The Priority Of The Kingdom
The central message of Jesus Christ was the message of "the Kingdom of God" or "the Kingdom of Heaven". This message, when understood, is the most relevant message for the needs of humanity. It is a highly attractive message, and will produce the greatest results of any message that one could give. This message must once again become the central theme of the church in these days.
We are being drawn by the Holy Spirit to move on from the message of the gospel of salvation into the fullness of the kingdom of God. The church has been stationed too long around one dimension of the gospel, causing people to be satisfied that they are saved from hell and will one day go to heaven. It has become nothing more than an "enter and exit" message.
When the message of the Kingdom of God is given correctly, the results will be dramatic, just as they were for Jesus and for the apostles. With the proclamation of the Kingdom comes the power of the Kingdom! Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 4:20 "for the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power". Anyone who dares to produce theological tones on the subject of the Kingdom of God without demonstrating its power has missed the mark.
John the Baptist Preached the Message of the Kingdom
In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" Matt 3:1-2
Jesus Preached the Message of the Kingdom
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matt 4:17
And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them. Matt 4:23-24
Many other references could be given from the gospels demonstrating that this was, in fact, the principal message of Jesus Christ. Many of Jesus' parables were about the Kingdom. He gave the secrets of the Kingdom to his apostles.
Paul preached the Kingdom
"And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more." Acts 20:25
Jesus called Men to preach the Kingdom
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." Luke 9:60
Jesus predicted the continued preaching of this �Gospel of the Kingdom� until His coming.
And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matt 24:14
Not only do we have Jesus and Paul as examples in this matter of preaching the Kingdom, we have the assurance from Jesus' own lips that this message of the kingdom should be preached 'as a witness' or 'with demonstration' to all the world. This is the main task we, the church, have.
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 a spiritual, invisible kingdom which has made its presence felt in the affairs of this earth, but only to a limited extent. It is not confined to a particular geographical location or to a particular religious organisation. The Kingdom is truly present in a place to the extent that Christ is honoured as Lord and his will is 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, favour 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 been able to capture the hearts and minds of men with all kinds of false movements and philosophies.
Divine Healing is a Sign of the Kingdom
When God made Adam and Eve, no sickness was present. Sickness is a breakdown in the created order. When the body is no longer in divine order, sickness is the result. However, when the Kingdom of God manifests in a person's body, divine healing and health is the result. Every divine healing done through the power of the Holy Spirit is a manifestation of the Kingdom of God.
It is a matter of record that many, if not most, of the healings done by Jesus were done for those who were oppressed by the devil. (Acts 10:38) In reality, most sickness is caused by demons - either directly or indirectly. Because large portions of the church have been ineffective in dealing with demons, there has been a corresponding ineffectiveness in dealing with sickness in the name of Jesus. Sickness represents the kingdom of Satan in a person's body. When sickness is driven out in the name of Jesus, the Kingdom of God advances. These healings are done by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit moves in with his power when we really believe and operate in faith. This faith is the gift of God - it comes through the recognition of Jesus, the reality of God's Kingdom and through personal relationship with the Godhead.
Since physical healing is something that people can see in the natural realm, it is also a sign of the Kingdom of God. It is a biblical tool for evangelism. Divine healing accompanied Jesus constantly as he preached and taught about the Kingdom. This was not only done as authentication of his Messiahship (Matthew 11:4-6), but also as a demonstration of the truth of the message of the Kingdom of God. Divine healings were also done because of the Lord's compassion (Matthew 8:1-4), His desire to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8) and to do the will of His Father in all things. All these considerations relate to the message of the Kingdom of God.
What is the Fruit of the Kingdom?
If the Kingdom of God means God's effective rulership in things, then what is the fruit of the Kingdom? The fruit of God's Kingdom includes every blessing man can enjoy. Peace, hope, righteousness, love, health, prosperity are just some of the fruit that will manifest when His kingdom rules in our lives.
