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Governmental Order in the Kingdom

Part 1: Kingdom Foundationwww.advancingthekingdomonline.org

I. Introduction

Matthew 6:31-34 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?'or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father

knows that you need all these things. But seek ( = enquire, desire, worship) first the kingdomof God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV)

A. Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government

shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The

mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of hisgovernment and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and uponhis kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice fromhenceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (KJV)

B. Definitions:

1. Government = that which prevails or has power; that which rules, controls and directs.

2. Order = to set up; the condition in which every part or piece is inits right place.

3. Kingdom = a domain (or territory) that is influenced by a king.

C. Our greatest enemy is not sin, but ignorance of the Word of God.

1. Ignorance means not to know. Ignorance is the absence of

knowledge.

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge . . .

(KJV)

2. In Hebrew, one of the definitions for the word darkness is

ignorance.

If someone keeps you in the dark, they are capitalizing on your

ignorance about a certain subject.

The Bible callsSatan and his evil forces the rulers of the darkness of this world.

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Ephesians 6:11-12 Put on the whole armour of

God,that ye may be able to standagainst the wiles of

thedevil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood,

but against principalities, against powers,against the

rulersof the darkness of this world, against spiritual

wickedness in high places. (KJV)

Heres the point: Wherever there is a lack of

knowledge (i.e. ignorance), there is darkness.

And wherever there isdarkness . . .Satan has the

advantage.

3. Our source oflight, our source ofknowledge, and our source ofprotection from

ignorance, and from being controlled and manipulated by the devil is the Word of God.

Psalm 119:105 Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (KJV)

4. Satans number one goal is to keep us ignorant . . . in the dark . . . about the Word of

God in general, and about the gospel of the kingdom, in particular!

Matthew 13:18-19 "Therefore hear the parable ofthe

sower: When anyone hears the word of thekingdom,and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes

and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is

he who received seed by the wayside. (NKJV)

Mark 4:14-15 The sower sows the word. Andthese

are the ones by the wayside where the Word is sown.When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes

away the word that was sown in their hearts. (NKJV)

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II. The Original Purpose and Plan of God

A. The Bible is a book about a King, His kingdom and His

children.

B. The Kings plan was to extend His heavenly kingdom toearth and give ruler ship in this kingdom to His children.

C. The Kings desire was to create a family of sons and

daughters,made in His own image and likeness, tocomplete His plan of extending Hisheavenly kingdom to

earth.

Included in this assignment was the Kings decree that His sons and daughters would have

dominion, over the affairs on earth . . . and that they alone would have dominion!

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and letthem have dominion ( = to govern, to rule and to reign) over the fish of the sea, and over thefowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that

creepeth upon the earth. (KJV)

D. This statement is mans legal authority from the King . . . God theFather . . . to have and to exercise dominion on the earth.

Psalm 8:4-6 What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of

man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the

heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. You madehim ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under

his feet: (NIV)

Isaiah 45:11 . . . concerning the work of My hands, you command

Me. (NKJV)

Note: God the King gave man dominion over everything on earth

except over another human being.

E. The Kings strategy was to fill His sons and daughters with the Holy

Spirit so that they would stay connected and aligned with the King asthey brought His kingdom to earth.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are

thesons of God. (KJV)

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F. The fall of man wasnot a fall from heaven. It was a fall from

dominion . . .from the assignment God gave to Adam and Eve tohavedominion over the earth.

Because of their disobedience:

1. They and their offspring lost the right to exercise dominion

in the earth.

2. Satan obtained that right.

3. Adam and Eve were expelled from the garden, not fromheaven.

G. Therefore, the purpose of Gods plan of redemption was, andstill is, to restore man to the position from which hefell, a position

of exercising dominion and authority over the affairs of earth.

Psalm 115:16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD's: but the earth hath he

given to the children of men. (KJV)

H. Gods strategy to restore dominion to His sons and daughters was

to send His Son, Jesus, to earth to pay the price of redemption.

The crucifixion of Jesus, prophesied, sanctioned and carried out bythe high priest (John 11:49-53), provided the perfect legal sacrificeto pay for the sins of Adam and of every other human being who

has walkedthe face of the earth since Adam.

Romans 5:17 Since by the one man's trespass, death reigned throughthat one man, how

much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness

reign ( = to rule as a king) in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. (Holman)

I. So, when Jesus came to earth, His number onemission, His highestpriority, and His

great passion . . . was torestorethe kingdom of God to mankind.

The primary reason the last Adam came to earth and was sacrificed upon the cross was to

restore the government of God to the people of God for whom it was originally intended.

His desire was that man would once again exercise God the Fathers loving, dominating

and powerful influence in the earth!

III. The Significance of the Message of the Kingdom of God to People Born and Raised in a

Democracy.

A. The way a democracy works is completely opposite to the way a kingdom works.

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B. People in Haiti and the United States were born in a democracy. We may use the word king,

butwe do not fully understand its meaning, because we were not born in a Kingdom.

C. God did not choose to call Himself President, Prime Minister, or Governor. None ofthese titles convey the concept He wanted to convey. God chose to call HimselfKing.

King = a sovereign, through the notion ofa foundation of power;

the man who rules a country and its people;

a person who has great power, exercises the highest

authority and who controls, prevails, and dominates in

his kingdom.

the supreme ruler, independent of the control of another

person or government.

Revelation 1:5-6 and from Jesus Christ, the faithfulwitness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over thekings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us

from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings andpriests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion

forever and ever. Amen. (NKJV)

D. God did not choose to call the domain over which He exercised His dominating influence a

democracy. He chose to call it a kingdom.

Recall that a kingdom is a domain (or territory) that is influenced by a king.

E. The kingdom of Godis not a physical territory. It is a governmental jurisdiction.

In the kingdom of God, the influence of God the Father is manifested through His sonsand daughters, when they are operating in alignment with the will of God.

F. The kingdom of heaven is a physical territory where the influence of God is manifestedin every dimension of that kingdom by God the Father Himself.

To better understand the characteristics and operating features of the kingdom of God, I

suggest we use the terms kingdom of God and kingdom of heaven interchangeably.

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G. Contrast between a democracy and the kingdom of God:

1. A democracy is built on the power of the people.

A kingdom is built on the power of the King.

2. In a democracy the people have the right to vote and to choose

their leaders.

In a kingdom there is no voting, and you do not choose your

leader. He chooses you!

John 15:16-17 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that

you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask

the Father in My name He may give you. (NKJV)

3. In a democracy the word of the people is law.

In a kingdom the word of the King is law.

4. In a democracy the majority rules.

In a kingdom the King is always the majority, and He rules.

5. In a democracy the people work to maintain their independence.

In a kingdom the people are dependent upon the King.

The more they place their dependence on the King, the

greater His obligation to them.

The more the people worship the King, the more He gives to

them.

Worship is the protocol that controls your destiny. (Tommy Tenney)

6. In a kingdom the King is responsible for the condition of His citizens.

The Kings reputation is determined by how well He cares for them.

7. A King never speaks what He cannot perform.

In a kingdom, when the King says something, it is done.

A King always keeps His word!

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Hebrews 6:18 These two things cannot change: God cannot lie when he makes a

promise, and he cannot lie when he makes an oath. These things encourage us whocame to God for safety. They give us strength to hold on to the hope we have been

been given. (NCV)

Mark 6:17-29 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound himin prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her.

Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.

Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not, for

Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and protected him.

And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles,the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. And when Herodias' daughter herself

came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the

girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give itto you." He also swore to her,

"Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up tohalf my kingdom."

So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of

John the Baptist!" Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "Iwant you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and

because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded hishead to bebrought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, brought his head on a

platter, and gave itto the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. (NKJV)

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Now consider this: If an unrighteous king will keephis word, even when he is granting

something that is against his will, how much more will the King of Kings (who cannotlie) keep His word,especiallywhen everything He has promised is His will?

IV. Characteristics of the Kingdom

A. The kingdom of God comes with power!

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of

God is not in word, but in power (dunamis= miraculous power, ability ormight).

(KJV)

Luke 10:19 Behold I give unto you

power (exousia = delegated influence,

authority, or jurisdiction) to tread onserpents and scorpions, and over all the power (dunamis) of the enemy: and nothing shallby any means hurt you. (KJV)

Please note: Youcannot functionwith power in the kingdom of God if you have a

democratic mindset! You must begin to think kingdom, talk kingdom and walk

kingdom.

Two sources of power in the kingdom of God:

1. The Holy Spirit.

Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out demons by the

Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has

come upon you. (NKJV)

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power (dunamis)

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and youshall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea

and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (NKJV)

Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power(dunamis) of the Spirit into Galilee . . . (KJV)

2. The Word of God.

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed ofthegospel of Christ, for it is the power (dunamis) ofGod tosalvation for everyone who believes . . .

(NKJV)

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Luke 4:35-37 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"And when thedemonhad thrown him in their midst, it came out ofhim anddid not hurthim. Then they were all amazedand spoke among themselves, saying, "What a wordthis is! For withauthority and power (dunamis) He commands the unclean spirits,

and they come out." (NKJV)

B. The kingdom of God impacts everything it touches.

Luke 13:20-21 And again He said, "To what shall I liken thekingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took andhid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."

(NKJV)

C. The kingdom is worth everything that you have!

Matthew 13:44-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like

treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for

joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that

field.

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seekingbeautiful pearls, who, when hehad found one pearl of great

price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (NKJV)

D. The kingdom is a gift promised to those who love God.

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's goodpleasure to give you the kingdom. (KJV)

James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God

chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs ofthe

kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?(KJV)

E. The kingdom of God has no divisions.

Mark 3:24 And ifa kingdom be divided against itself, that

kingdom cannot stand. (KJV)

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F. The kingdom of God is not of this world . . . just as you are not of this world.

John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of

this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now

My kingdom is not from here." (NKJV)

John 17:14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are

not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (NKJV)

G. The kingdom of God is within you!

Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the

Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come,

He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God

doesnot come with observation; nor will they say,

'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdomof God is within you." (NKJV)

H. The kingdom of God:

1. Cannot be shaken.

Hebrews 12:28-29 Therefore, since we are receiving

a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace,

by whichwe may serve God acceptably with reverence

and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire. (NKJV)

2. Has no end.

Luke 1:31-33 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son,

and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the

Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And heshall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no

end. (KJV)

3. Shall never be destroyed.

Daniel 2:44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom,

which shall never be destroyed . . . (KJV)

( to be continued . . . )

Copyright 2006 by Bill Fries. All rights reserved.