The kingdom of God.
Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
A few years back, I experienced warfare from all sides. I remember crying out to the Lord, "What is happening?" Lord, why are you allowing this? Have I sinned against you? I thought I was serving you faithfully. I practiced good morals, so why am I experiencing this warfare? Around that many other believers were facing many challenges as well. I needed revelation and strategies to see the kingdom of God manifest in my circumstances and to help others. I was desperate for answers.
There are millions of sermons out there. Many are on demonology. From John the Baptist to the Apostles of the early church, they taught about the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven. John the Baptist set the stage with his focus on repentance. His mandate was to announce the Messiah. He preached that the Kingdom of God is near. You must understand that in the John the Baptist era, Jews were all looking for an earthly king to establish an earthly kingdom. John had not gotten the revelation that the kingdom he preached about was not one built with human hands.
The majority of Jesus' teachings, and those of the Apostles, were to educate the church on how to live as kingdom citizens on earth. Jesus demonstrated the power of the kingdom by the way He lived. His ministry debunked the religious ideologies. He taught on kingdom principles, even on how to engage in prayer. I believe many of us still struggle to understand this concept. I did. It is my mission to understand and teach what Jesus taught. Like the disciples, we should seek to understand what the Kingdom of God is and how it operates. Many believers are just that. They believe in Yeshua. They don’t miss any church meetings, concerts, or conventions. They read the Bible, quote the scriptures, but are outlaws in the kingdom of God.
The kingdom of God is within us. That is a critical conventional privilege we must understand. We often pray as if God is far out there is the sky. It is easier for people to believe someone is possessed than to acknowledge the presence of God in them. Weird right. It is also easier for people to believe there is a devil but no God as creator of heaven and earth. Upon salvation, we invite the Lord to sit on the throne of our hearts kicking the enemy out. I think we have read it many times, but don’t believe the kingdom of God now resides in us.
Matthew 23:23 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
So what is the king of God? The kingdom of God is an internal expression of God's governmental authority in our lives. In that case, God is with us at all times. If we understand this truth, we would be less likely to do things He disapproves of. When I was younger, I would do things in hopes that my grandparents or parents wouldn’t find out. When I am with them, I am on my best behavior. As a parent, my children do the same thing. I can't be with our children every moment of the day. But God is with us all the time. Our heavenly identity was restored when we accepted Jesus as Lord. The Holy Spirit, dwelling within every believer, is tasked with training us in righteousness. The speed at which this process proceeds depends on how intentionally we allow the Holy Spirit to work freely from within.
When Jesus healed anyone, he instructed them to go and sin no more. The biggest battle is not between the devil and us. The biggest warfare with face is submission to God. Satan has no right to touch you without permission. We learned that from the story of Job. God gave the enemy permission to torment Job. Permission to touch you comes two ways: sin or God lifts his hedge of protection for a while. The point is, there must be a cause for warfare. Stop blaming the devil and start taking responsibility for the lack of discipline in learning and applying Jesus' doctrine.
Anyone who desires to walk in power and authority must go through a season of pruning and shaping. The word of God must be engraved on our hearts. That process is called renewing the mind. To become a citizen of any country, you must learn its laws, be tested, and then be given a passport of acceptance. This natural truth is also a spiritual principle. We need to know, understand, and apply the laws of the kingdom of God to be good citizens. John the Baptist preached repentance. It was the first step in the mystery of the kingdom. You must be born again. Many people do not enjoy the benefits of the kingdom because they stop at salvation. The first key principle Jesus taught was to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Leviticus 21:8 and 1 Peter 1:16 God called us to be holy as He is holy.
Every citizen of a country is not alike. Although all the benefits of God's Kingdom are accessible to everyone, not everyone takes advantage of them. Some people choose to abide by the laws of the land, and others prefer to break every law. Those who fear the Lord and apply the principles of the kingdom thrive on the resources it offers. As it is in the natural, so is it in the spirit. Helel, aka the devil, was cast out of heaven because he broke the laws of God’s kingdom. He is the god of this world, and he influences the ignorant ones to break rules as well. Satan’s kingdom is established on deception. His conquests are to steal, kill, and destroy. Those who break God's laws suffer the same fate as Helel ultimately does.
God set laws in place to govern His kingdom, which gives life to all those who obey them. Obedience is key to enjoying the benefits of the kingdom of God. His provision, protection, and increase are guaranteed. May we seek to enjoy the pleasures that are available to us today. Obedience has rewards. Jesus paid the price for us. He made himself poor by coming to die for our sins, yet he lacked nothing while he lived on earth. Jesus gave us the keys to the kingdom. It is up to us to seek, and we will find. We only need to dethrone the kingdom of darkness and apply the principles of the kingdom of God. We need to know our rights and understand our jurisdiction.
1 John 3:8 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
The reason for warfare is to prevent the enemy from establishing its kingdom. We do not have the right to cast satan to hell. It is not in our power to do so. We resist him. Michael the archangel did not. He said the Lord rebukes you. Jesus taught on the kingdom of God pre- and post-resurrection. There must be great significance in this teaching that warrants close attention. It was the primary focus of His public ministry. Jesus spent the last few days on earth with His disciples, teaching exclusively on the kingdom of God. Jesus restored our authority to have dominion. We only need to understand the systems that are in place that make it work. Jesus zeroed in on the protocols of the kingdom. Embedded in Matthew 23:23 is the answer to my question. Justice, mercy, and faithfulness are the three pillars of the kingdom of God.
For this reason, the Kingdom of God was made manifest. The kingdom of God is within you. Are significant statements in scripture. The kingdom of God is not a distant concept. John the Baptist's message was to change the way we live. Jesus’s message was I have given you the keys of the kingdom. The Bible is clear that the kingdom of God is not hidden; it is a reality. The apostle Paul gave extensive teaching on the conduct of citizens of God’s kingdom. What qualifies an individual to function as an ambassador of God is simple. Accept the finished work of Christ Jesus and adapt His character. Be just, extend mercy, and be trustworthy. It is that simple!
Satan aims to keep the body of Christ ignorant of the truth. He has fooled many into doing weird rituals to gain God’s approval. Satan does not care if you believe in God; he only needs you to remain lukewarm. We can’t serve two masters. If there is any confusion in attitude, understanding, and behavior, it is because we have not yet received the fullness of the kingdom of God. When trouble comes our way, we have a choice: either we give in to the enemy or submit to the Lord. His methods may seem unorthodox, but they yield great results. The kingdom of God is not in word but in power. Submission overthrows the kingdom of darkness. Where the Spirit of God is, there is victory. Faith, hope, and love are forces to displace hate, unforgiveness, and pride.
We have the authority to destroy the works of darkness. When you know which kingdom you are from, you know how to relate to the problems that oppose you. I hope this revelation gets you excited like it did for me. May we not lack knowledge of what causes the kingdom of God to manifest in our lives? The enemy creates a system that causes you to fail. His power is in his mouth; he twists the truth, and if we are not careful, we fall prey to his deception. His attempt, however, allows us to apply the word to cut the giant's head off and cast mountains into the sea. Rejoice when the enemy dares to cross his boundaries. Until you are troubled by the enemy, you won’t exercise your authority. With that knowledge, you can take what belongs to you.
Luke 11:17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
The modernised church has strayed from God's standard of holiness. They use scripture to satisfy the lust of their desires. We represent the kingdom of God on earth. Therefore, everything we do is for His glory, not our aspirations. There are many examples of great men and women who questioned God’s methods until they got it right, so I will not labor the point here. That confirms the point I made earlier: the most challenging part of Christianity is God's complete dominion in our lives. Warfare is a part of every believer’s life. Obedience and application of scripture are keys to kingdom living. Child of God, knowledge is power. There are two reasons for warfare:
Sin/lack of submission to God.
Your flesh and spirit are at war for rulership.
To the natural eye, you must have done something wrong for the powers of darkness to come against you. Although that may be one reason, the second reason is most likely that God wants to exalt you. Rejoice in your suffering. In the book of Job, God restored double what he lost. What the Lord allows it to elevate you. Earlier, I said the enemy creates circumstances for you to fail. God also arranges circumstances to help you mature. Like Job, Joseph, Daniel, Esther, and Sarah, troubles are an opportunity for you to experience God in your life like never before. Instead of beating yourself up over the problems you face, surrender and let God's power manifest in your circumstances.
Every seed of the devil is a giant. He is the god of this world. But you are not of this world. You are of a stronger kingdom. You are a giant in the realm of the spirit. Don’t be afraid of what you can see with your natural eyes. You and I are seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. Far above principalities and power, rulers of darkness and spiritual wickedness in high places. The kingdom of the devil must bow to that authority. It may seem like your prayers are not effective, but God says otherwise. Be patient. God is cultivating the fruits of the Spirit within you. Humility, love, joy, and peace are bricks. How you treat people and respond to the trials you face are building materials. Jesus said If someone smites you, turn the other cheek. Guys, that is the kingdom we are in. Love, forgiveness, and contentment are the cement that holds our lives firmly secure in Christ.
Acts 16:16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying: Acts 16:18 18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.
The weapons of our warfare are not carnal. You will surely fail when you use the weapons of this world to combat the pressures you face. Use your words to shift things in the spirit realm. What you birth in the spirit will manifest in the natural. Don’t pay no mind to what the enemy is doing. It is beneficial to focus on what God desires of us. Our weapons are mighty. What you feed grows. Don’t give demons an audience. We have the authority to rebuke the spirit in operation. Paul was about his Father’s business when this damsel came along. Learn from Paul’s example.
Demons know their place. They are on their assignment to harass and oppress the sons of God. Child of you, we have more for us than the fallen angels. The angels of the Lord's army also know their assignments. Both the angels of the kingdom of darkness and those of the kingdom of light await our instructions to act. We see that with Daniel when he prayed. Understand that the enemy has record and tactical methods to use against you. Your enemy is well-learned, and he continues to study behaviors and patterns that will enable him to gain access to torment you. Fortify ourselves in the word. We must understand our jurisdiction. Those who know their God will do great exploits. We can't negotiate with devils; we cast out the devils.
The two kingdoms are at war on your behalf daily. You are not defenseless. When it comes to principalities, we can’t cast them out; they are princes in the realm of the spirit. God assigned them over regions and territories. The warrior angels are responsible for the heavenly battles. Your part is to be in right standing with God. Read the book of Daniel. When he fasted, the princes went to war. After 21 days, the messenger angel brought the Lord's answer.
The Bible is our manual to learn how to use our spiritual armor. When we stop fighting the devil and praying amiss by trying to cast him to hell, that is not our jurisdiction. Guard your heart, for out of it flows the issues of life. Apply the word and don’t ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit, who is your helper. The word of God is your sword. Put on your armor. Wear your priestly robe. Dethrone the stronghold of the enemy. Build a stronghold of the Lord. Surround yourself with people who live up to the standard of the word of God. Listen to teaching that builds your faith and focus on principles that Jesus and the Apostles taught. That, my friend, is exercising your rights as a kingdom citizen. God is a righteous God; He will overrule every warfare that comes against you.
I will talk to you soon.
