdom, yet it affects all those kingdoms. it is in our midst. it grows from within the hearts of men and women who have been born into the kingdom and then spreads out to affect those who are not of the kingdom

The mystery of the kingdom

The kingdom of God is both present and future. It has already come but not the full manifestation, as such we always must hold a balance if we are going to mature as christians. Paul said for our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers in high places. As such we are called to pray and believe, to cast out devils, to experience miracles and healing and victory over sin. However we also know that there are times we have prayed and have not experienced the miracles, we have fasted and not experienced the breakthroughs, or gotten the healing and we have lost our loved ones or we struggle with a sickness. It is because the kingdom of God has not arrived yet in its full manifestation- The Holy Spirit tells us in -

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.s1 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of Godt2 to be revealed3

22 We know that the whole creation has been groaningx4 as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit,y5 groanz6 inwardly as we wait eagerlya7 for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.b8 249

In this world we will struggle, even as we are in the kingdom, we will groan inwardly, but our daily struggles aren’t the end of the story. There is a glory that is coming, there is a greater manifestation coming that will completely overshadow and overwhelm these struggles we go through. That is the balance of the Kingdom of God. That it has arrived and with it power, love, righteousness, the Deposit of the Holy Spirit, yet it awaits its fullest manifestation. And we who are citizens of that kingdom are more than conquerors through the successful times and those other times that bring with them hardships. For this is the victory that overcomes this world, even our faith.

The rulers of this world LORD it- the word there is KATAKYRIEUO- to subjugate, to dominate, to suppress and overcome by force.