House of Faith Ministries

throughout the New Testament.

 

The Kingdom of God is found 69 times in the New Testament.

 

The Kingdom of Heaven is found 31 times in the New Testament.

 

So if this is for the dispensation of grace, what is it?

 

Let’s break down the root of the statement. According to dictionary.com, kingdom means “a state or government having a king or queen as its head.”

 

According to dictionary.com, God means “the one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe.”

 

And according to dictionary.com, heaven means “the abode of God, the angels, and the spirits of the righteous after death; the place or state of existence of the blessed after the mortal life.”

 

The reason God and Heaven are interchangeable is because God dwells in us and we in Him. God is spirit and heaven is a spiritual place. Wherever God is, there is heaven and if God dwells in us and we in Him, then we’ve already begun our journey towards heaven. Think of it like this:

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2 Corinthians 5:8

We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.”

 

We don’t have to wait for death to happen for us to begin experiencing heaven. We have heaven now. Another thing to think about here is that when Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn in two.

 

Matthew 27:51

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;

 

This means that Jesus removed the separation between God and man thus bringing the Kingdom of God to Earth.

 

So again, what is the Kingdom of God? This was so important that both of these phrases together were mentioned 100 times in the New Testament.

 

Mark 4:11

And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,

 

The Kingdom of God relates to spiritual power or the spiritual warfare one deals with during the dispensation of grace.

 

Matthew 12:28

But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

 

Look how specific Matthew 12:28 is. Jesus is clearly saying that by casting out demons by the Spirit of God then the Kingdom of God is upon you.

 

So that reaffirms that the Kingdom of God is spiritual power in the dispensation of grace. Now how does this work?

 

First, we know that to be with God is to believe in God or as Jesus put it in John 3:3, we must be born again.

 

John 3:3

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

 

And right after that, Jesus was even more specific by saying:

 

John 3:5

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

 

Entering the Kingdom of God means entering into God’s power. Now let me make something clear here. Entering the Kingdom of God is different than entering heaven. Remember above-mentioned scripture in Matthew 12:28, that by casting out demons the Kingdom of God is upon you.

 

Remember what Romans says which brings a distinct difference between spiritual warfare and going to heaven:

 

Romans 10:13

For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

 

Calling on God is different than entering the Kingdom of God. Entering the Kingdom of God deals with spiritual matters HERE ON EARTH and no one can just have any of God’s power; hence there are rules to follow. The person who decides to enter into this power with God must be ready to accept the responsibilities associated with this power. Casting out demons has nothing to do with going to heaven. Once you understand that, you understand why so many people become confused and get upset when they think they can’t go to heaven or someone tells them they won’t go to heaven unless they change their lifestyle because of the sin he or she is living in. Keep the Bible simple. Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; hence that person is going to heaven. And you only have to call on him once…Jesus only died once on the cross.

 

But if you’re beyond just calling on the name of the Lord to be saved, then you’re ready to enter the Kingdom of God, which is the spiritual power God has for His people. That means separating you from this world and entering into this Kingdom that Jesus brought to Earth with Him when He ministered during His lifetime. And to obtain that power, one must ‘enter’ the Kingdom of God. How does one enter the Kingdom of God?

 

Matthew 21:31

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

 

Jesus is very specific to who enters this kingdom. As stated in Matthew 21:30 & 31 in a parable He spoke to the Pharisees, He mentions that tax collectors and harlots enter before them. That’s not to say the Pharisees wouldn’t have but the Pharisees had some internal heart issues they needed to take care of before they could enter the Kingdom of God.

 

Another way He mentioned it:

 

Matthew 19:24

And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

Mark 10:15

Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”

 

Luke 6:20

[ The Beatitudes ] Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.

 

Also remember above, Jesus in John 3 mentioned being born again and baptized or born of water and spirit. (John 3:3 and 3:5).

 

Again, let’s keep in mind that baptizing isn’t to enter heaven, but it is to enter into the power of the Kingdom of God. And when do we need this power? Not when we get to heaven but while we’re here on Earth. Remember, Jesus’ ministry did not begin until He was baptized. This is very important.

 

By the way, how does one become born again?

 

Here’s how:

 

Romans 10:9

New King James Version (NKJV)

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.

 

Speak up. That’s right. Speak with your mouth to God, believing that Jesus is real because God raised Him from the dead, and simply say, “I confess Lord that You are God and I ask You to forgive me of my sins. I believe You are Lord and I ask You to be Lord of my life. Thank You!”

 

Then get baptized. Now you’ve just entered the Kingdom of God.

 

The Kingdom of God is power. Power to save, heal, and deliver. Key here is to LET THE HOLY SPIRIT TEACH YOU about His power. This is a personal journey you’re ready to live. Start reading the gospels and Acts in the New Testament. This will help you understand the power Jesus and His disciples demonstrated that you’re ready to begin using too.

 

While you’re going through this journey, you’re going to find yourself faced with some serious decisions to make here. For example, God will lead you on a journey to separate yourself from the world.

 

Here’s a list of items Paul clearly makes that you can’t participate in if you want to be a part of the Kingdom of God or a part of demonstrating His power here on Earth:

 

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

New King James Version (NKJV)

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

 

As you can see, one must separate oneself from these items to operate in the Kingdom of God.

 

That doesn’t mean you can hate or hurt those that choose to live his or her life as a fornicator, idolater, etc. Everybody has a choice on how he or she wants to live his or her life. You yourself are looking at a change, which is why you’re reading this. How can you live moving in the power of God if you’re heart isn’t right on viewing those who need God?

 

I’ll end with this. Show love and compassion with the above scripture. By doing this, you demonstrate and establish the Kingdom of God in you and everything around you.

 

1 Corinthians 13

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Greatest Gift

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.