Where Do You Live?

Luke 17:21 (PHILLIPS)
Jesus… gave them this reply: “The kingdom of God never comes by watching for it. Men cannot say, ‘Look, here it is’, or ‘there it is’, for the kingdom of God is inside you.”

What is the Kingdom of God and how does a believer become a resident?  Some believers put off living in the Kingdom of God until they die and go to heaven.  But Scripture is clear that the Kingdom is for all believers to enjoy right now. The reference scripture above tells us two things – that the Kingdom of God is now and that it is on the inside of everyone who has made Jesus Savior and Lord of their lives.  Those two things alone should be enough to achieve the abundant life described in John 10:10.

Yet, many believers are not experiencing the abundant life Jesus died to give them. Which leads to the question, “How do believers access the Kingdom of God?”  First, they must know that it is available to them, which comes by knowing what the Word of God says. But beyond knowing there must be “believing”. “Knowing” means head knowledge. “Believing” goes beyond knowledge, and leads to the second step that must occur for believers to take up resident in the Kingdom of God; they must renew their minds to the Truth of Luke 17:21 until it becomes a revelation – meaning that the Word they know and believe is released within them to change them.  When they gave their lives to Jesus, their spirits were instantly made a new creation. Not so with their bodies and souls (their mind, will, and emotions). That change only comes with time and dedication to studying and receiving revelation from the Word.

For believers to reside in the Kingdom of God, they must begin to think differently.  Many believers have an “outside-in” perspective in their walk with God.  The things that happen around them determine how they deal with situations.  For believers who have renewed their minds to the Truth of God’s Word, they now live an “inside-out” life.  The circumstances around them don’t control their reactions, their mind-set (renewed by the Word of God) controls their circumstances. 

So, what does a life look like when lived residing in the Kingdom of God?

Soul Control: It is a life where the believer has adjusted his thoughts, words and actions to focusing on what is available to him in the spiritual realm – the promises of God have become greater than the circumstances surrounding him. His soul is continually feeding on the promises of God which bring the reality of the Kingdom of God into his life. 

Separated Life: By faith, a believer has disconnected from the physical realm and its domination in life’s circumstances. He is above the circumstances, not under them.

Same Conditions – Different Results: Living in the Kingdom of God may not look so different from living in the natural world. For example, the believer may be living in an economy that is going through a recession. He, however, is not experiencing lack or being hurt by the economic slowdown.  The outcome looks very different for him.  Life in the Kingdom of God does not experience limited supplies or conditions that are barely tolerable.  Those who live in the Kingdom thrive, not merely survive.

The Kingdom of God is a place that God has made available to all His children where they can live and be protected from much of the effects of a fallen world.  That does not mean that everything negative can always be avoided. What it does mean is that GRACE – God’s supply – is always available to provide what this world cannot. 

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