The Kingdom Of GodPart One – The Kingdom Comes

In The Beginning ... Dominion was with Man(Genesis 1:26 – 30)“let them rule over” “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”“Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”

The Enemy Takes Dominion at the fall of man(Genesis 3:22 & 23 )22 “And the LORD God said, The

man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever. 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken.”

The Kingdom Comes Through JesusMatthew 3:1 – 2 -> “In those days John the

Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is near.”

 Mark 1:14 – 15 -> “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The Kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.”

 When Jesus came to inaugurate His rule, he came as a suffering servant to die for mankind. Then in resurrection power, He proclaimed victory over sin and death.

Believers are delivered into the Kingdom of God Colossians 1:13 -> “For he

has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves,”

 Philippians 3:20 -> “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a saviour from there, The Lord Jesus Christ.” [We are citizens of God Kingdom].

Jesus will take his place as King when he returns.Revelation 22:12 ->

12”Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done”.

1000 year reign on the earth, a final show out with the devil and then a new earth and a new heaven and then the bible speaks of Ages to come.

From The Cross Until TodayBefore Jesus and the cross, the Kingdom of Darkness

reigned on the earth & it still reigns over unbelievers today.

 2 Corinthians 4:4 -> “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

 God’s Kingdom is progressing slowly on earth but its final triumph is assured.

 Matthew 11:12 -> “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing and forceful men lay hold of it.”

Where is the Kingdom of God today?The Kingdom of God is both present and

future. It is both now & more later.  Luke 17:20 – 21 -> “The Kingdom of God does

not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, “Here it is” or “there it is”, because the Kingdom of God is within you.”

 The kingdom of God is within each of us as believers of Christ. Jesus reigns in our heart, not the nations, well not yet anyway.

Current Blessings of the Kingdom of GodEternal Life (Mat 25:46, Joh 1:16)Healing (Mat 4:23 – 25, Mat 9:35, Luk 10:8 & 9)Forgiveness (Eph 4:32, 1 Joh 1:9)Restoration (Rom 8:15, Gal 4:5)Deliverance (Mat 12:25 – 29)Joy (Rom 14:7)Purpose to life (1 Pet 2:9)Resurrection (Mat 27:51 – 53)Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Mat 12:28, Rom 8:4–7&

14:17)All of this is the Good News!

So How Do Kingdoms Work?In order to understanding Kingdoms a little,

we need to understand about laws and authorities.

Breaking the law?

More Evidence?

KingdomsYou have to obey the rules of the country you are

in. They are the authority and you have to obey.We now have democratically elected governments,

but before that time, the King and Queen were the recognized authority and power of the day.

Those of you who are scholars of history will be aware of the great and terrible things that Kings and Queens got up to through previous centuries.

This meant they set the customs, rules and laws of the day and you obeyed or else!

EnvoysA King or Queen could also appoint an envoy

or diplomat or ambassador to visit another kingdom or nation on their behalf.

Some even carried special powers called “plenipotentiary powers” which meant they carried full authority to act for that state or kingdom.

Although a visiting ambassador would respect the customs and laws of the kingdom they were visiting, there were not bound to those customs or laws.

Our church building“Right here, right nowRight here, in this buildingHave your way

This is your church, no other’s.

This is your house, no other’s

This is your bodyYour ChosenCome and have Your way”

Jesus commands us to establish His Kingdom on the earthMark 16:15 - 18 -> The Great Commission  Jesus could have done it himself, but he

decides to have us carry this out under his authority.

 Acts 1:6 – 9 -> “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

 So Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to empower us to carry out His work.

Advancing the Kingdom TodayKingdom age is characterized by

Holy Spirit Power.  1 Corinthians 4:20 -> “For the

Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power.”

The power of the Holy Spirit demonstrates the difference between God’s kingdom and the kingdom of darkness.

God wants to manifest His Kingdom here on earth through us.

So What Do We Do?Gods Kingdom is present when: 1. Jesus is recognized as King.2. The will of God is obeyed.3. God’s people reap the rewards of His rule in their

lives. So with the reality of the Kingdom of God within each

of us, we are called to: 4. Carry the presence of God within us.5. Proclaim Jesus and his coming Kingdom 6. Hear & Obey.7. Be displayers of God’s power.