Lesson 4

 

The Kingdom of God is at Hand

In 1 Chronicles 29:11-13 King David prayed:

‘Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all.  Both riches and honour come from You, and You reign over all.  In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all.  Now therefore, our God, We thank You and praise Your glorious name.’

What is this scripture actually saying to us? Psalm 145:10-13:

‘All Your works shall praise You, O LORD,

And Your saints shall bless You. 

They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,

And talk of Your power,

To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,

And the glorious majesty of His kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.’

The Old Testament is looking forward to something wonderful happening.  We read in Isaiah 9:6-7:

‘For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder.  And His name will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.’

In Luke 1:32 the angel Gabriel confirms how Jesus fulfils Isaiah 9:

‘He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.  And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’ 

Jesus has already come!! His Kingdom has already come.  The Kingdom of God is already at hand, and the Old Testament prophesies it.  Daniel 4:2-3 says:

‘I thought it good to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has worked for me.  How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders!  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.’

Here Daniel speaks of signs and wonders of his everlasting kingdom being performed from generation to generation.  Daniel continues in 7:27 to say:

‘Then the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him.’

Here the Old Testament speaks of signs and wonders being given to God’s saints. That is us!!  Jesus gave this through the cross.  The New International Version Bible notes say; ‘handed over to the saints for their benefit.  God and the Messiah will rule’ - is this for when Jesus comes again at His second coming, or is it also for the time between the first coming and the second coming?  Let’s see what the New Testament says.  Matthew 3:1-2 tells us:

‘In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!"’ 

Other translations replace ‘is at hand’ with ‘is near’.  In Matthew 3:3 John the Baptist continues:

‘For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.'"

The NIV study notes says ‘Repent - make a radical change in one’s life.’   The Kingdom of Heaven is found in Matthew thirty three times.  The Kingdom of Heaven is the rule of God and is both a present reality and a future hope.  The idea of God’s Kingdom is central to Jesus’ teaching and is mentioned fifty times in Matthew alone.  This says that the Kingdom of God has been given to us after the first coming of Jesus as well as after the second coming of Jesus.  It is available to all who believe.

In Matthew 4:16-17 we have a great statement, summarizing Isaiah 9:

‘The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”.’

Jesus began His public ministry with the same message as John the Baptist – repent because God’s reign was drawing near in the person and ministry of Jesus.  In Matthew 4:23 we read:

‘And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.’

Jesus showed us in these signs that the Kingdom of God was at hand and tells us to seek the Kingdom as well.  Matthew 6:33 Jesus similarly promises:

"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you”.

When we seek His Kingdom, we are seeking the higher Kingdom, for the Kingdom of Heaven, or of God, is higher and greater than this worldly kingdom.

Matthew 10:1 informs us that Jesus instructed his disciples thus:

‘And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.’

Similarly in Matthew 10:6 - 7 we read how Jesus commands them:

"But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.'”  

So He gave them authority to preach that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand and then to demonstrate that it was at hand by healing every disease and every infirmity.

Now the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom was coming.  In Luke 17:20-21 we read Jesus’ response:

‘Now when He 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."’

Jesus is the Kingdom of God and He was in their midst.  But if Jesus dwells in our hearts, then He too, is in the midst of us.

The Kingdom of God is in the spiritual realm, brought upon us by the Holy Spirit.  We can receive Him now.  We can walk in this spiritual realm now.  We can receive the power and authority of Jesus’ name now and, as we preach, the Kingdom of God is at hand with the gospel.  Jesus will do it.  Signs and wonders will follow our preaching, for the Kingdom of God has come.

But then, why are we not all walking it? There are some reasons for this.  John 3:5 says:

‘Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”.’

We must be born in the Holy Spirit.  Romans 14:17 says:

‘...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.’

Pray, seeking to be filled with God’s righteousness and peace and joy and to be filled daily with the Holy Spirit.  Acts 14:22 records that Paul and Barnabas returned to Lystra:

‘...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."’

We must allow God to test us, sift us, and change us, to work out our salvation in dying to self and allowing Him complete reign over us.  We have to count the cost and do it.  For what we give up will never compare with what He can do in and through us.

1 Corinthians 15:50 advises:

‘Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.’

The Lord has to sift us first of the desires of the flesh, then He can pour His power through us.  We learn in 1 Corinthians 4:20:

‘For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.’ (E.S.V.)

This is the demonstration of the power that the Lord gives to us when we receive the Holy Spirit. As the resurrected Jesus says in Acts 1:8:

‘"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."’

This demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit is given to us that we may become His witnesses to the power of the cross to all men near and far.

Romans 1:16 tells us Paul’s declaration:

‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.’

This power is given to us so that we may preach the gospel of salvation in order that souls may be saved.  1 Corinthians 2:4-5 further demonstrates Paul’s commitment:

‘And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.’

We are to preach the gospel with the demonstration of His power.  1 Thessalonians 1:5 states:

‘For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.’

When we receive the gospel in this way, we receive the glorious salvation with both word and power.  We have seen with our own eyes and heart that Jesus Christ is Lord.  2 Peter 1:3 reminds us,

‘His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.’

I believe this is only possible because the Kingdom of God is at hand right now in our midst.  It is up to us to receive it.

How do we receive it?

It is by getting to know our Father in Heaven, by spending time with Him in regular prayer.  By listening to Him to show us, to teach us, speak to us, open the scriptures to us, to fill us with His gifts and to fill us with His power and authority of His Holy Spirit to do His work here on earth.  Acts 4:33 says:

‘And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.  And great grace was upon them all.’

Was all this great power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit in saving, healing and delivering people from evil to just stop with the apostles or was it for us as well?

Acts 6:8 tells of Stephen’s activity:

‘And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.’

Here we see that Stephen, who was not one of the twelve apostles, was also witnessing in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit.  Then in Romans 15:13 it says:

‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’

Paul is speaking to us, the Church, so that in believing we are filled with joy and peace, secure in God’s love, so that His power in the Holy Spirit may operate through us in power to do three things.  Mark 6:12-13 tells us that the twelve disciples:

..went out and preached that people should repent.  They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them. 

So Jesus sent out the twelve to teach salvation, deliverance and healing.  Then he sent the seventy out to do the same, and then Stephen and Philip and all the great men of God down through modern history right up to this very day.  We read about some of the results from Philip’s witness to the gospel.

Acts 8:6-8:

‘And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralysed and lame were healed.   And there was great joy in that city.’

How can it be that these people also flowed in this authority and power of the Holy Spirit?

In Colossians 2:14-15 we read:

‘Having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.’ (NIV)

Jesus’ death and resurrection cancelled the written code of the Old Testament Law as the basis of our righteousness.  Jesus cancelled it on the cross and enabled the Kingdom and Heaven to be at hand for each one of us, when we believe it, when we receive it, when we live it.

John 14:12-14 declares:

‘ I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father.’ (NIV)

By going to the Father Jesus has enabled His Kingdom of Heaven to be at hand. It is done!  Jesus has done it on the cross. The cross has brought the Kingdom of God to each one of us, who will receive Him, and live in Him.

Some Questions to Think About

What is the Old Testament looking forward to?
What did John the Baptist preach?
What did Jesus demonstrate to us?
Is the Kingdom of God at hand for us today?
Jesus’ death and resurrection cancelled the effects of sin and death. What does this mean for us?