The King and His kingdom - that Cross introduces - 13th day in Lent

Today, it is about the Kingdom of God.

Most of the Kingdom verses are seen in New-Testament.

People who preached on the Kingdom of God.

1. John the Baptist - Mathew 3:2 - " Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near" - has come near means the Kingdom of God was distant before the times of John the baptist.
2. Jesus : Majority of Jesus' preaching was on Kingdom of God. All four gospels are filled with information on his teachings on Kingdom of God. Few are listed below :

• Mat 4:17 - "Repent ,  for the kingdom of heaven is near"
• Mat 4:33 - Note the order which is listed, teaching, preaching the good news of the Kingdom and healing. 
• Mat 9:35 - Note the order - teaching , preaching, healing.

     3.Disciples : Jesus asks his disciples to preach on the Kingdom.

• Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9.

     4.Philip : Acts 8:12 " proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ" - Note the order listed, it is first the Kingdom and then the King.
    5.Paul : Acts 19:8, 20:25, 28:23, Acts 28:31 - Paul proclaimed the kingdom of God, all day, all night, at his house, outside house, for months, weeks and Acts 28:31 says for two whole years.

What is this Kingdom made of - The component of the Kingdom
      Like how H2O means water, two parts of hydrogen and one part of oxygen comprises water, the components of Kingdom of God is mentioned in Romans 14:17 - "For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness , peace and joy in the Holy Spirit". In simple words Righteousness + peace + Joy (In the Holy Ghost) is the component of Kingdom.
    Also, I Cor 4:20, says " For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power". We are called to exhibit, taste and give out a taste of Kingdom with power.

How do we get into this Kingdom of God.
    Mat 23:13, says, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites ! you shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in the people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to". Two words need to be noted here, one we people can shut or open the doors of heaven, two it is for us people ( body, soul and spirit) to enter the kingdom, today, now, not some day when we die and leave the earth.

Mathew 18:18 says " Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven". The Greek word for bind and loose is "lock" and "unlock".

Mathew 16:19, says " I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven"

Keys to the kingdom we have received through the Cross of Calvary, it is up to us to lock and unlock this awesome Kingdom.
    We believers have to follow the foot steps of Jesus, on how to present the good news to people in darkness, first given the the taste of the kingdom, kindle an appetite to find the door (Jesus). Also, present it with power, healing and deliverance, to make it more tangible.

Lets be encouraged to study the rest of the gospel books on this Kingdom to dig into the more precious hidden treasure.

Memory verse :  Mathew 24:14 -" And this gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come".

Shared by - Anitha suresh, Dallas, TX

03-04-2015