Kingdom Living (Part 1)
Junior Level
We all have read in the Bible about The Kingdom of GOD, but what does that mean? Contrary to what many Christians believe today, The Kingdom of GOD is not reduced down to only a future reward. Being born into the family of GOD through the blood of Jesus Christ, brings us into His Kingdom immediately. Living in His will daily and growing in Grace and love toward others brings us into Kingdom Living. It is my prayer that each person reading this lesson and the Kingdom Living series will begin to understand that just as Jesus taught, The Kingdom of Heaven is indeed at hand. GOD Bless You All :O).
Handout: Kingdom Living (Part 1)
Matthew 3:1-2 “In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”
“Repent ye.” What does it mean to repent? Actual Repentance is a change of mind. When we repent, we acknowledge our sin, confess it to GOD, and ask Him to forgive us, with the understanding that we will turn away from that sin. When a person makes a choice to believe upon and call upon the Darling Only Begotten Son of GOD, JESUS CHRIST for salvation we are born into the family and the Kingdom of God. Let’s go to the book of 1Peter. (This is speaking to the saved generation.)
1 Peter 2:9-10 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of GOD: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.”
A royal priesthood, if you look back at Biblical history, NEVER was a priest, royal only for the exception of Melchisedec. When GOD gave Moses the law, on specific people from the tribe of
Levi were to be priests. When Jesus died, HE fulfilled the law so that we do not have to and we are now living under the age of grace…Praise The LORD! Jesus is our High Priest, but we are called to be a Kingdom of Priest. That doesn’t mean when we get to Heaven…that means right now while here on the planet Earth.
What does it mean to be a priest? Without going into to much detail with this lesson, a Priest is one who mediates for others, or offers prayers up for others. A priest was to live his life unto The LORD. That is what we are called to do. We are called to love. We are called to be servants of The LORD, MOST HIGH. We are called into Kingdom living as soon as we are born into the family of Almighty GOD, Most High!!!
The enemy will try to get you stuck in your past…so that you will not live in GOD’S purpose for you. We live as orphans and not sons! We do not have to nor should be want to live that way! We are the sons and daughters of The Great I AM! Praise His Holy name! We are called to Kingdom living by serving GOD through loving others!
Matthew 22:35-40 “Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting Him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Jesus said:
John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 15:10 “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in His Love.”
We learn from these verses that the beginning of Kingdom Living is to Obey The LORD and keep His commandments. These words of Jesus intertwine and agree with the words of John we read at the beginning of this lesson, Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
When the enemy comes at you bringing up your past sins, mistakes, and failures, you remind him of these words.
Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath HE removed our transgressions from us.”
1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Philippians 3:13 “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the High calling of GOD in Christ JESUS.”
Now we understand that GOD has cleansed us from all unrighteousness and we are a new creation walking in His Holy Spirit, in close relationship with Him. Then we have begun Kingdom Living here on earth.
Matthew 16:19 “And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven.
The more we learn about our Lord and study upon Him, praying to Him and developing that intimacy in the relationship, the more we begin to realize that it’s not about playing a role as Christian…it’s about BEING part of GOD’S Kingdom and making our lives a living sacrifice unto The LORD for HIS glory!
John 3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up.”
John 12:32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
There is a big world out there filled with dying, hurting people. There are people who are not just in physical pain and need, but are in pain in their minds and emotions and in need in their hearts. There are people who are in need of The Savior Jesus Christ and it is our responsibility to minister to them as representatives of The Lord Jesus Christ!
Mark 16:15 “And He said unto them, Go ye unto all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Matthew 5:14-15 “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.”
That’s The Beginning of KINGDOM LIVING! Learning to be a servant of The Most High and lifting up the name of JESUS CHRIST…sharing the good news of the Gospel!
Matthew 24:14 “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.”
When we understand that Kingdom Living is not about us, but about Jesus and doing The Father’s will, then we can begin to reach out and be a light to others and a healing touch to a world in pain with the soothing and healing balm that is Christ Jesus our LORD! Sharing the Gospel! This is exactly what Jesus was trying to teach as He preached the sermon on the mount, known to us as The Beatitudes.
Next week in Part 2 of this series we will be looking at the Sermon on the Mount and go deeper in study about The Kingdom of GOD and Kingdom Living. May The LORD Bless and Keep You all!
Dear Righteous and Heavenly Father…
Bowing before You once again, thanking You for who and all You are. I love You LORD and I praise You for all the blessings in my life. Help me to never forget that it’s all about YOU JESUS! Help me to live everyday fulfilling the purpose and furthering Your Kingdom. Bless Your children and help us to walk in the sprit and to love. Help us to love You as You would have us to and help us to love others and to show Your mercy, grace, and comfort to those who are in need of You. I love You and I will ever praise You. Help this ministry and all the ministries in Your name that we can spread The good news of Your Gospel Jesus to a sin sick world. In Your Almighty name I pray.
~*Cindygirl*~
May 13, 2018