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Establishing the Kingdom

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His Kingdom, establish and uphold it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (Is. 90: 7)
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A. INTRODUCTION

God has much more in mind than providing forgiveness, pardon, cleansing and a “home” in heaven. God’s purpose is to restore His reign over the earth. He had originally intended that Adam, and his descendants, would rule the earth with Him. Adam was ordained to be ruler of this earth. He forfeited his role through transgression. God never abandoned this purpose. He has retained it and it will one day be put into effect.

1. Christ has now redeemed mankind from every effect of this curse of Adam’s transgression. He has restored man to his former standing with God. The born again child of God is now seated in heavenly places in Christ. (Eph. 2:6) He is exalted to a place of great authority, far above angels and devils.
2. At this moment, we do not ‘see’ this rule in effect. “But now we see not yet all things put under Him.” (Heb. 2:8) For the present it is a spiritual rule, not visible to the natural man. It is a rule exercised in the ‘heavenlies’. The born again child of God ‘rules’ in the earth, through his spiritual authority over Satan. He rules through Prayer. He rules by coming against Satan, in the authority of the Name of Jesus. He rules by enforcing and maintaining the victory of Calvary.
3. Christ has paralysed Satan. (Heb. 2:14) The word destroys, as used here, does not mean to obliterate, but rather to paralyse or render helpless and ineffective. Satan has no legal authority left. Jesus took that from him. All he has are tricks and devices.
4. God says we need not be ignorant of satan’s devices. (2 Cor. 2:11) There is no need for us to be deceived by them. Deception is the only weapon Satan has left. Lies, deceits and tricks are all he has to fight with. Unfortunately many Christians are taken in by his lies. They believe he is very powerful and he is able to exercise power against them only because they have ascribed this authority to him.
5. God has delivered you from the Kingdom of Satan. You have been freed from his authority and power. The Father has transferred you into the Kingdom of His dear Son. (Col. 1:13) God wants you to come out from the house of Satan’s bondage and begin to live in the perfect liberty wherewith Christ has made you free. He also wants you to begin to use your God given authority over Satan. He has raised you up to rule. He has ordained that you should one day rule this world with Christ. He wants you to begin taking your place of authority right now.

B. KINGDOM AUTORITY ESTABLISHED BY CHRIST

Jesus commenced his public ministry with the announcement, “The kingdom of God is near.” (Mk. 1:14) When Christ began His ministry it was apparent immediately that the great theme of it was to be the Kingdom of God. Mark says, “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying…Repent and believe the good news.” (Mk. 1:15)

1. UNCOMPLETE MESSAGE: Notice He preached the Kingdom and “the things concerning the Kingdom.” The Christians message is often loosely referred to today as “The Gospel”. Some have even affirmed that they preach “The Full Gospel”, eluding to their emphasis on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, speaking with tongues, the ministry of healing, or some other particular emphasis. Often there is no mention, in this Full Gospel emphasis, of the Kingdom of God. “The Good News of this Kingdom of God.” Certainly no message is complete without adequate emphasis on the Kingdom, and the things pertaining to it.

2. GOD HAS SOLE RIGHT TO RULE : The Gospel of the Kingdom emphasises, firstly, God’s sovereign right to rule. It exalts and magnifies the position of God and recognises Him as the great King over all the earth. The root meaning of the Hebrew word “Malkuth”, and the Greek word “Basileia”, both of which are translated Kingdom, is the “reign of One whose sovereign right it is to rule.” Therefore if we proclaim the Kingdom of God, our first announcement concerns the sole right of God to rule the earth, the nations, and every individual on the earth. We proclaim God’s right to rule.

3. YOU VERSUS THE KING : We proclaim the closeness of the Kingdom. Jesus announced, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.” The rule of God has come to earth and its challenge confronts you right now. You are face to face with God’s rule, therefore repent, change your mind and your ways, and receive the Kingdom. Make way for the Kingdom in your hearts, thoughts and affections. No man can serve two masters. If you rule your own life, then the King is not ruling and the Kingdom is not within you.

4. ENTERING GOD’S KINGDOM: This announcement includes the necessity to ‘enter’ the Kingdom. The right of entry is restricted to those who are ‘born again’. Until this miracle of the new birth takes place, one cannot even ‘see’ the Kingdom. (Jn. 3:3) We enter the Kingdom by surrendering to the government and rule of God. Jesus said we must “receive the kingdom of God”, as little children. (Mk. 10:15) He meant we must accept God’s rule and His way in our life. Submission to God’s rule here and now, prepares the way for our participation in His kingdom when it becomes visible in power in the near future.

5. TWOFOLD GOSPEL: The Lord came to this world to set up God’s Kingdom. His gospel is twofold: (a) It calls men to receive eternal live through faith; and (b) It commands men to enter God’s Kingdom through repentance. God’s eyes are on the Kingdom.

C. THE TWO FOLD ASPECT OF THE KINGDOM

There are two aspects in which God’s Kingdom affects us:

1. The Eternal Aspect
God’s Kingdom has always existed. Before the creation of the universe, there was God. He existed before all things. (Gen. 1:1; Jn. 1:1; Col 1:17a) “Without Him nothing was made, that has been made.” (Jn. 1:3) As the author and creator of all things, He has dominion and rule over them. Therefore His rule is from eternity, and is over all things. Adam mortgaged the earthly aspect of God’s rule to Satan. But God immediately launched His plan to recover that rule through Christ. (Ge.3: 15)

2. The Present Reality
Restoring God’s Kingdom among men was Christ’s primary task. (Mt. 3: 2, 4:17; Mk. 1:15) We understand that the Kingdom is that area over which a King rules. To understand the present reality of God’s Kingdom, let us consider a few of it characteristics.

a) The Present Reality Is Not A Visible Kingdom
“The Kingdom of God does not come visibly because the Kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk. 17:20,21)
“The kingdom of God come not with observation; or so as to be observed by the eye, or to be distinguished when it comes as the kingdoms of this world, by outward pomp and splendour, by temporal riches, external honours, and worldly power and grandeur; though it so far came with observation, that had they had eyes to see, they might have observed that it was come, by what they saw done by Christ, particularly the power that he showed in the dispossessing devils out of the bodies of men; see
“But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Mat 12:28

b) The Present Reality Is Not A Religion
“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”(Ro.14: 17)
This teaches that the Kingdom does not consist of religious rules and sermons but conditions of heart.

c) The Present Reality Is Not A Theory (Philosophy)
“For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” (1 Co. 4:20 )
The Kingdom is not a collection of philosophic ideas and principles. It is the product of the Holy Spirit. Therefore it is powerful and mighty.

d) The Present Reality Cannot Be Produced By Man
“I tell you the truth unless a man is born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God…unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God…the Spirit gives birth to spirit.” (John. 3:3,5,6)
Becoming a part of the present reality depends upon being ‘re born’ by an act of the Holy Spirit. This new birth enters one into the Kingdom of God.

D. ESTABLISHING KINDOM AUTHORITY THROUGH OBEDIENCE

No Kingdom can exist without subjection to authority.

“Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered.” (Heb. 5:8)
“The Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:32)
“But they have not all obeyed the glad tidings.” (Ro. 10:16)

God secured the principle of obedience through the life of our Lord and also established His authority through the Lord. Today God establishes His Kingdom on the basis of that authority. One can note the following:

° He learned obedience through what He suffered. He is the source of eternal salvation to all that obey Him.
° He truly became man weak and acquainted with suffering which ripened into the fruit of obedience.
° During His suffering He learned to be obedient unto death even death on a cross.
° His obedience was for the sake of God’s Kingdom. This was the aim of redemption.

In contrast, many Christians fail to learn obedience even after many years. Although their suffering increases, their obedience does not. They murmur with anguish. This indicates that they have not yet learned obedience.

The Lord Jesus obeyed implicitly. In Matthew 22:2 He affirmed “Render…to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. ”Although Caesar was a rebellious person, God nonetheless set him up. Consequently he must be obeyed. After we have fully obeyed, our Lord will deal with those who disobey. Through our obedience, the Kingdom shall be extended to the whole earth. Many today are sensitive to sin yet not to rebellion. Men ought to have a sense for authority as well as a sense of sin. One cannot live as a Christian without having a sense of sin. Without a sense of authority one is disqualified as one who obeys.

E. AUTHORITY INITIATED BY GOD

It was God’s intention that the beings He created should accept His authority, yet both men and angels rejected it.
God may withdraw His presence, but He will never give up the authority He initiated. Where His authority is, there is His rightful place.

° God will affirm His authority. Men may rebel against Him whilst Satan continually violates God’s authority, but God will not permit rebellion to continue forever.
° God will set up His Kingdom. The Bible calls God’s Kingdom the Kingdom of the heavens. Why? Because rebellion has not only been on earth, but reached to the heavens where the angels rebelled.
° The Lord will establish God’s Kingdom through obedience. Never once was Jesus disobedient to God or did He ever resist God’s authority. He obeyed perfectly and God’s authority ruled absolutely in His life on earth. He established God’s Kingdom within the realm of his own obedience.
° Today the Church must obey so that through it, the authority of God may prosper and the Kingdom of God is manifested.

F. AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

After the fall of Adam, God chose Noah. But he and his family, after the flood, became disobedient. God then chose Abraham to set up His Kingdom.
He became the father of nations. Isaac and Jacob succeeded him and their descendants multiplied.

° Because there were disobedient ones amongst them, God led them through the wilderness to teach them obedience; they persisted in their rebellion against God and a whole generation perished.
° The generation that eventually entered the Promised Land, still did not hearken to God’s Word with a perfect heart.
° The result they were unable to drive the Canaanites out of the land completely.
° They chose their first King, Saul, but due to his rebellion the Kingdom could not be established.
° The next King, David, was a man after God’s own heart and he fully obeyed the authority of God. But rebellion still remained within the nation. They were weak in obedience.
° God had appointed Jerusalem to be the place where His name would be set. They continued to sacrifice at the great high place in Gibeon. They had a king, but lacked the spiritual substance of a Kingdom.

G. KINGDOM AUTHORITY ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE CHURCH

In the Church, God calls us to maintain His authority through obedience. He counsels us in the Church to obey the authorities He has established – as well as to obey His direct authority. Which means that whenever one encounters God’s authority, either directly or indirectly, one must be obedient.
If the Church refuses to accept God’s authority, God has no way to establish His Kingdom. One day a proclamation will go out,

“The Kingdom of the world is become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.” (Rev. 11:15)

The Church occupies the place between the Kingdom, found in the person of the Lord Jesus and the further extension of that Kingdom, which will be found when the world becomes the Kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ. The Kingdom must be found in the Lord Jesus before it can be established in the church. There can be no church without the Lord Jesus and there can be no further extension of God’s Kingdom without the Church.

There is no authority within the church, which does not require obedience. God intends to have His authority fully manifested in the church and to have His Kingdom extended through the church. Should the church fail to let God’s authority prevail within it, God’s Kingdom will be thwarted from covering the whole earth. The church is the way to the Kingdom, but can also be the frustration to the Kingdom.

How can God’s Kingdom prevail if there are disputes and disagreements in the Church?
• All rebellion must be eradicated so that God’s way is not blocked. When the will and command of God are obeyed and carried out in the Church, His Kingdom shall surely come. No member of the body can afford to be independent. To accept the workings of other members is to accept the riches of the Head.

° Today we have the problem of the hand insisting on seeing even after the eye has already seen. Everyone desires to have everything in himself, refusing to accept the input and abilities of other members. This creates poverty in him as well as in the church. Authority is but another expression of the riches of Christ.
° Submission to the authority of other members is to possess their riches. Insubordination brings in poverty.
° Oftentimes authority is misunderstood and looked upon as something that oppresses, hurts and troubles us. But God uses authority to replenish our lack. His motive is to bestow His riches and to supply the need of the weak.
° God first works thoroughly in the life of another so that He may give that person to you as an authority above you, for you to learn obedience and to possess what you have never possessed before. This man’s wealth becomes your wealth.
° God has deposited much grace in the church and dispenses to each member some particular grace; just as each star has its own particular glory. Sometimes God puts a more spiritually advanced person above you to save you going through painful experiences. Authority brings in the riches of the church. The wealth of each member is the wealth of all. To rebel is to choose the way of poverty. To resist authority is to reject the means to grace and richness.

H. KINGDOM AUTHORITY AS DELEGATED AUTHORITY

When the Jewish council forbade the Apostles to preach the gospel, they kept a submissive spirit throughout the trial. They were quiet and softly dissenting. One who knows authority will be soft and tender. When delegated authority (those who represent God’s authority) and direct authority (God Himself) are in conflict, one can render submission, but not obedience to the delegated authority.

° Obedience is related to conduct. Submission is related to heart attitude.
° God alone receives unqualified obedience. Any other person, lower than God can only receive qualified obedience.
° If orders are given which clearly contradict God’s command, we should submit to the authority, but disobey any order that offends God.

Some illustrations can be taken from the Bible :

° The midwives and Moses’ mother disobeyed Pharaoh.
° The 3 friends of Daniel disobeyed King Nebuchadnezzar’s order yet submitted to the King’s fire.
° Daniel disregarded the King’s decree, but submitted to the King’s judgement by being thrown to the lions.
° Joseph fled to Egypt with the Lord Jesus to avoid King Herod.
° Peter preached the gospel against the commands of the ruling council, yet submitted to being taken to prison.

When we proclaim the Kingdom of God, our announcement concerns the sole right of God to rule the earth, the nations, and every individual on the earth. We proclaim God’s right to rule.

WE PROCLAIM THE CLOSENESS OF THE KINGDOM. JESUS ANNOUNCED, “THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND.” THE RULE OF GOD HAS COME TO EARTH AND ITS CHALLENGE CONFRONTS YOU RIGHT NOW. YOU ARE FACE TO FACE WITH GOD’S RULE.
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