King
James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning
Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday,
October 08, 2015
Chapters: Matthew 20-21
https://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-281.html
Message
Title: The
Kingdom Of God In The Kingdom of
Heaven

Hello My Friend,

Jesus used the
terms "Kingdom of Heaven" and "Kingdom of God"
interchangeably in places in the Gospels, most Christians think they
are one and the same. They will be, but not until the Second Coming
of the Lord Jesus Christ when He rules the world for a thousand years
on the throne of His father David (descended through the flesh) in
Jerusalem. “And I saw thrones, and they sat
upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of
them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of
God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image,
neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their
hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But
the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were
finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that
hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no
power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall
reign with him a thousand years.” - Revelation
20:4-6.

Blessed and holy is he that
hath part in the first resurrection, these are those who are
saved and have received Christ as their Saviour before their physical
death before He returned. We must first become part of the Kingdom of
God before we can join Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. As stated by
Jesus in Chapter 19, many that are first shall be last in the kingdom
of heaven, He goes on to explain this further.


“For the kingdom of
heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out
early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And when
they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house,
Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them
equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But
he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst
not thou agree with me for a penny? Take that thine is, and go thy
way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Is it not lawful
for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I
am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be
called, but few chosen.” - Matthew 20:1,11-16.

A
man that is an householder, Jesus is the master of the
whole family of God, whether they are in heaven or in earth. When He
returns He will reign over all the children of God, both in heaven
and on earth temporarily for a thousand years in Jerusalem. The
Gospel dispensation or times of the Messiah is the distribution of
good and evil, in the divine government of God. The first meaning the
Jews, they learned of the Gospel first, last, meaning the Gentiles
who learned of the Gospel after the Jews, they will be the first to
accept Him, while the Jews will follow once they finally realize He
is their Messiah. Both Jews and Gentiles will have the same
privileges, and while many will try to earn their way into heaven,
only those who accept the Gospel and receive Christ will be a part of
the Kingdom of Heaven. “Tribulation and
anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first,
and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man
that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For
there is no respect of persons with God.” - Romans
2:9-11.

For there is no respect of
persons with God. There is a reason why our works do not get
us to heaven, we would all be boasting about how we got there instead
of giving God the glory for it. By now, the twelve disciples were
feeling pretty good about themselves, especially knowing that they
were going to be part of the Kingdom of Heaven. The sons of Zebedee
were James and John, their mother came to Him and asked if He would
allow them to sit on each side of the throne when He reigns. Of
course, this caused a quarrel with the other ten until Jesus put a
stop to it. “But Jesus called them unto him,
and said, Ye know that the princes of
the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great
exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And
whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as
the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and
to give his life a ransom for many.” - Matthew
20:25-28.

And whosoever will be
chief among you, let him be your servant: there are tons of
biblical examples as well as non biblical of men and women who did a
great work for God, who led thousands to Christ. While all these
things are good, those who humble themselves as servants in the love
of Christ are the ones most pleasing to God. “And
though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and
all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove
mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow
all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be
burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity
suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth
not itself, is not puffed up,” - 1 Corinthians 13:2-4.

Now,
we come to the Kingdom of God, how do we become part of the Kingdom
of God? Jesus explains through another parable. “But
what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first,
and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. He answered and said, I
will not: but afterward he repented, and went. And he came to the
second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and
went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily
I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the
kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of
righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the
harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not
afterward, that ye might believe him.” - Matthew
21:28-32.

The Kingdom of God, this is the spiritual
Kingdom, righteousness through faith in the risen Saviour who will
return to Earth one day and reign in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is
when all this is complete and the devil with all his minions will be
cast into the lake of fire that He will judge the dead, those who
have not received Him as their Saviour. “And
I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were
opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and
the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the
books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which
were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in
them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And
death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was
cast into the lake of fire.” - Revelation 20:12-15.

Today's
Prayer: God, You are my witness that I not only believe in
Your Son, but received Him as my Saviour, and I am trusting only in
Him for my salvation. Until that time comes I want to live the
richest life I can here on earth with You leading the way. Lead me
and guide me, show me Your ways, and help me to have compassion on
everyone You introduce in my life. Let me not be deceived, easily
offended, or afraid to tell those I know or come into contact with
that Jesus lives in me and I am living my life the way He wants me to
live. I love You Lord, and ask these things in Jesus' name.
Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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