Tuesday, August 18, 2015

The Expanding Kingdom



The Kingdom of God is Expanding. 

It is expanding with each person who enters. Each person who comes into the kingdom brings their life, their gift and they have a place. This place is not a cheap addition or an afterthought, but an intricate part of the kingdom of Heaven. In fact, God had each person in mind before the foundations of the earth. Ephesians 1:4-5. He wants everyone to enter in. We enter His kingdom by faith in Jesus Christ.

The heroes of faith we read about in Hebrews 11 admitted they were foreigners on the earth, but their heart was after a heavenly country, one not of this earth, and "God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them." Hebrews 11:11-16. There is a city, a heavenly place that God is preparing for those who believe.

Jesus said to His disciples before He left this earth that there are many dwelling places in His Father's house. He left this earth to go prepare a place for those who believe in Him, those who come to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ. John 14:1-6. There is a place being prepared for you right now if you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will fit perfectly into this place!

It's More Than a Place.

Yet, the kingdom of heaven is more than a place. It's more than a city. God promised Abram/Abraham both land and people, sand and stars. He told Abraham that his seed, his descendants, would be as numerous as the stars of heaven and the sand on the seashore--innumerable. Genesis 22:17. Heaven is more than a place. The real estate of heaven is made up of people. People are the real "land",  the real jewels of heaven. We are living stones "being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 2:5. Jesus Christ is the choice corner stone. People make the kingdom of Heaven what it is and what it will be.

Jesus answered the Pharisees when they asked Him when the kingdom of God was coming, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, "look, here it is!" or, 'There it is!" For behold the kingdom of God is in your midst." Luke 17:20-21. I like the Amplified Bible which says, "the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." The kingdom of God is within us and among us. He is with each one of us individually and when we gather in His name He is in our midst. His kingdom is within our hearts, yet it is among us when we come together. It expands, multiplies and surrounds us when we come together.

The War Over Territory.

What we must realize is that we are in a war. A war over territory. A war over people. We see this war expressed as a fight over land, but it is also a war over the hearts of people. To maintain our ground, we must teach our children the ways of the Lord. We must pray for them, pray with them, and do all we can to strengthen the family unit. The family is God's ruling authority in the earth. Genesis 1:27-28. We must not neglect our children!

To be rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the kingdom of light that you were created and predestined to live in, you must know the good news of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:13, 1 Corinthians 1:21. You have a place in God's kingdom. You have a gift. You are a beautiful, valuable, and vital part of the kingdom of Heaven. But you must believe in Jesus Christ. You must accept righteousness God's way. You must be rescued from the darkness and deception that is filling the earth today. By believing in Jesus you will inherit your place in God's kingdom. God is making it so. Jesus is preparing the place. Receive His rescuing light that shines into a dark heart and brings it into His glorious kingdom for a perfect fit!


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