In this live broadcast, Pastor Keith delivers the third installment of the series “The Kingdom of Heaven: God’s Way of Living in Freedom and Victory.” He explains that the kingdom is a present spiritual reality that transforms lives, using Acts 8:9‑14 to contrast Simon the sorcerer’s magic with Philip’s anointed preaching of the gospel, showing how the Holy Spirit’s presence brings conviction, baptism, and miracles. He then moves to Romans 7:1‑6 (Mirror Translation) to illustrate how the law ignites sin and how believers are released from the law’s power through Christ’s death, receiving righteousness as a gift. Pastor Keith also addresses the proper use of the Old Testament, citing Matthew 13:52 to argue that the law can be a tool for teaching the kingdom when applied in the right context. Throughout, the sermon is punctuated by congregational affirmations (“Amen,” “Hallelujah”) and a passionate call for listeners to accept Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, accompanied by a prayer of repentance. The broadcast concludes with practical announcements: the church’s location in West‑Georgia (near Douglasville/Villa Rica), its social‑media channels, a plea for financial support, and an invitation to join the community in person, emphasizing that “Grace is our sound” and encouraging believers to “turn that faith all the way up.”
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That they were used to getting Instead of the people going to the Pharisees and the high priests and the scribes.
Five fourteen. Feel on just talk grace. Look, turn that faith all the way up. Let's go. Oh. I came here with the word on me. Whole squad in the church got the dirt of me. From the block to the birds to the light and the dark, we spark up the flame that it burn. That's the mark. Hey, enemies shook when the saints get to stepping. Flav got me slicing like I'm bitch fresh grabbing. Devil been soft with the socks to the earth blood. All cross paid. That's it. We did. He did. Jesus. This ain't just a song, it's a statement. Grace is our sound. The word is our stage.
To give a message that God wants to flow through to the people watching. Here in this building as well as the people over the internet and the waves and the wires. Praise God, because it is a life-changing message.
Amen.
Amen. Praise God. Praise his holy name. The one thing that's so wonderful, wonderful about the Heavenly Father His messages are so simple that it's almost impossible to miss it, but you can miss it if you don't have the Spirit.
Amen?
Amen. Even Jesus said that he spoke in parables many— sometimes because the people that were wise in their own eyes He did not want them to understand what he was saying because they didn't come with a heart of appreciation for, for him in the first place. They were there for a different reason, a different agenda, to see what he was saying wrong so they could catch him and legally put him down because he was taking and stealing the attention that they were used to getting.
Right.
Instead of the people going to the Pharisees and the high priests and the scribes, mentioning them in sacred and high terms.
Yes.
Instead of them looking towards them, the people were looking towards Jesus.
Yes.
Amen.
Because he was coming with the right message. He was ministering the kingdom of heaven. Hallelujah! And underneath that umbrella is the teaching of Jesus Christ and the grace of Christ. Amen. And they weren't teaching that in the land at that time. They were teaching Judaism.
Amen.
They were teaching the Law of Moses and the rabbinic traditions, the Jewish traditions that were handed down for years and decades, from years to years, which was not getting the people anywhere. And Jesus was coming down with the right message, the Kingdom of Heaven. Praise God, we're not going to belabor We're just going to continue simply, plainly giving by the Spirit this simple message that needs to be broadcast, that needs to be taught.
Yes.
Once again, the title of this message is The Kingdom of Heaven: God's Way of Living in Freedom and Victory, Part 3. Amen.
Amen.
Last week we ended with the second characteristic of the kingdom of heaven. God's kingship manifested through Jesus. Hallelujah. Today we're going to begin with the 3rd characteristic of the kingdom of heaven, which is a present spiritual reality transforming lives. Come on now. Let me say that again. A present spiritual reality transforming lives.
Hallelujah.
And we're going to get to the point immediately in this Word of God. You don't need my opinion. You don't need my thoughts. My thoughts and opinions are worthless compared to the counsel and the wisdom Of a holy Father, the Ancient of Days. I've been here since 1963. God has been here for eternity. Which one do you want? Do you want my opinion? Do you want my wisdom? Or do you want the one who created me, who created you, and has been here for eternity?
Hallelujah.
I think you wanted the opinion and the wisdom of the one that's been here for eternity. I don't match. Only thing I can do is be used by the Spirit to reverberate, to amplify, to give credence, to give merit to the Word of God by the Spirit of God. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
So we're delving into it immediately. We're going to use Acts, the book of Acts, chapter 8, starting at verse 9, going through verse 14. I'm going to be using the ESV, the English Standard Version.
Amen.
Once again, the book of Acts chapter 8, verse 9, starting at verse 9, going through verse 14, for our example to to start off this point of a present spiritual reality transform— transforming lives.
Amen.
Starting at verse 9. But there was a man named Simon who had previously practiced magic in this city and amazed the people of Samaria, saying that he himself was somebody great.
Hallelujah.
Verse 10, they all paid attention to him from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the power of God that is called great. Verse 11, hallelujah, and they paid attention to him because for a long time he had amazed them with magic.
Verse 12. Yes.
But when they believed Philip, the one with the right message, the one with the anointed message, the one who had the presence of God on him— amen. Let's look at the difference. Let's compare the two. Let's compare which one was received the best, which one moved the people the best, which one had the spiritual reality transforming their lives.
Hallelujah!
We're going to this immediately. We're finding this in the Word of God. You're not finding it out of my opinion. This is the Word of God. Verse 12: But when they believed Philip as he preached— what? The good news.
The word.
Great God Almighty. About what? The kingdom of God. Hallelujah! I didn't write that in there, my people. Great God Almighty, I can't make this up.
Yes, sir.
But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, hallelujah, they were baptized, both men and women. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what I just said.
Come on.
With the anointing and the presence of God on this man of God, Philip, as he taught the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven and about Jesus Christ, with the anointing on the message, the people connected with the message immediately.
Immediately.
So they were comparing what the man of God Philip was teaching them and preaching them compared to Simon and said, Simon, you don't have it. Philip has it. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
I didn't have nothing to compare your magic show with, but now I have the real thing to compare with your magic show. Hallelujah. Your magic did not have the anointing. Your magic did not have the presence of God.
That's right.
Hallelujah. So the people said, oh man, this is the real thing. What you had, Simon, was not the anointing, the presence of God on them. What the, what the assignment of God was— what was the assignment? Teach the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, and Jesus Christ. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
Verse 13, even Simon himself believed. Great God Almighty, I can't make this up. Simon was impressed. Simon was changed. It's like he had to say, I might as well put down this mad dog. This is not working. What I'm doing is not working. This is the real deal. What, uh, the, the man of God Philip is teaching. He believed. Hallelujah. Verse 13 again. Even Simon himself believed, and after being baptized, he continued with Philip. And seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed.
Yes.
Simon said, I haven't seen it like this. This thing is real.
This thing is real.
Let me, let me put my powder back in the bag. Let me put my cherry weeds back in the bag. Wait just a moment. Let me hide it behind the tree. I'll get back with you, Philip. I'm embarrassed. I don't have nothing to compare to this. The people are going to begin laughing at me. They know what's the real deal. What Philip is teaching is the real deal.
Amen.
Hallelujah. Even Simon himself, after being baptized, he continued with Philip, and seeing signs and great miracles performed, he was amazed. Verse 14: Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John. Why did I read verse 14? Because Samaria had been transformed. The people in Samaria had heard the word. Their hearts were pricked. It immediately— because the Spirit of God was on the words of the man of God Philip— it immediately convicted, compelled, changed the order, changed the mind of thinking. They repented. Because they had a witness in their heart that this is right. Why? Again, because the anointing and the presence of God was on what Philip was teaching and preaching. He was doing the assignment of God. And what was that? Teaching and preaching the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Hallelujah. They believed Philip because the anointing of God was on his preaching and it wasn't on Simon's magical acts. Philip's priority was to preach about the kingdom of God, or heaven, or the kingdom of heaven. And under the umbrella of the kingdom of heaven is to teach about Jesus Christ and the grace of Christ.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
Once again, God was gradually replacing Judaism with teaching about the kingdom of heaven in the land.
Yes.
Amen.
And that was gonna take a while. That was gonna take some time because for years they had been taught the law of the books of Moses and Jewish traditions that had been handed down. They didn't have nothing else.
That's right.
You're not going to allow— the congregation is not going to rise above the level of what they're being preached from the pulpit. That's why you got to know which preacher you're under. Hallelujah! And we're up under the right preacher here at 514 Grace Church. Amen. A man of God and a woman of God is going to take time to teach us stand before, sit before God and learn and receive what God is saying to bring us to the right level. Amen. Hallelujah. Another great benefit accepting the teaching of the kingdom of heaven is by accepting Christ in our heart. Jesus frees us from the power of sin. Now, how does sin have power? Once again, this is not my opinion. We're going to the Word of God. The Word of God will tell us. Let's see this in the book of Romans, starting at chapter 7, beginning at verse 1 through verse 6. I'm going to use the Mirror Translation.
Amen.
Hallelujah. Romans Chapter 7, starting at verse 1, going through verse 6 in the Mirror Translation. We're going to see how God and Christ, by teaching the kingdom of heaven's way, can deliver and give us freedom from the power of sin.
Amen.
Verse 1, I write to you in the context of our acquaintance with the law. You would agree with me that laws are only relevant in this life. Verse 2, a wife is only bound by law to her husband while he lives. Any further legal claim he has on her ends with his death. The law would call her an adulteress should she give herself to another man while the first husband is still alive. Yet once he's dead, she is free to be another's wife. Verse 4: The very finality in principle is applicable, uh, to you, my brothers and sisters. In the incarnate Christ, you died to the system of the law. Hallelujah! Your inclusion in his resurrection brought about a new union. Hallelujah! Out of this marriage, faith now bears children unto God. My God, I can't make this up. Where the first marriage produced sin, a forgotten identity— great God Almighty—
Oh my goodness.
Righteousness rediscovered sonship is the child of the new union. What is that child of the new union? Righteousness. What was the child of the old union? It was sin. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
Simple. Nothing deep.
Come on.
Nothing profound.
Come on.
Simple. God wants a simple message to us. Out of the new marriage, which accepting Christ, we have righteousness.
Amen.
By the gift, by receiving the gift. Hallelujah. In the previous chapter, Paul deals with the fact that our inclusion in Christ in his death broke the association with sin. Now he reveals that it also broke the association with the system of the law of works as a reference to righteousness. That's easy to understand, my friends.
Amen.
Apostle Paul said to have it thought of that by doing self-effort and works, you're made righteous. He said, no, it's by receiving the gift of God, which is righteousness.
Amen.
Receiving Christ.
Hallelujah!
We can't work for it. We can't merit for it. We have to receive and believe because Jesus, he fulfilled the requirements of the law. He became a curse for us on the cross because the scripture says he that hangs on a cross is cursed. And Jesus said, I'll do it. I'll accept the assignment. So that we— you out there listening and watching, and those of us in here— can be made righteous if we receive it. It's up to us. It only happens if you receive it. Hallelujah. Verse 5: At the time when the flesh ruled our lives, the subtle influence of sins which were ignited by the law. Here it goes, the power of sin.
Yes, sir.
At the time when the flesh ruled our lives, the subtle influence of sins which were ignited by the law conceived actions within us that were consistent in character with their parent and produced spiritual death. The parent Paul refers to is the law System of self-effort. There it goes back to the old way—self-effort. We read last week if we don't accept Christ by faith, we're cut off. We're none of his. We can't do it by the law. Self-effort. Hallelujah. Verse six: But now we are fully released from any further association. with a life directed by the rule of law. We are dead to that which once held us captive, free to be slaves to the newness of spirit spontaneity rather than, uh, age-old religious rituals imitating the mere face value of the written code.
Wow.
An example of verse 5 is this, as follows: If your father tells you at age 10, just say that we're, uh, go back to the age of 10 right now. At the age of 10 years old, to never go to your former neighbor's abandoned house to play.
Right.
Let's just say you're living in a subdivision and your neighbor's house had— your neighbor had left the house 5 years ago. And it's maybe about, you say, 25 yards away from your home and whatnot, from your property line. But the house is all grown up, full of vegetation, weeds everywhere, broken glass. You as a parent, conscious parent, wouldn't want your 10-year-old child to go play over there for obvious reasons.
That's right.
You wouldn't want him to get bitten by snakes.
That's right.
You wouldn't want him to be bitten by scorpions. Broken glass, you wouldn't want him to get cut on broken glass if he walks on the floor. It's just common sense. Hallelujah. At 10 years old, you go to your former neighbor's— he tells you not to go to your former neighbor's abandoned house. It has been abandoned for 5 years and it is overgrown with vegetation, broken windows, etc. Hallelujah. You really weren't thinking of going over there that much before your father made that statement.
That's right.
My God. But now, after he made that statement a law— your father made it a law, don't go over there to your neighbor's, uh, to our former neighbor's house and play— you can't get it out of your mind. To go over there and play a little. This is an example of the law igniting sin. It wasn't even on your mind that much to go over there and play, but when Daddy said, "Don't go over there and play," made it a law. Don't go over there and play. You say, "Mm, what is Daddy keeping me from? What's over there?" I wasn't thinking about it last week, but now I'm curious. Let me jump over the fence. Hallelujah. I'm going to see what's over there.
That's true.
The law ignited sin, that curiosity, that desire to go see. Hallelujah.
That's right.
You really weren't thinking about going over there before your father made the statement, but you can't help but to play a little. The sin of rebellion was ignited in you to go anyway.
That's right.
The sin of rebellion was ignited. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
Since we're talking about law, we need to know that there are good lessons to learn from the Old Testament as well. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
I'm saying don't look at the Old Testament as something to completely avoid reading.
Right.
Since many of us associate it with the law.
That's right.
Normally we associate the Old Testament with being with the law. We see this point being made in Matthew chapter 13, verse 52. Let's go there. Out of the ESV, Matthew chapter 13, verse 52. Once again, we're going to the Word, not my opinion, not my wisdom, to see why God says, hey, it's not a bad thing to go to the Old Testament and read if you read it and get the right things out of it. Amen. Matthew chapter 13, verse 52. Out of the ESV, the English Standard Version, it says, and I'm coming to a close with this, therefore every scribe— scribes were teachers of the law, amen. Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven— there it goes again. This scribe has— for the scribes who are wise to repent of teaching the law, and now they're going to teach the kingdom of heaven. Jesus said they're being retrained. Their thinking is being done differently. They humble themselves and say, hey Lord, I, I was teaching wrong.
That's right.
I need to go with your way. So that's why it says every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house Hallelujah. Who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old. Now this is scripture. I am not making this up. This is coming out straight from the throne of God, straight from God, as he inspired the man— men and women to write the word of God. By the Spirit.
By the Spirit.
Let me read that one more time. Matthew 13, verse 52. Therefore, every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven— what are we talking about that needs to be taught? The kingdom of heaven. It's like a master of a house who brings out of his treasure what is new, the things in the New Testament, things that going on, uh, with since Christ has come and died. And what is old? The things, the prophets, the old, the, the old letters of the, of the word, the— praise God— the law, the prophets, the writings. Amen.
Amen.
We must remember that Jesus and the Apostle Paul quoted from the book of Psalms and other Old Testament books Several times to support several times. Jesus quoted Psalms tremendously times to make a point of what he was talking about about in the New Testament from the New Covenant.
Amen.
So that's why it is important to not ignore the Old Testament or the law in the wrong way.
Amen.
Treat it in the right context. What is that right context? If it will support the kingdom of heaven, if it will support the teachings of Jesus Christ, if it will support the grace of Christ, use it. Hallelujah. It's like a scribe who brought out of his treasure Things that were old and things that were new. My God, I can't make that up. Several books to support the point of the New Testament. Hallelujah. Praise God. And that concludes, amen, the message for today. Praise God.
Hallelujah.
Hope you got something from the reading of the word. Amen.
I love that.
The preaching of the kingdom. I'm telling you, this is a paramount message that needs to be preached all over the globe. And I want to say this: that if you're here this morning and you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you need to know him. And I thank Pastor Keith for preaching this word. Can you believe this? A sorcerer. Saw the miracles, the signs and the wonders. This man just preached the kingdom of God and Jesus Christ, and the Bible says he believed. There's something to that—the preaching of the gospel. And I want to say this, if you heard this word this morning and the word of God touched you, you need to make a decision.
Yes, sir.
And that decision is to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Don't waste time. You that are watching, did you hear the word that Pastor Keith preached?
Amen.
Don't waste time. Don't play games with your life. Jesus is soon to come. And if you're watching us on this livestream, on this broadcast, the Grace Nation Movement, I need you to hear me and respond. I'm going to say this: I know that the word of God blessed you. Do me a favor, write us, DM us, let us know this word of God touched you. I know it touched me and everyone that's in this church, everyone that's in this room, everyone that's in this space.
Amen.
For those that are watching, you need to make a decision this morning. You need to get to know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. And I want you to bow your head and pray a prayer because I believe this will change your life forever. Father, come into my life. I believe that According to your word, that Jesus died and rose on the cross where he was punished for the sins of humanity. He was broken, but Father, you saved him. Father, I thank you in the name of Jesus, Lord, for coming into my life. I repent of all my sins. Forgive me for all the things I've done wrong that have not been pleasing in your sight, God. I denounce all my wrongdoing. I denounce Satan himself. God, give me strength. God, thank you for birthing me into the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven, and Jesus becoming my Savior and my Lord. Thank you for everything that you've done, Father. Thank you for restoring me back to the kingdom. And accepted me as your son. Bless you, Father. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. And if you prayed that prayer with me, I want you to know that welcome to the family of God, that you're now born again. Do us another favor. Follow us on all our social media platforms. We're on Facebook. We're on YouTube. We're on Instagram. We're on X.
We're on TikTok. Follow us on all our, on all of our social media platforms.
Do me another favor. We are a new movement that is here in the West Georgia metropolitan Atlanta area, right outside of Atlanta. We're right close to Douglasville in Villa Rica, Georgia. The City of Angels is what I call it because this is where God's presence is at 5 Come fellowship with us.
Visit us.
Let us know that you're watching us. If you're a subscriber or you're a 2020 partner, thank you for those that give selflessly to make sure that this ministry has what it needs to pay for the lights, to be able to feed people, clothe people. We do a lot at this church. We help a lot of people, and I want to say thank you. Tracy and I want to say thank you. Thank you for giving and for giving your resources. Not only your resources, but your time, whatever material things that you have. Thank you for, for your sacrifice. But we need your help even more. We want to continue to publish this gospel. Right now, we're now being reached. We're touching the West Coast, California, areas in California, Colorado. Texas. Denver, Chicago, Philadelphia. Shout out to Atlanta. We're touching different cities— North Carolina, South Carolina. But we need your help, and we need to make sure that we continue to do this. But whatever God places on your heart to give, please do so freely. Give it. And we want to say thank you. We're a 501 ministry, and the monies is stored correctly. And you'll— and just know that when you give It can be written off on your taxes because we are doing things correctly in the sight of God. And we want to say thank you for watching. Thank you for tuning in. Thank you for being a blessing to 514 Grace Church. My wife and I, the leadership here, we want to say thank you. And those that are watching, come and, come and join us in person. Consider finding yourself a home church because live streaming is just not going to cut it.
Amen.
You need to be rooted and grounded and sitting someplace where God can teach you. Consider 514 Grace Church. God wants to bless you and your family. We love the pastor. We love people here at 514 Grace Church. And I want to say thank God for the man of God for preaching the word of the kingdom of heaven. It's not done. There's more work to come. And thank you guys for watching. And just know that Remember this, that Jesus loves you, and be blessed in Jesus' name.
Amen. Yeah. 5:14. We don't just talk grace, we live it.
Turn that faith all the way up.
Let's go! I came in with the word on me. Whole squad in the church got the dirt on me. From the block to the birds, put the light in the dog. We spark up the flame, let it burn after more.
