Do you believe in Kingdom living? Do you know what it is? How many times did Jesus say, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand?” What does it mean to live the Kingdom of Heaven? Who really cares? He does!

I want to start out with a scripture. 2 Timothy 3 Godlessness in the Last Days But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to acknowledge the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.

Paul’s Charge to Timothy You, however, know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Jesus mentions Kingdom of Heaven at least 32 times in Matthew alone. I think that He thinks it is important.

Let’s look again at the passage above and also go back to Chapter 2. If you don’t have a bible just click on the link and go back one chapter. Who was He talking about? I used to think that He was talking about people in the world, but He wasn’t. As we look deeper into the passage above and Chapter 2, it is very clear that He is talking about people who claim to follow Jesus Christ, otherwise, why would Paul include the following segment to confirm what he was really saying? “. . . having a form of godliness but denying its power . . . ” There is a revelation here for anyone who has eyes to see and wants to see. It is a picture of the Church.

If we study the previous Chapter 2 we get some wonderful instructions from Paul on how we are to to live and share. It bears further study but that is not my intention in this post.

What is the Kingdom of Heaven? How is Jesus going to establish His Kingdom here on the earth? He is going to establish it through His people, His glorious Church. Did you know the word Church is not meant to refer to a building? It consist of His believers. “To the Church in Laodicea; to the Church in Ephesus; to the Church . . .” Revelation 2 & 3, Jesus is referring to the believers in Laodicea; to the believers in Ephesus and so on. Each group of believers was responsible as a whole for their particular city and/or region. Today we are so split up that all we have are quarrels. Help us Lord Jesus. We are so fragmented.

Jesus is coming back for a Bride without spot or blemish. These are those who have cleansed themselves by His blood. They have received His forgiveness and applied His blood to their lives and they have been washed as white as snow, period. There is no other way. Jesus talks about those who are invited to the banquet. They are given garments. They are the garments of righteousness. We must receive His righteousness because our works are as filthy rags. What happened to the man who wasn’t wearing the wedding garment? He was cast out.

Now let’s get back to the subject of Church. When I talk about Church, I am referring to those who are believers of Jesus Christ. When I am speaking about fellowships, I am referring to different local bodies of believers who generally meet in a certain building. According to the passage above, there are many fellowships and leaders who have a form of godliness but deny the power, the power of the Lord.

When I was young in the Lord I believed a lot of the things that were told to me from older Christians and leaders. When I got older, I found out a lot of the things they had told me were not true. This was in some denominational fellowships. It almost shipwrecked my faith, however the Lord used this to bring me closer to Himself. There are a lot of fellowships and leaders that have a part of the truth. There are some fellowships and organizations that have a whole lot of the truth and are truly seeking more. It is our responsibility, as was Timothy’s to search after the truth and walk in it.

There are some fellowships in different places around the world that are operating in the power of Holy Spirit. Miracles are happening all around them. God’s grace is so abounding that people are getting set free from things that have bound them for years. They are seeing visions, getting revelations and living in a whole new realm. Some fellowships are saying that this is of the enemy. This is blasphemy. Blasphemy is calling the workings of the Holy Spirit the workings of the devil. The devil doesn’t like the power of God. It exposes Him. Religious people don’t like the moving of Holy Spirit either, because it exposes their motives and rituals.

Now, let’s tie this all back together again. Jesus preached the Kingdom of Heaven and everywhere He went were healings, casting out of demons, and miracles. He walked in the power of Holy Spirit. The early disciples walked in the power of Holy Spirit. It has happened through the centuries and is today. Holy Spirit doesn’t stop moving. Unfortunately, some of the fellowships who have seen some of the greatest miracles in their past are currently the ones who are trying to stop the current moves. They get jealous and envious because they camped liked the Israelites in the desert and wouldn’t go on into more of what the Lord had intended. When we walk with God, we do exactly that. We walk. Sometimes we can camp for a while, but then it is time to move on. The Lord has consistently brought back revelations of His truth to His Church throughout the ages. Some have gone on, while others have chosen to sit and camp and carve an idol of the revelation they received instead of incorporating it into their life and then adding the next one and the next one.

My friend, don’t settle for less than the Lord has for you. Don’t settle for anything less than to hear the Lord say to you when you stand before Him, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Anything else is too high of a price to pay. I would rather be alone for the few years I live on this earth than to live in eternity with a disappointment I could have avoided.

The truth is that Jesus Christ is alive. He cares for you and me. He died to set us free from death and sin. If we were the only one alive, He would have stilled died for us. He’s the One who is tugging at your heart right now. He loves you so much. It doesn’t matter if you don’t like me or believe me, but don’t miss Him or His love. I am at best a human being with all of my weaknesses and failures. If I’ve done anything right at all, it is simply to have chosen to follow Him. In that one decision alone, I have the victory and you can too. Just ask Him. Write to me if you want and I’ll help as much as I can, but get to know Him.

Joseph James