Podcast 6-8-18 Page 1
Is the Kingdom of God Real, or Only In Hearts of Men ?
WHAT DOES THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHIN YOU MEAN ?
Jesus was talking to the Pharisees. They wanted to know when the Kingdom of God should come. His answer has been misunderstood by some. No doubt when these leaders of Judah thought of the Kingdom of God, they meant a restoration of the Davidic Kingdom, independence and glory of the Jewish nation under their leadership. He answered them in the following manner:
Lu 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (KJV)
Some have misunderstood this scripture to mean that the Kingdom is just a feeling in our hearts or is something inside us. Furthermore, some believe one can receive this 'feeling inside our hearts 'from any number of religious avenues, not just thru Jesus Christ. They can sort of spiritualize the Kingdom to be just something in our hearts. But is this what Jesus meant?
Lu 17:21 nor will they say, 'Lo, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." (RSV)
Jesus is clearly not saying that the Kingdom of God is inside or within these treacherous self- righteous Pharisees. He is saying the Kingdom God is in their midst because He was among them. Christ is the head of the Kingdom of God. A CLEARER TRANSLATION MAKES IT OBVIOUS THAT HE IS NOT SAYING THE KINGDOM IS AN ETHEREAL FEELING IN ONES' HEART. What did Christ think of the hearts of the Pharisees or at least, much of their leadership?
Mt 23:15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you traverse sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves. 23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! 25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. (RSV)
These men had evil hearts full of extortion and excessive crimes against the worship of the true God. They oppressed the people with their administration of the laws and extra oral laws. The Kingdom of God was not in their hearts nor will be any time soon thereafter. When Christ talks of His burden being light, He is referencing the oppression the Jewish people were used to living under.
Mt 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (RSV)
An example of their excesses and oppressive administration of God's loving laws meant for our benefit are all the six hundred Sabbath rules they administered cruelly, to the population of Judea.
Mr 2:23 One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?"
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25 And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?" 27 And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; 28 so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath." (RSV)
Jesus had to explain to those oppressive leaders that the Sabbath should be a blessing for us not a set rules and hoops to jump thru. The Sabbath should be a happy feast day for the people: feasting on both spiritual and physical food. The giving of the law by God was a magnificent act of graciousness to mankind. The law properly applied shows us how to live well. It shows us how to love God and improve our relationship with the Almighty which is good for us. The law tells us how to love each other. However the manner in which the Pharisees and Sadducee s were applying the law was mean petty and oppressive. The Kingdom of God was definitely NOT in their hearts.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ABOUT REPLACING BAD LEADERSHIP WITH GODLY LEADERSHIP
When the Messiah returns He will give Israel and then all the world pure, kind, loving and just administrations. This will include both the political and ecclesiastic areas of our lives. God is sending His Son this time to correct all the problems of mean, oppressive, governments. He will start in Jerusalem with Judah.
Mal 3:2 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness. 4 "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD, As in the days of old, As in former years. (NKJV)
The new leadership on earth will be guided by the new sons of God. Paul said the planet was waiting for the sons of God to be birthed in glory and the second coming of Christ. The Kingdom of God must include a king, subjects, laws and policies and borders. The King is Christ and His disciples having lesser kingship on the entire planet using the righteous laws of the word of God the Bible.
Ro 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (NKJV)
Christ is coming to save the world from itself and the evil influence of Satan, God's adversary and mankind's' adversary. Christ message or gospel good news was about the coming government of God. An absolute ruler is a king. Jesus' message is about replacing misguided, and sometimes out right evil governments with perfect righteous government at His second coming. This King's ruler ship will be a benefit to all nations.
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JESUS CHRIST'S SPECIFIC PROMISES OF RULER SHIP FOR BELIEVERS
Christ told his disciples on his last night with them that he was going to prepare offices for them in the coming kingdom of God.
Rev 2:26 "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations-- (NKJV)
Mt 19:28 And Jesus said to them, Verily I say unto you, That *ye* who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit down upon His throne of glory, *ye* also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (DBY)
Christ told His disciples to look forward to his second coming. He told us to pray for this kingdom to come in all our prayers. Pray for God's ruler ship instead of man's based on his own misguided ways.
Mt 6:9 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. (NKJV)
The kingdom is about government by a ruler. The ruler will rule from Jerusalem. Jesus will make this Earth have the kind of peace and harmony that exist in heaven. His newly born sons as new spiritual beings will be part of that new righteous ruling government.
Rev 3:21 "To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."'" (NKJV)
Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." (NKJV)
The territory of this kingdom is the entire planet Earth. It is wonderful to know that in the end, goodness and Godliness will reign on this Earth. Jesus is returning and bringing his reward with him. Therefore we must all be faithful NOW so we can receive His blessing of being part of really good government.
Jo 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. (NKJV)
Christ is telling his disciples that he has many office suites available for all of them. These are positions of power in God's governmental headquarters. Those of us in the first resurrection will be mainstays in the government of this soon coming kingdom.
Rev 3:12 "He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. (NKJV)
God's kingdom is a real government. It is not a feeling in the heart. Our hearts will be changed so we can help administer a righteous government but it is a real kingdom. Absolute ruler ship by the king of kings is coming and it will be glorious and wonderful for all peoples. This is the true message preached by Christ.
