KINGDOM OF GOD
KINGDOMCREWRESOURCES
Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you" Matthew6:33
What Is the Kingdom of God?
When you hear the phrase “Kingdom of God,” what comes to mind? A castle in the sky? A faraway place we hope to get to someday? Well, the Bible actually paints a much bigger picture—one that’s both about the future and about right now!
The Physical Kingdom of God
The Bible promises that one day God’s Kingdom will be fully visible on earth. Revelation 11:15 says, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever.” That’s talking about a time when Jesus will rule openly, when everything broken will be made right, and when God will live with His people in a brand-new creation (Revelation 21:3). Think of it like the world finally being restored to what it was meant to be. *The Bible says this would happen after the 1,000 year reign of Christ, and after Satan is defeated at the end of his "short season" following that 1,000 reign of Christ.
So, is this heaven?Not exactly. When the Bible talks about the Kingdom of God in its final, visible form, it isn’t describing us floating on clouds or being only in a heavenly realm above. It’s describing a renewed heaven and earth. A real, physical, restored creation where God dwells with His people (Revelation 21:1–4). In other words, heaven comes down to earth, and everything is made new.
Who lives in the Kingdom of God?Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Those who humble themselves, believe in Him, and follow God’s ways are part of His Kingdom. Revelation 21:27 adds that only those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will enter. Simply put: those who belong to Christ will live in His Kingdom forever.
Who belong to Christ?The Bible says those who belong to Christ are the ones who believe in Him and receive Him as Lord (John 1:12). They are His sheep who hear His voice, follow Him, and are given eternal life (John 10:27–28). Paul also reminds us that anyone who has the Spirit of Christ belongs to Him, and Jesus said the true citizens of God’s Kingdom are the ones who do the will of the Father (Romans 8:9; Matthew 7:21).
Is the Kingdom of God the Kingdom of Heaven?
This is a question people often ask. In the Gospels, “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” are used almost interchangeably. Matthew’s Gospel usually says “Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 5:3, 6:33), while Mark and Luke usually say “Kingdom of God” (Mark 1:15; Luke 4:43). Most Bible scholars agree they mean the same thing, with “heaven” being a respectful way Jewish writers referred to God without saying His name directly.
The Spritual Kingdom of God
When Jesus preached about the Kingdom, He wasn’t just talking about something far away in the future. He also made it clear that the Kingdom of God can be experienced right now—in our hearts, minds, and our lives.
Christ showing the Kingdom in everyday life
Every time Jesus healed the sick, forgave sins, or set someone free, He was showing that the Kingdom had come near. “If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28). The Kingdom is God’s power breaking into everyday life—bringing healing, hope, and change right where we are.
Living the Kingdom Today
The Kingdom becomes real on earth when people live under God’s will. That’s why Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). When we love our neighbor, forgive freely, and walk in faith, we’re not just waiting for the Kingdom—we’re living it out.
The Kingdom Within You
In Luke 17:20–21, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come. His answer probably surprised them: “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed… for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
Jesus was teaching that the Kingdom isn’t just about physical walls or a visible throne. It begins in the heart of anyone who chooses to let God reign in their life. That means when you trust Him, obey His Word, and live in step with His Spirit, His Kingdom is already present inside you. Paul put it this way: “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). So in short, the Kingdom within you looks like a heart ruled by God’s Spirit—full of peace, joy, and love that the world can’t take away.
How to experience the Kingdom of God in your life.
First: Know the King
The Kingdom begins with knowing the King. Christ said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me” (John 14:6). To discover the Kingdom within you, you first invite Christ to rule in your heart—trust Him, follow Him, and let His Word guide your steps. He is the key that unlocks the door leading to the God the father (Yahweh), both in this life and the next!
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Walk by the Spirit
Paul wrote, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). These aren’t just good character traits—they’re signs that God’s Kingdom is alive inside you. Every day you have a choice: to live by your own strength, or to walk in step with the Spirit. When you let the Spirit of God lead, you’ll start to see these qualities show up in your life. They’re not forced; they grow naturally, like fruit on a healthy tree.
Shift How You Think
Jesus often warned against worry, fear, and living with a mindset of lack. Instead, He pointed people toward faith and gratitude. In Matthew 6:25–26, He said, “Do not be anxious about your life… Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Discovering the Kingdom within means renewing your mind: choosing thankfulness over complaining, peace over fear, and hope over despair. Paul echoed this in Philippians 4:8—“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely… think about these things.”
Living with Gratitude and Faith
One of the most powerful ways to experience the Kingdom of God in your life right now is by changing how you think. The Bible is clear: your thoughts shape your future. If you’re always focused on lack—what you don’t have, what you’re missing—you’ll live in a cycle of want and frustration. But when you choose gratitude, when you thank God for what He has already given, and what he will provide, you step into a mindset of abundance. Paul wrote, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude shifts your heart, and with it, your life.
Pray - Believe - Receive
Christ also taught us that faith and expectation matter when we pray. He said, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). That doesn’t mean treating God like a vending machine—it means asking for things that align with His Will and trusting Him as a loving Father.
When you pray, you ask once in faith, and then you live with thanksgiving, expecting God to move. Jesus even said that with faith the size of a mustard seed, you could tell a mountain to move—and it would (Matthew 17:20).
So here’s the key: Ask God, thank Him, and then expect Him to work. You don’t need to beg Him over and over—He heard you the first time. Instead, walk in gratitude, trusting that His timing and His plan are perfect.
Live It Out Daily
The Kingdom within you isn’t just personal—it’s meant to spill over into the world around you. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
That means living the Kingdom looks like forgiving when it’s hard, loving the people around you, serving with humility, and bringing peace into tense situations. When people encounter you, they should get a glimpse of the Kingdom because of how you live.
The Heart of It All
Living in the Kingdom within you is about putting faith in Christ, trusting in God, walking in His Spirit, think with a mind of gratitude, faith and abundance, and living out God’s love in everyday life. It’s not about perfection—it’s about direction. The more you set your heart on Him, the more His Kingdom becomes visible in your words, your actions, your attitude, and even the physical reality of your daily life!