Introduction

[This exert is from the introduction of the book #kingdom]

What if I were to tell you today that you only have forty days left to live?

You’d probably go into a state of shock. Thoughts of your significance, your unfulfilled goals, your family and friends, and your achievements [or lack of] would run through your mind. “Will my loved ones be okay without me? Will they have enough money? Will they have a place to live?” A barrage of thoughts and emotions would assail you, “I must tell everyone important to me that I love them…Was my life of any significance?”

Once the initial shock has worn off, your thoughts would probably turn to the time you have left, “What should I do or achieve within these forty days? Should I do things as normal or should I quit my job and travel?
Should I make a bucket list and try to achieve as much as I can?
Can I impart all my knowledge and life lessons before my time is up?
What are the most important things I need to still do?”

This exact situation was lived out by the Creator of the universe. He and God had a plan and after thousands of years He reached their planned point – He was in His last forty days. So what would the Savior, Lord, Creator of the Universe, the Way, the Truth and the Life, the First and the Last, King and God, do for those last forty days?

He presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. [Acts 1:3]

For those forty days Jesus spoke of things pertaining to the kingdom of God. During those very important forty days, Jesus shared critical truths, imparted knowledge, revelations, understanding, principles and wisdom. Scripture confirms that in the last forty days Jesus shared about the kingdom of God. The above verse alone tells us how important the kingdom of God is. Scripture reveals more about Jesus’ view on how important the kingdom is when He tells us to, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” in Matthew 6:33. Most of us have this verse memorized, but do we really know what it means?

What is the kingdom of God? Where is it? How does it operate? Is it relevant now or is it only for heaven?

Through this book I want to share with you the reason for the kingdom, how it was established, how it is governed, how it operates, where it is located and what the key principles in the kingdom of God are.

Why is it so important? Understanding key aspects of the kingdom, like the power of the kingdom of God, the gospel of the kingdom of God, how to enter and live in the kingdom of God and what promises are attached to the kingdom of God will reveal the most extraordinary things.

I want to start by posing some questions to you that I believe can change how we think, live and behave every day.

• Did Jesus, the Son of Man, also think as you would if you had forty days left to live?
• Would He have made provision for His dependents?
• Could the kingdom of God be His solution?

In answering these questions I believe we will see the reason and purpose of the kingdom of God and why He proclaimed and established it in this forty-day period.

Jesus believed that the kingdom of God was a fundamental concept that should be taught to all; from people who know nothing about the Word, to new believers, to people who are well established in the Word and its application. The kingdom is critical in order to build a solid foundation for growth as a disciple as it encompasses eternal truths and revelations contained within the deep things of God.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. [Matthew 9:35]

The kingdom of God is of such importance that wherever Jesus went, He would teach and preach about it. The gospel of the kingdom needs to be proclaimed and its power demonstrated to all.

When we understand the kingdom of God, it will change everything and unlock the life God has desired and prepared for all of His creation. As the kingdom is preached, power will be demonstrated. This change will be the vehicle for His desire that everyone would enjoy life and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows [John 10:10 AMP].