After Jesus’ resurrection He appeared to His apostles over a period of forty-days speaking things concerning the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). They asked Jesus prior to His ascension,
“Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
Acts 1:6
The disciples were looking for ‘a natural earthly kingdom’ not the ‘spiritual kingdom’ that was in the heart of the Lord.
The Kingdom of God is the central message of the New Covenant and we find its roots in the Old Covenant in God’s promise to Israel:
“Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
Exodus 19:5 & 6
These words apply to us, the church as well (I Peter 2:9). The Messiah taught His disciples to pray:
“Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:10
From these Scriptures we see that the kingdom requires obedience to the Word of God as well as doing His will here on earth. This entails so much more than attending a church service or going to a Bible study. The Kingdom speaks of a ‘new way’ of life and necessitates being born again, just as Jesus said to Nicodemus:
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
John 3:3
It is living in a ‘new’ dimension in a ‘new’ realm, with a ‘new’ perspective and outlook where the ‘things of earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.’ Jesus said,
“My Kingdom is not of this world.”
John 18:36
We are called to be ‘other worldly’ demonstrating the culture of the Kingdom of God to the world and to Israel.
“The Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 14:17
It is righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, the peace that passes understanding and the joy that is unspeakable because of the Spirit of Truth that is alive within us. It is a daily, moment by moment walk of faith.
We live in a lost and dying world that is searching for reality, truth, and authenticity. We have the opportunity to be witnesses of these things as we live a kingdom life. Jesus said:
“I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.”
John 10:10
The Kingdom of God is ‘that ‘ expression of the abundant life when we become true witnesses and:
“We live and move and have our being in Him.”
Acts 17:28
By His grace and our willingness, may we be delivered out of the domain of darkness into the Kingdom of His beloved Son. Amen and Amen!
Shelly Volk
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