Colossians 1:11-14 (NLT)
We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
There is a song by Free Chapel called “I Call Your Name” which is a great worship song. It has a verse that goes, “I call your Name, Lord you reply, You bring Your Kingdom to stand by my side, Giver of life, all that I need, Father you’re everything that’s precious to me…”Rejoice and be glad that I did not sing this chorus to you but only shared it in lyric. This song has reverberated in my spirit over lately especially “You bring Your Kingdom to stand by my side…” I need the Kingdom of God to reign and rule in my life. But there are days that I do sense His Presence and Strength all around me and wonder, “Where is the Kingdom?” Why am I not feeling strengthened by your glorious power as you promise when we patiently endure? God enabled us to share the inheritance that He put our name on when we live in the light. Why does my soul feel impoverished? We have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to a Kingdom of Light – but there are still days that darkness overtakes me despite my greatest efforts to remain faithful and true. Lord, I have called your Name. Will you reply? Will you really bring your Kingdom to stand by my side?
Matthew 19:13-15 (NLT)
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him. But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
Faith is required in every situation to know and understand the Lord and all His Workings. My FATHER is definitely stronger than any other dad in this world. But do I boast and glory in it as a child does who sees their human father as invincible among all other men. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like little children who believe in the strength, love and integrity of their parents. The truth is most believers do not actually have faith that their father will come to their rescue or do anything about their current situation. There is no faith in the Lord or the power of His Kingdom which is available here on earth so rather than choosing to be subject to the Law of God in His Kingdom, we remain subject to the way of the world. You cannot inherit the Kingdom of God until you come to the Lord as a child with enough faith to believe that your God can do anything and your Father is stronger than anyone else.
Matthew 5:3-10 (NLT)
“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses those who mourn for they will be comforted. God blesses those who are humble for they will inherit the whole earth. God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice
for they will be satisfied. God blesses those who are merciful for they will be shown mercy. God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God. God blesses those who work for peace for they will be called the children of God. God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”
If we really believed in the Kingdom of God and all the benefits found there, maybe Christians would be more inclined to make the transfer from darkness into the Light. The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to every believer who realizes their need for a Savior and calls on the Name of Jesus Christ. It belongs to you! If you choose to do nothing with it, then that is your personal choice and has nothing to do with your inheritance because it remains as a Promise of God. His Word says that the Kingdom of God is everlasting and eternal. God’s Law has not changed and will not until its purpose is fulfilled. When God’s Kingdom arrives there will no longer be a law because we will be transformed as He has promised. Until then, God’s Kingdom has some specific guidelines. Our inability to follow them is what caused our exile. Jesus Christ came and fulfilled the penalty of God’s Law so now we have freedom to reenter His Kingdom. We are now made just or justified (just as if we never sinned) and enabled to live in righteousness (right-standing with God). Both are requirements of His Kingdom (Psalm 89:14-18) but well worth the effort for those who decide to exercise their inheritance and live in the Lord’s Favor. It will require a choice.
Matthew 6:31:34 (NLT)
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”
When I was a little kid, I didn’t really worry about what I would eat or drink assuming my parents would provide it for me. When I wanted something to wear, I would just open a drawer and pull something out. I believed that they would take care of me. The possibilities in each new day had not been tainted by the harsh realities of this world and its prevailing darkness. I had confidence that my parents already knew what I needed and would gladly provide it for me. As I matured into adulthood, reality came crashing in as I would take responsibility for my own life. Now I was the parent who had all the stress of providing for the children and maintaining the household, who would I depend on? My husband, job, abilities, strengths, and motivation all were likely choices, but in the end I realized none of these would satisfy my soul and give me peace. Life is a struggle even for those with great wealth and influence. Eternity lives in our heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11) and fights to be released. The only way to allow my Father to meet my needs once more is to seek the Kingdom of God above all else. When the bills are real, money is scarce, disease is rampant, joy has failed, hope is lost and disappointment overshadows our life, it is tough to put our faith in God who we cannot see, feel or touch. The Lord promises if we will remain true to His Kingdom, then He will give me everything I need. It didn’t say that I would have to work for it, but that the Lord would just “give” it to me. There is no burden, stress or labor implied in His Words, just gracious giving. What is keeping me from having the things of God’s Kingdom? Why can’t I feel His Strength and Power in my life?
Matthew 7:13-14 (NLT)
“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
To seek the Kingdom of God requires a change of direction. You cannot pursue the things of this world living in the darkness of sinful desire and attain His Kingdom. In fact, the Lord will keep things from you to create hunger and thirst for His Kingdom in your soul. There is some baggage that must remain in the past such as guilt, shame, unforgiveness, revenge, and anything else contradictory to God’s Way and His Word. You are a Child of the King now and must not remain in the trivial matters of this life. You have confidence in the wealth of His Inheritance. You can rely on the Strength of His Power and Might. No longer is there a struggle or is there? Instability in our life comes from divided allegiance. You cannot live for this world and God’s Kingdom. (Matthew 12:25) Your life will be doomed if you cannot make a decision between the Light of His Love or darkness of this world. You cannot travel in two opposite directions so your life leads to His Kingdom or walks away from it. But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62)
Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT)
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’”
The truth is the Kingdom of God is not for everyone. Some people just don’t want it enough to seek after it. They call on the Name of the Lord to be saved, but have little interest in living in justice and pursing righteousness. To inherit the Kingdom of God means you must leave this world behind. And so the inner struggle of the human heart to invest in faith that creates confident hope of Eternity or invest in the lie that “you only live once” (YOLO)? If you believe that this is all there is to life, then you will never look past today. But if you take that seed of faith given to you and plant it in His Kingdom, you will grow confident that the best is yet to come. Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? 19 It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.” (Luke 13:18-19)
Matthew 13:11-12 (NLT)
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Why doesn’t God just speak to the people of the world in a loud audible voice? Why is He so secretive? Well, have you read the Old Testament? God moved Heaven and earth – the Children of Israel still worshipped idols and lived in constant rebellion. He performed miracles in their midst. He provided food that literally fell out of the sky to sustain them. He spoke audibly to them. God led them with a cloud by day and fire by night. They still rebelled. Teaching fell on death ears. His Works went unnoticed, unappreciated. His Presence was blatantly disregarded. Yeah, pretty sure the straightforward approach did not work. Still darkness prevailed. So God sent His Son Jesus Christ who is God’s Word wrapped in flesh to show us how to live and find the Father. What did people do to Him? Oh that’s right – we tortured and killed the Lord. But that plan backfired because then His Spirit was released. Now people could seek the Lord on an individual basis being changed from the inside out. This is working. The Kingdom of God is under constant attack by satan. (Matthew 11:12) He can never overpower the Lord but he can lead mankind back into the darkness making them subject to death and destruction. God is a loving Father, it hurts His Heart when His Children are lost. Each and every one. The Lord does not share His Secrets with everyone for this very reason.
John 3:5-6 (NLT)
Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life.
The Holy Spirit is the second birth of God’s People. We are born again when His Spirit comes to live on the inside of us. Now God sees our heart and the true intentions of each person. This is good or bad depending on what motivates you to seek the Lord. Jesus is looking for those who will join Peter in the proclamation that “You are Messiah, Son of the Living God” and mean it from the depths of your heart. This is where true faith begins that will become confident hope. This is allegiance to God’s Kingdom. His Spirit can now lead you to everlasting life. Now you can hear the Voice of God and do what He says. You can feel His Power and live in it. You can walk and not grow weary. You are strong and surefooted in knowledge and understanding that is becoming wisdom Why? “Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’) and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”(Matthew 16:15-19) When your intention is to live in the Kingdom of God, His Spirit sees it in your heart and releases the Keys to God’s Kingdom in your life. You gain all access as faith begins to grow. It does not matter who other people say that He is, or who your pastor preaches the Lord is, or even who Oprah thinks the Lord is…it only matters who YOU think He is. It is not a physical renovation that allows us into the Kingdom of God but a spiritual revelation that opens the door to those who knock! Are you looking for the Kingdom of God? It is not all around you but inside you!
I Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)
For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.
I am tired of talking about God’s Kingdom and calling out for it. I am ready to live by God’s Power every day and every way. I have total access to Jesus Christ. Am I willing to go there? It is my choice that makes all the difference in the world. His Kingdom is real. His Promises are true. The choice belongs to you!
Matthew 13:44 (NLT)
“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough money to buy the field.”
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