What is the Kingdom of God?
Kingdoms are territories owned by a King. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we are giving Him the territory of us. We become a colony on earth that is part of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Kingdom of God is now operating within us. Similar to when a country acquires new land and sets up their government within that area, the Spirit of God comes to reside within us. A new country will send their representatives to teach the new culture and laws to the people. We have the Holy Spirit in us working to transform our mind, will and emotions to reflect the new Kingdom culture.
And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.
Luke 17:20-21
Through the help of the Holy Spirit we start to transform our self-centered life that was based in the world's culture, into a life centered around the kingdom culture of love and compassion. We see our need to repent - change our mind - and create new default mindsets that lead us to change our actions, words and responses. What we did when we were leading our own life and answering to ourselves had benefits only for ourselves. When we allow the Holy Spirit to mold us into the image of Jesus Christ, it benefits others first.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 (NLT)
The love and compassion of Jesus Christ are the core culture values in the Kingdom of God. The world's culture has filled us with bitterness, anger, judgement, condemnation and fear. Transformation is needed, because we cannot operate in both love and anger. We need the world's cultural values to be replaced with the Kingdom's cultural values. Studying the life of Jesus will show us what those values are. He taught them to His disciples and then watched them transform into powerful men of God who changed the known world in a very short period of time by teaching them to others. He is calling us to do the same, to let a change take place in us that will give us new insight and new perspective.
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
Responding in a new way to situations will spark a new response in us of purpose, community and worth that is far greater than any benefit we ever had when living for our own gain. It doesn't mean our lives will be perfect, it means in connecting with our actual creator we now move in the direction that we were meant to go in. This gives us the peace of mind we were looking for and puts us in closer proximity to our destiny.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10
Pray this with me...
Lord, I thank you for wanting me to be in your Kingdom. I know you desire for me to connect with you deeper and to be changed on the inside to reflect your love on the outside. I understand that you have made a place inside of me that is just for you to fill. Please help me by removing those things that are not bringing me life. Fill that space completely with everything you are and help me to walk close with you, so that I can be your representative of Heaven here on earth. Enlarge my capacity to understand all that comes with that and to emulate Jesus Christ in and through my life. Let people see you in me and let them feel your love so that they will also be drawn to you. I want to make your heart happy and be pleasing in your sight. In Jesus' name. Amen
