The Church And The Kingdom

THE TRUE “NEW TESTAMENT” PROPHET
April 30, 2018
After Jennifer What Next For Kampala
December 18, 2018

Many at times misunderstand the church and kingdom of God, and today I am sharing to explain difference of how the two work hand in hand. Get your bible and let us search the scriptures as we study this.

First of all, the kingdom of God is that realm where God the king rules. The church is a group of people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord. We call it the body of Christ, people who belong to Jesus, because Jesus is King.
These people are Royal, they are special and chosen to represent him here on the earth.
You are . . . a royal priesthood, a holy nation . . . that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9)

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS LARGER THAN THE CHURCH
The Church is part of the kingdom but the kingdom is larger than the church. It consists of the spiritual and the physical realms. The physical realm consists of people, space,and property, it is where the King exercises his power and influence. The spiritual consists of the Spirit,…………

THE CHURCH CONSISTS OF SPECIAL CITIZENS OF THE KINGOM

  • Royal: We were adopted and became children of the king.
  • We are princes and princesses.
  • We are priests: We have a work of representing God here on the earth.
  • We are a nation: A large kingdom or empire has nations, so we are that special nation of God in his great kingdom.

THE CHURCH IS A PEOPLE SENT ON A MISSION FOR GOD

  • Our responsibility is to bring the rule of the KING on the earth.
  • The culture and the Values of the Kingdom on the earth.
  • To help the world to see a glimpse of the rule of the king on the earth. “Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:9-10).
  1. The Church has the Keys of Authority.

“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16: 18-19 ESV

  • What are the gates?
    Ancient cities had walls and gates. The city gate was the place where rulers sat and judgments were passed. It was also a place of protection and control. Whoever controlled the city gates controlled the city. When Adam gave up authority of the world, Satan took over all the powers of the world and he controlled all the gates. Gates of politics, business, education, health, entertainment, families all of these became captives.
  • What are the keys?
    To His Church, Jesus said, “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.” Keys represent authority. At the cross Jesus conquered. He has now delegated that authority to the church. “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,” Matthew 28:18 The Church has the authority of the Kingdom of Heaven.

“Gates are stationary. Gates do not move. So it is the Church that must advance toward the gates of hell. The Church should not sit around waiting for the gates to come to it!”

How Does the Church Exercise this Authority?
We have the power to bind and to loose:

  • Preach the Good News of the Kingdom
  • Teach the principles of the kingdom
  • Demonstrate the power of the kingdom.

We do exactly what Jesus did and as we do that the kingdom advances.

“Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ ”ESV | Occupy KJV | Do business NIV Luke 19:13

  • We have an active Calling from God to engage in active service until he comes. But that has not been so, we have often resorted to a Gospel of escape.
  • We have engaged in a defensive war instead of an offensive war. ( the Catholic song of empty villages: ebyalo biwedemu abantu ennaku zibasanze.)
  • We spend more time in church buildings, in morning glory, lunch hours, over nights than in the field getting people to know the king.
  • We preach and tell people to prepare for heaven, but we do not get out to win others to Christ, and help them show how heaven can come to their schools, homes, and businesses.

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” ― Edmund Burke