The Lord Jesus bestowed on us a Kingdom.
He said to his twelve chosen disciples in Luke 22:28-30:
''You are those who have stood by me in my trials. And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.''
I don't know about you but I find so much strength and joy in the words of our Lord Jesus. The Kingdom of God is in our hearts. He did not say ''I will confer you a Kingdom' but 'I confer you a kingdom'. It was immediate.
The Message translation puts it plainer:
''Now I confer on you the royal authority my Father conferred on me so you can eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and be strengthened as you take up responsibilities among the congregations of God’s people.''
The authority he gave was immediate. It was an authority to royal rule and to rise to an intimate relationship (eating and drinking at his table) with him in his rule as King of YHWH's people. It was a spiritual position but Jesus promised a tangible kingdom as well. His Kingdom benefits can be enjoyed not only in our spirits but also with all our senses - both spiritual and physical. However, in Matthew 6:30-33, he said:
''So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.''
The Lord Jesus strove throughout his earthly ministry to get his hearers to see higher, think deeper and bring them to an understanding beyond the demands of their bodies and minds. He wanted them to appreciate human existence from a higher spiritual plane. Why? because Mankind was never created to be subject to the environment he lives in or to the dictates of his casing (body/flesh). Dear Brothers and Sisters, if all we see with our physical eyes is all we know, then we are puppets in the sphere of life. If we train those the Lord has given us in the mundane things of life only, then we are not training them in the Kingdom way.
This physical world was formed by YHWH's spiritual words and it is controlled spiritually - by that same word: i.e. his spoken, written and 'word become flesh'. [Psalm 33:6, Deuteronomy 32:47, John 1:14 ] The training in the Kingdom must be to give an understanding of this truth.
'' He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy 8:3
Why is this important? Because He is raising not just 'earthlings' but Mature 'sons of God' that will deal from a position of insight and maturity over his creation.
Be aware that there is an opposing Kingdom which, though highly inferior, understands the power of words. It therefore aims to keep mankind at the base animalistic state of being governed by his environment, feelings and desires of his body/flesh. The power that controls this universe is the word(s) of God and should mankind rise to the level it was designed for, the 'Kingdom of the power of the air' has no leg to stand on. It is therefore in the best interest of the enemy Kingdom to keep mankind base - like mere animals.
Paul explains in Ephesians 2: 1-5
''As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved..''
This might seem a lot for some to grasp but leaders in God's Kingdom must see beyond this physical world so that they can raise not just children of God who love him but mature sons who can rule as God intended. This is the Father's will.
We were not brought into God's kingdom to remain the way we were. We were brought into the Kingdom to be raised as God's children to take authority over God's creation on his behalf and to exercise this authority over the 'ruler of the evil powers that are above the earth [ERV]'! If God's children remain subject to 'all the things our bodies and minds wanted like everyone else in the world' [ERV], then we are not living in the Kingdom conferred on us.
This is a journey that must be travelled not in the path laid by our physical senses, but on a path laid by the word of God. By the authority we weald in prayer and in speaking in agreement with God's words. [ Matthew 16:19 AMP] It is to this path which is both spiritual and life-giving, that we are called. This is the Highest Kingdom.
'' For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.'' Romans 8:19-21
''What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words'' 1 Corinthians 2: 12 - 13
''They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”Deuteronomy 32:47
''The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.'' - Jesus in Matthew 4:4
''In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and peoples will stream to it.
Many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.'' Micah 4:1-2
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