Understanding The Kingdom

If you asked me the question “What is the Kingdom of God and what does it mean to be a kingdom person?” I probably would have answered, “Well, I guess that it’s where we all go as Christians when we die – it’s heaven.” And I think that a lot of Christians still think that way. We really don’t know exactly what the kingdom of God is. Actually, I think that most Christians think that it’s a great topic to have a spiritual conversation with someone.

But about 6 years ago, God showed me how wrong I was. And God began to change the way that I view what the kingdom of God is and He also began to give me a passion for the kingdom of God and growing it here and now.

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

THE TRANSFIGURATION STORY

In Matthew 17:1-8

Jesus had a crucial meeting with Moses and Elijah.

• Moses represented the era of the law

• Elijah attended the meeting on behalf of the prophetic era.

• It was about the close of 2 eras and the emergence of another era.

Jesus didn’t climb that mountain just to show off white shining clothes. He simply went up there to shut down two eras in the presence of 3 witnesses who were His disciples.

During the process, Peter suggested that they build 3 tents for the 3 personalities. More like what we do today…We tend to say to Jesus…” let’s build 3 houses, one for the grace you brought, the other for the law Moses brought and the other for the era of the prophetic.

”So we religiously hold on to the law, seek God through prophets and still call ourselves followers of Christ Jesus.”

We must not be like Peter. There is no need for 3 tents to house 3 eras. We only need one tent and that is the gospel of Grace and Truth which came through Jesus.

Well in the twinkle of an eye, Elijah disappeared from the mountain, Moses also disappeared, but Jesus was left alone and His body shone like the sun.

They disappeared so that the era which Jesus brings would shine.

This era Jesus is bringing is the only era that we need now, nothing else, so this morning, we try explore and understand this very era.

Lets read this passage again: Luk 16:16 The LAW and the PROPHETS were until John: since that time the KINGDOM OF GOD is preached, and every man presseth into it.

The title of my massage this morning is UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM.

WHY IS THE KINGDOM IMPORTANT?

The first sermon in the New Testament was from John the Baptist, “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near” (Matt. 3:2).

The beginning of the ministry of Jesus He started with this same message. “From then on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!’

John spoke of it in the Gospel and concluded Revelation with this emphasis, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever!” (Rev. 11:15).

In Matthew 6:33, you will find the words of Jesus about the kingdom. Very specifically he says “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Now the word seek means:

• To desire to know

• To pursue

• To study or explore

It doesn’t just mean to go looking for it means you have to dedicate yourself to understanding it, to learn it, to see how it words. In other words, your first desire should be ;

• To know about the kingdom

• Where it is

• How it functions.

The mission of Jesus is very obvious and it is for you to Understand and receive the kingdom of God.

Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Luke 4:43: But he said to them, I have to give the good news of the kingdom of God in other towns, because that is why I was sent.

He is saying, I have come to bring you a kingdom not a religion.

A religious is under the control of a State.

A kingdom is under the control of a king

What we basically have is a religion and our religion is a complicated one that is not benefiting us too much. As a mater of fact one of the most benefit we have in religion is a good burial but to live victoriously everyday and to understand the wisdom of God in our daily lives, in our jobs, in our relationships, nothing is seen. Meaning that we still struggling to attaining what God promised which is Victory over the world.