THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN - PART 5

FRIDAY 13 DECEMBER 2024

Reference: Matthew 13:44-46 New International Version (NIV)

'The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."'

The Kingdom of heaven represents eternal life and the fullness of God's provision for the saints. A man who has not found the Kingdom of heaven symbolizes a soul that is still lost to sin and thus, is in compliance with the dictates of the flesh. Its considerable or substantial significance is stated in John 3:6 which reads, "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (KJV).

The Kingdom of heaven denotes the centre stage for the Scriptural narrative of redemption, where the full access to eternal life is granted in Jesus Christ. Emphatically speaking, Christ's Kingdom points to being born again through salvation - as the criterion for accessing the promise of the Holy Spirit and eternal life - for those who believe in Him.

The Kingdom of heaven is the same as the Kingdom of light. You can absorbedly notice it in Matthew 4:16-17 which reads, "The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near" (NIV).

The Kingdom is a spiritual construction from God that supplies boundless divine light with all-round spiritual blessings, and its headed by the Lord Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 1:3 ESV). So, if you want to give it an accurate befitting title, it is "Christ's Kingdom from God", a title which is synonymous with "the Kingdom of His dear Son."

To that effect, Pauline epistolary expression numbered as Colossians 1:12-13 reads, "And you will joyfully give thanks to the Father who has made you able to have a share in all that He has prepared for His people in the Kingdom of light. God has freed us from the power of darkness, and He brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son" (NCV).

How did Jesus make it possible for us to be freed from the power of darkness, and be positioned in the Kingdom of heaven? By taking away all sins and blotting out the certificate of debt consisting of legal demands which were in force against us and which were hostile to us, thereby nailing them to the cross, and He went to confront Satan and His "chthonic" cohorts in infernal regions. There He defeated all satanic powers and forces, disgracing them by making a public spectacle of them and leading them away as prisoners, while He celebrated His victory.

To that effect, Colossians 2:15 reads, "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities [those supernatural forces of evil operating against us], He made a public example of them [exhibiting them as captives in His triumphal procession], having triumphed over them through the cross" (AMP).

Through the eventual and successful victory of Christ over sin and death, He opened the way to the Kingdom of heaven and eternal life - to all and sundry, and bestowed on those who have believed in Him, the true nature of God's righteousness and His state of holiness. To that effect, Johannine literature, in accordance with the book of Revelation, reads: "I am the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades [the realm of the dead]" (Revelation 1:18 AMP). See these keys are in my hand! "Jesus says." They open and lock death's doors, they open and lock hell's gates, and they are keys of the Kingdom of heaven.

Guess what Jesus did with the keys which are symbolic of supreme authority? "I will give you the keys (authority) of the Kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind [forbid, declare to be improper and unlawful] on earth will have [already] been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose [permit, declare lawful] on earth will have [already] been loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19 AMP). Hallelujah!

Beloved, if you belong to Christ, the keys are there with you because you witness in your spirit that you're a true child of God and the Holy Spirit is oftentimes greatly delighted in joining you to do so: "For His Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children" (Romans 8:16 NLT). More so, you know the keys are hung in your mouth because you can establish and witness the efficacy of eternal truth by speaking a rhema out of your lips as the occasion requires. Stay tuned for part 6. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Matthew 3:2; Matthew 18:18; 1 Timothy 1:17; 1 Revelation 5:10.

Guided Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for positioning me in Christ to live the lifestyle of Kingdom of heaven on earth and to experience the peace of functioning in harmony with your perfect will, a superior practicality designed for the saints. My auricular attentiveness and godly awareness are constantly awakened by the Word of faith and by activating the Word through my mouth, I shine and demonstrate the light of the Kingdom in my life and world, in Jesus' Name, Amen!