April 14th, 2026
by Chris Bower
by Chris Bower
Living in God's Kingdom: Moving Beyond Spiritual Poverty to Kingdom Authority
Have you ever watched children at a birthday party when the piñata breaks open? The scene quickly turns chaotic as kids dive for candy, pushing and grabbing with a "mine, mine, mine" mentality. This childhood scene perfectly illustrates how we often approach life as adults - grabbing for things out of fear that we'll miss out on something important.
Why Do We Grab for Things?
As adults, we grab for different things based on what we lack. Some grab for worldly love because they lack acceptance. Others reach for money because they lack security. Some turn to pornography because they lack intimacy, while others seek drugs because they lack peace. Many even grab for religious legalism because they lack genuine relationship with God.
But here's the truth that changes everything:
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3).
But here's the truth that changes everything:
"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence" (2 Peter 1:3).
What Does God's Kingdom Provide?
When we truly know God, honor Him, and pursue Him, there is no lack in His kingdom.
Psalm 34:9-10 declares, "Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear him have no lack. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."
Everything we need to live a God-honoring life has been provided, including acceptance, security, intimacy, peace, and relationship. This is what living according to God's kingdom looks like.
Psalm 34:9-10 declares, "Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear him have no lack. The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing."
Everything we need to live a God-honoring life has been provided, including acceptance, security, intimacy, peace, and relationship. This is what living according to God's kingdom looks like.
Jesus' First Message Was About the Kingdom
The very first message Jesus preached focused on the kingdom:
"The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel" (Mark 1:15).
The word "time" here is the Greek word "kairos," meaning the right time, the opportune time, an appointed strategic moment. Jesus was announcing that the appointed time for God's kingdom to be accessible to humanity had arrived - so close you could reach out and touch it.
"The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the Gospel" (Mark 1:15).
The word "time" here is the Greek word "kairos," meaning the right time, the opportune time, an appointed strategic moment. Jesus was announcing that the appointed time for God's kingdom to be accessible to humanity had arrived - so close you could reach out and touch it.
What Does True Repentance Look Like?
Repentance isn't just saying "I'm sorry" or crying about our mistakes. True repentance means allowing God to change our minds so completely that we turn and begin doing the opposite of what we've been doing. It's about thinking differently, seeing differently, and acting differently.
How Do We Access Kingdom Truths?
We see the glory and excellence of God's kingdom first and foremost in His Word. It's difficult to have a genuine relationship with God apart from His Word, where we discover His character and nature.
The Importance of Engaging with Scripture
Most American Christians are woefully ignorant of God's Word. We need to feast on Scripture, not just let it sit on our shelves or remain unopened on our phones. The more we engage with God's Word, the more we understand those things that pertain to life and godliness that He provides.
Spiritual hunger works differently than natural hunger. With natural hunger, your stomach tells you when you need food. But spiritual hunger builds - the more you consume God's Word, the hungrier you become for more.
Spiritual hunger works differently than natural hunger. With natural hunger, your stomach tells you when you need food. But spiritual hunger builds - the more you consume God's Word, the hungrier you become for more.
Standing in the Word, Not Just on It
Rather than simply standing on God's Word, we need to stand in it - surrounded and consumed by it so completely that it changes how we think and act. This means making Scripture a daily part of our lives, not just something we reference occasionally.
What Can We Learn About God's Kingdom from Scripture?
1. Kingdom Rights Come Through Recognizing Our Spiritual Poverty
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).
This means recognizing our complete inability to fix ourselves or help ourselves apart from God. When we acknowledge our spiritual poverty and our absolute need for Him, He moves us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.
This means recognizing our complete inability to fix ourselves or help ourselves apart from God. When we acknowledge our spiritual poverty and our absolute need for Him, He moves us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son.
2. The Best Way to Pray is "Your Kingdom Come"
When we don't know what to pray, we can always pray:
"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
If we consistently prayed this way and lived like it was revelation to us, we'd avoid much heartache because we'd be committed to doing what the kingdom says, not what we want.
"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10).
If we consistently prayed this way and lived like it was revelation to us, we'd avoid much heartache because we'd be committed to doing what the kingdom says, not what we want.
3. Seek First the Kingdom of God
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
The New Living Translation says, "Seek the kingdom of God above all else." This means making God's kingdom our first priority, not our second or third concern.
It's challenging to let go and not be in control. We like to make our own plans and ask God to bless them. But seeking first the kingdom often means God will inspire us to do the last thing we would have thought of or wanted to do.
The New Living Translation says, "Seek the kingdom of God above all else." This means making God's kingdom our first priority, not our second or third concern.
It's challenging to let go and not be in control. We like to make our own plans and ask God to bless them. But seeking first the kingdom often means God will inspire us to do the last thing we would have thought of or wanted to do.
4. The Gospel of the Kingdom Brings Healing
"And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction" (Matthew 9:35).
If Jesus was a healer then, He's a healer now, because He never changes. He heals us spirit, soul, and body:
If Jesus was a healer then, He's a healer now, because He never changes. He heals us spirit, soul, and body:
- Spiritually: We need to be truly saved, genuinely born again and changed
- Emotionally: God wants to heal the twisted, clogged-up areas of our souls that prevent us from connecting with Him
- Physically: God still moves into people's lives and heals their bodies
5. The Kingdom Has Authority Over Demonic Forces
"But if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you" (Matthew 12:28).
The kingdom comes with authority - not our authority, but Jesus' authority that He has given to His church. While we don't need to see demons everywhere, we shouldn't fall for the lie that demonic forces don't exist. When we encounter such situations, we deal with them through God's Word and the authority He has placed in His church.
The kingdom comes with authority - not our authority, but Jesus' authority that He has given to His church. While we don't need to see demons everywhere, we shouldn't fall for the lie that demonic forces don't exist. When we encounter such situations, we deal with them through God's Word and the authority He has placed in His church.
Life Application
This week, examine your life for areas where you're "grabbing" for things out of fear or lack instead of trusting in God's provision. Choose one specific area where you've been trying to maintain control and commit to seeking God's kingdom first in that situation.
Ask yourself these questions:
- Am I regularly engaging with God's Word, or am I spiritually malnourished?
- What am I seeking first in my daily decisions - my own plans or God's kingdom?
- Are there areas of lack in my life where I need to trust God's provision instead of grabbing for worldly solutions?
- How can I move from just knowing about God's kingdom to actually living in its authority and provision?
Remember, everything you need for a godly life has already been provided through knowing Him. The question isn't whether God has given you what you need - it's whether you're accessing what He's already made available through His kingdom.
Posted in Keys To The Kingdom
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