Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as high as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). 

Main Point:

The Kingdom of God cannot be fully known intellectually because if it could, it wouldn’t be heavenly. But there is good news, it CAN be experienced!

TRUTHS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD:

1. Thy kingdom come.

Matthew 6:10 (Jesus teaches us to pray) Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Pray with intention for God’s will to be done in your life and in the world around you. This helps align your action with His purposes.

The worship of God, the sovereign rule by God, and the performance of His will are all a reality of heaven. The prayer is that these conditions might exist on earth as they do in heaven.

Romans 14:17 (Paraphrase) For the kingdom of God (brings God’s will in where our dedication is not toward following rules that don’t bring us) righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

TRUTHS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD:

2. The kingdom is within you.

Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Christ living in cultivates an inner makeover.

Romans 8:6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

Romans 14:18 If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.

TRUTHS ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD:

3. The keys of the kingdom.

Matthew 16:15-19 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Keys of the kingdom are divinely authorized resources that grant us authority and access.

Isaiah 22:22 The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; And he shall shut, and no one shall open.

Your world is not supposed to be ruling you; you are supposed to be ruling your world through utilizing heaven to help you live on earth.

2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Romans 14:17 (Paraphrase) For the kingdom of God (through its authority provides us) righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Revelation 1:18 (Jesus said) I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Conclusion:

Follow Jesus and obey His teachings and you will experience righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.