God is King in His kingdom. Glory belongs to God. We should learn how to submit to a king. My father told me a story about how when the Britishers came to India to trade, they brought some gifts to give to the Indian Kings. And when they saw the way these kings were sitting on gold thrones, gold ornaments on them and the diamonds that glittered on their crowns; they hid their gifts and did not present them. Imagine then how it will be when we meet the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords to whom the mountains bow down and the seas roar and the clouds speed away in His presence.
KINGDOM OF GOD came to earth through JESUS
The angels announced it as a good news of great joy. Jesus started preaching the good news saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” Mark 1:14-15 (ESV)
PARABLES
Jesus taught us about the Kingdom of God in most parables. JESUS explained to us who GOD IS and what we should do in GOD’S KINGDOM.
About God the Father
e.g. 1) Parable of a King arranged a marriage for his son.
2) Parable of Prodigal son where the Father is God.
About Kingdom of God
e.g. 1) Parable of mustard seed
2) Parable of the tares (weeds), which Jesus explained and made us understand how to decipher parables. In this Jesus is the sower. Good seeds are sons of the kingdom and weeds or tares are the sons of the wicked one the Devil. Field is the world.
KINGDOM OF GOD comes in you when you receive JESUS by FAITH.
Not when we die and go to heaven. We are already in His Kingdom here on earth. So we need to be heavenly minded always.The British rule was in India but the Queen was in England. But God is living in us and we live in Him. Jesus said, “In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:20, 23 (ESV)
When a King gives a decree or promise He got to abide by that. Even earthly kings could not go back on their words.
E.g. 1) Daniel – Darius:
King Darius did not want Daniel to be put in the Lion’s den yet he got to obey his own order which he gave without knowing that Daniel would be in trouble.
2) Esther – Xerxes:
King Xerxes gave order for all Jews in his kingdom to be killed without knowing that his wife Esther was a Jew. He could not take back the decree so he gave another order saying the Jews could defend themselves and escape if they could.
So how much more our King in Heaven could not go back in His words and He got to abide by His Words. You know how many promises we have from our Righteous King and how we can be sure that all He has promised He will do.
Today I want to put to your thoughts 5 important promises JESUS gave concerning our rewards in the Kingdom of God and what should we do to receive them.
PROMISES OF JESUS / OUR PART FOR THE REWARD
1) Rich Welcome 2 Peter 1:3-4(ESV) / 1) Make your calling and election sure. 2 Peter 1:5-10(ESV)
2) A Mansion John 14:1-3(ESV) / 2) Trust GOD, trust JESUS John 14:4-10(NIV)
3) A crown of Glory 1 Peter 5:1-4(ESV) / 3) Leading someone to Jesus that is a gift you can take to meet God, The King.
4) Treasures Matthew 6:20(ESV) / 4) Lay up treasures as a firm foundation for the coming age using money. 1 Timothy 6:17-19(ESV)
5) Throne to sit with JESUS Revelation 3:21-22(ESV) / 5) Overcome the world & Devil Galatians 6:7-8(ESV)
Jesus over came World and Devil. Matthew 4:1-11(ESV) He brought his flesh under control. So you too walk by the Spirit of God not according to flesh. If you overcome as Jesus did; with His mighty power working in you, you will live a successful life and be of good use to Jesus.