Entering The Kingdom of God Age
Ron McGatlin
"Why are we still operating in theory of the kingdom instead of the reality."
Jesus spoke much about the kingdom. Indeed the gospel of the kingdom and our part in seeking, entering and experiencing it is the theme of His message. Several people have recently asked me the following question or one similar to it. "Why are we still operating in theory of the kingdom instead of the reality." This is a valid question when viewing Christendom in a collective overall sense. However, not everyone can be included in the "we" in this question. There are maturing kingdom people among us who have entered into the "ruling city" inner portion of the kingdom and are experiencing more than just the theory of the kingdom of God lifestyle.
We are beginning to recognize that there is a progressive journey into the "ruling city" of the kingdom. Not all believers are there yet and there are some extreme difficulties along the journey. There is clear biblical symbolic metaphorical language defining the spiritual territories of the ruling spiritual kingdoms and the journey of passing from one to another.
There are two spiritual kingdoms vying for the heart of man and thereby the dominion of the earth. There is the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Each kingdom has an inner portion and an outer portion. The inner part is the capital or ruling city of each kingdom. The ruling city of the kingdom of spiritual darkness is spiritual Babylon. The entire kingdom of darkness including the outer portions and all that is under the rule of Babylon can be referred to as the Babylonian Empire or the evil world system. The ruling city of the spiritual kingdom of light is New Jerusalem, The entire kingdom of light including the outer portions and all that is ruled from New Jerusalem is the "Israel of God."
Gal 6:16 And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
As those who sat in darkness we saw a great light and began to move toward it. At the point we leave darkness and enter the light we have entered the Israel of God (the kingdom). But we are not yet in the ruling city of the kingdom, the New Jerusalem. As we make the journey closer to the bright clear light of New Jerusalem, our imperfections and residue of selfish and religious ways are more visible. Fresh repentance and practical cleansing must occur before we can continue onward in our journey toward the New Jerusalem in which is the fullness of the kingdom that we seek.
There is a short answer to why "we" (some) are still operating in theory instead of reality. The short answer is: Rev 21:27: But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles. No one with a residue of Babylonian religion or selfish sinful ways can enter the ruling city of New Jerusalem. Thus many continue to battle frustrations of seeing the glorious light in "theory" but are yet not able to experience the practical reality of it. Only after having been truly completely cleansed by the process of our own cross of death to self and religious deceptions that were trained into us in Babylon, can we enter the ruling city.
Within the ruling city of New Jerusalem everything is God's way and everyone is in total alignment with His way. There is no personal frustration from any area of lack. There is always enough of everything needed to accomplish the will of God for us at the time. There are no seemingly noble and seemingly worthy works from our own initiatives or religious requirements to be done. We are at total rest in Him and truly will do only what He is doing and there is always enough to do what he is doing.
The New Jerusalem is the purified Bride of Christ. Many are on this journey and are at different points of progress of purification or cleansing from defilements. They are a part of the Body of Christ and have entered the kingdom but have not yet entered the New Jerusalem ruling city. The only reason for anyone who is truly seeking God to not enter New Jerusalem is defilement. The predominant root of defilement is the gods of self and religion. The seed that planted selfish and religious deception is the lack of experiencing the fullness of the love of God in Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
The kingdom is in the Holy Spirit.
Rom 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Luke 17:21 "nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
The kingdom that is to set the standard of rule that changes the rule of the planet from the Babylonian style of the kingdom of darkness to the New Jerusalem style of the kingdom of light is in the Holy Spirit within God's people. The very life of Christ is manifested within His Body by the Holy Spirit. There is no kingdom of God on earth without the Holy Spirit. The "Christ in you" people entering the "New Jerusalem lifestyle" is by the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Intimacy and oneness with God is by the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The empowerment of grace and endless love of oneness with God by the Holy Spirit is the cleansing agent that produces the experience of the cross and the resurrection life that removes ALL of the defiling residue of Babylonian self and religious life.
The devastations and serious difficulties we face in the process are only the tools of destruction for our self focused and religious lives. Through this death experience of loss and devastation we reach the point that we have nothing left but Jesus. Then are we are ready to enter into the fullness of the Holy Spirt for the comfort that can only come from God. And we are ready to step into the Holy City, the ruling city of the kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem people of God - the purified remnant focused only on Jesus that have been changed and will touch those around them starting a chain reaction of spreading the kingdom of God as leaven in a lump of dough.
Mat 13:33 Another parable He spoke to them: "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened."
It will not help to change the form of how we do church from institutional to organic or adjust our form of music nor any other attempts at improvement if we don't first experience a greater fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives leading to a greater intimacy with God.
Pursue Love, It Never Fails,
Ron McGatlin