Romans 14:17 NKJV - The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
There’s a lot of kingdom talk these days, and most don’t know what they’re talking about. We’re witnessing ignorance at its finest as people boldly teach that you cannot stand for our nation and the Kingdom of God at the same time.
First of all, our nation is not a kingdom. It’s a republic. But even if it was a kingdom, that in itself does not put it in opposition to the kingdom of God.
Jesus is the King of kings. He was given the nations as His inheritance. Do you know what that means? There will still be nations throughout eternity, and they will all bow to Christ.
Jesus is not intimidated by another king. He is not bothered by a nation or a kingdom. He’s been given all authority in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. He is forever King of kings.
Even so, the Kingdom of God is not a kingdom like what we are talking about. It’s on an entirely different level. It’s in another realm. It doesn’t even compare to an earthly kingdom.
Here’s how Jesus explained it to the Pharisees, who expected the Kingdom of God to be in opposition to an earthly kingdom:
Luke 17:20-21 AMPC - The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you].
The Kingdom of God is currently delivered to us through the Holy Spirit, who is working in us and around us. What is He establishing? Righteousness, peace, and joy.
When the Holy Spirit comes to live in you, the Kingdom of God comes to live in you. His work immediately begins to draw you into a place of righteousness, peace, and joy.
The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens.
The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens.
And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle, for the harvest time has come.
We are on the edge of the harvest. For the last 2,000 years, the Good News has been scattered as a seed. The body of Christ has been growing and soon will be ready for harvest.
So, is the Kingdom of God here now? Yes, it is in every believer. But has it reached its fullness? No. But it will one day soon.
What is the Kingdom of God? Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. All three are given to you by God and come to you in that progression.
When you are born again by making Jesus Christ the Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit moves in and starts His work of righteousness. He works in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases God. You leave sin behind and embrace God’s way of doing things.
Righteousness is a given to you, but you must put it on. The Holy Spirit cannot make you do anything. But He will nudge you over and over again until you put on the beautiful garment of righteousness.
Don’t believe the lie that you’ll live in sin every day for the rest of your life. God’s gift of righteousness is so powerful that it cleanses you of all sin. So put it on and live a holy life in God’s power.
Once righteousness has done its work in you, peace comes. Not just any peace, but a peace that passes understanding. Peace in every circumstance. Peace that leaves others confounded.
Wrapped up in this word peace is much more than a calm state. Within God’s peace is safety, prosperity, and rest. It’s when you have no fear, no lack, and no worry.
Righteousness comes first. If you neglect or resist righteousness, you’ll never have peace. But when you let the power of God make you righteous, great peace takes over your life.
No longer do you worry about safety. Emergency budget meetings are a thing of the past. There’s not a thing in the world that causes you concern because you have the peace of God.
Then comes joy, or as the Thayer Lexicon describes it, calm delight.
It’s important that we get to this place of joy because the joy of the Lord is our strength. We will never be able to display God's power and might without His joy.
But there will be no joy if we haven’t let righteousness do its work in us. There will be no joy if we haven’t let the peace of God do its work in us. These things are progressive.
First, righteousness comes. Then peace. Then joy.
Find out where you are and get to it.
Are you still battling sin? Let righteousness do its work. Submit to the Holy Spirit so He can give you both the desire and the power to do what pleases God.
Don’t try to be righteous. That will never work. The only way to righteous living is through the Holy Spirit. Remember? Righteousness, peace, and joy IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Are you living free from sin but don’t have peace? Are you still worried about this or that or the other thing?
Instead of worrying, pray. Give God full possession of your cares. Put them in His hands and trust Him to sort things out. Let the Holy Spirit guide your prayers! Then, the peace of God will come.
Do you have righteousness and peace, but no joy? Or at best, you only have joy here and there and not every day?
The Kingdom of God is not an occasional dose of joy. It is a joy that is constant. A life marked by calm delight and gladness.
Where does this joy come from? Jesus gives us the answer in John 15:
John 15:9-11 NLT - I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!
It’s simple. We obey. And when we obey, we remain in His love. As we remain in His love, we are filled with joy to overflowing.
We could say it this way. It starts by letting God's righteousness do its work in us, causing us to obey all of His commands. That obedience places us within God’s protection, provision, and rest—His peace.
As we remain in this place, not go in and out, but remain in the place of righteousness and peace, joy is the result.
For the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Righteousness comes first, which opens the door to peace. And then, a continual presence of righteousness and peace, when you remain in that place, it produces more joy than you know what to do with.
That is the message the Lord gave me for you today. Aren’t you thankful? Doesn’t that clear things up?
The Kingdom of God is at work in you even as you stand for the redemption of our nation. So, don’t let the ignorant, gripey people derail you. God has redeemed America! All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.
The Bible likens hearing the Word of God to partaking of a great meal. The worship team gave you the first course. I just gave you the second. And we even have a third course for you today from our teaching elder, Tim Bell.
I want to give you an opportunity to give. We’ve got a lot to accomplish in the coming days, and your faithful generosity helps us get the job done.
To give by cash or check, mail your gift to PO Box 2168, Owasso, OK 74055.
You can give online anytime at nolimits.fyi. Or, text the amount to 84321. Or, give via cash app to $churchnolimits.
I fully expect us to be in our new location by the end of the year. We are just days away from finalizing a deal with the owners of the 10 acres near Highway 169 and 106th St N.
Turning that existing building into a church that seats 400 people will take close to a million dollars. We’re not taking out a loan. We are trusting God to provide every step of the way.
Let the Holy Spirit stir in your heart how you will be a part of making it happen. Moving to a prominent location in our city is necessary for us to fulfill what God has spoken over our church.
For those who are willing, God will expand your resources in the days to come so you can help fund His work. Your business will grow, you’ll start a new business, or you’ll come upon a great investment.
Press into those things as the Lord leads. Remember, money is not evil. It is a neutral resource that can be used for good or bad. So, go out and create wealth to help fund what God is doing through NoLimits Church.
We are one of God’s many storehouses. Whatever you give here will come back to you multiplied.
So quit with the mindset of, “When I give, I don’t expect anything in return.” That’s one of the most self-righteous, selfish statements that many Christians disguise as humility.
It’s not humble, and it’s not holy to resist something God set in motion. He is the one who decided to give you a hundredfold return for the things you give into His Kingdom. Let Him do what He wants so you will always be equipped for every good work.
God wants you to multiply financially, so He told you how to do it. Sow lots of financial seed into the Kingdom of God and expect a hundredfold return in due season.
Don’t give up on your seed. Be no weary in well doing. Always trust that your seed will produce a hundredfold return, no matter the time frame between sowing and harvesting.
