A-Z of Mystery Journal - K - Kingdom

For years the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God seemed so illusive. Ten years ago, I remember asking a few of my co-workers what the Kingdom of Heaven really looks like. We had a few good discussions, but it was still vague by the end of the conversations. I read through the gospels in the Bible and noted the word Kingdom (of God or Heaven). At that same time I also noted the references to the Holy Spirit. It was as if I was reading it for the first time, and a renewed enthusiasm and practical application of my faith grew.For this A-Z of Mystery of the Kingdom, I looked up all the verses in Scripture on the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven on Bible Gateway.

Dictionary definitions of Kingdom include: Territory ruled by a King or Queen, the eternal kingship of God, the authority of God and the realm in which God''s will is fulfilled.

The Kingdom is talked about much more now, bringing heaven to earth, the rule and reign of Christ in our world. With all the turmoil, God knows we need it.

My definition is: The Kingdom of God is living a life of goodness, peace and wholeness ruled by Yeshua Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

“Jesus said, 'The Kingdom of God is within' and 'I only say what I hear the Father saying and I only do what I see the Father doing'. Therefore, It is something we experience, articulate, and do. The Kingdom of God is already here but not yet fully realized.” 

― R. Alan Woods, The Journey Is The Destination: A Photo Journal

In thinking about how to visually present the idea of the Kingdom of Heaven, I was inspired by traditional illuminated manuscripts. The gold colored Gelatos® stenciled pattern represents the movement in the heavenly, spiritual realm.

The Lord's Prayer," in The Passion Translation gives a fresh, intimate view of the passage so familiar to many of us.

Matthew 6:9-13Pray like this: ‘Our Father, dwelling in the heavenly realms,may the glory of your namebe the center on which our lives turn.Manifest your kingdom realm,and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth,just as it is fulfilled in heaven.We acknowledge you as our Providerof all we need each day.Forgive us the wrongs we have done as we ourselvesrelease forgiveness to those who have wronged us.Rescue us every time we face tribulationand set us free from evil.For you are the King who ruleswith power and glory forever. Amen.’

What is our part in the Kingdom of Heaven?"

He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father.
All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

Revelation 1:6 NLT

the Father has enabled you to share in
the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 
For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness
and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 
who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.

Colossians 1:12-14

Recently, I've read and have been inspired with the power of blessing by the book The Way of Blessing by Roy Godwin. In one quote, by a “wonderful retired bishop friend” of Roy's, how the Kingdom of God works is described:

“You know you are forgiven and you find yourself forgiving others.You find yourself accepted and of course you find yourself accepting others.There is an outflow, a reflection of what He has done for you, toward others as your heart attitudes change.And of course, aware of such undeserved blessing you want to share more about the kingdom of God -the idea about the heart of God that blessing expresses.”

In learning more about the Kingdom of Heaven in the Bible, it is clear we are to be like Christ, Christ-like Kingdom carriers, in the world living like Yeshua, Jesus.

I've symbolized Christ and his authority with the big crown at the top of the page. The little crowns were all done first by tracing with a pencil inside the new crown stencils (to be released November 12th) and then coloring them with colored pencil and the gold Posca pen.

“Jesus never described the gospel as an exchange of this current world for a remote spiritual retreat far away. Never. Rather, his gospel was: “God’s kingdom is here! It has arrived! It is now! Heaven has come to earth!” So when Jesus invited his disciples – then as well as now – to “Follow me,” he was inviting them to get in on the world-redeeming, evil-conquering, status-reversing, life-transforming movement of God that had invaded planet Earth.” 

― Ronnie McBrayer, How Far Is Heaven?: Rediscovering the Kingdom of God in the Here and Now