The Kingdom within

Parables. Have you ever wondered why God would send His Son to speak in parables to a people who did not understand them? Some would say that was counterproductive, and that the Father should have given understanding so that the people could enter the kingdom of God.

After Jesus told a large crowd the parable of the Sewer and the Seed, His disciples asked Him to explain it to them. Jesus said “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables . . .” (Lk 8:10). There weren’t many who understood what Jesus was telling them.

Jesus didn’t just speak in parables to the people. He also preached, such as in the Sermon on the Mount. And what He became most famous for was doing miracles. If we take a close look at those 12 disciples of Jesus we see that Jesus not only gave them understanding of the “secrets of the kingdom” contained in the parables, but He gave them authority to preach, heal and cast out demons (Lk 9:1-2). The parables contained the keys to understanding the kingdom of God. The gifts were the works done in the kingdom.

Jesus told the religious leaders of His time that they would not be able see the kingdom of God “with careful observation”, but that it was “within you.” Before we can work in the kingdom, we have to establish it within.

Some of our current religious leaders say that signs and wonders, healing and prophecy are evidence that the kingdom of God is here. However, God does not want miracle-workers who do not have the understanding of the kingdom of God, and its Life working within them. In explaining the parable of the Sewer and the Seed, Jesus told His disciples that the man with good soil was one who “hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Mt 13:23). The fruit born from the understanding of God’s ways comes from the Life of the Word.

God wants us to bear fruit, as well as walk in the power of the Spirit. He does not want the power to precede the establishment of the Kingdom within us. There was a man named Simon, a sorcerer who became a Christian. Simon so admired the real display of God’s power through the Christians that he offered the apostles money to purchase the ability to lay hands on people so that they would receive the Holy Spirit through him. (Acts 8:9-24). Peter rebuked Simon, telling him that his heart was not right.

Simon had not yet established the Kingdom of God within his heart. It takes time and mentoring to hear the word of God, understand the principles of the kingdom of God, and through obedience to bear fruit. Yet many religious giants now days are encouraging young Christians to believe for works of great power. Shall they believe for the works of the Kingdom who do not have the Kingdom established within themselves?

I believe that Jesus spoke in parables so that only those who sincerely wanted to have His Kingdom within them would be mentored, and then given authority and power to lead others. The Holy Spirit had not been released yet. After the release of the Holy Spirit, men were taught by Him (Jn 14:26) and with the Spirit and the Word together, understanding grew in their hearts about the Kingdom of God.

John warns us that “anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God: whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. (2 Jn 1:9). Perhaps we need to mature in our knowledge of Him Whom we serve, and grow in His ways, having His Kingdom grow in us, before we run to do mighty works. It is a sobering thought that, even though we cast out demons, perform miracles, and prophesy in His name, we may not have spent enough time with Jesus to have a personal relationship with Him (Mt. 7:21-23). He is looking for a relationship with us . . . one that bears fruit over time. The relationship establishes the kingdom inside of us, and the fruit we bear establishes our heart in the out-working of that kingdom through love, honoring the Father and the Son, giving to others by the strength, power, gifts and calling that is upon each and every one of our lives. Today, let us build up His kingdom within us first, bearing the fruit of obedience to His Word. From that inner relationship with Christ, an out-working of His kingdom and power will come. Amen.