"Since We Are Receiving A Kingdom"
"IT IS YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM" (Luke 12'32)
"... let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12'28).
What kingdom would this first-century Bible teacher, who was writing to Hebrew Believers, be referring to when he says, "Since we are receiving a kingdom"? Obviously he's saying something that they understood; the word "since" emphasises that.
So they knew what kingdom was. If that's the case, then truly born again Believers can also know what "kingdom" is. He says: " ... we are receiving it"! So what is the kingdom that Believers are also to be receiving now?
From what Jesus taught the people gathered on the Mount (Matthew 6'8-10), "kingdom" is a way of life. He said, "... your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him". "Therefore", He said, " In this manner, therefore, pray ...".
First of all, however, He emphasises the father-child relationship and the high respect that born-again Believersexpress for their heavenly Father: "Hallowed be Your name". (That has echoes of Proverbs 3'6: "In all your ways acknowledge Him".)
Then their paramount prayer is to be for His kingdom, the Father's Kingdom, to be on earth. That is when His will is being done on earth, by His children, as it is in heaven (without question!). Then they will be living the life of the Father's Kingdom. A kingdom which cannot be shaken.
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At the time when the writer to the Hebrew Believers sent them his letter he had reason to make the point that "... we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken" saying that there were "those things that are being shaken".
Many Believers around the world would agree that things are being shaken today. Society's accepted moral understandings, that came from hearing the teachings of Christ, have or are being replaced, ignored or discarded. So called "progressive" things are being introduced or foisted on saints and sinners alike. Confusion is common. But where is God in it all? Could our heavenly Father be doing something? What could be His purpose?
Throughout his letter the writer to the Hebrews reminds them of Israel's past under the Old Covenant and then compares or contrasts it to their situation in Christ'a New Covenant. In referring to things being shaken in the past he turns their thoughts to the present, warning them and exhorting them :
"See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, 'Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.'
Now this, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear" (Hebrews 12'25-29).
One thing that can be said with certainty about the shaking is that God is doing it for "the removal of those things that are being shaken". The purpose being, "that the things which cannot be shaken may remain". As in other historic times, God's Word is deeply involved.
It's apparent that much of what is being shaken today involves people, and their organisations, who profess to be Christian or Christian-based. However, there are unbelievers who being affected also because of their strong sense of good and evil.
Professing Christian denominations are becoming more and more un-Christ-like and following false teachings. God is shaking these institutions with challenges that test their faithfulness to His Word. The writer says that it is by living godly lives that " ... we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."
So, he says, "See that you do not refuse Him who speaks". If this exhortation was spoken to Believers today how would it be understood? Would they know what he's talking about?
Paul explains what it is he is talking about. At the conclusion of his response to some challenging ideas about how to live a life acceptable to God, which the Roman Believers were wrestling with, he says:
"... the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men" (Romans 14'1-18).
And Jesus Himself is the example. Remember? The “... Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many,” Matthew 20'27-28. And there's encouragement:
"... whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ," Colossians 3'23-24.
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While Saints demonstrate the life and order of God's Kingdom outwardly, the source is spiritual because the Kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit.
Earlier in his letter to Romans he said: "... you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His," Romans 8'9. There is no doubt when we have received Christ.
WHAT IS "A KINGDOM"?
Apparently, a kingdom is the rule of a king over people. So, in the area of his rule what he says goes. In a few counties his rule may be adjusted to be a constitutional rule. But in a few the king rules and this is what Jesus spoke about it early in His kingdom ministry. He told His listeners on the mountain to say their heavenly Father: "Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," Matthew 6'10. "A kingdom", as the writer to the Hebrew Believers said, is the Father's will being done in the daily conduct of every Believer and Body of Believers. It can be seen happening in the scriptures of Acts 1'1 to Revelation 3'22.
It's the will of our heavenly Father that His Children be receiving and living His Kingdom daily because Jesus said:
“... this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come" (Matthew 24'14).
It will be preached, and it will be a witness of the Father and the Son in the daily lives of His Called-Out Ones, the Body of Christ.
Jesus said: “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden," Matthew 5'14. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light," Ephesians 5'8.
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How do Believers get to the place of receiving the Kingdom? If you have read the previous articles then you may have entered the Kingdom after receiving the understandings presented in them. In any case, go on to the Your Kingdom Foundation articles and follow through on the understandings presesnted in them. When you have then you'll be in the place to receive the Kingdom.
And now, hear what the apostle Paul says: "... we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory," 1 Thessalonians 2'11-12.
This is the focus of all the articles in this website.
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