Paul Baloche – The Kingdom of God

Jesus is crucified, then resurrected then spends forty days with His disciples talking about the kingdom of God. This is how the book of Acts opens.

 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach,  until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.  He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God – Acts 1:1-3  ESV

Paul is in prison, in Rome, in chains and spends at least two years preaching the kingdom of God. This is how the book of Acts closes.

He lived there two whole years at his own expense,^[g] and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. – Acts 28:30-31  ESV

Is it possible, that if I was to memorize one phrase of the gospel that Jesus preached, would it be “the kingdom of God?”

The kingdom of God has always existed. It was not introduced by Jesus as a new thing. What was new, because of Jesus, I am being invited to enter into and live in the kingdom of God. So the gospel sounds like this – the kingdom of God is available, and if you want to, you can come right on in and live in it. Does that not sound grand? Does it not make our cheaper version called the gospel of minimal entrance requirements for getting into heaven when I die sound so small?

How do I live in this world – how did Jesus live in this world?

If the glorified, resurrected Jesus needed and relied on the Holy Spirit, so should we. This is a pattern for the rest of the Book of Acts, which shows us what the Holy Spirit does operating through the church. “The disciple is not above his Master, nor the servant above his Lord. If even he was indebted to the Holy Spirit for the power of his ministry, surely we cannot afford to attempt the work appointed us without the same anointing.” –  – Pierson

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I am called to build the kingdom of God at home, in my personal life, at work, in my community and in my church.

Luke records Jesus using the term “kingdom of God” 31 times in the gospel of Luke and then records it only 6 times in the book of Acts. The emphasis from Jesus is clearly there. Somehow I need to make it an emphasis of mine. This will be some learning experience – I am looking forward to it.