Challenge of the Kingdom Part 2

7/20/18

In the last blog entry, we looked at the foundation of what the Kingdom of God looks like. This week’s entry will further explore in more detail some of the benefits of this Kingdom. We talked about the kingdom as being both now and into the future as well. Let’s look at some of the benefits available to us in both of these aspects.

The root cause of the promises given to us in the scriptures about receiving love, self-control, power, unity and peace are found in the presence of the Holy Spirit Romans 14:17 states “ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

This third member of the trinity is often underappreciated and misunderstood. The scripture is clear about the Holy Spirit’s presence being found inside of us. 1^st Cor 6:19-20 states “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” 2^nd Tim. 1:14 states “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.”

George Eldon Ladd in the book titled The Gospel of the Kingdom states “the church on earth will be a colony of heaven, enjoying in advance the life of the age to come to that extent to which we permit the Holy Spirit to manifest the gift of love in our mutual relationships. Especially in those areas where our imperfect knowledge leads to differing interpretation of the Word of God in the details of Theology.”

It is important to note that the power of the Holy Spirit working inside of us is our source, not just our own attempts to be good at self-righteousness.  Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Ladd further states that we are “sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it. What is this inheritance? It is the fullness of life, the redemption of the body, the transformation of our mortal frame into the fullness of the strength and power and glory of a spiritual body.” Our future is crazy good and bright. When we are weak, the Holy Spirit makes us strong. When we encounter hardships, we can rest assured that God has a greater purpose for our own good, in the middle of our troubles. We just need to have the spiritual eyes to see it. Our desire becomes that of doing things right, as an expression of our love for God.