THE KINGDOM OF GOD

A message I preached at Peerless Full Gospel October 19, 2014

Acts 19:8 And Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

I felt led this morning to speak to you “concerning the things of the kingdom of God”. Of all the things the Apostle Paul could have spoken about â he talked about things that pertained to the kingdom of God. What do we talk about?

The kingdom of God is also called the kingdom of heaven (32 times in 31 verses), but only in the gospel according to Matthew (he wrote to the Jews whose minds were always on an earthly kingdom). The word heaven is very often in the Jewish dialect meant for God, used in the place of, and refers to God. The Apostle Matthew also called the kingdom of heaven the kingdom of God four times.

WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not food and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

At this time in our history, the kingdom of God is not a physical kingdom that can be seen by all â such as physical food and drink, but rather it is a kingdom located within the hearts of some men, women, and children. This righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit are inward qualities in the hearts of the citizens of the kingdom of God. The inward qualities of the kingdom of God are as real as any outward physical qualities of the kingdoms of men on this earth.

Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit describe the kingdom of God, while wickedness, war, and grief describe the kingdoms of men. It is a spiritual kingdom within us now, and if that is so, then we will inherit a physical kingdom later. This kingdom had a distinct beginning:

Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.

The kingdom of God touches us, and is available to us only because by the grace (power) of God someone brought it to us wherever we were at. That is what the Apostle Paul was doing â by the grace (power) of God he was bringing the kingdom of God to the citizens of an earthly kingdom of men in a place called Ephesus. He was doing this by speaking “boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God”.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD CANNOT BE SEEN

Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, The kingdom of God does not come with observation; Neither shall they say, See here! Or, see there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

The kingdom of God transcends the boundaries, ideologies, and governments of earthly kingdoms. The kingdom of God is bigger than we are, bigger than anything we possess, and bigger than anything we are involved in. The kingdom of God does not have borders that can be seen, it does not have building that can be seen, or does it does have rulers that lord it over others. Though the kingdom of God cannot be seen with physical eyes, yet it most certainly can be detected:

John 3:8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.

Mark 4:26-28 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knows not how. For the earth brings forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.

Two facts here concerning the kingdom of God: first â no one can observe how it grows, and second it is a systematic progression â a work of the Holy Spirit.

Mark 4:30-32 And Jesus said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: But when it is sown, it grows up, and becomes greater than all herbs, and shoots out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

There are some that can ‘see’ the kingdom of God:

Luke 9:27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

Those that will receive the power of the Holy Spirit will have the kingdom of God manifested within them.

John 16:15 All things that the Father has are mine: therefore said I, that he (the Holy Spirit) shall take of mine (the kingdom of God), and shall show it unto you.

Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come to you.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, brought the kingdom of God into this world. The evidence was in the “demonstration of the Spirit and of power”, 1 Corinthians 2:4.

If our ministries and our churches are truly the kingdom of God coming near â then where is our proof? Proof is not in numbers and money â but it is in:

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS A KING

Christ the Lord has always been destined to be the King of the kingdom of God!

Daniel 7:13-14 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

No earthly kingdom of man has ever conquered the kingdom of God even though “the princes of this world crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:8). Jesus Christ, the Son of God is the King of the kingdom of God, and therefore it is His kingdom â not our kingdom.

Colossians 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

There is power in the kingdoms of darkness, but the power of the kingdom of Christ is greater!

Ephesians 5:5 For this you know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Jesus Christ is “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:15). He “is the head of the body, the church” (Colossians 1:18). He is “the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10). The kings of this world have truly come against the King of the kingdom of God, and all that follow Him and that serve Him with a pure heart.

Psalms 2:1-3 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

Isn’t this nation attempting to remove God and His law from their very sight?

4-5 He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision (confusion). Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Very soon the Lord will laugh at this nation when its confusion comes, and this nation will see His wrath and feel His vexation! It has to be so â sin that is not repented of does not go unpunished. “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God”, Psalms 9:17.

6-9 Yet have I set my king on my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD has said to me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

This nation has known the “goodness of God”, but it is about to know the “severity of God”, Romans 11:22.

10-12 Be wise now therefore, O you kings (of the earth): be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

This scripture is a warning to the leaders and judges of this nation! And I say to our leaders (kings) â there is a King mightier than you, and if you are wise you will ‘kiss’ Him lest He be angry with you! I say to the judges that are turning this nation from God â you have a Judge over you that you will answer to!

Acts 4:26-28 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. For of a truth against your holy child Jesus, whom you have anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatever your hand and your counsel determined before to be done.

This is the way it has always been, and so it will be until the Day of the Lord! The kingdoms and rulers of this world will continue to rise up and gather together against the kingdom of God and His Son, the anointed One. Surely we see this today in our own nation! But it is not just this nation â rather all nations have and are gathered against the kingdom of God!

It was not just the Jews that came against Christ, but the Gentiles were also there with them. Jesus boldly told the earthly king Pilate that he could have no power over Him at all unless God allowed it. God did allow it, and Jesus did submit to the kings of this earth to do their wickedness and to murder Him, the King of the kingdom of God.

However â know this â the Lord “that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision (confusion). Then shall he speak to them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure“, Psalms 2:4-5.

Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also has highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In God’s due time Christ the King will rule over all the physical kingdoms on this earth:

Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.

12-13 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a clothing dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

14-15 And the armies which were in heaven followed him on white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he has on his clothing and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

THE POWER OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

The kingdom of God is alive today, and it has available enough power that even the gates (the government) of hell shall not prevail against it:

Matthew 16:18-19 And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock (of divine revelation) I will build my church; and the gates (government) of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel (of the kingdom) came not to you only in word, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance;

This power of the kingdom of God is available to its citizen soldiers by the Holy Spirit:

Luke 10:19 Behold, I give to you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Luke 24:49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry you in the city of Jerusalem, until you be endued with power from on high.

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:

The Apostle Paul, who spoke boldly concerning the things of the kingdom of God, also operated in the power of the Holy Spirit:

1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

The kingdom of God does have an army with real soldiers:

2 Timothy 2:3-4 You therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that wars entangles himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Hundreds of men’s kingdoms have come and gone, but the kingdom of God “stands sure”, for it remains and will remain for eternity. No earthly kingdom of man has ever conquered the kingdom of God, even though many of its soldiers have “suffered cruel mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated â of whom the world was not worthy â wandering over deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth”, Hebrews 11.

However, the soldiers of the kingdom of God do not war with the soldiers of the earthly kingdoms of men:

Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Our battle is not with our neighbor, or any other human being, rather it is with the spirit operating through them. And neither is the purpose of our warfare about us personally. The purpose of the warfare of the soldiers of the kingdom of God is the same as their king:

1 John 3:8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Our purpose is the opposite of the purpose of “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience”, Ephesians 2:2. That king, Satan, is a “thief, who comes only to steal, and to kill, and to destroy“, but King Jesus the Messiah is “come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly“, John 10:10.

The citizen/soldiers of the kingdom of God will one day soon rule and reign over all this earth alongside the King of the Kingdom of God:

2 Timothy 2:12 If we suffer (with Him), we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Revelation 2:26 And he that overcomes, and keeps my works to the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Revelation 5:10 And have made us to our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS A KINGDOM OF PEACE

The soldiers of the kingdom of God seek to be at peace and to bring peace â not fighting and wars:

Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Remember, the kingdom of God is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17):

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Romans 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things with which one may edify another.

1 Corinthians 7:15 God has called us to peace.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethrenâ¦. live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance:

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body;

1 Thessalonians 5:13 And be at peace among yourselves.

Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men,

James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

HOW TO BECOME A CITIZEN IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Why is the work of God called a kingdom? It is called a kingdom because it has laws, which are all the moral precepts of the Gospel. It is called a kingdom because it has a king, and that king is forever Jesus Christ.

It is called a kingdom because it has subjects, which are all who believe in and submit to Christ Jesus its King. Jesus Christ never saved a soul which he did not govern and who would not submit to His authority.

The kingdom of God is a community ruled inwardly by God, not with force now, but by free will. The citizens of His kingdom are being closely united in love. It is an eternal kingdom, but the kingdoms of this earth, which are governed by men, are only temporal.

The kingdom of God can only be entered by His invitation:

John 6:37 All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which has sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Entrance into the kingdom of God is accomplished only by being born again:

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Entrance into the kingdom of God is not automatic by natural birth:

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Not everyone that desires to enter the kingdom of God will be allowed to:

Luke 13:23-24 Then said one to him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said to them, strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers (permits or requires) violence, and the violent take it by force.

To remain a citizen of the kingdom of God, and to inherit it, requires obedience to the laws of His kingdom:

Ephesians 5:5 For this you know, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

When will the citizens of the kingdom of God finally inherit the kingdom? Speaking of signs pointing to that time, the King said this:

Luke 21:31 So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the kingdom of God is near at hand.

THE ENEMY WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

There are aliens in the kingdom of God, or tares or those that have not put on the wedding garment (the bride has made herself ready), or their garment is stained, has spots on it, or has wrinkles.

Matthew 13:24-26 Another parable he put forth to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

26 -28 But when the blade (of the wheat) was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field? From where then has it tares? He said to them, an enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Will you then that we go and gather them up?

29-30 But he said, No; lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather you together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn (heaven).

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Mark 9:47 And if your eye offend you, pluck it out: it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Luke 18:29-30 And he said to them, Truly I say to you, There is no man that has left house, or parents, or brothers, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

The kingdom of God is so valuable that we must let nothing and no one hinder or get in the way of our entering it!

ENTERING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

A message I preached at Peerless Full Gospel October 26, 2014

Acts 19:8 And Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.

I felt led this morning to speak to you again “concerning the things of the kingdom of God”. Of all the things the Apostle Paul could have spoken about â he talked about things that pertained to the kingdom of God. What do we talk about?

THE LOCATION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

If you were to attempt to find the kingdom of God on a map, you could not find a physical location on this earth â yet this kingdom is all over the earth. There is no address that you could enter to search on Google Map. Where is the kingdom of God? It is located in the hearts of individuals that are born again of the Holy Spirit of God.

The kingdom of God transcends the boundaries, ideologies, and governments of earthly kingdoms. Wherever there are true followers of Christ, there the kingdom of God has come.

The kingdom of God is bigger than we are, bigger than anything we possess, and bigger than anything we are involved in. The kingdom of God is bigger and more powerful than all the kingdoms and nations of this world combined. The kingdom of God does not have borders that can be seen, it does not have buildings that can be seen, and it does not have rulers that lord it over others.

It is called a kingdom because it has laws, which are found in the word of God. It is called a kingdom because it has a king, and that king is forever Jesus Christ. It is called a kingdom because it has subjects, which are all those who believe in and submit to Christ the King of the kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ never saved a soul who he did not govern and who would not submit to His authority. The kingdom of God is a worldwide community ruled inwardly by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God â not with force now, but by free will.

ENTERING INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD

There are many kingdoms and nations of this world, and they have come and gone â and not one of these earthly kingdoms of men has lasted forever. Only the kingdom of God and Christ will last forever:

2 Peter 1:10-11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered (supplied, provided) to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

An important message here is entrance, or entering â we must somehow gain entrance into the everlasting kingdom of God, for all that are outside His kingdom shall perish. All perished who chose to remain outside of the Ark that God instructed Noah to build. Our entrance in must not be a barely entering in, but rather an abundance entrance. To enter the kingdom of God we must become a child of the kingdom of God, or a child of God.

Matthew 19:13-14 Then were there brought to him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, permit the little children, and forbid them not, to come to me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven (of God).

Luke 18:17 Truly I say to you, Whoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

So many have been told that they have indeed entered the kingdom of God, that they are saved, and that they are now a child of God â all just because they made a profession of faith, repeated the ‘sinner’s prayer’, filled out a card, joined a church, or cried some tears. Those actions may or may not have provided to them a beginning of an entrance into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

This is still true today, many a minister has deceived inquiring souls into believing that they have indeed entered the kingdom of God, when in fact they are now further away than they were before. All these ‘evangelists’ have really done is to immunize their victim against the truth of the gospel! The poor soul will go on thinking they have done whatever they needed to do to avoid eternity in hell. But some may realize that there has to be more to this than what they were told, and perhaps they will go on to seek God.

If someone has made an easy (wide or all inclusive) way to enter into the kingdom of God, then that entrance which they have contrived is most likely a broad way that leads to destruction.

Matthew 7:13-14 Enter in at the strait (narrow) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait (narrow) is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.

Though God is not prejudice concerning color, race, or gender, yet the kingdom of God is not an all inclusive kingdom, but rather it is an exclusive kingdom with very strict entrance requirements (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and Galatians 5:19-21).

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait (narrow) gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Matthew 22:9-10 Go therefore into the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

11-12 And when the king came in to see (examine, or judge) the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment (he had not met the requirements): And he said to him, Friend, how did you enter in here not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

13-14 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.

This is why we all must “give diligence to make your calling and election sure”.

PRESSING INTO THE EVERLASTING KINGDOM OF GOD

In order to enter the kingdom of God we must strive or press into that kingdom.

Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers (requires) violence, and the violent take it by force.

We will never enter the kingdom of God by accident, happenchance, default, or proxy â but to enter Christ’s kingdom we must fight the good fight of faith and obedience. We cannot enter the kingdom of God by proxy or through a substitute. Christ did not enter the kingdom in our place â but He died for us in our place that we might enter in and remain â but we must respond and follow Him into His kingdom.

We must understand that entering in is a progression, meaning we have entered in, we are entering in, and we must continue to enter into the kingdom of God! Everything about God is based upon His daily bread principle, His ‘continuing’ principle, and His ‘line upon line, precept upon precept’ principle.

Colossians 1:23 If you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;

This entering in is not a onetime activity, and then we are forever saved (or a citizen of the kingdom of God) with nothing else to do but be a good ole boy and wait for our heavenly mansion.

This is not a free and easy ride, but it is a spiritual warfare, and unless we war we will be defeated by default.

1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight