When Jesus was upon this earth, many of his followers saw him as a king who would fight in the earthly realm to lead them to victory over their enemies (John 6:15). Jesus showed us that his kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). Jesus said the kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). In the bible the kingdom is variously referred to as the kingdom of God, of heaven or of the Son.

What is the kingdom? The kingdom of God is a kingdom we become a part of as we accept Gods rule, reign and power in our lives. We must seek the kingdom with all our hearts (Matt 6:33; 7:21), walk in obedience to him (Matt 7:21) and receive in faith like a child (Mark 10:15).  To see and enter the kingdom we must be born again and our spirits made new, by the power of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-6). We do this by repentance of sin (Acts 3:19), asking for God’s forgiveness and by asking Jesus into our lives to be Lord and Savior (Rom 10:9-10).

With Christ and the kingdom inside us (Luke 17:21), God’s kingdom power is available to us to change us and work in our lives (1 Cor 4:20; Matt 13:33). As kingdom people, God reveals to us all that Christ has done and won for us (Mark 4:11); his abundant life (John 10:10). Sound good to you? Well, I can assure you from experience that nothing can compare to living in God’s kingdom. 

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What should be our focus and how should we live as Christians? I have often heard it said that we can be so heavenly minded as to be no earthly good or so earthly focused to be no heavenly good. Colossians is a good place to start for some answers: “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:1-2; KJV); well that’s pretty clear.

In second Corinthians chapter 6 and verse 17 we are told to come out from the non-Christians in the world and be separate; that basically means not to follow the same life style. But we are not told to leave the world (1 Cor 5:10), we need to go where the non-Christians are as we are to be light to them (Matt 5:14). If we are to be light, the non-Christians need to see us, need to see our godly life style, our good works and especially our love. The word says that God will show his manifold wisdom to the world through us (Ex 34:14), in other words, we don’t hide in our homes and churches.

So, can we have stuff or are we to focus on ministry and have nothing? God says he will provide all of our need (not our greed) if we seek him first (Matt 6:33). God is a jealous God, he wants us and wants to be our focus; as we keep or eyes on him he will bless us with an abundant life (John 10:10). That word life in that last verse is the kind of life that God lives and enjoys; wow, that sounds good to me.

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Check out our web site ( www.onthewayinlove.com ) for information on our book: “On the Way: Basic Christian Training”, including how to purchase it and also to see more encouraging Bible based blogs. Please recommend our book to others.

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death” (Phil 3:10; NKJV). 

Paul says that his goal in life is to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. Think what power (Greek Dunamis) was needed to raise Jesus from the dead (Eph 1:20)! 

We get our English word dynamite from the Greek word Dunamis! That same power dwells in us (Ro 8:11), brings life to our mortal bodies, empowers us to be witnesses for Him (Acts 1:8) and in fact, makes us like Jesus (2 Cor 3:17-18)! Wow and double Wow! 

Eph 1:18 also indicates that Gods power (Greek Kratos) in us is the power of dominion or authority. As born again believers in Jesus we walk in the authority of Jesus over the devil, authority which Jesus took back from satan through His (Jesus) death and resurrection (Eph 1:21-22). 

What a victory we have in Jesus! But Paul does go on to say, in Phil 3:10, that we also must be willing to fellowship in Christ”s sufferings and death. We have to die to self and live for Christ, no matter how much persecution or difficulty this may bring; are we willing?

I am always struck by the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). There we see the stark contrast between the cold, cunning of the unforgiving Pharisees and Jesus’ consummate wisdom, compassion and forgiveness. However, Jesus did not overlook the woman’s sin but told her to sin no more!

 Isn't it wonderful to know that Jesus paid the price for our sins through His sacrifice on the cross (Rom 5:8). As Christians we are forgiven (Col 1:14), given new life (2 Cor 5:17) and righteousness in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:21). As Christians we do still sin (1 John 1:8) as our spirit (spiritual heart or conscience) is made new but not our body or soul (1 Thess 5:23). However, we should not habitually or willfully sin (1 John 3:6) as God has made us new spiritual creations in Christ Jesus (2 Cor 5:17).

 Our spirit is to govern our soul and body. When we gave our lives to Christ we were born again spiritually (John 3:1-6) and our spirits were made new (Ezek 11:19). When we do slip and sin, because we allow our souls to get the upper hand, we can repent and ask God’s forgiveness. God forgives “us and cleanses us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9; NKJV).

 What an advantage we have over the woman caught in adultery; how God loves us, in that He has placed His Holy Spirit on the inside of us to enable us to change  and help us not to sin (John 14:16-17). All we have to do is cooperate and walk in obedience!

When it comes to humility, Jesus is our example. In Phil. 2:5-9 (Amp) we have the description of how Jesus gave up all the privileges of heaven and came to earth, "assuming the guise of a servant". In verse 5 of that chapter we are told to let Jesus be our example in humility.

We have another great example of Jesus humbling himself and becoming a servant in John 13:14 (Amp): "If I then your Lord and Teacher (Master), have washed your feet, you ought (It is your duty, you are under obligation, you owe it) to wash one another's feet". We also learn from this verse that we need to do the same thing for our fellow believers.

If we want to be like Jesus and be obedient, then we must serve one another. For some people serving comes naturally; they have a "servant's heart", others of us have to work at it a little harder. Nevertheless, there is great blessing in serving others, because "inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me" (Matt. 25:40; NKJV). Let's obey God, humble ourselves and serve each other. What a witness to the world around us this will be.