Kingdom Of God

Kingdom of God!

A) Look, it’s me!

Acts 1:3” During the forty days after His crucifixion he appeared to the apostles from time to time, actually alive, and proved to them in many ways that it was really he himself they were seeing. And on these occasions he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.”( The Living Bible)

The world is operating on jet speed and everybody is living, as though there is no end to this life. They run, sweat and beat themselves to amass wealth but alas many fail to understand that God is preparing us for His Kingdom! Everybody including Christians feel that a good job, palatial home, acres of land, investments, good business, slabs of gold are their solid security. Nothing wrong with having riches but everything goes haywire when riches possess people. The Bible warns us:

Psalm 62:10”……If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.”

Proverbs 23: 4”Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!”

5”…For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”

Rev.Billy Graham said: “Money cannot buy true pleasure. Money cannot buy peace of heart. And money cannot buy entrance into the Kingdom of God. If God has given you more than your neighbors around about you, dedicate your possessions to Christ, and realize that you are only a steward of what God has given you – and some day you will have to give an account for every penny you have spent. The Internal Revenue Service wants to know how you spend your money, but that is nothing compared to the books God is keeping!”

John Wesley, while being shown through a nobleman’s house, admired the expensive works of art and other symbols of wealth and culture. “I too could love these things,” he said, “but there is another world.”

Friend, are you aware that there is another world waiting for each one us who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior? That is the KINGDOM OF GOD!

When I preached the message titled ‘Kingdom of God’, I was attacked by the devil from all sides, but I would do it over and over again until some of you get it. I want you dear friends to see what I see and feel what I feel, okay? After reading many versions of the Bible of the above scripture, right from Amplified Bible, American Standard Version and International Standard Version, I have chosen the simple Living Bible, so that you understand clearly. I visualized Jesus sitting with His disciples and desperately trying to prove to them that He is alive. He was trying to prove Himself to the disciples who rubbed shoulders with Him for 3 and a half years and heard every message preached by Him. The present and the future were revealed to them. Did they get it? I guess He said:’ Hey Peter, Look, it’s me! Look at my nail pierced hands, John, touch me and feel me, James, you want to touch my hands, go ahead……I’m real. Can I compare His love with the love of a mother or father? Never! His love far exceeds all human love! He is incomparable! Who would have such patience with sinners like us! I write this message on a day of fasting and prayer, as I pen these lines, tears brim my eyes. He is just the BEST!

Now watch this, Jesus did not speak about the weather or politics, but straight went to the core issue of the subject and that is the KINGDOM OF GOD. Today when Christians gather, we talk about everything under the sun, from Barack Obama to Mata Amritanandamayi Devi Amma, Baba Ramdev, except Jesus. We carefully avoid religion(that’s the word used) they would say, ‘keep religion to yourself.’ Just check out Face book or any social networking site, read what the Christians have to say, it would be about the latest movie, food joint or fresh juicy gossip is spread far and wide. Years bac, after my salvation, when I started talking about Jesus to my friends and relatives, they dropped me like a hot potato, I was left high and dry for several years. I chose the hot terrace in my office and spent the time talking to Jesus during lunch/tea breaks, eventually that place became a place of ‘worship’ where many others gathered to hear the Word from me. Let us use our precious time to share the good news of Jesus with others, rather than gossip, browse the internet, chat, sms, argue and debate.

Jesus was keen that His disciples understand about His Kingdom. Matthew often used "kingdom of heaven" instead of "kingdom of God," but the two terms are synonymous (Matt 13:31, Mark 4:30, Luke 13:18), so "kingdom of heaven" does not refer to heaven as a place, but to God's reign as King. When we talk about the Kingdom of heaven or God, it is not something farfetched or something yet to come, but when we repent, change our life style and live according to His Word and get into His covenant then we belong to His Kingdom. That’s it. If not, we belong to the devil’s kingdom. No middle ground. Being a name-sake Christian does not suffice, God wants us to be committed to Him, only then do we belong to His Kingdom. Which kingdom do you belong to?