Seeking the Kingdom Not Made by Hands Part 1

"In the beginning" is how Genesis 1:1 begins and goes on to state that  heaven and earth was created by God with his spoken word.  We also see this same type of wording in the New Testament book of St. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  The difference here is that the word "was" meant it has existed for all eternity. Remember it was God's spoken Word that created all things into existence .   Hebrew 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.  It is through our faith that we believe that the world was framed by the Word of God which we are not able to see.  Jesus told Thomas in John 20:29 something similar when he said, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Now this was concerning Jesus being alive but this is the same principle of our faith in believing the Word of God because we have not seen these things and still we believe.  We believe as did the disciples of Christ in the New Testament who acknowledges that God is the creator and in Acts 17:24 says that, "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25) Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"   There is confirmation throughout all the scriptures where man acknowledges our Heavenly Father as the creator. Psalms 146:6 He is maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them - he remains faithful forever. In Deuteronomy 11:18-21 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.  19) And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 20) and thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: 21) that your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth. There was once a time back in the beginning when heaven and earth were not separate realms.  Genesis 3:8 states that God was walking in the Garden in the cool of the day. He was there to fellowship with Adam.  He was able to commune in the same realm.  It wasn't until after Adam and Eve who were made as one flesh that they both disobeyed God's command that sin entered into the world that not only separated God from man, but separated the realms of the heavens and the earth. When did this occur? Genesis 3:23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24) So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. At this point man would not be able to enter back into the spiritual realm for nearly 4,000 years. All throughout the scriptures we see distinction between the realms of the Natural and the Spiritual.  No longer could man walk in the presence of God and after their disobedience they had to leave the Garden. Once forbidden from the Garden we see the separation of the natural and spiritual repeated all throughout the scriptures. Just as the Old Testament is the physical, natural part of mans relationship with God, the New Testament is the spiritual part of mans relationship with God.  Cain was the first child born unto Adam and Eve who was born after their fall.  He was not born into the image of God but he was born in the image of  his carnal father Adam and the second son Abel was also but knew how to please God which is another theme that the second born had God's favor throughout the bible.  This is important to understand as we move from the Old Testament into the New Testament and how God is bringing this full circle back around to the way his creation was supposed to live from the beginning.  

The last book of the Old Testament is Malachi.  From the end of Malachi to the beginning of Matthew in the New Testament there was about 400 years of silence.  Literally centuries had passed from the last recorded prophet Malachi until the New Testament gospels of Jesus Christ.  This was the prophesy of Isaiah 9:6 being fulfilled that said, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  7) Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  This child was no ordinary child as 1 Timothy 3:16 tells us that without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Jesus himself teaching in the synagogues in Nazareth where he was raised stated in Luke 4:15-22 that he stood and read from the book of the prophet Esaias, "And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, And recovering of sight to the blind, To set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?  Jesus goes on to tell them that no prophet was accepted in his home country. In verse 29 The people rose up in anger and not only took him out of the city but wanted to cast him down from the brow of the hill, but as it was not his time yet he just passed by them and went his way. They were so blinded by their own concepts and beliefs of how the Messiah would come that they could not see who was literally standing right in front of them. In John 14 Jesus was talking with his disciples letting them know that he has to go away to prepare a place for them and Thomas was confused and asked him, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.  In verse 8 Phillip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. 9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.  18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you (the promise). 19) Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20) At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you (that day is in Acts 2).  Philippians 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Jesus conquering death, hell, and the grave on the cross shows that He is the lion of the tribe of Judah the seed of King David. That one day just as scripture says everyone will kneel before him and confess him as Lord of lords and King of kings.  

When Jesus was taken to Pilate to be convicted of blaspheming, Pilate asked him in John 18:33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you king of the Jews?" 34) "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" 35) "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" 36) Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world.  If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place." 37) "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth.  Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." 38) "What is truth?" retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. Here Jesus tells us all that his kingdom is not of this world.  Then in John 3 Jesus was talking with one of the Pharisee's named Nicodemus who came to him in the night as he heard Jesus teaching and had questions.  During their conversation in John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 5) Jesus answered, Verily, Verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6) That which is born of flesh is flesh; and that which is born of Spirit is spirit. Also, in 1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Due to Adam's sin in the Garden we have been separated from God as Adam and Eve were separated from their beautiful garden.  

Sin entered into the world at the fall of man that divided the realms of the natural and the spiritual.  However, God wants a relationship with each of us and from before the beginning knew what would have to be done to restore the realms back together again as one. A permanent sacrifice would have to be made for the sins of the world.  A perfect lamb is the star in the New Testament precisely in the first 4 gospels where we learn about his life, death, and resurrection. A Savior is born.   Even Isaiah the prophet tells us in Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  These two realms remained divided until Jesus Christ of Nazareth fulfilled all things he came to this world to complete and to setup.  He came as an example to everyone and then paid the ultimate price to bridge the gap between the realms that divides God and man.  We are born into the natural man Adam without any questions asked.  However,  we have to make our own decision to be born of the Spirit.  Jesus said in John 14 that he had to go away to prepare a place for us. We often believe with our natural mind that he was speaking of heaven as he started off by saying, "In my Father's house are many mansions (in Greek mansions means "abiding place".)  Did this actually mean that he had to go create heaven? No, heaven was created on the first day in Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth and he merely did it with just speaking his Word. Within this study regarding the natural and spiritual I mention that the New Testament is the spiritual realm. So, in being spiritual minded, I would have to believe that he was telling the disciples once again that he has to die on Calvary for the blood sacrifice in order to prepare the way; he also states in verse 6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Jesus paid the ultimate price with his life and was buried, but he did not stay buried he rose on the 3rd day and then ascended up to heaven after having fulfilled his time on earth.  Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. What was the gospel?  The life, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ who bridged the gap between the two realms.  When you make the decision to give your whole self to Christ and follow the Apostles preaching in Acts 2:38 you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, you are born again.  The old things pass away (meaning the natural man) behold all things become new (the spiritual man).  You are a new creature in Christ you are then born into the Kingdom of God.  Lets look at Luke 17: 20-21 And when he (Jesus) 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 (natural eyes): 21) Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. Wait! What?  Jesus told us at the beginning of his ministry when he stopped by the well in Samaria in John 4:14 But whosoever drinks  of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Jesus also told her that , "the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22) Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23) But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.  24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. In Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (the fruit of the Spirit).  What is the kingdom of God?  Jesus himself taught us what the Kingdom is in scriptures.  Jesus told his disciples that some of them would see the Kingdom before they died. Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 

The kingdom of God is a spiritual place inside of us which is why you have to be born of the spirit just as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3. If you are not filled with God's gift of the Holy Ghost then not only can you not enter his kingdom, but you won't even be able to see the kingdom of God. This lets us know that just being a good person is not enough.  Luke 1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33) And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Ephesians 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. 11) In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12) That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in who also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, 14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.  This whole chapter is great but skip down to 22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23) Which is the body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.  Jesus died to triumph over sin, death, hell, and the grave taking these keys away from satan in victory.  Just as Jesus himself worked in the Power of the Spirit so did his Apostles after receiving the Power from on High on the Day of Pentecost.  Jesus told them greater things shall they do before he left this world. The Apostles carried on the very work of Jesus ministry just as we are to do today continuing to add to the church daily. 

Jesus told a parable of a wedding and we are given this account in Matthew 25 as the bridegroom tarried the 10 virgins slumbered and slept.  And at midnight there was a cry made that the bridegroom was coming and they went out to meet him.  The 10 virgins arose to trim their lamps and the 5 foolish let their oil run out and asked the other 5 for oil.  The 5 wise told them no unless they would not have enough for themselves and told them to go buy some oil.  Then while they were gone the bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.  When the other 5 foolish virgins returned that said, "Lord, Lord, open to us." but the bridegroom answered and said to them, "Verily I say unto you, I know you not. This parable is what is still to come.  We who have made ourselves ready are the body of Christ, his bride.  He is the bridegroom who is the head of the church body.  He has gone away just as the Old Testament betrothal period in which the groom and the bride are separated until the wedding day.  Just as the bride during her betrothal period of old it is a time for learning to love, learning to trust and grow in respect and honor for the man she is about to marry.  She had to trust his words of a promise he made that he would return for her.  An example in Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  24) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.  25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. 27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies.  He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. From before the beginning a bride was chosen which was the new spiritual church to be the body of Christ. We are now in the betrothal period as we are waiting for the bridegroom who promised us he would return.  Matthew 22:13) Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.  The five foolish virgins is a warning that if we are not prepared when he returns that we will not see the kingdom of heaven. Until that day I will keep singing, 🎶 "In my robe of white, I will fly away. To that land so fair, meet my Jesus there; It will be so grand when I get to that land In my robe of white, I will fly away.🎶. I cannot wait until the Wedding Day arrives!