The Kingdom of God

“Let’s do this for the kingdom!”

You may have heard many preachers or well-meaning Christians say this with gusto, encouraging people to be more involved in one Christian religious activity or another.

If the number of activities one is involved in decides how kingdom-minded he or she is, how do you explain that person who is very active in Church but no one is really sure of their Christianity?

This should immediately tell you that there is more to the kingdom than what is commonly believed. In this SOP, you learn what ‘the kingdom of God’ is, and how to partake in it properly.

The Kingdom of God versus The Kingdom of Heaven #

Before we go ahead, it is important to pause and define terms.

There is no difference between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. It depends on what term you prefer to use. I have heard people try to give a difference and it ends up being confusing or they end up saying the same thing.

But if you look at the scriptures, you will see that in the different Gospels, the Apostles wrote on the same events but one would use kingdom of God and the other Kingdom of heaven. Matthew used ‘heaven’ while Mark and Luke used ‘God’.

From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. (Mat 4:17)

And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel. (Mar 1:15)

So, do not be stuck up trying to differentiate the terms. They can be used interchangeably.

What The ‘Kingdom of God’ Means #

So, what exactly is this kingdom?

Simply put, the kingdom of God is the rule of God on the earth.

When Jesus and John kept saying, “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand”, what they meant was that heaven was about to be manifested on earth. They were saying that the rule, exertion of authority of God was about to expressed on this earth and if the people did not repent (metanaeo – change how they think[1]), they would not qualify to be in it.

To truly understand the Kingdom of God, you must understand its phases of manifestation.

Different Manifestation of The Kingdom #

The first phase has already begun and the second manifestation is yet to come. This is what Christians look forward to as the coming kingdom.

Rom 14:17 tells us about the first phase. It says:

For the kingdom of God is not food and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Paul was saying here that partaking of the Kingdom is not tied to what you eat or don’t eat (read the whole chapter to get context), but in doing righteousness, being at peace with God and men and walking in joy, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Neh 8:10). Note, that it is the joy of the Lord, that is, the things that brings the Lord joy and not your circumstances – good or bad.

Jesus in Luke 17:21 said about the coming kingdom: the kingdom is within you. At this time, Jesus was in their midst. In Him dwells the Godhead in bodily form (Col 2:9). Seeing Him is seeing the kingdom and being a part of Him is participating in the Kingdom. You can have righteousness, peace and joy in you; that is having the kingdom within you. And then the revealing of the Son of God is another phase that will take place (Luke 17:30). This is the physical manifestation of the Kingdom.

This second phase is yet to come.

It is a period Jesus will manifest as the King of the earth fully and rule on the earth. A kingdom is the domain of a king. So, if Jesus is coming back as king, it is to establish His domain on the earth When that happens, the world will be filled with righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Rev 11:15 says: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our God and of His Christ; He shall reign forever.

This is why Jesus prayed in Matt 6:10: Your kingdom come. Your will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. He was praying that God’s kingdom will be replicated on earth. This prayer marries the two phases of the manifestation of God’s kingdom.

As you do righteousness, walk in peace and joy, you are bringing God’s kingdom to the earth. And you do not just experience it alone, but you share it with others by helping them also experience these things through evangelism, follow-up, love etc. You are also bringing God’s kingdom to their lives, the space you occupy and beyond. Then a time comes, when the full manifestation of God’s kingdom comes to the earth.

Note that God’s kingdom is coming to the earth and His will shall be done here. In God’s kingdom, there are no sick, lame, dead, broken people and there is no lack. It is why Jesus healed the sick, cleansed in lepers, multiplied food, raised the dead and so on. This earth will be a replica of heaven. As it is in heaven, so shall it be done on earth.

Presently, God gives us a choice to join His kingdom now so we will qualify for the second phase when He comes. As we partner with Him now to bring His kingdom on the earth, so shall we also work with Him when He comes to take over.

Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what shall we have therefore? And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit on the throne of his glory, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone that has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Mat 19:27-29). (Note that Jesus showed us that eternal life is the same as inheriting the kingdom in Mark 10:17,23)

So, in this day and time, you can experience the kingdom of God through righteousness, peace and joy in your life. Even if you’re in prison (for God), righteousness, peace and joy is yours. And then a day will come when it will manifest everywhere.

What Should You Do To Qualify For The Kingdom of God? #

but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (Luk 20:35-36)

Attaining the kingdom of God is serious business. There is such a thing as ‘being found worthy (Luke 20:35) or being fit for the kingdom (Luke 9:62)’ and I will show you. First, understand that salvation is not a once and for all event but a process: Spirit, Soul, Body; or Justification, Sanctification and Glorification.

You have to have qualified, been found worthy, to partake in that kingdom. You have to have been a disciple not just a believer. Jesus said it plainly, “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62).

This does not mean you are not fit to go to Heaven. No! It means you are not fit for the king’s reign, the domain of the king that is coming; you are not fit to be among those that will reign on the Earth for a thousand years (Rev 5:10). You may be worthy of other things but you will not be worthy of that. It’s so important that we comprehend this.

So, what do you need to attain this kingdom?

1. Holiness #

We cannot speak of holiness if you are not even born again in the first place. John 3:3 says except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Mat 6:33)

In addition to seeking God, you should seek his righteousness; that is, doing what God deems as right and not ideas you come up with. God’s righteousness is no secret. It is revealed in His word. Read and obey it. The more you do that, the more set apart and righteous you become.

Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. (1Jn 3:7)

2. Seek first the Kingdom #

To qualify for the kingdom, you must seek first the kingdom and its righteousness (Matt 6:33). This means that you must focus your attention, energy, resource – mental, physical and otherwise – on the kingdom. You don’t ever sacrifice God’s wishes for the wishes of man; this is how you seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness.

Suffer tribulation

Strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. (Act 14:22)

For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake (Phil 1:29)

“Blessed are you when you are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:11).

The Lord Jesus is telling us how to qualify for that kingdom. He is saying that amongst the things you’ll know that you are qualifying for it, is that you are happy when you are persecuted for righteousness; not for sin, not for wrongdoing or foolishness, but because you did what was right and got persecuted.

You must endure to the end to be saved – in your body (Matt 10:22). Jesus gave us heads up to make our journey easier. We must not waste it.

Embrace Being ‘Poor’

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be you poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. (Luk 6:20).

Many people like to use the Matthew rendition that says, ‘blessed are the poor in spirit…” however, you must know that in the original language the scriptures are written in, there are no punctuations. So, what if that passages actually reads: blessed are the poor, in spirit, theirs is the kingdom. Why is this so? Because other passages directly say the poor will inherit the kingdom.

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he has promised to them that love him? (Jam 2:5)

Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Rich people are usually poor in faith because they have the physical means to solve matters but when the rubber meets the road, their lack of faith always comes out because it is not every problem that money can solve.

Jesus actually told his disciples that it is impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:25). Why? Because the rich typically trust in their riches. This is why Paul gave this instruction in 1 Tim 6:17: Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Then he says in verse 18: Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. If you are rich, don’t be conceited or proud but do good deeds. That would be you intentionally rendering yourself poor for the sake of the kingdom.

5. Be Childlike #

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Mat 19:14)

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mat 18:3)

Why the insistence on being like a little child? Because children are dependent and teachable.

1 Pet 5:6 says: Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.

Be A Soldier/Disciple

Soldiers risk their lives and fight for their country. They forsake family and comfort to serve their country and save the lives of its citizens. Disciples are soldiers in God’s kingdom. They are those who hate father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters and even their own lives to follow Jesus (Luke 14:26). It does not mean you ‘hate them’ but their opinions do not matter in the light of what God says. This will make them think you hate them, because you choose God’s desires above theirs.

The vast majority of disciples may not die physically but you will pour out your life as an offering by dying daily (Phil 2:17, 1 Cor 15:31).

It is to His disciples Jesus told:

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. (Mat 19:28-29)

He makes us the same promise today as He did to the twelve apostles. Will you take it?

7. Don’t be double-minded

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. (Jam 1:5-8)

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (Jam 4:8)

Being double minded is putting your hand to the plow and looking back. Jesus said such a person is not fit for the kingdom.

In James 1, the writer had begun by talking about rejoicing when faced with trials, then he went on to talk about asking for wisdom. Generally, you need God’s wisdom for every aspect of your life but in this passage, the wisdom was needed for something specifically – facing diverse kinds of trials. Then he went on to mention not being double minded. Why? The one thing that will prevent you from receiving the wisdom you need to go through your trials victoriously is when you are double minded about suffering for Christ. And this will lead to compromise.

In conclusion, persevering in doing good is a goal to have. Rom 2:7 says, “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

If you want to know how to inherit the kingdom go to the law. The law tells you how the Israelites took over their land – by obeying God and keeping His commandments – and how they lost it by breaking God’s commands.

The Opposing Kingdom #

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (Eph 6:12)

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1Pe 5:8-9)

Satan, the opponent fights against the things the Lord does. He exerts his authority in the lives of individuals, organizations, nations, and so on, through the three primary ways he did in the Garden of Eden – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.

But thanks be to God who makes us more than conquerors, as we listen to and obey His words!

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