#THE KINGDOM IS WITHIN YOU...
If we choose to discover and uncover the unlimited value and virtue of the Kingdom of God, we will never substitute "the earthly" for "the eternal", ever again! Although, the material realm is often seen as crosswise or contrary, to what is "spiritual", the real "treasure hunt" that every human being enters into - once they've entered the agency of time, is really a never-ending search and unending exploration of the richest benefits of HIS Spirit; not the distractions and false substitutes that exists in this life! Some of those "substitutes" includes the world's - power, prestige and popularity, but at the expense of HIS - peace, promise and purpose! Because, God "has set eternity in men's hearts" (Ecc. 3:12), until we "accept the truth" - and "reject the lie", we'll stay in "the rat race of life"; looking for HIS blessings, in all the wrong places!
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Rom. 14:17). So, to place an earthly meaning on the eternal principle, minimizes the impact of what a Christian whose life is devoted to Christ should produce. By “righteousness and peace”, the passage is not meant to describe “imputed righteousness”, justification or reconciliation with God, but rather the moral condition of righteousness within the Christian himself; and concord or unity with his fellow-men. These are “crowned” in the devoted Christian, by that surrendering and yielding of the subdued and chastened exultation, which is wrought in us by the presence of God in our hearts and the ever-increasing constancy and influence of the Holy Spirit in the believer that walks with God all of their days.
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Rom. 14:17). So, to place an earthly meaning on the eternal principle, minimizes the impact of what a Christian whose life is devoted to Christ should produce. By “righteousness and peace”, the passage is not meant to describe “imputed righteousness”, justification or reconciliation with God, but rather the moral condition of righteousness within the Christian himself; and concord or unity with his fellow-men. These are “crowned” in the devoted Christian, by that surrendering and yielding of the subdued and chastened exultation, which is wrought in us by the presence of God in our hearts and the ever-increasing constancy and influence of the Holy Spirit in the believer that walks with God all of their days.
Luke 17:20-21(KJV). 20 "And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
These verses above are quite profound and telling, as JESUS exposes "the nature of the defiled or ruinous hearts" of "the religious status quo", and HE also reveals a very powerful truth that seems to escape aspects of "the institutional church", until recently...Our ordinances, performances and rituals ("observation") are NOT "true demonstrations or representations of the Kingdom of God; SO, what is?
Charitable causes? Stellar morality? Worldly success?...
Every manifestation and transition in the Kingdom of God (and in the life of the Believer), is initially born and ultimately determined, by what's going on - "in our hearts"! The Bible says that "the Kingdom of God is: righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost".
The significance of this - is, the conflict or contention that we see in the world - that is commonly understood to be the difference between "the secular" and "the sacred" of society, powerfully denotes the distinction of beliefs, values and world-views, which is generally how we define "predominate culture" - and the key to wielding influence over the masses, or deliberately impacting "the hearts of men"..
The "reality of the Kingdom" then, is like a "frame of reference" or overall perception, which doesn't necessarily communicate disagreement with the "natural world", just perspectives from a vantage point that reflects "higher governing-realities" based upon a certain "heart condition" that will allow a person to both SEE and ENTER the Kingdom of God...
In Psalm 27, David had a profound revelation of the Kingdom of God, and connected "the desires of our hearts" and "the Beauty of The Lord", which actually represents the dimensional reality of our sanctified experiences with "The King" - and the subsequent "glory" that is revealed; as we remain in the continuum of a vibrant and growing relationship with Christ - "from faith to faith, from glory to glory, and from strength to strength"!
"One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, And to inquire in His temple." (Psalms 27:4 NKJV)
JESUS told Martha that "one thing is needed"...Could this be the same "one thing" that David spoke of in Psalm 27? Of course it is...
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42 NKJV)
Every "extraneous dependency", recurring issue or dysfunctional support-system that we hold tightly too, is "competing with the ONE THING" that every child of God is supposed to be focused upon...THE KINGDOM "WITHIN" US! (Jesus Christ, The Hope of Glory!)
The "great imbalance" that exists today, especially amongst God's people, is plainly characterized by how distorted our views of the Kingdom of God really are, and why there is NOT greater unity and agreement on the dimensional scale that causes the Body of Christ to absolutely plunder the kingdom of darkness!
Are YOU responsive to the attestation and manifestation of God's Kingdom within?
In other words, do you ALLOW the Spirit of God to do with you - what HE pleases, or do you DISALLOW, through any suggestion of disobedience, obstinance, negligence, or resistance - OPPOSE the work of God, because its UNCOMFORTABLE or an INCONVENIENCE to you?
The realization of "kingdom ideals" in your life and mine, is totally determined by our cooperation and participation in the unfolding plan of God! This season is pregnant with the potential and purpose that everything up to this moment in time, has "shown you" and I - "is possible to them that believe"!
LET "the kingdom come", so HIS WILL, will be done...In Jesus' Name! WS-3
Walter L. Smith III, Apostolic Founder/Lead Facilitator
Pure In Heart Int'l Ministries, Inc. -
The Center For Kingdom Advancement
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