In this 5‑minute segment of the "Benefits of Becoming a Citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven" sermon series, Pastor Keith (with interjections from Harry Pitts and the congregation) explains how the Old Testament foreshadows Jesus as the future King of the kingdom of heaven and how the New Testament reveals that the kingdom is already present. He cites Daniel 7:13‑14, Psalm 2:6‑9, Matthew 4:17, Luke 17:21, and Matthew 26:64 to show the continuity of prophecy and fulfillment. The sermon stresses that the kingdom is "at hand"—already breaking in through Christ—rather than a distant future event. Pastoral application follows: all people, regardless of race or background, are invited to receive Jesus, repent, and become citizens of the kingdom. An altar‑call prayer is offered, and the segment closes with practical outreach information (website, email, social media, giving options, and an invitation to future services). The tone is exuberant worship mixed with instructional preaching, and the sentiment is enthusiastic and invitational.
Chapters
This program is brought to you in part by the friends and partners of 514 Grace Ministries. Coming up next on the Grace News, and opens the word up to you and get one name, one Sound who we call Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, who still reigns.
Jesus, Jesus, we shout one name. Jesus, Jesus, chains snap when we call that name. We lift one name. Jesus, Jesus, hell backs up when we praise. We shout one name. Jesus, Jesus, walls fall, giants hit the ground. We lift one name. Jesus, Jesus, King of Glory, wear your crown.
Light hit the dark.
Walking out of night, gotta move. Fire in my chest, got my faith in the groove. Storm tried to talk, but it don't run the room. Grave lost the fight when he stepped from the tomb. Name got weight, name got power. Strong, strong tower in the midnight hour. Devil tried smoke, but he lost that flame. We came alive when we called that name. One voice, one cry. Hands up, eyes high.
Listen, Pastor Tracy allows any of us to Come speak is something that the Lord has given us to share with the body of Christ, body of Christ, and to be uplifting and edifying for the body of Christ. Amen. So we thank God for that right there. He can use any one of us. Praise God. We're not going to belabor anything. Not going to keep very long or anything, praise God, but it is going to have impact.
Amen.
It's not going to take all day, but we're going to have definite impact. And it's just extraordinary to see and understand how the Bible is just so amazing, different books from the Old Testament and New Testament, how they collaborate together as the Spirit shows you and opens the Word up to you and give you understanding of how things that were shadows and types in the Old Testament come to fruition and manifestation in the New Testament.
Yes.
How there were just a foreshadow of things in the Old Testament, and it makes more clear sense when you see it fulfilled in Jesus in the New Testament. Amen.
Amen.
And that's one thing that we're going to do this morning by the grace of God. He's going to give us more merit to the title of what we've been talking about the past, uh, 6 weeks including this Sunday. Amen. Once again, the title of this series is The Benefits Of becoming a Christian— becoming a citizen, I'm sorry. The benefits of becoming a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, part 5. And in this part 5, we're going to talk about the prophecy of Jesus becoming the king of the kingdom of heaven. This part 5, we're going to deal with the prophecy of Jesus becoming the King of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen.
Amen.
Praise God. We want to establish a little background before we get started. As we have said so many times, that when Jesus came and speaking on the earth, walking in flesh, that the teaching of that day was Judaism. And the theater of time that Jesus was walking in and the apostles, we can date it back to 516 BC up until, um, 70 AD. Amen.
Amen.
This dealt with the second, um, temple in Jerusalem, the second building of the temple in Jerusalem up until the destruction of the Romans destroying that temple. From 516 BC to 70 AD. Amen.
Amen.
This is the, the time that the apostles and Jesus was walking in at this particular time. Amen.
Amen.
So this can give us some clarity and understanding when we research and go back in the background what Jesus had to face at that particular time. Amen.
Amen.
Glory to God, because we at 514 Grace Church don't want us to walk in ignorance. Amen.
Amen.
We want us to know what we're talking about so that we can appreciate. And once we rightly divide, and the Spirit rightly divides the scripture to us, it makes more sense. And once it makes more sense, we can walk with more confidence and say, oh, I understand now. I understand what Jesus went through. Understand why he went through that. Understand what he was talking about here and there. Praise God! Because when we research and study the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit gives us revelation, it makes us more appreciative of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Praise God. Hallelujah. In order to appreciate the teachings. about the kingdom of heaven more fully. We need to see that the kingdom of heaven was prophesied about in the Old Testament, foretold about centuries earlier. Amen.
Amen.
Before it happened. Centuries it was foretold about the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.
Amen. If you will, the Old Testament as well, the foretelling of the kingdom was told about in the Old Testament. This accumulates to one degree with Jesus himself, himself saying with his own words, stating in Matthew, the book of Matthew chapter 4, verse 17, I'm using the Amplified Bible. From that time, Jesus began to preach and say it.
Yeah.
I didn't write that. That's what's in the scripture. I didn't make that up. Amen.
Amen.
So I want to say I have no skin in the game. I didn't— not here to write the Bible myself. Amen.
Amen.
I'll be a lunatic if I try something like that. Amen.
Amen.
Praise God. But we're coming from the straight out word of God. From that time, Jesus began to preach and say, repent. Change your inner self, your old way of thinking. Regret past sins. Live your life in a way that proves repentance. I'm reading from the Amplified Version. Amen. Seek God's purpose for your life, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Amen.
Amen. We're going to break this down to part A in Matthew 5— I mean, Matthew 4:17, and part B of Matthew 4:17. Amen. We're going to take our time to dissect it. Amen. Because God has rich soil, he has rich treasure in this scripture right here. Praise his holy name. The beginning of this verse which says From that time, Jesus began to preach and to say. The verb form of this phrase means— the Greek verb form of this phrase means to begin and continue in an ongoing action. Amen?
Amen.
From that time, Jesus began to preach, meaning at that particular point, When this scripture is saying, from that time till Jesus came on the cross, one way or the other, he was preaching and teaching the kingdom of heaven. There's no dispute. There's nothing to guess about it. One way or the other, through his parables, through his missions, through his mercies, Amen.
Amen.
He was teaching in one form or fashion about the kingdom of heaven from that moment on. Amen.
Amen.
From that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, hallelujah, about the kingdom of heaven. Matthew is saying that from that moment forward, Jesus' central message on earth will be the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.
This becomes the theme of his preaching, one. Part 2, his parables. Number 3, his miracles. Number 4, his mission. And his death and resurrection.
Amen.
Let's say that again. The theme of teaching about the kingdom of heaven It will be a part of his preaching, will be a part of his parables, will be a part of his miracles, his missions, his death and the resurrection. The part B section of Matthew 4:17 means the latter part. You have the first half part, which we were talking about, from that, from that time Jesus began to preach And to say that was the A part. Now we're getting to the B part. The latter part of Matthew chapter 4, verse 17 says, for the kingdom of heaven is what? At hand. The Greek interpretation for the verb form of this phrase means has drawn near. When it's talking about the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Jesus is saying the kingdom of heaven has drawn near, has arrived. Number 2. Number 3 is now present. The kingdom of heaven is now present. Number 4 is breaking in. Hallelujah. None of those points that we talked about, the B section of Matthew 4:17, talks about something in the future. when Jesus was talking about the kingdom of heaven. That was something that the people at that time needed to understand. They can only understand it if the Spirit can help show them that there's a new direction now.
Right.
It's not Judaism. It's not what the Pharisees and Sadducees were talking about. This is radically different at that particular time.
That's right.
Now we, thousands and hundreds of years later, we can appreciate more what Jesus was saying. So it's not radical to us if we're not looking at Jesus like a heretic. But at that particular time, they were looking at Jesus like a heretic because he was teaching something dramatically different. It was like throwing a bucket of cold water on your face and, where did that come from? What is that? I've never been taught that before.
That's right.
That's what we got to understand. When Jesus was talking about something that had been in the Bible for centuries— why do I put it that way? Because the eyes of men were blind. If you did not have the Spirit, did not have a relationship with God, there's no way in the world you're going to see the many times that the Old Testament have prophesied about the kingdom of heaven. You would have missed it.
That's right.
People who were going against Jesus, uh, the Roman soldiers and whatnot, they were blind. They did not see Jesus as the Son of God. If they would have, they wouldn't have whipped him. They wouldn't have put the— pressed the crown of thorns on his head. And took a rod and, and beat that crown that was on his head. So those thorns were going in his skull. People don't talk about that. Those thorns are going in our Lord and Savior's skull. Amen.
Yes.
Because if you read the scripture correctly, praise God, one of the books of the gospel talks about there was a rod taken by one of some of the soldiers and they beat on top of Jesus's head. With those thorns, crown of thorns on his head. Our Lord and Savior went through much.
Amen.
That was no light day. Amen. There was no walk in the park. Amen. He went through excruciating pain. Yes. Excruciating for you and I. That's right. And for those who are listening. Amen. Praise God. The Greek interpretation, once again, for this verb form means, when it's saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand, it means it has drawn near. What has drawn near? The kingdom of heaven, when Jesus was speaking about it.
Yes.
Has arrived.
Yes.
The kingdom of heaven has arrived. You don't have to look for it in the future, as he was talking to the people at that particular time. It is now present. Amen. It's breaking in. It does not mean come later. That's what it doesn't mean, will come later.
That's right.
It's talking about it's right now. Hallelujah. It means the kingdom is now accessible. Hallelujah. The hermeneutical meaning of this phrase means God's reign is now present among you because the King himself is here. Who is that King? Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Lord strong and mighty.
Yes.
The sweet rose of Sharon. Hallelujah. Jesus is not saying the kingdom is coming soon. He is saying that the kingdom of heaven is here in me right now.
Hallelujah.
So when he said the kingdom is at hand, he said it's here now in me. You're looking at it.
Yes, yes.
This is like when he spoke to Mary, uh, talking about Lazarus, when Mary was telling Jesus that, I know I'll see my son, my brother again in the resurrection. And Jesus said, I am the resurrection. You're looking at him. Hallelujah. I am the resurrection.
Hallelujah. Hallelujah.
You don't have to look towards the future. Open your eyes and you'll see, you're looking at the resurrection. I got the key. Hallelujah. He is saying the kingdom of heaven is here in me. We can look for that verification in Luke chapter 17, verse 21. What does it say? In the ESV, the English Standard Version. Luke chapter 17, verse 21. For behold, this is the latter part of verse 21. For behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.
Amen.
Saying, there it goes again, that Jesus is in the midst of the people. You don't have to look for it yonder over there. Or in the next few years or whatever, or next 100 years. He's saying it's here right now in the midst of you. Through who? Jesus Christ.
Amen.
You're looking at him right now.
Yes.
Hallelujah. The clearest prophecy in the Old Testament that we have foretelling of Jesus being positioned to become the king of the kingdom of heaven is in Daniel. Daniel chapter 7, verse 13 through 14. This is one of the clearest that you can understand in the Old Testament. There's many other scriptures, praise God, but this one right here is one of the clearest. Daniel chapter 7, verses 13 through 14.
Yes.
Coming from the New International Version, NIV. which says, in my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a Son of Man. The Son of Man is referring to humanity. That's referring to what we are, humanity. Amen.
Amen.
One like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days. That's the Heavenly Father. The Ancient of Days is the Heavenly Father. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. Verse 14, he was given authority, glory, and sovereign power. Hallelujah. Isn't that what it sounds like a king will have?
Yes, amen.
Will have authority?
Yes.
Will have glory?
Yes.
And have sovereign power? Those are attributes of a king. All nations and peoples of every language worship him. So that means going beyond the Jews, this is the Gentiles as well. Amen.
Amen.
Praise God.
Praise God.
So the Gentiles were able to be grafted in, those who chose to believe. All it takes is humbling ourselves and to believe.
Yes.
So anyone out there right now, anyone here right now who think you have to be of a certain nationality, you have to be someone who was raised in church. No, no, no. Jesus' love covers the opportunity for you to receive him. All you have to do is receive him regardless of your race, regardless of your background, regardless of the mistakes, regardless of the past. Hallelujah. Jesus says, come completely as you are. That's what we get from being a parent. What does a parent do when a child makes a mistake? Does he kick them out with the bathwater?
No.
No. He helps restore that child.
Yes.
The mother or the father.
Yes.
Just come to the parent and say, admit that you did wrong.
Yes.
They're more than willing. You're more than willing. Because why? Your love is so great. For your child.
That's right.
What does the scripture say? Love what? Covers what?
A multitude.
A multitude of sin.
That's right.
That's why you don't kick out your child with the bathwater.
That's right.
You still love him.
Yes.
Even though he may have hurt your heart in that last thing that he just did.
Yes.
That's right. He may have said some bad words to the teacher.
Yes.
May have stolen something from the convenience store. That you have to pay for to restore that.
Right.
You may wanna let 'em stay in jail another couple of nights to learn a lesson. Amen.
That's right.
But that don't mean you don't love 'em.
That's right.
You let 'em stay in jail 2 or 3 nights because you want 'em to learn a lesson.
That's right.
You wanna let 'em know that, him or her, that there's consequences for making the wrong decisions.
That's right.
We are where we are today because of the decisions we make. But at the same time, don't let that bring you guilt and shame because the Lord is saying, hey, if you choose to come to me, just humble yourself saying you we need you. I need you, Lord. The Lord is like saying, hey, I'm here with open arms. I'm not here to reject you. I'm here to receive you.
Amen.
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
He approached the Ancient of Days. Who approached the Ancient of Days? Jesus did. He approached the Ancient of Days. This is Daniel. This is hundreds and hundreds of years before we're talking about Jesus talking about the kingdom of heaven in the New Testament. He approached the Ancient of Days. and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power. All nations and peoples of every language, what? Worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away. And his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
Jesus himself spoke similar words to what we just read in Daniel 7:13, chapter 7, verse 13, in the book of Matthew. Hallelujah. We can see how the Bible is its own best commentary.
That's right.
One part of the Bible just supports and help make understanding to another part of the Bible. Amen.
Amen.
In Matthew 26, Matthew chapter 26, verse 64, coming out of the NIV. It says, you have said so. Jesus replied, but I say to you, from now on you will see what? The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on clouds of heaven. That's what we just read in Daniel chapter 7, verse 13. The same language, coming with the clouds of heaven. That's in verse 13.
Amen.
Amen. The collaboration is just crazy. There's no way that an author, Daniel, years and centuries before Jesus, Matthew never met Daniel. Daniel never met Matthew. They didn't know one another, saying the exact same thing. Yes, that's mind-blowing to the educated person, because if you try to figure it out academically, you can't. That's why God said he makes— he hides profound wisdom from those who are wise in their own eyes because they're not humble enough to accept it his way, to accept God's way. Amen.
Amen.
That's why we have to come in and do it his way. Praise God. Hallelujah. So he hides the wisdom and treasures many times of the meaning and understanding of the Bible from those who are wise in their own eyes. Amen. Trying to figure it out on their own terms and whatnot. Not simply accepting it his way, God's way. The Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One, coming on clouds of heaven. Let's take another verse in scripture. Psalms chapter 2, verses 6 through 9. And we're about to come to a close. Psalms chapter 2, verse 6 through 9 says, I have installed my Son on Zion. Who is his Son? God talking about Jesus.
Yes.
I have installed my Son on Zion. You are my Son. Ask me and I will give you the nations. my Lord. Psalms chapter 2, verses 6 through 9, foretelling a prophecy about Jesus will be the King of the kingdom. It's throughout the Bible. Hallelujah. This shows the Messiah ruling the nations with the divine sonship. Praise God. Amen. We just have an impact right there. Amen.
Hallelujah. Amen.
That are watching us this morning. Thank you for watching the broadcast. Thank you for supporting. But I want to say this this morning: if you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you need to make a decision today, this very moment. You need to make a decision to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. And if you want to do this, pray this very simple prayer with me. Say, Father, come into my heart. I believe that Jesus died for me. He was buried and he was resurrected. He first ascended, then he ascended, and he's seated on the right hand of the Father. And because he's seated in heavenly places, I can be seated in heavenly places. And because of the blood of Christ, my sins are forgiven and covered. Jesus, thank you for saving me. Thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for changing me. Thank you for changing me on the inside and the outside. Let my life be a beacon light to anyone that sees me. Let my conversation glorify you, Lord Jesus. And Lord, today I denounce Satan and say that you have no authority over me. Jesus, you are my Lord and my Savior.
Amen.
And I say thank you for saving me. And if you prayed that prayer, welcome to the family of God. You are now born again. Do me another favor. We don't want to leave y'all there alone. Go to our website, www.514gracechurch.org, and message us. The church's website, you'll see that the very very bottom, the email address for the church. You'll see the email address at the church's website at the very bottom. Email us and let us know. Say, hey, I gave my life to Jesus and I want to connect with you because we want to not only disciple you— the leaders want to disciple you. Tracy and I want to pastor you as well. Not just you, but you and your family. And you're not in this alone.
Come on.
God loves you more than anything. He sent Jesus, as Pastor Keith was teaching today, this prophesied Christ that is now giving deliverance, healing, salvation, peace, restoration for you and your family, restoration of your marriage, restoration of your finances. God is giving you every single one of those. How could you refuse a package like that? This is the type of Savior we love and serve. And if you're following us on social media, continue to like and comment and let others know. Share this, the video, share the message and say, hey, there's a church in Villa Rica, Georgia, 514 Grace Church, that is preaching and teaching the Gospel of Christ. teaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven and the grace of God. God wants every one of us to be happy. He wants us to be joyous. And most importantly, He wants us to be born again. Get to know Jesus. And beyond that, if you can support this ministry, if you can give $5, $10, $20, $50, please do that. Go to our website and click on Give, and there you can give.
Amen. Yes.
To support what we're doing. We want to get this gospel spread out all across the world, not just here in the United States, but globally. And keep us in your prayers. We're doing things for God and we want God to be glorified. None of this is about people or individuals, but it's about the Christ that we love and serve. And share this message every place you go and know That God is not done with us. I thank God for Pastor Keith. He has been teaching since the month of June, and he wrapped his message up, part 5, in July. Thank God for him. He's a blessing to our ministry. Go to YouTube, go to YouTube and look up the videos. You'll find every single part. He did 5 parts: part 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. On the kingdom of heaven, and it'll bless your socks off. Follow us on Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, X. We're there. You can look us up. You'll be able to know and learn more about us if you go to our website, www.514gracechurch. We love to meet you in person, and if you live in this area in Villarica, come out and fellowship with us. Come shake our hands. The leaders love to meet you. Tracy and I would love to. Meet you. We want to meet you in person. If you're looking for a good church, this is a good church. Come and join and be a part of what God is doing right here in Villarica. God is doing something, and I'm telling you, you will be surprised and be blessed by it. God bless you. We're not out of word, and we'll see you next week for a word of God. One of our own leaders as well, my wife Tracy Pitts, is going to be teaching next Sunday. Amen. And I'm excited about it, and I know you should be also. God bless you, and we'll see you next week, same time. Amen. God bless you.
Jesus, Jesus. We shout one name. Jesus, Jesus. Chains snap when we call that name. We live one name. Jesus, Jesus. Hell backs up when we praise. We shout one name.
