THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Much is being spoken today about the Kingdom of God. We are truly on the threshold of the Kingdom Age. Before we enter into the Kingdom Age, we need to understand what the word kingdom is all about.

The word kingdom means "the king's domain". The word domain means "to rule over, or the king's area of power and authority". Our Lord Jesus Christ has a Kingdom, and His domain in our lives is the area He has power and authority over. Until we give Him all power and authority, we can not truly say we are part of His Kingdom.

The King does not have partial authority, nor will He accept partial submission. Partial submission is rebellion. When we become rebellious children, we will be dealt with as children of disobedience, upon whom the wrath of God is to be poured out.

Much that is being taught about the Kingdom is a pseudo kingdom. It is the kingdom of self where the King of Glory is relegated to serve King Self and is expected to jump to serve every whim and command of self. Self is raised up and demands that God accept them as they are. If change is necessary, let God change to accept them because they refuse to change to conform into the image of God.

Some who are teaching this pseudo kingdom message proclaim that all who ever lived will be reconciled back to God, none will be lost, nor is there any punishment for the godless. This makes King Self acceptable in the kingdom.

A simple study of the Scriptures will disprove any such teaching. God has given us examples, types, and shadows of His people in the Bible who were a holy, separated people. These examples, types, and shadows were given that we may know what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

When we speak of kingdom, we are impressed to look at King David and how David was chosen of God to be king over his people, Israel. The New Testament records that Jesus sits on the throne of David. Of all the kings that Israel had, David was the best. He ruled the people with a pure heart. He made many mistakes, but always repented and turned his heart back to God. The name David means "Beloved".

After David had been king for many years, his son, Absalom, rebelled against his father's kingdom. He turned the heart of the people away from his father, raised up a make-shift army, and proclaimed himself to be king of Israel.

David did not resist. He could have used his military to thwart this rebellious upstart but this was his own son, the fruit of his loins. David knew to put down this rebellious son meant destroying his own flesh and blood. So David abdicated his throne and fled Jerusalem.

Jerusalem represents the place of true worship for those who worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth. Another king had risen up in Jerusalem and that king was Absalom. Absalom was known for his beauty and intelligence.

"But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year's end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king's weight." II Samuel 14:25-26

Absalom had beautiful long hair, and he only cut it once a year. Hair is the symbol of beauty. But it is also a sign of rebellion. When the youth of the 1960's rebelled against all authority and order, they let their hair grow. Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

"Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him?" I Corinthians 11:14

Long hair is a shame unto a man. Yet, many believe Jesus had long hair because of the pictures which were painted of Him with long hair. Most were painted by Roman artists who never saw Jesus, nor did they know what He looked like. Historians agree, "Long hair in the time of Christ was unacceptable and men wore their hair very short."

A new king had risen up in Israel, one who represented beauty, pride, arrogance and rebellion against his father's kingdom. Absalom stole the hearts of the people of Israel by promising them a better deal than they had gotten from David. When people would come to David for judgment, Absalom met them in the gate of the city and would say unto them,

"See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee." II Samuel 15:3

Absalom told the people they had a just cause, but the king would not listen, nor was there anyone to represent them before the king. Then Absalom would plead his cause before the people.

"Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him, And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel." II Samuel 15:4-6

The word kissed is the Hebrew word NASHAQ and means "a mode of attachment, to seize, to bind, to restrain and to conquer".

Absalom offered them a better deal if they would rebel against the king. How like many churches today. "If you attend our church, you will not have to change, for God accepts you on the basis of attendance, not your righteousness, nor your holiness." "A better deal!" The church of today puts forth her hand, seizes them to restrain and conquer them, then leads them astray.

Another thing this new king lacked was the anointing. David was anointed with the horn of oil in the hands of Samuel. Absalom was anointed king by man and not by God. David not only had the anointing, but he respected the anointing in others. Twice, when David was being pursued by Saul, he could have become king by his own hand. Twice, David had Saul on the end of his sword, but both times he related, "I will not touch the Lord's anointed." The new king that had risen up in Jerusalem had no respect for the anointing, nor the anointed.

Today in the church system, neither God's anointing nor His anointed are recognized. All that is recognized are the credentials from their man-made organizations. Without these credentials, the anointed are not allowed to speak. The church, as Absalom, in their pride, beauty, and arrogance only think of how it can better itself with more people, more money, and more buildings; while the people are hoodwinked by the outward appearances.

These ministers, who operate in their pride and arrogance, depend on their charismatic appearance instead of the anointing in God. These are so proud of their position that they turn the anointing to their own gain to establish their own kingdoms as did Absalom. Many are so proud of their anointing, they look down on those who do not have it. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, asked a question,

"For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?" I Corinthians 4:7

If we have the anointing, where did we get it? What makes us different? What do we have that we have not received? If we received it, why do we glory as if we have not received it?

A new king had placed himself on the throne of Israel. It had taken the place of the Father. This king had the anointing of men, and not the anointing of the horn (power). Pride and arrogance replaced the Anointed One. This is the king of flesh that has replaced the anointing in the church today. But this self-proclaimed kingdom will not last.

One of Absalom's first acts as king was to put a tent on top of his father's house. And in the sight of all Israel he lay with his father's concubines (servant wives). He did this at the counsel of Ahithophel. The name Ahithophel means "breather of folly". This was to show he was abhorred of his father. II Samuel 16:21-22

How the king of flesh has risen up in the church today! But God's judgment will throw down this king of flesh. It was prophesied by the prophet Zechariah,

"Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them and their soul also abhorred me." Zechariah 11:8

Are there shepherds as Absalom today? With the sex scandals that have plagued the well-known and the unknown who stand in the pulpit and do such things, they truly abhor the Father. Their machoism is shown in their total appearance, their attitudes, and their actions. The king of pride is truly on the throne.

The prophet Micah asks the question, "What doth the Lord require of thee?" The answer is "To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God," Micah 6:8. Those who are loathed by God will be cut off quickly. He will remove those who make a mockery of the pulpit, and are examples of anything but godliness and holiness.

After David had fled the throne, Zadok, the priest, brought the Ark of the Covenant to David. The Ark was the symbol of peace, power, provision, protection, and praise in the midst of Israel.

"And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the Ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me again, and shew me both it, and His habitation." II Samuel 15:25

David did not need a sign of his anointing. David knew God had made him king and it was God's job to keep him king. Many today are seeking for signs and wonders. Jesus related,

"An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas." Matthew 12:39

Those who have the anointing do not need a sign because they have the power. David was anointed with the horn of oil which is the symbol of power. David was anointed with power. This is not the anointing of man, but of the Holy Spirit. When the angel appeared unto Mary, he informed her

". . .The Lord God shall give unto Him (Jesus) the throne of His father David." Luke 1:32

Jesus was given the throne of David. Peter, who was given the keys to the Kingdom, related at the conversion of Cornelius,

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: Who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." Acts 10:38

Jesus was anointed with the Holy Ghost and power. In the list of the gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 12, there is the gift of working of miracles. How many today proclaim to have the gift of the working of miracles. The word miracle is DUNAMIS or power. It is the gift of the working power in our lives.

Everyone who is endowed with the Holy Spirit should have the power from on high working in their lives. The early disciples were told to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high, Luke 24:49. They were not told to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the gift of speaking in tongues or some other sign of having received the Holy Spirit. They knew they had received the Spirit because they had power in their lives.

Peter had this gift of power, and people were healed when his shadow fell on them. That power opened prison doors for Peter. Paul had this gift of power. He proclaimed,

"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." I Corinthians 2:4

Preachers are still coming with enticing words, but not the power. Paul warned us in his second letter to Timothy of those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof. He admonishes us from such to turn away, II Timothy 3:5.

Those who have the real thing do not need signs or symbols. Their lives show the fruit. If we are not trees of righteousness, we will not bear the fruit of righteousness. David did not need the Ark as a sign that God was with him. He left his future in God's hands. He proclaimed, "If I shall find favor in the eyes of the Lord, He will bring me again to Jerusalem."

 

If God's people would put their future in the hands of God, He could truly move in them with power. But too many are building their own kingdom and are not part of the Kingdom that God is building within, that is coming without observation. Luke 17:20

There are many today who are proclaiming we have the fullness and all the power; but we need to know there is another day coming when the anointing is going to move in all its power.

Paul spoke of that day when He wrote to the Corinthians,

"Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away." I Corinthians 13:8

Love will never fail, but prophecies will fail, tongues will cease, and knowledge will vanish away. Paul goes on to reveal:

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." I Corinthians 13:9-10

We are enlightened to the fact that that which is perfect has not come because prophesies have not failed, tongues have not ceased (come to an end) and knowledge has not vanished away (means to abolish). We are still prophesying in part because we only know in part, but that which we have in part will be done away with because we will have received it in its fullness. Paul knew this day, wrote of this day, and continued on to proclaim the new day:

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." I Corinthians 13:11-12

Paul realized we only have a child's understanding, and that we act as children with the knowledge we have; proud, arrogant, and conceited in our revelation to God; He knew we can only see through a glass darkly. The glass is a mirror, and we view the image of Christ in that mirror. But we have a dim view of the Christ that we are joint heirs with. Only when we view Him face to face will we put away our childish ideas, and become the men and women of God that He intended us to be from the beginning. When we come to this place in Christ, we will no longer know in part, but will know as we are known. We are known by our name. So we will know the truth of God and His Kingdom as we know our own names.

The "inChristed ones" will have put on the mind of Christ. When we come to this place in Christ, we will be as David who did not need the Ark, the symbol of the presence of God, because He had the presence. Many believe they need a gift to know they have the presence of God in their lives. The gifts are for the work of the ministry, not to prove the presence of God in our lives.

Absalom did not rule long. It was in his heart to destroy David, his father, and the anointing. Absalom was killed by Joab. The name Joab means "Jehovah is Father". Absalom was hanged in a tree when his long hair was caught in the branches of a great oak. His beauty and rebellion brought his destruction. When Joab found him helpless, he thrust him through; even though David had given a direct order, his son was not to be harmed.

Those who have raised up their own ministries and are holding them together by the flesh and fleshly means, will find that Jehovah is Father. God will deal with them directly. God will deal with their pride, arrogance, and rebellion against the anointing and the anointed.

When Absalom was killed, David mourned for many days. Even though the usurper was destroyed and the rebellion squelched, David did not rush back to his throne. He did not even return to Jerusalem. He stayed in the city he had taken refuge in.

"Then the king arose, and sat in the gate. And they told unto all the people, saying, Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. And all the people came before the king: for Israel had fled every man to his tent." II Samuel 19:8

All Israel had fled to their tents. A tent is a temporary dwelling place which represents the flesh. Today, most of God's people have fled to their tents, taking care of the needs of the flesh.

Israel had chosen another king. If they wanted the true King, they were going to have to make him King in their lives.

Jesus said, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you," Matthew 6:33

Many today are seeking the Kingdom but they want nothing to do with the righteousness of God. They choose to stay in their tents; their earthly, fleshly existence, waiting to die and go to heaven. Heaven is their only hope of glory. God's Word proclaims,

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

Our hope of glory has nothing to do with dying or going to heaven. Our hope of glory is the Christ-life that we are living, exuding the righteousness of God in our daily living, making Him King, setting Him in His rightful place as King and Lord of our lives.

"And all the people were at strife throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies, and he delivered us out of the hand of the Philistines; and now he is fled out of the land for Absalom." II Samuel 19:9

All the people of Israel were in conflict with each other. Today, God's people are in conflict with each other because of man-made, denominational doctrines which have separated and divided and have made the Body of Christ strangers and foreigners to each other. There is only one Saviour, one head, one Lord, one faith. What brings the separation of the church? It is the precepts and doctrines of men.

Israel said, "The king saved us out of the hand of our enemies." Jesus saved us! He sent His Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. He redeemed us and seated us in heavenly places. God has adopted us as sons and daughters unto Himself. But now He is sitting in the gate watching His people go their own way, doing their own thing, serving the flesh, and the things of the world.

Why do they refuse to make Him King? He will not rule in those people's lives until they make Him King. The church today will accept Him as Saviour and as the anointing, but they refuse to accept Him as King and Lord of their lives. Their actions declare very loudly, "God is OK as long as He does not interfere with our lives or ask us to change to come into His image and likeness."

The people bewailed their decision of making Absalom their king:

"And Absalom, whom we anointed over us, is dead in battle. Now therefore why speak ye not a word of bringing the king back?" II Samuel 19:10

The people said, "The one we anointed king, the one we have raised up to rule our lives is dead." The old, fleshly church that operates on pride, arrogance, beauty, and rebellion to the Word of God is dead.

The true King is sitting in the gate, waiting for us to ask Him to be our king. A gate is an entrance into something. The King is sitting in the gate to lead His people into something brand new when His people make Him King of their lives.

Absalom represented the old church system that focuses on the external. The people's eyes have been drawn to the beauty, bigness, and machoism of what they call church which is more worldly than godly. The king of pride and arrogance has risen up and replaced the anointing that God gave unto the church.

The King is sitting in the gate to lead us into that which "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him," I Corinthians 2:9. We have already sensed it in the Spirit and we are waiting to have it manifested in our lives.

As we study God's Word, and our Spiritual eyes are open to the truths of His Word, we realize we are the gates the King is sitting in.

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of Glory. Selah. Psalm 24:7-10

We are the gates and the everlasting doors in which the King of Glory shall enter in. The King is sitting in the gates waiting to be the King of Glory in our lives.

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20

He is standing at the door, knocking today. Those who hear His voice. . . Who is it that hears His voice? Jesus revealed,

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." John 10:27

We are to hear His voice and we are to follow Him. Jesus stated, "I know them." How does He know them? He knows them because they follow His voice. Paul wrote to Timothy,

"The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His." II Timothy 2:19

Many feel they have God fooled by their church attendance, their good works, and what they speak with their mouths. But what does God look at?

"For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

God's Word discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart, not what the mouth speaks.

The King is sitting in His gates. He is knocking, desiring to be your King of Glory. Those who will make Him King, He will enter in and sup with them. The phrase to sup means "to eat and commune with one another". God's desire is to fellowship with His creation, man, as He did in the garden. Jesus revealed to John on the Isle of Patmos:

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Revelation 3:21

It is those who overcome who will have made Him King. The overcomers will rule and reign with Him. The overcomers have come into the place of praise and worship, and they know their God. David sat in the gate and no one was willing to make Him King. So David sent for the priest.

"King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, saying, Speak unto the elders of Judah, saying, Why are ye the last to bring the king back to His house? seeing the speech of all Israel is come to the king, even to His house." II Samuel 19:11

The name Zadok means "to justify". The name Abiathar means "father of a remnant". He told them to speak to the elders of Judah. The name Judah means "people of praise". Zadok and Abiathar were to speak to those who were in charge of the people of praise.

Today, David would be speaking of the elders and pastors of the church. The Holy Spirit is directing those to inquire of the people,

"Why are ye last to bring the king back to My throne?"

All the talk of God's people is to crown Jesus, make Him King over His house (the church), and to set Him up as the head of His body. There is much talk about the return of Jesus. But Jesus cannot return because He has no throne to rule from. The throne He will rule from is the throne of our lives. If we can not make Him King now, He will not be King when He returns. David cried out to Judah,

"Ye are my brethren, ye are my bones and my flesh: wherefore then are ye the last to bring back the king?" II Samuel 19:12

"Why will you not make Me King of your life?"

By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul revealed to the church at Ephesus:

"For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones." Ephesians 5:30

We are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones. This is not His physical body which was flesh and blood as we still dwell in today. He spoke of His resurrected, Spiritual body that He walked in for 40 days as an example of the changed body that we will have when the change spoken of in I Corinthians 15 takes place. Jesus spoke to His disciples of His spiritual body thusly:

"Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have." Luke 24:39

He was not Spirit, but He had a Spiritual body. It is this "becoming one with Christ" that is the mystery Paul spoke of concerning Christ and His church. Ephesians 5:32

Christ is sitting in the gates to lead His people into a new experience, a new dimension, a new day. But He cannot lead His people if He is not their King. His people, who have made flesh, pride, arrogance, and self king, He can do nothing, but sit in the gate and continue to knock on their doors.

The Absalom system is dead. It is going nowhere. Its beauty is fading. Its pride will come to nought and God will destroy its arrogance.

Just as David refused to be made king by His own hand, God will only rule in those lives who want Him to be their King. Those who desire Him to be King will be as the crippled man, sitting at the Gate Beautiful, whose ankles were healed. Peter reached down in faith and pulled that lame man up on those ankles that had never walked and proclaimed, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk." Acts 3:6

Only those who wait upon the Lord and make Him King will enter into the Kingdom, walking and leaping and praising God. Those who have been part of the old, Absalom system need to repent before their God and make the true God the King of their life.

The first step is repentance. Repentance means "a change of direction". All Israel repented and returned David to his rightful place on the throne. Those who will not repent will not be part of God's New Day.

These will remain in their tents of flesh, proclaiming, "The one we anointed king is dead." Return the rightful King to His rightful place in your life, and do it today!

We must begin with repentance with a sincere heart, one that has been cleansed from all unrighteousness. We must begin to walk in the righteousness of God.

Know that self-righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God. Destroy the rebellious son in your life and put the true anointing on the throne of your life. God will only accept those who have clean hands and a pure heart.