THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Time with Jesus - Friday, 12 October 2012

Hi all,

Paul said that the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking. It’s righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within you. Some translations put it; The Kingdom of God is among you. Both statements are true. When the Kingdom of God is within you, you will see it manifest among you. But what is it? Today’s meditation looks at this.

Blessings,

Jim & Phyllida Strickland

Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give		Time with Jesus – Friday, 12 October 2012			Matt 10:8 Freely you received, Freely give
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INTRODUCTION			DAILY LIGHT EVENING SCRIPTURES	THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Childhood is very often a time of fantasy. I recall how at a very young age I started to read comics and newspaper cartoons. Back then, Prince Valiant was popular reading in the Sunday papers. I can’t recall who wrote the series back then. But I do notice that “Val” is more or less the same age as he is now. That was some 60 years ago. Val has clearly found the “elixir of youth”. Either that or it is now written by the original author’s grandson. “Val” was also connected with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table living in the kingdom of “Camelot”. I didn’t manage to figure out how it all fitted together; but it’s far better than RSA in the 21st century. Chivalry was most important in that series. It was not only permitted, it was encouraged among youngsters of the 1950’s. Young men and boys automatically offered their seat on a bus to a lady. Not to do so was unthinkably. My dad “encouraged” this way of thinking. If I didn’t give a lady my seat, he would “visit” my seat; if you follow what I mean. It was always, “ladies first”. Always walk on the road side in the street if accompanying a lady. Help her by carrying heavy parcels. I was brought up with this behaviour and was disappointed when it passed away. To some extent the ladies changed this when “Women’s Lib” came on the scene. The comment at the time was “We are equal to men!” I found this rather sad. I’d been brought up to think that etiquette was more important than “women’s rights”. More than that! As a child I was taught that ladies were a slightly different and special species of humanity. As a young man I was supposed to treat a lady with dignity, courtesy and respect. Personally, I enjoyed doing so. That’s how men were supposed to treat women. Then “women’s lib” came in and turned everything on its head. That “kingdom” became a “queendom”. If you stood up for a lady on the bus, you were some sort of freak. More than that; some male would jump in before she was seated. You didn’t stand aside for a lady anymore. She became just another member of the melee fighting to get into the lift or onto the bus. Today the situation has reached the point where heavily pregnant women remain standing on the underground trains while young schoolboys sit and take no notice. That’s intolerable. Initiated by some female who no longer wanted to be thought of as special. In my young days, we all lived in “Camelot”. This wasn’t a place; not even a mythical place. It was an attitude toward life and right living. Frankly, I loved it. Mostly, girls were safe in our company. Sure there were rapists back then. But nothing like it is today. We had a standard of behaviour that wasn’t exactly righteous. But it was respectful. It was a time of peace. The ladies enjoyed being ladies. We also had lots of fun together. They were happy days. Almost joy-filled. I think we were a lot closer to living in the Kingdom of God than today. Not in a place; in the heart! Jim & Phyllida Strickland			10 May your kingdom come. May what you want to happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Matthew 6:10 NIrV 44 "During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever. Daniel 2:44 NLT 34 As you watched, a rock was cut from a mountain, but not by human hands. It struck the feet of iron and clay, smashing them to bits. Daniel 2:34 NLT 6 Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. Zechariah 4:6 ESV 20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, 21 nor will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There!' for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you." Luke 17:20-21 ESV 11 He told them, "The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables Mark 4:11 NIV 26 He also said, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. 28 All by itself the soil produces grain--first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. 29 As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." Mark 4:26-29 NIV 44 Therefore, you, too, must be ready because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him. Matthew 24:44 GW 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" Let those who hear this say, "Come!" Let those who are thirsty come! Let those who want the water of life take it as a gift. Revelation 22:17 GW	The King is in His Kingdom. That’s what a Christian sees. It isn’t food or drinking or doing what you please. It isn’t a location; a geographic place. It’s surely not a venue, in earthly time and space. You needn’t travel anywhere, because it can’t be found. But if you are a Christian, you’ll find it all around. When you come to grips with it, you find it’s nothing less, Than living for the Master in imputed righteousness. The sort of righteous living, which no man can attain. We find that all our efforts are absolutely vain. But as we look to Jesus and let Him take control, He gives to us His righteousness to permeate the soul. Of course we don’t deserve it. It’s granted by His grace. The finished work of Jesus by faith puts it in place. He has made us righteous; our hearts are filled with peace. Not the sort that varies as conflicts start and cease. It is supernatural and no man understands. It’s planted in our spirit by the Master’s loving hands. Peace beyond our knowledge, or human circumstance. Nothing that’s obtainable, by leaving things to chance. These are from the Father, assisted by His Son; Aided by the Spirit and the work in us He’s done. Giving us a joy that fills our body, soul and heart. Even overflowing and setting us apart, From the none believers; and providing a desire, That if they come to Jesus, He’ll set their hearts on fire, The Kingdom is contagious. It’s something that is caught. It is inexplicable and really can’t be taught. It’s a life of holiness that other folk can see. Gloriously flowing from deep inside of thee. Giving a contentment, that only can be found, When He is your Master and He lets His grace abound. This then is God’s Kingdom. “Utopia” within! Garlanded with righteousness, where just the thought of sin, Has become repulsive. Where joy is manifest. Peace flows like a river and His followers are blessed. All this is available! Why do men hesitate; And resist the Master until it’s far too late? Jim Strickland – Written 12th October 2012