The Kingdom is in You (5/9/11)

Shalom,

 

    Please begin by reading Luke 17:20-21.

 

    Jesus had a lot to say about the Kingdom of God.  You could say a major focus of his ministry was the Kingdom and what his Father was actively doing in the world around him.  The words he spoke to the Pharisees tell us something vitally important about the Kingdom.  "The Kingdom doesn't come with your careful observations."  Other translations speak of speculations or visible signs.  The Pharisees were truly people of the Book, but they had tunnel vision concerning how the words in the Book would come to pass.  They were exactly like many of our End-Times "experts."  In spite of our Lord telling us we can't know the exact dates or some of the specifics about his return, they insist on working to identify them.

    Too many Christians have tried to bring about the Kingdom through human efforts and endeavors.  We need to consider that the most important observation we need to be making isn't with our physical senses.  To be aware of and involved in the Kingdom of God we must be careful not to miss the sense of the presence of Yahweh.  Jesus told us the Kingdom is "within" us.

    If your translation says "among" you, it's because translators don't agree.  There's a controversy among theologians about this passage.  It's over whether it should read among you or within you.  Because this is the only mention of this exact situation in the Gospels, we can't compare them and see what the other writers did with the phrase.

    The truth is that both translations are equally valid.  The Greek word entos means to see inside.  Too often theologians waste a lot of time on semantics, the study of language formation and historical development, instead of getting to the point of what's written.  The Kingdom is found within the hearts of believers.  It's also found among us in the working of Yahweh's plans and purposes throughout our world.

    The simplest definition is that the Kingdom is any place or any point in time where Yahweh's sovereign rule is acknowledged.  Yahweh has declared his intent to establish his Kingdom both today in human existence and eventually throughout eternity after he ends time as we know it.  I think one of the reasons we struggle so much over what it is or what it means is because it's truly of Yahweh and heaven.  The only time we begin to get a handle on it and understand it's meaning is when we're actively doing Kingdom business.

    Our Creator has called all mankind, regardless of race or gender or politics or religion, to live in surrender to him and his Word.  We can't observe his Kingdom with our physical senses.  It has no borders or limits.  It's not constrained by time or any other outside force.  The Kingdom is only discerned spiritually and only experienced as we obediently serve our Lord and Master.  If you haven't acknowledged his right to rule over you and direct your activity, you're living in denial of his sovereignty and will be unable to discern his Kingdom.

 

    The Kingdom of God isn't brought to people by our presence.  We don't bring it to them by evangelizing.  The Kingdom of God isn't necessarily found where we hold our worship services.  Inviting the lost to our worship services is good, but it's not going to show them the Kingdom.  Some of us still think, "If we can get them to church, then the Holy Spirit will touch them and they'll get saved."  But it's our task and duty to show them to the doorway into Yahweh's Kingdom, then to bring them to our gatherings.  The gatherings are for the equipping of the saints for works of ministry according to Eph 4:12.  Bringing someone to a worship service should build on what we've done as witnesses instead of being the first place they hear the Gospel.

    When we come to the realization that we're the temple of Yahweh and that we house the Kingdom "within us," then hopefully we can begin to manifest the Kingdom in stronger ways.  Yahweh's equally powerful in the woods, by the sea, in a mosque, or even in an organized church meeting.  His power resides in us all the time through the presence of the Holy Spirit "within us."  Too many Church people have forced the Spirit to be dormant outside of Sunday and midweek services for much of church history.  It's time to change that and let every person, place, and time be touched and impacted by the Kingdom "within us."

    We need to be more like Jesus.  Wherever he walked, ministry happened.  Whatever Jesus did, the Kingdom was manifested.  Whoever Jesus met, heard Kingdom words.  When he walked into a building, ministry happened.  When he walked out of a building, ministry happened.  When he prayed, it was for Kingdom purposes.  When he played, it drew people closer to the Kingdom.  And if the Kingdom is "within us," many of the same things should be happening in our lives.  In John 14:12 Jesus said, "Anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing.  He will do even greater things than these."

 

    A Kingdom mindset isn't bound by theological or denominational systems.  It may be found within a system, but it won't be overcome or constrained by any system.  Church organizations, families, workplaces, governments, and culture are things that we're involved in on this earth.  But we're OF the Kingdom.  Everything takes on a new meaning when we're living as Kingdom people.  The "rules" of whatever place we're involved in will never overcome or overrule our Kingdom purpose, because that abides "within us."

    Kingdom people aren't consumed by the same things as wordly people.  We're not caught up in their intrigues or fads or systems.  Kingdom people have a passion for Jesus, a desire to bring his glory to earth.  Instead of situational ethics, Kingdom people use Kingdom ethics.  There's no wavering or waffling when we're Kingdom-minded.

    When we get "KIngdomized," we wake up each day excited about what our Lord will do through us today.  We begin to walk and flow in his presence right now and throughout our day.  We begin to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit clearer, and are more responsive to his leading.  We begin to "do what we see the Father doing" just like Jesus said he did.  When we go to gatherings or meetings, secular or Christian, we expect the Holy Spirit to break down walls while bringing supernatural wisdom and insight.  When we encounter hostility, we realize the person is hurting and needs a healing word spoken to them.  When we drive or walk through our neighborhoods we pray for our neighbors and ask our Lord for his love to reach them.

    Our lives are supposed to be about loving our Lord God and loving the people we encounter every day.  Don't wait for the heavenly vision or dream or holy 2 X 4 to hit you up side your head before you attempt to share your Kingdom joy and love.  We're supposed to be ready at all times to share what we know and understand.  The Holy Spirit makes us ready instruments in the hands of Yahweh because the Kingdom is "within us."  He's always ready to use us to impart godly love and mercy through our words and actions.

    The Kingdom of God is relational, supernaturally relational.  Pay attention as you go through your day to discern the people your Lord connects you with.  Be ready, willing, and able to deliver godly love and mercy wherever you go.  Speak from your heart, live out the Gospel, be an authentic Christian who wants to expand your Lord's Kingdom.  Don't worry about becoming so heavenly conscious that you're no earthly good.  If you''re truly a Kingdom person, Yahweh has given you a promise.  Matt 6:33 says, "Seek first his Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (your earthly needs) will be given to you as well."

 

    Don't just invite people to church.  Yes, they'll hopefully be ministered to and blessed in some way.  But you're the minister they've encountered first, or better yet the minister Yahweh has chosen to use to reach them.  Share the love you've been given.  Be real, try to reach them where they are.  Use the spiritual gifts and talents that you've been blessed with.

    The presence of the Holy Spirit is "within us" wherever we go.  Expect revelation and insight that will help you be a useful minister.  Expect impartation that will allow you to directly touch needs.  Expect miracles to point the way to your Lord and Master.  Resistance can be overcome when you bring the presence of Yahweh with you.  Be an effective minister of the Gospel by giving of what you've been given.

    The side we don't like to talk about is that this may bring us some pain and suffering.  Not everyone will be pleased or blessed by our efforts to share the Gospel.  But if Jesus suffered when he brought the Kingdom, we're likely to join him in his suffering.  I know it's difficult to consider, but the disciples rejoiced the first time they were beaten for the sake of the Gospel.  If our mindset is truly of Yahweh's Kingdom, we won't look at suffering the same way anymore.  The Kingdom is "within us" and the outside world needs to know how they can have the same blessing.  You don't need some special outside touch to minister the Kingdom.  It's "within you."  Just let it out.

 

    Blessings & Peace,    Mike