How to Live the Kingdom Life
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6 HOW TO LIVE THE KINGDOM LIFE 1. Live the life of the Son of God Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Gal 2:20). 2. Live by faith For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. (Rom 1:17) For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7) But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6) Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. (Gal 3:7) So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. (Gal 3:9, NKJV) Realise that apart from living by faith, there is no 45 THY KINGDOM COME! Christian life “for whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom 14:23). How does faith come? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17) To live by faith means to live in the realm of the spirit. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Cor 4:18) Faith means believing what God says more than what we feel or see (Heb 11). For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (Rom 8:13) When you have been born again of the Spirit of God, do not live in the natural realm or by sight anymore. Learn to live the life of the Son of God within us by faith. To live by sight is to live by the five senses: touching, tasting, hearing, seeing and smelling. To live by faith means looking to God and at what He is doing instead of looking at circumstances. For example, when Jesus was told that Jairus’ daughter had died, Jesus told the father, “Be not afraid, only believe” (Mark 5:36). When he saw the people crying, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping” (Mark 5:39, NKJV). 3. Live by the Spirit When you have been born again of the Spirit, you must live by the Spirit because, “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption” (1 Cor 15:50). That is why Paul said, “But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through 46 How To Live The Kingdom Life His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood” (Gal 1:15-16, NKJV). Paul did not receive his teaching from man but from God Himself. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Gal 1:11-12) As far as God is concerned, only those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Rom 8:14) You cannot know God through your mind no matter how intelligent you are. Why? Because God is Spirit so you can only know God by the spirit. No one can understand God through the mind. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Cor 2:14) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:24, NKJV) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Rom 8:7) Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ is not His. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. (Rom 8:8-9) This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 47 THY KINGDOM COME! For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. (Gal 5:16-18) And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:24-25) For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. (Gal 6:8) As a child of God, you are free from Satan’s hold. You are no longer to live like the world. The whole world is led of the flesh but you are not because the Spirit is opposite to the flesh. When you live by the Spirit, you will experience life and peace. There is no need to worry. This is all you have to do: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matt 6:33) 4. Live as a Citizen of the Kingdom of God You are born again of the Spirit of God and have come under a new rule. You are no more in darkness but in the light. Citizens of God’s Kingdom must: a. Submit to the rule of King Jesus Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7) b. Be holy people Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy. (Lev 19:2) 48 How To Live The Kingdom Life ...but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. (1 Pet 1:15, NKJV) c. Be worshippers of God “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24, NKJV) d. Love the laws of God O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day. (Ps 119:97) e. Keep the laws of the Kingdom How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. (Ps 119:9, NKJV) f. Be obedient to God Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29) g. Forgive others For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matt 6:14-15) h. Pray But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matt 6:6) i. Read the Word of God This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou 49 THY KINGDOM COME! shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. (Josh 1:8) And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Luke 4:4) j. Have a relationship with God He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. (John 14:21) That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me. (John 17:21) k. Be heavenly-minded If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Col 3:1-3) l. Love one another A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.