08-May-2024 – Do you know how the kingdom of God operates in our life?

Published by Sunil Binkam on May 8, 2024May 8, 2024

But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you – Luke 11:20

In this verse Jesus talks about hiw one can validate the ministry of Jesus, whether it is of God or not.

For that he gives a logical example of a house being divided against itself. That means, if you consider a family, if any dispute comes against that, all the members of the family will fight together. But if some of the family members raises against the rest of the family, the whole family will be destroyed.

So because Jesus belongs to the kingdom of God, he was casting out the demons and evil spirits. And he also confirms by saying, if the casting of the evil spirits is happening by the power of God that is the indication for the kingdom of God is in operation.

Now in our current generation where the technological advancements are at their peak, how can we look at this. Whether the kingdom of God is operating in our lives? Or it is just for theory and ritualistic worship of God? Let the Holy Spirit teach us.

In previous devotionals of this month, we learnt that, after we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal saviour –

1. We become the children of God and can call God, Abba Father.
2. Our association translated from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of Jesus Christ or the kingdom of God.
3. The Holy Spirit of God is given to be with us and in us as the earnest before we are completely in the kingdom. That means, to enjoy the kingdom of God on this earth, the Holy Spirit helps us.
4. We are given the authority over every unclean thing and evil spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

All these points are true in our practical life. To understand this we need to also understand the way the kingdom of darkness operates in our life.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. -Ephesians 6:12

This verse gives us a hint that the kingdom of the darkness is working against us. Also we read from the Bible that the devil is wandering like a roaring lion to catch anyone who is vulnerable.

If we remember the 40 days fasting of our Lord Jesus Christ, the devil used the weakness of the flesh to influence. Even today, his mode of operation is the same. If you consider a person who is earning a good salary but he spends his hard earned money on his addiction of the drinks.

Somehow due to family pressure and his consideration towards the family, he decides to stop drinking. But the devil uses this vulnerability and particularly when he decided not to indulge again, then only some colleague or a friend or a sudden get together of childhood friends invites for a party and his vulnerable flesh gives up and continues drinking and wastes money.

The ultimate aim of the devil in this case is not giving opportunities to drink, but the opportunity to waste his money, reputation and build distance with the family members and finally destroy his life and career.

Now, how the kingdom of God operates? If this person belongs to Jesus Christ, by accepting him as his personal saviour, the Holy Spirit will be with this person even when he was drinking. During the Sunday messages and the personal mediation, the Holy Spirit teaches him about various ways to escape the addiction and the how the love of God gathers him back even if he fails.

This enables the person to find encouragement in the Lord. Slowly the Holy Spirit God opens up the spiritual gifts like faith, tongues and any other services to the congregation etc. This will slowly build a fellowship parallel to the influence of the flesh.

Finally, this person completely gets delivered from the influence of the flesh and becomes free and gets back the reputation being a responsible family member and a valuable member of the house of God.

Now, if we see this transformation, is not equivalent to the casting of the evil spirit from this person? That too by the power and provision of God. That means, the kingdom of God is operating in him.

If this truth of the word of God touched you, thank the Lord and praise Him.

Prayer

Dear loving heavenly Father, thank you for you love and grace. Thank you for teaching us today how the kingdom of God operates in our life in a practical way. How can we recognize that the kingdom of God is actually operating in my life. Help me to yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that I could witness the transformation in my life. I pray in the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen!