The Kingdom of Heaven is now

Why?

Learn more about the Holy Spirit.
- To better understand the significants of the Holy Spirit and Pentecost.
Building for the Kingdom of Heaven
Understanding Gifts, given by the Holy Spirit

Kingdom of Heaven

What is it?

It’s not a place or physical

The Coming of the Kingdom - Luke 17:20-21 NKJV
(20) Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; (21) nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

its a spiritual reality that transforms hearts and minds, which brings a new way of living and thinking

“the final heaven is earth in the future”

the idea of going to Heaven makes no sense

The Kingdom of Heaven is ALREADY HERE - and now

(after Jesus his 2nd coming)
Revelation 21:1 and 4
(1) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. (…) (4) He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

Building for the Kingdom of Heaven

We should seek to make earth more like heaven

Thats why this verse says, that things should be on earth, as they are in heaven

Matthew 6:9-10 NIV
(9) “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
(10) your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

In essense:
let “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth” as it is already in heaven!

It’s our mission, as Christians, is to make the world more in line with Heaven.
And to show ppl, who are not in Christ, the world to come.
It was the Church that started the…
- modern hospital system
- modern education system and Unis
- social justice
- And more

BUT
(1)

“There can be no Kingdom of God in the world without the Kingdom of God in our hearts.” – Albert Schweitzer

(2)
We should try, but still recognize our limits. And not fall victim of Triumphalism or Defeatism.

Triumphalism:

Is similar to the Social Gospel movement, where people believe they can completely transform society into God’s kingdom through human effort alone, essentially trying to create heaven on earth through their own power.

Defeatism:

This is the opposite extreme - where people become passive and believe there’s no point in trying to improve anything in this world because it’s all going to be destroyed anyway, so they just wait for the future kingdom without engaging in present transformation.

Ok. But how does one participate building the Kingdom of Heaven?

Spiritual Gifts

Understand

They are supernatural abilities, given by the Holy Spirit. Intended to enable us to serve God and others.

They are distinct from natural talents and learned skills

Won’t mention all, but you can read them here Romans 12:6–8, 1 Corinthians 12:4–11 and 12:28, and Ephesians 4.

Teaching
Encouraging
Leading
Healing
Guidance
Wisdom
(More)

One can have multiple Gifts. But not all.

You can find your Gift by…

Studying Scripture
Praying
Self Examination
Serving and Experimenting
Listening to the Holy Spirit

Spreading the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth

Think about how YOU can participate! and use your Talents and Gifts
Listen to God and seek to know where you can help
- Typical examples would be
  - Become a nurse or doctor
  - Maybe you are Good at teaching
  - Write music or art
  - Study law or politics
  - (one could also help in unconventional ways. For example - thinking how the world can be improved, as it is)
    - Come up with a new way of Education
    - Reducing Sickness by addressing Root Causes

“by painting, preaching, singing, sewing, praying, teaching, building hospitals, digging wells, campaigning for justice, writing poems, caring for the needy, loving your neighbor as yourself — will last into God’s future. These activities are not simply ways of making the present life a little less beastly or a little more bearable until the day when we leave it behind They are part of what we may call building for God’s kingdom.” (excerpt from ref 2.)

Participate to build the kingdom of heaven, on Earth with the gifts gifted to you, by the Lord.
What ever is may be that God is asking you to do, obey. Don’t be afraid or discouraged.
For the lord is with you.

Fun fact: The most common phrase in the bible is “Fear not”

Lots of the content comes from here

🪴 Cami

Explorer