CONCEPT OF THE KINGDOM 


Part 2

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In this study we will be dealing with  
a)   What the Kingdom is,
b)   How it works,
c)   How to live in the Kingdom, day by day.
KINGDOM OF GOD/KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
This phrase is used over and over through the scriptures.
The Old Testament spoke of a coming Kingdom, an everlasting Kingdom with the Lord as King on earth.
The people of Jesus' day, including His Jewish disciples, were questioning and wondering as to what the Kingdom of God would be like:  IT WAS A MYSTERY.
The Lord Jesus set about unveiling this mystery of the Kingdom (also repeated in *Mark 4 and *Luke 8).
 In *Verse 11, Jesus tells His disciples that they have the privilege of knowing the MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
THE KINGDOM IS AT HAND
 When John the Baptist came, he proclaimed the Kingdom was at hand.*Matthew 3:2 "At hand" was an expression as of a hand moving down on to an object and then held hovering over that object, about to arrive. Jesus proclaimed the same message:  *Matthew 4:17; *Matthew 5:3  (Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor....);  *Matthew 6:33 (Seek first the Kingdom of God...).
 WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
 IT IS THE RULE OF GOD AMONG PEOPLE.  It is God ruling over the hearts of people so that His WILL and LAW OF LOVE reign.
Matthew 6:10 YOUR KINGDOM come, YOUR WILL be done on EARTH, as it is in heaven. Jesus meant them to understand that this was not a fairyland in the future, but a REALITY HERE AND NOW ON EARTH.
THE KINGDOM IS IN YOUR MIDST
The Kingdom of God (the rule of God among the people) is accomplished in ONE PERSON the LORD JESUS.
Luke 17:20-21 Jesus answering the Pharisees concerning the Kingdom (and of course the King) says:  "The Kingdom is in your midst (among you)"
The Pharisees expected divine fireworks with lightning, earthquakes etc, destroying the roman oppressors and God setting us His King over Israel, the nation that would rule the world.
Instead, Jesus says "It has arrived.  It is amongst you right now.  And more specifically, Pharisees, the KINGDOM IS NOT AN "IT", the KINGDOM IS ME,  THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS UNION WITH JESUS.  Being united with Him brings me into the Kingdom.  It is actually sharing His life A KINGDOM NOT COMPARABLE TO ANY OTHER ON EARTH
 E.g. When someone immigrates, he leaves the borders of one country and steps into another country (or kingdom).  Living in this new country, he is now subject to the laws of this land.  He has never personally met the PRESIDENT but knows quite a bit about him. This is the picture of the Kingdom of God.  When they became Christians, they left one country and stepped over the border into another, where Jesus is ruling "there" on His throne.  They are His happy subjects living by the new set of rules as best they can.  They have even met the King personally, But ENTERING THE KINGDOM is more than meeting the King, it is becoming UNITED, JOINED TO THE KING - NOW, not in the future!
A KINGDOM NOT OF THIS WORLD
John 18:36  Jesus said to Pilate "My Kingdom is not of this world".
In other words, "Pilate, I have not come to set up a kingdom on this earth that can be compared in any way to ANY earthly kingdom.  I am surely a King, but of a totally different kingdom."
Jesus was not interested in having rule over a certain country with boundaries on the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, or having a throne in a capital city called Jerusalem - that is, a kingdom of this world's order.  (Remember, Jesus had already turned down their offer and attempt to make Him king).
The Jews had a fixation about the restored Israel:  *Acts 1:6 (After 40 days of explanation, they still did not understand...)
HIS KINGDOM IS INSIDE OF PEOPLE - IT IS VITAL UNION WITH HIM.
 Part 3 to be posted soon
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