What Is the Kingdom?Uzorak

Listen to the words of Paul:

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14:17).

As we look at this defining statement of the Apostle Paul, we discover that the Kingdom of God begins within our hearts as a whole new inward reality, an inward reordering of life by the Holy Spirit. The very inner workings of who we are on the inside are recreated and reordered.

• Righteousness: Our inner values become aligned with His. What He considers to be valuable, we consider valuable; what He loves, we love; what He hates, we hate; and what He values very little, we value very little.
• Peace: When the Kingdom enters your heart, you are transformed from a person driven and tossed on the inside to a person who is at peace. Trust in God replaces fear.
• Joy: Our inner man takes on the gladness of the Lord, which gives us great strength.
• In the Holy Spirit: This new inner way of life is produced in us through the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit.

The Kingdom of God is a completely different way of life lived out now by men. It is heaven’s culture infused into the lives of people through His words and His indwelling Holy Spirit. It is NOT men simply changing a few outer behaviors. It is a whole new perspective, a whole new value system, a whole new purpose, and a whole new life force coursing through our veins by the Spirit. This is the Kingdom of God.

Prayer

Read this prayer over yourself

God, grant us the courage to continually surrender our lives back over to you, therefore, allowing our inner workings to be recreated and reordered. May we not strive to change, but allow your Spirit to bring the righteousness, peace, and joy we each long for. We choose to live within your Kingdom, experiencing Heaven’s culture today. Amen.