Written by Clement Michael Martin and Dan Beaty. Recorded at Higher Ground Studios in Columbus, Ohio. Video produced by Roger Legg of ARK Media.
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Today we are introducing a new series of podcasts on Livingtruth.com entitled “First the Kingdom.” We hope that you will find it both helpful and challenging and that the time spent here will be worthwhile. The topic of the Kingdom of God has long been important to me in many ways and for many reasons. I hope it will become more important to you than previously if I can convince you that it still is very important to our Lord Jesus Christ!
In some areas the Kingdom of God is a controversial subject, in others it is given almost no consideration. However, we cannot escape the fact that the message of Jesus was centered around the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven as it is also called.
Jesus began His public ministry with the Good News of the Kingdom of God:
Mark 1:14-15:
And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
NASB
Matthew, whose Gospel was directed more to Jews of his day, used the phrase they considered more respectful of the Name of God, the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 4:17:
From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ” Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
NASU
Even before Jesus, John the Baptist came with the same announcement, generating quite a commotion. People from Jerusalem, Judea and all around the Jordan came to hear him as the Voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight!” (Matthew 3:1-3)
What was it about John’s preaching that drew the great crowds? There is no record of him performing miracles and yet there seemed to be a passion within him that sparked something in the hearts of the people. We know from Luke’s Gospel that he was filled with the Holy Spirit even before he was born. (Luke 1:15,41) He had a destiny to fulfill, and was sent by the God of the universe to fulfill it! (John 1:6)
The situation at the time was that the people of Israel were in the land promised to them by God, but they were not free. The government over them was set up by the Roman Emperors and was under occupation by Rome. As in many other times in history there were both resistance fighters and collaborators trying to make the best of the situation.
The coming of the Kingdom of God must have meant to many that Roman rule was coming to an end. The words of the ancient prophets kept alive for many years the hope of a golden age for Israel that was even greater than the time of King David. They were looking for the son of David to rise to the throne and reclaim the order that was set in place by God Himself. All nations would begin to desire the light of the God of Israel shining forth from this blessed nation! (Isaiah 2:1-4).
The humble of heart realized that the first step necessary for this new order was the call for personal and national repentance. Others rejected this and held fast to the confidence of their own righteousness based upon their version of adherence to the law of Moses. In fact they rejected John’s message and desired for the people to follow them instead!
Great numbers of people believed John and were baptized by him in the Jordan River as a sign of repentance in preparation of the Messiah-Savior who would soon come. Jesus Himself was baptized by John, who witnessed the Holy Spirit descending upon Him and that Jesus was truly the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29-44) In time, many of John’s followers believed in Jesus, but others were still waiting for their Messiah to come.
In the mean time, Jesus spent much of His time telling people and demonstrating to them what the Kingdom of God was truly about. He went about doing good to people of all backgrounds and lifestyles and proving the love and mercy of God toward them. Finally He proved the prophecy of John by giving His life for the sins of the world on the Cross in the hands of His enemies.
Then what of this Kingdom that was so very near? Was it a fantasy? Was it merely a call for moral reform that ended in rejection?
Fortunately the story does not end there! The Crucifixion was followed by the Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of their Ascended Lord! After the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, we have Luke’s record of the Acts of the Apostles. There we find that Jesus is still talking about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Throughout Acts, we find the apostles and evangelists preaching the Kingdom (Act 8:12, 14:22), and Paul near the end of his life still persuading, expounding, testifying, and preaching about things concerning the Kingdom of God (Acts 19:8, 20:25, 28:23,31).
Our great heroes of the New Testament era did not see the vision of the Kingdom of God as a lost cause. Why should we in our day, when the faith has grown from a handful of unimportant and overlooked men and women in a remote part of the world, to what it is today? It would of course be easy to despair if all we observe is what we can see with our natural eyes. But we who have been born again have the supernatural ability to SEE the Kingdom of God! (John 3:3)
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(Original radio broadcast from May 22, 1998)
As history continues to unfold before our very eyes, it is becoming increasingly necessary for those who name the name of Christ to truly know their King. These are days to sit at His feet, and hear His Word! This is a time to look into His glorious Face and behold His glory! These are the days to begin to discern the Lord’s Body, and experience His Lordship TOGETHER!
The Spirit of the Lord is calling out, not just individuals, but a PEOPLE for His Name! These are those who will one day stand up in this earth to fully and openly represent His power and authority to all. In fact, they already represent His authority now — to the degree that they presently know Him as their Lord!
Hear this warning! If we are not acknowledging His Lordship now, we have no reason to expect to reign with Him tomorrow! And if we are not already coming into an intimate union with Him and His Love, we have absolutely NO HOPE of truly knowing the beauty, the majesty, the wonder, the glory, the awesomeness of our Lord Jesus Christ as He already is NOW!
Beloved, my heart is grieved at the years that I have and so many others have wasted, in the preaching of religious doctrines that divide the Body of Christ, when in fact we should have been preaching Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. Instead of proclaiming His Lordship, many of us have labored to bring others under our own influence instead! We thought that somehow WE could discourage sin and disobedience, worldliness and selfishness by our own efforts! Instead the pressure of human authority has eventually distanced many poor souls from the marvelous and liberating authority of the only true Christ!
Even though warnings, exhortations, corrections and instructions have their place in the family of God, we must never forget the proper context in which they are exercised! The context is always under the umbrella of our King and His Word!
Ephesians 6:4: “And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
In all things and at all times, we who dwell in the kingdom of God are under the rule, the care, the security and protection of our King! Therefore, we must come to the place that we are ever conscious of Him
Are you weary of being subject to the power of circumstances and your own human weaknesses! Is there a hunger in you towards the dominion and rule in life that was originally given to Adam? Are you frustrated by the constant evidence that Satan appears to be gaining more ground in your life than Christ Himself?
Listen to me. This is not your inheritance! You are destined to rule and reign with Christ! The privilege of reigning in Life is available to you NOW! (Romans 5:17)
The people that KNOW THEIR GOD shall be strong, and do exploits (Daniel 11:32), but the real key here is in KNOWING OUR GOD!
Yes, we seem to keep coming back to this place again and again, and this we will do as the Lord directs. The great need of the hour is for the people of God to return to Him! It is time to forsake our plans, programs and schemes, and return to our first love! It is time for us all to fall in love with Him over and over and over and over again!
Preachers must preach Jesus Christ — His glory, His Wisdom, His Love, His Lordship, His ultimate triumph over sin and the devil, and His endless reign over this vast universe! He is the key, the alpha and omega, the beginning and ending, the first and the last, He Who was, and is, and is to come — THE ALMIGHTY!
He is the Head of His Body — the Church! In all things He is absolutely preeminent! All things were made by Him and without Him NOTHING was made! He is before all things, and by Him all things consist!
Such a simple truth, but oh how complicated things have become for us! This complicated state of affairs is the work of the serpent, who continually strives to allure us from the simplicity that is found in our intimately knowing Christ. He apparently knows how badly this event alone will impact his kingdom!
But what of the fallen nature of man? What of the disobedience of God’s people? Do not these also prevent the knowledge of the glory of God from sweeping across the land?
Oh how little we regard the power of ONE who simply and truly becomes wholly devoted to Jesus Christ and His Lordship! And how this ONE can impact the lives of so many that remain in darkness!
Do you want to reign with Christ? Do you believe in His ability to work through anyone who surrenders completely to His Love? Can you trust in His willingness to stimulate the growth of that mustard seed of belief that you do possess, and help you to overcome all doubts?
Did He not create you? Can He not heal, restore and use you for His glory? Is He not able to transform you into His image from glory to glory — by the power of His Spirit? Is not His Word alive and at work in you at this very moment — changing and molding and working in you His perfect will?
Praise Him! Declare His goodness! Worship His Name! Behold His glory! Stand and behold the wonderful salvation of your God!
And most importantly, respond unto Him in obedient devotion. Herein is the power to reign with Him revealed.
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, who have wandered away from the truth. They say that the resurrection has already taken place, and they destroy the faith of some.
Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2 Timothy 2:15-2:22)
Yes, there is hypocrisy. Yes there is corruption all around, even among those who call themselves Christians. But these are not your concern. You and I are pressing towards the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Our eyes are fixed upon Him. We desire to be vessels of honor, useful to the Master for every good work.
We are fleeing youthful lusts, and following after righteousness, faith, love and peace. Our hearts are joined with those who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart! Together we have hope for the reign of Christ in this earth. And together we expect to see Him in His fullness!
Ephesians 3:14-19: “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
Heavenly Father,
Today we have considered the immensity of your power towards us who believe. We have seen how you have raised us up together, to be seated in heavenly places in Christ. We are overwhelmed at your amazing grace and your infinite Love, by which we have become a new creation.
May everyone of us commit ourselves into your trust, in order that we will walk worthy of this holy vocation, to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, giving pleasure to your great and loving Heart.
In this marvelous union with you, may our lives become living examples of your righteous reign in the earth, to become more than conquerors through your Love!
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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