15th August 2017

Bible Reading: Mathew 11:12, Luke 17:21

The Uniqueness of kingdom in the Language of Jesus

1. The Kingdom is Forcefully Advancing Mathew 11: 12

Jesus said From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven
has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. What God is
trying to say is, to be a member of The kingdom and be Christs disciples, one
should have spiritual courage, vigour, power and determination because of ever-
present persecution. It is because the kingdom of heaven has been subjected to
violence, and violent men have attacked it. In this case it is the work of the devil to
oppose the true work of God and His kingdom that spreads through peoples lives,
in communities, villagers and in a country. In the bible we have seen the work of
evil on the imprisonment of John and the official rejection and execution of Jesus
just because of His kingdom. And as Christians, to enter the kingdom we shall
expect persecution, pain, neglection and , betrayal by friends and even death.
Thus, it takes true followers of Jesus with spiritual courage and patience to carry
out the work of God we do here on earth as true disciples of Jesus is also seen and
written in heaven. In 1 Timothy 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but
godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and
the life to come.

2. Kingdom in the Midst of People of Jesus Time Luke 17:21

Jesus said The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,
nor will people say, Here it is, or There it is, because the kingdom of God is
within you. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees as they still lack faith that He is
the Son of God. Jesus was referring to himself because he is the one who is in
the midst or among them preaching the kingdom. He is the core and the center
of the kingdom. In fact he is the kingdom and he was trying to portray to his
disciples, to the Pharisees and all followers how to enter the kingdom of God.
Therefore the kingdom was already at work in the midst of Jesus hearers, it was
there for them to grasp. Mathew 13:14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of
Isaiah: You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing
but never perceiving.

The kingdom deals with the spiritual and internal rather than physical and
external. It is not visible that it can be observed; however it can only be felt here
on earth by the love of God through trusting (faith) in Jesus Christ to allow the
Holy Spirit to work internally in our lives. God expects even those who have not heard
the Christian gospel to believe that he exists.

Amen