REALITY  OF  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD

To many people the Kingdom of God is a puzzle.  As John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth declared that the Kingdom is "at hand" the followers of Jesus later asked whether or not He was to restore Israel's Kingdom.  He put them off by saying that was something only His Father could know. (Acts 1:6-7)  Sometimes the Kingdom seemed to be a present reality. (Mt. 12:28; 13:18-23; 21:43)  At other times, it seemed to be a hope for the future (Mt. 16:28; 20:20-23; 26:29)  In actuality it is both.  Daniel prophesied, "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His Kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed." (Dan. 7:14)  The angel Gabriel proclaimed, "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." (Lk. 1:33)

The Kingdom of God began at the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He told Pilate: "You say rightly that I am a King,  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice." (Jn. 18:37) He told the Pharisees, "But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the Kingdom of God has come upon you." (Mt. 12:28) Throughout the pages of the New Testament we read about Jesus not only casting out demons but has also given power and authority to His disciples to do the same.  From this fact alone we can be certain that the Kingdom of God is a reality.

The apostle Paul wrote: "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Col. 1:13-14) Two actions are involved in the change of a believer's position.  The first action is the deliverance from the power of darkness that is "against the principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places." (Eph. 6:12)  It also includes rescue from such negatives as danger, death, sickness and hostile situations.  The second action is the translation or transference into the Kingdom of God that includes "redemption through His blood, the forviveness of sins." This brings the believer to a position of security and ability to live victoriously over and above the invisible power of darkness.  This is a reality as opposed to a mere theory.

The Kingdom of God becomes a reality as the believer is born again and changes his or her way of life in the following areas.

1.  Repentance -  that means to change one's mind or purpose.
2.  Baptism into the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.
3.  Baptism of the Holy Spirit to live a renewed life in the Spirit.
4.  Placing Jesus Christ the Lord and center of one's life.
5.  Place complete allegiance in Jesus Christ and have honor, loyalty
     and obedience to Him.
6.  A change of one's expectations, values and priorities to be in
     alignment with God's will.
7.  Focus on the Kingdom of God and the heavenly things.