Understanding the Kingdom Concept Part 2
When you first read about the Kingdom of God being a government rather than a new religion, there may be conflict in your mind and a feeling of religious resistance. Many of us have spent our lives hearing about Jesus from a religious perspective, connected with church, the cross and all that goes along with being a church member. But I would encourage you to search out the Kingdom by studying the four Gospels for yourself. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke and John from the perspective of the Kingdom of God that Jesus taught while He was here on earth. You will begin to discover the reality of the Kingdom of God and your citizenship.
Focus Point: King Jesus’ message of the Kingdom was indicated beforehand in the Old Testament centuries before He was even born in Bethlehem. Here are a few examples:
Focus Point: Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus’ message was clearly Kingdom focused and clearly not religiously motivated. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 NKJV
Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Gospel about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 4:23
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3
But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Matthew 5:20
He even stayed focused on Kingdom while teaching His disciples how to pray in the Kingdom. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:8-13 NKJV
He told us that seeking the Kingdom is THE priority. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV
He always spoke and taught on the Kingdom. He even instructed His disciples when He sent them out by two. Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Gospel about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 9:35 And as you go, preach, saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 10:7 NKJV
Focus Point: When you have the Governor—the Holy Spirit—in your mortal body, the evil one, the demonic, cannot reside in your life. Satan has no power over a citizen of the Kingdom because of the Holy Spirit within them! But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28 NKJV
Keep in mind that when you are guided by the Holy Spirit—our Governor—you are given the secrets of the Kingdom, only for His children. He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, do that I should heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:11-17 NKJV
The Lord Jesus’ message was solely on the Kingdom and not on a religion:
Read Matthew 13:19-47 noting all the times in these parables that He compared them to the Kingdom.
Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Gospel about the Kingdom of God. He took His twelve disciples with Him. Luke 8:1
Then He sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2
I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God. Luke 9:27
My reason for listing all these scriptures is to emphasize the pre-occupation that the Lord Jesus had with the Kingdom concept rather than a religion. Learning the four Gospels is truly the secret to understanding the concept of King Jesus’ Kingdom government rather than the religious teachings and traditions we have grown up with.
Focus Point: Let’s look at what the Lord Jesus said to Pilate Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world [nor does it have its origin in this world]. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting [hard] to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this world.” So Pilate said to Him, “Then You are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say [correctly] that I am a King. This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth [who is a friend of the truth and belongs to the truth] hears and listens carefully to My voice.” John 18:36-37AMP
Note the last statement above where the Lord Jesus declares Himself a “king” and not a prime minister, nor a rabbi, priest or any other religious leader. This is why it is essential that we rediscover and desire to understand the Kingdom not only as a concept but also our reality. It is the foundation of the Lord God’s plan for mankind.
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God’s Word.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
Focus Point: King Jesus’ message of the Kingdom was indicated beforehand in the Old Testament centuries before He was even born in Bethlehem. Here are a few examples:
- 1. The first one indicated the Lord God’s motivation for delivering the slaves of Israel from the land and rulers of Egypt. Now if you will obey Me and keep My covenant, you will be My own special treasure from among all the peoples on earth; for all the earth belongs to Me. And you will be My kingdom of priests, My holy nation.’ This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” Exodus 19:5-6
- 2. In the second one, we see the Old Testament Messianic promise declared by the prophet Isaiah strongly indicating the governmental aspect of the mandate of the Kingdom. For a Child is born to us, a Son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen! Isaiah 9:6-7
Focus Point: Keep in mind that the Lord Jesus’ message was clearly Kingdom focused and clearly not religiously motivated. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 NKJV
Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Gospel about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 4:23
God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for Him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. Matthew 5:3
But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven! Matthew 5:20
He even stayed focused on Kingdom while teaching His disciples how to pray in the Kingdom. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Matthew 6:8-13 NKJV
He told us that seeking the Kingdom is THE priority. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33 NKJV
He always spoke and taught on the Kingdom. He even instructed His disciples when He sent them out by two. Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Gospel about the Kingdom. And He healed every kind of disease and illness. Matthew 9:35 And as you go, preach, saying, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 10:7 NKJV
Focus Point: When you have the Governor—the Holy Spirit—in your mortal body, the evil one, the demonic, cannot reside in your life. Satan has no power over a citizen of the Kingdom because of the Holy Spirit within them! But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Matthew 12:28 NKJV
Keep in mind that when you are guided by the Holy Spirit—our Governor—you are given the secrets of the Kingdom, only for His children. He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, and seeing you will see and not perceive; For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, do that I should heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. Matthew 13:11-17 NKJV
The Lord Jesus’ message was solely on the Kingdom and not on a religion:
Read Matthew 13:19-47 noting all the times in these parables that He compared them to the Kingdom.
Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Gospel about the Kingdom of God. He took His twelve disciples with Him. Luke 8:1
Then He sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:2
I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God. Luke 9:27
My reason for listing all these scriptures is to emphasize the pre-occupation that the Lord Jesus had with the Kingdom concept rather than a religion. Learning the four Gospels is truly the secret to understanding the concept of King Jesus’ Kingdom government rather than the religious teachings and traditions we have grown up with.
Focus Point: Let’s look at what the Lord Jesus said to Pilate Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world [nor does it have its origin in this world]. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting [hard] to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this world.” So Pilate said to Him, “Then You are a King?” Jesus answered, “You say [correctly] that I am a King. This is why I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth [who is a friend of the truth and belongs to the truth] hears and listens carefully to My voice.” John 18:36-37AMP
Note the last statement above where the Lord Jesus declares Himself a “king” and not a prime minister, nor a rabbi, priest or any other religious leader. This is why it is essential that we rediscover and desire to understand the Kingdom not only as a concept but also our reality. It is the foundation of the Lord God’s plan for mankind.
Remember, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God’s Word.
W.R. Luchie
www.kingdomcitizens.org
These articles may only be reproduced, in print or on the internet, if the author's name and website address are sited at the end of the article as originally placed. Thank you
