Jesus said, “I declare that the Kingdom of God is here, among you.” I think sometimes we misunderstand the Kingdom of God as much as the crowds when Jesus preached about it. We think of it as being the Kingdom Christ will set up when he comes to rule and reign for a thousand years. We think of it as when we get to Heaven – that is the Kingdom.
But Jesus declared that it had arrived when He arrived. The Kingdom is simply the rule and reign of Christ in heaven and on the earth. Since Satan had been given rule over the earth, Christ’s new covenant began the Kingdom of God here and now – His Spirit living and abiding, empowering and equipping us to fulfill His mission on earth. The Kingdom of God is simply God’s rule in my life.
To the extent that I choose to allow Christ to reign in me is the extent that he rules in the earth. The problem is that we’ve been raised in the kingdom of this world, which can be seen, while the Kingdom of God is an invisible force living in us. The visible crowds out the invisible, and the familiar feels more comfortable than the unfamiliar.
It’s imperative that we understand that, as disciples, we are the Kingdom of God here on earth. God is depending on us to build His Kingdom; not ours.
As Jess reminded us, the Kingdom of God is present and active now. It has the power to transform the world as our character is transformed. The Kingdom brings restoration to all those around us here and now.
Lord, let your reign be established in me. Reign in my thoughts, my choices and actions. Be Lord of all.
Lord, reign in me again!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHhuKfPQo6Q
1 comment:
Thanks, the words you wrote " Christ’s new covenant began the Kingdom of God here and now – His Spirit living and abiding, empowering and equipping us to fulfill His mission on earth. The Kingdom of God is simply God’s rule in my life." explain it best, don't think I have had anyone explain after they use the phrase, and I didn't understand it...
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