THE INFLUENCE OF HIS KINGDOM
Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence (John 18:36).
One of the charges for which Jesus was condemned was that He declared Himself to be a king. When Pilate asked Him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus replied”…My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36).
Pilate, intrigued by Jesus’ response, sought further clarification regarding His kingship. He asked again, “Areyou a king then?” Jesus elaborated, saying, “…To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice” (John 18:37).
The Lord Jesus stating that He was a king meant He was the ruler of a kingdom. But where was His kingdom? He clarified that His kingdom was not of this world, meaningit was foreign to this earthly realm. The rulers of the time couldn’t understand His kingdom because they couldn’t see it; they were perplexed by it.
The next important point is that Jesus had a mission to extend the influence and power of His heavenly kingdom tothis world. He came to bring the blessings, the goodness, and the power of His kingdom to a world full of pain, darkness and struggles. This world, filled with destructionand suffering, needed change, and Jesus came with Hiskingdom to effect that change. Hallelujah!
Through salvation, He extended the goodness of His kingdom to humanity. Now that you’re born again, you’ve become a citizen of Christ’s glorious Kingdom: “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son” (Colossians 1:12-13).
Therefore, walk in the consciousness of the full blessings of the Kingdom, and spread the influence ofHis reign everywhere. You represent the Kingdom; you carry it everywhere you go, for it is within you: Luke 17:21, “Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” You’re the extension of His Kingdom and its influence, for the Biblesays, “…he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand” (Isaiah 53:10).
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus, I thank you for your heavenly Kingdom and its blessings, impact and influence in the earth and in the hearts of men. I live the life of the Kingdom, and I walk in the fullness of its blessings, spreading the influence of your reign everywhere. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
Luke 4:43, Matthew 6:33, Luke 17:20-21
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 22:15-46 & Exodus 22-23
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Matthew 11:21-30 & Genesis 32
