Kingdom of God

(Message by Pastor Philip Joseph. This must be heaven; this must be heaven! Happy reading!)

Hebrews 12: 26 onwards: ‘whose voice then shook the earth, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.’

Unshakable Kingdom of God

It says here that there are things that can be shaken, and there are things that cannot be shaken; and God is in the process of shaking things up, and removing the ‘shakable’. God is shaking not just the earth, but also heaven.

God is in this business of shaking things up-to let us know the fate of things on which we put our hope. Now, on what do we put our hope on-our wealth; health; friends? There are situations designed in our life, when we see the ‘things’ on which we put our trust on begins to shake, sooner or later…But WE as God’s chosen people have SOMETHING that CANNOT BE SHAKEN. Verse 28 says, we are receiving a ‘kingdom which cannot be shaken…’. It is the kingdom of God that is unshakable, eternal (unlike all other things that can be shaken and is temporal); and we are PART of His kingdom…It is an everlasting kingdom; an ever-advancing, or increasing kingdom. ‘And of the increase of His government {kingdom} and peace, there will be no end’ (Isaiah 9: 7)

That is why Jesus taught us ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you’ (Matt. 6:33). You can seek after other ‘things’ too – but only second to seeking the kingdom of God. Because all these other things, that you seek after, will one day come to an end. A wealthy man will have to leave all his wealth; he cannot take a paisa when he goes to rest. A healthy man will grow old and die someday. Should you one day find that all your labor and striving was in vain and you have really gained nothing? Will it not be wise to invest your self in the things that cannot be shaken, and some day find that our ‘labor in the Lord’ is not in vain? All that we do in the kingdom of God, and in the Lord, will abide forever…

Unseen Kingdom of God
(inward; not outward)

‘Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.’ (2 Cor. 4: 16-18)

See Eternal

It says here that there are things that are seen, and things that are unseen. For example, you can see that our outward man, our body, is perishing-we are growing old. But, there is such a thing as the inner man-the inward being; which is not just imperishable, but is also being renewed day by day, if we continue His works.

What Paul concludes is this: the things that are seen are temporary, but the things that are unseen are eternal. In the same manner, people may not immediately see the kingdom of God within us; it remains unseen…but has eternal implications. Therefore focus on the things that are unseen; yet eternal, imperishable, unending.

See Upwards

Our Lord Jesus spoke about laying up treasures for ourselves in heaven-something that cannot be seen now-‘lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal’ (Matt 6:20). All other possessions here on earth is temporarily given to us; we have to leave them all someday; the cars, bungalows, gold and money…

How can we learn to focus on heavenly treasures? We can learn from Abraham. He was a man who walked from Iraq to Israel-from the land of the Chaldeans to the land flowing with milk and honey…the hard and tiresome journey on foot! God said to Abraham “…I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession…” (Gen. 17:8). (And God is faithful to keep His covenant to Abraham, even today, some 4000 years hence).

How would you respond to your possessions of land and houses? Do you ever look upwards with hope of the unseen, when God blesses you with large lands here? Can you imagine the entire land of Israel given to Abraham and his descendants! What if all of Sector-6, Vashi belongs to you-would you still look for the unseen city whose builder and architect is God?

Abraham was focused on things above…for it says about him, ‘By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.’ (Hebrews 11: 9, 10). ‘Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.’ (Heb. 11:16)

So, we understand that the kingdom of God is a heavenly kingdom, nevertheless attainable…

For Jesus answered thus to Pilate during His trial: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” (John 18:36). Remember, Pilate had authority in the earthly kingdom-but the kingdom of Jesus was of a heavenly realm.

Our Lord Jesus started his ministry with this teaching: “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” Yes, you can have it-the kingdom of God is for each one of God’s children! And so we are confronted with the same choices given to Abraham; to be focused on the things-earthly, or to have our focus on things-heavenly.

See Inwards

Now when He {Jesus} was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, See here! Or See there! For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20, 21).

The kingdom of God cannot be seen with natural eyes. It is also not outwards, that one can see, but is inwards; not external, but internal. ‘For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.’ (Romans 14:17). Think of righteousness; it is something internal, of peace and joy-again, internal. That is why it is so important for us to grasp the kingdom life! It is unshakable, and inside of us!

Utmost Kingdom of God
(His will, not ours)

The kingdom of God is doing His will and not ours. Because Jesus is our King-we are His subjects. What He says, we will do… when we are born-again and are baptized in the waters, we have said No to our self; and Yes to Him who saved us. We had died to our self and risen in newness of life; therefore we learn from Jesus, and say at every cross-roads of choices in our life: Not my will, but Yours be done.

Jesus said, “Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:19). As Jesus finishes His sermon on the mount, He declares, “Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21).

What will be your response? Do you really want to mean it when you call Jesus ‘Lord’? It means He is the Master, and you will do His bidding. Jesus concluded His sermon on the mount with the parable of two builders-one wise and the other foolish. We know of this story of how the storm came, the floods rose and the winds blew and beat on that house… only, to me, it is not just a story, but the meaning of the kingdom of God...

Yes, it’s a true story. The true city, the heavenly city-Jerusalem will stand and last forever. The false city, the earthly city-Babylon is going to fall. We read about this in the Bible; in the prophecy-book of Revelation. True Christianity that does the will of God will abide forever; the false Christianity of living for your self will collapse; its destruction is sure!

We started with the ‘unshakable’ kingdom of God! How is the house that you are building? You can bet the storms are going to come-God is going to allow some shaking! Do you still want to DO God’s will?

There is a city bright
Closed are its gates to sin;
Not that defileth, not that defileth
Shall ever enter in!

If you are a Christian reading this, but do not understand anything that I am talking about, you may be like that Nicodemus, who though a religious leader and ruler of the Jews, could not grasp the kingdom of God:  Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

Do you know what it means to be born-again? All it takes is to call on the name of the Lord Jesus and repentance from every known sin. Listen to your conscience-with conviction from God Himself-the author of salvation. If you want to come under the Kingship of Jesus, invite Him to be King over your life. You will know; He comes, forgives you your sins-for the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from every sin. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). If you have done this, you are born-again!

Born of the Spirit! You are a new creation; no more in condemnation, guilt or shame; for you have passed from death-in-sin to life-in-Christ. ‘Therefore, if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation. Old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.’ (2 Cor. 5:17). Now, do you see what the kingdom of God is – of righteousness, peace and joy within you by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus continued saying to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5). Do you want to enter into this kingdom life? It is an everyday experience-based on your choices, to do His will. God-the Holy Spirit is our Helper; He will guide us into all truth.

Focus on the things that are above; Abraham-though being a prince, a prophet and a priest- was not satisfied with earthly possessions, but looked upwards to that heavenly city. He was called the father of faith and a friend of God. Faith is the ability to see the invisible; feel the intangible; grasp the infinite.

May God grant us revelation of His word and help us do His will. Amen.