July 7, 2013
1 Cor 4:20
For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. The biblical concept of God’s power is taken from the Greek word “dunamis” meaning “mighty deed” or “power.” The kingdom of God is a supernatural power. Another Greek word “basilea” refers to the “sovereignty of God” or “God’s dominion.” God wants his kingdom to impact this earth so that he can have dominion. The kingdom of God is about unseating Satan.
Adam and Eve epitomized God in the very beginning. The earth was being ruled through Adam until the devil got control of it. Therefore, man lost the image of God. When Satan came in, trouble, sickness, pain and death ensued because Satan rules over the air. However, God intends to rule over all that. In the earth we believers are the expression of the kingdom. Jesus is the perfect example whom we must follow. We must truly reflect his lifestyle.
The kingdom is the power of God and there are four aspects of the kingdom of God
• The kingdom existed before the world began
• The kingdom is here. (This was the message introduced by John The Baptist.)
• The kingdom of God comes when people are saved
• The kingdom is to come when Jesus rules during the millennium
• The kingdom of God is eternal
The mission of the Church is to go up against the kingdom of darkness and through Christ, set the captives free. Jesus said that His kingdom is not of this world. The kingdom of God is eternal (Dan. 4:34.), but the kingdom of the devil is not.
Hebrews 12:28 The kingdom is unshakable, unmovable.
Col. 1:13 We enter the kingdom when we are born again. We are now sons and daughters and represent our father.
Luke 4:42-43 The purpose of the kingdom is to impact the earth. We are expected to be involved in evangelism to impact the earth. God’s desire is for his kingdom to come on the earth.
1 John 3:8 The purpose of the kingdom through Christ is to destroy the works of the devil in the earth. People cannot be set free unless they hear the word of God declared to them. The kingdom of darkness is no match for the church of Christ. The gates of hell shall not prevail against the kingdom of God. The prince of the power of the air- the devil- must bow before the presence of King Jesus.
Luke 4: 18-19 The mandate of the church is to advance the kingdom of God. Our mission is to go forth and set people free. However we need intimacy with the King (Luke 4: 5-8)
The devil offered Jesus what he had in exchange for worship. Worship means a lot to the enemy, for he knows its strength and value. The devil got many things from Adam, but he never got worship. In spite of Adam’s sin, God was still able to receive worship from him. If the devil got worship from man, man would never be able to worship God.
The Greek word “proskuneo” means “to go toward; to show affection.” By extension, worshiping is going towards God with affection. The purpose of the kingdom is for us to worship the King of the kingdom. The devil tried to tempt Christ by showing him all
the kingdoms of this world- which Christ owned- and stating that he would give them to him if he would fall down and worship him. Jesus answered him by saying “Get thee hence Satan, for it is written ‘Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and Him only shalt thou serve’ ”(Matt.4:10)
God is complete when man worships him. Worship is at the heart of Kingdom living. God inhabits the praises of his people (Psalm 22:3). Blessings, glory and strategies are released when we worship God.
Ps. 24: 7-10; Deut. 20:4; Isa. 42:13 These scriptures assure us of God working on our behalf when we worship him.
