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I am curious to what you all think this means. I personally have come to realize that it is now, not later. I have based this upon the Word and Spirit from Genesis, to Revelation.
But I wonder why so many are looking up, or here, or there, and wondering where the King is these days, while the devil has his way with the systems of this world.
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; "nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
Now, this is about as cut and dry as it gets, but I am sure others will say something to the contrary. Some are looking for a 'rapture', or a second coming,,,but is this for the WHOLE world, or just for those who are seeking? Should we be looking up?
Why, though? This same 'within you', is also used one other time in this verse:
"Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
When a person surrenders his/her life to Christ (is saved) he enters the Kingdom Of God, and the Kingdom Of God in him/her. It is not heaven, or the 1000 year Kingdom, although you could say that they are also a part of it, or a continuation of it. When you are saved, you become an eternal part of the Kingdom Of God.
You enter into the Kingdon through the narrow gate, which is Christ/faith in Christ.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
I believe without doubt that the kingdom is within us , i pray to God who dwells in me, not outside of me, and fellowship with him there. I know this will not go down well with many , but i also believe the Kingdom of God is within all of us(unbelievers too), and when the good news is shared it speaks to the kingdom within the hearer.This too is why i do not have the slighest problem with all this nonsense about sin, the kingdom of God within me see's beyond the sin in another and speaks directly to the kingdom of God within the hearer.
I am curious to what you all think this means. I personally have come to realize that it is now, not later. I have based this upon the Word and Spirit from Genesis, to Revelation.
But I wonder why so many are looking up, or here, or there, and wondering where the King is these days, while the devil has his way with the systems of this world.
Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; "nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
Now, this is about as cut and dry as it gets, but I am sure others will say something to the contrary. Some are looking for a 'rapture', or a second coming,,,but is this for the WHOLE world, or just for those who are seeking? Should we be looking up?
Why, though? This same 'within you', is also used one other time in this verse:
"Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
Thoughts?
Quote:
Originally Posted by pcamps
I believe without doubt that the kingdom is within us , i pray to God who dwells in me, not outside of me, and fellowship with him there. I know this will not go down well with many , but i also believe the Kingdom of God is within all of us(unbelievers too), and when the good news is shared it speaks to the kingdom within the hearer.This too is why i do not have the slighest problem with all this nonsense about sin, the kingdom of God within me see's beyond the sin in another and speaks directly to the kingdom of God within the hearer.
Absolutely beautiful thread, Hot!
God is interested in man's heart, and He knows it well.
The way we know if we are in the Kingdom already is by the fruit we manifest: Love, Goodness, Kindness, Mercy, Peace, Joy... If we are manifesting the fruits, we are walking in the Kingdom.
Mankind indeed seeks after this Kingdom, and yet preachers who are full of words but empty of mercy and good fruits blind their followers with eloquent sermons and talking of a God that is "out there," a heaven that is "somewhere else" and the like, which they have never seen or known, and thereby they become clouds without rain, prophets who run without being sent.
Jesus told us that if we are persecuted for righteousness sake, we are children of heaven! Doing righteousness is not bound to religious circles, and neither is God.
I see that there are those who do righteously, such as in various peacemaker groups, (Amnesty International is an example), who are not considered "Christian" by the world, but they are righteous because they seek to do what is Truthful and Right; of course, not "all" individuals in these groups necessarily seek to do this. Still, "better a pagan who does righteously than a Christian who does not."
We need to judge by what comes from the heart, not simply from what comes from the mouth.
Absolutely beautiful thread, Hot!
God is interested in man's heart, and He knows it well.
The way we know if we are in the Kingdom already is by the fruit we manifest: Love, Goodness, Kindness, Mercy, Peace, Joy... If we are manifesting the fruits, we are walking in the Kingdom.
Mankind indeed seeks after this Kingdom, and yet preachers who are full of words but empty of mercy and good fruits blind their followers with eloquent sermons and talking of a God that is "out there," a heaven that is "somewhere else" and the like, which they have never seen or known, and thereby they become clouds without rain, prophets who run without being sent.
Jesus told us that if we are persecuted for righteousness sake, we are children of heaven! Doing righteousness is not bound to religious circles, and neither is God.
I see that there are those who do righteously, such as in various peacemaker groups, (Amnesty International is an example), who are not considered "Christian" by the world, but they are righteous because they seek to do what is Truthful and Right; of course, not "all" individuals in these groups necessarily seek to do this. Still, "better a pagan who does righteously than a Christian who does not."
We need to judge by what comes from the heart, not simply from what comes from the mouth.
Blessings!
Brian
The Bible says that Christ is the only way, so I'd have to disagree with your works-based statement "better a pagan who does righteously than a Christian who does not."
Jesus established Kingdom of God on earth, and everyone who believes in Him will enter, but without faith no one can enter.
The kingdom of God is for those people who need the Lord and wait for HIS lead....... Matthew 5: 3........ there are people who turn to the Lord and get into self determination and miss the greater plan of the Lord and plan their own plan and constantly take up alot of the Lord time and doing the Work of Christ the hard way, because the lead in the spirit is like a medal lead in their pockets and they do not wait on the Lord and ask for his better plan for thing to go better because Jesus can be involved in the work as well that Jesus need done or people have issuse that Jesus can correct easier than man with a better advantange for believers who wait of the Lord....
The Bible says that Christ is the only way, so I'd have to disagree with your works-based statement "better a pagan who does righteously than a Christian who does not."
Jesus established Kingdom of God on earth, and everyone who believes in Him will enter, but without faith no one can enter.
I am curious to what you all think this means. I personally have come to realize that it is now, not later. I have based this upon the Word and Spirit from Genesis, to Revelation.
The Kingdom of God ... is where God dwells in the person and presence of His indwelling Holy Spirit. That kingdom is not 'bound' by physical bodies or geographical limitations - but, like God, is also infinite and eternal... even though the Holy Spirit temporarily resides in our 'earthly temple'.
While it sounds like conjecture, the Kingdom both exists within believers ... while believers also exist within God's Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is not an earthly concept, or understood by our natural senses. But, it is perhaps similar to eternal life. One receives eternal life when they are 'born again' ... but, we all know that life in this world is temporary ... Even though believers have eternal life, we also continue to live in this world for awhile
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