Sermons of Jesus – Characteristics of the Kingdom of Heaven (4)
Bible Passage: Luke 6:20-49; 12:22-31, 57-59; 16:17
Where is the kingdom of heaven?
Since we are talking about the characteristics of this kingdom, this question seems reasonable.
Happily, Jesus has answered it in two places that I can think of.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven. (Matt 6:10)
“…For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk 17:21)
While the kingdom of God is the place that we are all striving to enter after our physical lives end, an eternal, glorious and spiritual realm, it is rather clear that the kingdom of God is also the people of God.
When the people of God do the will of God, His kingdom is established in the hearts of man. Naturally, these people have the kingdom of God within them and they will also be within the kingdom of God.
Hence, Jesus teaches us to pray in the way mentioned earlier. It is not just to tell God to do what He wants to others but more importantly to remind ourselves to be the ones to do His will so that wherever we are on earth will be a glimpse of heaven because we bring with us the presence of God.
This is why when Jesus talked about the kingdom of God, He did not talk about streets of gold or precious stones but instead described the hearts and deeds of the citizens of this kingdom.
Our reading for today spans across several chapters so I shall condense here, the deeds and hearts of this ‘kingdom’.
Attitude:
- The ‘be-attitudes’ as mentioned by InHisTime previously.
Deeds:
- Is not judgmental
- Gives and forgives
- Bears good fruit
- Builds a strong foundation by doing what the Lord says
- Seeks the spiritual before the material
Heart:
- Loving towards enemies
- Merciful
- Full of good treasure
As you wake up each day and proceed with your business in this world, remember that you are an eternal kingdom in a temporal realm for…
