Kingdom Living

As I come to consider kingdom living it is important to understand clearly that there are only two kingdoms – the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, there are times when we are disillusioned into believing that there is another kingdom and that is the kingdom that is experienced when we live to please ourselves and going our own way but in reality, there is no such place. However, both these kingdoms have a fundamental principle in common – you cannot join them like joining a club, the only entry into the kingdom is the way that we are born. Psalm 51:5 NLT says “For I was born a sinner – yes from the moment my mother conceived me”. Jesus made it very clear in John 3: 5-6 which says “Jesus answered, most assuredly, I say to you unless one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom Of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit”. Colossians 1:13 NLT says: “For He has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness and has brought us into the kingdom of His dear Son”. Ephesians 5:8 says: “For you were once darkness, but now are light in the Lord, walk as children of the light”. Now as I look at kingdom living I am only referring to the kingdom of God and what God says this looks like. Vines Expository Dictionary defines the kingdom of God as “The sphere of God’s rule and the sphere where His rule is acknowledged”. Understanding this definition is critical to how we live and I would suggest that we maintain a clear understanding of what this means. Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God often and taught 11 parables to help in understanding the many facets of kingdom living. Also, the Apostle Paul used the phrase “The kingdom of God” at least 17 times in the Epistles that he wrote. After Jesus had called his 12 disciples He took them with Him up on a mountain and He taught them many things which are found in Matthew chapters 5-8. In Matthew 6:33 He said to His disciples: “ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”. When Jesus said to seek first this suggests that there could be many other things that we could place first in the way that we live.  As I look back over my life sadly there has been a significant part of my life when I allowed other things to be more important than loving Jesus first and living a true kingdom life. Also, Jesus said that we are to seek His righteousness, His righteousness in its simplest form is His standards and attributes. Jesus also taught His disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 and this is what He taught His disciples to say: “Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven, etc”.  Kingdom living is experienced when I am born into His kingdom and freely acknowledge His rule in my every day living.