What is the Kingdom of God?
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What is the Kingdom of God?
Some view the Kingdom of God as an alternative term for "heaven", but Jesus taught that it could be in our midst on
earth, and come to us now through His ministry - for example - the ministry of casting out demons by the Spirit of
God (Matthew 12:28). When Jesus spoke of entering the Kingdom he was not merely saying "going to heaven
when you die". He was talking about entering into the Kingdom life here and now. This includes heaven later on,
and whatever plans God may have for us on the new earth, but it is far more than that. The Kingdom of Heaven is
not about "pie in the sky when you die".
The Kingdom of God is the place where Jesus is King. It is God's government. It is a spiritual, invisible kingdom
which has made its presence felt to a degree in the affairs of this earth, but only to a limited extent. It is not confined
to a particular geographical location, nor to a particular religious organisation. The Kingdom is truly present in a
place to the extent that Christ is honored as Lord and his will done there.
There is an opposing kingdom at work. Jesus spoke of Satan's kingdom (Matthew 12:26). The Scripture declares
that "the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). Satan is called "the god of this age" (2
Corinthians 4:4), "the prince of the power of the air" and "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience"
(Ephesians 2:2). Satan, operating through a vast hierarchical network of fallen angels, evil spirits or demons as
they are variously known, exercises a stupendous influence on the hearts and lives of men, women, boys and girls.
The existence of Satan's kingdom accounts for the hatred, the wars, the stupidity and selfishness of mankind, the
existence of false religions and philosophies and the presence of every kind of perversion and deception on the
face of the earth. Satanic influence is very effective because it operates in the background, and is generally not
openly displayed. It is almost always covered under another name or philosophy.
The kingdom of God is in perpetual conflict with the spiritual kingdom of Satan. These are the two spiritual
kingdoms which dominate the affairs of mankind and influence the lives of multitudes. They are totally opposite in
nature. There is no third kingdom. The kingdom of God only advances through the destruction of the works and
influence of the devil.
What are the results of the Kingdom?
Paul said, "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
(Romans 14:17). That is to say, God's kingdom in someone's heart will produce a state of righteousness before
God, and the peace and joy of God will be known by that person. If people only understood and believed this, then
they would make every effort to welcome the Kingdom of God into their lives, instead of looking in all the wrong
places for the happiness and fulfilment they desire. This comment applies to Christians as well as unbelievers.
When Philip the evangelist preached Christ in Samaria, "there was great joy in the city" (Acts 8:8). Today we need
such a manifestation of the Kingdom of God in our cities. The message of the Kingdom of God applies not only at
the individual level, but also at every corporate level. The key to it is the kind of faith that recognises and esteems
Jesus Christ as His presence above all else. Such faith esteems the Word of Christ above all other authorities,
influences or suggestions. The result in every community is the practice of justice, mercy, love, faithfulness, favor
and blessing. These are exactly the things that people in the world long for. Because the church has largely failed
to demonstrate and to preach these things of the Kingdom people have been willing to look for them in other
directions. Satan has thus been able to capture the hearts and minds of men with all kinds of false movements
and philosophies such as communism, islam and the New Age movement.
Some view the Kingdom of God as an alternative term for "heaven", but Jesus taught that it could be in our midst on
earth, and come to us now through His ministry - for example - the ministry of casting out demons by the Spirit of
God (Matthew 12:28). When Jesus spoke of entering the Kingdom he was not merely saying "going to heaven
when you die". He was talking about entering into the Kingdom life here and now. This includes heaven later on,
and whatever plans God may have for us on the new earth, but it is far more than that. The Kingdom of Heaven is
not about "pie in the sky when you die".
The Kingdom of God is the place where Jesus is King. It is God's government. It is a spiritual, invisible kingdom
which has made its presence felt to a degree in the affairs of this earth, but only to a limited extent. It is not confined
to a particular geographical location, nor to a particular religious organisation. The Kingdom is truly present in a
place to the extent that Christ is honored as Lord and his will done there.
There is an opposing kingdom at work. Jesus spoke of Satan's kingdom (Matthew 12:26). The Scripture declares
that "the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one" (1 John 5:19). Satan is called "the god of this age" (2
Corinthians 4:4), "the prince of the power of the air" and "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience"
(Ephesians 2:2). Satan, operating through a vast hierarchical network of fallen angels, evil spirits or demons as
they are variously known, exercises a stupendous influence on the hearts and lives of men, women, boys and girls.
The existence of Satan's kingdom accounts for the hatred, the wars, the stupidity and selfishness of mankind, the
existence of false religions and philosophies and the presence of every kind of perversion and deception on the
face of the earth. Satanic influence is very effective because it operates in the background, and is generally not
openly displayed. It is almost always covered under another name or philosophy.
The kingdom of God is in perpetual conflict with the spiritual kingdom of Satan. These are the two spiritual
kingdoms which dominate the affairs of mankind and influence the lives of multitudes. They are totally opposite in
nature. There is no third kingdom. The kingdom of God only advances through the destruction of the works and
influence of the devil.
What are the results of the Kingdom?
Paul said, "The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
(Romans 14:17). That is to say, God's kingdom in someone's heart will produce a state of righteousness before
God, and the peace and joy of God will be known by that person. If people only understood and believed this, then
they would make every effort to welcome the Kingdom of God into their lives, instead of looking in all the wrong
places for the happiness and fulfilment they desire. This comment applies to Christians as well as unbelievers.
When Philip the evangelist preached Christ in Samaria, "there was great joy in the city" (Acts 8:8). Today we need
such a manifestation of the Kingdom of God in our cities. The message of the Kingdom of God applies not only at
the individual level, but also at every corporate level. The key to it is the kind of faith that recognises and esteems
Jesus Christ as His presence above all else. Such faith esteems the Word of Christ above all other authorities,
influences or suggestions. The result in every community is the practice of justice, mercy, love, faithfulness, favor
and blessing. These are exactly the things that people in the world long for. Because the church has largely failed
to demonstrate and to preach these things of the Kingdom people have been willing to look for them in other
directions. Satan has thus been able to capture the hearts and minds of men with all kinds of false movements
and philosophies such as communism, islam and the New Age movement.
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