The Kingdom of God / Kingdom of Heaven Lesson 5

This sermon is part 4 of 5 in the series Kingdom of Heaven

The domain in which a sovereign reigns, denoting royal power, dominion, territory, rule, with power of life and death, having the final word concerning all judgement. Our Lord Jesus taught extensively on both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore we should have a good understanding of them because much of our relation with God through faith in Jesus Christ and our success in our earthly life depends on it

The kingdom is a mystery, it is invisible, it can not be seen with our natural eyes. It is spiritual , it

is here now , but not in full manifestation. The full manifestation will happen at the second coming of Jesus Christ.

Luke 17: 20 Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying, The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display,

21 Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]. 22 And He said to the disciples, The time is coming when you will long to see [even] one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see [it]. 23 And they will say to you, Look! [He is] there! or, Look! [He is] here! But do not go out or follow [them]. 24 For like the lightning, that flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His [own] day. 25 But first He must suffer many things and be disapproved and repudiated and rejected by this age and generation. 26 And [just] as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the time of the Son of Man.

27 [People] ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, right up to the day when Noah went into the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. [Gen 6:5‑8; 7:6‑24.] 28 So also [it was the same] as it was in the days of Lot. [People] ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;29 But on the [very] day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed [them] all. 30 That is the way it will be on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.   AMP

The only way to enter the kingdom or become a part of the kingdom is through a New Birth.

People think that by joining a church, being baptized in water, or taking membership classes

and moving their membership from one church to another assures them of a place in heaven.

Many will be disappointed because they preferred traditions of men over the Word of God.

John 3:1 There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” 9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.  NLT

Only the faithful may enter the kingdom.

Luke 22:28 “But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials.  29 And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me,  30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” NKJV

2 Tim 2:12  If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. NKJV

Rev 5:10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”  NKJV

We may enter the kingdom because God has called us.

1 Thess 2: 12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory. NLT

Col 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

John the Baptist declared the door to the kingdom is open through repentance.

Matt 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” NKJV

Definition of true repentance : a turning away from sin, disobedience, or rebellion and a turning back to God (Matt. 9:13; Luke 5:32). In a more general sense, repentance means a change of mind (Gen. 6:6–7) or a feeling of remorse or regret for past conduct (Matt. 27:3). True repentance is a “godly sorrow” for sin, an act of turning around and going in the opposite direction. This type of repentance leads to a fundamental change in a person’s relationship to God.

To those who’s names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life , we are now experiencing the power of the kingdom. We function in the kingdom by :

Seeking it

Matt 6:33  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV

Suffering tribulation

Acts 14: 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” NKJV

We are commanded to proclaim it.

Acts 8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.  NKJV

We are commanded to pray for it.

Matt 6:9 Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread.  12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.  NKJV

Remember, the kingdom is both spiritual and eternal.

Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. NKJV

2 Peter 1:10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  NLT

Series Navigation<< The Kingdom of God / Kingdom of Heaven Lesson 4The Kingdom of God / Kingdom of Heaven Lesson 3 >>

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