Upside Down Kingdom

You’re Living in a Kingdom

From the beginning of time, it has always been God’s intent to establish His Kingdom here on earth. His plan was that earth would be a colony of Heaven – an extension of His reign. Where Heaven’s language would be spoken and its culture would define society, its economy would be in place and its law would govern. Where God is King and humans would live in His Kingdom and receive all benefits and privileges of Heaven and His Kingship.

Hebrews 8:5 (NLT) says They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning: “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.”

Now, the writer of Hebrews is quoting Exodus 25:40 and Exodus 26:30.

In Exodus 25:40, the Hebrew word for pattern is tabnith, meaning figure, image, model and form.

In Exodus 26:30., the word used is plan and the Hebrew word is mishpat, meaning mode of life.

God’s instructions to Moses was: make everything according to the form, figure, image – the mode – the model I have shown you here on the mountain. God had given Moses a glimpse of what existed in Heaven and wanted him to replicate that.

In Exodus 19:6 (NLT) God declares to Israel: “You will be My kingdom of priest…”

Matthew 4:17 (NLT) tell us: From then on Jesus began to preach, “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”

• In Matthew 6:10, Jesus taught us to pray: Your Kingdom come, Your will be done earth as it is in Heaven.
• In Matthew 6:33, He instructed us to: Seek the Kingdom.
• In John 3:3 He told us unless we are born again we cannot see the Kingdom of God.
• In John 18:36, He said His Kingdom was not of this world – not in the realm.
• In Matthew 16:19 He said He would give us the keys to the Kingdom.
• In Mark 16:15, He commanded us to: Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.
• And in Luke 4:43 He told us that the Good News is the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom is not just an Old Testament principle intended for the nation of Israel. It is an eternal truth intended for all of humanity – which is why it was the focus of Jesus’ ministry.

And what we need to realize is when we are born again, we immediately become citizens of His Kingdom. Philippians 3:20 (NLT) But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly awaiting for Him to return as our Savior. 

The Kingdom is a foreign concept to us, because we live in a democracy.

Because we live in a democratic society, we believe we have the freedom to – and we do:

1. Debate the issues
2. Interject our own thoughts and opinions
3. Reach a consensus or compromise to keep everyone happy
4. Protest government policies – or anything else for that matter
5. Form committees to lobby legislative bodies
6. Vote to change laws
7. Vote leadership in or out and feel a sense of “ownership” in the process – that officials and legislators work for us.
8. We can create reform
9. Make our own choices
10. We – the people and as individuals – are in control through the democratic process

A kingdom does not operate anything like a democracy. In a kingdom:

1. There is no debate – the King’s decree is law
2. Our opinions are not valid – because the King rules independently
3. There is no compromise – because the King’s word is final authority
4. There is no protesting – because citizens don’t have a say in how the kingdom is run
5. There are no committees to lobby legislative bodies because there are no legislative bodies – the King rules alone.
6. There is no voting –the King is permanently on the throne – it’s a lifetime position
7. There is no reform – because the King does not change to fit society. Society conforms to the King.

We try to take our culture’s mentality and apply it to Kingdom living. But, living in the Kingdom of God is totally upside down from living in the world.