How to Know What the Kingdom of God Is

I wanted to find some things I could point at and say this is what the Kingdom of God is. So I am reading through the Book of Acts to see what picture appears. Chapter 2 has a lot of clues in it. The one that jumped out at me this morning is that the believers were in Awe. One has to ask the question, "what they were in Awe at?". I can tell you what I am in Awe at at the same time. There were Normal people living in Israel and other countries at the time. They were in Jerusalem 50 days after the death and resurrection of Christ for the Feast of Pentecost celebrated 50 days after the Passover. These were normal people just doing what they thought God wanted them to do and what they had done for centuries. They were not all Jews. They were there because they wanted something to do with God. In whatever context they were in, a lot of them became a part of the beginning of something that was very big. They had seen Jesus come to their towns and villages and do many things. He did Miracles, Signs and Wonders and then He Taught and Preached. He told them about a Kingdom that was, always has been and still is today. He didn't just tell them though. He showed them what it was like. He practiced the things that this Kingdom values most. He sought out the least likely persons and did the least likely things. He sought 'normal' people and taught them 'normal' things about this Kingdom. He did these things to paint a picture of the one that resides over this Kingdom. His Father the King. It is a practical Kingdom that is concerned about each person individually. Jesus was so concerned about each person he died in their place. But He did a lot of other things. When He left He sent His Spirit to be with us through the rest of History into eternity. He left us Hope. He also left us w/ a picture that was painted w/ action and words. This Son of the King did things no other son has done. He broke religious laws. He prodded hearts to react in worship when they saw the things He did. A withered hand was made new. A dead man was raised from the grave. He turned a few fish and bread into baskets and baskets of the same to feed thousands. He cared about the physical needs of the people. He cared about their hearts also. When one was exposed in an adulterous situation and presented for judgment he offered forgiveness and mercy. There-by judging the hearts w/ evil intentions and not the ones living as the accused. He attacked a system that was held to approach God by showing that God approaches us. We as the subjects of His Kingdom have no choice but to stand in Awe. All the things we think God is going to do 'to us' because our failings turn out to be the things He ignores and then He goes straight for Fellowship. He ignores those things because of Jesus Life but he goes for Fellowship because that was His plan from the beginning. The Kingdom has Values. the Number One Value of this Kingdom is its People. He wants relationship with His People. Jesus walked among us to show us a clear picture of this Value. He came and created relationships with everyone that would listen. He demonstrated the Fathers Love by doing Miracles and Wondrous things but he also demonstrated it by willingly going to the Cross to express the Unconditional Love of God. He can approach all of us w/ that Unconditional Love throughout Eternity. I am in Awe every time I think of it. That was His Plan from the beginning.

Jesus came to execute a plan but to also show us what the Kingdom looks like. What it acts like. What it Does. Those that saw Jesus do the things He did were the same ones that put Him on the Cross physically.Yet a few days later He returned to explain it was part of God's Plan and He held nothing against them. In fact, He was there to Heal them not just physically but relationally. They were in Awe for a reason. Some of them saw his Miracles, stood at the foot of the cross and wanted Him to die for a million reasons. Some of those same people entered the Kingdom at Pentecost in Awe. They once again saw Miracles, signs and Wonders. They once again heard the same truth they heard Jesus teach but His Leaders were now teaching and performing the same things. They heard the Truth in their own languages even though the speakers did not speak their language. They felt the overpowering Love of God through the message of Forgiveness. The Universal language. They stood in Awe at a God that could endure so much yet still pursue them. A King that valued them so much that they could be the worst person imaginable yet they could still come into the Kingdom and Worship Him. They did just that. They entered His Kingdom with their mouths open in Awe and they Worshiped. They saw Signs and Wonders, they heard the Truth, they repented were baptized and entered Fellowship w/ The King and the Subjects of His Kingdom. They broke bread together, shared what they had, prayed, encouraged and worshiped the Father together. They began to follow the Leaders the Father had provided and in Awe met together to continually see the Kingdom at work in their lives and those around them. Millions of people have entered this Kingdom for the same reasons. They have heard the Truth of the Unconditional Love of God and they have stood in His Presence in Awe. We are still standing in Awe and worshiping today because of what He has done for Us!You don't have to look for the literal meanings in the bible.You can interpret passages in a way that makes sense to you personally.