WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
“So, he told them, “Every student of the Scriptures who becomes a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like someone who brings out new and old treasures from the storeroom.” Matthew 6:52 CEV
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
My Kingdom of God Website is a platform to give you information and a way of seeing and relating to God in your life that is simple and real. Jesus in the New Testament talks about the Kingdom of God, and he often states that the Kingdom of God is this or that when trying to tell people about what he was doing and what he was teaching. Then he states the Kingdom of God has come upon you!…
What is the Kingdom of God? Is the Kingdom of God something that is happening now? How is it relevant to me today? Can I know what it is to be walking in the Kingdom of God and to know what that means for me and my impact upon others and even society at large?
Also does that mean that there is another kingdom of evil that battles against me and God’s Kingdom at the same time? If I participate in one, do I automatically become the enemy of the other?
What does the Kingdom of God look like in my life?
To answer that, we must begin to understand what the Kingdom of God is. So, let’s begin with scripture. The phrase the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are often interchangeable. The largest cluster of teachings is recorded in Matthew chapter 6, so we start there.
The kingdom of heaven is like; good seed sewn in a field, a mustard seed sewn into the ground, leaven, hidden treasure to be found and purchased, yeast working it’s way through creating bread dough, a treasure hidden in the field, a merchant seeking fine pearls and finds one of great price, and a dragnet that was cast into the sea catching and gathering the good and bad fish.
We are told to seek the Kingdom of God first then everything will be provided to us by Father God, so we are told not to be anxious for anything. Then Jesus warns us that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand twice and we are to repent and turn towards God.
The Kingdom of God has to look like something. So what would that look like in your life and mine? Think about it. This is one reason we have the New Testament and why it records the lives, actions, and teachings of the New Testament church and the apostles. We get to look through their eyes and their experiences just how the Kingdom of God impacted them and how they fleshed it out in real-time.
For me I remember praying in a Sunday school class at age 5. We had just learned about king David in the Old Testament. I identified with him in many ways. I remember giving my heart to God in that classroom with “old lady Mrs. Ross.” She was really old, but she had the patients to teach the likes of me. I remember learning, witnessing, praying for others, healings, miracles, being licensed to preach at age 15. I remember being known to all my high school as preacher. I remember being a youth pastor by age 17 and going off to Bible college at age 18.
For me the word of God was something from age 14 on I devoted my life to study and know. Eventually I wanted to know God the Father Himself. I was desperate and determined to know His voice and desired above all else to hear Him for myself like the apostles and the great men of the Bible. Then, I wanted to know the real history of the scriptures. I wanted to know how the Bible was put together, who the writers were, and especially how we could possibly know today that it is true and real. I was surprised to learn just how accurate and real they are and how Supernatural too. It has been over 50 years of study and I can tell you now that I have only scratched the surface of how dynamic and supernatural the Holy Bible truly is.
16But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. 17For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
Matthew 13:44-52
THE SOWER EXPLAINED
18 “Listen then to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one sown with seed beside the road. The one sown with seed on the rocky places, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution occurs because of the word, immediately he falls away. And the one sown with seed among the thorns, this is the one who hears the word, and the anxiety of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But the one sown with seed on the good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces, some a hundred, some sixty, and some thirty times as much.”
WEEDS AMONG WHEAT
24 Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.25 while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. 26 And when the wheat sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also became evident. 27 And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’ 28 And he said to them, ‘An enemy has done this!’ The slaves *said to him, ‘Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he *said, ‘No; while you are gathering up the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 allow both to grow together until the harvest; and at the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the weeds and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”
THE MUSTARD SEED
31He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a person took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all the other seeds, but when it is fully grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THE SKY come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES.”
THE LEAVEN
33He spoke another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three sata of flour until it was all leavened.” 34 All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables, and He did not speak anything to them without a parable. 35 This was so that what was spoken through the prophet would be fulfilled:
“I WILL OPEN MY MOUTH IN PARABLES; I WILL PROCLAIM THINGS HIDDEN SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD.”
THE WEEDS EXPLAINED
36 Then He left the crowds and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” And he said, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man, and the field is the world; and as for the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom; and the weeds are the sons of the evil one; and the enemy who sowed them is the devil, and the harvest is the end of the age; and the reapers are angels.
So just as the weeds are gathered up and burned with fire, so shall it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH LIKE THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father. The one who has ears, let him hear.
HIDDEN TREASURE
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells everything that he has, and buys that field.
A COSTLY PEARL
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold everything that he had and bought it.
A DRAGNET
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away. So it will be at the end of the age: the angels will come forth and remove the wicked from among the righteous, and they will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all these things?” They *said to Him, “Yes.” 52And Jesus said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure new things and old.”
Seek the Kingdom of God – FIRST!
Matthew 6:31 ”So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Here we are told to seek the Kingdom first and not to worry about all the mess everyone else is so consumed with, work, food, clothing, provision, health, friends, acceptance, what others think. First we are to be concerned with what God is thinking.
repentance and Forgiveness
Matthew 3:2 “Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:7 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Paul Warns his Children I Corinth 4: Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?
The Purpose of Jesus’ Parables
“As soon as Jesus was alone with the Twelve and those around Him, they asked Him about the parable. He replied, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those on the outside everything is expressed in parables, so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven.’ ” Mark 4:10-12
Become like a child
Jesus Blesses the Children- Mark 10:14-16
…But when Jesus saw this, He was indignant and told them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” And He took the children in His arms, placed His hands on them, and blessed them.…
Jesus Testifies about John - Matthew 11: 12 ISV
“From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom from heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people have been attacking it”
Paul Preaches at Rome - Acts 28:30
Paul stayed there for two full years in his own rented house, welcoming all who came to visit him. 31 Boldly and freely, he proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Luke 22 NASB 1995 - “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.
The Character Kingdom of Heaven
The Law of Love - Romans 14:16-18
…”Do not allow what you consider good, then, to be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. For whoever serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.…Berean Study Bible
Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven
The Power of Love Through Forgiveness
Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”
Jesus calls You to Come to Him
The Power of Love Through Forgiveness
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” - Matthew 11:28
