Kingdom Living
A. Change of Authority
We have been delivered from Satan’s dominion. We are now under a whole new authority – that of the Lord Jesus.
As a believer begins growing in his new life in the Lord, he soon discovers that the only way we enjoy living in God’s kingdom is in right RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS (Eph 1:17; Phil 3:10).
At the very beginning of our new life with God, this relationship takes two distinct forms:
1. Saviour
This is the very first relationship we can ever have with Jesus. We cannot know God as Father or Friend until we first have had a revelation of Jesus as Saviour – the One Who died for us and rescued us from Satan’s kingdom. Jesus has saved us from:
a. God’s Judgment (1Ths 1:10; 5:9; Rom 5:9).
b. Satan’s Power (Acts 26:18; Col 1:13; Heb 2:14; 1Jn 3:8).
c. Our Own Selves (Phil 3:19; 2Cor 5:15; Titus 3:3-6; 1Peter 1:18).
“Although he was a son… he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb 5:8-9)
2. Lord
Knowing Jesus as Saviour brings us into God’s Kingdom, but that is not where our relationship with Him ends.
Once we are inside His Kingdom, that relationship takes on dramatic new changes. Now we know Him not merely as Saviour, but as Lord – OUR Lord! He is KING in His Kingdom (Col 2:6).
When we enter the Kingdom of Light, we can enjoy what we were created for – a loving relationship with the Lord. Because of this, when Jesus becomes Lord of our Life, we find His dominion in our lives brings us out of the chaos of sin into divine order and peace. See Colossians 2:9-10; 1Cor 8:6.
B. The Model Citizen
“Let your attitude toward life be that of Christ Jesus himself…” (Phil 2:5). Jesus, though King of the Kingdom, became a servant. He is the example of what the true citizen of His Kingdom is like. Read John 13:5-17; Matthew 20:26-28; Luke 22:27.
C. Subject of the King
As members of Christ’s Kingdom, we enter into a Master-servant relationship with Him (Mat 6:24).
Jesus came to do His Father’s will (Heb 10:5-9). In His day-to-day life, He displayed what the lifestyle of the Kingdom is all about: living to please God (Eph5:8-10). We are to have this servant-heart, just as He had a servant’s heart.
Many Christians do not like the concept of being a servant because it seems to make one person inferior to another. But in the Bible, we find four interesting paradoxes:
1. In Slavery, There Is Freedom
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life”(Rom 6:22)
2. In Being A Servant, There Is Greatness
“The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt 23:11-12).
3. In Humility, There Is Exaltation
“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven” (Matt 18:4)
4. In Submission, There Is Authority
The Roman Centurion (a military leader over 100 soldiers) who came to Jesus understood this principle. “…I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one Go and he goes; and I say that one Come and he comes. I say to my servant, Do this, and he does it” (Luke 7:7-8).
Because the centurion was under authority, he was able to exercise authority, and he readily submitted to Jesus’ authority.
The lifestyle of the Kingdom of God is an attitude of SUBMISSION and OBEDIENCE. We submit ourselves to God’s will – not reluctantly – because of fear or duty – but rather:
a. Because of All God Has Done for us (Rom 12:1)
b. Because In Doing So We Find Fulfilments (Ps 40:8).
c. Because Of Love (John 14:15)
D. Fruit Of The Kingdom
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his children, encouraging, comforting and urging you TO LIVE LIVES WORTHY OF GOD, who calls you into his kingdom and glory (1Ths 2:11-12)
In Matthew 21:43, Jesus said that the Kingdom would belong to those who “produce its fruit.” Since God created us, we were also made for His Kingdom and its lifestyle. The fruit of that Kingdom is simply the natural outworking of the miracle of rebirth that the Holy Spirit has performed in us (See Galatians 5:22).
Our responsibility as citizen of God’s Kingdom is to live like people we now are!(1Peter 2:11).
My Commitment
I realize, after studying about Kingdom living, that I am to submit my life to the service of others, just as Jesus did. I commit myself to being a willing, joyful servant of Christ and others.