IT’S A REAL KINGDOM – Pastor Chris
Thursday, April 14, 2022
Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God (Mark 1:14).
Jesus began His ministry talking and preaching about the Kingdom of God. Mark 1:14-15 says, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.”
Observe the term Jesus used as He preached: “the kingdom of God is at hand.” “Is at hand” is one of two expressions: on the one hand, it means “It’s near,” on the other hand, it means “It’s here.” In John 3:3-5, Jesus made it so plain; He said, “…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Notice the expressions, “he cannot see” and “he cannot enter.” This shows that the Kingdom of God is real. You don’t see it with your optical eyes but you see it in your spirit. We “entered” and became a part of the Kingdom when we were born again; that’s how the Kingdom became real to us and in us.
Jesus also used the expression, “The Kingdom of Heaven.” Though many use both expressions interchangeably, they’re clearly different. The Kingdom of Heaven is more perfectly expressive of that part of the Kingdom of God established by Jesus in the earth. The Kingdom of God includes all of that which is under God in the earth, and in Heaven. But the Kingdom of Heaven is that part of the Kingdom of God that’s functional in the earth, set up by the Lord Jesus Christ.
So, when Jesus came and said, “The Kingdom of God is at hand,” He was actually talking about the Kingdom of Heaven that He had come to set up, because the Kingdom of God was already there before Jesus came. Our Heavenly Father is the head of the Kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 15:24 shows us that at the end of all things, the Kingdom of Heaven that’s been set up in the earth will be delivered to the Father because it belonged to Him all along. Hallelujah!
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PRAYER
Blessed Father, thank you for your Kingdom that’s in my heart. Your glory is revealed in me today as I bear testimony of the glorious news of your saving power, bringing many out of damnation into the glorious liberty of the Kingdom, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Matthew 3:1-2; Matthew 10:7; Luke 17:20-21
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 14:1-24 & Judges 17-18
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 10:11-21 & Psalm 119:65-80
