CHAPTER 13 – SCRIPTURE TEXTS DECLARING GOD’S SPIRITUAL SUPERNATURAL KINGDOM of GOD BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW.
I warn you again that you cannot understand as completely as possible the MYSTERY of the KINGDOM of GOD without seeking the spiritual supernatural sound mind of Christ. I cannot emphasize this enough!!! We MUST understand the difference between having the spiritual supernatural understanding and wisdom of the sound mind of Christ versus our using the mind we were born with and educated with its worldly wisdom and then try to serve God in His Kingdom with this rationale. I know that we are to use this “worldly wisdom” as we sustain ourselves in the kingdoms of the world, BUT we cannot worship and serve Him in spirit and truth with a worldly educated mind. In fact, the Bible shares with us that this type of worldly rationale is “demonic!” I know that many of you may strongly disagree with me, but as I look at the “big picture” of all levels of secular education, I cannot see in it the merits of it concerning and advancing our eternal spiritual future with God in His Kingdom.
If you are not seeking God’s plans and thoughts for you – His knowledge and wisdom – through His Word via the Holy Spirit imputing to you the spiritual supernatural “sound mind of Christ” and including the multitude of Godly counsel as provided by the Holy Spirit, then from whom are you receiving your thoughts? Notice James 3:15 below states that such worldly rationale is demonic!
John 17:17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. AMP
1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart. [Isa 40:13.] AMP
James 1:5-8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. NKJV
James 3:13-17 Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom. Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of {spiritual} wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This {secular humanistic} wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the {spiritual} wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy {being two faced}. NKJV
2 Corinthians 10:2-5 2 I entreat you when I do come [to you] that I may not [be driven to such] boldness as I intend to show toward those few who suspect us of acting according to the flesh [on the low level of worldly motives and as if invested with only human powers]. 3 For though we walk (live) in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, 5 [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One), AMP
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 But [now] I am fearful, lest that even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ. [Gen 3:4.] 4For [you seem readily to endure it] if a man comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the [Spirit] you [once] received or a different gospel from the one you [then] received and welcomed; you tolerate [all that] well enough! AMP
The above Scripture indicates that as Christians we are engaged in a “war” not of the physical nature but of the spiritual supernatural realm. The same holds true for the “spiritual soldier” who is involved in this spiritual warfare. Scripture is very clear to us as to a Christian soldier’s allegiance in this spiritual war.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 Take [with me] your share of the hardships and suffering [which you are called to endure] as a good (first-class) soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier when in service gets entangled in the enterprises of [civilian] life; his aim is to satisfy and please the one {Jesus Christ} who enlisted him {into the army of God}. AMP
The foundational and fundamental teaching from the Bible simply states the ministry of every True Believer to the peoples/sinners of the “kingdom(s) of the world” and their reluctance to acceptance our testimony and teachings. “We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical {makes no common sense, has NO logic i.e. it is plain} nonsense {insanity}.” (1 Corinthians 1:23) AMP
Notice the words of how the secular humanistic worldview perceives your testimony of the Gospel message. It is a “scandal and an offensive stumbling block, absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense” i.e. you are INSANE to believe in Christ crucified as revealed in the above verse. The word “philosophy” means a way of thinking and can be used in both profane secular humanistic worldview thinking as “worldly common sense, secular rational thinking, logic” and in the spiritual supernatural Kingdom of God Biblical Christian Worldview thinking as having and using the spiritual supernatural “sound mind of Christ” to understand and spiritually and supernaturally apply the Scriptures in one’s life.
In the above verse, the gentiles were the Greeks and others who searched all the known physical mysteries of man and nature, and to them, the preaching and teaching of how a spiritual, invisible, and seemingly unknowable God Who became man, died on the cross for man’s sins, was buried in a grave, rose from the dead on the third day, and ascended into heaven was a scandal and an offensive stumbling block, absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense i.e. literally insane thinking on the part of anyone who believed such gibberish because it made no literal worldly common sense to them! It was not logical, it had no rational thinking from their worldly point of view! Our Brother Paul was very good in revealing the true philosophy of the living loving God into this insane and unphilosophical nonsense to his listeners. Listen to his witness:
Acts 17:22-31 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone — an image {idol} made by man’s design and skill.
30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” NIV
Remember Paul’s testifying before Agrippa, the Roman King and Festus, the Roman governor of Judea in Acts 26? Paul was sharing with him the spiritual supernatural mystical appearance of Jesus to him on the road to Damascus and at this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.” (Acts 26:24) NIV Festus could not comprehend Paul’s testimony of the spiritual message of the Gospel that he was sharing with him. He, not Paul, was spiritually discerned i.e. while he could mentally think/reason in the profane secular humanistic worldview, he did not have a clue as to spiritual supernatural Kingdom of God thinking! He not Paul, was the one who was insane in his thinking about God and the things of God!
This profane secular humanistic worldview has not changed! As you present your testimony of Jesus Christ and His miracles and work in your changed life to those whom God has sent you, many will reject you, scoff at you, make fun of your faith in the true, living, and loving God and Jesus Christ – “Oh, I really feel so sorry for you. Poor thing! Why do you need a mystical crutch in your life? Well, I do not! I can stand on my own two feet – thank you!” But let that not intimidate nor stop you! Continue to share Christ’s testimony in your life as God leads, live your life so that it reflects Him, always rejoicing, and never stop giving God glory, honor, praise, and thanks in your testimony.
Matthew 10:16-20 Persecutions Are Coming (Mark 13:9-13; Luke 21:12-17) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves {in the “kingdom(s) of the world”} Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you. NKJV
Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Meditate on These Things. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things. NKJV
Let’s continue with several illuminating Scripture texts that will discern for you the difference between this scandal of ludicrous worldly thinking, this mentally offensive stumbling block, this absurd and utterly unphilosophical spiritual nonsense, this insanity, this PLAIN WRONG POLITICALLY INCORRECT THINKING! This is the same common sense/rational thinking which the Bible calls “earthly demonic thinking” that you and I had before we were “Born Again.” Now let’s compare it to the Spirit led philosophical spiritual supernatural Biblical worldview – the way your spiritual sound mind and spiritual heart should be set on God and the Kingdom of God – Christ’s Bride Church here on earth. Listen to what they say in your mind-set and in your spiritual heart. Let God speak to you through them! Ask Him how He would have you apply them to your physical and spiritual worldview of your life and the life of your family as He reveals His spiritual supernatural Kingdom of God Biblical Christian Worldview.
James 3:15 This wisdom {man’s logic, reasoning, common sense} does not descend from above {from God}, but is earthly{/of the earth}, sensual{/of the flesh}, demonic {/inspired by Satan}. NKJV
Most of these texts were written by our Brother Paul who of all of Christ’s followers was the best taught and trained in Jewish Law and Roman tradition. It took God 14 years from the time of his conversion (33-34 A.D.) to transform and renew his mindset and spiritual heart from his physical secular worldview to the spiritual supernatural Kingdom of God Biblical Christian Worldview to prepare him for his first missionary mission (47-48 A.D.).
Galatians 2:1 Defending the Gospel (cf. Acts 15:1-21) Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. NKJV
I have used these Scripture texts throughout “The MYSTERY of the KINGDOMS REVEALED – PART I” and “The MYSTERY of the KINGDOMS REVEALED – PART II,” but I will now put them into an order so you can see and hear what they have to say and apply these Kingdom of God teachings to your life.
In this first Scripture, Jesus makes it very clear as to where His Kingdom is. Jesus Christ is the very embodiment, personification, example of His Kingdom – where He is, it is with Him!
John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom (kingship, royal power) belongs not to this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My followers would have been fighting to keep Me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, My kingdom is not from here (this world); [it has no such origin or source]. AMP
As Christians, we must remember that He and His Father and the Holy Spirit – the Godhead – live in each truly “Born Again” Christian. That being the case, if Jesus lives in each of His adopted children, then His spiritual supernatural Kingdom is spiritually within us individually and spiritually among us corporately as His Bride Church.
John 14:23 Jesus answered, If a person {true Christian} [really] loves Me, he will keep My word [obey My teaching] {as found in the Bible}; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home (abode, special dwelling place) with him. AMP How?
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know {Christian} that your body is the temple (the very sanctuary) of the Holy Spirit Who lives within you, Whom you have received [as a Gift] from God? You are not your own, AMP
Colossians 2:10 And you are in Him {Christ}, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead–Father, Son and Holy Spirit–and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. AMP
Luke 17:21 {Jesus Said} Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you {individually} [in your hearts] and among you {corporately as Christ’s Bride Church} [surrounding you]. AMP
This being true that God’s Kingdom lives within us individually and among us corporately, we must use the spiritually “sound mind of Christ” to find out as much as we possibly can about it.
Jeremiah 33:3 {God speaking to those who are righteous} ‘Ask me and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here.’ TLB
We MUST be aware that Satan will try to tempt us to go back to his “kingdom(s) of the world” which we must NOT do! Jesus taught us to pray asking God how to do His will within His Kingdom here on earth, and that wherever He is there is His spiritual supernatural Kingdom of God and Its power and glory forever!
1 John 2:15-17 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]–these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. 17And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever. AMP
Romans 8:5-8, 12-14 For those {unrepentant sinners} who are {living their lives} according to the flesh {humanistic secular “kingdom(s) of the world” old way} set their minds on the things of the flesh {see 1 John 2:15-16 above}, but those who are according to the Spirit {spiritual supernatural}, the things of the Spirit {Kingdom of God}. 6 For the {humanistic secular} mind set on the flesh {“kingdom(s) of the world”} is death, but the {spiritual supernatural} mind set on the Spirit {and the Kingdom of God} is life and peace, 7 because the {sinful} mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God {the Ten Commandments; the Law of Christ}, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh {“kingdom(s) of the world”} cannot please God. 12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh {the way we used to in the “kingdom(s) of the world”} — 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit {in the Kingdom of God} you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons {and daughters} of God. NASU
Matthew 6:9-10, 13 {Jesus said} Pray, therefore, like this: Our Father Who is in heaven, hallowed (kept holy) be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth {now TODAY} as it is in heaven.
13 And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one {Satan and his “kingdom(s) of the world”}. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. AMP
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV
Think about how Jesus said to ask His Father in our prayer to Him – “Your kingdom come, Your will be done {NOW} on earth as it is in heaven. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” How are we going to know how to incorporate this spiritual thinking/revelation into our physical life?
The following text reveals the searching of God the Holy Spirit within the Godhead and His revealing God’s thinking to us – His adopted children and to which realm it reveals and for us to apply our thinking. Remember that, “A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers. God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality). (John 4:23-24) AMP What is the mystery of the spiritual truth that the Holy Spirit will reveal?
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 For the story and message of the cross is sheer absurdity and folly to those who are perishing and on their way to perdition, but to us who are being saved it is the [manifestation of] the power of God. For it is written, I {God the Holy Spirit} will baffle and render useless and destroy the learning of the learned and the philosophy of the philosophers and the cleverness of the clever and the discernment of the discerning {with all of their common sense, rational thinking, reasoning, logic}; I will frustrate and nullify [them] and bring [them] to nothing. [Isa 29:14.]
Where is the wise man (the philosopher)? Where is the scribe (the scholar)? Where is the investigator (the logician, the debater) of this present time and age {in the “kingdom(s) of the world”}? Has not God shown up the nonsense and the folly of this world’s wisdom? For when the world with all its earthly wisdom failed to perceive and recognize and know God by means of its own philosophy, God in His wisdom was pleased through the foolishness of preaching [salvation, procured by Christ and to be had through Him], to save those who believed (who clung to and trusted in and relied on Him).
For while Jews [demandingly] ask for signs and miracles and Greeks pursue philosophy and wisdom, We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense. But to those who are called, whether Jew or Greek (Gentile), Christ [is] the Power of God and the Wisdom of God. [This is] because the foolish thing [that has its source in] God is wiser than men, and the weak thing [that springs] from God is stronger than men. For [simply] consider your own call, brethren; not many [of you were considered to be] wise according to human estimates and standards, not many influential and powerful, not many of high and noble birth.
[No] for God selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is foolish to put the wise to shame, and what the world calls weak to put the strong to shame. And God also selected (deliberately chose) what in the world is lowborn and insignificant and branded and treated with contempt, even the things that are nothing, that He might depose and bring to nothing the things that are, So that no mortal man should [have pretense for glorying and] boast in the presence of God.
But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin]. So then, as it is written, Let him who boasts and proudly rejoices and glories, boast and proudly rejoice and glory in the Lord. [Jer 9:24.] AMP
We have another text wherein Paul humbly but yet boldly proclaims the mystery of God’s plan of salvation along with revealing the mystery of God’s wisdom and power to obtain it. He also shares with us the “workings” of God the Holy Spirit to help us to understand the spiritual supernatural Kingdom of God by now using our spiritual supernatural “sound mind of Christ” to discern the differences between these two kingdoms.
1 Corinthians 2:1-16 “AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you. And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.
“Yet when we are among the full-grown (spiritually mature Christians who are ripe in understanding), we do impart a [higher] wisdom (the knowledge of the divine plan previously hidden); but it is indeed not a wisdom of this present age or of this world{’s physical kingdoms} nor of the leaders and rulers of this age, who are being brought to nothing and are doomed to pass away. But rather what we are setting forth is a wisdom of {the Kingdom of} God once hidden [from the human understanding] and now revealed to us by God — [that wisdom] which God devised and decreed before the ages for our glorification [to lift us into the glory of His presence].
“None of the rulers of this age or world perceived and recognized and understood this, for if they had, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, on the contrary, as the Scripture says, What eye has not seen and ear has not heard and has not entered into the heart of man, [all that] God has prepared (made and keeps ready) for those who love Him [who hold Him in affectionate reverence, promptly obeying Him and gratefully recognizing the benefits He has bestowed]. [Isaiah 64:4; 65:17.]
“Yet to us God has unveiled and revealed them by and through His Spirit, for the [Holy] Spirit searches diligently, exploring and examining everything, even sounding the profound and bottomless things of God [the divine counsels and things hidden and beyond man’s scrutiny]. For what person perceives (knows and understands) what passes through a man’s thoughts except the man’s own spirit within him? Just so no one discerns (comes to know and comprehend) the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
“Now we have not received the spirit [that belongs to] the world (revealing worldly {demonic} wisdom), but the [Holy] Spirit Who is from God, [given to us] that we might realize and comprehend and appreciate the gifts [of divine favor and blessing so freely and lavishly] bestowed on us by God. And we are setting these truths forth in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the [Holy] Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual truths with spiritual language [to those who possess the Holy Spirit].
“But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned {spiritually hampered}and estimated {unable to spiritually assess and process} and appreciated {They are unable to spiritually understand God and the Kingdom of God.}. But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him].
“For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.” [Isaiah 40:13.] AMP
Paul continues to share with us how to continually “walk in our faith” in Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God, and to make sure that no one leads us astray in our faith. He calls us to stay away from the so called philosophy of worldly intellectualism and the vain deception of human tradition in the physical secular “kingdom(s) of the world.”
Colossians 2:6-8 “As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him. Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.
“See to it that no one carries you off as spoil or makes you yourselves captive by his so-called philosophy and intellectualism and vain deceit (idle fancies and plain nonsense), following human tradition (men’s ideas of the material world rather than the spiritual world), just crude notions following the rudimentary and elemental teachings of the {secular humanistic “kingdom(s) of the world”} universe and disregarding [the {spiritual supernatural} teachings of] Christ (the Messiah) {and His Kingdom of God teachings}.” AMP
Paul continues to share the necessity of our continuing to put the philosophical secular and “kingdom(s) of the world” thinking in the proper context within our minds. The spiritually “sound mind of Christ” will help you to become “wise” in your thinking in BOTH the spiritual supernatural Kingdom of God and the “kingdom(s) of the world.”
1 Corinthians 3:18-21 “Let no person deceive himself. If anyone among you supposes that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [let him discard his worldly discernment and recognize himself as dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship], that he may become [really] {spiritually} wise. [Isaiah 5:21.] For this world’s {earthly, demonic} wisdom is foolishness (absurdity and stupidity) with God, for it is written, He {God} lays hold of the wise in their [own] craftiness; [Job 5:13.] And again, The Lord knows the thoughts and {rational, logical} reasonings of the [humanly] wise and recognizes how futile they are. [Psalms 94:11.] So let no one exult proudly concerning men [boasting of having this or that man as a leader], for all things are yours {in the spiritual supernatural Kingdom of God}.” AMP
Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
Paul now asks an age old question that I also constantly wonder, “IF YOU KNOW ALL OF THESE THINGS, WHY DO YOU LIVE AS IF YOU STILL BELONG TO THE “KINGDOM(S) OF THE WORLD”?” Your life cannot reflect Jesus Christ as your personal Savior if you live your daily life the SAME as BEFORE you were saved? Where is your “fresh and new” spiritual supernatural “STANDARD” representing the Kingdom of God?
Colossians 2:20-23 “If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism {your outward appearance/piety/ holiness as a Christian}, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations? — such as] Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them], Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines {of the “kingdom(s) of the world” teachings}. [Isaiah 29:13.] Such [practices] have indeed the outward appearance [that popularly passes] for wisdom, in promoting self-imposed rigor of devotion and delight in self-humiliation and severity of discipline of the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh (the lower nature). [Instead, they do not honor God but serve only to indulge the flesh.]” AMP
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new {spiritual} creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new {spiritual supernatural nature} has come! AMP
The above text involves the traditions and values of men in the “kingdom(s) of the world”, but we need to remember what Jesus said about man’s tradition, “Thus you nullify the word of God {about His spiritual supernatural Kingdom} by your {“kingdom(s) of the world”} tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.” (Mark 7:13) NIV
