WAFBEC 2018 – Day 6 (Morning Session 1) with Bishop Keith Butler

WAFBEC 2018 – Day 6 (Morning Session 1) with Bishop Keith Butler

THE KINGDOM OF GOD

The Bishop began by telling the congregation about God’s plan for believers, which is to have a heaven on earth experience.

He said that a lot of Christians think the Bible is all about heaven and nothing about our living here on earth. He explained that God wants us to have success here on earth, and He has planned for us to succeed through the system of the kingdom of God.

The word “kingdom” means royalty, to rule. According to Isa. 9:6-7, the kingdom of God is God’s government, in which Jesus is the foundation.

In Matt. 6:25-33, Jesus said we need to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. When we do so everything we need to live on the earth will be added onto us. The kingdom of God will produce whatever you need here on earth. The interim of God operates the system of the earth.

Bishop Keith shared the following on God’s Kingdom

According to1 Cor. 13:9-13, the word ‘greatest’ in means ‘largest’. Here, Paul, the Apostle, is talking about three (3) forces and the greatest of them is LOVE.

Bishop Keith explained that there are certain elements which comes with each one of these forces Paul talked about in1 Cor. 13:9-13;

(Matt. 3:2; 9:35, Acts 1:2-3, Acts 20:25, Acts 8:12)

The kingdom of God is the principal thing. John the Baptist preached about the kingdom of God. Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God – before and after his death. When He sent out his disciples in Luke 10:9, it was for them to preach God’s kingdom of God.

The Apostles preached the kingdom of God and confirmed it with signs and diverse miracles – some people got delivered, healed and filled with the Holy Ghost. People got blessed spiritually, physically, psychologically and socially. The word of God is called the word of the kingdom.

“The kingdom of God is the principal thing.”

(Luke 16:16, Matt. 22:1-14, Col. 1:12-13)

We are delivered by the blood of Jesus. It’s the pleasure of the ‘Father’ to give you to rule and reign in His kingdom. God has made you a king and a priest. He has put you into a system so you can express authority and rulership.

“God has made you a king and a priest. He has put you into a system so you can express authority and rulership.”

John 20:19-22, James 5:14

When you baptise in the name of the Lord, you do so by the authority and the character of God. Love is the character of God; God is love. So when you pray for someone in the name of Jesus, you pray by the authority and the love of God.

According to John 5:14, we have the authority of God and his love to forgive others. Which means, just like Jesus had the authority to forgive sin, we too can forgive and pray for people.

Paul taught in 1Tim. 2:1-3, that God has given us (Christians) authority over any situation, whether it’s in our family, the state or country we live in.

“The safest place you will ever be is in the centre of God’s will.”

Finally, Bishop Keith explained that to operate in God’s kingdom, you have to look beyond your personal needs. He said that while seeking the kingdom of God, you have to think of how, what you do can benefit others first. God’s Kingdom shouldn’t start with you but how to help solve the needs of others first. The kingdom of God will bring about the fulfilment of His promises in your life.

You can watch WAFBEC live viahttp://www.wafbec.org/livestream. Click “Live Broadcast”.