What is the kingdom of God?

In my studies over the past few months I kept on pausing at the words “Kingdom of God”.

I didn’t know what the “kingdom of God” meant. How did it apply to my life? Where is this kingdom? What is the kingdom? Who is a part of this kingdom?

So, I prayed and asked God for wisdom.

Then I started researching. I wanted to find papers, articles and books to read on this topic. To my surprise, it was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

So it is either the Kingdom of God is not important, a topic many have not been interested in or it is a secret.

After more prayer and guidance, I was led to read “Subversive Kingdom” by Ed Stetzer.

Amazing Amazing book!

Ed’s book opened my mind and understanding of not only the kingdom, but it also provided easy steps to understanding how I can make a difference in this world as a kingdom agent for God.

Here are ten lessons I learnt:

1. As a believer who accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, I am automatically a member of the Kingdom of heaven. And as a member of the kingdom, I am an agent of purpose to fulfill God’s mission.

2. What is God’s mission you ask? God sent HIS son Jesus Christ into this world to show us how we should be acting and living as his ambassadors and agents of the kingdom. We are called to the mission of God which is to Glorify God. In all we do, all that we are, our purpose and mission is to glorify God and bring HIM glory.

3. We live in a world that is getting crazier by the minute and is rebelling against God. We are called to rebel as well but not in the way the world may be doing it or expect from its fellow human beings. But we should be doing it as Jesus would have done, with love and compassion. We fight subversively.

4. We can’t and shouldn’t be doing it alone. Join a local church who is actively pursuing God’s mission. One that is active in the community or world and focused on glorifying God by taking care of the orphans, feeding the hungry, making disciples etc.

5. We should all be living our lives with integrity. Do what we said we were going to do, be honest, be humble, give and keep on giving. The importance of tithing. The importance of how we behave and interact with other believers. Integrity is not what we do in public, but how we live our life when no one is around to see if we did the right thing. People should know us by the high standards in which we live.

6. I am an alien. As a daughter of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, I am only here on this earth but for a time. I am an alien because my citizenship is actually in heaven. I’m considered alien because my actions, thoughts and deeds portray me as someone who is very different than the social norm. I’m not average. I’m not what society would call normal. Because I do my work for the Lord and not for man I will constantly give God praise and stand out from the crowd. I am the rebellion.

7. A reminder that in all that I am doing I will not be alone. God is my strength and my deliverer. The Holy Spirit is ever with me to help guide and sustain me. And furthermore, we should praying non stop for God’s guidance and assurance in our kingdom mission.

8. Jesus is Lord. We know this but we don’t declare it enough. Shout it from the mountain tops. Declare and believe that your Lord that died for your sins is ALIVE!

9. The Church too has idols! Hard to believe but led by God, Mr. Stetzer truly laid it out in his book. Churches may like the religious rigidness of their Saturday/ Sunday program or worship style. We idolize church leaders. We think highly of “our church” and look down on those ‘sinners’ or specific religions! We need to beware of this!

10. Developing an action plan. I need to develop an action plan that outlines how I am going to subversively rebel against the rebellion for Christ? How am I going to daily actively accomplish God’s mission of giving HIM glory?

Final thoughts: Oh what a day of rejoicing that will be when the Lord comes and takes us home. But for right now there is work to do. So let’s get to work.

Prayer: “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—  yes, establish the work of our hands” Psalm 90:17 Amen

God’s grace, mercy and peace be with you.