The Kingdom part 2
Today I want to put two verses together. The first is John 18:36, "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." I think that's one of the most important keys to the Kingdom; It is not of this world. It's not a Kingdom in the sense that we generally think of kingdoms. It is righteousness, peace, and joy, and it's found in the Holy Ghost. Which leads me to my second verse. "Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:21). Which, if you think about it, makes perfect sense. The Kingdom is found in the Holy Ghost, and the you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. So the Kingdom is found within you. It's not of this world. It's not about conquering and fighting and destroying. It's not about building our own kingdom. Or getting anything. Making someone else look smaller so we look bigger. No sir. It's about what's in you coming out of you. It's about being who you are and sharing what you've got. The "way of the world" is to give in order to get. "I'll scratch your back IF you'll scratch mine." But the way of the Kingdom is, "I have everything I need. AND I have what YOU need, so I'll give it to you. Without expectation. Without needing anything back. Simply because I have it, and you need it. I'll share it with you, and in that way experience it to the fullest." It's not something we try to get. It's something we already have. It was the Father's good pleasure to give us the Kingdom, and He did so by giving us the King. Remember, the Kingdom is the realm where the King rules and reigns. So it's not just what we have. It's who we are. Because He rules and reigns in us, and through us, and as us! We are IN the Kingdom, and the Kingdom is IN us, and we ARE the Kingdom! We don't just HAVE righteousness, peace, and joy. We ARE righteousness, peace, and joy. In the same way that God IS love... it's not just what He does, it's who He is... we ARE the Kingdom. The Kingdom is within us, and we are within it. What's inside comes out... when you know and believe that it's in there. Not when you try to force it out, but when you fill yourself to overflowing with what you've been filled with. When you let God love you instead of trying to earn His love and affection. When you stop running around like a chicken with it's head cut off... seeking the Kingdom as if you don't have it... and when you just start to rest. Stop trying to finish the work. It IS finished. We still pray, "Thy Kingdom come" when in truth it is already here! We rob ourselves from experiencing the gift of God when we try to earn it instead of simply receiving it and releasing it. Receiving it BY releasing it. The Kingdom is like a muscle. The more you use it, the more it grows. The more you let the righteousness, peace, and joy that's inside you come out, the more you experience the Kingdom. The more you love others, the more you experience the love of God. Which is what the Kingdom is all about. It is the Kingdom of God. God is love. So it is the Kingdom of Love! The love inside you filling you to overflowing and coming out all on it's own. Naturally. Unstoppably. An ever-expanding Kingdom inside working it's way out!