November 25^th, 1959                                        "The Kingdom of God"                                         Late Mr. N. Daniel

Matthew 3:1-2

"In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, and saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This is the beginning of the gospel. In the kingdom of God, sin and unrighteousness and fear of death have no place. The kingdom of God has come very near you because the Lord Jesus has brought it near. The prophets could not bring it near because they could not pay the price of sin. As long as sin is hid in the heart, Satan has authority there and there is also the fear of death.

After sometime Jesus preached, "The kingdom of God is within you." Luke 17:21 "Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or lo there! For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you." First there has to be preparation for entering the kingdom through repentance and confession of sin. Then this kingdom comes into you. What is this kingdom? Psalm103:19 "The Lord has prepared His throne in the Heavens and His kingdom ruleth over all." There are kingdoms of this world. There are kingdoms in nature like animal, mineral kingdom etc. But this kingdom rules over all. What does that mean? Nebuchadnezzar passed a commandment to worship the idol he had made. But when the people of the kingdom of God were there, the commandment had to be changed. In the time of Esther also, the king’s commandment was changed. Pharaoh had to change his orders many times. When Daniel was to be thrown into the den of lions, the officers pleaded that the laws of the Medes and the Persians could not be changed. But when Daniel was unhurt, the king had to give a new law that all people should worship Daniel’s God. This law was totally contrary to his first law. His kingdom ruleth over all. His laws are established for ever. He is patient, no doubt, but if you knowingly take advantage of it by going against the law of God, you are sowing sickness in your body and weakness in your mind and enmity against God in your soul. One day when you want to obey God, you will find it very hard. If you let this kingdom come into you and you obey His laws, you will be kings. 1Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and an holy nation, a peculiar people that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light." You are not merely priests but royal priests. The Jews had theocracy; that is, priests ruled the nation. You are kings. His kingdom ruleth over all and when that kingdom comes into you, you will also rule. The fear of death leaves you. Hebrew 2:14&15 "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their life time subject to bondage." We fear death even from childhood. When I became a child of God this fear left me. Jesus says, "Fear not those that kill the body." Revelation 11:15 "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." First the kingdom of God is at hand, then the kingdom of God is within you. The fear of death is removed. You are a royal priest. And when all kingdoms become His kingdom you will also reign. Now Presidents and Prime Ministers are ruling this world. But then the saints will reign. Why? The kingdom is within them. They have brought the body into the subjection of the Spirit. They have subdued all the bodily desires and have imbibed spiritual graces. No sin rules over them. They will reign.