“Your Kingdom Come...”

One of our highest priorities should be everyday to build the Kingdom...

People today have two options: to build their own ‘kingdom’ accumulating wealth, possessions and fame for their own benefit, with themselves as 'king'. Or to step down from their throne and serve God’s eternal Kingdom here on earth which will last forever.

When a person is fixated on keeping up with the Jones' of improving their home, buying expensive cars/properties, and wearing the latest clothes/accessories, it is all for their personal 'kingdom' which will all rust, fade and disappear. This is all in vain as the reality is every person ever born came into the world with nothing and will likewise leave with nothing. 

The comparison trap is self inflicted torture because you will always feel second and never measure up. History shows that the most miserable people are those who have apparently everything the world can offer. However, money and possessions doesn't make people happy, just more anxious and empty. What we choose to live for is therefore essential. 

When a believer is planted in church, serving and giving in faith for the benefit of others, being stewards of their gifts, surely they are building God’s Kingdom which will endure forever. In eternity, all that will matter with everything we ever did and accomplished in life was if we contributed to building the Kingdom of God. Surely he will never be shaken; his righteousness endures forever (Psalm 112:6).

Matthew 6:9-10 - In this manner pray .... Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

It is amazing that there are 365 mentions of the word ‘kingdom’ in the bible, meaning a city, nation, people or empire. Many of these refer to earthly kingdom’s that came and went and are now nothing today. However, God’s Kingdom is forever and all the faithful saints who contributed to it will be remembered and rewarded forever. 

Jesus’ model prayer for us was that God’s Kingdom would come above all other things in our lives. Today, the church is God’s vehicle for advancing the Kingdom. Church is a place of community, breakthroughs, miracles and victory. It is the greatest place we can ever build and invest our lives into that will surely last forever. We are assured that when we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, He will give us all our needs and desires, without having to strive for them (Matt 6:33). 

Matthew 16:19 - And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Whatever is bound in heaven is bound on earth. Sickness, poverty, disease and fear can not reside in heaven. Additionally, whatever is loosed in heaven is loosed on earth. Blessing, Favour, Peace, Joy and Breakthrough are unlimited when declared over your life. If these are not taking place, speak what is not into existence today. Your confession is powerful because your words are powerful. 

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like….”

Matthew 13:24 - Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field…”

Of the forty parables Jesus taught, almost half are directly related to explaining the mystery and greatness of the Kingdom. In Matthew 13, there are twelve direct references alone describing the Kingdom of God:

1) The Wheat and the Tares – God’s true people will be clearly identified from the false

2) The Mustard Seed – starts small but becomes the greatest of all kingdoms

3) The Leaven – takes over every area of a person’s life

4) The Hidden Treasure – our greatest joy and happiness

5) The Pearl of Great Price – worth selling everything we have

6) The Dragnet – the final separation of the righteous and the wicked

Prerequisites for the Kingdom

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 - 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, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God...

The Kingdom of God is not open to just anyone. It is a place of holiness, peace, freedom and perfection. Anything evil or unrighteous will never be allowed to enter for the safety of its inhabitants. We are living now in the age of Grace with time to change our ways and become citizens of the Kingdom. 

But those who are blinded to their own agenda and hold on to their own 'kingdom' will never know how amazing they could have had it serving God's Kingdom. Some of the main prerequisites for entering the Kingdom are:  

1) Childlike faith - Matthew 18:1-4

2) Forgiveness to others - Matthew 18:22-24

3) No love for the things of this world - Matthew 19:23-25

4) Available to all people who accept willingly and humbly - Matthew 22:1-3

5) Personal holiness, sacrifice and attentiveness- Matthew 25:1-13

6) Faithful with multiplying our gifts & talents - Matthew 25:14-30

7) Faith with good works of social justice - Matthew 25:31-46

8) We must be born again/genuine salvation experience - John 3:1-8

9) We must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God - Acts 14:21-23

Make it your aim this year and beyond to re-evaluate your life and if your living for the temporary or the eternal. Never sacrifice the eternal for the temporal which doesn't satisfy because it was never meant to satisfy. Ultimately, since we are receiving a Kingdom which can not be shaken, let us serve God acceptably with sincere motives and a joyful heart (Hebrews 12:28).