Intro to the Kingdom!

Hello, friends!

Have you ever wondered why today's church doesn't seem to have the same power that the church had in the book of Acts? 

Why aren't we seeing healings and other miracles?  Don't we serve the same Messiah?  Aren't we empowered by the same Spirit?

I have just completed an outline for a Bible Study I'm teaching on this very subject!  If you are interested in exploring this topic, take a look!

Welcome to the Kingdom of God and the gospel of that Kingdom!!!

INTRO TO THE KINGDOM

Candice Madewell

1-4-18

Premise:

Why doesn’t the modern church walk in Kingdom power like the church in the book of Acts?

                           

                            -We have a false view of the Kingdom of Heaven (Kingdom of God).  We cannot operate properly because our false beliefs keep us away from our Kingdom authority.

What is the TRUTH?  How do we get it back?

PART 1:  DEFINING THE TERMS

1.        Sin –

a.       “the transgression of the law” – 1 John 3:4 (see also verse 5!)

b.       Strong’s G266 – hamartia – a sin or offence

c.       Outline of Biblical Usage:

                                                                                             i.      to be without a share in

                                                                                           ii.      to miss the mark

                                                                                         iii.      to err, be mistaken

                                                                                         iv.      to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour, to do or go wrong

                                                                                           v.      to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin

                                                                                         vi.      that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act

                                                                                        vii.      collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many

2.       Kingdom –

a.       Strong’s G932 – basileia – Royalty, rule, or realm

b.       Outline of Biblical Usage:

                                                                                             i.      royal power, kingship, dominion, rule

1.       not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom

2.       of the royal power of Jesus as the triumphant Messiah

3.       of the royal power and dignity conferred on Christians in the Messiah's kingdom

                                                                                           ii.      a kingdom, the territory subject to the rule of a king

                                                                                         iii.      used in the N.T. to refer to the reign of the Messiah

3.       Repent –

a.       Strong’s G3340 – to think differently afterwards, to reconsider (morally, feel compunction), repent

b.       Outline of Biblical Usage:

                                                                                             i.      to change one's mind, i.e. to repent

                                                                                           ii.      to change one's mind for better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins

4.       Gospel –

a.       Strong’s G2098 – euangelion – a good message, the gospel

5.       Heaven –

a.       Strong’s G3772 – Ouranos -  heaven, as in the abode of God.  Implies happiness, power, eternity.

6.       Righteousness –

a.       Strong’s G1343 – Dikaiosyne – equity (of character or act); specially (Christian) justification

b.       Outline of Biblical Usage:

                                                                                             i.      in a broad sense: state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God

1.       the doctrine concerning the way in which man may attain a state approved of God

2.       integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting

                                                                                           ii.      in a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due

Part 2:  Reading

Matt 4:17 & 23   

Matt 6: 31 – 33

Matt 7: 21 – 27

Matt 5: 17 – 20

Matt 24: 14

Luke 12:32

Luke 17:20 – 21

Luke 24:47

Mark 16:15 – 20

John 10:7 – 9

Romans 8:5 - 9

Part 3:  Take-Away

How do we enter the Kingdom of heaven and serve on Earth with Kingdom authority and miracles the way Yeshua/Jesus and the apostles did?

Step 1: REPENT!

                            1.  Repentance prepares us to be forgiven and cleansed from unrighteousness by Messiah!

                                                -This is how we enter in through the “door”!

        2.   Repentance is a change of mind and a returning to the ways of righteousness/ ways of God!

        3.  Being in Christ grants us the Holy Spirit! (Ruach HaKodesh) (Romans 8:9)

Step 2:  SEEK!

1.        Kingdom

a.       Jesus often teaches parables about the Kingdom!

b.       He tells us that the Kingdom is within us!

2.       His Righteousness

a.       The righteousness granted us by Messiah (forgiveness/justification)

b.       The righteousness of right living! (Obedience – Romans 6:16)

3.       When we seek these, all our worldly needs are met!

Step 3:  DO THE FATHER’S WILL!

1.       Jesus Himself taught the Father’s law would not be voided.  Not one “jot or tittle” would pass!

2.       Jesus kept the law Himself.  If he hadn’t his sin would have disqualified Him as Messiah.  We are told to “walk as He walked,” not that His walk (obedience) would exempt us from our own obedience.

3.       We are warned in scripture that whomever we obey is our King!  If we want authority in the Kingdom of Heaven, we must serve Heaven’s King.  Disobedience to God is automatic obedience to the enemy (the only other “way”), and makes him our King.  (Romans 6:16)

Step 4:  THE GREAT COMMISSION!

1.        We are to preach the GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM to the whole world!

a.       “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” – The same thing Jesus preached!

2.       When we are on His (correct) mission, He works with us and we see miracles!  These are His way of confirming to the world that what we say is true!

Part 4:  The Rest of the Story.

                            Mankind was created in the garden to be God’s image-bearers and steward-rulers on earth.  We were under his kingship but given authority and dominion in our realm.  When we obeyed the voice of the serpent (Hebrew Nachash), we transferred our kingship to the enemy!  We then became his subjects/slaves.  Remember, whom we obey is our king!

                            The Father chose a people (beginning with Abraham) and throughout history revealed Himself to them and taught them to live in His ways.  Obedience would bring blessing, disobedience would bring curses. (See Deuteronomy 28)  This people kept the Word of God and passed it down through all generations, suffering the consequences of disobedience when they rebelled.  As they stayed faithful to God’s Word, however, they were “trained” in Kingdom living!  They knew how to live according to the King’s ways.  They were simply waiting for the Kingdom to return, as promised through Messiah.

                            When Yeshua/Jesus came, his message was “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand!” The Kingdom had arrived.  Those who repented and placed their faith in Jesus entered into the Kingdom!  Having already been trained in God’s ways, Kingdom living was natural for them.  They received the promised Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) when Jesus ascended to the Father after His resurrection. 

                            The final piece was in place!   The disciples set out to fulfill the Great Commission as commanded by Jesus.  Being obedient to the right King, citizens of the right Kingdom, empowered by the right Spirit, and accompanied (spiritually) by Jesus Himself, the disciples performed many miracles.  They saw healings, resurrections, the lame walking, etc.! 

                            We, too, carry the SAME commission and gospel message given to us by Jesus.  When we, likewise, have all the pieces in place, He will accompany us and prove our words in power by His Holy Spirit!

                            Throughout church history, some of these elements have been distorted, and some done away with altogether.  However, we are forever held accountable to scripture by our God and King!  As Peter and John said to the High Priest….

“Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

(Acts 4:19 – 20)

Are we willing to say the same to the religious leaders of our day?  Can we set aside distorted teachings and re-adopt the TRUE teachings of Christ?  If so, we will fulfill our Commission on this earth, and we will see miracles!

Sources:

KJV Bible

www.blueletterbible.org

For further Study:

You Tube:  Dr. Michael Lake, Understanding the Kingdom series