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There must be continual Proclaiming the Kingdom of God

There seems to be a definite misunderstanding within the body of Christ as to the call of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and its message. We received our message from the author of the message and so I believe that as He was sent, so are we (John 17:18) and our message aught to be the same message. We either do not understand the message we are given to proclaim and demonstrate or we have not met Him.

I have not found in scripture the most common message proclaimed today. “Come to Jesus and everything will be OK! What I do find is that Jesus Himself said we will have many problems in this world, but fear not for He has overcome the world.

I believe this teaching will assist you to understand that there is more to the “call of the church” by its King, than the gospel of salvation alone. There is a call to proclaim, announce and demonstrate the role and dominion of our great King Jesus Christ in and through our lives by the power of the Holy Spirit (1Cor 2:4). It is in this manner the Father is Glorified as His Glory is revealed here on the earth.

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A.       PROCLAIMING THE KINGDOM AS THE BASIC THEME OF JESUS’ TEACHING

Jesus predicted that immediately before the end of this age the major theme of the Church would be the message of the Kingdom of God. “And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come.” (Mt. 24:14) In other words, a great surge of missionary activity that proclaims the Gospel of the Kingdom will happen these last days of time.

The proclamation will be world wide to all nations. It will not be simply preaching ABOUT the Kingdom. It is DECLARING “The Kingdom of God is here!” – “The rule of God is within reach.” Proclaiming the present reality of the Kingdom is a key step to bringing it about in the lives of hearers.  We must keep this message as central as the scripture keeps it.   Christ, together with His disciples, made mention of the Kingdom more than 125 times. Some references from Scripture stating this principle of the Kingdom, are the following:

John the Baptist proclaimed it                                           Mt. 3:1, 2

Jesus Proclaimed it                                                            Mk. 1:14; Luke 8:1; Luke 4:43

The twelve disciples preached the Kingdom                     Luke 9:1, 2

The “other seventy” preached the Kingdom                     Luke 10:9

Paul proclaimed the Kingdom                                         Acts 14:22; 19:8; 20:25; 28:26; 31

Phillip proclaimed it                                                     Acts 8:12

We too must proclaim the Kingdom                             Mt. 24:14

Although the subject of the Kingdom of God is the basic underlying theme of the Bible, there are many Christians who have little knowledge or understanding of this important theme.  We are now living in that period of time, of which Jesus predicted, “This Gospel, of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.” (Mt. 24:14). It is therefore essential that we have a clear concept of what is meant by The Kingdom of God.  Without this we can never understand the significance of  “proclaiming the Kingdom to all nations.”

B.        WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL ORIGIN OF THE KINGDOM?

1.         INTRODUCTION

The Biblical concept of ‘Kingdom’ is very different from the idea most people have in this modern age.  Our understanding of the word has come mainly from our observations of so-called kingdoms, in our modern context.  This view suggests that a Kingdom is a nation, or group of people, who have a King as their titular head.  Most examples of this in our world are of nations, which are actually democracies. They are really ruled by governments elected by the will of people. In such situations, the King or monarch, has become largely a figurehead. His actual authority has been greatly reduced until he is ruler in name only.

The Biblical view is an ancient one, in which the authority of the King is absolute.  His word is final. Life and death is in the hand of the King.  He rules and his word is law. His power and authority are awesome and final. God is represented as such an awesome King. A few Kingdom-related phrases from the Old Testament, show God to be a great King, a mighty Ruler, with great authority and dominion:

“The Lord is King, forever and ever.” (Ps. 10:16)

“Who is this King of Glory? The Lord, strong and mighty.”  (Ps.24: 8)

“You are my King and my God.”   (Ps.44: 4)

“For God is the King of all the earth.” (Ps. 47:7)

“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” (Ps.95: 3)

“Who should not revere you, O King of the nations?” (Jer. 10:7)

The question we now need to answer is – What then is the Kingdom of God ?

The Kingdom is a creation of God. It exists only because He exists.  It is the sphere in which He is active; it owes its origin to Him.  It is essential as we study the Kingdom to remember that behind this conception lays this thought of God’s creative and controlling activity.  In the Biblical view, the word Kingdom refers firstly to the absolute right to rule. God is continually represented as such a one. As we begin to examine this concept of the Kingdom, you will note that both Old and New Testament think of the Kingdom in connection with the activities of God, it’s King. The actual phrase “the Kingdom of God” is not found in the Old Testament; but the ideas, which it embodies, are there in abundance; and the teaching of the New Testament about it is based upon these earlier ideas, and cannot be properly understood apart from them.

Some of the characteristics of the great King and Ruler, God Almighty?

1. The Biblical meaning of Kingdom refers initially to this right of Ruler ship.

2. God is the mighty ruler of the universe.

3. He brought it into being by the power of His word.

4. He literally spoke the worlds into existence.

5. He ordained the paths of the sun, moon and stars.

6. He commanded them into their particular orbits.  He has the right to do this for He created them all.  He created them and commanded them.

7. This vast and complicated universe, in which our tiny planet earth has its existence, was originally conceived in the mind of God.

8. It came into being when He spoke and commanded it to be.

9. It continues to exist and to function perfectly, “by the Word of his power.” (Heb 1: 3)

The “Law of Cohesion” or holding together

“And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Col. 1:17)

The scientific “Law of Cohesion”, has its origin in this concept of “all things that are hold together”. Not only did God create all things, but also “all things” only continue to exist by the power of His word. His word holds all things together. The Bible says, “By HIM, all things consist.” The Rotherham’s translation says, “and they all, in Him, hold together.” (Col.1;16.)

The whole universe is under the rule of God, because He created it and continues to hold it together by the power of His Word.  God is the highest authority. He is the King, above all kings. He is the Lord, above all lords. He is the ultimate authority. There is none greater. The Kingdom of God is His rule, reign and Kingship.

The Kingdom of God in the Bible depicts a few significant characteristics:

• It usually refers to God’s sovereign right to reign, rather than the realm over which He exercises that rule.
• A Kingdom also includes the realm over which God reigns.
• It also includes a people under the rule of a King.
• In the widest terms then, the Kingdom of God, is the whole area over which God has rule and dominion.
• He rules the heavens. The sun, moon, stars, planets and all heavenly bodies, are subject to His rule. His throne is established in the heavens, from which seat of authority. He exercises absolute rule. Thus, “the highest heavens belong to the LORD.”  (Ps. 115: 16)

2.        MAN WAS CREATED TO RULE

We begin to understand the real reason for man’s existence, when we first understand that God rules the universe. God is a ruler. We read that he created man, “after His own image and likeness.” Therefore we understand that He created man as a ruler also.

The Hebrew word ‘Radah’ is translated ‘dominion’ in both these verses.  It means “to tread down, to rule over, to reign.” It usage in the Bible in this particular form, is very rare. One of the few other cases where it is employed is in Psalm 72:8,11 where it is used to speak prophetically of the Messiah and His reign. The psalmist says, “He shall have dominion (radah) from sea to sea, and from the river, unto the ends of the earth…Yea all kings shall fall down before Him all nations shall serve Him.”

It is significant that the same word that is used to describe the Messiah’s rule over the earth is also used to describe the authority originally bestowed on Adam.  Adam was created to rule over earth.  He was to accomplish this with God’s blessing, through the authority delegated to him by God (Gen. 1:26)

3.       MAN HAD GOD – GIVEN AUTHORITY

God is a great ruler.  He is the ultimate authority over the entire universe.   Thus, Adam, created in God’s image, and after His likeness, was also designed to be a ruler. Since Adam was made ‘in the image of God’ also, it follows that we can understand something of what Adam was like if we compare him with the ‘second Adam’ – Jesus Christ. (1 Co. 15:45) Christ is ‘the exact image’ of the Father. (Heb.1:3). Jesus told Philip, “Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. “(Jn. 14:7,9) Adam’s dominion was, over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, over the animals, and over all the earth, over every creeping thing that crept upon earth. God also gave him  “Every herb bearing seed, every tree, and the fruit they bore, every beast, every fowl, every green herb.” (Ge. 1:26-30)

In Psalm 8:5 we are told that Adam’s position of authority was so great, that he was next to God in order of authority.  David says of man, “You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings.” The translation ‘angels’ is an unfortunate one for the word so rendered is “Elohim” which is generally translated God. “The Lord, our God, (Elohim) is one Lord.” (Deut. 6:4) David is actually saying of man, God made him, a little lower than Him.  He was second authority to God.  He was higher, in rank, and authority, than angels.  “You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under His feet.” (Ps. 8:6) The ‘all things’ included this earth and everything upon it. His rank and authority made him second only to God.  He was delegated to rule over earth and everything upon it. It was only after the tragic fall in Eden, that Adam was demoted, and became “lower than angels.” (Heb. 2:7) This lower standing is only to be temporary.

In order to redeem mankind from this enforced humiliation, Christ himself became “lower than the angels, for the suffering of death.” (Heb. 2:9) Angels are immortal. Christ made himself lower than them, in order that He might die. Through his death He defeated Satan, delivered mankind from his tyranny, and restored him to the place, which once he held in the Father’s favour.

4.       ADAM FORFEITED (LOST) THE KINGDOM ON EARTH

We have seen that earth is part of God’s universal Kingdom.  We have also seen that God created Adam in order that he might rule over earth in God’s authority. Adam was appointed ruler of earth. As such, the earth, and everything upon it, was under his rule.

 

“And God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.  And God blessed them: and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the Gen 1:27,28   3:3

“but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.  And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. Gen 3:3-6

Now we begin to see the enormity of Adam’s transgression.  It was not merely that they ate a piece of forbidden fruit. Nor was it a simple matter of disobedience. It was sin of rebellion against God’s rule, disobedience of the clear command of God. This overthrow of God’s government on earth was an act of high treason against the King of the universe. Not only did Adam and Eve forfeit the glorious and peaceful life, which God had given them. They mortgaged the Kingdom to Satan. By allowing themselves to be seduced by him, they surrendered to his rule. They took themselves, and humanity, out from under the covering of God’s rule, and placed themselves under the rule of Satan.   He became “the god of this world.” (2 Co. 4:4), in other words, the ruler of mankind in the world.

Those things, which God had delivered to Adam to rule over, were now under the control of Satan. When Satan defeated Adam, he took himself the title “god of this world.” Jesus recognized the legal validity of what transpired.  When Satan tested Christ in the wilderness, he offered Him ‘all the kingdoms of this world and the glory of them’; Jesus did not refute his right to do this.  (Mt. 4:1-11) He did not say, “Those kingdoms are not yours to give.” The answer Christ gave shows his respect for   the legal right Satan had to offer those kingdoms since he was now god of this world. (2 Co. 4:4; John. 8:44. 12:31; 14:30; Eph. 2:1-3; 1 John. 5:19)

5.       CHRIST RECOVERED THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Through Adam’s transgression, all men were made sinners and subject to death. God’s great solution was to provide salvation and restoration for mankind without excusing Adam’s sin. Justice had passed sentence on Adam.  It was the death sentence and all mankind was under it.

God also knew that the Kingdom could not be regained in this manner.  He knew that Satan would have to be defeated. There was only one way this could be done and it involved the death of a righteous man.  There was only one such man, Christ, Son of God, and Son of man.

Why then Jesus Christ?

·        He was the only way to rectify this problem. A man would have to suffer the penalty of sin.  The only one who could qualify to do this was Christ. The substitute needs to be a man. “For since death came THROUGH A MAN, the resurrection of the dead comes also THROUGH MAN. And another scripture: For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Co. 15:21, 22)

·        This man needs to be sinless. Sinful man could never put away sin. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Co. 5:21)

·        The only solution was Jesus. The eternal Son of God became the sinless Son of man that the sinful sons of men might become the beloved sons of God.  No other being could have accomplished this.  No angel could have done it.  No man could have done it. Only the God-man, Christ Jesus could fit the role

6.       THE DEATH AND SUBSEQUENT RESURRECTION OF CHRIST RESTORED THE KINGDOM

 

The death of Christ has a unique place in the Christian faith. It distinguishes Christianity, from the many religions of this world. Christianity is the only faith which has the death and resurrection of its Founder at the heart of it’s believed.

The whole life of Christ was a continual victory His life was a victory over temptation and sin.  His healing miracles were victories over sickness and disease.  Every time He cast out demons, it was a victory for the Kingdom of God. But the greatest victory was through His death.

Jesus inflicted a tremendous defeat on Satan at Calvary.  He dealt him a mortal wound from which he would never recover. Another rendering of Col. 2:15 reads, “He disarmed the powers and authorities.” He defeated Satan at the cross, and regained what Adam has lost. Satan was the god of this world, until his defeat at Calvary.  In that great battle he lost his title. Jesus regained His legal right to headship of this part of God’s kingdom.  But He does not want to hold it for Himself.  He wants to bestow it again on mankind, as God originally purposed.  He is establishing the Kingdom and rule of God amongst men. The redeemed creation is in training for the time when, once more, they will rule earth in God’s Name.

This was gloriously accomplished when Christ rose from the dead and ascended to the Father. Paul prays, “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.” (Eph. 1:17-19) He speaks of the exaltation of Christ in the following terms: “when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church.” (Eph. 1:17-23)

This glorious truth is made even more wonderful for the believers in the light of what Holy Spirit reveals to us. “God, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:5, 6) Since Christ is seated, at the right hand of the Father, the place of authority and power, we are also seated there with Him, in Christ! Our Lord is no longer “lower than angels.” He took that place in order that He might die. Now God has raised Him from the dead, and He is no longer subject to death. “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I AM ALIVE FOR EVER AND EVER.” (Rev. 1:18) Because we are “in Christ” God has raised us up too. We are no longer “lower than the angels.” God has restored us, in Christ, to our former of authority. The last Adam (Christ) has restored what the first Adam lost.

We have seen the triumphant victory of Jesus on the cross.  We conclude by looking at His departure (from the physical into the spiritual life) through the cross- being the victory and Jesus being the way. “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John. 14:6) As with the thief on the cross: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke. 23:42-43) Jesus answers him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

NB: I trust that after having read and made a study of all TEN Kingdom Dynamics topics you will begin to walk in the true identity and calling you have been called to.

Pray continually, ask the Father for a fresh empowering of the Holy Spirit to infuse you with boldness to PROCLAIM and SHOW FORTH His true nature, as the disciples of the Lamb did in Acts 4:29

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