The terms the Kingdom, Kingdom of Heaven, Kingdom of Light, and the Kingdom of God are all synonyms. What does the Kingdom of Heaven mean? Where exactly is the Kingdom of Heaven? How do we get there? Jesus knew we would have a hard time understanding the Kingdom of Heaven with our natural mind. Over and over again He taught saying, “What shall I compare the Kingdom of Heaven to?” (Luke 13:18 NKJ)
John the Baptist
Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (NKJ)
Jesus
Mark 1:14-15 “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (NKJ)
Jesus begins revealing the Kingdom of Heaven when the Disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray as John taught his disciples.
Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.” (NKJ)
This teaching on prayer was never meant to be a religious mantra quoted at the end of a church service. Even when Jesus prayed the real “Lord’s Prayer,” He didn’t cite this prayer recorded in Matthew 6. (See John 17)
Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.” (NKJ)
Matthew 6:9-13 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 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.” (NKJ)
Begin prayer with praise.
God far excels as a Father that loves us more than anyone could. God is love and wants the highest good then can be obtained for you. You are His favorite. He didn’t make anyone else exactly like you. No one else can be you. You have a unique DNA with your own set of fingerprints that no one else has. You are special to Him. Praise Him as your own special Father. There is not a problem nor circumstance you cannot praise your way out of. There is power in praise because when we praise God, we take the focus off of ourselves and the problem and turn the focus to God.
Next, they were to pray for His Kingdom to come.
This was BEFORE Jesus had gone to the cross and paid for salvation. At this time, the disciples were not born-again. (See John 20:22) Jesus preached.
Matthew 4:17 “The Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (NKJ)
The point I am making here is the Kingdom had not come because Jesus had not yet been crucified and risen from the grave.
Where is the Kingdom of Heaven?
Luke 17:20-21 “’Now when Jesus 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.’” (NKJ)
We have the Kingdom of God living on the inside of us. It’s called the new birth. Although Jesus was talking to the Pharisees, He was not telling them they were born-again. He was telling them to stop looking on the outside for change. The Kingdom happens within. Jesus used the word ‘observation.’ The Greek word here means: close, diligent watching as to guard over (control); inspection, ocular evidence.
2 Corinthians 5:7 “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (NKJ)
Position vs Relationship
Position keeps quoting Scripture over and over hoping one day it will stick and something will happen. Relationship doesn’t think it’s true; it knows it’s true and will not stop believing (acting) on that truth no matter what. The devil tried to get Jesus to act out of His position while tempting Him in the wilderness.
Matthew 4:3-4 “Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, ‘If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.’” Jesus’ response was “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (NKJ)
Colossians 2:6-10 “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” (NKJ)
Romans 10:9 “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (NKJ)
Mankind was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26) and we are a three-part being. Just as there is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we are made up of a spirit, soul, and a body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NKJ)
John 3:3-6 “‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.’” (NKJ)
1 Corinthians 6:17 “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.” (NKJ)
Ephesians 1:13 “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” (NKJ)
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (NKJ)
Ephesians 5:25-27 “… as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” (NKJ)
John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (NKJ)
John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (NKJ)
Galatians 6:7-8 “Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” (NLT)
