All this talk about parallel societies

Oh, this world we live in! Amazingly beautiful but quite tiresome and frustrating lately, right? It is no wonder people are seeking ways to escape the harsh reality of inhumane measures and restrictions that are still putting limits on our daily lives.

We can read about parallel societies where minorities are trying to seek freedom and at the same time, shelter. A parallel society, it may be a fashionable word nowadays, but in reality, God invented it. Yep.

It is called the Kingdom of God. It is the supernatural realm where His will is being done, His principles reign, and Jesus is honored as the highest power and authority. Two thousand years ago the people in Israel were waiting for the establishment of a free society, no longer ruled by Roman oppressors.

The scholars asked Jesus about it. His answer then is still the answer today: The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst (Luke 17:20). Some translations say the Kingdom is near you or within you. Well, that must have left them speechless. The Kingdom of God, His will on earth as it is in heaven, living amongst and inside of people?!

And yes, the Bible makes it clear, as believers we are not of this world, we belong to another world. We might be in this world, but we are not of it. Jesus said to His followers: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you (John 15;19).

The world will hate you. Okay, so be it. Being a citizen of Gods Kingdom also means we can have joy amidst pain, peace amidst trouble, and love amidst hatred. It is the only true parallel society while we are here on earth. 

How can we see this Kingdom, how can we become part of this Kingdom? Jesus gives the answer: No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again (John 3:3).

You might want to read my blogseries about the Kingdom.

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Give me a K

In my Bible alphabet blog series K stands for Kingdom.

And I am not talking about the Kingdom of the Netherlands (where I live), but about the Kingdom of God! Jesus spoke about it much and often.

After His resurrection from the dead, this message became more urgent. In Acts 1: 3 it is written about Jesus that He appeared to them [the apostles] over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Forty days? There is indeed much to say...

In the Bible the terms the Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God are being used interchangeably and sometimes the Bible simply refers to it as the Kingdom. Let's see what the Kingdom is not:

• It is not a natural kingdom, not a place or country. It is a spiritual dimension where God's will reigns. Jesus said, My kingdom is not of this world (John 18:36) and your kingdom come, your will be done (Matthew 6:10).
• It is not a matter of our daily natural needs.  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17)
• It is not a theory or theology. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

There is this religious thought that the Kingdom is a future destination. But Jesus tells us that we must seek the kingdom first, above all else (Matthew 6:33). Why would He let us begin a search for something that cannot be found here on earth? This is a question that the scribes and theologians also struggled with. Jesus told them, The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ (Luke 17:20). So, where is it?

Jesus continues ... because the kingdom of God is in your midst. (Luke 17:21). Well, they were speechless, as are many of us today. The Kingdom of God [His will on earth as in heaven] here with us? Some translations say the Kingdom is near you or within you ... However we look at it, the kingdom is never far away. Please note: there is no kingdom without the King! The Kingdom of God is within you only if Jesus lives there.

Righteousness, peace and joy with power is within us when we are alone but also among us when we are together as believers. We can experience the kingdom from within, but it also surrounds us as we go into the world. Jesus gave us the kingdom inside so that we can go outside to spread it in a broken, tired and troubled world.

[see also my Kingdom basics blog series]

Kingdom Basics (3)

Who can enter the Kingdom?
In part 1 and 2 of this series we have looked at some interesting facts about the Kingdom of God. We learned that it is not a place or country, but a spiritual realm where righteousness, peace and joy reign with power, and this all in and through the Holy Spirit.  We also learned that, because God’s Kingdom is spiritual, it is within us and at the same time we are in it. We know what it is and where to find it. The logical next question would be: who can inherit this kingdom?

Sometimes, in order to learn what things really are, the Bible teaches us first of all what they are not! It took me a while to get used to that kind of teaching, but more and more I am beginning to see how practical it can be. The Bible clearly states which people cannot enter (or inherit) the Kingdom (unless they repent and change of course!):

• Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? (1 Corinthians 6:9) In other words, we must turn away from our wicked life styles and receive a new and clean life in Jesus.
• Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 15:50), it is not something that can be grasped intellectually or physically or even emotionally. Although we still walk and live on this earth, we can already enter God's spiritual realm; but only by faith.
• Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies an the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21)

In other words, if we do not live a life with and for God we cannot enter His Kingdom. We will not even be able to see it, or understand it’s principles. Jesus clearly discussed this with scholar and member of the ruling council Nicodemus, who thought that knowledge was his way in. Jesus told him: No one can see the Kingdom of God unless  he is born again (John 3:3). Later on in their discussion He adds: unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Well, this clearly shows how we do enter the Kingdom.

So a degree in theology, a church membership, a certificate of baptism, a life of good deeds... none of those things can qualify us for the Kingdom. There is no way to earn our way in. Jesus pointed to a group of little children, babies even, and said: The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Luke 18:16). In a way He showed that the Kingdom belongs to people of innocence and purity, such as we can only become when we receive a new life in Christ. Therefore, let us not make it too hard. Let us not become like the theologians of that time who shut the Kingdom's door in people's faces and hindered them to enter in (Matthew 23:13).

Jesus came to set up His Kingdom among us. He desires for everyone to come in and find that righteousness, peace and joy with power. We must become like the little children and give up on our pre-conceived ideas, on theologies, dogma's and theories. We have to lay down all of our knowledge, all of our pride and all of our human wisdom. Empty handed before God, that's a good place to be. The prayer will be simple: Lord,  I am sincerely seeking You and your Kingdom, lead me in. 

Anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it (Luke 18:17).

Kingdom Basics (2)

Where is the Kingdom of God?

In part one of the Kingdom basics we looked at some scriptures describing the Kingdom of God. It is not a place or country, but a spiritual realm where righteousness, peace and joy reign with power, and this all through the Holy Spirit. The logical next question would be: where do we find this Kingdom?  When and where will we be able to experience His Kingdom?

This is a question the theologians and scholars of Jesus’ time asked Him as well. Jesus told them, The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is”, or “There it is” (Luke 17:20). As I stated in part one, the Kingdom is not a natural Kingdom, it cannot be seen because it is spiritual. As Jesus was explaining this, his answer may have disappointed the Pharisees. Simply because they were longing for such a powerful era and reign to come in order to rescue Israel from foreign occupation. But Jesus continues and says: the Kingdom of God is within you (Luke 17:21). Well, that must have left them speechless. The Kingdom of God, His will on earth as it is in heaven, living inside of people?!

Some translations say, the Kingdom of God is among you, or within reach… However we look at this, the Kingdom is always at hand for the believers. Righteousness, peace and joy with power are always within us when we are alone and among us when we are together as believers! This is such a great secret. New Age philosophy has tried to steal this concept and teaches that people should always look within for answers. But let me warn you: there is no kingdom without the King! The Kingdom of God is within you only if the Holy Spirit lives within you. The awesome thing about Gods Kingdom is, that it is within us and at the same time we are in it. Colossians 1:13 shows us clearly that we enter the Kingdom during this present life on earth, For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of the Son he loves… This is past tense, this has already happened the moment you stepped from darkness into light!

So, the Kingdom of God can be found within us and at the same time we live in it. In other words, we can experience righteousness, peace and joy with power on the inside, through the Holy Spirit, but it will also surround us on the outside wherever we go. Jesus gave us the Kingdom within so that we can go out into a broken, lonely and worried world and advance it wherever we go.

Is this possible for everyone? Who qualifies? The next question that arises is: for whom is this Kingdom?

Kingdom Basics (1)

What is the Kingdom?

My husband and I love to teach about the Kingdom. We have noticed that, although this was one of Jesus’ main topics, there is often a huge lack of knowledge among believers about the Kingdom. Lack of knowledge often leads to confusion about these matters; which raises the following question: how can we proclaim the good news about the Kingdom if we don’t really know what we are talking about? I have decided to dedicate a few posts on Kingdom basics.

One of the main topics of Jesus’ teaching was the Kingdom of heaven, or as it is sometimes called: the Kingdom of God. Jesus uses both terms and sometimes simply refers to it as the Kingdom. His teaching about the Kingdom became more urgent after His resurrection, just before He went back to be with His Father. The Book of Acts reports: He appeared to them [the apostles] over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God (Acts 1:3). Forty days? And that after the many different times he spoke with them in parables about the Kingdom? I feel free to conclude that there is a lot to be learned about this. Let's start with a simple question: what is this Kingdom of God, or rather, what is it NOT?

• It is not a natural kingdom, but a spiritual realm where God’s will prevails. Jesus said, My kingdom is from another place (John 18:36) and Your Kingdom come, your will be done (Matthew 6:10).
• It is not a matter of our daily natural concerns. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
• It is not a theory or theology. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

The Kingdom is not a place or a country, it is a spiritual realm where righteousness, peace and joy reign, with power. Although it seems that such a thing doesn't exist on earth, that we are only able to enter this Kingdom when we go to heaven, Jesus teaches otherwise! That is why at some point in my life I started to wonder why then Jesus tells the people on earth to seek the Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33). Why would He send us on a quest for something that cannot be found here?

So, first it is important to know WHAT we are seeking, what we are looking for. According to the scriptures I mentioned earlier, the Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy with power in the Holy Spirit. Jesus urges us to seek these things first. The logical next question will be: where do we look? Where can we find this Kingdom?