The Kingdom of God!

 

Chapter 140

 

 

Mark said in Mark 1:15-16,

 

"Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel."

 

Jesus was saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is here, therefore, repent and believe the good news of the Kingdom of God." When Jesus began His ministry, the Kingdom had arrived never to go down in defeat.

 

The good news, or gospel, was that the Kingdom of God had arrived. This Kingdom that Jesus set up was different than the kingdoms man had set up. This Kingdom was set up by the Lord Jesus Christ and He is the head of this Kingdom. It is a spiritual Kingdom because we are spirit. Jesus said in Luke 17:20-21,

 

" The kingdom of God comes not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you." 

 

Jesus said in Matt. 40-41, (NIV)

 

"Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward."

 

For years, in the Church, prophecy has been scarce in our Churches because of the doctrine of men. They threw out prophecy with the baby's water largely because of their misunderstanding of the use of tongues. So, they began to teach that all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit ended when the last Apostle died.

 

Well, the latter rain began to be poured out in the early 1900's in Azuza Street and in Kansas and many Pentecostal Churches begin to spring up along with many healing ministries. In the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's the Lord began to restore these gifts to the Church among His anointed ones. Many churches still refused to acknowledge the move of the Holy Spirit because it didn't fit their doctrine.

 

Paul said a very interesting statement about the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit of the Lord in 1 Cor. 12:11, (NIV)

 

"All these (spiritual gifts) are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines!"

 

(KJV)

 

"But all these (spiritual gifts) worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he wills!"

 

In other words, the Holy Spirit is the one that determines when these manifestations occur. Paul goes on to say in verses 28-31,

 

And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I unto you a more excellent way."

 

Apostles and prophets have now been chosen by the Lord and it is now not unusual to hear them speak prophecies from the Lord. The office of a prophet is unique because of the anointing that is placed on them. Jesus said in Matt. 22:14,

 

"Many are called but few are chosen!"

 

What is the purpose of, what we call the five fold ministry, Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, and teachers? Paul answers this very plainly in Eph. 4:11-16, (NIV)

 

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

 

 

If you have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, you may occasionally prophesie a word of wisdom or a word of knowledge, however, that doesn't make you a prophet. Prophets carry a special anointing. Remember Elijah had a school of prophets where he taught the prophets how to hear the word of the Lord.

 

Elisha wanted to have twice the anointing that Elijah had, and he pressed on to get it while the other ones waited. Paul said in 1 Cor. 14:5,

 

"I would that you all spoke with tongues, but I would rather that you prophesied because greater is he that prophesies than he that speaks in a tongue because the one who prophesies edifies the church."

 

Paul was here talking about when the Church comes together to worship the Lord. He said in verse 18-19,

 

"I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than all of you: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue." 

 

Paul was talking about how we should conduct ourselves in 1 Thess. 5:17:18-21,

 

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."

 

That's a very profound statement! There are many churches in the world that despise prophesyings. Are there prophesyings in your church? If not, your church has limited the Holy Spirit from speaking to His people! I think all of you would like to hear a direct word from the Lord when you go to church. If you have faith in the anointing that is within you, you will be able to know if it is truly a word from God. Paul said in Rom. 8:16, (NIV)

 

"The Spirit himself testifies (or bears witness) with our spirit that we are God's children."

 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote to you in Part 139, about controlling your thoughts and where they come from. If you have never learned to discern the thoughts that come to you from the Holy Spirit, it will be very difficult to hear the Lord among the multitude of thoughts that cross your mind every day.

 

It's a good practice every day to set aside a time when you can clear your mind and think on heavenly things and listen to the thoughts that cross your mind.

 

It was prophesied last year that the Democratic Party would come apart by the seams and would turn on each other. If you have listened to what is going on in many of the news media, many have been fired from their jobs. Fox news, CNN, and others. Not only that, but the Biden administration is also falling apart, and news leaks are occurring almost daily about the corruption in our government because very few will stand up and fight for the truth because they know they will lose their jobs if they really tell the truth.

 

Therefore, judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

 

You might say, "Okey, but we need action now or our nation is going to be destroyed!" The Kingdom of God operates through individual Christians because it is a spiritual Kingdom. Not only that, but the Lord can use someone that is not a Christian to do what He wants done. I have told you many times that I believe that Donald Trump has been hand picked by the Lord and anointed to change this nation and not only this nation but many others.

 

He was well on his way to do this when the election was stolen from him by those who have no moral principles and will do anything to get their way; even to destroy our nation. It's not only the Democratic Party, but also many in the Republican Party.

 

Never in our nation's history has any president been attacked like Donald Trump! Satan is inspiring many in our government to lie, cheat, steal and ignore the laws of our constitution in order to stop Trump. At the same time information is being revealed about the Biden family and because of the corruption in our government, so far nothing is being done about it.

 

The Democratic party would have put Trump out of office a long time ago if he would have done anything that the Biden family has done.

 

Don't be discouraged by this! The best is yet to come. The Lord has his people set up to destroy the devil and put him under their feet. Pray and fully believe that God is hearing y your prayers and is actively working to answer them. Begin to praise Him for what He is doing and be thankful that our forefathers made a covenant with the Lord about this nation.

 

This nation came about because of a prophecy given by Jacob to Joseph's two sons, Ephraim, and Manasseh that one of them would become a league of nations and the other one would be a great nation. The United States of America has become the greatest nation on earth because it was founded upon the principles of The Kingdom of God.

 

Our greatest days as a nation lay before us, however, we are in the battle of our lives, and it is a spiritual battle but greater is He that is within us that he that is in the world, and we shall be victors in this battle! The glory of the Lord will descend upon this nation.