Today's Passage - Matthew 4:17

Matthew 4:17   From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."    The message of the kingdom of heaven was the main message Jesus preached while He was on earth. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the kingdom of God is something that God wants to reveal. In the Old Testament, God wanted to build this kingdom. Jesus came and died for this. He was resurrected and will return again for this. The kingdom of heaven is the motivation, goal and direction of Jesus' ministry on earth. For those of us who follow the Lord, we are born-again into the kingdom of heaven so that we can be God's stewards on earth, and ultimately enter into His glorious kingdom.   The kingdom of heaven has two interpretations: Firstly, it refers to the kingdom of the coming Messiah. This is a narrow interpretation. When the Lord returns, the kingdom of the Messiah will come. Evil will be eliminated and the devil Satan will be judged. His Kingship will be fully manifested on earth. The wider interpretation of the kingdom of heaven is wherever God demonstrates His sovereignty.  No matter where it is, as long as God's will is established, that is the kingdom of heaven. Hence in the Lord's prayer, it says, may Your kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Wherever God's will can freely move, that place is the kingdom of heavens.   The kingdom of heaven is not just the kingdom of the coming Messiah, but it is today and now. We can experience the kingdom of heaven in Christ. Jesus often teaches this. One time a Pharisee asked him when the kingdom of heaven will come. Jesus replied that the kingdom of heaven is amongst them. The kingdom of heaven is not referring to the future, but it is now. In Colossians Chapter 3, Paul says, "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things". When you first read this, you may think that Paul is teaching us not to go after worldly things, but pursue spiritual things, just like the priests. The truth is Paul later on explained that setting our minds on things above is forgiving one another, submitting to one another and giving thanks in all circumstances. All of these are very worldly things. In other words, when we set our minds on things above, we are referring to our lives on earth. Each day we live on earth, we need to reflect God's will and God's sovereignty.   The kingdom of heaven is not something that is out of reach. It is in our lives. On on hand, the kingdom of heaven can be filled with miraculous things, but on the other hand, the kingdom of heaven can be filled with little things in life. As long as we are willing to honor God and allow His will to be accomplished, the kingdom of heaven can come into our lives. May God give us a sensitive heart so that each day we can allow the kingdom of heaven to come and God's will to be accomplished in our lives.   Pray with Pastor Tong   Lord, thank you because the kingdom of heaven is not out of reach, but is among us. Let us turn back to you in our lives to seek and act according to your will so that your kingdom may come into our lives. I thank you and pray in the victorious name of Jesus, Amen!             Shekinah Glory - ROLCC Building Expansion Project - Follow us on our Facebook page!