Kingdom Foundations: Who, What, When, Where, Why & How The International Kingdom Institute Dr. J.C....

Kingdom Foundations: Kingdom Foundations: Who, What, When,Who, What, When,

Where, Why & HowWhere, Why & How

The International Kingdom InstituteThe International Kingdom Institute

Dr. J.C. MatthewsDr. J.C. MatthewsInstructorInstructor

Kingdom Foundations – What?

The Kingdom of God is the preeminent and foundational theme throughout the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. It is the context in which God places history and the revelation of His original and ultimate plan and destiny for mankind. Without a solid understanding of the Kingdom it is impossible to be truly educated in the Bible.


• In order to understand the concept of a kingdom we must first understand the foundational concept of “dominion”.

• King + domain = kingdom.

• A kingdom is a king’s authority over domain or territory.

– More specifically, dominion is sovereign

authority over territory.

Kingdom Foundations – What?• Man’s dominion is the planet earth; from its

center to its outer atmosphere.

• Within this sphere of jurisdiction God has committed himself through His word to respect man’s free, even when it is contrary to man’s best interest and God’s will.

• Any expression from the spirit world that desires to impact the activity that takes place on the earth must find its expression through a

human being.


• God is constrained in what He can do in the earth without the participation of a human being because of His Word.

• Throughout scripture we find God honoring His word and man’s dominion. “Without God man cannot; without man God will not!”

– Exodus 3:7-10 (God sends Moses)– Isaiah 6:8 (God sends Isaiah)– Hebrews 10:5 (God prepares a body for His Son to come into

the world)

• God intention in granting man dominion was that He would work in partnership with man, while man was led by His spirit in his work.


The Original Covenant

• The relationship between the king and his citizens are governed by what is called the “Original Covenant”, which imposes reciprocal duties upon both parties.

• “Then God said, Let Us "make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth “ Genesis 1:26-28


• Covenants are formed by the taking of an “oath” and do not necessarily require acceptance, or even the knowledge, of the oath by its beneficiary to be effective.

• This Original Covenant is implicit between every king and the citizens within his kingdom. Because it is implicit it does not need to be written out or specifically communicated to the other party in order for it to be valid.


• The “Original Covenant” imposes reciprocal duties for each party:

– Sovereign’s Duties/Responsibilities:• Protection• Provision• Purpose / National identity

– Citizen’s Duties/Responsibilities:• Allegiance• Obedience to and keeping of the law• Support the Advancement of the Kingdom


The first reciprocal duty of allegiance is preeminent amongst the other duties because by keeping it, the remaining two responsibilities are also kept.


Genesis 3:8-10. • “They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in

the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” He said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.”

• Based on the above, we know that Adam broke his duty of:– Obeying God’s laws: He ate from tree of the

knowledge of good & evil– Support Kingdom Advancement: gave authority to

Kingdom’s enemy– Allegiance: He despised God and obey Satan


As a result, He lost his right to the reciprocal benefits of:

• Protection: Adam discerns his vulnerability and lack of protection when he said, “I was afraid”

• Provision: Adam for the first time had a need because He lost his right to God’s provision. This is seen by his statement: “I was naked”.

• Purpose/I.D.: Adam identity was lost because he hid from his Father – God, i.e. “I hid myself.”


• When studying any kingdom, the question must be asked: “Who is its king?” – There can be no “kingdom” without a “king”.

• King + Domain = Kingdom

• Note: The king’s character and nature ultimately determines the culture, laws and quality of life within his kingdom: The king establishes the expectations of his citizenry.


KING – GOD is King!

• God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each person of the Godhead fulfills specific roles in the administration and governing of His Kingdom.

• God is a King: – Psalms 47:2 - For the LORD most high is terrible; he is

a great King over all the earth.– Psalms 47:7 - For God is the King of all the earth: sing

ye praises with understanding.– Psalms 95:3 - For the LORD is a great God, and a great

King above all gods.


The King is SOVEREIGN• Sovereignty is defined as absolute authority and

power over a matter or nation. Being sovereign, a king is subject only to his word, which is law within his kingdom. The king and his word are considered “one in the same”.

The King is also Lord: • The owner of all property, resources and people

within his dominion. Psalms 24:1 says, “the earth is the Lord’s the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein.” There is no private property or ownership of property in the kingdom, only stewardship.


The King is LAW•God as King, creates law, executes judgment and rules over all matters within His dominion.

•Isaiah 33:22 records: “For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver; The LORD is our King …”

– LORD – Owner of all.– JUDGE – The final adjudicator - JUDICIAL– LAWGIVER – Maker of laws- LEGISLATIVE– KING – The sovereign in a kingdom – EXECUTIVE


• Here are some examples of this Law at work:

– God - Isaiah 55:11 – King Darius - Daniel 6:1-17– Herod the Tetrarch - Matthew 14:1-11 – Jesus - Matthew 5:18


• The HOLY SPIRIT is the Governing Counselor

• The Governor, within the context of a kingdom, is an extension of the king himself and responsible for representing and communicating the king’s will within his assigned territory.

• Within the Kingdom of God, the Holy Spirit is the “Governor”.

• As such He represents the King Himself oversees, governs and judges the affairs within his assigned jurisdiction within the Kingdom.


The Holy Spirit is the Sent One:

– John 16:7-13– See Also Genesis 1:2 & Acts 2:1-6

– Matthew 16:28– Mark 9:1– Luke 9:27


The Person of the Holy Spirit is essential to, and closely associated with, the present reality of the Kingdom.

– Roman 14:17– Luke 17:20-21– Matthew 16:28– Mark 9:1

• Luke 24:49 • Acts 2:1-3


Administration

Jesus used the word “Parakletos” to describe the Holy Spirit.

• Strong’s Concordance No. G3875 defines Parakletos as one who pleads another’s cause before a judge as a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, or an advocate.

• It is a legal term which means to be a “Counselor or “Attorney” on the behalf of another. Religiously, we have limited the work of the Holy Spirit to being a Comforter.

• Romans 8:26-27• John 14:26• John 15:26• 1John 2:27


Territory

• Wherever the Holy Spirit is present, that territory becomes subject to God’s Kingdom. This is why God is always seeking someplace to dwell amongst men so that His Kingdom can be present.

– People – Luke 17:21, 1Cor. 3:16, 6:19– Property / Things – The Ark– Places - Exodus 3:5


SONS - CITIZENS IN GOD’S KINGDOM

• In order to be a citizen in God’s Kingdom you must be a spiritual “son of God”.

– Philippians 3:20 – “For our citizenship is in heaven”

– Romans 8:14– John 3:3-5– Genesis 19:1-17


Only spirits with bodies or “human beings” are authorized to have dominion in the earth and impact the affairs of men.

•Man = spirit-being, Genesis 1:26 •Humus + Beings = Hu-man being, Genesis 2:7•Humus = earth or dirt •Man-Kind (Human-beings), Psalms 8:5-6 (Amplified)

God, Satan and demons are all vying for the submission of the will of a human being so that they man manifest their respective wills in the earth.


KINGS AND PRIESTS

• The “anointing” of king and priest are foundational to understanding the Kingdom and its economy in the earth. I refer to kings and priests as being specific anointings instead of offices because:

– There originally was no division of person. They were different perspectives of the same person operating in different environments.

– Avoid drawing hard line of separation between the two as necessitated in the Old Testament and interim economy of the Kingdom.

– Both priest and king were anointed as an indication of their authorization, identification and initiation into their callings.


• God’s original intention for every human being was the he would be a king and a priest, who would transition between the two anointings to accomplish his assignments in the differing territories within and without the Kingdom.

– Exodus 19:6– 1Peter 2:9– Revelation 1:6; 5:10


Priests:

Priests are spiritual sons of God whose primary purpose it is to serve, care for and protect the things that pertain to His sanctuary.

• God identified man as a priest when He articulated his job description in Genesis 2:15. Specifically:

– “Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it.”


Priest:•The word translated priest in the Old Testament is the word “kahan” which means: prince or first son.

•The priest was the first born male of a household.

•This gives us insight into why Moses’ father-in-law Jethro was called the priest of Midian (Exodus 3:1, 18:1), and why God chose Aaron instead of Moses to be the High Priest. Aaron was Moses’ elder brother.

– Adam being the first born of God was consider “the son of God” (Luke 3:38).

– Aaron– Jesus

Kingdom Foundation – What?Priests:•God claims the first born as being sanctified, set apart and belonging to Him.

– Exodus 13:2, 11-13

•God initially viewed the entire nation of Israel as His first born son, indicating that He viewed them all as priests

– Exodus 4:22-23; 19;6

•God later officially establish the “office” of priest through Aaron and his sons , as well as through the Levites

– Exodus 28:1

•Like Adam, they quickly disqualified themselves of this privilege by committing idolatry by constructing a golden calf and declaring it as their savior and god

– Exodus 32

Kingdom Foundations – What?Priests:God has never given up on His original intention

that alll spirit filled men (male and female) be priests unto Him.

– Genesis 1:27– Exodus 19:6– 1Peter 2:9– Revelation 1:6, 5:10

God still uses the qualification of: 1. sonship and 2. election as the basis for priesthood in His

Kingdom.

Kingdom Foundation – What?

Kings:

Man received his commission as a king when God said:

– “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion …. over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”… ‘Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:26, 28.

• See Also: Psalms 8:4-6


Kings:•God did not extend man’s dominion to include the Garden. He assigned man the responsibility of dressing and keeping the Garden.

•The Garden as God’s sanctuary (like the tabernacle and temple of the Old Testament) we operate as priests and servants of the things of God.

•When outside of the sanctuary (or in the field), man is no longer functioning as a priest - but as a king.

•Field instructions: Genesis 1:26, 28 - “subdue and have dominion”.

Kingdom Foundation – What?

Separation of Anointings and Creation of Offices• God desired that His people would always be both kings &

priest. • Exodus 19:6 declares: “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of

priests and a holy nation.”

• It became necessary for God to separate these anointings into offices in order to preserve His economy in the earth because of man’s hardness of heart and sin.

• Priests: The office of priest was officially established after the nation’s rebelled against God in the wilderness.

• Kings: The office of king was established only after Israel rejected God as their King and wanted a human king like the other nations (Samuel 8:5-7).


• Jesus Christ our King and High Priest reconciled and restored us to God and His original intent for man – sonship; empowering us to reclaim our identity as both kings and priests – not kings or priests.

• Therefore, the Old Testament’s economy and model that was necessary due to our fallen state, is no longer necessary due to our being redeemed.

• New Testament Scriptures:– 1Peter 2:9 – Revelation 1:5b-6 – Revelation 5:9-10


ANGELS – NON CIVILIAN CITIZENS

• Angels are sons of God and therefore citizens of God’s Heavenly Kingdom: – Genesis 6:2-4, Job 1:6, 2:1, Psalms 29:1, 89:6

• The word “angel” is mentioned over 200 times in the bible.

• Angels are not natural civilian citizens of God’s Kingdom in the earth, however they serve in both God’s heavenly and earthly kingdoms – Psalms 8:4-6, Hebrews 1:7, 14


God honors His original dominion mandate, giving man complete authority over the activities here on earth, in that He requires from man some manifestation of faith on the part of the individual to legally grant God authorization to intervene on their behalf. This authorization, or act of faith, can take the form of:

• Prayer• Obeying the Word of God• Declaration of God’s Sovereignty • Submission to God the matter that is beyond their

strength to achieve.– Scripture: 2Kings 6:14-18


Angels belong to one of two Kingdoms:

• The Kingdom of God • The Kingdom of Darkness

– (Daniel 10:13,21; 12:1 and Jude 1:9)

• Every Believer has been assigned angels – Matthew 18:10, Hebrews 1:14)Daniel 10:13, 21; 12:1

• Jesus had angels assigned to Him: – Matthew 26:53 and John 18:36.

• Angels are assigned to us for our protection and to minister to us:– Psalms 34:7. 91:10-12


Angels are the Host of Heaven

•Angels are organizes in a strict and ridged hierarchical authority structure and order.

– Romans 8:38, – Ephesians 3:10, 6:12, – Colossians 1:16

•These angels have specific territory and boundaries in which they are not to trespass without specific instructions by God.


Roles of Angels and Believers in the Kingdom


The Believer

• Authority is local - earth

• Seen regularly in community

• Responsible for local law enforcement

• Is a civilian of the community

Angels

• Authority is National – Kingdom

• Hardly ever seen except when on special assignment

• Responsible for waging war on behalf of the kingdom/nationwide

• Is a non-civilian


Angels are the equivalent of the military personnel of for God’s Kingdom.

– “Host” is the Hebrew tsaba, “army, armies, hosts.” It is a military term and carries the idea of warfare. Angels are referred to as the “host,” which calls our attention to two ideas.

– First, it is used to describe God’s angels as the “armies of heaven” who serve in the army of God engaged in spiritual warfare

• Psalms 89:6, 8; 1 Samuel 1:11; 17:45

– Second, it calls our attention to angels as a multitude of heavenly beings who surround and serve God as seen in the phrase “Lord of hosts”

• Isaiah 31:4

In addition, tsaba sometimes includes the host of heavenly bodies, the stars of the universe.


National:

•Angels are deployed into the civilian world on specific assignments only.

•Once their mission has been accomplished they return immediately to home base.

•Angels are the angelic armed forces of God’s Kingdom that are sent to accomplish strategic and high priority assignments in the earth realm when opposed by the kingdom of darkness.

– “Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.” (Ps. 103:20-21)


The Believer as Law Enforcement in the Kingdom:

•Both angels and believers are citizens of God’s Kingdom but fulfill different functions within the Kingdom as it pertains to its advancement.

•The primary difference lies in the scope of our responsibilities.

•It is fundamentally a matter of jurisdiction.

•Man’s jurisdiction was established by God in Genesis 1:26-28 when man was given dominion.


Local:

•Man has been given the authorization and responsibility of from subduing and dominating anything within the earth realm.

– Genesis 1:26-28

•Any manifestation by a spiritual reality in the earth, that is not a product of a human’s free will or violates the law of dominion, is illegal and we have been given authority and responsibility of addressing it.


Local:

•The believer lives as a civilian within the Kingdom but functions as its local law enforcement.

•Jesus has deputized all believers to use the authority inherent within His name to enforce the law of dominion against any violators.

•Jesus declared in Mark 16:17:– “And these signs will accompany those who believe:

In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues.”


Binding and Loosing: Binding and Loosing:

• Matthew 16:19

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven” (Amplified).


Binding and Loosing

•Binding and loosing is actually a grant of authority to impose heaven’s law here on earth.

•One of the ways in which this is accomplished is by exercising our right to “bind and loose” that which is already bound and loose in heaven here on earth.

•Our authority to bind or loose here on earth is prescribed to that which is already lawful or unlawful in heaven.


• Jesus pointed out in Matthew 6:9-10 that our prayer and objective as believers is for God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

– “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”

• We are given authority to arrest and dispossess spirits that break the law in the community by inhabiting a body illegally.

• It is the power to enforce the law of the Kingdom established by the King here on earth.


The Believers Law Enforcement Authority:

•Disciples (Identified Believers) Authority in Jesus’ Name

– Luke 10:17

•Unnamed Believers Authority in Jesus’ Name– Luke 9:49-50

•Non-Believer Unauthorized use of Jesus’ Name– Acts 19:15


The common thread throughout all of these exorcisms was:

– The demon manifested himself. – Jesus, nor the disciples, went looking for

demons to cast out but only cast them out when they manifested themselves.

– The one instance in which men did go seeking demons to cast out it was unauthorized and the demon prevailed over them.

– Only those who operated by faith in the name of Jesus possessed the authority to command the demon spirits.


Mark 1:22-27

“Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him”


Notice in this text that:

• Jesus did not exposed the evil spirit’s presence, it did so itself.

• It immediately recognized Jesus’ authority to expel it.

• Jesus had the authority to tell it to be silent and to come out.

• Jesus did not evict the other evil spirits present that did not manifest themselves.


• It was and is not the believer’s assignment to search out evil spirits for they are everywhere.

• We are only concerned with their manifestation when they violate the laws and boundaries established by God.

• When such a breach is found, we have been authorized to correct the breach by the authority and power granted us by our King.

• See Acts 16:16-18


Misconceptions: 2Timothy 2:3-4

•Paul’s admonishment to his son in the ministry Timothy to be a “good solider” was an analogy given by Paul to help the young pastor understand the disposition and qualities he must develop as a leader in the church.

•Our warfare is one of resistance because we already have the victory (James 4:7).

•Our battle is to not forfeit or concede to the enemy that which we’ve been given, just as Adam did.


Kingdom is a compound word made up of:

•“King” and “Domain” = Kingdom

•A King ruling over a domain is a kingdom.

•It is the divine order, in which God placed man, which is governed by pre-established laws to ensure its orderly operation and man’s prosperity.


The Kingdom is NOT:

– A religion, the Church– Organization or Institution – A doctrine– A movement– Creation of man


Dominion and Kingdom

• God’s command, in Genesis 1:26 for man to “have dominion”, is better translated as an affirmative command for him to realize or take dominion over the earth by the process of subduing it.

• God specifically commands man two verses later to “subdue” and have dominion over the earth in Genesis 1:28.


• The word dominion and Kingdom, as used in the book of Genesis are not the same thing, however they are related as it pertain to God’s original idea and purpose for man in the earth.

• The word translated dominion in Genesis 1:26

is the word “radah” (raw-daw'), which does not mean kingdom, but to tread down, to subjugate; to crumble off: - to have dominion, prevail against, reign over, make to rule over, or to take.

• The Hebrew word translated “kingdom” is “mamlakah” means: the estate of dominion, the country or realm of rule.


• Mamlakah does not simply refer to having the authority or right of dominion, but rather it being an established and manifested fact.

• In both cases in which “mamlakah” is used in the book of Genesis it refers to kingdoms that have already been established

– Nimrod and Abimelech’s Kingdoms. They not only received radah, but had mamlakah!


Example:

• To understand the difference between the two, you could liken “radah” to having received a judgment in your favor for 1 million dollars, while “mamlakah” would be the actual possession of the million dollars, having already been deposited, in your bank accounts.

• It is important to differentiate between the two words because it places the dominion mandate in its proper context and perspective and establishes the role and responsibility we have in advancing God’s Kingdom in the earth.


In summary:

• Dominion: is radah – not mamlakah.

• Kingdom: Mamlakah involves the realization of radah.

• Radah is the state of being empowered and authorized to have dominion, while “mamlakah is the state of established dominion - the object of radah.


Conceptualizing Dominion: Answering the Tough Questions

How can God be sovereign and LORD of all, and yet man have dominion over the earth?

The answer is: Covenant!

– Genesis 1:26– Psalms 8:6– Psalms 115:16

Kingdom Foundations – What?• Many people question the validity of God

having given man dominion in light of the fact that He never relinquished His ownership over the earth and man’s fallen condition.

• The concept of man having dominion is problematic if we attempt to understand dominion from a strictly linear perspective.

• However, God’s grant of dominion was (1) a vertical grant, and (2) a product of covenant.

• In a covenant, the author has the ability to determine the terms upon which he will relate to the beneficiary.


There are 3 Pillars to Dominion:


Covenant and Property: Landlord Tenant Law:

• One aspect of the dominion covenant God enacted with man can be best understood by drawing an analogy between the relationship that exists between a landlord, his tenant and the property being rented or leased.


Landlord / Tenant - Dominion


• Like a landlord, God owns the earth and the fullness thereof (Psalms 24:1a). He decided to lease it to man for a specified period of time, before He has a right to reenter and reclaim it to fulfill His purposes in it.

• The tenant during the term of the covenant has a right to require the landlord to get his permission to enter and impact anything within the boundaries of the property rented.

• The tenant has no power over the landlord other than what the landlord conceded to him in the covenant. Therefore, the covenant is the controlling authority over the conduct of both parties – the author and the tenant.

Kingdom Foundations – What?Family Covenant

• The second aspect to understanding the covenant of dominion is to view it from the perspective of a marriage covenant with man.

• In Genesis 1:26, God created man in His image and likeness.

• God created a person, from His very own Being for the purpose of having someone suitable and like Him to rule the earth with.

• God having ruling over a spiritual kingdom comprised of spiritual being, could not find a being suitable to rule with him in a physical world; therefore He created man to be a ‘human being”.


• God gives us the natural equivalent and perfect analogy upon which to understand His grant of dominion to man, in His creation of Eve for Adam.

• In Genesis 2, we find Adam exercising dominion over the creatures of the earth by giving them their names.


Genesis 2:20-24

• “So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”


• God declared that man, both male and female would share dominion over the earth (Genesis 1:27).

• Adam needed someone like himself that bore his image and likeness, to fulfill his assignment.

• God took the woman out of man and made her from the same substance as man, was qualified to share dominion with him over the earth.

• Therefore, when man and women enter into covenant with one another, they are legally no longer individuals, but “an” individual – or one flesh!


• This is the same picture that we are presented of God and His relationship to man.

• God in seeking a suitable partner to rule His physical Kingdom with took man from within Himself created a being that was suitable to rule a physical kingdom.

• God, having created man as a suitable mate for Himself, espoused Himself to man, making the earth in effect community property shared between two “sovereigns”.


The Kingdom on Earth is a Colony

• God’s physical Kingdom can be conceptualized best by viewing it as a colony of His Heavenly Kingdom. God is King and sovereign over both His heavenly and physical Kingdoms.

• The Law of the Heavenly headquarters also applies to God’s earthly Kingdom.

• God intends for the earth to become a mirror image of his heavenly Kingdom through man’s obedience to His laws and spreading His Word to the ends of the earth, thereby establishing the Kingdom’s culture in the earth. (Matthew 6:10).

Kingdom Foundations – When?

WHEN IS THE KINGDOM?

• When discussing the question of “When”, as it pertains to the Kingdom, one must consider our perception of what constitutes the Kingdom.

• It is in a sense, a matter of one’s theological and eschatological orientation and the “degree” and “quality” of manifestation deemed sufficient to constitute the presence of the Kingdom.

• The Bible record the Kingdom’s presence in its

historical, prophetic and apocalyptic books, both in time and into eternity.


Past Present Future

Genesis 1:26 Matthew 6:33 Matthew 6:9-10

Matthew 12:28, Matthew 25:34

Luke 16:16, Luke 17:20-21 1Corinthians 6:9-10;15:50; Galatians 5:21; Ephesians

5:5

Luke 11:20 John 3:1-7 Matthew 7:21-23

Colossians 1:13 Hebrews 12:28 Luke 19:11


• It is evident from scripture that the Kingdom cannot be viewed as a static reality.

• As seen in the above scriptures, it can be established that the Kingdom is found in the past, present and futuristic of God’s economy.

• God has continued to reveal its presence and progressive manifestation throughout the Bible.

Kingdom Foundations – Where?WHERE IS THE KINGDOM?

•In asking the question: “Where is the Kingdom?” we must clarify which Kingdom we are referring to, as well as, consider our answer to the previous question of “when” is the Kingdom.

•Our answer to “where” is the Kingdom will depend heavily upon our belief in whether the Kingdom is a past, present, future or a progressively being revealed reality.

The Bible indicates that God’s Kingdom is found in:•Heaven – Matthew 6:10•Earth – Matthew 4:17, 12:28, 16:28•Spirit born man – Luke 17:21

Kingdom Foundations – Where?

Heaven(s)

• 1st Heavens – the firmament immediately above the earth or earth’s atmosphere.

• 2nd Heavens – solar system

• 3rd Heavens – God’s throne and eternal habitation along with the angels


Earth

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9b-10).

• Man was created for and from the earth because it was intended to be his domain and eternal habitation.


• Kingdom of God / Kingdom of Heaven

– The New Testament often use interchangeably, the titles “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” when referring to God’s Kingdom.

– Many believe that the author’s use of one title over another indicates that the author is trying to communicate or identify a distinction that impacts dispensation, jurisdictions or the sphere of God’s rule over His creation.


Some identify and distinguish the titles by stating:

• “Kingdom of God” – Encompassing all of God’s creation. This term is inclusive of the “Kingdom of Heaven”

• “Kingdom of Heaven” – Is considered heaven’s reign in, over and upon the earth. This term specifically concerns God’s reign in the earth.

• However, upon closer examination we find that the gospel writers often use the titles “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” interchangeably in referencing the same events.

Kingdom Foundations – Why?

WHY A KINGDOM?

• God decided that a “Kingdom” form of government was most appropriate for man because He is King! – Isaiah 33:22– Psalms 47:2, 7, 74:12, 95:3

Kingdom Foundations – Why?

• He intended for the earth to be a reflection of His heavenly Kingdom (Mt 6:10) and He intended for man to have “dominion” over the earth (His physical Kingdom).

• The Kingdom was and is God’s purpose for creating and placing man in the earth– Matthew 25:34

Kingdom Foundations – How?

HOW IS THE KINGDOM?

Genesis 1:26-30

• “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.”


• Man advances God’s Kingdom and has dominion in the earth by utilizing the 7 provisions God mentions in Genesis 1:26-30, which includes:

– God’s image– God’s likeness– The Blessing– His Word (God said…)– Subduing – Dressing and keeping– Seed

Kingdom Foundations – How?GOD’S IMAGE AND LIKENESS

• The primary provision God gave man was his being created in the “image” and “likeness” of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)

• Image – “tselem” – to be a reflection of, to resemble or be a to model or figure of an original. It speaks of one created to resemble or represent another. To be built or comprised like an original.

– God is a Trinity: Father, Son & Holy Spirit– Man is a trinity: Spirit, Soul and Body

• God’s image is a provision to from God to have dominion in the earth. Jesus restored our image, when He came as the second Adam to restore God’s Kingdom.– John 18:37– 2Corinthians 3:18

Kingdom Foundation – How?

• Likeness – “demuth”, whose root word is “damah” which means to: consider, muse or think like.

– Man is a spirit, not a body (1:26, 2:5, 7)

– Man is created to think creatively and speak authoritatively, just as God does.

– In the Kingdom of God, thoughts are things. When we speak what we think we create realities that impact the natural world.


• Spirit filled man operates as an ambassador or authorized representative of the God

• 2Corinthians 5:20

• The primary responsibility of an ambassador is to act and speak on behalf of his sovereign. We likewise are the tangible image, reflection and representative of God in the earth who has authorized and empowered us to act represent Him in the earth in advancing His Kingdom

• Ephesians 5:1

Kingdom Foundations – How?THE WORD

• Throughout Genesis chapter 1, as God establishes and orders His physical Kingdom in preparation for man, we are repeatedly reminded that “God said…” For seven (7) days we are reminded that God’s word is the effective agent of creation, change and order.

• This word was the law which upholds and maintains all things and is the composite substance from which all things owe its existence.

– John 1:1-3– Colossians 1:16-17– Hebrews 1:2-3– Hebrews 11:3


• Man, being created in the “likeness” of God, has been endowed with the ability to act like Him, i.e. .. to think and speak creatively to manifest his thoughts. Genesis 2:7 reads,

– “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul”.

• An ancient Aramaic rendering of this same verse says, and “… man became another speaking spirit”.

• This translation emphasizes man’s likeness to God; specifically his ability to speak like Him!


• As representatives of God in the earth, endowed with the ability to speak authoritatively and creatively, our words are very impactful in the earth.

• Mt. 12: 36 -37 - We are accountable for every idle (or unauthorized) word we speak and by our words we are justified or condemned

• We declare what will be permitted or not permitted; what is lawful or unlawful, bound or loose in earth, in accordance with what has already been established in heaven

– Matthew 16:19, Matthew 6:10


THE BLESSING

• The word blessed” is the first word God spoke to man (Ge. 1:28).

• The substance of the blessing is found in God’s word and His will being declared over a person or thing.

• The substance of the blessing is found in the word of God.

• The blessing is a “supernatural provision” from God that empowers us to exercise dominion.

• It is an “empowerment to succeed”. It is an “Impartation of Destiny.

• It is the culture and environment of God’s Kingdom.


• The blessing is an indicator of “sonship” and a fruit of our “obedience” to God’s word.

• By obeying the Word of God we are preserved by the blessing against the effects of the curse.

• The blessing is not based of merit but faith and obedience to God’s Word (Deuteronomy 28:1-14).

• The enemy knows this and tempts us to disobey God’s in order to severe our relationship with God and ultimately removes us from the protection found in the blessing.


• The Blessing, once declared cannot be withdrawn, however it can be forfeited or frustrated through our disobedience.

• Number 23:20 – (Balaam and King Balak) what God has blessed cannot be subsequently cursed.

• Genesis 1:28 (man fell but he was still able to be fruitful and multiply in line with the blessing)

• Genesis 27 - Isaac mistakenly blessed Jacob and couldn’t take it back although Esau begged him to.

Kingdom Foundations – How?• Disobedience to God’s word exposes us to the

affects of the curse and the natural world. Romans 6:16 says, when we disobey God we are removed from the blessing and become servants to the one obeyed.”

• Our status changes from that of “son” to “servant”. Sons receive their living while servants toil and labor for theirs (See Luke 15- the prodigal son).

• By maintaining our obedience to God’s Word, the

blessing that He spoke over man, upon granting him dominion, empowers him to prosper and have dominion even in the presence of the curse.


Subdue and have Dominion

• God commanded man to “subdue” and have “dominion” in the earth (Genesis 1:26, 28).

• Subdue” is the Hebrew word “kabash”: to tread down; to conquer, subjugate, bring into subjection.

• Dominion” is “radah” has a similar meaning: to tread down, subjugate and crumble off: make to have dominion, prevail against, reign, to take.

• By using the word “kabash” for “subdue” and the word “radah” for “dominion”, God communicates to man that his dominion over the earth will be the result of his activity.

Kingdom Foundations – How?DRESSING AND KEEPING

• This proactive disposition is also present in God’s commandment to man to “dress and keep” the garden.

• Keeping and subduing both entail an affirmative act of man’s behalf to enforce and take his dominion.

• Note: We will look at man’s responsibility to “keep” the garden before we look at the commandment to “dress” it, because it is directly related to God’s commandment to subdue the earth.

Kingdom Foundations – How!

KEEPING• The Hebrew word for “keep” is “shamar” which

means to hedge about, that is, to guard; protect, attend to, beware, keep preserve, save, make sure, to watch.

• Man was to “subdue” and “take dominion” over the earth by operating both as a king and priest. – A king by conquering, subduing and bring into subjection

the earth. – A priest, watching over, in cultivating, protecting,

preserving and making sure that nothing is lost or wasted.

• By actively subduing and keeping what God gave man, man would realize the dominion granted him by God.


To KEEP

• Aaron and the Levites were also responsible for guarding and keeping the sanctuary from intrusion from trespassers, even kings.

– See 2Chronicles 26:14-18


• In the Kingdom our work is a priestly service, or act of worship. This is why Jesus warned in Matthew 6:24:

• “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”

• Our job or work in the earth is to dress and manage the earth in such a way that the culture of heaven becomes resident in the earth.

• The command to dress and keep was a means of Kingdom advancement that would create a predetermined environment or culture within the earth.

• That culture is one of worship!


TO DRESSING

• ”And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the Garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15).

• The word translated dress in the Hebrew is the word “abad” (aw-bad'), which means to work, worship or be a worshipper.

• The commandment to “dress” the Garden was: – the establishment of man as a priest– as administrator over the affairs of the earth.

» To “dress” means to:» Dress - to tend, cultivate and colonize» Cultivate -> Culture -> Cult = Worship


Restoring Kingdom Culture - Blueprint for Kingdom Expansion

• God waited over 4000 years for His preferred model of Kingdom advancement to be established in the earth.

• The Bible says in Galatians 4:4 – “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son”.

• In other words, God sent His son Jesus to restore His Kingdom when the time was right.

• The “Roman Empire’s” pattern for Kingdom expansion reflected God’s divine order for advancing His Kingdom.


• Question: “What was right about the time in which Jesus was born?”

• Answer: Roman method of kingdom advancement was based upon the principles of assimilation, indoctrination, transformation and then domination.

• Prior kingdoms practiced “annihilation” (Assyrians) and/or “deportation” (Babylonian).


The Church - Ecclesia / Ekklesia

• Matthew 16:18b-19

– “On this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven”.


• Jesus borrowed the concept and principle of ecclesia from the preexisting Roman “ecclesia” to communicate to his disciples the means and method by which His church would be advanced His kingdom.

• The ecclesia was a governmental agency or senate utilized by Roman to govern its various territories.

• These senates were comprised of: – A governor, who was assigned and sent by Rome

to oversee the territory, and

– Called out member of the local community who were charged with operating as an extension of the governor in helping to impose the king’s law and establish Roman culture and law within the domain.


• Jesus used this blueprint to conceptualize to His disciples the method by which His Kingdom would be advanced.

• The Holy Spirit is the Governor sent from the King, to govern the domain called earth.

• By the Holy Spirit, these called out ones are given the King’s word for the purpose of communication and dissemination throughout their communities thereby cultivating the Kingdom’s culture within the domain.

• The church is entrusted with the responsibility of expanding the kingdom through indoctrination, assimilation, transformation and ultimately domination on behalf of God’s Kingdom.


• Binding and Loosing in connection with advancing the Kingdom

– Matthew 16:19 - “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.”

• The words “bound and “loose”, as used in the text, are in the perfect passive participle, which indicates a state of having been already forbidden (bound) or permitted (loosed).


• God’s heavenly Kingdom is the “headquarters” or “home country” from which the earthly Kingdom is to receive its laws.

• We advance the Kingdom by establishing that which has already been established by God in heaven here on earth.

• The church is the place where we receive what our King has said in order to communicate into our communities to facilitate its transformation into the culture of the Kingdom.


SEED

• Seed is what God has placed within our possession to empower us to subdue and dominate our situation.

• Biblically, seed represents: blessing, faith, our future, life, offspring, possessor of promise, value, the Word of God and the Kingdom of God!

• For the purposes of this lesson we will focus specifically on the role seed plays in fulfilling our mandate to exercise dominion in the earth.

Kingdom Foundations - How?

All seed:

• Comes from God! • Is a promise and speaks of a future • Contains a destiny • Created to multiply and produce! • Is a provision from God that preserves us

from the consequences of the curse.


Four (4) Revelations of Seed and Dominion:

• Seed is the visible counterpart to faith. It instructs us on how to walk by faith. The act of sowing seed is the natural equivalent of our walking by faith, the mode of operation in the Kingdom of God.– Matthew 17:20, Luke 17:6

• Seed contains the universal principle by which all manifestation takes place.

• It is the premise upon which the Kingdom of God operates. – Sowing seed is an act of worship.– It declares God as our Source and the One we

place our trust in.


• Possession of Seed is a Promise of a Tomorrow.

• Seed always speaks of our future, and not our past or present.

• It provide us the power to determine the quality of our future. It is a provision for tomorrow that must be acted upon today.


Seed is the power to influence , subdue and exercise dominion in the earth.

• The command to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion” implies the presence of seed.

• Within the seed is all of Genesis 1:26-28.

• Matthew 13:24-30, 31-32 and 33 – the seeds assignment was to influence the environment.

• Matthew 13:33 – leaven influences and changes the character of the whole. (Gal 5:9)


Seed belongs to Sons:

• Sons already possess within them the power to reproduce their father’s character wherever they go.

• The seed empowers them to conform and subdue a territory with their likeness.

• The enemy relies our not operating in this revelation causing our power to remain potential, enabling him to makes sons servants.


• The enemy is after our seed and our sons. He will try to enslave and kill the seed to preserve and protect his kingdom.

• Mt. 13:1-8 – the enemy’s and the systems focus of attack was the seed, not the sower.

• Mt. 2:13-16 - Kill the babies because the seed of the woman (promised in Gen. 3).

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