| The Government of God
When the disciples prayed that God’s Government would be again established in the earth as it was in heaven in Matthew 6:10 and Luke 11:2; Christ was establishing the order of the Kingdom in the church. The church is to become the instrument through which that government came into the earth. (Matthew 18:15-20). Again, Jesus gave us orders to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God (Luke 9:2,60; Matthew 10:7; Luke 10:9-11). Their message was to be the same as their Lord. The disciples preach the message of the kingdom, and they also preached the message to very close of the book of Acts of the Apostles. Should that message change today? Are we yet responsible for those orders as his disciples today?
It is impossible to be a true believer today without being part of the church. We cannot seek the Kingdom of God today apart from or without identification with God’s seat of authority in the earth that is the Church of the Living God. In Matthew 6:33, “Jesus taught us to seek first the kingdom of God.” In Matthew 13:38, those who accept Christ as Lord become children of the Kingdom, thus members of the church. To know the government of God requires study and acquaintances with God’s order, structure in the New Testament Church. Seeking the Kingdom opens to us knowledge of the ‘principles’ of the kingdom. In our book “Activating Spirituality” we present in much detail principles of the Kingdom for heavenly results. The teaching explains the power of faith, your identity and place in the kingdom because of Christ in you, what you can do now in Him, what your have assess to, your walk in Christ, His church’s position in today’s world, etc. Foregoing chapters in this book you are now reading will unfold the New Testament, Apostle’s order for the church in this age. Church foundation study is also provided in this volume.
The Kingdom before the New Testament Church
In man’s history upon this planet, God has moved in every age in establishing His Kingdom in the earth. God has only one Kingdom in the earth in connection to man (Genesis 1:26-28). Adam and Eve were given a dominion in the earth and authority to rule over the earth. God gave man to subdue the earth. Man failed God, thus man could not fulfill God’s purpose in the Kingdom.
Looking at the Patriarchs we see men representing the Kingdom of God in the earth, but failing miserably to fulfill God’s purpose in His earthly Kingdom. They failed to be worthy in kingdom’s building and thus did not complete God’s plan and purpose in kingdom’s building in the earth. Then God raised up Israel to plant His’ Kingdom in the earth. Israel was the first nation under God that carried forth a Theocracy’s rule through the Prophets and later they demand a King. Under the Kingship of Saul (1 Samuel 10:16,25), later David (1Chronicles 10:14), then King Solomon (1 King 1:46) and finally the division of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 11:31-35; 1 Kings 21:7; Ezekiel16: 13), there were constant failures of Israel to measure up to their call and potential to fulfill God’s plan and purpose. They too fell often and miserably in their efforts.
Because of the failures and backslidden condition of many God’s people; it appears God used the Gentile world as a channel to accomplish His purpose. In II Chronicles chapter 36, verses 22, 23 God’s demonstrates His use of Gentile nations and kings to administrate His Kingdom and to do command and bidding.
God’s present rule of His’ Kingdom in the Earth
Jesus was the last Adam. He came to restore what Adam lost. Jesus Christ is the only remaining hope to fulfill God’s purpose in the earth. Christ on this earth exercised God’s authority and reign. He was the perfect Adam. In fact Christ came to fulfill God’s original purpose that he had intended to be in Adam. Jesus Christ came as the King of the Kingdom. Christ came to bring in the Kingdom of God in the earth. He came with heaven authority and power to build the church and to give the church the keys of the kingdom.
Now the present rule of the Kingdom is demonstrate in the earth through the church. It is the true church that will not fail and will fulfill God’s plan and purpose in the earth. There is no other instrument, vehicle or channel that God has now made available to fulfill His before He return to the earth but the church. The church is God’s design to accomplish this great task. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ gives the foundation and Christ eternal atonement provides the completeness of the church in Him to complete this task.
The New Testament Church
We call the church “the New Testament Church.” Christ made it clear He was the builder of the church. The true church therefore has a profound relationship with Him. We must understand that the relationship is based on the facts:
(1) Christ is King of the Kingdom. He is builder and Lord of the church. He shares the treasure of the kingdom in the church through Him. As we read the New Testament, Jesus speaks much on the kingdom and the truth is revealed that through him (Christ), He is building His Kingdom in the Church.
(2) The ‘Gospel’ of the church is the “gospel of the kingdom.” Jesus Christ usher the kingdom of God into the earth and the teaching of the kingdom. When we look at John the Baptist’s ministry, there is a transitional phase taking place; John the Baptist was only a forerunner to announce one coming after him. John preached in Matthew chapter 3, verse 2, “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” John is saying, “change your ways” there is one coming; the kingdom of God is with Him. This gives much clarity to facts of our Lord ushering in the Kingdom’s message. The message is to, “Repent, the Kingdom of God is here!” Not only did our lord preach the gospel of the kingdom but the message of the church is “”Repent, for the kingdom of God is here.” The church message is the Kingdom!
Christ preached the things of the kingdom of God after His death, burial and resurrection and just prior to the church’s birthday on Pentecost (Acts 1: 3 , Jesus is yet teaching the disciples things concerning the kingdom of God. The New Testament Church was founded on Kingdom’s Principles.
(3) Keys of the Kingdom were given to the Church! Jesus instructed the disciples to preach the gospel of the kingdom (Matthew 10:7; Luke 10: 9-11). He taught them also to pray the Kingdom would come on earth as it was in heaven. This prayer is that the government of God be established in earth even as it was in heaven and the church is channel through which this government came. Notice Matthew chapter 20, verses 15 to 20. Perhaps the greatest of all revelations were that the church were given the ‘keys of the kingdom’ (Matthew 16:19). This entitlement gave the church the governmental authority to operate the Kingdom in the earth. Christ made the appeal clear in Matthew 6:33, the church must seek first the Kingdom (its’ directions, understanding, guidance, endowments, its spiritual word and all things pertaining to the kingdom) to have identification with Him, His true church and purpose in the earth. The Church is His seat of authority in the earth in whom He has trusted the keys. We must be a part of the church to be a part of the Kingdom.
(4) Lastly, we were commanded to carry the message of the kingdom into all the world. In Mark 16:15, Christ commanded the disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Notice Acts 8:5,12; 28:23,31; 20:24,25), the disciples response to this command, “ they went forth and preached the gospel of the kingdom. Signs followed them, the keys of the kingdom were in their hands. | 
