The Kingdom Of Heaven

  

Jesus was the fulfillment of an ongoing revelation of the heart of the Father. This revelation only increases from season to season. It's this principle given to us. 

Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Isaiah 9:7

It only increases and goes forward. The concept of ongoing forward motion is repeated 

¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

"from glory to glory." 

The point is, God takes us forward in an ever increasing revelation. It never declines or goes back to inferior standards, especially those of the Old Testament. Once the demands of the Old were met (in and by Jesus), the New came into prominence, permanently. Once the real has become manifest (i.e., Jesus, the Lamb of God), we never go back to the symbolic (sacrificing sheep.) Once the Kingdom has become manifest, there's no going back. If Jesus opened up the revelation of the Father through miracles, signs, and wonders, why would He then return to the inferior? He didn't. We did. And that's the point. To make sure we'd never forget the standard He set, He stated the impossible. 

 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12 

Forward motion, that's the plan of God. No retreat. And no excuses. In Matthew chapter 4, Jesus first declared the repentance message. People came from all over, bringing the sick and diseased, the tormented and handicapped. Jesus healed them all. After the miracles He gave the most famous sermon of all time: the Sermon on the Mount. It is important to remember that this group of people just saw Jesus heal all kinds of sicknesses and perform mighty deliverances. Is it possible that instead of giving commands on the new way of thinking Jesus was actually identifying for them the transformation of heart they had just experienced? 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:3

How would you describe a people who left cities for days at a time, traveling great distances on foot, abandoning all that life involves, only to follow Jesus to some desolate place. And there He would do what they had thought impossible. The hunger of their hearts pulled a reality from the heart of God that they didn't even know existed. Can their condition be found in the Beatitudes? yes, "poor in spirit." And Jesus gave them the promised manifestation of the Kingdom with healing and deliverance. He then followed the miracles with the Sermon, for it was common for Jesus to teach so He could explain what He had just done.  In this case, the actual presence of the Spirit of God upon Jesus stirred up a hunger for God in the people. That hunger brought a change in their attitudes without their being told it should change. Their hunger for God, even before they could recognize it as such, had created a new perspective in them that even they were unaccustomed to. Without an effort to change, they had changed. How? The Kingdom comes in the presence of the Spirit of God. It was His presence they detected, and it was His presence they longed for. For them it didn't matter if He was doing miracles or just giving another sermon, they just had to be where He was. Hunger humbles. Hunger for God brings about the ultimate humility. And He exalted them at the proper time with a taste of His dominion.

⁶Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7  

¹⁶ The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light,
And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death
Light has dawned.”
¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:16-17

This word, repent, means "to change our way of thinking." But it is much more than a mental exercise. It really is the deep sorrow for sin that enables a person to truly repent and change his mind or perspective on reality. 

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, Hebrews 6:1

This verse clearly teaches that there are two sides to this action: "Repentance from dead works ... faith toward God." Full repentance is from something toward something, from sin toward God. Many Christians repent enough to be forgiven but not enough to see and move in the Kingdom. Their repentance doesn't bring the Kingdom into view. The same concept is taught with two different perspectives. One passage says 

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, Hebrews 6:1

"toward God" 

and the other implies it's 

"toward the Kingdom."

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 

Luke captures the richness of both views when he writes: 

¹⁹ Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, Acts 3:19 

The point is the presence is the Kingdom. It really is that simple. It's too easy to complicate the Christian life. For example, we are told to put on the full armor of God, which includes the helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, and so on. 

 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

¹⁴ Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; ¹⁶ above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. ¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; ¹⁸ praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— Ephesians 6:10-18

The apostle Paul gave us this important instruction, but most of the time we miss the point.

 God is our Armor. 

He's not saying, "Put something on that is a reality that is separate from us." He's saying, "Abide in Me. I become your salvation. I am your righteousness, the breastplate over you. I am the Gospel of peace. I am the good news. I am the sword of the Spirit." 

 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

This list paints a profound word picture enabling us to realize the fuller benefit of abiding in Christ. Simple is better. Jesus tells us to repent because He brought His world with Him. If we don't shift our perspective on reality, we will never discover the superior reality, the unseen realm of His dominion. This kind of repentance enables a believer to live in "heavenly places in Christ". 

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 

Ephesians 1:3

Discovering the presence of God is discovering the Kingdom of God, God's Kingdom of Heaven. 

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