KINGDOM OF GOD

We hear phrases all the time but never stop to consider their meaning. One that comes to mind is the phrase "Kingdom of God." I imagine we have all heard this phrase from time to time without ever really knowing exactly what it means. Some things are too important to overlook or take for granted. One thing I have learned over time is that there is nothing insignificant in the Word of God. The words "Kingdom of God" or as it is sometimes referred "Kingdom of Heaven" is mentioned 96 times in the Bible. Would you not agree that it is worth investigating to determine is relevance to our lives?

Lets break it down into understandable terms. The word Kingdom has basically 3 different meanings; 1) it is the realm in which a "King" reigns; 2) it includes "rulees" the people over whom the "King" reigns and 3) the actual rule, authority and power of the "King."

To break it down further, if there is a ruler, there also have to be rulees or subjects. A kingdom has to include a realm or territory of which it covers. Finally, if you have a ruler, rulees and a realm, you must also have rules, regulations and government to regulate the relationship between the ruler and the rulees and the rulees to each other.

The Kingdom of God is no different in its description and pattern than earthly kingdoms. God is the absolute Ruler and King. He has total and absolute authority regarding His plans and purposes which cannot be altered in any way, by any one, at any time.

God is the sovereign ruler. The word sovereign refers to the supreme authority of God based on the fact that He is God, Creator and Ruler of the universe. His power is not subject to any other power, rule or law.

We don't like to think about God as sovereign, absolute and changeless, because we rather have a God who blesses our plans and agendas and one who rules by our permission according to our desires. How often do we plan something without ever consulting God. And then when things go wrong, we ask for God's blessings to work things out. What we need to understand is that God blesses His plans not ours. It would serve us to find out what God's plan is and make sure that we are involved in His plan and not ours.

With the help of the Lord, the George Angels Newsletter will do a 3 part series entitled, the Kingdom of God, How to know God's plan for your life and How to walk in God's plan for your life. This issue will attempt to give a clear understanding of the Kingdom of God, the One who rules the Kingdom and how it operates.

His Sovereignty

I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God.

I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me,

So that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me.

I am the LORD, and there is no other.

And, Isaiah 45:9-13

"Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker, to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground.

Does the clay say to the potter, `What are you making?' Does your work say,

`He has no hands'? Woe to him who says to his father, `What have you begotten?'

or to his mother, `What have you brought to birth?'

"This is what the LORD says-- the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker:

Concerning things to come, do you question me about my children,

or give me orders about the work of my hands?

It is I who made the earth and created mankind upon it. My own hands stretched out the heavens; I marshaled their starry hosts (stars and moon.

The truth taught in this Scripture is that there is no God besides Jehovah and nothing would exist without Him. God says that "all" things in the world exist His permission and serves His purpose at all times. This should give us comfort in placing our faith in Romans 8:28. The key is placing our faith in the One who is truly in control of all things.

His Plan/Purpose

God says "this world is My house, operating by My rules" so as Tony Evans puts it, unless you and I want to create our own world, we must abide by the rules of God's "house." We don't want to be as rebellious teenagers, ignoring the rules of the house while expecting food, clothing and shelter. I can still hear my mother's words, "if you live in my house you will abide by my rules." God rules the same way. We cannot break His laws, do our own thing and expect His blessings at the same time. Again in the 46th chapter, God speaks through the prophet Isaiah and says,

"Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels.

Remember the former things, those of long ago;

I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is none like me.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.

I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.

What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do.

Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness

I am bringing my righteousness near, it is not far away; and my salvation will not be delayed.

This scripture teaches two important truths. God first explains the fulfilment of His prophecy where He made known the end from the beginning, ancient times from what is still to come. This gives us the assurance that God's will will be accomplished no matter what. That reminds me of the saying "If God said, I believe it and that settles it."

Another truth this Scripture brings to light is that God is able to use all things to bring about His purpose even those who will not do the will of God. He says listen you "stubbord-hearted" what I have said that will I bring about, what I have planned that will I do. He goes even further to say His plans will not even be delayed.

What response can we have to such a declaration, the only response is that of Christ's and say, "not my will but thy will be done."

The Bible teaches there is no question as to the sovereignty of God, but the issue is how we relate to His sovereignty. Submission is the only response to the Kingdom of God as we were brought into His Kingdom to love Him, serve Him, obey Him and walk in His ways (Deuteronomy 8). This is His plan for your life.

His Rulees

To take it even further, has there ever been a day the sun refuse to shine or the moon refuse to come out?

If then everything that God created (trees, birds, sun and moon) obey and serve Him, why not us? Why is it we feel we can flatly refuse to do the will of the Father? Psalms 74:16 says it better than I can,

The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon.

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;

you made both summer and winter.

His Government

God has set up the priority of love in our lives. The No. 1 priority is to love God, No. 2 is to love ourselves and No. 3 to love others. All rulees of God's Kingdom must be committed to God's way of doing things, forsaking our own wisdom and that of the world. Just like David, we should utter the 119th Psalm:

Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.

Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.

They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.

You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.

Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!

Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.

I will praise you with an upright heart

as I learn your righteous laws.

I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.

We have already established that God created the universe for His pleasure and His Glory; "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being". Revelation 4:11. We were created to reflect His glory.

We are blessed when we walk according to His ways and seek Him with all our heart. We are blessed when we realize that His laws are to be fully obeyed and we are to be steadfast in striving to live as Christians. God is not please when we pick and choose which of His laws we will keep. I once heard a minister refer to this as treating God's laws as if we were in a cafeteria line trying some of this and leaving some of that.

The second law in God's kingdom has to do with how we treat each other. Love your neighbor as yourself.

I have to admit that I struggle with this one. It has always seemed to me that too much love of ourselves is a form of conceit. But the key here is that we are loving others just as we love ourselves. So there is no room for conceit because we would consider others just as worthy of love and respect as we are.

The wisdom of Solomon gives us a better picture of how we are to love one another in Ecclessiastes 4:9-12; Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! ... Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

All of our relatonships should be like a cord of 3 strands so as not to be quickly broken. This can be done as long as the cord that is at the center of our relationships is Jesus Christ.

How can we be sure that Christ is at the center of all of our relationships? First of all you must be in a relationship with Him yourself. Then His Word goes on to explain how to walk in love with your sisters and brothers. One sample lesson can be found in the book of Ephesians beginning with the 4^th chapter and the 17^th verse:

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.

As you will notice, the word tells us to no longer live as we once did in our feeble thinking with dark minds that were separated from God. We had hard hearts that sought to do every kind of impure and lustful thing with no consciousness of the Lord. The Bible said it not me.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The Bible says that we were taught the truth that is in Christ Jesus to put off the old self and attitudes and to put on the new self. When you hear words like "put off" and "put on" these are demand words not suggestions. It also means that we have the responsibility ourselves to do as commanded.

Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin" : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. H who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.

The above is quite self explanatory. The bottom line is let no one deceive you, all who are disobedient will suffer the wrath of God. The key is to find out what pleases the Lord and do it.

Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

The Word says to live wise lives, making every opportunity to understand what the Lord's will is. And the Lord's will is spelled out for us in the same verse. It is His will that we be FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT. How will we know if we are filled with the Spirit? Again the Word goes on the explain that as well. For if we are filled with His Spirit our lives should reflect the following:

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

David Jeremiah in his book "God in You" says this Scripture teaches the result of being filled with the Spirit will be seen in normal and natural relationships of life. In other words our relationships should be different and when we come together our conversations will include worship and joy in lifting up Jesus. When one is down or discouraged, the other will bring the Word of God to his/her rememberance in order to strengthen him/her.

Last week we had a scare with the sudden illness of my mother-in-law. But, once she was feeling better, the first thing she did was praise God for her health and the love of her family who was there for her. We both were strengthen in our faith in Jesus Christ as a healer and the One who sticks closer than a brother.

Did you notice something else in Ephesians, it also says giving thanks to God the Father for everything. Another mark of a Spirit-filled Christian is one who is grateful and thankful to God for all His blessings. We need to be careful when we start to grumble and complain. Every opportunity should be taken to give God the praise and glory for nothing else but for your life, health and strength. Ask my mother-in-law, she will tell you that your health is not to be taken for granted.

The last verse says to submit ourselves to one another out of reverence [respect] for Christ. According to the Bible a Spirit-filled person is not someone who is always looking to be first or get to the top in front of everyone else. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke 14:11.

This is what God says to the prideful and the high-and-mighty: The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself,

`Who can bring me down to the ground?'

Though you soar like the eagle

and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD. Obadiah 3-4.

Be a Kingdom Person

Monthly Prayer Persons

Jesse Harris, Jr.

Kelly LaMarr & Family

Requests: (Colossians 1:9-14)

---May be filled with the knowledge of God's Will. We ask God to make clear His will each prayer person.

---May walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. We ask God to give weight to the lives of each prayer person, that they will walk in the ways of the Lord and do what is pleasing in His sight.

---May bear fruit in every good work. We ask that God grant each prayer person grace and strength to live a Christ-centered life that will show up in their conversations, conduct and character.

---May increase in the knowledge of God. We pray that each prayer person will grow ever so close to our heavenly Father. If one is not saved, we pray now for their salvation, that they would come to know the Lord in the pardon of their sin.

---May be strengthened and sustained with the power of God. This evil world and the trying circumstances our loved ones find themselves, we pray for God's help to bear them up under the stress and pain of life and give them peace of mind that can only come from Christ.

All these prayer requests we faithfully place before the throne of God, believing that He has heard our prayer and will answer our prayer. In the name of Jesus we have prayed and for His sake we continue in prayer for each prayer person. For the prayers of the righteous availeth much.

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