THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU

By Dimitris Pelidis

We live in a time when there is much speculation about the kingdom of God and its establishment on earth. It is in such a time that it is wise to turn to his Majesty Jesus Christ the King for answers of truth.

When a gang of ill-willed Pharisees confronted Jesus Christ with the question of when the kingdom of God should come, he offered them this reply.

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20b-21)

Here was the King Himself standing in their midst, yet they were too blind to recognize him as such, let alone realize that the kingdom had already been ushered in, by means of his presence on earth. Well did the Lord decry them saying:

Woe unto you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites For ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men. For neither go in yourselves neither suffer them that are entering to go in. (Matthew 23:13)

They were not interested in God’s kingdom! Quite the opposite. The only thing they were after was the preservation of their own worldly rule and authority. They were observing times and looking for signs. However Jesus Christ said:

An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign. (Matthew 12:39)

Let’s not forget what the Lord professed before Pontius Pilate:

My kingdom is not of this world: (John 18:36b)

His kingdom is not material but spiritual and therefore cannot be discerned by human intellect but by God’s Spirit. Indeed the kingdom of God doesn’t come by natural man’s observation no matter how keen it is. Actually it has already come because of God’s good pleasure to offer it.

Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32)

It was an act of unfathomable love and mercy from God and his dear Son Jesus Christ whose precious blood made entrance into God’s kingdom entirely free for anyone who believes. When we accept CHRIST as LORD we become citizens of his eternal kingdom. We are in him and he is in us in perfect unity.

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; (John 17:23)

No wonder the devil, the father of lies, has been so craftily propagating the popular idea that “The truth is out there.” But no. The truth is in here! In you and in me each and every one of God’s children and it has come here to stay for good. God’s home, God’s domain is man’s heart.

For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16b)

Note that God did not come to dwell and sit in us. It says He will dwell and WALK in us. God has purposed for himself to WORK within us both to WILL and to DO of HIS good pleasure (Phil. 2:13). It certainly behooves us not to be content with just entering the Kingdom of God but also to will and do what God would have us do for it.

Sadly enough, though, in our days some children of the kingdom are subtly being drawn away from being heavenly-minded to being worldly-minded. They have become lukewarm in their relationship with God. Instead of seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, they tend to seek him last. It appears that they would much sooner have a worldly leader pamper them and dictate their lives from without rather than be led by the Spirit of God from within. They would rather be lulled to sleep than awoken to life in Christ; or be taken for a ride than walk in the Master’s footsteps. For them, the Kingdom of God is seen as easygoing and unruffled. Their minds being corrupted they have erringly associated God’s kingdom with worldly royalty and jet-set lifestyles. It is entirely out of the question for them to suffer or be persecuted for the kingdom of God rejecting what the Bible says:

That we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22b)

Consequently, they like children are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Eph. 4:14b). If someone comes along with a new sophisticated doctrine they attentively listen to him. If another comes with a trendy worship service and new special effects they take to him like fish to water. And if a third says “See here!” or “See there!” pointing to another Christ or a new illustrious messiah, they mindlessly follow him. Our true lord Jesus Christ has sternly forbidden us to follow them.

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
(Matthew 15:14)

For us the choice should be obvious.

Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. (John 6:68b-69)

There is a day coming when our Lord shall appear as KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS and when “the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15b). Until that glorious day, as workers together with him, let us not receive the grace of God in vain. Let us always abound in the work of the Lord by teaching the word of the kingdom and leading lost souls into the kingdom. Most importantly, let us exercise kingdom authority by being strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Let us stand with our King and pray his prayer.

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9b-10)