Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Freedom
24 Oct
When the Pharisees approached Jesus about the coming of the kingdom of God, he basically told them it would not come from without, with observation but from within, for the Kingdom of God is within you. The reason I say that Jesus is speaking about the coming of the Kingdom, is He was answer the Pharisees question of a future appearance of the Kingdom and the context is of Jesus prophesying of things that will come.
Does this speak of an inner coming of the Kingdom of God in the hearts of all mankind? You will find the answer to this as we look at the different stages of the coming of the Kingdom. Are all people saved no matter what they believe? Again as we look at the Scriptures we will find an answer to this question and more. For the Kingdom to be established there are vital steps that must be taken.
Mt 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
The first thing that a person must do is seek the Kingdom of God. Can I tell you that the Kingdom won’t just pop-up inside someone unless they first seek for it to come! This seeking is a continuous action in the language that it was written in, meaning that we must always be seeking for His Kingdom even after we have asked for it to come into our hearts. It must grow into an impassioned quest and a sharpening focus, for and on the things of the Kingdom that are from above.
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
This stage is so important! It points out that in order to even see the Kingdom of God must be born again. So being born again allows us to see the Kingdom of God and start to understand it. What does it mean that we must be born again? The word again here means ‘from above’ and clearly Nicodemus, whom Jesus was addressing, didn’t understand that because he asked: “Can a man enter as second time into his mothers’ womb and be born again?
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus tells him that a man must be born of Water and the Spirit. Water is defined in the Word of the Lord. When Jesus (the Word made flesh) washed the disciples’ feet it was an analogy of the Words cleansing ability in preparation for the coming of the kingdom. This born of water can mean;
1. from a human birth (which is definitely a precondition to being saved) ; or 2. from being washed symbolically from our sins by baptism in His name.
After a person has heard, and has their mind changed with the wrong thinking washed away by the Word; a person needs to be born of the Spirit. Being born from above is clearly being born in the Spirit. Being born from above has these two aspects; being born of water, and being in the Spirit by which we enter the Kingdom.
Lu 21:19 “By your patience possess your souls.
Being born again by the Spirit of God we have entered the Kingdom, which is now in us (in our heart and souls). This means that the next stage possesses the things of the Kingdom. How? Let look at what possess means: to acquire, get, or procure a thing for one’s self. I believe the things of the Kingdom are not possessions, but actions. Jesus, who established the Kingdom of God on earth, didn’t possess things, but He acquired many people who believed on Him. He did this by proclaiming the Good News of the gospel, not in word only but in power; 1Co 4:20 For the kingdom of God [is] not in word but in power. Ro 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We possess our souls patiently by allowing righteousness, peace and joy to flood our souls. Part of possessing the Kingdom is realizing that God and His Kingdom have come to take up residence in us. God Live In Us!!
For us to walk in the Kingdom we must first realize all that God has done for us and this comes to us as we patiently endure the challenges of this life. To do this we must emulate Jesus, who is our perfect example. Jesus told us that in this world we would have tribulation and trials, but to be of good cheer because He has overcome the world. I don’t care what trials may present them to you, possess your souls with peace and joy because He has overcome the world. He has so thoroughly overcome the world that He has given us the power to walk in and do the works that He has done.
John 14:12 ¶ “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater [works] than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
Did you catch that; the works that I do he will do also and greater works. Greater Works? Yes, Greater Works!!!! Let’s start walking in the Kingdom of God by doing those greater works that Jesus said that we could.
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