The Apostles’ Relationship with the Kingdom of God
The lecture explains that the Kingdom of God was the central focus of the lives and ministry of the holy apostles. They devoted all their thought and effort to building this Kingdom and spreading it among people. They received this mission from the Lord Christ, who preached the Gospel of the Kingdom and taught His disciples to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.
The Kingdom Begins Within
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III emphasized that the Kingdom of God does not begin externally but within the human heart, where God reigns over the mind, heart, emotions, and will. The person over whom God reigns can witness to the Kingdom and spread it among others.
Spiritual Freedom and the Work of the Kingdom
The teaching points out that one of the conditions of the Kingdom is freedom from the authority of sin, the world, and desires. A true Christian is not enslaved to money, fame, power, or passions, but is subject to God alone, because the Kingdom of God is completed when Christ reigns over the whole person.
The Apostles’ Struggle in Building the Kingdom
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that the apostles did not build the Kingdom easily, but amid tribulations, labor, fasting, and persecutions. The faith spread throughout the world through their preaching, struggle, and willingness to offer their lives for the salvation of souls.
The Responsibility of the Believer Today
The lecture calls every believer to ask himself about his role in building the Kingdom of God: Is he merely a spectator or a worker with God? Fasting, service, prayer, preaching, and love are all means of participating in the extension of the Kingdom.
Preserving and Defending the Kingdom
Just as the apostles were builders of the Kingdom, they were also guardians of it. Therefore, the believer should preserve the faith received from the fathers and pray for the steadfastness of all in the faith, the spread of God’s love, and the salvation of souls.
The Main Spiritual Message
The Kingdom means that God reigns over the human heart first, and then this Kingdom extends to the world through the believer’s life and service. The apostles were a living example of a person filled with love for the Kingdom and working tirelessly to win souls for Christ and prepare a holy people for God.
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