A KINGDOM PREPARED BEFORE THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD
God created man in-line with a plan, an eternal plan. At the beginning of creation God didn’t make things up as He went along. In the grand scheme of things it has to be understood that God is an eternal God with an eternal purpose.
“For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through Him and for Him.“
Not only were all things created in and by Him, but all things were created FOR Him. In order to serve His eternal purpose. There were factors of an eternal nature settled in the heart of God concerning man; which explains the creation of man.
When the Word says, ”In the beginning..”, God already knew the end of all things! In the process of creation, God knew the order in which He would create all things. Because we filter the Word of God through the understanding of the natural mind, a gross misunderstanding and misinterpretation occurs.
God doesn’t observe things the way we do. We function from day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month, year-to-year. God dwells in eternity. He views all things from that perspective. We draw God down into the natural functioning of time and restrict and limit Him to our viewpoint.
Matthew 25:34, “….Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world”
“just as [in His love] He chose us in Christ [actually selected us for Himself as His own] before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy [that is, consecrated, set apart for Him, purpose-driven] and blameless in His sight. In love”.
God not only prepared a ‘Kingdom’ before the foundation of the world, but He also chose us for Himself, before the foundation of the world. The Kingdom of God was the manner through which God intended to take man into Himself, into His purpose for man.
Religion has taught us that the concept of the Kingdom of God is a futuristic occurrence. That one day when Jesus returns, the Kingdom will come. This is true, partially. Here’s the issue with believing that, we see in Mark 9v1, Luke 9v27– “But I tell you truthfully, there are some among those standing HERE who will not taste death before seeing the Kingdom of God.” Now, either they all died before seeing the Kingdom come, which would make the statement untrue and Jesus a liar. Or the “some” referred to are living somewhere in hiding, until the Kingdom comes when Jesus returns. Or the Word is true, and they experienced a dimension of the Kingdom of God which has already come in their lifetime“! – The Kingdom that was prepared and existed before the foundation of the world.
10For God has unveiled them and revealed them to us through the [Holy] Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things [diligently], even [sounding and measuring] the [profound] depths of God [the divine counsels and things far beyond human understanding]. 11For what person knows the thoughts and motives of a man except the man’s spirit within him? So also no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the [Holy] Spirit who is from God, so that we may know and understand the [wonderful] things freely given to us by God.
The Holy Spirit contains all of the Kingdom of God, and reveals that to our spirit as we walk in submission to the Holy Spirit. For this Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3; Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.”4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.”
The more we walk in a greater level of submission to the Spirit, leading us to maturity in God, the more of the Kingdom is revealed to us. This is the understanding of ‘The kingdom is within’.
20 Now having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed or with a visible display; 21nor will people say, ‘Look! Here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For the kingdom of God is within you [because of My presence].”
The reality of the Kingdom of God can only be seen through the eyes of the Spirit of God. It is foolish to think you can logically understand God and His workings. The natural mind can only perceive things for which that mind was created. John 3:6; “That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” To see the Kingdom you must be born of the Spirit, and to enter it you must step beyond the barrier of the flesh, the natural, the rational.
Religion has effectively separated us from the true purpose of God. Men, who lack any real understanding, have caused us to deflect from God’s original intent. Bible schools and institutions DO NOT produce men of understanding!
13 We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit]. 14 But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters].
Popular messages preached today are more focused on relevance than biblical accuracy. When measured against the backdrop of God’s true intent and interpretation of the word, we realize how far off they actually are. These gospels of salvation, faith and prosperity, point to “successfully functioning” in the world, with a destiny of going to heaven. But it’s void of the concept of the present reality of the Kingdom, with a life supported by the authority of Christ. A life governed by the Holy Spirit, which internally transforms and changes your entire being, here on earth. The kind of life God created us for, the reason for which He dwells in us, to which end He empowers us.
These gospels taught outside of the context of the Kingdom produce nothing of God. It selects items which are true, but by no means impact or bring about any significant change in the life of the believer. That life (of the “believer”) then consists of nothing more than trying to use God to promote our own successes, needs and agendas.
The scriptures speak to no other gospel except the gospel of the Kingdom; of which the other gospels are a part of. These teachings are no more than doctrines of demons. It causes a separation from the purpose of God. And anything that hinders the fulfillment of God’s purpose; is of the devil. 1 Timothy 4:1; “Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.”
Not everything that sounds like truth, is truth. Nor is it the truth of God’s word simply because it’s spoken from behind the pulpit. Just because a man stands behind a pulpit, does not mean he is called of God. Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” – Remember, even the demons believe and they tremble (James 2:19).
The enemy is successful in deceiving and misleading the church away from the original intent and purposes of God. 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such men are counterfeit apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, since Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. So it is no great surprise if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness; but their end will correspond with their deeds“. There’s no need for the devil to seek and deceive the world, he already controls them. So it’s obvious that those he seeks to deceive are them who profess Jesus as Lord.
Men (“spiritual teachers”) have become more ungodly and unrighteous. However, the people cling to them because they minister messages aligned with their own agendas. They fully vested in hearing how “God has plans to prosper them” (Jeremiah 29:11), yet turn a deaf ear when the word says, “we enter this Kingdom through suffering” (Acts 14:22).
The thing concerning anything ‘counterfeit’ is that it’s so similar to the original, it’s nearly impossible to tell the difference. This is why we need ‘Godly’ men of understanding to accurately divide the word of truth. We need to return to the messages preached by Jesus and the apostles. The message of the Kingdom, that message that once again cuts us to the heart (Acts 2:37).
Our hearts need to be yielded to the guidance and leadership of the Holy Spirit. Allowing the Spirit to transform us from the inside by revealing to us the nature of God. That nature that unveils the truth and empowers us to function in order to fulfill the purpose for which God placed us here.
God prepared a Kingdom for us before He created us. A Kingdom with Jesus as its King and us as its citizens. This was in the heart of God before the foundation of the world.
It is not heaven which we are inheriting, it is a Kingdom – “ Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matt 25:34).
When we are able to view things by the Holy Spirit, see as God sees, and begin to grasp the eternal purpose of God, we can then make the necessary adjustments to live accurately. Live by the Holy Spirit, under the rule and order of the Kingdom prepared for us, producing in the earth that which is in Heaven.