|
BACKGROUND
Kingdom of God
KINGDOM OF GOD, KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Heaven
HEAVEN.
The
full background to this teaching is available online at this link
For Serious Students
|
Online links to scriptures (New International Version [NIV] unless otherwise stated) are shown in blue
| THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD |
|
|
| KINGDOM PRESENT continued |
|
 We discussed earlier how many things in the Bible have a past, present and future fulfillment. For example, 'we have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved.'
We have also looked at the kingdom, past and future, so it logically follows that there must be a kingdom present, also.
Much of the problem we have in understanding or recognising this, is the fact that the current kingdom is first invisible, being found within us. Thus we have difficulty in accepting that the kingdom of God is for today. Nor, because of what we have been taught about the kingdom being future, do we live in kingdom victory today.
We understand that satan was thrown out of heaven, when he desired God's throne, to inhabit the earth.
However, we fail to understand the victory of Jesus over him, as was promised way back in Genesis;
Genesis 3:15b
|
|
|
 In so doing Jesus established His 'kingdom present' upon the earth.
Satan has been defeated! Through kingdom understanding and living, we are now able to strike satan's heel:
Romans 16:20a
|
|
|
 We again need to understand that the victory over satan has already been won! We have no need to fear him! He threatens us and makes a big noise but his threats are hollow, for we have already attained victory through becoming as one with Jesus.
1 John 2;14b
|
|
|
 Finally, for today, confirmation of the victory over satan through the verse upon which WWJ Ministries is based;
Revelation 12:11
|
|
|
 What Jesus did for us 'positionally' on the cross can be attained 'experientially' through the sacrifice of our lives to Him. Yes, we can have the victory over satan today through kingdom living. Hallelujah! PTL!
|
|
|
 With the conclusion, "What Jesus did for us 'positionally' on the cross can be attained 'experientially' through the sacrifice of our lives to Him, we can now have the victory over satan today through kingdom living."
The reality of coming to maturity in Jesus is to out work the kingdom through our lives.
We then move from the 'kingdom within' to the 'kingdom without', that is the kingdom of God being established upon the earth through 'kingdom living' of fully mature 'sons' taking on the image of Christ in our (his and her) lives.
Romans 8:13-14
|
|
|
 Jesus was made perfect through suffering on the cross and we too are to be made perfect through suffering. Not very popular verses, these ones!
Hebrews 2:10-11
|
|
|
 As we are made holy, so the kingdom is outworked through us. In the past, we have not accepted that this is possible, but as we approach closer to the ultimate return of Jesus, the revelation of the power of kingdom living is becoming understood and applied by increasingly more people around the whole world.
There is an increasing understanding that His kingdom now will come through His people.
John the Baptist understood this.
Matthew 3:1-2
|
|
|
 Jesus will not return until 'the church' (of believers, not an organisation) has become righteous.
Revelation 19:7-8
|
|
|
 Righteousness, holiness, overcoming, are for the present day. As you can see from the above Scripture, Jesus is not returning for a brow beaten people whose greatest hope is that they will be raptured in order to avoid the pain of God's judgment upon the earth! Rather, He is returning for a kingdom living, victorious church which has been through the pain and suffering required to move towards perfection. A people who are prepared to judge themselves now and change their lives in order to avoid future judgment.
1 Corinthians 11:31-2
|
|
|
 In the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation, there are 7 promises of increasing reward made to the successive churches. The final and greatest promise, made to the wealthy, lukewarm church of Laodicea, widely perceived to be a 'type' of today's church, was a promise of victory to those who were prepared to change their ways!
Revelation 3:21
|
|
|
 Check out the full teaching at REVELATION’S REVELATION
Such a promise could only be made to those who have outworked the kingdom in their lives, participating in seeing God's kingdom established upon the earth - now.
Is this you? Is this me?
|
| <i>NEXT WEEK: </i>A REVELATION OF... THE ETERNAL KINGDOM OF GOD continues |
|
 Accessing the kingdom now!
|
| A NOTE FROM DAVID |
|
 Do we really want Jesus to return?
If we do, we must first become a righteous church.
The answer is in our own hands!
BIBLE ARCHAEOLOGY
The Coins of Jesus' Time
Agrippa I, AD 37-44, AE Prutah, 17mm. Umbrella-like canopy, Greek inscription (the king Agrippa)/Three barley ears, date (year 6) Herod Agrippa was close to the mad emperor Caligula. In a persecution of the followers of Jesus, he executed James, "The Great."
|
So until next week.......
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOU BLESS GOD!
His servant and yours
Learn more about us at...
www.wwj.org.nz/about.php
|
A DAVID'S DOODLING
993. The race of life goes round many corners.
David Tait
|
Check
out the WWJ website for….
More David's Doodlings: www.wwj.org.nz/dd.php
Pets Rule!: http://www.wwj.org.nz/pets.php
The World's Greatest Groans: http://www.wwj.org.nz/groans.php
|
Jesus overcame satan on the cross; 
Jesus got His disciples to pray for it;