In Search Of A Better Tomorrow

Daily Devotional: The Kingdom of God Has Come

Message by Wil Pounds

The Kingdom of God Has Come
Jesus Christ has come; therefore, the kingdom of God has come to man.

It takes the supreme power of God to overcome the strong, but not omnipotent power of Satan.

Since Jesus came and drove out demons by the power of God, the kingdom of God has come. The King in the kingdom is Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Jesus said, “But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28).

Jesus rendered perfect obedience to God the Father. It was because Jesus rendered perfect obedience to the Father that He received unique power. No other person could be trusted with such absolute power.

Jesus Christ the King of Kings came to this earth, and in His coming the kingdom of God came. The full consummation of the kingdom will come in the future when Jesus returns to this earth.

What is the kingdom of God? It is the sovereign rule of God in which His perfect will is done on earth as it is presently done in heaven.

The citizen of the kingdom of God must accept and obey the laws of God. Since the kingdom of God means the sovereign rule of God no individual can be within the kingdom unless he or she submits himself to the lordship of God in perfect obedience to His will.

Jesus said membership in the kingdom involves personal acceptance by each individual of the will of God. It is a personal issue between the individual and God. To enter the kingdom means to personally accept the will of God. Any person who accepts the will of God is within the kingdom.

We enter into the kingdom by means of a spiritual birth. Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one in born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3).

Furthermore, the kingdom of God is embodied in Jesus Christ. Only Jesus perfectly and completely fulfilled the will of God. He lived His life in perfect submission and obedience to the will of His Father. His whole life can be summarized with the words, “Thy will be done” (Matt. 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 4:34).

In the person and work of Jesus Christ, we see the perfect embodiment and perfect demonstration of the meaning of the kingdom of God. In and with Jesus the kingdom came. Jesus began, continued, and ended His earthly life in complete obedience to the will of God!

Moreover, Jesus enables others to enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus removed the wall of opposition between God and man. He died to remove the penalty of sin, and by His Spirit He gives us the strength to overcome the present power of sin. When Jesus Christ returns, He will deliver us perfectly from the presence of sin. He gives us the ability to obey the will of God.

Have you entered the kingdom of God? (Luke 12:31) Jesus admonishes us to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33). This should be the object of our desire every day of our lives. “Not my will; Thy will be done.”

Are you doing the will of God? Are you in His kingdom? You cannot have one without the other.

Selah!

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006