But if you're a believer, you need to think more deeply than that.
You need to become aware of the fact that although you are in this world, you do not belong to this natural world's order. You are a citizen of heaven. You are, even here and now, privileged to live in that kingdom.
That statement would startle many Christians. Religion has taught them that they won't reach God's kingdom until they die and go to heaven. But the Bible says we've already made the transfer. It says, "(The Father) has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love" (Col. 1:13 AMP).
Because God dwells in us and among us, His kingdom is present with us right now. Jesus said it this way: "...The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display. Nor will people say, 'Look! Here (it is)!' or, 'See, (it is) there!' For behold, the kingdom of God is within you (in your hearts) and among you (surrounding you)" (Luke 17:20-21 AMP).
Heaven On Earth?
Certainly we will go on to the place called heaven when our bodies die or when Jesus catches us away. And that's great, because heaven is a wonderful place! It's the headquarters of this great kingdom. But, thank God, since we're already citizens of the kingdom now, we can enjoy many of the benefits of heaven right here on earth.
We can live our lives in love, peace, joy, prosperity, health and victory. We can also bring those kingdom blessings to others who are still under the dominion of darkness.
"If Christians can do that," you may ask, "why don't they?"
Mostly it's because they haven't been very aware of the kingdom of God. They have been so absorbed in the kingdom of this world - the world that they can see and touch - they haven't given much thought to God's kingdom. They've gotten so caught up in the busyness of this natural world and its demands, so familiar with its way of operating, that they're practically strangers to the operations of the kingdom of God.
But we can change that, in the Name of Jesus! We can obey the instruction of the Apostle Paul who wrote: "...aim at and seek the (rich, eternal treasures) that are above, where Christ (the Anointed One) is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above - the higher things - not on the things that are on the earth" (Col. 3:1-2 AMP).
By studying and meditating on what the Word has to say about the kingdom of God, we can become more and more kingdom-of-God minded. There is so much information in the Word about the kingdom of God, I could talk about it for hours - and I have.
All I can do in this article is get you started. I challenge you to take up this study on your own from here. Get out your concordance and look up all the references to the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven. I believe the New Testament uses them interchangeably. Let the reality of that kingdom get down in your heart so that you are aware of it every day.
A Superior Kingdom
The first important truth the Word reveals about the kingdom of God is that it is sovereign, or superior, to all other kingdoms. It is chief, the greatest, the most supreme in power, rank and authority.
Actually, the very word kingdom comes from the joining of two other words: king and dominion. A kingdom is the place where the king has dominion. Therefore, the kingdom of God is where God has dominion.
Since God owns everything in heaven and in earth, He could take dominion everywhere. But He has chosen to exercise that dominion through man. He gave Adam authority over the earth in the Garden of Eden. That's why Jesus had to come into the earth and become flesh. To exercise God's dominion over Satan in the earth, He had to do it as a man.
The second important truth the Word reveals about the kingdom of God is the one we've already mentioned. The kingdom of God is present here and now. It occupies the same space this natural world occupies. You may not be able to see it, but it is here and very real, nevertheless.
When we realize the kingdom of God has dominion and control over the natural realm, then we won't be afraid. You can rejoice knowing that because you belong to God's kingdom, you can take dominion over every natural circumstance the devil tries to use against you.
Glory to God! Isn't that thrilling?
A Ministry of Heavenly Breakthroughs
Of course, Jesus is the One Who made that possible for us. He opened the way. He established God's kingdom among us and showed us how to bring it into manifestation in this natural world.
"But Gloria," you may say, "I thought Jesus said His kingdom wasn't of this world."
He did, but that doesn't mean His kingdom didn't operate in this world. What it means is that its power didn't originate here. The Amplified Bible says it this way, "My kingdom is not from (this world) - has no such origin or source" (John 18:36).
Jesus' whole ministry was one of preaching and demonstrating the kingdom of God. As Mark 1:14-15 says, His ministry began when He "came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
Jesus didn't just preach about this divine kingdom. He demonstrated it. He operated in the dominion of God by taking authority over the evil spirits that had bound people, and by laying hands on the sick and driving out sickness from their bodies.
Read through the Gospels and see for yourself. Time after time, Jesus exercised the dominion of the kingdom of God. He came to Peter's house, found his mother-in-law sick, laid His hands on her and healed her.
The leper came to Him for healing and He said, "...be thou clean," and immediately the leprosy was cleansed. Jairus' daughter died, and Jesus raised her from the dead. He cast the demons out of the madman of Gadarra. When there wasn't enough food to feed the thousands who were listening to Him preach in a remote place, He multiplied a few loaves and fish into more than enough food to feed the whole crowd!
Do you know what those instances were? They were times when the kingdom of God broke through into this natural realm by the anointing that was on Jesus. They were heavenly breakthroughs!
Take Off the Limits
Jesus didn't intend for those breakthroughs to stop at the end of His earthly ministry, either. He commissioned His disciples to continue His ministry. He told us to go about healing the sick and bringing other heavenly breakthroughs, saying, "The kingdom of God has come close to you" (Luke 10:9 AMP).
It's the responsibility of the Church to manifest the kingdom of God in this natural realm. It's our job to exercise the dominion of that kingdom, and demonstrate it so others can experience the reality of it and become citizens of God's kingdom themselves!
If we want to operate in the dominion of God, we have to find out His way of doing things and then do things His way. We'll have to change the way we think. We'll have to start thinking and acting like He does instead of thinking and acting like the world does.
We'll have to seek Him and His principles, put our dependence first and foremost on Him, and then He'll see to it that our natural needs are met. You see, the principles of the kingdom of God always work. God has spoken and set them into motion by His Word. They will work for anyone who will put them to work.
For example, one of those principles, the primary one, is the law of sowing and reaping. Galatians 6:7-8 states that law very simply: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
Actually, the law of sowing and reaping works in both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of this world. If you sow into the kingdom of darkness, you reap the harvest of that kingdom, which is death in all its forms. If you invest your time and money in the concerns of the world, you'll end up on drugs, pornography and alcohol. You'll end up sick and unhappy.
On the other hand, if you sow to the kingdom of God, you'll reap the harvest of that kingdom. If you invest yourself in the affairs of God, you'll end up with abundant life in all its forms. As Romans 8:6 says, "For to be carnally minded (to think like the world thinks) is death; but to be spiritually minded (to think like God thinks) is life and peace."
It's Up to You
Of course, if you want to sow to the kingdom of God you must first be born again. You do that simply by making Jesus the Lord of your life.
You can read the Bible all day, and it won't make sense to you if you haven't taken that first step. The great kingdom truths it contains will be hidden from you. Why? Because, as Jesus said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).
A person who hasn't been born again simply cannot understand the way God thinks. The ways of His kingdom are beyond his grasp because he is in darkness.
When you've been born again, however, you are translated into God's kingdom. You immediately have the ability to know and walk in God's ways. How much you do from then on is up to you. The more you seek after God and His way of doing and being right, the more of His power and dominion you'll enjoy.
The more you renew your mind to His Word - which is His way of thinking - and change your life in obedience to that Word, the more you'll see the kingdom of heaven manifested in your life and in the lives of those around you.
The wonderful thing about the kingdom of God is that you don't have to be rich or smart or talented to walk in it. Anyone can do it. All you have to do is find out what God says and act on it. When you do that, blessings - heavenly breakthroughs - will begin to happen.
So I want to encourage you to start today investing more of yourself, more of your time, thought and energy, into seeking the kingdom of God. Determine in your heart to change some areas in your life, to dig into the Word more deeply and find out what God says about those areas. Then start acting like He does instead of like the world.
Heighten your awareness of the kingdom of God. Get more and more kingdom-of-God minded. Then get ready for the blessings of heaven - the lavish, liberal-to-excess, extravagant and over-abounding favors of the kingdom of God - to break through on you!
Eagle Mountain International Church, Inc.
aka: Kenneth Copeland Ministries
For the last 50 years Kenneth and Gloria Copeland have been passionately teaching Christians all over the world how to apply the principles of faith found in God's WORD to their lives.
