Priorities Part 3: The Kingdom of God
What Is the Kingdom of God?
Matthew 4:17
Luke 17:20-21
Matthew 6:10
The Kingdom of God is the reign and rule of God. It is not first a building, location, ministry program, or church event. It begins with the truth that God is King. He rules over creation, history, nations, and His people.
From the beginning, Scripture shows that God rules over all things. His Kingdom is eternal, unshakable, and sovereign. The Old Testament also promised that God would establish His reign through a coming King, a Messiah from David’s line, who would bring justice, righteousness, peace, restoration, and final victory.
So when Jesus comes preaching the Kingdom, He is not introducing a random new theme. He is announcing that God’s promised reign is breaking into history.
The Kingdom of God is Everlasting
Zechariah 14:9
Psalm 103:19
Psalm 145:13
The Kingdom of God in the Old Testament
Psalm 93:1-2
1 Chronicles 29:11-12
Jesus Brought the Kingdom Near
Luke 4:42-43
Luke 4:42-43
Matthew 13:33
Matthew 13:44
Matthew 13:47
Jesus announced the arrival of the Kingdom. His message was, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The Kingdom was near because the King had come near. Jesus is not merely a teacher of the Kingdom. He is the King through whom the Kingdom arrives.
Jesus revealed the Kingdom through His words and His works. When He healed the sick, cast out demons, forgave sins, welcomed sinners, showed mercy, and raised the dead, He was showing what happens when God’s rule breaks into a broken world.
Jesus also explained the Kingdom through parables. He described it as seed, leaven, treasure, a pearl, a harvest, a wedding feast, and a master returning. These parables showed that the Kingdom would often begin small, work quietly, grow steadily, demand everything, and end in final accountability.
Where We Stand in the Kingdom
Salvation
John 3:3-5
Mark 1:14-15
Colossians 1:13-14
The Kingdom must be entered. Jesus told Nicodemus that unless someone is born again, he cannot see or enter the Kingdom of God. That means the Kingdom is not entered by religious background, family tradition, good intentions, or moral effort. We enter through new birth, repentance, faith, and the saving work of God.
For those who belong to Christ, we now live in the “already but not yet.” The Kingdom is already here because Jesus has come, died, risen, ascended, and poured out the Spirit. We have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ.
But the Kingdom is not yet fully here. We still see sin, suffering, injustice, death, temptation, and spiritual warfare. So believers live between the arrival of the Kingdom and the fullness of the Kingdom.
Function
Matthew 9:35-38
Mark 16:15-18
Acts 1:3
Acts 1:8
Matthew 16:19
The Finality of the Kingdom
I Corinthians 15:24-26
Philippians 2:9-11
Revelation 11:15
Revelation 21:1-5
The Kingdom of God will be fully completed when Christ returns. Every earthly kingdom will fall, every temporary pursuit will end, every possession will leave our hands, and every rival authority will be brought under the feet of Jesus.
This is why the Kingdom is worth seeking. We are not giving our lives to something temporary. We are giving our lives to the reign of Christ that will never end.
One day Jesus will return, evil will be judged, death will be defeated, creation will be renewed, and God will dwell with His people forever. The prayer “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” will be fully answered.
The Church and the Function of the Kingdom
Seek
Matthew 6:31-33
The Kingdom changes what we seek. Jesus did not call His people to simply admire the Kingdom, but to seek it first. The Kingdom changes our priorities because God’s reign becomes the highest concern of life.
The Kingdom changes our priorities.
Surrender
Matthew 16:24
The Kingdom also changes our character. People who live under the King should begin to reflect the King. The Sermon on the Mount shows us the character of Kingdom people: humility, mercy, purity, peacemaking, righteousness, forgiveness, generosity, prayer, and obedience.
The Kingdom changes our character.
Serve
Acts 2:42-47
The Kingdom creates a new community. The church is not identical to the Kingdom, but the church is the people of the King. The church gathers under Christ’s authority, proclaims His gospel, displays His character, practices His mercy, and serves as a preview of the coming Kingdom.
The Kingdom changes our character.
The Kingdom reaches into every part of life. If Jesus is King, His rule touches our home, work, money, schedule, speech, relationships, decisions, citizenship, and service.
The Kingdom reaches into every part of life.
The Kingdom advances through proclamation, discipleship, and witness. Jesus sends His people to preach the gospel, make disciples, and bear witness by the power of the Spirit.
The Kingdom advances through proclamation, discipleship, and witness.