Establishing The Kingdom Of Heaven

Chapter Four . . .

The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, according to the apostle Paul. In short, it is life in the Holy Ghost. In some passages it is also referred to as the Kingdom of Heaven.

Colossians 1:12-13

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

We have been removed from or taken out of the kingdom of darkness and placed in the Kingdom of Christ. This is a truth the church must indeed come to terms with. We are the sons of the living God. By the blood of Christ and the infilling of the Holy Ghost, we are made partakers of His righteousness.

The passage above implies that God, the Father, has made us ready or qualified to share in the inheritance with the saints who dwell in the Kingdom of Light. We are talking about the Kingdom of God and a God who is holy and who demands holiness from His subjects.

Jesus made it clear that we would not understand any of the other parables if we could not understand the one about the sower and the seed. This parable is also important if we are to understand the potential results of preaching the gospel. Though I have taught this parable many times before, the Lord has instructed to take another look into it. In doing so, we might discover how the Kingdom of Heaven was to be established here on earth.

Luke 8:11-12

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

Clearly those who heard the Word by the wayside did not believe to the saving of the soul. Therefore, they were never a part of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Luke 8:13

13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

Those who will not allow the Word of God to establish them into steadfastness; will remain in the kingdom for a season. They will yield to temptation and fall away into the kingdom of darkness. Yes, they are forever lost. This is what the Lord wanted us to see. Salvation is not a game that we are able to change the rules as they suit us. No, it is the provision God gave us to make it into the kingdom. Take note the scripture above declares saints can receive the Holy Ghost, continue in Christ for a while and then fall away by yielding to temptation.

Listen to the mind and heart of the Father as it relates to those who fall away.

Hebrews 6:4-8

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,

6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:

8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Our brother Matthew Henry describes those without root on this wise…

They have no root in themselves, no settled, fixed principles in their judgments, no firm resolution in their wills, nor any rooted habits in their affections: nothing firm that will be either the sap or the strength of their profession.

Note

(1.) It is possible there may be the green blade of a profession, where yet there is not the root of grace; hardness prevails in the heart, and what there is of soil and softness is only in the surface; inwardly they are no more affected than a stone; they have no root, they are not by faith united to Christ who is our Root; they derive not from him, they depend not on him.

(2.) Where there is not a principle, though there be a profession, we cannot expect perseverance. Those who have no root will endure but awhile. A ship without ballast, though she may at first out-sail the laden vessel, yet will certainly fail in stress of weather, and never make her port.

The root that holds us fast is our submission to Christ. We must have a resolve in our inner man to walk in obedience to the Word of God at any cost. Without such a resolve we will surely be lost.

Luke 8:14

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Likewise, those who are given over to the pursuit of the things of this world will never make it to the Kingdom of Heaven. They will never walk in the fruit of the Spirit consistently. They will never go all the way to righteousness. They, too, are lost.

Luke 8:15

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Those who believe the Word and fix their hearts to obey it will reap the reward of the new kingdom. They will not submit to temptation because they have crucified the flesh with all its affections and lusts. They are the true sons. They refuse to move out of the seat they now hold in that heavenly place. They will rule and reign with Christ in the Millennial Kingdom.

But they are also the ones who are qualified to establish the Kingdom of God here in this present time for all to see. They alone will walk in the total righteousness of the Kingdom that dwells within them. They will put that righteousness on display so that the world will know that Jesus is real and that He did come to save them of their sins. We alone will be able to say, “Look on us, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”