What is "the Kingdom of God" and where is it located?

It is necessary for me, in writing about Kingdom Perspectives, to explain exactly what I understand by the term “the Kingdom of God.”

What is the Kingdom of God?

Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God frequently during His earthly ministry; in fact, some sources say there over 100 references to the Kingdom of God in scripture (I did not count them myself). So, what is the Kingdom of God and where is it to be found?

I submit that the Kingdom of God is a real but invisible “domain” (a territory governed by a ruler) which God has established among people here on earth.

As Christians, we often identify ourselves by our religious affiliations. If asked: “What religion are you?” the usual response might be: “I'm Pentecostal” or “I'm Baptist” or whatever. While these labels may be convenient descriptors based on our membership in a denomination or church body, they are nowhere found in Scripture. There is no special place in heaven for Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian or any other such denomination. In fact, if we have ears to hear, there are some who are members of the many earthly Christian denominations, who will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This is heart-breaking and sobering truth established in God’s word.

The term that Scripture uses to describe our spiritual domicile here on earth is the “Kingdom” or the “Kingdom of God.” The Apostle Paul explained that in saving us, God has:

“delivered us from the power of darkness and has translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son” (Col 1:13).

This is where it starts for each and every one of us. God first “delivers” us (sets us free) from the power of darkness, and in the Spirit, “translates” (instantly transfers) us into a new Kingdom under the authority of His Son.

Scripture refers to this as being adopted by God as sons and daughters (Eph 1:5) with the benefit of both inheritance and citizenship in His Kingdom. While we may consider ourselves members of a particular denomination or local church, our true spiritual identity in God’ eyes, according to Scripture, is as sons and daughters, heirs and joint heirs, citizens and subjects of God’s Kingdom.

This Kingdom is not of the type typically seen in this world:

When questioned about His sovereignty during His public trial, Jesus made this profound statement to Pilate, Governor of Judea: “My Kingdom is not of this world…” 

God’s Kingdom is not subject to the rules, conventions, allegiances or authority of this world. It stands apart from these and is subject to its own constitution and principles. In John 17, Jesus made the same assertion about us His disciples:

“They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world” (John 17:16)

God’s Kingdom is not of this world, and neither are we, His subjects. In the natural order of things, we are citizens of a physical country, subject to it laws and conventions. In the Spirit however, “our lives are hid with Christ in God” (Col 3:3) and we are subject to a higher standard than our nation’s laws, that of ‘loving God with all our hearts, mind and souls and our neighbour as ourselves’ (Matt 22: 37-40). This according to our King is the foundation of the laws of His Kingdom.

Where then is the Kingdom of God located?

OK, so we are adopted into the Kingdom of God which is “not of this world”. If it is not of this world, then where is it? Jesus was asked that very question one day. Here is His answer:

“The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-21 KJV).

Wait, the Kingdom of God is where? “Within you?” Who, us?  What does that mean?

Someone once said to me that the Kingdom of God is wherever God reigns as King. God reigns as King in the hearts and minds of His people. In speaking to His disciples just before His death, Jesus said:

“In a little while, the world will see me no more, but you see me: because I live, you shall also live. At that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you” John 14: 19-20.

Two thousand years later, here and now, the world doesn’t see Jesus anymore, but we do. We speak with Him daily, hear His voice in our circumstances, experience His love, comfort and provision for us. “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

There are many people traveling thousands of miles making arduous pilgrimages to distant “holy” places thinking that when they get there they will find God, or at least make some connection with Him. God does not live in houses or buildings made with human hands (Acts 7:48) and His Kingdom is not a physical place or location on the world’s map. It cannot be seen with natural eyes and we cannot point to it and say “see here, or see there.” It is carried about on the face of this earth in the hearts and minds of God’s people; for it is there that God has taken up residence, and it is there that He reigns as King. God said of those whom He has redeemed:

“I will live in them and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people” (2 Cor 6:16).

We individually and collectively carry the Kingdom of God wherever we go, because we carry the redemptive life of God in us. We are in the Kingdom of God, and the Kingdom of God is in us. This is God’s marvelous design and it has far-reaching implications for those who have come into this reality.

Conclusion:

As I said in a previous post, the Kingdom of God is in a battle against the power of darkness for the lives and souls of human beings. By extension, because we are in the Kingdom, and the Kingdom in us, so we too are caught up in this unseen war.

Now, we can choose to remain neutral and not get involved in this conflict because God will not force us to adopt His agenda or priorities. However choosing neutrality in a battle between good and evil, between the opposing agendas of God and Satan, is in itself picking a side.

Jesus said:

“He that is not with me is against me; and he that does not gather with me scatters.”

(Matt 12:30).

In a sense while we may have a choice, we have no option. We are involved, and so we must become engaged as seekers of the Kingdom.

God’s call to us is to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness first and not as an after-thought to the myriads of other important things we have to do in life. This is not easy for us in the natural because it requires us to de-prioroitze ourselves and make the things of God the focus.

The extent to which we are willing to do this depends on where we are on the continuum between living in the flesh and walking in the Spirit. Each of us is somewhere along the path between these two opposite points of seeking our own will continuously, and “not my will but Yours.” The closer and more surrendered we are to the Spirit of God, the more real and important the Kingdom becomes to us, and greater the impact its mission and agenda will have on our lives.

On a personal note, I recognize that I am not where I should be with this, but I am praying that God gives me (and us) the daily grace to keep pressing forward.

The next step to making “seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness” a priority in our lives, is to adopt what I submit is the “Prayer of the Kingdom.”

l will explain further in my next post.

Thank you and God bless.

Robert.