This is the first in a series of meditations on the kingdom. A kingdom must have a king that is responsible for governing it, and ancient kings held singlehandedly all the functions of modern governments, executive, legislative, and judicial, with their word being the final authority in their realm. In a democracy government is (supposedly) by the people, in a kingdom it is by the word of the king. The late Myles Munroe made a point that in a kingdom the king owns everything, but he is also responsible for his subjects; therefore either prosperity or poverty in the kingdom reflects on the king. If you are a citizen of a kingdom it is your responsibility to give your allegiance to that kingdom, but you are also entitled to the rights and privileges of it. When you live as a citizen of a kingdom you can expect the king to act on your behalf. By having an understanding of an earthly kingdom we can gain great insight into the spiritual kingdom announced by John in Matthew 3:2 and declared by Jesus in Matthew 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Unlike the kingdom the Jewish people were looking for, physical, instantaneous, and Jewish, the kingdom Jesus established through His first Advent was spiritual in nature, gradual in growth, and international in scope. There are two terms used, namely “the kingdom of heaven” (used only by Matthew) and the “kingdom of God” Some try to draw a distinction between these, however they are generally synonymous referring to God’s rule over the universe, and/or specific things within the scope of that rule; for us today it is especially the “divine rule in human hearts, lives, and situations” (Spirit Filled Life Bible). Luke 17:21 says “…the kingdom of God is within you.”
God’s kingdom within
By Rose Hill
When we have the kingdom of God within,
We are righteous and delivered from sin.
For the kingdom of God is not food and drink,
Peace and joy is better, God’s child will think.
The things of this life will pass away,
Peace and joy remain for/in eternity’s day.
In 1 Corinthians 4:20 the Amplified Bible says, “For the kingdom of God consists not of and is based not on talk but power – moral power and excellence of soul.”
What really is God’s kingdom?
By Rose Hill
The kingdom of God consists not of talk,
But is based on the excellence of your walk.
You enter this kingdom when you’re born from above,
And you’re saved from sin because of God’s love.
God greatly loved the world and did not want to condemn,
So He sent His Son to die for lost men.
Do you want a share in God’s kingdom of power?
Then give your life to Jesus this very hour.
Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version copyright by Thomas Nelson Co. Used by permission.