FINDING FREEDOM ONLY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
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FINDING FREEDOM ONLY IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
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To stay motivated in this battle for our nation requires a grounding, a foundation in the knowledge of Christ and His promises for us. One way to establish strong roots to anchor our faith is to understand a broad picture of our roles in the plan God has for the world He created.
I want to share a biblical concept that I believe is the crux of Jesus teachings. That concept is the “Kingdom of Heaven” or “Kingdom of God.” I say it is the crux of His teaching because it is mentioned 109 times in the New Testament and referred to many times in the Old Testament. God created this Kingdom for those of us who desire to serve Him. In this Kingdom, we have the opportunity to enter a realm that allows us to live in the world but not be of the world—to be Kings and Priests of this glorious Kingdom. In this Kingdom available to us is power, the same power Jesus used to raise people from the dead, perform miracles and healings.
Look at Matthew 3:1-2, ”In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” and Matthew 4:23, “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.” Both of these verses are the first words spoken concerning ministries of John and Jesus—both contain the concept of a Kingdom. In all of the gospels, Jesus focused primarily on the Kingdom of God. But we also see it in Acts 28:30-31, “Now Paul stayed two full years]in his own rented lodging and welcomed all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.”
What is this Kingdom Jesus preached and why was it created?
A Kingdom has four main constituents, a King who rules over it, a territory over which his rule has jurisdiction, subjects who make residence inside it, and laws to govern it. I believe God created this Kingdom when He created the earth. He gave man and woman dominion over it all. Then in the garden, through disobedience, sin came into the world and the relationship with man was broken. Man was a victim of Satan’s deception. They took this defeat and shame with them outside the Garden. It became part of their being and passed it on from generation to generation. Jesus came to re-establish that Kingdom. His death on the cross allowed us to enter this new Kingdom He set up. It is like a door. The key that unlocks the door is to be “born again”(Jn 3:3).
The prophet Isaiah foresaw the coming of this new Kingdom.
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.
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.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this. (Is 9:6-7)
God sent His Son to be the King. We believers are citizens of the Kingdom. It has similarities in its structure to kingdoms ruled by Kings on earth, but His Kingdom is ruled quite differently. First, we are not simply citizens of the Kingdom, we are called Kings and Priests (Rev 1:5,6) and sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus (Gal 3:26). Paul also says “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God was making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20).
In this Kingdom we are representatives to the lost on earth. An ambassador only lives for the country he represents. We are to live only for the Kingdom and everything it represents. In his book Rediscovering the Kingdom Myles Munroe, a former ambassador himself, lists the qualities of an ambassador. As you read this list, picture yourself as an ambassador appointed to represent the Kingdom of God here on earth:
- Appointed by the king, not voted into position
- Appointed to represent the Kingdom of God
- Committed only to the Kingdom’s interests
- Is the responsibility of the Kingdom
- Totally protected by the Kingdom’s government
- Never becomes a citizen of the state which he is assigned (we are in the world, but we are not of the world)
- Can only be recalled by the King of the Kingdom
- Has access to all the Kingdom’s wealth for assignment
- Never speaks his personal position on any issue, only the Kingdom’s official position
- His goal is to influence the territory for his Kingdom’s government
Jesus admonished us to not worry about anything concerning our lives, but to focus on the Kingdom— then everything we need for life and fulfilling our Kingdom assignment on earth will be provided by the government of heaven. Our citizenship in the Kingdom grants us resources, authority, and power to live as faithful ambassadors of our King on this earth.
How long will the Kingdom last?
In Daniel Chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar has dream and asks Daniel to not only recite the dream he had but interpret it also, which he does. He talks about different kingdoms that come and go, but what Is relevant to this article is the last Kingdom he discusses. He says “And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever” (Dan 2:44). Even in the Old Testament, the Kingdom of God was revealed to some of the prophets. Daniel understood this Kingdom was eternal.
How does the Kingdom of God impact governmental intercessors?
This Kingdom that dwells on earth and allow all born again believers to enter has been God’s plan for our world since the very beginning. It is eternal and cannot be destroyed. No matter what happens on earth, this Kingdom will prevail. The kingdom of darkness is no match for the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom was created for us to walk into and live in. No one can stop what God has set up. It will not only prevail, but it will consume all other kingdoms and will stand forever. The Democratic Party, the LGBTQ agenda, the corruption in Washington, the cheating that occurred in the election, the open border policies have no power over the Kingdom that God set up for us. It is eternal and will take over the rule of all the earth.
The IFA ministry is based on 1 Timothy 2:1-4, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.” As intercessors we must see the bigger picture God has for us so we are not tossed around to and fro when the battle heats up. We pray for leaders so we may lead a quiet and peaceable life. But that is not the end goal for us here on earth. We obey the scripture and pray, but we also must understand that as believers we are to become aware of the Kingdom of God He created and learn all we can about it and walk in it.
It is in the Kingdom of God that we are equipped with everything we need to serve the Lord. In Matthew 6:33 Jesus says, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” In 1 Corinthians 4:20, Paul says, “For the kingdom of God is not in words, but in power.”
Father, I lift up all the dear intercessors who love You and are faithful to You in prayer in these troubling times. I pray for understanding to connect your love shown to us by this beautiful Kingdom you created for us to walk into and live in. May the understanding of appropriating this Kingdom in our lives give us stability and a firm foundation for our faith to build on. I pray You teach all of us how to not just walk through the door of salvation into Your Kingdom, but to live and function in Your Kingdom. Give us the strength to make the sacrifices needed to mature and grow in the knowledge of Christ. Put a desire in our hearts to find this mysterious treasure. As we acquaint ourselves to this realm, I pray, Holy Spirit, teach us how to hear Your voice and use Your power available to us to bring salvation, healing, and miracles to the lost. Help us understand the suffering we endure at times which is necessary to prepare us for Kingdom living. Show us Your will for our nation and give us direction for our prayers for the leaders of our country. I also lift up all the leadership at IFA and ask You give them clear direction for their focus and their ministry to our nation.
What wisdom have you acquired about this mysterious realm, the Kingdom of God? Please share in the comments!
Michael Guidera is an IFA intercessor, retired from a 35 year career developing implantable medical devices that have brought help and relief to thousands of people. (Photo Credit: Unsplash.)
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Comments
A beautiful testimony to Our Lord…Thank You!
If I can only chase down all the thoughts your comments have generated
in my mind and my spirit, that would be very good. Thank you for all you
shared and I especially am fond of the prayer at the end. When I try to
conceive of the Kingdom of God, my first efforts default to the Lord’s Prayer.
In saying, “Our Father” that begins the knowledge of the Kingdom of God.
It is not “my” or “me” but “our” and the designation of Heaven as His residence,
as well as the hallowing of His Name and the desired coming of His Kingdom on
earth (where our battles are fought) as it is in Heaven, (where He resides)…
Daily bread and forgiveness, what a contrast!!! The task of forgiving others
and the clue that is provided by this statement, “as we forgive those who trespass
against us” (there is going to be some trouble here on earth and we might need to
know about this Kingdom and Our Father’s will for us here). Your will; not ours!
Your glory; not ours! Your Kingdom; not ours –and the kind of power that can deliver
us from evil. Those disciples woke up to the realization that it was not all about
them, but it is all about God. That is His Kingdom! Amen.
Amen Michael. I received a similar word of knowledge about this issue and recently wrote a blog about it. The book by the late Dr. Myles Munroe that I read and referenced was The Most Important Person on Earth: The Holy Spirit. Praise God that He is sharing His strategic will with His people! https://www.faithbyholyfire.com/post/holy-spirit-boot-camp
Thank you, Michael, for an encouraging and informative article. The Kingdom of God is our true home, even now while we serve on the temporal plain we call Earth. Kingdoms of the Earth, governments of all kinds, movements both for evil and good have all disappeared over time. The Kingdom of God is eternal, our connection to it is eternal and nothing man can do, can defeat the power of God. We, the people of faith in God the Father and Creator of all, Jesus Christ,our Savior, His only begotten Son, and the Holy Spirit have been equipped with all we need to be His ambassadors.
The 10 points on what an ambassador should be illustrates how we, with our sinful nature, can trap ourselves by our own words. Consider for a moment, all the verbal battles being fought on social media. They typically are the result of one partie’s word versus another’s. If one party was an AMbassador of God and God’s position, we would be speaking with His authority and Power. We must study His Word and know His position, and only His position, on all things. As ambassadors, we are not to represent our own position but that of the party we represent, the King of Kings.
We are not citizens of this world and yet, we feel we are being persecuted and sometimes lament about it. Jesus said, “Blesed are you who are persecuted for my righteousness.” Matthew 5: 10-12 tells us exactly what to expect, I think that living in a supposedly Christian country we would be exempt from poor treatment, today is our wake-up call. The words I want to meditate on first each day will be, “First the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” This is how His ambassadors are equipped.
Thank you Lord for this guidance through which I may serve you better!
‘The Kingdom of Heaven is in our midst’ as the Indwelling Presence of YHVH GOD’s Holy Spirit springs up in our lives. Rivers of Living Waters flow often coursed by persecution & earthly tribulation. The National Day of Prayer is upon us, followed strategically by IFA ‘1st Friday Fast’; a ‘one-two punch’ in the Spirit! Individual & united corporate prayer for America, the universal church under satanic persecution, and the nations crying out for Mercy, Mercy, Mercy… need our prayers.
Our Holy GOD IS answering right now! Can you sense it in the spirit? PRAY these Guidelines to ensure unhindered intercession: https://zionsgate.wordpress.com/2007/07/04/praying-for-the-healing-of-america/
Have you been touched by ‘The Joy of Fasting’? It’s a Discipline, that brings Deliverance, and by His Grace manifests in lasting Delight in Joy… in the midst of every circumstance.
Ponder soberly: https://zionsgate.wordpress.com/2007/07/01/the-joy-of-fasting-discipline-deliverance-and-delight/
Kingdom Blessings to ALL who love the LORD in the beauty of His Holiness, in HIM… ~Santos
Lord, I thank You for the freedom You have given us. Help us to walk in that freedom with You every day. Lord, Your freedom brings true freedom in Your Kingdom. In Jesus name, amen.
I was so blessed to read this article this morning because it reaffirms what our Lord has been showing me. Before the elections I was so caught up in the politics and prayers to see our nation get great again as I thought President Trump did such an awesome job the first four years. When the election was stolen I was so discouraged and let down because of all the prayers, talk, and hype I had put into it. But then the Lord reminded me again that I do not belong to this kingdom, I belong to another kingdom. Yes, I am an American and it is God’s will that I pray for our leaders in our country, but I realized that my hope was misplaced. The Lord reminded me that I must continue in the kingdom that I really belong to and be that faithful ambassador He has called me to be. It totally changed my way of thinking and now I am living in the joy of the Lord once again, strengthened each day by His word, and blessed by His power in my life, and especially blessed by His discernment He gives me to take on each day. I especially liked what the author of this article said when he mentions that the kingdom grants us resources, authority, and the power to live as faithful ambassadors of our King on this earth. Discernment is a big one as I realize many people around me are void of this gift, and so needed in a time such as this. The enemy may seem to be gaining power but we know the kingdom of darkness is no match for the kingdom of God. No one can stop what God has set up and we know in His word who is the winner. God’s kingdom will prevail and consume all other kingdoms and will stand forever. It definitely will take rule and we must encourage one another with these words as I believe we are living in the last days. I look forward to reading the book, “Rediscovering the Kingdom” by Myles Munroe and will be purchasing that soon. I think it will be a good read to strengthen my thinking in kingdom living. Meanwhile, I want to encourage my brothers and sisters today to take one day at a time, live each day for Him and to rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1Thessalonians 5:16-18
Jennifer, your words concerning the election and your response is exactly my story too. This understanding of the Kingdom has also given back to me my joy in the Lord. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your article, and the truth you bring. I have been studying, ‘just what is the Kingdom.’
We do need to be focused totally on the Kingdom we as believers have been born into. We need to always be about the Kings business.
However I would humbly submit that when you referenced Revelation 1:5&6 you stated that “we are called kings and priests”. What the scripture says in vs. 6 is, “and He made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” (NAS)
I humbly submit that we are not kings, there is only one King and that is Jesus. All rule and authority belong to Him.
Thank you again for your beautiful, well thought out article.
Thanks Coralynne for your comment. I can see how I did not communicate clearly about the statement that we are in a sense kings. It looks like I referenced the verses in Revelation to make my point and you are correct, that verse does not use the word king. But let me explain why I still believe the word king is appropriate for born again believers.
In Genesis 1:26, God created man in Our likeness, and gave them rule (dominion) over all the earth. In a sense, Adam was a king in that he ruled over the earth. To be given dominion means to be established as a sovereign, kingly ruler, master, governor, responsible for reigning over a designated territory. This rulership by man over the earth was never rescinded. Sin came into world through deception and disobedience and severed the relationship between The King of Heaven. Adam became an ambassador without a portfolio, a citizen without a country, a king without a kingdom, a ruler without a domain.
Jesus came to not only restore the relationship between God and man, but to bring the Kingdom to earth and allow us to take our rightful place in His Kingdom. In 1Peter 2:9-10, But you are chosen people, a ROYAL priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. One you were not a people , but now you are the people of God.
Why does he call us a royal priesthood? Royal means of Kingly ancestry. So in that sense we are kings. I do not mean to diminish the authority and majesty of the King of Kings. But I think it is important to understand the authority we do have over this earthly domain. I believe God wants to partner with us and use us in establishing His Kingdom on earth.
Lord God,
Thank Your for the privilege of prayer. Thank You for this prayer and the hearts it touches. Thank You that You are a God who hears and that we can cry out to You in confidence and assurance that we belong to You. As we occupy this world, this realm let us not forget that Your Kingdom is eternal! This temporal kingdom will all pass but the Kingdom of Our Lord stands forever from everlasting to everlasting. (Ps. 145:13, Ex 15:18, Lam 5:19, Dan 4:3, 2 Peter 1:11). Thank You, Father God! We praise You and Thank You in the Name above all Names, Jesus Christ
“The privilege of prayer,” such truth Denise, Amen.
I love everything about this article! We definately need to be kingdom minded people. Mike Bickle says “the kingdom of God is an upside down kingdom.” The way up (promotion) is down (humility). and etc. It’s true. I think at times we forget that. We get caught up in our own earthly thinking and methods, when God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. Whole heartedly in agreement with this. I love how you call the kingdom a mysterious treasure. I think it ties perfectly to what Jesus said about the parable of the pearl of great price in Matt. 13. He says the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls and when he found one, he sold everything he had to buy it. We are the merchants seeking that precious, mysterious treasure. When we have it we should be completely sold out to the kingdom. Wonderful article Michael! Blessings to you
Thanks Gloria. My mysterious treasure comment came exactly from that parable. It is interesting that the Bible shows Jesus spoke much about the Kingdom, but we can only find bits and pieces of it described in the Bible. It’s like He made it difficult to understand on purpose so we would really seek Him to learn about it. I truly believe as we come into His Kingdom and live it, we will experience His power, peace and joy.
One of the best books I have ever read on the Kingdom of God is the Myles Munroe book referenced in the article. Truly one of the most important things we can do is to make the Kingdom of God a high priority in our lives.