Your Kingdom Come

"But the saints of the Highest One
will receive the kingdom
and possess the kingdom forever,
for all ages to come."

Daniel 7:18

God has a kingdom. Jesus proclaimed the good news of this kingdom when He was here in the earth. The religious people of Jesus' day couldn't see His kingdom and questioned Him about it. "Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or, 'There it is!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." (Luke 17:20-21). They were looking for outward signs of the kingdom. They didn't recognize that the kingdom Jesus displayed as He walked the earth was the kingdom of God. While demonstrating this kingdom, Jesus revealed the salvation of God--forgiveness of sin, healing and deliverance. He revealed His authority over the earth. Yet not everyone could see it. Jesus said to Pilate that His kingdom is not of this world, not of this realm, and that He came to the earth to testify to the truth. He said that everyone who is of the truth hears His voice. The kingdom of God is revealed to those whose eyes, ears and hearts are open and seeking the truth. 

Jesus said to pray in this way, "...Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven..." (Matthew 6:10). The kingdom of God is all around us. Yet even though God owns the earth and everything in it, He will not inhabit the entire territory. In this age, the righteous and the wicked are sharing the same earth. We must each personally invite Him to sit on the throne of our inner "kingdom." This inner throne is our will. "Your kingdom come, Your will be done." His kingdom comes into the hearts of those who seek His will. When we pray this way, we let Him know we are willingly inviting His kingdom--His will--to rule in our lives. Once He rules within us, then He will be able to rule from us in the earth. 

The Bible tells us, "as He is, so also are we in this world." (1 John 4:17). We are the light of the world, we are to proclaim the good news of the kingdom, just as Jesus did. Sinner and saint alike enjoy, to a certain extent, the benefit of kingdom living. The saints are the salt of the earth. As long as we are here we are preserving the earth. However, the time will come when the sons of the evil one are removed from His kingdom. "Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." (see Matthew 13:36-43). Until that happens, we are to display His kingdom here in the earth even while darkness is among us.

In the book of Isaiah we read, "Thus says the Lord, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being," declares the Lord." Since God has created all the things that we see, what could we possibly do for Him that He hasn't already done? Is there any way for us to create a resting place suitable for Him? He goes on to say, "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word." (Isaiah 66:1-2). There is a place with one who has a humble and contrite spirit, the one who trembles at His word, understands His authority and power and submits to Him. With this one the Lord will look to rest. He rests with those who humbly follow His ways, saying, "Your will be done." The King is what makes the kingdom of God so great, and there is no greater joy than to have the presence of the King in our midst! 

In the book of Revelation we read that when the seventh angel sounded the trumpet there were loud voices in heaven saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever." (Rev. 11:15). Those who live for Jesus, the King of kings, are all a part of the same kingdom--God's kingdom. Together we possess the kingdom forever, for all ages to come! Let's pray for more people to open their eyes, ears and heart and seek the truth with a humble and repentant heart, honoring the Word of God. Let's make sure we are doing the same thing while we proclaim and display the good news of the kingdom throughout the earth!

For Yours is the kingdom
and the power
and the glory
forever.
Amen. 

John 18:36-37; Matthew 13:10-17; Psalm 16:11; Matthew 24:14; Matthew 6:13