the kingdom
a haiku poem about the kingdom of God
the kingdom is here right inside our very souls breaking through the world
About
When John the Baptist was preparing the way for the coming of Jesus, he preached about the coming and presence of the kingdom of heaven:
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” - Matthew 3:2
If the kingdom of heaven was at hand then, it is certainly at hand now!
Throughout his life and ministry, Jesus preached that the kingdom of heaven being at hand involves God’s sovereign reign and rule over the whole world, a rule that includes, among other things, the salvation of unbelievers, warfare against demonic forces, and miraculous demonstrations of the kingdom gospel proclamation.
Jesus’ ascension is tied to the outpouring and indwelling of the Holy Spirit, who dwells inside the very souls of those who have placed their faith in Christ. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to intervene as our Helper, as one who helps us to live lives that are in line with the truths of the kingdom of God.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. - John 14:16-17
One of the ways the Holy Spirit guides us is by bestowing upon us gifts, some in line with natural abilities and some in line with supernatural abilities. These gifts equip us to spread the message of the kingdom for the good of the world and the glory of the Lord.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. - 1 Corinthians 12:4-7
As we live in submission to what God has established as truth, comforted and strengthened by the Spirit of Truth, the kingdom flows from within us and breaks through to the world around us.
In all things, we can seek to walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit like the early churches did, and seek to keep in step with the Spirit as the four living creatures in Ezekiel’s vision of heaven do.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. - Acts 9:31
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:25
And each went straight forward. Wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. - Ezekiel 1:12
As we keep in step with the Spirit and exercise the gifts he has empowered us with, we spread and demonstrate the love and power of the kingdom of God wherever we go.
The kingdom is at hand; the kingdom is here.
Prayer
Lord, thank you for the comfort and guidance that comes from the leading of your Holy Spirit, our Helper, the Spirit of Truth. Thank you for the conviction of sin and the sanctification process that leads to us becoming more like you. Thank you for giving us gifts according to your will, and help us to walk in them so that your kingdom might spread and break through more and more throughout the world and into the hearts of your people. Amen.