As I travel around the world I hear many Christians speak of the Kingdom of God. I hear many say, let us do our part to bring the lost into the kingdom of God, let us work so that the Kingdom of God will come and expand its borders, and so on. There seems to be those who think God’s Kingdom is a church building, a ministry, a denomination or doctrine, or even a good cause. There seems to be many Christians willing to lay down their lives for things they can see and touch.

Sadly we have learned there is great control and power in things we can see and touch. Sadly too we have learned we can make great sums of money from this way of thinking, manipulating people for favor and power. Manipulation is the greatest sin of the church today. I see it where ever I go and whatever I read and watch. Now please do not misunderstand me, I do believe we need a place to come together and worship God, but a building that seats 10, 15, or 25,000 people well I am not so sure about all of that. Most often mega churches are built by assorted growth programs, special amenities, and the pastor’s charisma and not the work of God in lives. I do know the longer I go with God the more I am convinced God is in simplicity. He is not fancy and does not require much to make Him happy, only our obedience and love is all He asks. Bigger is not better and the more people you have the less of God will be in operation. This is a theme we see running all throughout the Bible. Jesus could not do much with large crowds, it seemed all they wanted was for Him to do a miracle or two, but they had no stomach for the “true” bread of life. I think the more we want for our self the more we feel we need to give to God. There seems to be a direct relationship between our desire to get things (even from God) and our desire to give and do things for Him and all He wants is our obedience and love. The sacrifices God is after are a broken spirit and a contrite heart. “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.” (Psalm 51:17) It is the broken by God alone that are useful to Him. We are ready to give God sacrifices of money, hard work to build a large church building, pray and fast all night, or even go and travel around the world preaching the Gospel. But, there seems to be a great avoidance to allowing God to work in our lives, through His dealings and judgments, and this is plainly seen in this wrong thinking of God’s Kingdom.

The religious folks of Jesus’ day too had this wrong concept of God’s Kingdom, maybe that is where the religious folks today get it from. “And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: 21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21) Can you imagine, “behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” It is no wonder all of our effort and labor to bring people into what we call the Kingdom of God has woefully failed and come short of what God expects of us. Some Christian groups have satellites sweeping around the world broadcasting religious TV programs saying they are bringing people into the Kingdom of God, but in reality they are not and why not, because “behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.” My friend there is a throne that God desires to sit on in His Kingdom, but it is not of this world, it is the throne of our heart where He desires to rule and reign in our lives. This was the very point Jesus told Pilate when He stood before him, “Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:26) But today we seem to fight everyone who disagrees with us. In Africa , Asia , Eastern Europe , all around the world there are denominational and doctrinal turf battles for cities and for the heart, mind, and wallets of the people in these cities. But Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.” Imagine God’s Kingdom is not of this world.

In Matthew 13:18-23, we learn a little more about the “true” Kingdom of God. “Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (Matthew 13:18-23) Here in these verses there are four key precepts to build correct concepts for success in God. The first key is, one comes into the kingdom by the word not by working, “heareth the word” (verse 19, 20, 22, 23) We seem to want to do great things for God, but God wants us to become something great in Him. It is easy to do great things, but very difficult to become something great in Him. For this to happen we must die to our self-life and desires. David said, “Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great.” (2 Samuel 22:36 ), not the throne, wealth, power, or the wisdom God gave him. When we truly hear a word from God, when we truly allow Him to speak to our heart we will then be able to come into the Kingdom of God and lay our life down. The second key is, there is need for commitment to come into the Kingdom of God , “Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.” (verse 21) Today there seems to be no commitment to God, our spouses, and our brothers and sisters. The church is full of broken-hearted people out from broken relationships. When problems and situations arise, as they will, our commitment seems to be lacking. We get offended not because of the problems and situations, but because “of the word” God speaks to us, for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word. When God speaks to us it is His word that threatens our selfish self-life and desires. And when our brothers’ and sisters’ words touch the offence in us we get even more offended. Do you know you cannot be offended if there is no offence in you? Getting offended is the greatest obstacle to knowing God’s will for our lives. Getting offended again and again is a sign of our unwillingness to allow God to deal in our lives. The third key is a lack of devotion. 22He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.” (verse 22) What are we devoted to? What are we taking into our heart? Remember, “For as a man thinketh in his heart (not his mind) so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) What and to whom are we devoted to? Sadly here in verse 22, “the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word.” What do we devote our life to? Sadly most Christians are drunk with things of this world, devoted to good causes and noble ideas that have nothing to do with God. Are we more devoted to God’s word or earthly riches? You know, it does matters who your teacher is. And the fourth and last key is understanding, “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” (verse 23) Hearing the word of God alone is not enough we must understand it. Now we must hear God’s word this is critical, but hearing without understanding is loss to us, the word has fallen on the ground and is wasted. It is when we understand God’s words we can walk in them. The condition for being fruitful in God is understanding, knowing what God wants in a given situation and circumstance and then flowing in it, not God speaking to us.

As God draws us and is allowed to work understanding, devotion, and commitment into our lives we will be able to move correctly in the word He speaks to us bringing us into His Kingdom. We must allow God to take His seat on the throne of our heart. Our wants, cares, and desires come under God’s authority. God’s thoughts and desires for us become our dreams and plans. Our very life is consumed into His life. Our focus will not be on the things God can give us, but on God and His righteousness, peace, and joy, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17) Brethren let us allow God to so work in our lives so that we can come into the Kingdom of God within us. The way into the Kingdom of God is by way of God’s work in our lives to such a degree we are lost in Him.