by Pastor Mark Cowart
It is critically important that we understand the workings of the Kingdom of God. If we are seeking that kingdom above all else, as our Lord instructed, we had better dig into His Word for what he tells us about it there. Like everything God created, the kingdom of darkness will counterfeit it, and only God’s living and active Word can alert us to the deceptions.
Predominant features of the Kingdom of God are love, light and life. Those of the kingdom of darkness are evil, iniquity and hatred. These elements are reflected in the natural world, and that is why the Lord Jesus taught using examples from nature. In Mark chapter four, He tells his disciples that He is going to teach them how the Kingdom operates, and he does so with several parables which He then explains to them.
Careful study of this passage will take you a long way in your understanding of these mysteries. Jesus even made the statement regarding the “Parable of the Sower”, that if you don’t get that one, you won’t get any of it. (v. 13) In His description of the various conditions into which the seeds (of the Word) could be dropped, we are shown what affects how the revealed Word of God produces (or does not) in our lives. Right there is a very good place to start in your personal assessment of how you are operating in the Kingdom of God.
Then, let’s define victory from the perspective of God’s blessing on it. My conviction is that every true blessing, every true breakthrough, comes because you are operating in principles of the Kingdom of God, knowingly or unknowingly, and so produce good results. Every failure in our lives, when God’s word says we have something and we’re unable to get it, or he says we’re victorious and we’re walking in defeat, is because somewhere we have not understood or implemented a principle of the Kingdom.
To explore this further, let’s start with the basics. What really is a kingdom? It is the realm where a king’s authority, rule and will are exercised. King-dom equals king’s domain, dominion or domicile, his territory or sphere of rule. Also, you don’t have a kingdom without subjects over whom the ruler has dominion.
Because of sin, all human kingdoms eventually become domination and tyranny. In contrast, the Kingdom of our God grants us, His subjects, personal access, authority and blessing, as we mature in our walk with Him. The first essential element in our role in this Kingdom operating system is our individual intimacy with the Lord.
As “kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1), we must follow the old testament model of going into the presence of the Lord for the people in the priestly role, and then going out to battle and to conquer. The Lord Jesus showed us repeatedly, while he walked the earth, the priority of going aside with God before He ministered. That is where He drew His strength and direction.
Only thus prepared can we stand against the current increase in lawlessness and corruption in America. This alarming trend is largely due to God’s army of priests and kings today not taking dominion over darkness by the power of the light within us. The founding fathers certainly did, and the influence on our young nation of the predominance of God’s Word in our education system, for example, resulted in righteousness and morality being the norm in our communities.
So, let’s go back to where we started. How do you “seek first” the Kingdom of God? First remember that Jesus told us it is “within you”. He told Nicodemus in John chapter 3 that a person cannot see or enter it unless they are born of the Spirit. You must be born again to perceive and participate in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Beyond that new birth, you and I are to function in and proclaim the “gospel of the Kingdom”. This is our mission, as ambassadors of that Kingdom. Our Lord spoke of being born again one time in the New Testament. He declared, preached, taught and demonstrated Kingdom principles in 85-100 passages. Study them.
Resources are in no short supply in the Kingdom of God. Jesus pointedly demonstrated this in the feeding of the thousands. Notice that the disciples were His hands and feet to distribute the blessings. If the world is going to be fed the bread of life, you and I are going to be the ones to do it. We are the missing piece. We must each seek and find the Kingdom of God, and then we can step out in faith as His faithful kingdom ambassadors, and we will have everything we need.
DIG DEEPER
· Matthew 4:4
· Matthew 6:33
· II Peter 1:3
· Revelation 1:5-6
· Daniel 11:32
· Psalm 33:12
· Matthew 5:16
· Luke 17:20-21
· John 3:1-7
· Luke 9:11-17
PRAY
– Thank God that the influence of Godly people shaped this nation in its beginnings, providing the foundation for centuries of His blessings here and throughout the earth.
– Ask Him for a reawakening of that zeal in your own heart, to boldly go out as light against the darkness.
– Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth regarding the Kingdom of God.
REFLECT
Have you ever wondered what it means to “seek first the Kingdom of God”?
Can you see why it would be important to understand what this means?
What do you see as your first action step to gaining that understanding and the blessings of obedience to this command?
