WHAT IS THE KINGDOM ?
JESUS told us to “Seek His Kingdom first” . . . what IS His Kingdom ??
Matt 6:33 (KJV)
33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matt 3:1-3 (NIV)
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea
2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.'"
Matt 4:17 (NIV)
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
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KINGDOM is GENERALLY defined as “An area rules by a King”. HOWEVER, Jesus says a LOT about the Kingdom of GOD and what it is like ... WANNA KNOW ??
The GOSPEL of the Kingdom includes HEALING :)
Matt 4:23 (KJV)
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
The KINGDOM is totally manifested in Heaven :)
Matt 8:11(NIV)
11 I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
Driving out demons and being free from ANY kind of demonic influence is part of God’s Kingdom :)
Matt 12:28 (NIV)
28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
The KINGDOM of God is spread through WORDS :)
Matt 13:19 (NIV)
19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.
The KINGDOM of God may seem SMALL and insignificant to most, but it ends up bring the MOST important of ALL :)
Matt 13:31-32 (KJV)
31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field:
32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.
The KINGDOM of God is INFECTIOUS :)
Matt 13:33 (NIV)
33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
The KINGDOM of God is worth spending EVERYTHING YOU HAVE on it :)
Matt 13:44-46 (NIV)
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The KINGDOM of God grows little by little like a seed cast into the ground :)
Mark 4:26-29 (NIV)
26 He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground.
27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.
28 All by itself the soil produces grain-- first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head.
29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."
It is HARD for those who TRUST in riches to enter to KINGDOM of God :)
Mark 10:24 (KJV)
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, HOW HARD IS IT FOR THEM THAT TRUST IN RICHES TO ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
Whoever becomes CHILDLIKE in his humility and faith with RULE in the Kingdom of Heaven :)
Matt 18:1-4 (NIV)
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"
2 He called a little child and had him stand among them.
3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The KINGDOM of God has a King who FORGIVES and is JUST :)
Matt 18:23-35 (NIV)
23 "Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
24 As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.
25 Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
26 "The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.'
27 The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
28 "But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded.
29 "His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
30 "But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
31 When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
32 "Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to.
33 Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?'
34 In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
35 "This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."
The GOSPEL of the Kingdom shall be preached to ALL - then the end will come :)
Matt 24:14 (KJV)
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Father God wants to GIVE us the KINGDOM :)
Luke 12:32 (KJV)
32 Fear not, little flock; for IT IS YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.
You CANNOT SEE the KINGDOM of God unless you are born again :)
John 3:3 (KJV)
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The KINGDOM of God is full of Righteousness, Peace, and JOY :)
Rom 14:17 (KJV)
17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.