Most modern 'Christian' ministers have their own way of expressing their ideas concerning a statement our Lord Jesus Christ made in Luke 17:21, where Jesus said, "For behold, the kingdom of God is within you." "Within" is translated from the Greek word entos , primarily meaning "inside". Yes, what I am driving at is that, the kingdom of God must of necessity dwell inside you as a christian. Have you read carefully this scripture, Matthew 23:26;
"25 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and self-indulgence! 26 You blind Pharisee! First wash the inside of the cup and the dish,[a] and then the outside will become clean, too." (NLT).
Paul in Romans 14:17 gives us a great insight into what the kingdom of God is. " For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
1. RIGHTEOUSNESS
Many of the struggles around us as Christians are as a results of not 'seeing' or being able to receive within us the characteristics of the kingdom of God at work in us. In fact, I fact, many Christians today are either ignorant or have totally rejected the righteousness that Christ Jesus gave them when He became sin for us. 2Cor. 5:21 "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." You have the righteousness of God in you, so your struggle with sin should be over. This 'trait' -a characteristic that is genetically determined is what you inherited from Jesus and the evidence of the kingdom of God within you.
2. HIS PEACE
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
As a christian, your life must be full of the peace of God. Many hearts and minds are at war fighting even when the boby is supposed to rest. Anxiety has become the order of the day, worrying for nothing. Read Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." The world needs peace. As you pray, pray also that your neighbor will receive this kind of peace also. by this, many will experience the kingdom of God also.
Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." This 'trait' -a characteristic that is genetically determined is what you inherited from Jesus and the evidence of the kingdom of God within you.
3. JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
The personality of the Holy Spirit is one that no christian can do without. He is the administrator of God's educational institution here on earth. He is also the power at work in every christian who is willing to see the unadulterated word of God at work in him or her. In order words, He provides the proof of the word.
In Acts 1:4, Jesus told the disciples that they will be baptised with the Holy Spirit. In verse 7, He said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This is what establishes the kingdom of God in you and bring to you the joy that the christian must have.
In John 3:3 "Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again,[a] you cannot see the Kingdom of God."
To see the kingdom of God is not as in vision, but rather you experience the righteousness of God, the peace of God and the joy in the Holy Spirit within your spirit man.
PRAYER
Pray that the kingdom of God (righteousness,peace and joy in the Holy Spirit) will be manifested in you.
God richly bless you.
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