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~ KINGDOM OF GOD/HEAVEN ~
IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD DIFFERENT FROM THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?
No, they are both the same thing! Throughout the scriptures Jesus used both titles interchangeably to reffer to the same REALM. MATTHEW 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
In these verses Jesus uses the camel illustration, to show that wealthy people lack faith, due to the fact that they possess wealth to solve most, if not all the difficulties they face in life. Here are some examples: If they are sick they have the funds to go see a physician and get medical help they need. If they lack transportation, they can purchase a vehicle. If they need an education they can attend college. It doesn't take faith to do any of these things when someone is wealthy. However, if the individual is poor and lacks money, then that individual only possess his faith in God to get him through his needs. That is the reason the word of God says that without faith it is impossible to please God. For the only way to enter into "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" or "THE KINGDOM OF GOD" is through faith since it is NOT A LOCATION, but a "SPIRITUAL REALM". Allow me to further explain...
WHERE IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN/GOD LOCATED?
LUKE 17:20-21 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
The Kingdom of God/Heaven is an invisible realm. God is spirit and he exists in the invisible realm. The Gospel of Matthew better explains it in MATTHEW 6:26-33. When it says that we need not worry about what we’re going to eat, wear or live at. That first search for the kingdom of Heaven and it’s righteousness and all these things will be added on to you.
God is the ruler of the UNIVERSE, therefore we are all a part of HIS kingdom, for His Kingdom is in our mists! Whether we want to be apart of it or not, WE ALREADY ARE for his will is being done every day here on earth!!! However, our FAITH is the only way we can voluntarily enter into a higher Realm or "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN", which is a REALM, that can only be entered into with our FAITH. There are many poor people on earth who live similar lifestyles to those who may have the double the income as they. They both may live in comfortable houses, drive nice cars, wear nice clothes and enjoy many of the simple pleasures in life. One may be accomplishing his lifestyle on a small budget of $30K a year, and his counterpart with a salary of $70K. The only difference is that the one with the $25k budget may be in "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" and his counterpart through his own financial means. To better explain it I will use two illustrations.
Scenario #1: This person is not in the kingdom of heaven. This individual has a descent income therefore uses his personal finance to purchase the things he needs in his life. If he needs a car he goes to a dealer and purchases a car at the regular Kelly's blue book value. He buys his clothes, food, and what ever else he needs in his life, at regular store prices.
Scenario #2: This person makes minnimum wage and does not have the finances to buy at regular store prices to pay for the things he needs in his life, but he has FAITH what little he has will be enough to make ends meet. Well since his faith has entered him into "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN" where there is no lack of resources. He finds the vehicle he needs, but doesn't pay Kelly's blue book value. Instead someone who needs the money sells it to him below market value, when he needs clothes he finds clothes on sale for a fraction of the regular cost. at the end of the day the guy from scenario #1 and the guy from scenario #2, both get what they need, the only difference is that the guy from scenario #2 had his needs met at a much lower cost. For he is part of "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN", that will make your money go a long way.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD/HEAVEN
The reason God uses the phrase Kingdom of God, it’s in order that we, His subjects, can understand his sovereignty as “RULER OF ALL”. He is the GOD/KING of the universe. He is sovereign over both the PHYSICAL and the SPIRITUAL realm. His will is done on EARTH (the physical realm) as well as HEAVEN (the spiritual realm). Allow me to elaborate, on Earth which is the “PHYSICAL REALM”, although He hates unrighteousness or disobedience and wishes for all of us to obey Him, non-the-less He IS in control of everything. At His will the unrighteous receive punishment; and the righteous are rewarded for their obedience. Both the obedient and disobedient are rewarded accordingly.
The reason Jesus said it was in their mists. Is because when you are obedient to God you ARE living in his kingdom. In the “SPIRITUAL REALM” is where His kingdom is located at. Allow me to further explain…
JOHN 18:36 "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence."
This verse clearly states that God is not sitting in a physical throne on Earth, but sits on a throne in the invisible realm in HEAVEN. Also known as the third heaven, a location that cannot be seen with our eyes, but it co-exists paralleled to earth in space.
TREASURES IN HEAVEN
In Luke 18:18-30 when the wealthy ruler asked Jesus what was necessary to inherit eternal life. Jesus answered him to follow the commandments, when the ruler answered that he already did. Jesus then said the following in LUKE 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have TREASURE IN HEAVEN. Then come, follow me."
What did Jesus mean, when he told the wealthy ruler that he would have “TREASURE IN HEAVEN”?
“TREASURE IN HEAVEN” means, that in the SPIRITUAL REALM the young ruler was going to have a TREASURE IN HEAVEN containing all of the belongings he had sold to give to the poor. …Let me simplify this for you. Let’s say the wealthy ruler sold his house, furniture, clothes, jewelry and livestock. After doing this he is no longer wealthy on Earth, but now he is a poor man following Jesus. Now let’s say Jesus sends him to a faraway city to preach, and he is now penniless in need of a house, furniture, clothes and income. Since he has a “TREASURE IN HEAVEN” all he needs to do now, is pray for his needs to be met, and before long God will begin to supply his needs. By either sending him opportunities to acquire everything he needs at a discount or maybe someone wealthy will donated to him.
In Matthew 5 In the BEATITUDES of the “Sermon Of The Mount” Jesus said, blessed are the poor for theirs is the “KINGDOM OF HEAVEN”. The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN can only be entered through by FAITH. In other words, wealthy don’t need faith to buy anything, for they have the finances therefore faith is not necessary. But, someone who is poor, needs to have faith that somehow, some way, they will be able to come up with the finances in order that they may acquire whatever they are lacking. Or perhaps someone will donate it to them. Non-the-less, since they don’t have the finances they need to have enough faith in order for them to obtain whatever it is that they need.
Since he has a TREASURE IN HEAVEN, he will be donated a house by someone wealthy, or be given the opportunity to purchase one at a discount. In addition, he will find furniture and clothing at discounts or be donated to him.
The Bible already describes heaven as a beautiful place with streets of gold and precious stones, and we will all have mansions of pure gold. Nowhere does it mention that we need to bring our own treasures, otherwise people who were poor on earth will be poor in heaven, since they didn’t have any treasures to give to the poor, they will not have a treasures in heaven, and they will poor for the rest of eternity!
REVELATION 4:1-11 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’ 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. 3 And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and ruby. A rainbow that shone like an emerald encircled the throne. 4 Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. 5 From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder. In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. 6 Also in front of the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.
In the center, round the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and behind. 7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all round, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
‘“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,” who was, and is, and is to come.’
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
11 ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’
TREASURE IN HEAVEN
MATTHEW 6:19-2119 ‘Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This verse means that instead of accumulating wealth for yourself, share with those in need. That by doing so, you will have “TREASURE IN HEAVEN”. Therefore, if ever you find yourself in need. Someone will share their wealth with you.
Now allow me to share my testimony. I accepted our Lord Jesus Christ, as my personal savior in 1984, when I was only 20 years old. Then two years later, I was reading the book of Isaiah and came across ISAIAH 3:18-23 18 In that day the Lord will snatch away their finery: the bangles and headbands and crescent necklaces, 19 the earrings and bracelets and veils, 20 the head-dresses and anklets and sashes, the perfume bottles and charms, 21 the signet rings and nose rings, 22 the fine robes and the capes and cloaks, the purses 23 and mirrors, and the linen garments and tiaras and shawls.
This verse scared the heck out of me. I totally took this verse out of context. For I understood that God did not like women who wore perfume and jewelry. Well needless to say I went home and sold every piece of gold jewelry I own, for pennies on the dollar. Thinking to myself, God would have mercy on me for falling into the same category of the women in Isaiah chapter 3. Within a year or two of selling my jewelry, I began to receive gifts of gold jewelry with precious stones, from my family as well as close friends of mine. They began to give me diamond rings, gold bracelets, necklaces, watches, earrings, etc, etc, etc… By then I had forgotten the Bible verse. Is the matter a fact it wasn’t until about 8 years ago, almost 24 years later that the Lord reminded me of that episode in my life. To remind me that those who loose their life on the count of Him, will save it. And those who save their life on the count of him will loose it. I had let go of my jewelry for fear of Him. And he gave it all back to me, without me even having to buy it!
On another occasion, I was moving and was not going to need my furniture, therefore, I gave all of my house furniture away to friends and family members for free. Then a few years later, when I was moving back into my house. I needed to furnish it, but didn’t have the finances. Yet before long my entire house was furnished with beautiful furniture. Many friends and family gave me most of the furniture and the rest I bought it at a discount. I was able to do that on pennies on the dollar, for I had stored “TREASURES IN HEAVEN” and now I was making a withdraw. Is the matter a fact. I’ve had to do that on two separate occasions. Both times I was able to furnish my house with beautiful furniture at a fraction of the cost.
Many times in the past I've donated cars, money and even houses to people. I know, I still have a great treasure in heaven, waiting for me to make a withdraw from, the next time I’m in need of something. With years come wisdom, when I was younger I used to donate hundreds of dollars to others in need, but now that I know what storing “TREASURES IN HEAVEN” means. I’ve graduated to donating in the thousands. I will share those testimonies in a Sermon regarding BIBLICAL FINANCES.