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Introduction
Why study about the kingdom of God?
When one looKs at the situation in the world a lot of questions are raised which includes:
1. Why can a good and caring God create a world full of so much trouble, pain and suffering?
2. Why is there so much greed, hatred and selfishness in the world?
3. Why can't people just live together in peace and harmony and love?
4. How did all this suffering start and what is its cause?
5. How can one get out of all this suffering and pain?
6. Is there anything God has done or will do to put an enC to all this hatred and suffering in the world?

All these questions can be fully answered when one studies and understands the mystery of the kingdom of
God. It explains God's original plan about the earth and what went wrong and what God did about the
situation in the world
This is why it's very important for every believer to understand the mystery of the kingdom of God. It will
help him to understand the plan of God about the world and how God vrants to protect his children from all
the suffering in the world to give them a life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost which is life
in the kingdom of God.

Origin of God's kingdom on eafth


God's'Original Plan about Man i

1. In the beginnirrg God created the universe and made one of the planets, eafth habitable by creating
plantsar,l animals and pleasant weather, Planet earth is the only habitable planet in the universe. He
made it to have life. Genesis 1:1,9-25; Isaiah 45:L2,t8
?-. ilJ;;;;J tnu ou.tf, to be a replica of heav-.n with living conditions like those of heaven whererpeace
and comfort and joy dwell. Gen 2:8-10
3. He creaie;i il,e eir1-h as a special place rr''rhere man could live and enjoy life. 'r'ule
After cr:ating the earth
anri making it beautiful and pleasant, God created man in his own inrage to ;nq to have dominion
t:': estahlish'an eiii'tl::" , i'rv'i'-"ir;-t:-i
on earth on his behalf while he luies in heaven. He',vanted
exten.iicn cr' his heavenly kingoom man es the'ruler or i<ing, Ge,r .[:26-28
.:. ile rrrade earil'r te be a colony of heaven where God could extend his rule ihi'cugh rnan.
S. God created man as little gods, beings a litLle lower than hinrseif (God, Elohim, and not angels) but with
the san:e attributr:s as himself to acf like him, behave like him and operate like hinr. They were ih hls
own image and likeness, his sons. Psalms 8:4-5; 82:6
6. (NB: sorie bibles say "a little lower than angels" this is not correct translation. Original Hebrew said
Elohim meaning God himself)
I have saio, You are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. (Psalms 82:6)
What is man, that yo[ think of himZ What is the son of man, ihat you care for him? {psalms 8:4) For
you have niade him a little lower than God, and crowned him rvith glory and honour. (Psalms 8:5)
Another ver.sions puts it this way: For You hav'e made him lacking a little from God, and have crowned
him with glory and t,cnour. (Psalms 8:5)
7. God wantecl man to ruie on earth as li*ie gods just as he did in heaven. No two kings can rrrle iri the
same domain or kingdom so God created another domain called earth where tnan could rule as kings.
Psalms 8:1-6
B. God wanted to rule in heaven (in heaven is his throne) and seeing what man could Co as he took care
of the earth. He wanted man to dominate and prosper on earth. He vvas in charge of things on earth.
He named the animals and took care of the garden. Genesis 2:L5,L9-20; (Psalms 115:16); (Psalms
11:4)
g. The plan went wrong when man sinned in the garden by disobeying God, He was tricked by the devil to
believe the devil's lies. He was made to believe that he was not like God and could only be like God
after he ate the forbidden fruit.
1.0. By making man to believe a lie he wanted man to disobey God and lose his relationship with God
which
was the source of his dominion on eafth' l

l.t" (e.g An army General rebelling against his government vvill lose the source of his authority and become
an drdinary citizen after beinghred from the army. Anybody can now command and have authority
over him)
over
12. By earing the forbidden fruit man rebelled against God and lost the source and right to dominion
under his
the, earth. The devil automatically too[ or.rih"
ruler ship over the earth and man came
rjominion. The devil obtained control over man and man came under
the power of the devil'
13. The blessing and the authority or man ou.i
ei,d., was rost. The ioy and peace of earth was destroyed.
wickedness and corruption took ovei. Man feil into
the kingdornoi the wicked one' Even the whgle
RomanJS: L9-22
creation came under bondage' (Genesis 3:L7't9); ^-r authority rnrr rn:
^.,+hari.., and man came
ihe earth iito tris o*n tingoom'under his own ruler ship and
The devil turned *:12];
tt.'. gta of this earth (Johr"r ta:3{i);
3d&.
([prresrans
under his bondage. The devir becamu
hurricanes, stgrrs, droush! earthquakes, heatutuu"'
,r.ffiff,*?,;T;1"frh5?"TlmHligusenoods,
power of the wicked one' 1 John 5:19
etc because the whole creation is unaer the Genesis 2:15-
God unJouuying the voice of the devil
I.6. Marr lost his dominion over eafth uv airou.ving
L7;3:t-24 L^ and the devil became] his
fZ, ifrl control of the earth was rrkon
^-,+h ,r,rc taken by the devil' l4an btecame a slave of sin
master ruling over him (John 8:34); (Luke
4:5-7). rL^ ana tife
rrarrznacc and became full of
life became
by til p";ers. --inaa of
or'the air the prince ^r darkness
1g. Man was now being controiled
and became u-iruu. of sin. Ephesians z;L-5; Rom 7:14-23
misery, He rost coniror of his own actions
1g, Man,s heart and imaginations or nis-rrea,t
o..ur. wicreJ continuafly. out of his heart came out bll
Gen 6:5; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 7:20-23
forms of wickeJnessind he became defiled' to set man free to restore man
mu,., rro* the bondage of sin and
20. God roved man-i.ni:.ru, to reaeei -lluttftu*
to his original ftl"io' John 8:36; !faZ!-.:O i..^ ^annra racr frpprtom and jov'
iov, t9
to remoile
ren all
whole message of the kingJo* of God to,give peop-le ::tl:::d"m lost
21. This is the man to ,.guinl-;ih;ty t;'d dominion
bondage from man and give r,i,
p.ul.lnd joy. God-wantsjonn
;il E; ldrri rb:io; i 3:8; Romans t4:t7; Luke t0:19
originalty in the garden by Adam

ThecomingofChristandrestorationofthekingdom.otGodl of God wa3 upon him but the earth


he lived in
i. Mr:'r afr-r:r the fali ,va'-r in a difficult sitr'ration'
t!: !Ff;g
WaSunoeracl:lse.Ti:ebiesslngandcur$)Werenolvincontradictory,fcrm. pronounced on his
iii. o.l*r. ot *,u Lr"i.ing cod had oriqinal
iiru' 6en L:22; Cei ::tz
to happerr ir'i..'[
2-. what was supposed
iife just ut.,. rir.ieation v,as no l;.gJ;;;ifesting,in-hit
',

ih; .urr. or"cJJover the no*rery visibre in his [fe. Gen 3:17-19;
3. The conseqd;;; "ar*''*.i"
Deut 28:15-23,27,38-40
together -.-...i!L
with his ain
Lia body
sinful nature' the 'of sin. John 8:34; Rom 7:14-
4. Sin was no* nir-*iter working .

t5 under the cbntrol


the god of this worrd. Man instead of rufing came under bondage
5. The devil was now
i"ril. 1 John 5:19 . 3:23)
fGod (Rom
"iir,. dflrlli'
r !L
i [#[::*:llltnlLglfli#i"#.:[.':?ffis-;*i;;vtt''''t*l
he was to be crushecl, defeated,
subdued,-conquere;:";;;;e'uy 'be
God promised the
*re cr''ild of a woman and man was
war between you and the woman
and between
his authority from the o.rirl;n.h t,.i" wi,
to regain
your seed uni r,.ii.La, ny rrim ,iiirvouirreao
nu.rrli"J;,,d by you his foot wilt be wounded'"
(m**u*l* 3:L5i; ltr:m 5:14 woman to man
oromised seed of a woman
.---^,^^-^hram hrr conrtino the promised
g. At his own tirne he interuened in man's prob]e11by sending 5:17-19
r:!r9-zs-ifom
undei'nonoaiei' i;;ittiutt 4:4-5);-Luke ,un uno roved manrn whom he created in his own
iimcury, diremma.oi
9. God had seen t.e predicament, redeem man (to buy ba*'
gave his son to save;;;;;'i to furfil his promise. Jesus came to
image and
man) from ;;;tv;i the d.evil' (John 3:L4-r7); (Titus 2:14) paid the
dues ,[il'i"'ii; i.{,iriir i.Jn lo'uu free bv his own brood' He
r0. He came and paid a, the
i'7i; [r R.tut r:ia-zo); Matthew 20:28
redemption price for man to n.,r.iirl.. leprresianr take us from the
to pay for our neeaJii. eoi"it ou, ,inr*oninr.ro* sc that he could
11. Jesus came
of God' (Colossians t:L2-L4)
kingdom or iilJiJuil i''to ff'u kinglom lohn 3:$; John
man. r".l Jslhn
, from man'
from his ,i"nluna to break t#;'ili;;o'10niog.
12. He came to save man
into rreedom and
save mankind and to brins mankind
,r. i:';l:Xrt*:bffi[ffi:#'if.i,u,r.*iry io_
Isaiah 53:1-8; Gal 5:t
into the f<ingdom of God'

"fhe kingdoms now on earth


1. There are two opposing Kingdoms in the world.
a. Kingdom of God - which is everlasting. It has no beginning and no ending. It is also called the kingdom
of light. Colossians 1:13;
b. Kingdom of the devil - which is temporary. Has a beginning and an end. Also called the kingdom of
darkness
2. God has all the power, He is omnipotent. His kingdom is empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit,
Acts 1:B; Luke24:47-49; Acts 10:38
3. But the devil has some power, but not all the power. Devil is a king with his own subjects, i.e. fallen
angels, demons. It is empowered by the power of Satan and his demons. 2 Cor.4:3; Lk. 4:6. Eph 6:12
4. Each Kingdom has a destination. ,

a. Kingdom of God - leads to - LIFE eternal


b. Kingdom of the devil - leads to -HELL i DEATH eternal
5. Thus whoever is of the kingdom of God is opposed by those in the kingdom of Darkness. These may
exist together on earth, in this world but operating differently and in opposition to each other.
6, Since the time Jesus came to introduce the new kingdom the oppositicn has been going on. They
opposed Jesus and they still oppose the kingdom of God even under the ruler-ship of his subjects, the
born again believers, saints, heirs together with Christ. lohn 15:18-21

What is the kingdom of God?


t It is the Civine, Sovereign rule of God, whether in heaven or on earth.
.. It is the ruler ship of God in the lives/ heafts of believers. Its God ruling in the heafts of man by faith in
Jesus Christ. It is God being Lord and master in person's life. God having total control of a persol's life.
It is total submission of a person's heart to the will and kingship of God in his life, It starts when a
person receives Jesus Christ into his heaft by faith. That is when a person is born again by the :ipirit
and by water. John 3:5
Explanauon;
e It is the rule of God tnru iris Spirit in the hearts of man. GoC dwells in the heai-rs r,i rnan thru his Spirit
byfaith.Heliyesv.ritnir,hisdomain,hiskingdorn. If l'.:isin:lrahea,"tthat'sv.;i,?r,'i-;,s.j;;;i,c,i;.i:. iJoirn
:14:3.7)
t-
il. Theret'oi'e tha kingdorn is within a person in the persont heait, in the prs(;n'S spirit. ,",/hen a pe-son
draws neai'to God bv r,:ith arrJ in obedience to the word of God, Jesus dra',vs near also and come and
dwell in tl're pers.ins heaft through his Spirit. (John 14:23)
c, God wants to come and stay in our heafts and reign in this world through us from our hearts. He wants
to operate from us to empower us to do mighty exploits through his name. His power w,ants to operate
from withirr us, thg pcwer that raised Christ from the dead is the povver God wants to operate in us so
that we can experience his authority and the power of his kinedom, the kingdom of power (f;phesians
3:19-20)
d. God used to operate from the temple of Solomon or the tabernacle of Moses. It was his dwelling place.
But he no longer does so tcday. (Acts 17124)
But from the time of Jesus God changed his plan and does not now operate from the ternple but from
the new dwelling place the church, which is the hearts of people saved by God, born again childrerr of
God. Thus his kingdom is no longer physical as in the time of Moses and the kings ;ui spiritual in the
hearEs of all believers who walk according to the Spirit and not according to the fl .sh of the rules and
regulations of the world. (lCorinthians 3:16); (lCorithians 6: 19-20)
f. It means God becomes king and master in tlre hearts of believers. He does not become saviour only but
master, king and ruler. The believer should now not do what he wants but rryhat is wanted by his
master
fi.It is in the Holy Ghost. God thru his Spirit dwells in a man's heart or spirit, ruling and operating from his
heart bringing the kingdom into operation in the man's life. (Galatians 2:20)
h. When one becomes a born again believer he enters into the Kingdonn of God because Jesus Christ
reigns in his heart, since he accepted Him as Lord and Savicur" ,

The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost as given in Romans 14:17. This
verse summarises the principles behind the coming of the kingdom on eafth, which is to give pecple
righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is what every born again believer must e>,perienie
in his life when in the kingdom of God.(R.omans 14r17)

Nature of the kingdom of God


1. The teaching of the Kingdom of God is important for us because it involves the total message of the
Bible.
2. The Gospels reveal that the Kingdom of God was the central theme of Jesus' ministry. Mark 1: 14-
15; Mat- 4:17; Luke 4:42-43
a, "Kingdom of God/Heaven" occurs 85 times in the gospels. 160 times in New Testament. Matthew's
gospel uses the term "Kingdom of Heaven" (32 times), while Mark and Luke use "Kingdom of God".
Luke 6:20, Mat. 5:3 ,

b. The kingdom of God tells us who rules the kingdom that is God. Therefore it is the kingdom of God
which means that it is a kingdom ruled by God, God as the king.
c. The kingdom of heaven tells us where the kingdom is coming from, which is heaven. This means it's a
kingdom coming from heaven coming to earth. This means that it's a kingdom ruled by God whiqh
comes from heaven. So the kingdom of God is a heavenly kingdom. Heaven coming to eafth, heavenly
conditions and rules coming to eafth, heavenly authority coming to eafth, heavenly dominion coming to
eath
d. Therefore there are two basic things when talking about a kingdom, (a domain, empire, territory;
monarchy) which are:
i. A king who rules the kingdom who is God the king.
ii. Subjects who are ruled who are the born again believers.
3. Thsdifference between the kingdom of God and other kingdoms is that the subjects in the kingd]om of
God are all children of the king which means that they are princes and princesses, no proper seruants,
' no proper slaves but children entitled to enjoy the inheritance of the kingdom. 2 Peter 2:9
4. The king takes care of the subjects of his kingdom because they are all his children, citizens of his
kingdom who are supposed to rule together with him. Revelation 5:10 ,l

5. God created an extension of his kingdom here on earth so that his children can reign here on earth for
him while he reigns in heaven. Since no two kings can reign in the same territory. He wants his children
todominatetheterritoryoftheextensionofhiskingdomcalledearth,Genesis1l2s-2B
S.When a natioir coi,:niseianother nation'they bring in to that colony their culture, traditions, lifesty'le,
food, iarrgui,lle. 'ires;ing, way of governance and authority
7. For example, ihe British when they colonisetl-Zimbabwe (called it Rhodesier,then) they 6lourht into il;e
cotlntry !,lreir language, (English) dressing (trousers dresses), tarred roads, vehicles, customs (white
weddincls), way,uf governance (policemen and judges), etc, I

$. This why when Jesus came to establish the kingdom here on earth he told people to repent to take on
the nature and culture of God, which is righteousness which they had lost through sin and
disobedience. {Mark 1rt5}; Romans 5:12
$, When they repent they were to be given the righteousness of Christpo that they become like thQ
father. Once they had the nature of God, the divine nature, they were now entitled to reign on this
earth. 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:L7,L9
10. Jesus came from the father to show us how it is done and how we should go about it. This is why Jesus
Prayer.
taught his disciple how to talk with the father in what is called the Lord's :i

11. He wanted them to pray to be given wisdom and understanding to operate on eafth as it is being done
by the fathrer in heaven, the original territory, Heaven is supposed to be here cn eath. Mathew 6:9-10
12. In the Lordli prayer he taught them these basic principles and facts of the kingdom of God
a. God is a father ar,d dwells in heaven which means we are his children and therefore citizens of our
father's kingdom
b. The father dwells in heaven thus where his throne is. He rules from there.
c. His name must be honoured here on earth. He demands reverence and honour from his subjects here
on earth. We must pay allegiance, loyalty, faithfulness, commitment to him
blessings
:l

d. The will of the father in heaven must be done to get his approval and '

e, We must live in peace with him by seeking forgiveness with him and others since he is the God of
peace and love
f" The father takes care of his children and provides for his children or subjects needs such as foodtand
clothes
g. The father provides protection to his subjects and looks at their welfare every day
h, The father possesses all power, dominion and authority over all things forever
13. Man is supposed to dominate earth as is in heaven. Man is supposed to rule on earth on God's behalf.
Tc let earth become an extension of heaven. God wants what is in heaven to be on earth. The same
peace, joy and righteousness in heaven to be here on eafth.
5
14. The will and honour of God to prevail on earth as in heaven. :

15. Jesus came to teach people to know the will of God and how
- children of God who honour him as he wants us to. John 15:14-16
to honour God so that we can truly be the

16. . After finishing his duty he Ieft and went back to the father and left his disciples to continue as they
= were taught by him. John 16:27-28.
17"To continue the training and learning program, Jesus went and asked the father to send the Holy Spirit
to be the teacher, guide and helper so his children to reign on this territory called eafth. John 16:7, 12-
15; John L4:26;
18. So every believer must be baptised in the Holy Spirit and to operate under the power and anointi;ng of
the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to:
A, Speak with the father. He gives the subjects the means to communicate with the father in heaven.
Romans 8:26
B. Know the will of the father, to know the heaft of the father. Romans 8:27
C. Speak the language of heaven understood by the father. Cor L4:2 t
D. Interpret the mesiage from heaven from the father to other subjects for them to know the will of the
father. 1 Cor 14:3-5
E. Understand the laws of the kingdom. (sin is breaking the law, 1 John 3:4,9), John 16:8
F. Understand the constitution of heaven which is given to operate on eafth which is recorded in the Holy
r

' Scriptures or book called the bible. iohn 16:L2-t5; John 14:26
19. The kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the one who:
-- a. .Empowers the believers to live within the requirements of the Kingdom. John 1"6:8
b. Anoints the believer to perform miracles. Acts 10:38; Luke 4:18;
c. Gives the believer power to understand the voice of God and the word of God. John 14:26
d. Enables the believer to bear fruits of repentarrce/ fruits of righteousness/ fruits of the Holy Spiril or to
develop the character and nature of Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:22-24
20. Jesus came t6 ushei" in the kingdom and then left and sent the Holy Spirit for the propagation of the
kingdom and the emooWerinE of the peopie to iive in the kingdom and to enjoy tlre benefits of the
kingdom. John 14: 72,i6-17
?1.. Thi; is why it is very irnl;ortant for every born agairr beiievet' i:c. be baptisecj and I'illed vrrith the l-loly
Spirit. ,t is tne Fioly Si'ixit who ushers believers into the kingdom of G,:d ailC empowers them to live the
life of righteousness e,s:is required in the l<ingdom of God. John 16:8
22. A believer cannot mc,rtifli, put down, or crush the desires of the flesh without the pcwer of the l-loly
Spirit. Romans 8:5-13 l
23. This is why the kingdom operates in the Holy Ghost, because it is empowered, controlled and operated
under the power of the Holy Ghost. The Holy Spirit is the guide, the teacher and prograin manager. To
enjoy the kingdom we need to be filled by the Holy Ghost. (Romans 8:9-11)
24.To experience the power of the kingdom we need the Holy Gh*st. To be born again we need the Holy
Spirit. To be free of Guilt we need to walk according to the Spirit. (Romans B:1-2)

. a. Summary facts about the kingdom of God


1. It is the universal rule of God. It is a kingdom for all who will believe. It's not for a few selecled Beople
, but for all who will believe the word of God and in Jesus Christ despite race, colour or creed. ,,

2. It is the kingdom of heaven that means it comes from heaven, originates from heaven and comes to
eafth.
3. It is the kingdom of God which means God is the one who runs it.
4. When Jesus came to earth he brought the kingdom of God here on earth. He came to re-introdute the
kingdom of God. He is the king of the kingdom. But he later left it to his brothers to reign here on earth
for him on his behalf. Matthew 4:17, Luke 10:19
5. The kingdom is for born again believers, people who have received Christ as personal saviour
6. It is for every born again believer to enjoy in this earthly life and life in heaven. It is a realm into;lwhich
we may enter now to experience the blessings of God.
7 " The kingdom is to be enjoyed by all born again believers here on eafth. It is meant for a believer to
* have a better life, a life of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
8. God wants us to enjoy life because people full of problems cannot really worship and praise God, We
shall experience it fully when we have eternal bodies in the next millennium that is the millennium
' kingdom.
I

L But we start enjoying it now and not only when we die, now and tomorrow after our death it will be a
continuation of what started here on eafth. Luke 16:15; Mat. 11:12; Mark 1:14.
lCI. It has hidden treasure stored by God for his children (born again saints) to enjoy which is the blessings
kept in store by God for his children. 2 Peter 1:3; Eph 1:3; 1 Pet 3:9c; 2 Cor 9:8 I

(Some versions of the bible say "God is able to make all giace/precious gift abound or overflow to
you..." here grace or precious gift refers to blessing which is the inheritance of all who are born again
believers in Christ)
11. It is understood thru the revelation of the Holy Spirit for it is a mystery. Matthew L3:44-46 I

12, It is the extension of God's rule from heaven to here on earth being expressed thru his children in the
hearts of his children. Matthew 6:10
13. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of peace righteousness and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans L4:L7;
Acts 10:36
14, il; kiild", is the purpose and will of God. It is the kingdom where the will of God operates and his
purposes are fulfilled. In heaven the will and purposes of God prevails and God wants it to happen on
the kingdom of God here on eafth. Matthew 6:10
lS. The kingdom came for people to enter and live within it and to be its citizens and members of the t'

household or family of God. Matthew 21:43


16, The kingdom of God is for us here on earth and not only in heaven as previously taught by
preachers'
The heavenly kingdom is the culmination, (conclusion, climax, consummation) of the kingdom that is
here on eath l

17. The Kingdom of God also refers to a future realm, which will come with the return of Christ. This is the
culmina[ion (conclusion, finale, pea( height, and climax) of the kingdom of God. This is where we are
leading to.
1g. Believers shall enter the coming Kingdom and experiep,C th fullness of His reign. This shall Ue lhg
fullness of the kingdom of God when Jesus comes to earth or when they die and go to heaven. 2 Peter
3:11-13
19. At the moment vr si-e experiencing the kingdom in part due to prevalence of sin and corruption in this
hatred
20. But the coming kingdom will only have righteousness no sin, no corruption. No wickedness no
no any form oi evii. This'!s the new eafth and new heaven. Rev 2L:L-3,27;21,:l-4,L4-L

The Kingdom qf God in the Ministry of John the Baptist and Jesus Chrlst
Mat, 3: f-Z; q:tl-Zli t3:24,2L,44, 47
I

John the Baptist and the kingdom of God


a. In Mark 1, John the Baptist preached about the Kingdom of God, saying it is at hand, announcing the
arrival of the long awaited king and his kingdom. He was preparing people to enter the corning
kingdom. Mark 1:2-4 , t_
b. eeJpte had to repent as paft of the preparation to enter the kingdom. There was need for some
preparation to be done before one could enter the kingdom wtriifr was repentance from sin and ',
confession and water baptism. .i ,
i

qualification
c. Not everyone would enter anyhow but there was to be divine judgement and selection and in the
for those who will enter. A certain criterion had to be met before one could be accepted
kingdom. John 3:6 r

d, th6fatner is the one who qualifies people to enter into the kingdom to share in the inheritance'
Colossians 1:12-14
e" Those who repented had to change their way of life by showing fruits of repentance that go along with
the new life in Christ and in the Spirit. There is supposed to be an internal transformation that is seen
on the outside by change in behaviour and character. Matthew 3:7-9; John 3 :8 i

f.cooJ fruits wereimporiant for one to be accepted into the kingdom or else there would be iudgement
and condemnation to all who do not take it seriously to change. Matthew 3:10
g. John,s focus was on the divine judgement, which was at hand/coming soon with the arrival of tftF
kingdom. The kingdom had nof arr-ived but was about to arrive with the arrival of Jesus Christ thp Lamb
of God, the Messiah and king.
h" John was sent to prepare, idlntify and introduce the Messiah, the new coming king who was to take
away sin permanently and usher in a ne* kingdom of righteousness, peace and
joy, a kingdom of
power, to the people so that people could foll6w him. John L:29-36 i

7
i. After he introduced the Messiah he faded out and later on was beheaded by King Herod. His job was to
prepare people to enter the coming kingdom and to receive the coming king. John3:26-30
I

Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God


. a. Jesus took over the rnessage of John the Baptist and continued with it. {Matt. 4:t7),
b" Jesus proclamation of the Kingdom was different from John's. (Matt. 4:23).
c. Although Jesus announced the coming judgement He also called people to repentance. But the l

outstanding thing in His ministry was the healing and miracles. Acts 10:38
d. Throughout his ministry wherever he preached about the kingdom of God he healed the sick and cast
out devils. Matt. 9:35.
e. Jesus was showing them that the kingdom of God is a kingdom of power, a kingdom that brings and
gives people life and not death so that people came can enjoy the fullness of life or life in abundance.
John 10:10
t. He healed the sick and cast out devils so that people could enjoy the kingdom of God. Matt 4:23-24
g. He showed people that the kingdom of God was there to give people a better life and life in abundance
and was different from the kingdom of the devil which brought pain and misery to the people, John
10:10; Romans 6:23
h. He showed that it was not like the kingdom of the devil which brings destruction and pain to its
subjects. JCIhn 10:9-10
i. He was showing people that the Kingdom of God was not just something to come in the near future, or
just a reality at hand, but the Kingdom was already present or manifested in the person and ministry of
Jesus Christ. It was now there active among them. God was now ruling among his people. Luke 11:20
j. All they needed to was to believe the Gospel and start to experience the kingdom of God. Luke, 17:20-
2t; Matt. L2:28
k" Jesus also taught that the Kingdom of God will be fully established in the future. Mark. t4:25; Luke
22;18; 14:15-24; Matt 8:11; 22tt-14; 25:1, L4,31-46.

The Kingdom of God as a Present Reality


25. The miraculous acts and the teachings of Jesus'indicated the presence of the Kingdorn of God through
tlis ministry. He manifested the arrival and presence of the kingdom of Ged
26. Jesus did not bring a political Kingdom, which the Jews expected. But He brought a Spiritual Kingdom
whose purpose was to destroy works of the devil, Matt 4:23-24; I John 3:8
27" Through the healing of the sick and casting our demons the Kingdom of God is seen in operation.
Jesus revealed that the Kingdom of Satan was being destroyed. (Luke 11:20)
28. l"'le also gave His disciples power and authority to cast out devils to f,urther the work of destrr.rying the
kingdom of the devil and to establish the kingdom of God which was already in their midst. (tuke
10:19; Mat 10:1,7-8; Mark 16:17
29. The Kingdom of God was already present, but not in supernatural events as the Jews expected. God's
Kingly authoriry was being manifested then even though the Romans are still ruling over the Jews.
(Mark 9:11-13). This was fulfilled in the spiritual realm, but the peopie did not realise that.
30. God knew that their problem was spiritual and not physical and so he dealt with the spiritual problem
- which was slavery to sin and the devil and began to set them free. Matt 9:1-8
31.The power of sins, demons and the devil was being broken. Jesus uras fulfllling Isaiah 61:1-2 by.
forgiving sins, gathering the outcasts, setting captives free.
32. The parables of growth implied that the kingdom was already present, although they also expressed a
future element of the Kingdom. (Mat 13:24-53)
33. The parables of Jesus Christ teach us that the process of growth of the kingdom has already beg.un
with the coming of Jesus Christ (the process has been set .in motion by Jesus). The Kingdom is now
being manifested, but its complete fulfilment is still in the future. (Acts 1:3-8,)
34. Jesus described two periods of history in his teaching and distinguished them
a. The first one was the period of the law and the prophets, which lasted up to John the Baptist, which
was a time of bondage and slavery to sin. Luke 16:16; l

- b" The second period began after John. and it is described as the period of the kingc.lom of God which is
the time of liberation and freedom form sin. Matthew 11:12-13
35. With the coming of Jesus Christ the Kingdom of God began. He came to bring the kingdom of God on
' earth and to teach people how it operates.
36. In the gospel of Mark the distinction between the oltl period airci tlre new one is revealed. Mark 2:21-72
It shows that the law and prophets serued their purpose faithfully but they were replaced/fulfilled in the
ministry of Jesus.
Jesus came to end one dispensation and to usher in another which was a better one, one with p6wer
and dominion resulting in a better lifefor its citizens. (Mat 5:17) Acts 10:38

The believers, the church and the kingdom of God


Our father proflssor E.H Guti says in his book'The New African Apostle'the church is the vehicle to
take people into the kingdom of God. But there are:
People not in the church, people without Jesus Christ.
People in the church and not in the kingdom of God
And there people in the church and'in the kingdom of God.
i

Which group are you in?

* People in the church are supposed to be in the kingdom of God, but unfortunately many are not yet in
the kingdom because they are not born again. I

{. They attend church every time. Some are within the church hierarchy and church leadership but are not
in the kingdom. They minister to God thru different ministries but still are outside the kingdom. John
3:!-3,7
-*. Nicodemus was a religious person a leader in the synagogue but not born again
*
i

Some fast and pray for days and even nights but nothing changes in their life because they are not in
the kingdom of God. They have no roots in Christ.
.:o It's likeapplying water to an artificial flower and expect it to bloom, or applying water to a plant
without roots or a plant not grounded in the soil and expect it to grow. It's impossible because it:,has no
roots to take food from the soil.
* It must have roots first before it can grow. It must have a foundation, soil to live on and roots to
absorb food with from the ground or else it will die. ,
*
,

Therefore a petpgn must be grou.r1,!ed in Christ first by being born again before he can grow in Christ
to erijcy the ring.dr;m cf God.

How does one heconte a member of the kingdom sf God? .'.' , '

+ For one to become a nrember of the kingdom of God he has first to know the person of Jesus Ch,rist
and of God.
.+ No one can be a member of the kingdom before they know God. Therefore for one to he a member of
the kingdonr he must know God and have a relationship with God. He must become a child of God.
lohn 1:12'13 j

& He must have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. i

+ He may undergo all church rituals and ceremonies but that alone cannot make one to be a member of
the kingdom unless they have a relationship with God, a child father relationship. Romans B:14-16
+ He has to do those things that will make him qualify to be a member of the kingdom. Acts 26:18,20
+ We don't qualify ourselves but its God who qualifies people to enter and paftake of the blessingsrof the
kingdom. This happens when we obey his word and follow his instructions. Col 1:12-13

How is one made to qualify to partake of the things in the kingdom of God?
+
,

A person is made to qualifli to partake of the things of the kingdom by being a member of the kingdom
+ A person becomes a member of the kingdom of God by being born again by the Spirit and water that is
by being made a new person in the spirit. lohn 3:3-7
,*" He has to be borne by the Spirit of God and by God the word of God. John 1:L2-L3
+ He has to have a regeneration of the spirit man, the inner man, and not the outward man which;lis the
body. Titus 3:5
+ Without being born again one cannot see or enter the kingdom of God. It's a prerequisite for one to be
born again before one can be qualified to enter the kingdom of God so as to partake of the blessings of
the kingdom of God. John 3:3,5
+ It's only those who have been born of water (the word of God) and the Spirit (the Holy Spirit of God)
who can enter into the kingdom of God. Without that we are not qualified for the kingdom of God. Hph
5:26; 1 Peter 1:23
,

How to enter into the kingdom of God


1. Jesus came to introduce the kingdom of God, His message was repent, change your ways to enter the
kingdom of God. (Matthew 4:17)
2. He demonstrated the nature of the kingdom by healing the sick and raising the dead.(Matthew 4223-
2s)
' 3. He showed that it was a kingdom of righteousness byforgiving sins and sinners. John 8:10-11; 5:14
4. He demonstrated that it was a kingdom of Joy by feeding peopie and raising the dead. Matt 14:15-21
5. People thought of a physical kingdom but Jesus taught of a spiritual kingdom which required people to
'have a change of heaft, change of attitude new way of relating to God. They knew God from practising
systems but Jesus brought the gospel of relationship of going back to son ship. (John 3:1-13) ,

6. People needed to be reborn of God to enter the kingdom of God. Only the regenerated can be qualified
by God to enter the kingdom. Colossians 1:12-14
7. Those who are born by God can be.qualified to enter the kingdom of God. Those who receive Christ as
saviour who are sons of God. John 1:12-13
8. Man is born a sinner sold to sin under the control of sin so needs to be reborn, regenerated, to be able
to please God and to relate to God Romans 323i Romans 7=L4-L5
9. Man needs to have his spirit quickened or made alive that he can come out of sin. Spiritually is dead.
Ephesians 2:1-5
l0.This power of the air that made man to live in sin can be destroyed thru being born again and dying
together with Christ and resurrection unto new life in Christ. Romans 6:1-4
-, ll.One needs to be of the word and the spirit of God. 1 Peter 1:23
12.We are saved thru believing the word of God and being convicted of it. Romans 1018-10

Why should a person be born again to enter the kingdom of God?


1. A man is born a sinner with a sinful condition, sinful nature, the body of sin in him. Rom 3:9-10,!3
?. All his righteousness is unacceptable before God for it is like filthy rags before God...'isaiah 64: 5-6
3, AII the good deeds he can try to dc cannof be accepted before Gtd because the;-' ri]n're from a defiled,
dirty source. (E.9. cooking very good meat, fillet, brisli'-et, T-bone stealr, in an'uri,:ieart rrrucjJy pct. i-he
neat cannot L:e eaten)
4. Man's standard of riEirteousness is unacceptable before God. Man's best natural state is just like filthy
things before God
5. God is holy and only accepts holy things and totally undefiled to come into his presents. Habakkuk
1:13a
6. The only standard of righteousness accepted by God is Christ's standard of righteousneg;s. Matt 5:20; 2
Cor 5:21
7. There is great need for righteousness for us to enter the Kingdom of God for it is a righteous kingdonr
where no wickedness dwells. (Matt 6:33)
8. The righteousness that God requires is that which He provides/imparts. It does not originate with nran.
- 9. God gave us Christ to die on the cross for us that when we accept him and believe in him as our
substitute u/e are given his own righteousness and then we can now be accepted before God. 2
_ Corinthians 5:21"
10. When one is born again God gives him Christ's righteousness, which is righteousness by faith, ,

(imputed, credited, ascribed, accredited righteous) which makes him able to come into the presence of
God in God's kingdom Rom 4:5-6,22-24

Hovl can a person be born again


l" For a person to experience the power of the kingdom of God in his life he needs tc take the following
steps that enable him to be born again to be a citizen of the kingdom of God.
ii. He needs to hear the word of God being preached and believe it. There must be conviction of sin and
its wickedness and that it's an abomination before God and generates God's anger and judgement.
There is no true repentance until there is conviction of sin and feeling sorry for ones sins before God
which leads to one to seek God's mercy and forgiveness. (Acts 2t37-4L)
-
iii. He must acknowledge that he is a sinner in need of a saviour. He must acknowledge also that if he
remains like that he is condemned and doomed for eternal punishm:Irt. 2 Thes 1:7-9; John 3:36,i
, iv. He must understand that all forms of sin no matter how big or small they may appear are an
abomination before God. All forms of wickedness generates God's wt'ath and punishment on all who
commit them. Romans 1:18,28-32; Romans 2:5-L0
v. He must confess all his sins to God to receive forgiveness of sins. He must not hide or conceal his sins.
All charms and all forms of witchcraft must be confessed and destroyed for one to be totally free'l
Nothing must be kept back. All things of darkness must be destroyed for the salvation to be complete
or else it may be no salvation at all. Acts 19:18-20; l John 1:9
vi. He must call on the name of the Lord to be saved. Romans 10:12-13
vii" Salvation is in the heart and on the'mouth. What is believed must actioned by speaking it out to God.
Faith that saves is accompanied by action, which is to call on the name of the Lord for salvation.
Believing in ones heart without taking the necessary action will not bring salvation to anyone. There
should be positive action to manifest the faith. Romans 10:8-10
viii. Faith without works (action) is dead. James 2:17,26 tl

ix" He needs to receive Christ as his lord and personal saviour. Christ has to be invited to come into one
heaft and to dwell there in the form of the Holy Spirit. Nobody can be born again without the Spirit of
God in him. R^omans 8:9
x. 3:5
It is the Spirit of God that regenerates the spirit of a man. Titus l

xi" After taking the action of recLiving Christ into your heart then you are born again and made a child of
God (John 1:12)
xii. The person receives the Spirit of adoption which makes him a legal child of God adopted by God from
the kingdom of darkness. Romans 8:14-17
xili. We were once not children of God but nature children of wrath far from God. We served the devil and
lived according to the will of the devil who was our master through the weakness of our flesh. So we
need to be made children of God by adoption by receiving the Spirit of adoption. Ephesians 2:I-4
xiv. He needs to be baptised so as to die to the old life and bury the old life and to resurrect into new life
and complete all righteousness. Romans 6:3-6)
xv. He needs to be baptised in the Holy Ghost to be empcrwered to live for Christ and to be able to conquer
the desires of the flesh. It is the Holy Spirit that makes one to enter the kingdom of God. (Acts 1:8);
Romans 8 :11-13
xvi. He must make su:ie that he is totally delivered from all demonic oppression and demonic influence so as
to enjoy the lreneflts cf the kingdom of God. (Luke 4:18)
xvii, He must pull rjown all strong h6lds and all giants in his life that might hinder'him from.enjoying his
inheritance. The strong ritan must be defeated to take over the goods kept, confiscated by the strong
man (devil), for one to get his inheritance in the kingdom. Luke 1L:2L-22; Matt 12:29
xviii. When all these things aie completed he is on the way to a fruitful life of partaking and enjoying his
inheritance,in the kingdom of God.
.

What happens when one is born again? (i.e. Repents and receives Christ as saviour ahd
Lord?)
1. When a man repents the Spirit of God comes and regenerates his spirit quickening it making itralive.
Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13 r

2. The man is made alive from being dead due to sin and he becomes a brand new man born from above,
born by the Spirit of God and his word, the incorruptible seed. John 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:
L7-18
3. The Spirit of God working together with the word of God regenerates our spirit from being dead due to
sin to being alive together with Christ. The Spirit of God destroys the power of sin in our lives and
makes us holy and righteous before God. Romans 6:6-7; Titus 3:5; l Corinthians 6:11
4. The Spirit of God gives us the right to become children of God and members of the househoid of,'l God.
John 1: t2-L3;1; Ephesian s Z:tlTimothy 3: 15
5, The Spirit becomes the witness to our spirit assuring us of our adoption as children of God so that we
can freely cry Abba father unto God that is we can call God our beloved daddy. Romans 8:14-16;
Galatians 4:3-6 I

6. We are made heirs of the kingdom of God together with Christ. We become entitled to partake of the
inheritance of our father, God. Romans 8:17; Galatians 4:7; Ephesians 2:4-6
7. The seed of God comes to dwell in us to transform us thru the power of the spirit of God so that we can
no longer live in sin. We cannot continue living in our old sinful ways. The desire to continue in sin
fades away. Romans 6:L-2; 1 John 3:7-10

1.1
8. Thru his grace we are made free from the power of sin that we can no longer obey its commands and
its desires. Romans 6:4-t2; Romans 8:L-2i Titus 2:Lt-L4

How do I know I am born again and now in the kingdom of God l

A person should have received Christ as saviour and be born of God.


Accepting Christ as one's Lord and saviour and to staft living a life in obedience to the leading of the
Holy Spirit indwelling in him can indicate a born again life. Without believing and receiving Christ there
is no rebirth. .lohn \:L2-L3, Romans 8:1-2
b. Must believe and confess that Christ is the son of God
A person must believe that Christ is the son of God and is the saviour of the whole world. He must
believe and confess thatJesus is the son of God. l John 4:15,5:1
c,
When a person receives Christ as Lord and saviour Christ comes to dwell in his heart by faith and the
person receives the Spirit of God to become a child of God. (Ephesians 3:L7); (Romans 8:9)
d. Once the Spirit of God dwells in you and leads a person the person manifests the son-ship of God.
Those who are Godt children are led by God's Spirit. (Romans 8:14)
Must have an inner witness of the Spirit of God that one is a child of God
When a person is led by the Spirit of God, the Spirit of God will bear witness to that person's spirit that
he/she is born of God and is a child of God. When one is born of God there is an inner witness that
testifies to that person's spirit that he is now a child of God and the Holy Spirit acts as a seal for the
complete redemption of the person at the coming of Christ. (Romans 8:16); (2 Corinthians 1:22)
f. Must believe the word and obey the word
Thus we can say without the believing and obeying of the word of God there is no regeneration. Mark
1: t5 /'

g. You love the word of God and wants to practise and obey the word of God. James L:22-24
A genuine love for the tuord of God to read it memorise it and to do as it says to obey it, to practise its
commandments can be sign that one is born again. John 14:21,23-24; James t:.?i-25; t John 2t4:6;2
John 1:9; 3:24 ; :
:.
Itis the wo,'d of God tirr,t nrdkes us to.$row until we are fit/ mature enough to partake of the
inl reritance. Acts 2O:3?.; Gal 4:l-2
h. There is transformation of life
The change in the inside, in the spirit man, reflects on the outside thru change.in behaviour, cha;acter,
likes and dislikes thru time by obeying the word of God can be a sign that one is born again,
i, Must bear fruits of repentance/ fruits of righteousness
The bearing of the fruits of righteousness as is given in Galatians. Gal 5: t9-24
l. Must undergo proper water baptism, which is by immersion
The person must have been water baptised by immersion to brs,-y the old man and his deeds and to put
on Christ. No proper baptism no full freedom from bondage. We need to bury the body of sin to start to
live in the newness of life, Mark 16:15-16; Rom 6:L-6, Gal 3:27
k. He puts off the works/deeds of the flesh.
A person stops sinning by mortifying the desires of the flesh through the power of the Holy Spirit. One
startto learn to say no to works of the flesh. Romans 8:11-13; Col 3:1-8; l John 3:6,9-11, Titus 2:11-
14, 3 John 1:11
L One practise righteousness and holiness,
He starts to live a life of holiness practising righteousness. He lives the life of a new man, new creation
with old habits disappearing away as a new man in Christ. Col 3:9-10; 2 Peter 1:5-B; 1 John 3:t0;2:29
m. Desire for holiness
When the desire to live a holy life becomes the greatest force in your life that drives you to prayer and
fellowship with the Holy Spirit and other brethren in Christ and reading the word can be sign that you
are born again. Ephesians 5:26; Hebrews 4:12
n. You love the brethren and practise love.
Having unfeigned, sincere, genuine love for the brethren and God can be a sign that one is born again.
When born again the Holy Spirit will give us love in our hearts that enable us to love others. John
13:34-35; l John 5:t; 4:7-8
o. Ability to resist things of the world.
You overcome the world that is you don't go along with the world. You don't conform to the demands
of the world around you. You stand out. 1 John 5:4-5
t2
p. Repenting and confessing and forsaking all of ones sins
When one repents and forsakes all of one's sinful life and start to strive to live a righteous life can be a
sign that one is born again. The continually confession of all wickedness and faults in one's life. The
courage not to want to hide, conceal, cover or bury sin in one's life but to expose it no matter thp
consequences shows that one is born of the Spirit. Acts 19: 18-20; 1 John 1 :9
q. Having a genuine desire to see sinners saved
When one develops a zeal to win others to Christ and also to support them that are involved in winning
of souls can be a sign that one is born again. lude 1:23

Life in the kingdom of God (The colonist mentality and life style)
1. God created heaven and eafth. Gen 1:1
2. God created mankind to rule and have dominion over it. Gen 1:26-28
3. Man was created in the image of God like God to rule on earth like God. To establish another kingdom
here on earth. Man came from heaven to rule here on earth and was given power on eafth by God.
Psalms 82:4-6
4. Man became a governor of earth on behalf of God.
5. Earth became a colony of heaven.
6. Man was tricked by the devil to think that he was not like God rarhen he was' Gen 3:4-5
7. Man lost his dominion to the devil
8, But God sent Jesus to the earth to rescue man and to bring back man's dominion.
9. Jesus came with a rescue mission to re-establish the lgst kingdom and dominion and authority
I

10. He came to destroy the works of the devil and to re-establish the kingdom of God. 1 lohn 3:tJ rl

11. He came re colonise eafth to make it a colony of heaven and to give back the governance of this colony
to man again
12. He came to i:uy back rnan fi:om the power of the devil. Mark 10:45; Luk 19:10
13. Man neecled to be born again to get back into the kingdom of God fi'om.therkingdom of the devil, John
3:3
14, Man needed to repent to get back into the kingdom. Man needed to change his mentality, way of
'I

thinking to get back into the kingdom. Mark 1:14-15


15. Man had been a slave of sin, a slave of the devil for too long so he needed to change his way of
thinking, the way of doing things to get back to his original status. John 8:34
16. Jesus Christ said repent for the kingdom of God is near. He was saying change your ways the kingdom
has come, change your mentality the kingdom has come, your kingship has come back. Matt 4:17
17. The kingdom of God had come. This kingdom was the kingdom of God which shows that it's a kingdom
whose king is God. It's a kingdom of heaven meaning that it's a kingdorn coming from heaven to eafth.
Heaven was colonising earth. Heaven was bringing its ruler ship to earth. The inhabitants or the earthi

were to become subjects of the ruler ship of heaven.


1g.lesus came to demonstrate what happens when one becomes the subject or falls under the ruler ship
of this kingdom. Matt 4:23; Matt 9:35
19. The people rvere to be given citizen ship of this kingdom which meant that they would have rights in
this kingdom. citizens have rights which slaves don't have. Eph 2:19

Examples of the colonial sYstem

1. The Roman government


a. The Roman Government was the first government to introduce the colonising system. All the other
governments that were there before it used to carry people into captivity in their own country af[er they
defeated a king.
b. Some kings would kill some of their captives and take captive a few people who would become their
slaves. They depopulated areas they conquered. .

L3
c. The Romans did not do that. Once they conquered a kingdom they would make the people their
subjects and send a governor to rule the place on behalf of the Roman government.
d. They would leave the people to continue to practice their traditions and customs but would influence
them to learn, adopt, and practise the Roman culture and life style. Eventually the colony would
become a replica of Rome,
e. The governor would be there to make sure that the Roman government wishes, desires and
constitution are followed in the colony and to maintain peace and order in the colony.
f.
l

Those who were born in the kingdom would eventually become Roman citizens. Citizens, children of the
Roman kingdom, had rights given to them by the government.
g. For example Paul was a Roman citizen and had ceftain rights that a non-citizens did not have. Acts
2L:39; Romans 16:36-39; ArJcs22:22-29; Acts 23:27
i. A Roman citizen could not be whipped in public without trial
ii. He had the right to a fair trial
iii. He could be given a guard when his life was under treat
iv. He had a right to appeal unto Caesar for a fair trial '

h. The system of colonisation was later perfected by European countries in the 20th Century when they
colonised continents such as Latin America, Australasia and Africa.
l

2. The British colonisation of Zimbabwe


a. For example Britain colonised Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia). Zimbabwe became a British territory, a British
colony. The British brought here a governor to rule the colony on behalf of Britain
b. The British established their system of government in Zimbabwe ancl erected their flag, the British flag,
the union lack i

c. They brought into Zimbabwe their customs and traditions and ci$ture which incLrde : ;
i. The way of marriage, the white wedding :

ii. i Their way oldressln, tiie trcusers and the dress


iii. Their food, maize airci rice
iv. Their way of farming and types of crops
v. Their language, English l

vi. Their mode of transport, cars and buses, trains and planes
vii. Their form of housing, brick houses
viii. Their form of security, soldiers and policemen
d. What was originally in Zimbabwe was affected and changed by the coming colonisers. The colonist
although they were in Zimbabwe lived a life that was like that which was in Britain. They were originally
from Britain, They were British citizens mostly by bitth or by decent
e. The British government tock care of them because they were its people, its children, its citizens. The
life they lived was not the life of the local people for they did not belong to that nation.
f. They lived a British life style while in Zimbabwe. Their houses were not like those of the local people.
g. They wore clotires that were worn in Britain. The food was British food such as bread, bottled drinks.
They brought British currenry, the pound. They came with cafts and horses and muies as meaniiof
transport. All these were not used by the local people. So the colonists lived a British life style in a
foreign land, a colony.
h. In times of trouble such as war, sickness or famine Britain would send soldiers to protect its subjects
and bring food to feed its people and medicine to treat its people. They never suffered like the locals.
They were suppoted by their mother country, Britain.
i. Their economy was not controlled by the economy of their mother country and not the local country.

3. The earth as a colony of heaven

t4
t ri

a. The same with those who are citizens of heaven. This is the system of the kingdom of God. When a
person enters into the kingdom of God thru being born again, he becomes a child of heaven and:d
citizen of heaven but being here on earth. John 17:14-16 i

b. The kingdom of heaven is expected to look after its citizens who dwell here on eafth, It has an
obligation to see that their needs are met. Matt 6:9,25-32
The citizens of heaven are then supposed to live a heavenly life style while here on earth enjoyirl! all
benefits of being heavenly citizens. Their life is not controlled by the lifestyle of the local community but
by that of their mother country.
d. Their food, their dressing, their system of education, their mode of transport etc. should be that of their
mother country. Their security comes from their mother country, their currency is that of the mother
country. Their needs are supplied by their mother country, heaven. Acts 8:39-40
e. Their life style should be that of heaven and financial status should be that of heaven. The kingdom of
heaven is a kingdom of signs and wonders so its citizens have to live a life of signs and wonders,l a life
of miracles. Isaiah 8:18
f. God, the king of the kingdom, is a king of miracles and can create things. He is a creator. He can make
something out of nothing, He has riches and is the ruler of heaven and earth. He created heaveq and
earth from nothing and he does notchange. Col 1:16; lohn 1:3

4. Kingdom of heaven citizenship as demonstrated by Jesus Christ


a, Jesus came to show us how one who is a citizen of heaven should live. He lived a life of miraclesrlas is

characteristic of the kingdom of heaven. Acls 2:22


b. For example:
i. Multiplied bread to feed a large multitude. Matt 15:32-37
ii. t4:24-33
]J(al[:ed on urater tr, reach his disciples. Matt i'
iii. Raised the deaC to give them a ne',v lift*; loh.n 1t:43-44,. lukT:tL-t6
iv. 9:35
Healed the sick to give people a life of joy. Matt " ' , '
v. Made Peter to get money for taxes from a fish. Matt 17:24-27
vi. He commanded storms to be quiet and they obeyed him' Matt 8:23-27
vii. He opened the eyes of the blind and made the cripples to walk' John 9:6-7
viii. He cast out devils and set the captives free' Mark5:1-15 .

He said that those who believe in him would do the same works and even do greater works than that
because the kingdom had come, Those who would live in the kingdom would live a life of miracles
as is
in the kingdom of God. John14:12
:

He wanted those on earth who would become children of God to live the life of heaven here on darth,
a

life of signs and wonders, life of receiving constant persistent supplies from heaven the mother country.
Matt 6:9-10

This all begins when a person is born again and becomes a child of God and a citizcn of the hearienly
kingdom.

Ambassadors of Christ/kingdom of heaven I

What is an ambassador?
.."k an important official who represents his or her government in a foreign country
+ A minister of the highest rank sent to a foreign couft to represent there his sovereign (independent,
autonomous, self-governing monarchs) or country, (Sometimes called ambassador in residence)
+ He is a diplomat, an envoy, a representative of another country (his mother country) in another country
(the foreign country)
+ A diplomat is a person who is accredited, such as an ambassador, to officially represent a government
its relations with other government or international organisation

15
diplomatic representativel a diplomatic official of the highest rank sent by one country as its,long-
term representative to another
dk official representatlver an official representative of an organization or movement
,*k visiting another country as an ambassador for a fund dedicated to saving endangered species
*k, Ambassador, official of diplomatic service, the ambassador is the highest-ranking official of diplomatic
service.

An ambassador is sent by his mother country to another country to represent the interest of his country
in another countryl

Today most republics appoint ambassadors in order to conduct relations on an equal basis with other
nations. In recent years a majority of the heads of diplomatic missions representing a nation havb also
held the rank of ambassador
He is supposed to develop links between the two countries. He supposed to develop things such as:

a. Trade between the two countries


b. Movement between the two countries e.g. investment and tourism etc.
c, Explain the foreign policy of his country in the foreign country
d. To speak for his country any topics of interest in that foreign country, He is supposed to speak what his
president would speak. If he is not sure he is not supposed to make a comment of the issues affecting
his country until he get his country's position. He is not to speak anything that contradicts the ideas
given by his country cr leader
e. He can enter into contracts with the foreign country of behalf of his country with the permission pf his
country

Privileges from the am.bassador"s own country


a. He is suppofted by his country all the days he'will be in the f,weign countqr
b. l-lis country i:nsures that he gets enough food, clothing and shelter to the best of its aoility
c. Within the premises where the diplomat dwells they raises his countryt flag. Within ihat place of his
dwelling his culture v,ray of life is of his mother country or country of origin.
d. His lifestyle is not determined by the lifestyle of the country he is sent but the country where he came
from, his mother country.
e. His country meets his needs, provide for his food, and meets all his financial needs and not the foreign
country where he stays.
r. In time of war or instability his security is ensured by his mother country. The mother country can
actually send protection to him and evacuate him if necessary if they'think the foreign country is too
dangerous for its diplomat.
g. He stays in the foreign country for a time determined by his rnother country that sent him

Conditions of service of an ambassador


Ambassadors or diplomats working in a foreign country enjoy certain privileges due to their position.
1. Immunity:
In international law, accredited representatives of foreign governments are granted diplomatic immunity
from liability in criminal and civil actions in the countries in which they serue. The latter practice is a matter
of mutual cour[esy among nations.

Detailed and universally accepted conventions (agreements, resoluticns or contracts) exist concerning
most of the formal ways in which countries interact. In the early days of the nation-state system, the
depafture of an ambassador was a ceremonial event, as was the ambassador's reception by a head of
state.

Because ambassadors personally represent the heads of their governmen[s, the relations among
ambassadors within a country have always involved issues of presrlige,

16
2. Privileges and Immunities
From the earliest times, privileges, immunities, and couftesies were extended to visiting heralds and
envoys. Currently the privileges and immunities of diplomats are highly developed and universally
accepted. Some of which are as follows:
:

a. For centuries, the territory on which a foreign mission (the offices of an ambassador and his residences
in the foreign country) stood was considered an "island of sovereignty" of the home state. It was
considered independent of the laws. of the foreign country where it was situated and was controlfed by
the laws of the home state of the ambassador. Under the Vienna Convention of 1961 this is no longer
the case.
b. The premises (principles) of missions are inviolable (unbreakable, unchallengeable) however, and host
states must accord full facilities to enable diplomatic missions to peform theirfunctions. l
c. official.
Citizens of the host state may not enter a mission without the consent of its senior r

d. Missions are immune from search, requisition, and attachment, and nations have a special duty to
protect any mission against intrusion or damage.
e. Free communication between the mission and the host government must be permitted.
f. Diplomatic couriers (messengers, carriers, agents, guides) may not be detained, and diplomatic bags
may not be opened or detained. Host governments must also secure these rights against their own
citizens if necessary.
g.Diplomaticagentsandtheirstaffsarenotliabletoanyformofarrestordetention;
h. Diplomats are immune from criminal laws and, in most cases, from civil and administrative jurisdiction
as well.
i. They are exempt from all direct taxes in the host state.
j. Immunity from the laws of a host state does not exenrpt diplomats from the laws and jurisdiction of
their home states, however. Those who commit crimes are almost always sent home as personad non
.gratae, (personalities not for prosecution)
k. Diploma[s:enjoyirrg their privileges and immunities are duty bound to respect'tlte laws and regulations
of the host silate and i:o refi'ain from interfering in its internal affairs.
L In the event of war, the host state must grant facilities to enable diplomats from belligerent natidns to
leave the country.
m. If diplomatic relations are broken off with another nation, the host state must still respect and protect
the mission premises.
n. When relations are broken off, the countries in question usually entrust the custody of their missions
and interesis to some third pafi acceptable to both.

The born again betiever as an ambassador of the kingdom of heaven


Every born again believer is an ambassador of Christ that is of the kingdom of God? ;i

He is a representative of Christ, an agent of Christ, one who speaks for Christ and declares the
message of Christ and also fulfilling the desires of Christ here on earth. 1 Corinthians 5v19 - 20; Eph
6v19-20
So a regenerated man is expected to have a life that portrays the character of Christ as people tOld
Peter the night Christ was arrested. They said to him, "speech/accent betrays you" (They had
developed same language; they developed a similar kind of talk). Matthew 26v73 -74
Apostle Paul calls all born again believers ambassadors of Christ, representatives of the kingdom of
God, the heavenly kingdom. We live on earth but we are not of this world we belong to the heaVbnly
kingdom.

We are to speak for Christ and to implore all people to turn to Christ and to be reconciled to Christ for
salvation

Our life style is not determined by this foreign country we live in but by the life style of the country we
represent to the world. Our father takes care of us and meets all our needs. He knows all our needs. He
protects us, feeds us, clothes us and shelter us. 'l

The wealth of our mother country determines our life style.

17
Necessities for a believer to experience the benefits of the kinEdom of God
When a person practices righteousness the kingdom of God becomes alive in him and peace and joy in
the Holy Ghost rvill be experienced in the person's life, in his heart because the kingdom is within a
person's hearL.
b. When a person concentrates on righteous things, holy things, lovely things and not on wicked things
and God's peace will dwell in the person. (Philippians 4:4-9)
All a person needs to do is to walk in righteousness or to practice righteousness. He has to remove all
forms of wickedness from his life and start to live a holy life being led by the Spirit of God. Colos$ians
3: 1-1 1)
d. When a pbrson practices righteousness believing in Christ and accepting it, the power of the kingdom
will staft to be released and manifested in the person's own life on its own as the person speak and
releases the word of God in faith. I

e. As long as the person continues to walk in righteousness the peace of God will continue to flow in his
heart and the joy of the Lord will reign in his life and power will flow from his life as he declare and
decree things. (Job 22:21-29)
All is in the person's heart as long as a person practice righteousness and continue to seek after
f. ,

righteousness, walking in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit will also continue to abide in
his heart. (lJohn 3:7)
I. All a person needs to do is to seek after God's righteousness and walk in God's righteousness and in
obedience to God's word and the power of the kingdom of God will be released, peace and joy will
follow him at all times. He will live a life of blessings and victory (Psalrns 1:1-3)
h, Hence seeking after God's righteousness makes blessings to follow. (Matthew S:33)
i. A person must forgive and bear no grudges and live in peace and seek after holiness.
j. " (Lev 19:17-18) :

k. Grudges remove peace from the heart of the person. Hatred and bitterness set in and the person
becomes defiled and righteousness and holiness is lost, power and salvation is losf. One moves out of
God's grace and faveur. (Hebrew* 12:14-15) (Romans 12:18) u ;.ii*r.:l

t. The Kingdom of God develops and grows in a person slowly without obserualp*_tff ,.',.g.rrilrpglite' ,l

righteousneg5.andlivein.lov:e.(1John.3:10)
The kingdom of God is a kingdom of love. Heaft full of love is a heaft full cf God's presence because
God is love (LJohn 4:16) (Romans 5:5) ; (Col 3:14-15)
n. It will not be seen visibly and people will not be able to say there it is, it's unobservable, and it's.
invisible only its power will be manifested. It's within our heafts. "(Luke 17:20-2I)
No visible manifestation but indirect manifestation thru release of pourer. {Matthew 12:2$) (Luke
I J"; /UJ
p. Where the kingdom of God is there is destruction of the kingdom of the devil. This is why Jesus sent his
disciples to preach telling people the kingdom of God had come.lnd were to heal the sic( raise the
dead, cleanse the lepers and cast out devils. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, to
heal the sick and cast out all devils. All these are the works of the devil. (Matthcw lil:5-$); (llohn 3:8)

Dealing with Iife's strong holds or hindrances to fully enjoy the kingdom inheritan"" 'i

Once born again work out your salvation, with fear and trembling, fight all kinds of wickedness.
Fight against lying, unforgiveness, hatred, envy, jealous, covetousness, greed and staft to practice
righteousness, practise forgiveness. Offences will come but live in forgiveness.
Fight not to have a hardened heart, a thorny heart, (that is a heart with bitterness, tust, greediness),
because the thorny heaft will hinder the growth of the seed of God, the kingdom of God, in our lives.
The thorns will choke and kill the seed in your heaft making it unfruitful. (1 Corinthians 6:9)
Also fight greediness or covetousness from your heaft. Pull down those strong holds by reading the
word of God and by prayer and fasting. Confess all lusts and covetousness. Don't justifu greediness in
the name of being under God's blessings. Destroy it resist it. Pray that you become contented with
what you have. God will bless us little by little as long as we remain faithful to his word. (Galatians
5:24-25); l Timothy 6:6-8); Prov 13:11
Share what you have with others and with God. For in giving we become blessed and you will receive
rnCIre. Luk 6:38; Prov 3:9-10; (Luke 12:33-34)
vi. Share with God what you have. Don't be a miser, a stingy person. Give generously to get. Wealth or
possessions will not control you. (Matthew 19:24)

L8
I

Give wha't you love best and the spirit of the love for possessions will die. Fight against the lust of the
flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 3:15-17)
viii. Resist the love of money, for the love of money is the root of all evil. Desire to get money causes a lot
of people to engage in Airy deals, to rob, kill or engage in witchcraft activities. 2 Peter 2:14-15) i

IV
tnr Don't desire to be rich. Work hard to get something for life but don't live to get wealth. Seek for the
kingdom of God and all things shall be added unto. The more we seek the kingdom the more God will
add things to us. (Luke 12:16-21); Matt 6:33; Prov 10:4 tr

X. The principle is that don't be controlled but what you have or own to the extent that it becomes your
God and you can't share it with others, Riches when they control you can hinder you from entering the
kingdom of God. (Matthew 19:20-25)
Xi, Do not spend all your time and energy seeking after wealth and have no time for the things of Gpd, it's
not good. No, no, no its wickedness , its covetousness , its idolatry, its greediness and it destroys your
love for God and his kingdom and hinders the growth of the seed into fruition or fruitfulness. Fight it
anddestroyit.Practiserighteousness(Matthew6:24),
xfi" Love for wealth will cause one to cheat, steal and crook people due desire to gain more which.leads
one to lose his salvation and go into perdition or destruction and to fall out of the will of God and his
kingdom (James 5:1-6)
xill" Seek aftei the kingdom of God and his righteousness. When this is done your heart will be free from
greediness and God will give you your possessions to enjoy. He will bless you with food to eat, c[othes
to wear, shelter to live in and other things needed in this life. (Matthew 6:25-33)
You will enjoy the benefits of being a citizen of the kingdom of God, of being a child of God.
XV- The benefits of being in the kingdom of God such as:
{" dominionovernature(poweroverrainfall,poweroverstorms,andpoWeroverdemons),
Power to gain wealth, righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost'
-$ You will enjoy life to the fullest and your walk with God.
w He will transfOrm,you into the image of his dear son Jesus Christ.
The fruit of the spirit will be manifested in your life as given in Galatians 5;22. (Galatians 5: 22-2p)
Ycur iife rruiil cevelop,an{ f;g!19 wi]l bq,mqltiplied as God the vine dresser will continue to prune you so
that you can bear more fruit.
* Fruits of righteousness ,r;ill be multiplied in your life. (2 Peter 2:5-70)
a'- your life witt Ue a life of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost as you continue to be more fruitful in the
kingdom of God (2 Peter 119-11) ,'

Binding the strong man and pulling down strong holds


Matthew LZv22-30; Luke 11v14-26 I

1. No man can fully experience the blessings of the kingdom of God until he has pulled down strong holds
that hinder him from enjoying his inheritance in the kingdom.
God.
'

Z. There are many giants that can hinder one from getting what he should get from i

3. Some of these giants are spirits that operate in the flesh arousing sinful desires taking advantage of the
sinful nature in a person. Romans 7:14, James t:13-15
4. These demonic spirits cause us to develop habits which we can't break away from. Bad habits that
continue to come back. But which affects our walk in the kingdom of God. Matt 14:14-18 :

5, These need to be removed and conquered before one can fully enjoy the power of the kingdom of God.
They cause one to be defiled. MarkT:20-23
6. Some giants are demonic spirits that bind us, possess us, control and hinder us from experiencing all
that God has for us. They make us their slaves. These need to be cast out of us. :i

7. This is why when Jesus preached the message of the kingdom he also cast out devils from people's
lives and set them free.
8, Jesus cast out a dumb/ mute spirit and one who could not speak began to speak l

9" When wicked spirit are cast out things change in people's lives
10. The person could have been born mute which means he was bound from birth
11. People who saw it and were amazed for they thought this man was deformed from birth
12. Instead of praising God for the miracle they attributed it to Satanic powers I

19
13. They said lesus was being used by satanic powers and not God. Not everyone will enjoy our freedom.
When we staft to fight and resist these spirits the devil will become angry and try to fight back. Don't
worry he is defeated. His weapon is causing fear and doubt.
14. They understood that the head of all demons is the devil himself the ruler of demons/ prince of demons
15. This shows that the devil, Satan has an organised kingdom out to destroy people's lives. John 10:10).
16. He uses his demons to execute his plans and to bind people to povefty, sicknbss
17. This why whenever Jesus dealt with people's problems he either forgave their sins or cast out devils
and the people were set free
18. A lot of people's problems are demonic and may sometimes be a result of sin :

19. The devil takes advantage of sin in people's lives to torment them. Sin opens doors for the devil to
. enter into a person's life
20. Jesus refused to agree with them on one point that he was being used by Satan
21. No kingdom divided can stand, it will fall. No house or family divided will stand, it will fall
Z2.This why the devil when comes into a family, a church, a congregation he causes the spirit of division
and then make the organisation to destroy itself
23.If Satan being the ruler stafts to fight other demons cast them out of his kingdom his power andlruler
ship will diminish,
24. Jesus was actually telling them that satanic kingdom is an organised united kingdenr. They don't fight
each other
25. Demons operate in groups with one being the sole leader who invites and control other less strong

,a. ffIilt er enters and binds the owner unO tuf." the person, territory, country, family, hostage and
smaller demons will then be free to.operate as they want within that person causing pain and suffering.
They torment their ViCim ;'tt

27. Onedemon will make way for more to live in tnie same pei'sri each trli-rglng ieiniorcementi to other
demons and never to fight each other
28. If it feels insecure orrdefeated it will go and get more stronger demons tnai its self to help it control its
territory
29. Demons enter occupy and control and take over
30. Jesus calls the controlling demon the strong man
31. According to the nature and character of the strong man the person whose life they have entered will
suffer accordingly
32. The demon can cause abject povefi, sicknessn disease, bad dreams, mental disorders, accidents,
constant quarrels, family divorces
33. They get hostage whoever is under their control and until they are dislodged
34. People must always know that there is nothing that happens on its, nothing happ:r by chance,
everything is planned and organised somewhere.
35. Its planned somewhere, settled somewhere and it manifests in the natural. It's either from God dr from
the devil's kingdom. This is why people need to pray always to make sure the kingdom of God rules all
the times in their lives
36. When demons occupy a person's life they can staft to operate affecting people in any of these wbys:
i. Obsession (causing one to like doing anything over and over again, Fascination, Preoccupation,
addiction to sex, pornography, music)
ii. Oppression (to be under the total influence of something that gets one into bondage or sick),
iii.
I

Possession (to be under the total control of a demon that it resides in you and operate in you that it
gives you its own character and behaviour),
iv. Regression (to go back to your old habits that you thought you had quitted, things you thought you
conquered coming back to control you, Reversion, Going backward, Worsening) ,

20
v. Repression (not able to progress in life, things that seemed to have been moving start going back to
where they were again after putting much effort to change the situation, doing much"achieving very
Domination)
I

little or nothing, Suppression, i

37. It takes a stronger power to bind the controlling power to set the man free. Luke LL:2L-22
38. To loose man and women you need to bind the strong man and man will be free
39. Jesus bound the mute spirit and the dumb man spoke il

40. The dumb spirit had taken control of his vocal cords
41. It needed the spirit of God, the finger of God to cast out the strong man, the mute spirit
42. This is why God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and power that he went about doing good healing
all who were oppressed of the devil. (Acts 10:38)
43. This is why he said the spirit of the Lord is upon me for he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor. Luke 4:14-18
44.\t is the anointing that breaks the yoke of the devil. Isaiah L0:27 ,

45. It needs the spirit of God to bind the strong man. Acts 1:8; Luke 10:18-19
46. The devil knows that he is defeated Christ defeated him on the cross .Colossians 2:14-15)
47.The devil knows that Christ has made him to be under us and we have power over him. He belongs
under our feet Ephesians 1:18-23
48. Jesus has a name above all names and at mention of his name the devil trembles. Philippians 2:9-11.
49. The devil fears the word of God this is why we need to take the sword of the spirit, the word of God.
Hebrews 6:18 ;l

50. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighfy'through God to the pulling down of strong holds.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Isaiah 54:L7
51. If God is on our siCe who can be against us in all things we are more than conquerors through Christ
cur Lord, Rornen$$:3}37 !.:

52. God has given usthe power"ol',rhe tlt$i1, Spiritto'd:sledge al! the works of the devil in our lives and to
overcome. 1 John 4:4; Mark i5:t7; Luke 10:L9; ZTim L:7 'rl

Pulling down strongholds in the mind (renewal of the mind)


The greatest hindrances (giants and strongholds) to enjoying our inheritance in the kingdom of God is in
the mind. This is where the war of the spirit is worn or lost. All is in the mind. The state of our mind will
determine far will achieve things for God or how far we will go with God. All things that affects the
operation of the Spirit of God and our faith in God are situated in the mind that is: '

a. The way we see or perceive th'ings


b. Fear starts in the mind Numbers 13:26-33
c. Doubt originates in the mind. Num 14:1-6
d. Sinful activities are manufactured and developed in the mind
e. Lustful tendencies develop and control the mind
t. The word of God when heard passes through the mind before it reaches the spirit of a man. 2 Cor
4:4; John t2:40
g. The mind sieves what we can accept or reject, what we want to believe or not to believe l

h. When the mind is blinded darkness reigns in a person and when light enters the mind the whole
body is illuminated.2 Cor 4:4;2 Cor 3:13-18; Malt 6:22-23; Luk 11:34-36; 1 John 2:11

Before we are born again the devil conditioned our minds to acts of wickedness and made us to behbve in
a manner that was against the life of righteousness. The mind became conditioned to thinking wickedness
continually. Eph 2:L-4

21,
So once we are born again our spirit is born again but our mind is not. Therefore there is a great need for
every born again believer to recondition the mind so as to enjoy fully the things of the kingdom of God.
Romans L2:L-2

This process of reconditioning the mind is what is called renewal of the mind. This process involves dealing
with sinful habits and tendencies that were programmed into mind by the devil through the weakness in a
person caused by the sinful nature. We continue dealing with these things in the mind, removing things
that are contrary to the will of God and putting those things that are in line with the word of God, until our
mind is completely obedient to the word of and the will of God. 2 Cor 10:3-6; Col 3:1-16

What is renewal of the mind?


Renewal means regeneration, Rejuvenation, Replenishment, Restoration, Repair, Rekindling,
Revitalisation, Revival, New life, Rebifth
Renewal of the mind means to regenerate you're your mind, make your mind new again, repair your
mind.
This means the mind has been damaged and now it needs to be rekindled to a new life; it needs revival;
replenishment it had been depleted it understanding and damaged in its frame work.
It now needs a paradigm shift in its way of thinking and operation'

Why renewal of the mind?


. Sinwrong habits, wrong conditioning by sin has deadened your mind, destroyed its capacity to think right
and straight. So now it needs to be revived, repaired, rejuvenated, regenerated, revitalised to restore it
back to its original state, to bring it to what it should be in terms of mental framework:
. The way we may have been nurtured may have had wrong effects on our mental frame or way of
thinking
. Some o1us may have gcme thru abuses such as drug abuse, child abuse, verbal a@6e. physicai etc.
which affect our lives by affecting how we perceivrth.inks 5o'l,trs'lovu nee*j rrtlt?iTerle\ryal r.
. We need renewal of the mind because when one is born again the spirit man is born again and made
alive in Christ, cleansed and sanctified by the mind is not born again it needs to be'reneu;ed.
. The mind needs to be renewed so that it can align with the spirit and not the flesh or body
. The renewal of the mind will eventually bring about the salvation of the soul so that the tetal person is
preserved blameless until the coming of the-Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

The structure of a person


A person consists of the three parts namely spirit, soul and body.

Body

Soul

Mind
Spirit
s.u will

{ Emotion

The body is the outer man the house of the spirit man.
.i, The body is never born again it only waits redemption at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ' Romans
8:23; Philippians 3:20-21
r The body is the seat of our fleshly lusts so it requires to be controller"t buffeted and subdued and kept
under so that it will not cause one to fall into sin. 1 Corinthians 9:27', itrmans 8:13
. It fights against the desires of the spirit and being lead of it leads to death. Galat.ians 5:17
22
'I

If we live under the control of the Spirit of God we can conquer the'desires of the flesh. Galatians I

i;'.';iki^?fitii?ruilt'oro, has no power on its own. It is a stave of the mind. It operations are controtted
by the mind. l

a Its desires and lusts are expressed thru the mind.


* The spirit is the real man or the central part of a man.
a The spirit is the part that is saved at salvation when a person repents and receives Christ as saviour.
a It is the one that is born again from above by the Holy Spirit and regenerated and made alive by the
spirit of God. Ephesians 2:4-5, John 3:5
* The soul is the middle part of the person.
a The soul consists of the will, the mind and the emotions.
a The soul is thought and will.
a Soul is thinking.
a Soul is reasoning.
a Soul is deciding.
a Soul is feeling.
a Soul is your choice.
a Soul is your intents (purpose, intentions, aims, objectives, plans of the heaft).
a Most paft of a person is soulish.
a The soul is not born again. .

a The body and the spirit all express themselves through the soul and communicate with the world thru the
soul.
This means that the soul is a connector of the body and the spirit in a man.

Why renewal of the mind?


1. Once a person receives Jesus Christ as Lord and saviour he/she is born again, he /she is saved from sin
and is_given eternal :ife. John 3:16 1"]ohn 5:11-13
eri t" 6.;"y in- Ii*ii-gr in tiriilifg ona has to overcome things in his /her life. Once one is born again
by the spirit of God he/she becomes a child of God and enterb lnto the kingdqm of Gorj-Jolrn 1v12-13;
John 3:5
He is transferred from the,kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God and now has the right to enjoy
all the blessings in the kingdom of God. Colossians 1:12-13 ,l

But to enjoy the kingdom of God one has to fight with what is in the flesh by renewal of the mind that
controls the activities of the flesh.
The mind controls the flesh and its desires. So if one controls the mind that controls the flesh the one has
control of the flesh and its evildesires. ',

The flesh will never be born again anci'can never be transformed. So one can control its activities b,!
controlling the one that control it, which is the mind. Hence the need to renew the mind.
2. The soul is not born again at rebirth so it needs to be renewed, that is it needs to be reprogrammed.
r Your mind's will need to be liberated and reconditioned so that it can obey the will of God. ,

! The effects of sin on,ones emotions need to be removed by reconditioning of the mind and changing the
person's way of thinking. 2 Corinthians 4:4
3. When the soul is not renewed it will operate contrary to the spirit. It will not move with the spirit causing
the person to live below the standard of life God intended for him/her.
a One will not enjoy the abundant life that Jesus gives even if the person is born again. John 10:10 ;l

a So when the soul is renewed and being transformed and aligning with the spirit the person will prosper in
all things. 1 John 1:3
4. The prosperity of a person is governed by the prosperity of his/her own soul, the state of one's soul" :l
I The state of the soul determines one's health and success in life.
I Things of the spirit control things of the natural (i,e. things that occur or manifest in the physical).
I There must be a change in your soul before you see things in the spiritual beginning to happen. :

I The prosperity in your life is controlled not by your salvation only but also by what is in your soul.
5. God loves us all and wants to bless us but the release of the blessing is in your soul and one receiv'bs as
much blessing as he/her soul is prospering in the things of God"
a If your soul is not prospering no bles,"ing will come upon you.
o God will not bless you because the irlessing is given to you according to what is happening in your soul.
I

23
. God's blessing is in"the level of obedience of your soul and not in your salvation only or just because you
are born again or just that you are now a child of God.
. No but is in the obedience of your soul to the word of God. Obedience of the soul when your mind is
renewed and your will is aligned with the will of God.

The key to your soul being saved is in the renewing of your mind. Ephesians 4:23; Romans !2:2

6. The mind needs to be renewed for one to:


a. To understand what the will of God is
b, Not to conform to the standards of this worldly systems
c. Experience transformation of life, change in character and behaviour
d. Have his mind able to agree with the Spirit of God so that his life is led by the Spirit of God, Romans 8:4-
8,L4,L6

him/her again.

strong holds in one's mind developed by a prolonged life of sin, conditioned to disobedience to the.will of
God until one's mind comes into obedience to the word of God. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

fornication blessing will come.

controls the flesh which we all must conquer in order to enjoy the blessings of the kingdom of God, Hence
the mind needs to be reLiewed.

subject it into obedience of the word of Coa and nof to conform to the standards of'this world

corruption, bitterness, envy, unfaithfulness, pride, Ceceit, blssiltls 'rvili instmci Salce'trvr the place where
these used tostay. Yoil'.vill be able to eirjoy the full blessings of the earth as well as going to heaven.

the word of God and fdllowshipping with the spirit which produces the renewal of the mind. 2 Corinthians
4:LL-23; Col 3:1-10

How to renew the mind


The tools of for the renewal of the mind are:

1 . One needs to be boin of the spirit fir,st before the renewal of the ririrrd can Uegi;. The spirit man must be
made alive by the Spirit of Christ by union with Christ. The process can only take place when the spirit is
made alive first by the Spirit of God. Ephesians 2v1-5; Colossians 2:13
2. One needs to make sure that all the tools of the former life of wickedness have been surrendered and
destroyed or confessed and forsaken, Acts 19:19-20; Proverbs 28:13
3, Reading the word of God should then take centre stage. The person must read and apply the word to
one's life. The word of God has power to strengthen the spirit and make it to come out of the control of
the soul and the flesh,and to take a leading role in the life of the eliever so that he/she becomes lead of
the spirit and not become a carnal Christian. Hebrew 4:12; Romans 8:5; Colossians 3:10; james L:?2-25
4. One must have constant fellowship with God and the Holy Spirit

How to live the new life, the born again life?


When one is now residing in the kingdom of God there are some things the person must understand
and practice to maintain his status/ position in the kingdom of God. This will enable the blessings of the
Lord to continue flowing into his life. These are the things he must understand to maintain his position
in Christ.
i. When born again we become dead to sin that is we can no longer obey its voice in our hearts. We now
follow the leading of the Holy Spirit; we walk in the Spirit'so as not to fulfil the desires of the flesh,
Romans 6:tL-L4; Galatians 5:16-18

24
The significant thing is that life must change and be changed to be more and more like Christ by the
seed in us the word of God and the Spirit of God. Romans 8:13; Colossians 3:15; 2 Corinthians 3:18;
i

Galatians 2:19; Romans 8:29


iii. As we look into the word of God daily thru reading, studying and memorising the word, the word
becomes our mirror to reflect our weaknesses, flaws, faults, blemishes, impefections, errors,
transgressions and shortcomings hidden in our hearts so that we can repent and forsake them and by
so doing we are slowly transformed into the image of Christ to be more and more like Christ in
character and behaviour. Matthew 13:52; 2 Corinthians 3:17-18;
IV, Our hearts have to be prepared to listen and receive the seed, the word of God, as it is preached or
taught by seruants of the Lord or else the seed, the word of God, will not bear any'fruit in our lives. The
moie word we keep in our hearts the more we maintain a righteous life before God and we will be able
to bear fruits in line with repentance. Psalms 119:9,11; Luke 8:5-15; Mark 4:3-20; Matthew 13:3-8, 18-
23
The seed by the power of the Spirit has to grow and bear fruit in line with the word of God' Matthew
3:7-LO; Matthew 7:t5-20; Matthew L2:33-34
vi. The seed can grow affect the lives of those around it. It leavens the whole body thru time. It brings
transformation of life of the individual. Luke 13:18-21; Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21
vii. The Spirit has to be given freedom and not grieved by the person's behaviour and actions, so that he
can bear fruit of righleousness unto God also. Ephesians 4:29-32; Galatians 5:22; John 15:2-8, 16;
Galatians 5:7-9, LL
viii. The person has to leave everything; his old friends, old acquaintances, his old way of living, way of
dressing, way of feasting, way of entertainment, to gain the eternal life in knowing the word, Jesus
Christ, [o become accepiable'by God. Matthew B:+1-46; Acts 10:34-35
tx. He has to be careful he does not associate with everygody and listen to everybody's advice for not all in
the church are children of God. Some are children of the devil but they all look alike and behave almost
the same in church. Matthew 25:L-t3i Matthew !3:24-30,36-44; Matthew L3:47-50; 1 Corinthians
5:11; Ephesians 5:3 8; 1 Cor 15:33
x. Some are,cpbr3rtufiisqs seeklng efter.their own things and not things which are of Christ' Philippians
2:2L
xi. They look genuine hut ar: devils agents in church like Judas who did all things as one of the distiples 'l

but he wai of the devil. John 6:66-71; Matthew 16:6, tL-12; Luke 12:1
xii. He must fight to live an honest, open holy life and fight against hypocrisy and deceitfulness
of life and
Tintothy 6:6-11
lust of theliesh. Matthew tt:t2; Matthew 5:19-20; 1 John 2:t5-L7i Luke 12:15; 1

How can one grow and be fruitful in the kingdom of God? I

1. For one to grow and be fruitful in the kingdom of God, he has to fully prepare his heart. The condition
of the heart is a strong prerequisite for a blessing from God'
not sit and
Z. Once one has been Uolrn again by the Spirit of Cod through faith in Jesus Christ he should pnit
fear and trembling. Z:,'nZ-f:
relax and do nothing. He must continue to work out his slMation with
3. When we are born igain all our past sins are dealt with by the blood of Jesus Christ, they are forgiven,
washed away and one is cleansed and made righteous and justified. Eph 1:7; Rom 5:1
4. All our past iecords of sins will be erased and a new record is established. Col 2:L4; 2
Cor 5:17
-
However, some old habits, wrong character, wrong ways of communication, hidden and secret
faults
5.
seen only by other peopte, thesineed to be eradicated for one to enjoy the benefits of the
kingdom.
Col 3:1-8; EPh 4:2L-32; EPh 5:3-5
We also need to cultivate good things in our hearts to replace those things we would have removed
so
6,
that our character can bec-om. *ote and more like Christ. 2 Peter t:5-11

Adding things in our lives will make us:


a. To brLak the spirit of barrenness and to become fruitful in our walk with Christ. 2 Peter 1:8
b. Not to be short-sighted, thoughtless, unwise, ill-advised, hasty in our decisions and our faith in ihrist.
2

Pet 1:9a
c. Not to God back to our old ways of life. We won't forget our salvation and what God requires frorn
us
as his children and the manner of life God desires from us, 2 Pet 1:9b
d. To make our election or salvation sure, unquestionable, undisputable, ceftain, guaranteed and l

established in Christ. 2 Pet 1:10a

25
e. Strong in our walk in Christ. We will not stumble and fall into sin. We won't be tossed to fro by all winds
of doctrine. 2 Pet 1:10b; Eph 4:11-15
f. To enter into the riches of the kingdom of God and to experience the benefits of the kingdom of our
Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Pet 1:11

Itlustration of heart condition and its effects on spiritual fruitfulness


Example of the parable of the sower (growth and operation of the kingdom)
Jesus Christ spoke many parables trying to explain how the kingdom of God stafts and grows in a
person's life. But he said the basic parable to understand the growth and development of the kingdom
of God is'the parable of the sower. {Mark 4:10-13)
The parable cf the sower tries to explain:
How the kingdom starts in a man's heaft,

What can make it to grow and manifests its fruits. (Matthew 3:3-9)
The kingdom of God starts as a seed sown by a sower, the preacher. "The sower sows the word."
(Mark d"l 4\
The seed sowed being the word of God and field being the man's heart. (Luke S:1[)
When one hears, believes and receives the word of God as it is taught or preached the seed of the
kingdom of kingdom is sown into his heaft,
If he receives the word, the seed is buried into his heart and takes root or germinates.

Theseedthatfatlsonthewayside.(wordnotreceivedbutrejected)
If a person hears the word of God and does not receive it but he rejects it, it remains on the heart but
not grounded and is soon stolen by the devif (birds) and forgotten and no change in one's life will
occur. No experience of the kingdom of God will come unto that person. No rebifth because he rejected
the word of God. (Mark 4:15)
C" The person will never experience the life in the kingdom of God. #e is never bcryg again because no
seed ever took root in his life. For a person to bb born again he needs the wwd,Sf:,fpS,,tnte are b-oin
again by the incorruptjb'te seed, the worci of God. 1 Pet 1:23
#.. I
7. The seed that falls qn the open ground (word received and believed)
If a person-hears the word of God being preached and believe and receive it the seed sown will enter
the soil and germinate. The word which is believed and received when sown will bring conviction. Acts
2:37-38
b. Conviction leads to repentance and receivinE of Jesus Christ when that happens a person is born again
into the kingdom of God and becomes a child of God. (john 1: 12-13) ;(lPet tt?2-23)
d, The Spirit of God comes to dwell in him to produce a change and Lo enhance transformation into his life
if given the chance. (John 3:5)
8. What happens afterwards when the seed has been sown in a persont heaft, whether or not it will grow
to maturity, fruition or fruitfulness depends on:
i. How the person will walk with Christ in his life.
ii. ItwiIldependonhowthepersonprepareShisheart,
iii" how committed he will be to the things of God and
iv. how he will handle life's issues as they come on a daily basis (Matthew 13:20-23)
v" However, to staft.experiencing the benefits of the kingdom of God does not happen overnight, It's a
process depending on how the seed of the kingdom of God was released and watered.
a. It needs to be watered by
.?o
continuous reading of the word of God,
* practising or obeying the word everyday
persistence and perseverance in prayer
When these things are done continuously by the believer the word (seed) will grow on its own without
the person knowing it... (Jas L:2I-22,25)
10. The word has an inherent power in itself that if sown ii'lto the ground (heaft) and conditions conducive
it will grow on its own. God will give it growth. (Matt 13:31-32)

Conditions that affect the growth of the seed


a. The person must flee and escape from all wickedness and worldly corruption to make the word to grow
and for him to enjoy the promises of God. God has given us all things needed for us to live a good life
and godly life her-e on earth as we live in the kingdom of God. I

b, We access these promises thru acquiring knowledge of God and living a godly life, a life free from sin
and corruption associated with it. 2 Pet 1:3-4
(.. The person must continue to work out his life to strive towards attaining a godly life or a godly
character so as to share in in the divine nature or character. This means as he strive to live a godly life
he will be transformed to be more and more like Christ in character and behaviour and the power and
fruits of the kingdom life will be manifested in the person's life, 2 Peter 1:5-1"1

Conditionsthataffectthefruitfulnessoftheseed(thekingdomofGod)
When the seed grows, whether it will grow to fruition it depends on:
&. The condition of the heart (the field)
The condition of the heart of the person (the condition of the field) whether it is prepared well to allow
for growth or not affects the growth of the seed. If the person enters into persecution, trials and
temptation and give in and end up being offended, thereby developing bitLerness, anger, resentment,
hW, jealous, idolatry, etc., the field is hardened into a stony ground and the root of the seed will not
penetiate to grow further. The growth of the seed is hindered and if nothing changes the plant will
wither and die without reaching fruition. This is the seed on stony ground. (Matthew 13:20) i

t). How trials and persecutions are handled


& When trials and tribulations are not handled properly they can end up as offences which harden a
person's heart making it almost impossible to receive the'things of God. Matthew t3:2L
+ bffences destroy the-kingdom of God in a person's heart by developing a hardened heart that does not
goes
allow the word of God to grow in him. The kingdom oi'God stops to exist in that person's life. He
out of the kingdom of God and will never experience the benefits of the kingdom.
,-E He may be anointed to preach, heal and deliver but will do it as a person who is baptised by the Holy
Spirit but not in th4 kingdom of Gcd.
+ nil:tnfrgr.#bet;,'r=.-id 3r experienced by those who thru endurance have maintained righte<ius he
willnofexperienie. He has lost his righteousness thru bitterness anci unfor'-giveness and has becorne
defiled and unholy. (Hep.cws 12:15) Therefore forgiveness is very important in a believer's life. (Luke
17:3)
+ The ftingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Hence any harbouring of
bitterneis cr offences makes one to become defiled and unrighteous, thereby falling short of the
peace and joy. He
requirement of living in the kingdom of God. He can continue to minister but without
feels guilty in his helrt and heirt and may try to justify his conviction but the Holy Spirit will convict
him until his voice is silent or not heard uny ,or. and the seed of the kingdom of God
perishes and the
kingdom of God is destroyed froni'tne man's heart. He may remain in church but outside the kingdom
of God. (Matthew 7:2L-23)

God
I

c. The level of the zeal for the things cf


. Once we stop practising righteoulness by living in peace with all man and seeking after holiness
we
lose our peace and joyinJ the kingdom'of God vanishes from our hearts. We move from the kingdom
of God to outside the kingdom. ',

* We may continue as beli6vers, do everything as a belierrer is required to do in our church but still being
outside the kingdom of God. We won't'be able to experience the benefits of the kingdom, the power of
the kingdom, t6e joy of the kingdom and the peace of the kingdom. This is what Apostle Paul said to
the Corinthian church, (lCorinthians 9:24-27

d. How earthly possessions and materials are handled


* Also if within our hearts the lust for things of the world and worries of life are left unchecked, they will
grow to affect the seed" They will destrdy the growth of the kingdom of God (the seed) in our l.3ft
Ind they will eventually choke it and it will die slowly and end up being unfruitful in the person'si'life.
{Mark 4:18-19) Matthew L3:72
.1, We must check whether no love for position, pride, greediness for wealth, greediness for money, love
for possessions, lust for woman or men, immorality, adultery, fornication or sexual peruersion does.not
grow in our hearts and take root that it chokes and destroys the seed of God in our heafts making it
unfruitful in our lives. (Hphesians 3:3-5); (lCorithians 6:9-10)
27
.. e. How a person controls the spirit of covetousness
. When covetousness grows it will rule in our hearts. When this seed of covetousness grows in ouq hearts
it's so strong that it will buffet, prickle and hamper the growth of the seed of the kingdom of God in our
' hearts and eventually choke it and kill it and it will not produce any fruit in us. We will not experience
the peace and the joy of the kingdom in the Holy Spirit.
, It will bring all sotts of corruption in our heafts, all softs of evil thoughts, evil desire and different kinds
of sins thus we lose our righteousness; we stop practising righteousness and move out of the kingdom.
Guilty conscience develops and peace is destroyed and the peace and joy experience of the kingdom of
God vanishes. We may continue speaking in tongues, casting out devils, healing the sic( but the full
power of the kingdom will vanish (1 Tlmothy 6:9-10)
. Sometimes we will thru pride eventually enter into occultism to enhance power but the kingdom of God
will be lost. Wickedness if not checked will develop and salvation will be lost.

f. How worry and doubt is handled during difficult situations


, Also we must fight against worrying due to things that happen in our lives. These worries destroy the
peace of God in our lives. They end up causing us losing our trust in God.
* Worry destroys faith and generates fear and anxiety. This brings sickness to the body and destroys the
- joy of the kingdom. (Luke L2:27-32)

. What determines the level of fruitfulness of the seed? (Seed on good ground)
. How hard you seek after the kingdom of God and his righteousness
o How much you practise righteousness,
* How much you exercise love towards other brethren will determine how fruitful the seed of the ,

kingdom will in your life. For some it will be 30 fold, some 40 fold and some 60 fold or 100 fold.
. All is determined by how commi$ed one is to the things of the kingdom of God. (Matt 13:3,8)
. The seed is the same because it came from the same container apd same sower#gt the ground
condition, which is the heart condition, will determine the leyel pf fruitfulngs.psq.fi&g-,,W$.in a.person's
life.. : . ...ts:
. The growth of the seed is invisible but is obvious when the seed is giverr tfip right condition of the heaft
the seed will germinate and grow and bear fruit in the person whose heaft is planted.

Results of fruitfulness (Matthew 6:33)


The bible says seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to
you. Which things:
,* The person will be surprised by the results that take place naturally and will not have to strugglei The
days of struggling will be over when one is fully dwelling in the kirtgdom of God.
-** As one abides in God, very near to him, in constant fellowship with him and his word things will become
" easy, money or things flow to him naturally no struggle. They come on their own.
.,k Possessions will follow him. No struggle, no fight, no sleepless nights thinking about how to get wealth.
- These will be added to him
**, Nature will obey you, demons will obey you. There will be no sweat, no hassles.

Summary of requirements for fruitfulness in the kingdom of God


.
r

Therefore just practise righteousness,


. live in fellowship with God,
. Obey the word of .God. Practise it, live it, follow it, love its precepts, love its principles.
. Hide the word in your heart so that you will not sin against God. Let it be a lamp unto your feet and a
light unto your path and you will walk in righteousness.
', Love other brethren as you love yourself" Practise love, identify with other people,
help those who suffer, share with those who suffer what you have,
, Give generously to the work of God,
' r Oon't be stingy give generously to other people

Results
.andtheseedofthekingdomofGodwillbearmuchfruitinyouand
. Life will be much easier to live for you.
28
. Money will be easy to get.
I

Comment:
1. This is the only way to live in the kingdom of God and to enjoy its benefits, its inheritance to the saints
in Christ.
Z. This is the way into the kingdom of God and the way to stay, live in the kingdom of God and the;lway to
enjoy the life in the kingdom of God.
3. Strive to be full of God in you. Big God bid money,
4. This is the way of the kingdom of God. Walk in it daily and a high way shall be there and it shall be the
way of hoiiness. On this way even a fool shall not err, stumble, or go astray in it. rl

5, When you start trying to walk in it you shall hear a voice that tells you this is the way walk on it.
6. When you walk on i! it shall be a way of holiness, a way of peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.
7. No condemnation shall be felt on it. Nobody shall be lost on it as long as they follow the rules of the
way. I

8. Gladness and joy shall over flow in those who walk on it. The unclean the sinful, the defiled by sin and
corruption shall not walk on it but only the holy and righteous, It's a way into the kingdom of God
(Isaiah 35:8-10)

Examples of those who walkedlare walking in the kingdom


Some people before us walked on it and succeeded to reach their destiny.
1. Apostle Paul walked on it. :
2. All of Jesus Christ's apostles walked on it, l

3. Our father apostle professor Ezekiel Guti is walking on it and this is why money and God's blessings
follow after him, miracles follow after him.
a. He does not struggle to stop rain or rain storms when he wants to preach or to exercise. It's easy
for him. He is on the high way of holiness.
b. He practises i'i;hteousness and walks in peace and harbours nO grudges with other people.
c. iie'is a irrar: ruii ei j':',,' in his heart eveit in times of trouble.
d. He is con.ended by what God has allowed hirn to be his siewai'd; .-:

e. Let's learn from him.;fie says imitate me as I imitate Christ. , i

4. Let's live for God our life is no longer our own for we were bought with a pi'ice by the precious
blood of the Lamb of God Jesus Christ.
5. Let's walk as children of light, talk as children of light. It's God's desire to give us the kingdom. Be born
again and the kingdom of God and all its riches shall be given unto you. l_
6. lfyou have not done so please repent and be born again and you shall enter into the kingdom of God.
Receive Christ right now and you shall become a child of God.
7. God will give you his righteousnes-s that will qualify you to enter into the kingdom of God and to live in
it and to enjoy its benefits. Do it right now Christ is waiting to hear you call upon him.
B. He is readyio ,are you right now. If you are not sure but you desire to just pray the prayer of salvation
and if you mean it you will be saved and made to become a citizen of the kingdom of God.

Examples of people who experienced the benefits of the kingdom of God l


g. Peter was toldio get money from the mouth of fish to pay taxes. Malt L7:24-27
[. Jesus and Peter watking on water. Matt 14:24-33
i. Elijah and the widow living on a little flour and a little oil during the time of severe famine. 1 Ki 17:8-16
j. Peler and his friends catcfiing a lot of fish at Jesus word after iailing the whole night' Matt 5:2-9
i.. Jesus multiplying a few fish Jnd bread to feed a lot of people. Matt 14:24-33
l. Jesus calming the storm. Matt 8:23-27
m. Jesus and his disciples raising the dead. lohn 11:43-44; LukT:LL-LG
n. Jesus healing the sick. Matt 9:35
Receiving things in the kingdom of God
1. When one receives Jesus Christ as lord and saviour by believing the word of God then one is born
again. John 3:5; Eph 2:B r

2. Then one is baptised so that the body of sin can be done away with so that can ndw live in the r'
newness of life. A life free from sin and death. Romans 6:3-6; Rom 8:1-2

29
3. He gains a new state of righteousness. He puts on the righteousness of Christ which is acceptable
before God. Gal 3:27;2 Cor 5:21
4. The person is given tile right to become a child of God. God's Spirit begins to dwell in him. John 1:12-
13; Romans 8:14-17
5. When this happens a person is transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God to
live in the kingdom. Col 1:13 l

6, When a person has entered into the kingdom the next thing is to walk in the kingdom and to enjoy the
benefits of the kingdom, God has already prepared things for his children to enjoy so that they can live
a good life and a godly life. 2 Pet 1:3
7. For a person to start to partake of the inheritance the father has to find the perscn qualified to pbrtake
of the inheritance. Col 1:12
g. There ceftain principles that must be adhered to for one to partake of the inheritance or the blessings
of the Lord. God has to see that the person qualify before he can staft to release his blessings'
g. For Abraham he had to leave his kindred and his nation and go to another country God was to show
him. It required his faith and obedience before he could enjoy the blessings of the Lord. Gen L2:t-3
10. For Joseph it required him to endure trial and temptation and wrong accusation without developing a
bilterness and hatred against his brothers. Gen 45:4-5,7-8
11. For Ruth it required to her strong faith in the God of her mother in Law and in her mother in Law and
to obey her word and instructions. Ruth 1:16-17; Ruth 3:1-6
!2.For Apostle paul it required obedience to the heavenly vision he saw on the road to Damascus. This
made him to flow in the power and blessings of the lord and to live a life of the miraculous. Acts 26:12-
20;22
13. The father expects his children to live a godly lifestyle worth of the Lord. The people must have their
minds renewed and aligned with the mind of God. They must not conform to the way of the ungodly or
the way of the un-regenerated minds' Rom t21-2
14. The battle to conquer to enjoy the blessing of the l-ord is.in the mlnqi, * pel's.rm s*',nt'.g" beyiirid what
he sees wi-,h his mind, we are H0wwd,think or see things. Prcv 23:.7
15. We must deveiop the mind of Christ in us to operate so that we can see tlrlngs the way God sees them
that is with'the eyes of faith' Phil 2:5; t Cor 2:16; Romans 4:17-L2
16. God expects. us to grow as we develop the mind of Christ in us. When we mature to be like Christ then
we are able operat6 as joint heirs with Christ. The moment we are born again and l":M: children of
God we become joint heirs with Christ and eligible to paftake of the inheritance in Christ. Rom 8:16-17;
Gal4:6-7
17. But because of being babies in Christ we may not be able to partake of ceftain blessings due to being
children, Gal 4:1-3
18. A child cannot be given responsibility until they grow into mature adults that can be
given
responsibilities. 1 Cor 3:t-2;1 Cor 14:20
19. A child cannot withstand pressure and cannot resist attractions and hence is tossed to fro by all winds
of teachings but a mature person can identify deceit and error and can withstand test and tribulations.
Therefore an adult car be made to enjoy more responsibilities and mcre blessings from the father. Eph
4:1L-L4
20. Inheritance is for the mature those who have grown up to eat meat and not milk and who through
understanding and exercise have come to know things of the kingdom. Hebrews 5:11-14
21. We need the word of God to grow us up, build us up until we .un bu able to partake of the inheritance
of the saints in the kingdom. Acts 20:32; Col 3:12
22. Wegrow and mature in Christ through
a. Being taughtthe word of God by pastors, teachers and prophets etc. Eph 4:11-12 .

b. Reading ind studying the word of God and applying it in our lives. 1 Tim 4:t3-L6; 2 Tim 2:15; 1.
Pet
2:2
c. Obedience to the word of God and practising the word, being led by the word. James t:2L-25; Psalms
119:105; 1 John 2:14
d. We must be committed to the word of God for it is the word of God that build us up and qualify us to
paftake of the inheritance of the saints in Christ. Acts 20:32
30
23. The heritance or things of God are obtained by faith. We enter into the kingdom by faith. l

24.[t's by faith that we here and receive the word of God for our salvation. Eph 2:8
25. There is faith for salvation that comes through hearing the gospel of salvation, Rom L0:t7
26. A,fter obtaining the faith for salvation we need to develop faith fclr receiving things of the kingdom.
Mark 11:24 i

The work of faith in receiving things from God


a. Faith is the eye which we look at the circumstances before us. If it's not of faith fear will come and
doubt will grow i

b. Faith is the authority of the kingdom with which we can take things of the kingdom
c. Faith in Jesus Christ is the key that gains access or opens the resources of heaven, Anything we want
from God we get it by faith. Without faith there is no connection with heaven. Supplies of heaven
become a distant thing, far away from our reach and access. A person can't tap into the heaven'$
supplies or resources without faith
d. Without faith a person can't paftake of the divine/ heavenly inheritance for the saints. Our faith
determines how we connect with our father in heaven the source of all we need here on eafth, the
giver of all good things needed in this life. James 1:17
e. Lack of faith disconnects a person with heaven and supplies cease from the father
f . Doubt makes heaven to delay or stop sending our supplies we requested. James 1:6-8
g. Faith is taking God at his word, believing and obeying God's word. Things happen as we obey thg word
of God even without seeing anything yet. Luk 5:1-9; Luk 17: L2-t4
h. Doubt is devastating and makes life harder but a life of faith is a life of surprises, miracles and wonders.
Because God is not a man that he can lie. Numbers 23:tB
i. God is a slave of his word. What he says will always come to pass. He is always ready to perform his
word to those who believe or has faith in him. Jer 1:12; Isaiah 55:10-11
j. Your.:faith,detern;i,1es your relationship with God because:
i. Without faith we cannot please Gocj, Faiih is :'equired.f+;'us to touch the heart gf Go{. Hebrews 11:6
ii. Anything not done in faith is sin before God. It's sin because doubt discredit,God anci'perceives God as
one who is unfaithful arrd untrustwofthy, when God is faithful and trustworthy all the time. Romdns
t4:23
iii. With faith ;1ll things become possible to him that have the faith or believes. Mark 9:23
iv. When our faith is low and we pray, we cannot receive things from heaven for only those who prdy in
faith receives. James 1:5-8; Marktt:22-24
27.If we fail to move mountains in our lives the problem is our faith which is not big enough to challenge
the mountain. The greater the faith the bigger the results. Matt L7:t8-20, Mark LL:22-24
28. Doubt in the mind makes us not to receive from God. Doubt hinders God from operating in our lives.
Doubt discredits God and is rebellion against the word of God making God a liar, unfaithful, dishonest
that's why it angers God. Numbers 14:9-11
29. Prayer made in doubt will not have any impact before God and receives no answers from God. Jam 1:4-
8
30. God can do anything. All things are possible before God. He can make something out of nothing. Matt
L9:26; Mark 10:27; LukL:37; Luk 18:27
31. When we ask for things and nothing happens it's the problem our faith too little to move the moUntain.
Things occur according to our faith. Matt 9:29
32. To receive we need faith without faith we cannot experience our blessings in the kingdom.
33, We need also to control our confession. We destroy our faith by our confession. Our confession needs
to align with our faith. Life and death is in the power of the tongue. Prov 18:20-21 'l

34. The tongue is like a fire, it can destroy a whole forest. It can destroy our destiny before God. James
3:5-6
35. The tongue need to be controlled. A lot of people pray for something and confess negative after.,
praying for the thing. In so doing they destroy their prayer for they confess doubt. They profess tlouble
mindedness. He prays one thing and speaks another. This shows doubt and double mindedness which
causes one not to receive anything from the Lord. James 1:6-8

31
Examples of life of faith
Abraham.was a man of faith. He believed even when the situation pointed otherwise. Romans 4:2
1. He went to country he did not know but with the word of God only. God said go to a land I will show
you. Because of faith in God he went not knowing where he was going. He went trustirrg that God
would not fail him and that his word is true. Hebrews 11:8
2. When all things around him were contrary to hope or beyond hope he believed what God had said,
which was that he would become a father of many nations. Gen 12:1-3; Romans 4:L7-22
3. His situation was desperate and totally impossible but he believed despite all that. He never wavered in
faith.
a. His wife Sarah was born grew as a barren woman. Gen 11:30 l

b. He was promised a child by God and it took so long untii Sarah who was already barren was too old to
give birth to a child. Hebrews 11:11-12
c. Despite all that he continued to believe what God promised would come to pass that's faith. Gen 18:9-
L4
4. Faith does not look at the circumstances that surrounds him but looks at the who promised
5. True faith does not trust the means to get something but the source of the thing it needs.
6. Faith trust the source even if it does not know the means.
7. Real faith of God does not start to trust God when it knows the means through which God will meet the
needs.
8. Real faith trust God when it does not even know how God will do it. It will trust God even if everything
looks total impossible, when it does not even see how it can be done, when it can be done or where it
can be done or through whom it can be done..
9" Real faith will be believe and act even if there is no manifestation of the need because it is not based
on the means but on the word of God and character of God.
10. For example:
i. The ten lepers rose and went to show themselves to the priest before they were;*al o-r, their leprcsy.
The priest wai responslble fcr prcnouii,;irrg them'clearr'so thar they could re-join society. They went
before being healerJ because they believed the word of Jesus Christ that the miracle would happen. The
miracle occurred as they went. They did not wait to first see whether they,would be cieansed before
they went to see the priest. Luke 17:t2-t7
il. The nobleman whose son was at the point of death wanted Jesus to come at his house.,and heal his
son while he saw it. But Jesus changed the means and said just a word and then said his son was
healed, The man did not force Jesus to go with him to his house. l-le believed the word of Jesus and left
even if he had not seen whether his son was healed. His faith was based on the word of Jesus and the
character of Jesus. He got his miracle due to his faith in Jesus's '.r.rur:d. His son was healed. John 4:46-
54
ilr. The centurion whose servant was sick left Jesus before he had known whether his servant was already
healed or not. He believed Jesus's word and hinged his faith on the wcrd of Jesus and left Jesus before
he knew whether his servant was healed or not. Matt 8:5-13
11. Real faith is hinged on the word of God and character of God and is not moved by the situation around
it
12. True faith acts without see the results. It believes the word of"God. It will act in accordance to the word
of God even if the situation looks impossible. Hebrews 11:1
13. What we hope to receive is seen by faith before it manifests itself. Faith is the substance of things we
hope for. Faith makes hope a reality before it is manifested in the natural.
14, Faith makes me totally convinced that God will do what he promised to do and chases away doupt.
Faith enable a person to wait with patients what he expects from God.
15. Faith does not need to know all facts about a situation to believe that itwill come to pass but it just
needs to know the word of God and character of God to know that what god said will come to pass.
16. Because of the nature of faith God demands it from his children before his children can receive things
from him. Only faith can please God and God does things according to our faith. Hebrews 11:6;
Matthew 8:13; Matthew 9:22,29; Matt 15:28; Matt 21:21; Mark LL24; Luk 7:50; Luk 18:42
17" No faith no receiving anything from God. James 1:6-8

Walking in our inheritance in the kingdom of God


32
For the previous consecutive years the themes of the year have been concentrating on understanding
the kingdom of God. These were as follows:
1. Seek ye first the kingdom of God
2. Understanding the kingdom of God rl

3, Revelation to know God


4. Revelation to understand our inheritance
5. The year of walking in our inheritance ,

* The order of the tliemes has been progressive, each building upon the knowledge of the previous year.
* The themes were as follows:
. They began by making to us understand what the kingdom of God is like'
. Then they made us to understand the nature and operation of the kingdom. .1

. Then they made us to understand the king or ruler of the kingdom. ,

. Then they made us to understand the benefits or what we are entitled to in the kingdom.
. Then it taught us how we can access these benefits to enjoy them.
. Then it made us to recognise those things that are hindering us to fully enjoy the benefits of the
kingdom. (2016).
* From the progression of the themes it shows that it's now believed that we now know what the
kingdom of God is, where it is and how to experience it.
*onceweenterintoitwethenstarttoexperienceitsbenefits
* The major benefit of the kingdom of God is a life of blessings- what is called the blessed life

The steps into the kingdom of God are as follows:


Before a person can wallf in the inheritance he must ftrst enter into the kingdom of God. The ,l

inheritance is for those in the kingdom and not those on the outside. To enter into the kingdom
a

person must take the following steps:


1, you must betievJ;i. Corp"i o"f
j.lu, Christto be saved. l Corinthians 15:1-3
2. You must repeni; u'r',)icui'sins,r tui'n all?y frcrn rlour sins. Mark 1:15 .
3. No sinners shall experience the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21; l Corinthians 6:9-10;Ephesians 5:5
I

4. you must be born of the Spirit of God and become a child of God' John 3:3-6; John 1:12
5. You must be baptised in water and the Holy spirit. Mark 16:15-16
*,b Then you are removed from the kingdom of Darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:13
,st When this happened you enter into the kingdom of God
*b your next task is to seek after the things of the kingdom, to set your mind on things that are above'
Colossians 3:L-2
ik. you start to practise righteousness ihat is walking as a child of God, walking as a child of light.
Practising righteousness is:
a. Walkin! in-love fulfilling the great commandment of loving your neighbour as yourself. John 13:34-35;
Matthew 2?:35-40; Mark 12:28-34
Living a life of forgiving others that God may continually forgive you and
you will experience the peace
b.
of the lord. Matthew 12:14-15; Mark Llt25-26
When you have no grudge against any one, joy and peace will fill your heaft
1 John i:9
c. Hide no sin in your heart. Repent and confess of all your sins to maintain righteousness.

When you do that you start to experience the benefits of the kingdom of God, which is righteousness,
peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans L4:L7 ,,

You will experience the blessing of God upon your life' Psalms 1:1-3

Example of the btessed life.


Abrahim, Isaac and Jacob were blessed of God whatever they did prospered' I

a. Abraham blessed by God because he believed and obeyed God. Genesis 12:1-2
b. Isaac inherited the blessing from his father Abraham
c. Jacob was a man of faith and obedience and carried the blessings from his father to Laban and
prospered. Genesis 28:6-7 ; genesis 30:25'27 3Lt36
33
1. Joseph even in the land of slavery he prospered. All he wcrked for were blessed. Gen 39:2-5; Gen
39:20-23

What to do and what to avoid so as to walk in the kingdom


* Be faithful in all you do before Goci and man Proverbs 28:20
, Don't be greed for riches you will destroy yourself. Proverbs 28:20i 1 Timothy 6:9
t Flee from corruption in the world caused by lustforthings,2 Peter l.:4
* Learn self-discipline in all things. Be disciplined in how you use your nroney, plan before spending
money; save money. Proverbs 2L:t7
* Work hard, learn to do honest work for God to bless you. Proverbs 10:22
* Don't live a life of borrowing money. Avoid at all costs having credits of any kind. Run away from spirit
of completion. Be satisfied with what you have. Proverbs 22:7; I Timothy 6:6
t Finally let's live a godly life before God its profitable unto all things. 1T'imothy 4:8
{. What happens when one repents and receives Christ as saviour and Lord?
t When a man repents the Spirit of God comes and regenerates his spirit quickening it making it alive.
Ephesians 2:5; Colossians 2:13
a The man is made alive from being dead due to sin and he becomes a brand new man born from above,
born by the Spirit of God and his word, the incorruptible seed. John 3:5; 1 Peter 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:
17-18
, The Spirit of God working together with the word of God regenerates our spirit frc:n being dead due to
sin to being alive together with Christ. The Spirit of God destroys the power of sin in our lives and
makes us holy and righteous before God. Romans 6:6-7; Titus 3:5; l Corinthians 6:11
* The Spirit of God gives us the right to become children of God and members of the household of God.
John 1:L2-L3;1; Ephesians 2:19 Tirnothy 3:L5
* The Spirit becomes the witness to our spirit assuring us cf our adoption as children of.God so that use
can freely cry Abba i:,lher unto God that is call God our beloved daddy. Romans 8:!,4-i6; Galatians 4:3-
6
* We are made heirs of the kingdonr of God togethei with Christ- Romairs 8:L7: Ga.*.ian: 4:7; Fpliesians
2:4-6
* The seed of G;d ccmes to dwell in us to transform us thru the power of tl'rt spirit of God so that we can
no longer live in sin. We cannot continue living in our old sinful ways. The lesire to continue in sin
fades away. Romar,s 6:L-2;1 John 3:7-L0
a Thru his grace we are rnade free from the power of sin that we can no longer obey its commands and
its desires. Romans 6:4-12; Romans 8:l-2; Titus 2:ll-t4
Finally let's Iive a godly life before God its profitable unto all things. 1 Timothy 4:8

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