Thy Kingdom come.....
We are aware about all sorts of systems, countries , rulers, cultures, reigns and governments. How much trust do we put in these systems. We have been studying, living and facing this from generations ever since the beginning . Do these kingdoms offer us our rights , peace & joy. Wordly kingdoms have been failing over a period of time. Could we live in the kingdom of God ?
The kingdom of God is in the Holy spirit , Rom 14 : 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We have a general understanding that the kingdom of Heaven or God is something which appears after our death. Jesus said , the Kingdom of God is among us . The presence of Holy spirit is the experience of Kingdom of God. Jesus was living in the kingdom while he was still on earth.
Isaiah 9 : 6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
In the above passage you will notice that Jesus had the Government of the Kingdom of God rest on his shoulders. His kingdom influences us in a subjective & objective manner . His kindom influences even the smallest unit of a nation , which is a family . How does he operate and interact with his citizens ? If there is a rift or a strife emerging within individual lives, how does his Spirit work in the kingdom ?
Do we like others counselling us ?.., may be to an extend but beyond a stage we may reciprocate or abstain from it . But here Jesus is a counsellor who is wonderful at the same time . He makes the counselling experience as wonderful . His counselling experience are parables and short stories, making it appear so wonderful that we don’t even feel any sort of blame game or judgement . Wow what a brilliance in counselling… that even kids are fond of them. How easily he could even counsel small kids… the kingdom of God experience. His counselling always creates wonder & awe. It doesn’t appear that he is counselling us . Do our counselling or interactions create this kind of wonderful experience.
In the kingdom of God, God emerges as “Mighty” for you. Our situations and pains appear feeble before his might. This is the experience of the Kingdom. I am sure all of us have experienced it . But our main issue is that we enter in the kingdom for a while , then we hop out of it wandering here and there, without a steadiness. In the kingdom experience , God is mighty over all our thoughts and attitudes. We know about a David who encountered a lion, bear & finally a Goliath . Are our giants or goliaths mighty than our God? Are we living in the kingdom or outside it . The Lord’s might is a prerogative in the kingdom that one experiences- God is mighty over everthing.
In a kingdom experience thirdly God becomes not just a father for a lifetime but he becomes an Everlasting father. A father who is with you in this life and after life . Wow ! a father who is a wonderful counsellor & Mighty . As a child we used to fear about our parents being separated from us. Its quite natural. In the kingdom there is no such situation. You don’t have a choice, God is always with you as an eternal father .
In the kingdom experience you enter in it as a child, there is no burden you carry . In fact your burden is replaced by God’s peace . There is joy and peace. Have you heard anyone with the title- Prince of peace . What a title . We have heard of many Princes, but what about a prince of peace. Do others receive peace when they see us. Do they try to escape from our presence. Are we the Princes of peace. In the kingdom of God ,every others experience peace . Is peace emanating from us ? We are able to receive peace from Jesus every moment is because He makes us look righteous every moment . Do we make others look righteous. Or is it always judgmental ? Are we really thriving in the kingdom of God ? Peace is the fruit of righteousness. Isa 32: 7 ,”The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.”
How can we find the kingdom of God ?
If our mind has a hunger or thirst for TRUTH, you will end up in the Kingdom of God. I don’t mind repeating this sentence once more. If truth is your goal, you will definitely end up in the Kingdom of God. Paul we know was seeking all wisdom about God by being a expert in the Jewish law, practiced as a Pharisee, studied under Gamaliel ? All this for what ? Hunger for TRUTH. Did Pilate have an hunger, no he didn’t . He was not interested in the truth . But if we seek Truth , we end up listening to the voice of Jesus Christ .
John 18 : 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.” 37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” 38 “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again
Truth- We either receive it or disregard it . Truth is a spirit . Holy spirit is called the Spirit of truth . Most of the time when we disregard truth or avoid truth , you are actually avoiding the Holy Spirit . We don’t realise it or know it . We are saying in short that I don’t want to live in the Kingdom of God . Hunger for the truth . The beatitudes point towards this hunger or thirst for truth . Mat 5: 1 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven . At times when truth is being revealed , you will notice sometimes how some people strongly come against it . It’s an evil spirit which creates that hatred, envy and rebellion . Our earthly wisdom also conflicts with the Kingdom truth .The whole majority may appear that way. When the son of man was crucified, it was a Jewish majority that was getting violent . Truth is always exclusive. Truth is not something with a majority view point.
The good thing about the truth is that it will set you free. We experience freedom in the kingdom of God. John 8: 31-32 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Few decades back , time magazine came up with a survey that ‘ Poverty’ – as the biggest issue mankind faced. But now that position is taken over by “ corruption” which is lack of truth. Well known business analyst, experts even quote that ‘truth’ is the the most valuable and costly thing anyone can possess. Where are the kingdoms of this earth placed . Do we experience the wonder, awe , the mightiness, the power, everlasting love and peace in the man made kingdoms we dwell in ?
Well the truth says,
” For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.