Dr. Ronald Powell

The Kingdom of God

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

• Jesus stepped into time by entering into human flesh, the invisible immortal humbled Himself and put on visible mortality... Christ Jesus, 6who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."    (Phil 2:5-8)

• In Jesus, God became as one of us... a mortal man, rendered mortal not by sin but by choice...!

• Jesus' message was loud and clear... "Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." (Mark 1:14-15)

But what was His message about, what did the "Kingdom of God look like?

• Jesus presented God's Kingdom as a NEW REALITY and that this new reality was here to stay....
• "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to: 1) Preach the gospel to the poor;
• 2) He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
• 3) To proclaim liberty to the captives
• 4) And recovery of sight to the blind,
• 5) To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
• 6) To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."   (Luke 4:18-19)

• Things were about to change, God was about to publicly judge and break the power of Satan over God's creation in preparation for the final judgment at the end of the age.

• But before the "end of the age" could come, God had to get His message out and give His own prodigal children the chance to come home.

• It was a voluntary fall and so it must be a voluntary return... the greatest gift God ever gave Mankind was our free-will... we love Him because we choose to, anything other than this it would not be love at all...!?

• Jesus could be found daily teaching publicly about His Father's Kingdom, He never kept it a secret.

A New Kingdom described

• First and foremost it needs to be understood that the Kingdom must be sought after, it does not come upon us automatically, it is something we need to seek after...."But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."                                           (Matt 6:33)

• The idea is that we do the "Kingdom seeking"and God does the "life supplying".

• When we start chasing life, we lose sight of the Kingdom...!

• The Kingdom has already arrived... it is here and now...! "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand."                                  (Mark 1:15)

• We have been given the ability to know and understand what the Kingdom is... "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God."

(Mark 4:10)

• To enter into the Kingdom of God we need to lay aside our "grown-up cynicism" and become like little children... "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."

(Mark 10:15)

• The Kingdom of God is a present reality, an invisible realm that is superimposed upon this fallen world from the very real but invisible dimension of heaven.

• The Kingdom of God is the rule of God within Human life.

• The Kingdom of God is wherever God is in dominion.

• The Kingdom of God is a state of being, a quality of life, a way of life, a heavenly system imposed upon fallen flesh.

• "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21"nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)

The Kingdom of God is a land of inverted principles and paradoxes.

• We die to live...
• The more we give away the more we get back...
• When we seek the humble places we get exalted to honor...
• In slavery we find freedom...
• We love our enemies...
• God's Kingdom seems to be upside-down...or is it rather the right-side-up?

• "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."      (Rom 14:17)

• The Kingdom is without end and will be given to us ... "But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever."   (Dan 7:18)

Closing

• The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets." (Rev 10:4-7)

The Lord's Prayer

Matthew 6:9-13King James Version (KJV)

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.