The Kingdom Of God Is Within You!

The kingdom of God is not in the black and white print of a book called the Bible. It’s not in the church programs or in the buildings. It’s not what you do…although many people do wonderful things in the name of the Lord. Jesus said the kingdom is not in meat or drink. It's not in this far off unattainable place up in the sky, either. So where is it?

The kingdom of God is within you, according to Luke 17:21. Think about that for a moment. Well, think about that until you get the revelation! The King doesn’t go anywhere without His kingdom. As a matter of fact, He brings it all with him! How amazing is it that Jesus thought to put it inside of each person that received Him as Savior?

God has said that His word will not return to Him void but it shall surely accomplish what He pleases and it will prosper in the thing for which it is sent, (Isaiah 55:11). When we “send” the word back to Him through our prayers and declaration of it, it has such a short distance to travel to get back to Him. We’re really just declaring it until we get the revelation that releases the breakthrough of faith. We don’t declare it for God’s sake, but for ours. The Word of God is Jesus. (John 1:1) Jesus also said in John 15 that if we would abide in Him and His words abide in us, we could ask whatever we desire and it would be done for us. (vs.7) The WORD is in us. The Kingdom of God is within you. The Kingdom is released through faith and obedience. The more we remain in faith and obedience, and demonstrate love and compassion towards others, the Kingdom inside of us grows. It expands like yeast permeating a lump of dough. It will literally overtake every part of us! Jesus so wanted people to “get” the concept of the Kingdom being inside of us, that is why He told His disciples to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and as they went they were to proclaim ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ He told the disciples, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” The King and His kingdom are as close as your hand. What he was saying is, “Check it out guys! The Kingdom is so close you don't have to go anywhere to find it. You’re standing right in the middle of it!” "Now, go - give it away!" What a revelation, right? The Kingdom is actually closer than your hand. It’s within you. He demonstrated the Kingdom so that they wouldn't forget what He was teaching them.

Now that is truly an amazing thought, once you wrap your mind around it. The Kingdom of God and everything you need is so close, it’s right there inside of you. You just need to learn how to tap into it with your faith. Are you getting this yet?

What exists in heaven? Is there sickness? Is there disease? Nope. Is there poverty? Is there death? What?? Isn't heaven full of dead people? No, no no... they are very much alive! Jesus said God was not the god of the dead but of the living. So there is only life in Him, right? Can Jesus be anything BUT life? No! Read John 1:4. In Him we find wholeness, peace, and health. Jesus gave each person His Holy Spirit and as we accept Jesus as our Savior, Holy Spirit came to take up residence within us. If you doubt that fact, simply invite Him to come inhabit you and fill you with all His fullness - right now! Isn’t He, in fact, resurrection power? In Ephesians 18-19 the Apostle Paul prayed that we would be able to comprehend the depth of God’s love. It so surpasses understanding and our knowledge! Paul understood the Kingdom with incredible depth. That is why when he got bit by a poisonous asp (see Acts 28:5) he simply shook it off and suffered no ill effects. You see, when you get the revelation of “the Kingdom of God within you,” the fullness is released. More anointing is released because your faith grows through revelation. Anything with death attached to it had to surrender to the power of the anointing. Paul understood this. Nothing is greater than the God that lives inside of us. The scripture gives us good news. We have the victory! We’ve overcome, because greater is He that is within you, than he that is in the world. (1 John 4:4).

But the flip side of this truth is that faith must be exercised in order to grow. One cannot develop faith in the middle of a crisis. That is called hope, and hope and faith are not the same. Faith is a confident assurance towards God. Faith knows. The enemy will do everything possible to wear people down and convince them through their circumstances that he is greater. Death, illness, poverty are greater. No, friend. The KING and His Kingdom are greater. Always. The devil may present you with facts, but facts are not always truth. There may always be those times when circumstances defy our understanding, and there will be times when we simply don't understand God's plan or His will for different individuals - but we should never stop believing. Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly. He came to have us live in the reality of His Kingdom. It was so important to the plan of God for each of our lives, Jesus was willing to die so that we would have access to it all!

Whatever your need, all you have to do is envision the Kingdom living within you. The help you require is so close, you can’t even extract yourself out of the kingdom. What a cool plan, huh? Jesus wanted to remain as close as possible to us so that we wouldn’t get lost. We couldn’t be without help in the time of our need. Seriously. Read Romans 8:31-39. He has already given us Himself through death and resurrection. What else would He not be willing to give? Our only failure is to not understand His love, His gracious Spirit, His kindness and His mercy. You didn't know you've been forgiven? You have, on the cross - even before you asked for it! You don't have to feel angry, rejected or forgotten. You don't have to feel unwanted. You don't have to worry about where the answer is going to come from. God wants you to know He understands, and it's going to be ok. If you've had a response of unbelief, just ask Him to forgive you; receive His love and grace. Everything you need is contained in Jesus Christ. He loves you so very much He left His Spirit with us so that we all could experience His Spirit living within us. Oh, how marvelous is His love!! You are not waiting for help to arrive, it is here! I ask my daughter all the time (reviewing spelling words) “What is the difference between ‘here’ and ‘there?’ One letter. “t”. Funny how it takes the shape of the cross. The cross is the bridge between ‘here’ (where you’re at this moment) and ‘there’ - (where you need to get to, or where the answer is). Just close your eyes and go across the bridge of faith, get your provision out of the kingdom, and come back with it in your hand. Tap into it with your faith. See yourself doing it!

 I think Jesus wants you to ask again, and this time, don’t doubt. Jesus said, “Have faith in God. For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them.” (Mark 11:22-24).