A Christian Guidebook: What Is the Kingdom of God? (6)

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14.21, 22

I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ… Revelation 1.9

… for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy… Romans 14.17

Increasing in the Kingdom
I pray that you are gaining a clearer and more thrilling sense of what it means to have been conveyed into the Kingdom of God (Col. 1.12-14).

The Kingdom of God is real. Jesus rules from His heavenly throne, administering His dominion in grace and truth, by the power of the Spirit and Word of God. Real and transforming power flows from Jesus to all His citizen/ambassadors, as we seek His Kingdom and righteousness in all we do. Where the Kingdom of God has become established, righteousness flourishes and peace abounds.

The reality and experience of the Kingdom of God are limited only by our desire for it. Higher planes and richer experiences of Kingdom living are available to us as we press on in our calling to the Kingdom and glory of God (1 Thess. 2.12). If we want these, we will seek them; and if we seek, Jesus promised, we will find.

For all who daily pray for and seek more of the Kingdom of God, more of it will be granted (Matt. 13.12), so that we increase in Kingdom character and know more of the wonderful peace which accompanies that righteousness. And righteousness and peace lead to the Kingdom consequence of joy.

Joy is the unflappable privilege and disposition of all who are advancing in their journey in the eternal Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The joy of Jesus
In our segment, “What is the Gospel”, we wrote that the joy we possess in the Kingdom of God drives away every fear, cannot be diminished by changing circumstances, surpasses every form of mere happiness, and fills us with an indestructible sense of wellbeing, delight, pleasure, and hope. This, we said, is the joy “we as human beings were made to know, happiness full up, overflowing, and without end.” We also wrote, “The life of joy comes as a gift, bought and paid for by Jesus and bestowed by His Father and ours. No strings attached.”

Joy makes you want to dance and shout. It brings tears and smiles. Makes you reach out and hug someone. Engages your tongue with sweet words of gratitude and praise. When you are experiencing the joy of the Lord, you never want it to end. And you know that a day is coming when joy will be everlasting.

But most believers will tell you that the experience of joy can be fleeting. C. S. Lewis wrote that joy is like something you glanced for a moment, out of the corner of your eye, and when you went to explore it more fully, it was gone.

But just a taste of Kingdom joy can be enough to spur us on in seeking the Kingdom and righteousness of God—to discover Jesus in His Word, delight in His Law, devote ourselves to His Spirit, and daily live for His glory. Joy in living adorns the Kingdom path wherever we tread it. And the more we walk the path that Jesus walked (1 Jn. 2.1-6) the more His righteousness, peace, and joy will be ours as well.

Well, there is that.
But as in any climb one might assay, difficulties will be encountered as we seek to ascend higher in the Kingdom of God. John described himself as a companion with us in the tribulation and Kingdom and patience of the Lord. Paul said we must enter more deeply into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations. And this is nothing more than what Jesus promised as well (cf. Jn. 15.18-25).

When it comes to trials, tribulations, setbacks, confrontations, struggles, and persecutions for being a citizen of God’s Kingdom, we can only say, “Well, there is that.”

This is because the Kingdom of God exists amid the kingdoms of man. The Kingdom of God unfolds within and through the disciples of Jesus into the time, space, and people of their world and, besides shining the light of divine truth and love, exposes selfish motives, false idols, flimsy hopes, routine deceptions, and outright lies that characterize the kingdoms of this world. It operates like Jesus in the temple, challenging settled ways and beliefs, overturning cherished practices, driving out self-interest and fraud, and insisting that the world get its act together.

And some folks won’t sit idly by while that is happening. Ask Paul. Ask John. Ask Jesus.

We must expect challenges to our faith, some of which may be painful and perhaps costly. Yet these come to us from the Lord, first as confirmations of our Kingdom citizenship and, second, as opportunities to know more of His joy. The Lord, Job explained, tests us every moment (Job 7.17, 18). Every moment He offers an opportunity to gain more elevation in His heavenly Kingdom. As we live in righteousness and hold fast to His peace, we can know His joy during every trial and tribulation. Just as Jesus did, hanging on the cross and focusing on the coming of His Kingdom (Heb. 12.1, 2; cf. Ps. 22.21-31).

Let the world bring on its objections and threats. Joy awaits us as we engage them with the righteousness and peace of Jesus.

Search the Scriptures
1. How does Habakkuk 3.17-19 teach us to lay hold on the joy of the Lord when troubles come?

2. Read Hebrews 12.1, 2 and Psalm 22.21-31 (keeping in mind the setting of Psalm 22.1-31). How was Jesus able to know joy amid horrible suffering?

3. How do you experience the joy of the Lord? When have you experienced His joy? Do you believe that you know more of His joy, more of the time?

Next steps—Preparation: Today, what lies ahead that can rob you of your joy? How should you prepare for this? Pray Habakkuk 3.17-19, putting your expected obstacle in place of the things mentioned in v. 17. Memorize these verses.

T. M. Moore

Additional Resources
If you have found this study helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).

Three resources can help you in realizing more of the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God. Our books The Kingship of Jesus (click here) and What in Heaven Is Jesus Doing on Earth? (click here for the book or here for the free PDF) explain the rule of King Jesus in our lives and world. The Kingdom Turn (order the book here or the free PDF here) goes into greater detail about what it means to practice the Kingship of Jesus.

Support for ReVision comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.

And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or you may send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.