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Last Updated Saturday April 09, 2011 10:32 AM -0400

How Does God's Kingdom Come? By Terry Somerville - Total Change Ministries

1. The Kingdom of God comes as the saints pray - Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10
2. The Kingdom of God comes as the saints prepare the way. - For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Matthew 3:4
3. Repentance and righteousness is required to prepare the way for the Kingdom. - In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." ..... when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit that befits repentance, Matthew 3:1,2,7,8
4 Reconciliation is required to prepare the way for the Kingdom. - And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the land with a curse."" Malachi 3: 6
5. God looks for the fruit of the Kingdom in those who receive it. - Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." Matthew 21:43 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20
6 The Kingdom of God is given and taken from nations. - Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." Matthew 21:43
7. When The Kingdom of God comes upheaval and judgment occur. - Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. "I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." Matthew 3: 10-12
8. The Kingdom of God can be missed, and destruction replace it. - And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation." - Luke 19:41-44
9. Receiving the Kingdom of Heaven requires violent breakthroughs and perseverance - From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force. Matthew 11:12

What The Kingdom Is Not

1. The Kingdom Is Not Someone Teaching About The Kingdom - Don't mistake the announcement of the Kingdom for actually entering it. John the baptist compared himself announcing the Kingdom with Christ. - He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all. John 3:31
2. The Kingdom Is Not About Following An Apostle - False apostles say you must follow and support them to be in the Kingdom. However, the Kingdom is about following Jesus. Those who Christ genuinely sends point to Him and diminish themselves. - I will not be a burden to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 2 Corinthians 12:14
3. The Kingdom Is Not About Big Churches - Big institutions and buildings obscure the Kingdom, and have more to do with man building up than God coming down. The temple God actually occupies is the human heart. The Jews only saw the building and missed the reality. - Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. John 2:19-21
4. The Kingdom Is Not About Wisdom and Knowledge - The Kingdom is entered by child like faith not complex theology. Conform your heart to him and your head will take care of itself! - Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.
(Mark 10:15)
5. The Kingdom Of God Is Not About Blessings - Many seek the Kingdom for material gain. Impossible! The rich young ruler could not enter because of his love of money. The Kingdom is not materialism, it is contentment in God. - And Jesus said unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 19:23
6. The Kingdom Is Not About Man's Abilities, Activities, or Accomplishments - The Kingdom of God is not legalism, it's about the love of God and walking in the Spirit. It's not what we do, but what He is doing in us and through us. for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he that herein serveth Christ is well-pleasing to God, and approved of men. Romans 14:17,18

24 Features of the Kingdom Of God

1. The Kingdom Of God is a mystery to the Undiscerning
And he said unto them, Unto you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all things are done in parables: that seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest haply they should turn again, and it should be forgiven them. Mark 4:11-12

2. The Kingdom Of God Is Not Observable, It is Not Flesh and Blood
And being asked by the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God cometh, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Luke 17:20 - Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.1Co 15:50

3. There Are Seasons When The Kingdom Is Available
...and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:15

4. The Kingdom Marks A New Age
The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it. Luke 16:16

5. The Kingdom of Heaven is Precious
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls,46 who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44

And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell; Mark 9:47

6. The Kingdom Is Righteousness, Peace , Joy, Power
for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Rom 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1Co 4:20

7. God Wants To Give The Kingdom
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32

8. Men Enter The Kingdom of God or Stay Out of It
And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. Mat 19:24

9. Men Enter The Kingdom Violently (pressing in)
The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it. Luke 16:16

10. Repentance (Changing of Ways) is Required to Receive The Kingdom
and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:15

11. The Wicked Cannot Inherit The Kingdom Of God
O r know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, 1Co 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1Co 6:9

...envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like; of which I forewarn you, even as I did forewarn you, that they who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:21

12. Child Like Faith Is Required To Enter The Kingdom of God
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein Mark 10:15

13. God Transfers Us Into His Kingdom
...who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; Col 1:13

14.The Kingdom Must Have Priority
Yet seek ye his kingdom, and these things shall be added unto you. Luke 12:31 - And if thine eye cause thee to stumble, cast it out: it is good for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell; Mark 9:47

15. The Kingdom Of God Operates Inwardly
...neither shall they say, Lo, here! or, There! for lo, the kingdom of God is within you. Luke 17:21

16. The Kingdom of God (Heaven) Grows
Another parable he put before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches." He told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened." Matthew 13:31-33 - And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed upon the earth; and should sleep and rise night and day, and the seed should spring up and grow, he knoweth not how Mark 4:26, 27

17. Love Is The Greatest Commandment In The Kingdom
And the scribe said unto him, Of a truth, Teacher, thou hast well said that he is one; and there is none other but he: 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question. Mark 12:32

18. The Poor Have A Special Place In The Kingdom Of God
And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed are ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God. Luke 6:20 - Hearken, my beloved brethren; did not God choose them that are poor as to the world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he promised to them that love him? James 2:5

19. The Work of Believers is to Announce The Kingdom Of God
But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God. Luke 9:60

20. Announcing The Kingdom Brings Power To Deliver
...and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
Luke 10:9 - But if I by the finger of God cast out demons, then is the kingdom of God come upon you. Luke 11:20

21. God's People Are to Reign On Earth In His Kingdom
...and made them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth. Rev 5:10

22. Nations Can Receive The Kingdom of God
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken away from you, and shall be given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. Mat 21:43

23. At Some Point The Kingdom Will Come With Totality and Some Will be Cast Out
There shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and yourselves cast forth without. 29 And they shall come from the east and west, and from the north and south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. Luke 13:28

24. The Kingdom Of The World Will Become The Kingdom Of God
And the seventh angel sounded; and there followed great voices in heaven, and they said, The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever. Rev 11:15

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