The Kingdom of God Is in Your Midst (Luke 17:21– NIV)
- Laestadian Lutheran
- Feb 26
- 22 min read
Carey Simonson | 2026 LLC Phoenix Winter Services - Congregation Evening – Feb. 20 --
The kingdom of God is a very important topic. God’s kingdom is described throughout the Bible and in many articles and sermons. In fact, we could say that every sermon reveals something about God’s kingdom, and God’s kingdom is mentioned by name in most sermons. Furthermore, Jesus used many parables to illustrate the kingdom of God. He told His disciples: “The secret (or mystery) of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables” (Mark 4:11 NIV) Therefore, many of you have heard much about God’s kingdom and you already know the mysteries of God’s kingdom. I hope this presentation will answer to your experience in God’s kingdom. To you on the outside of God’s kingdom, it is my prayer that God, through this presentation, would reveal God’s kingdom to you.
I have broken this presentation into several sections. Since Jesus spoke these words (“The kingdom of God is in your midst”) to the Pharisees, we will first review who the Pharisees were. We will then consider the meaning of the second petition of the Lord’s Prayer: Thy kingdom come. After this, we will consider: How can one see God’s kingdom? Where is God’s kingdom?, and finally, we will touch on the topics of False teachers, righteousness of life and the mission of the LLC as they relate to our topic.
Pharisees
The title of this presentation comes from a conversation that Jesus had with the Pharisees and is recorded in the gospel of St. Luke, the 17th chapter, verses 20 and 21.I will read from the New International Version (NIV). “Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”” (Luke 17:20-21 NIV)
As we begin, I thought it would be good to consider who the Pharisees were and why Jesus would have answered in this way, especially to them. The Pharisees were a group of religiously devout Jews who followed the written law of Moses and hundreds of other traditions that had been added over the centuries. They attempted to strictly follow these laws and traditions and believed in the righteousness of the law. (Phil. 3:6) Jesus called the Pharisees hypocrites because they didn’t practice what they preached. Compared to the Sadducees, which were mainly from the educated upper class, the Pharisees had widespread popular support among the common Jewish people. We may ask if there are religious teachers in our time that have widespread popular support among the common people. What would Jesus say to them? Jesus told the Pharisees: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15 NIV)
Thy kingdom come
Jesus taught His followers to pray quietly and humbly to the Heavenly Father rather than in the loud and proud manner of the hypocrites. He taught them to pray: “Thy kingdom come” (Matt. 6:10 KJV). Luther explains in his small Catechism that “the kingdom of God comes indeed of itself, without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come unto us also”. In his explanation of the 3rd article of the Creed, Luther writes in a similar way: “I believe that I cannot of my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Ghost has called me through the Gospel”. We see that we cannot approach God, but God approaches us. He comes to us. God’s kingdom does not come because of our prayer or efforts; it is a gift of God. It is good to pray that God’s kingdom would come close to us and support us personally in our moments of trial, sorrow, and joy. It makes our trials lighter and our joys more meaningful. Most importantly, it is from here within God’s kingdom that the Holy Spirit does His work of calling the seeking to a place of repentance and leading His own to live as children of God. Thereby making us Holy or sanctifying us unto God.
Luther further explains how God’s kingdom comes. It comes “when our Heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His Holy Word, and live a godly life here on earth, and in Heaven forever. ” This aligns with Jesus’ teaching. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the gospel!” (Mark 1:15 NIV,KJV) There is only one door into God’s kingdom. It is the narrow door of repentance where a sinner receives new birth when they hear and believe their sins forgiven and enter God’s kingdom, exchanging sin for grace, darkness for light, and unrest for peace. They become citizens of God’s kingdom. (Philippians 3:20) There is only one saving faith and this saving faith is found in God’s kingdom. As Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” (Eph. 4:4-6 NIV).
Luther stated that those in God’s kingdom “live a godly life here on earth”. We will return to this topic of living a godly life later in the presentation. For now, we can agree that dwelling in God’s kingdom is more important than anything else. As Jesus taught, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33 NIV) God’s kingdom is the everlasting kingdom that the former saints sang and wrote about. As the Psalm writer wrote: “Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.” (Psalms 145:13 NIV). Isn’t it a miracle that God’s kingdom has come to you personally and that you can personally travel in its care and protection. This you own simply by faith, by believing! “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Eph. 2:8 KJV) SHZ 428 aptly states: “2. These arms are Your blest kingdom / in which You lift and bear, / this home that You provide them / where they receive Your care. 3. And there the Word of mercy / with love and truth abides; / the wisdom of the Spirit / is always as a guide.” May we be preserved in this kingdom of grace.
How can one see (recognize) God’s kingdom?
Since God’s kingdom is such a special place, we might ask: how can we see or recognize God’s kingdom? How is God’s kingdom revealed? There are many ways in which God’s kingdom approaches people or is revealed in this dark world. In this section, we will touch on only a few. We will hear how God’s kingdom can be seen by eyes of faith, by birth, and through important characteristics like love and forgiveness. As you listen, you may recall personal experiences where God revealed His kingdom to you or to others. You can share these in your homes and your personal conversations as God allows. It is important to emphasize that seeing or experiencing God’s kingdom is a gift of God. Only God can reveal His kingdom. Only God can enlighten one to see the beauty of His kingdom. It is written in Ecclesiastes: “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)
By eyes of faith: The Pharisees had asked Jesus when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus answered: “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed”. God’s kingdom cannot be seen with natural eyes. It can only be seen by eyes of faith. Jesus told His disciples: “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” (Matthew 13:16-17 NIV)
By birth: Most, but not all, children born in the world automatically become citizens of some country, depending on their place of birth and their parents. However, all children born into this world are born as citizens of God’s kingdom, regardless of where they are born or who their parents are. Jesus says that God has “hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.” (Matt. 11:25 NIV). SHZ 394 beautifully relates: “Before my birth, Creator, before I was conceived, You knew my name and called me a child that You redeemed.” Many children are nurtured by believing parents who are also citizens of God’s kingdom and in the love and unity of God’s congregation. On the other hand, many children are raised by those who are not citizens of God’s kingdom. These children are citizens of God’s kingdom, even without a close physical connection with a local congregation. Unfortunately, many children leave their childhood faith and God’s kingdom as they grow and mature. Only God, who is king of His kingdom, knows when this takes place. A person may return to God’s kingdom through the gospel of forgiveness of sins preached from God’s kingdom. This is called new birth as Jesus explained to Nicodemus: “No one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again” (John 3:3 NIV) “New birth means receiving faith and becoming a child of God. Only faith opens one’s understanding to see the kingdom of God in the midst of people here in time.” (The Treasure Hidden in a Field) also Psalm 87:5-16.
Love: After the last supper, Jesus told His disciples: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35 NIV). This love among citizens of God’s kingdom is like a sign that reveals God’s kingdom (SHZ 195). God can use this sign to reveal His kingdom to those who are seeking. The love within God’s kingdom shines as a light into this dark world.
One might ask, what is this love? John answers: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” (1 John 4:10 NIV). Here we see that the love that is within God’s kingdom is first love from God. Through faith, this love of God ignites love within us. God’s love creates within us both love for God and love for His creation, including other people, especially those in God’s kingdom (Gal. 6:10). John writes: “For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20 NIV). Jesus taught that “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23 KJV) Here again we see that God and His kingdom come to us. If we love Jesus, we will follow His teachings, including His command to love one another (John 13:34).
Here in God’s kingdom there is love and unity of the Holy Spirit. It is true love: “not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” (1 John 3:18 NIV) As believers we can feel this love, sometimes weakly, sometimes intensely. Unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to explain this love to one outside of God’s kingdom. Fortunately, we don’t need to explain it to someone within God’s kingdom.
Forgiveness: Jesus told His disciples “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47 KJV) We can say that another sign of God’s kingdom is the gospel of the forgiveness of sins. The believers in Accra, Ghana (also Lome, Togo) have these words on their church “Temple Of Forgiveness Of Sins”. Jesus told Peter: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-19 NIV) The same gospel of the forgiveness of sins that opens the door to God’s kingdom to a penitent sinner is the same forgiveness that helps preserve living faith in the hearts of the citizens of God’s kingdom. Jesus washed His disciples’ feet as a picture of forgiveness. He said: “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. ” (John 13:14 KJV). Jesus taught us to forgive each other. Forgiveness is so important that Jesus taught that God will not forgive us if we don’t forgive others. “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15 NIV)
The Pharisees once asked Jesus: “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” (Luke 5:21 NIV). Today, we may hear the same question when we explain that God’s children forgive sins though the power of the Holy Spirit. This is a mystery that can only be understood through faith. We sing in SHZ 409: “And flesh shall never understand / that God such power gave to man. / The lowly servant Christ has sent / is but His humble instrument.”
By the Triune God: Although God has given many signs of His kingdom and has set His Holy Congregation as a light in this world, God’s kingdom can only be revealed by the Triune God. Jesus taught: “no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” (John 6:65 NIV) Luther writes in his explanation of the 3rd Article of the Creed in the Small Catechism: “I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel”. We don’t know unto whom God will reveal His kingdom. We don’t know how God will reveal His kingdom or how His kingdom will approach a lost one, such as a spouse, a parent, a child, a family member, a fellow student, a colleague at work, a neighbor across the street, or a stranger in a faraway country. Therefore, we desire to simply live as we believe in this world and pray that our weak light of faith would cause someone to ask about God’s kingdom. If we are asked, may we always be ready to give an answer with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). We also desire to preach God’s Word according to the Mission Command (Matthew 28:19-20) to our loved ones, neighbors and throughout the world as God allows. We don’t know who or how God will call, but we do know that God is still calling. It is still a day of work (John 9:4).
Where is God’s kingdom?
We now return to the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees. Jesus told the Pharisees concerning the kingdom of God: “nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst’”. Jesus was telling the Pharisees that God’s kingdom is here, on earth. God spoke to Isaiah in the same way: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15 KJV). John wrote in Revelations: “I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.” (Revelation 21:3 NIV) God’s kingdom is right here where His Holy Congregation is on earth. We might say that it is hidden in plain sight. Luther wrote: “The devil can cover it over with offenses and tumults, so that you have to take offense at it. God, too, can hide it with faults and shortcomings of all kinds, so that you become a fool and pass such judgment on it. It will not be known by sight, but by faith, and faith concerns the things we do not see.” (Luther’s Preface to Revelations)
The Holy Spirit has separated God’s children from this world, and the same Holy Spirit can reveal God’s kingdom. Even if someone doesn’t see God’s kingdom, there are many blessings when God’s kingdom is in their midst. These are blessings from God to all people of a nation. We cannot even imagine the difficulties we would experience if God removed His blessings and protection from us, from our community or from our nation. These temporal blessings help us live a good and comfortable life here on earth. These blessings are for this life as we will discuss later in the section on righteousness of life.
False teachers
After His conversation with the Pharisees, Jesus taught His disciples about false teachers saying: “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. People will tell you, ‘There he is!’ or ‘Here he is!’ Do not go running off after them.” (Luke 17:22-23 NIV). In another place, Jesus warned His listeners about false prophets in this way: “They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:15-16 NIV). Fruits are so important that Jesus repeated this instruction a few verses later, saying: “Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:20 NIV). Meanwhile, Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount that “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt 5:3 NIV). In addition, Jesus taught that citizens of God’s kingdom are meek, yearn for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted. This does not mean, for example, that all people that are persecuted are citizens of God’s kingdom. It means that those in God’s kingdom are persecuted by the world, just as Jesus was persecuted. (John 15:19-20) Here we understand that the citizens of God’s kingdom display fruits of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23), including love and forgiveness as we already discussed. These fruits contrast with the fruits of false teachers.
Later when the disciples asked Jesus about the signs of the last times, He warned them that “there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matthew 24:23-26 KJV) It is important to have a tender ear to hear what the Spirit speaks in God’s kingdom (Revelations 2:7) because Jesus himself said “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23 NIV).
Let us take these warnings of Jesus to heart so we would not be deceived by those who appear to be teachers of God. Jesus is only found in God’s kingdom, and the true teaching only comes from God’s kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit. John taught to “not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1 NIV). Paul also taught that we should not be surprised that false prophets disguise themselves as apostles of Christ because Satan also disguises himself as an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).
Righteousness of Life
Does this mean that we should reject all teaching about God and Christian values in our schools and public institutions if the teachers are not in God’s kingdom? To answer this question, we can return to Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees. Jesus clearly taught that the Pharisees were not in God’s kingdom, and warned His listeners about them. Yet, Jesus also saw good in their teaching. Jesus told the crowds and His disciples about the Pharisees “you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” (Matthew 23:2-3 NIV) Another time, John told Jesus that “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us.” Luke records Jesus’ response in this way. “Do not stop him,” Jesus said, “for whoever is not against you is for you.” (Luke 9:49-50 NIV) We can say the same about those who teach others in our society to live a moral and Christian life based on the teaching of the Holy Bible. We do not wish to stop them. Rather, we pray that God would guide our countries, including our leaders and our neighbors, to seek God and live a correct or righteous life. The familiar proverb states: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.” (Proverbs 14:34 NIV) This righteousness is called righteousness of life. It is righteousness for this temporal life. We can also call this societal righteousness. Societal righteousness helps us live our temporal lives in peace and safety. It is not for eternity. It does not help us enter God’s kingdom.
There are many charismatic people who teach Christian values in our time. Some of these public evangelists or teachers correctly teach societal righteousness or righteousness of life even though they are not in God’s kingdom, just as the Pharisees did in Jesus’ time. We can say like Paul did about those who preach for the wrong reasons: “The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18 NIV) We can be happy that there are those who teach people to live a righteous life, but we need to remember that their teaching is for this life. Jesus’ warning to “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.“ (Matthew 16:6 KJV)” confused the disciples until they understood that Jesus meant for them to be on their guard against the doctrine or teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees. This warning is relevant today.
Social media and the internet have given evangelists, teachers or activists platforms and audiences for their teachings. In the past, if we wanted to listen to such a person, we would have needed to go to their church or to a public speaking event. God’s children have always been hesitant to attend such events and thus have been spared from many false teachings and pitfalls. Today, however, we can hear their teachings without leaving home. We can be in danger without even realizing. It is interesting to think that Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, warned Timothy of this nearly 2,000 years ago. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations” (2 Timothy 4:3-5 NIV). With the internet, it is easy for anyone to gather many teachers. We can even select teachers that suit our own desires and those that teach what we want to hear. In addition, our search engines learn our tendencies and offer the media they think we want to consume. Paul’s instruction to Timothy to “keep your head” is good instruction today. We should also avoid those places where we cannot “keep our head” or where brothers or sisters in faith have noticed that we cannot “keep our head” because of our own nature and tendencies.
When I think of religious teachers of our time. I think of what Jesus said of the Pharisees. “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20 NIV). Righteousness of life does not bring one into God’s kingdom. We could say that righteousness of faith exceeds righteousness of life. Righteousness of life is found both within and outside of God’s kingdom, but righteousness of faith is found only in God’s kingdom. In God’s kingdom, we own righteousness of faith as a gift through Christ’s merit. This righteousness is for eternal life. It is the only righteousness that is acceptable to God for salvation.
One can receive temporal blessing when God’s kingdom is in their midst even if they are not in God’s kingdom. However, one must be within God’s kingdom, a citizen of God’s kingdom, to receive spiritual blessings including eternal life in heaven. Jesus once told a scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mark 12:34 NIV) In Noah’s time, it was not enough to be near the ark, when the floods came to destroy the first world. A person needed to be in the ark to be saved. In the same way, a person must be in God’s battling kingdom here on earth to be accepted in God’s kingdom of glory in heaven and saved from endless perdition in hell. I have heard tell that there was once a person who attended the services of God’s children frequently but was not a child of God, not a citizen of God’s kingdom. One day, a believer spoke to him about the need for repentance. Unfortunately, he did not repent, and a few days later he died in a car accident. It didn’t help that he was close to God’s kingdom. He died in unbelief outside of God’s kingdom.
The captives in Babylon were encouraged by Jeremiah to work hard and to enjoy the temporal blessing in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:4-7). Yet, they prayed that God would take away these temporal blessings if they neglected God’s kingdom “If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand forget its skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not consider Jerusalem my highest joy.” (Psalms 137:5-6 NIV).
Misson of the LLC, our church
Our church has a three part mission: (1) to preach the gospel of repentance and remission of sins to all people, (2) to nurture and strengthen the faith of the believing and root our children in Christian faith in God's kingdom, and (3) to awaken and inspire Christian values and ethics, soberness of mind, love of homeland, and responsible citizenship among the people of our nations. In the final section of this presentation, we will touch on items (1) and (3) as they relate to our current topic.
Jesus said that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matthew 24:14 KJV) It is yet a time of work in God’s kingdom. This is especially evident when we hear that the Kingdom of Peace website has had over 1 billion views with over 1 million followers on Facebook. As God’s Word is preached around the globe via the internet, we acknowledge that we may never know who has heard and believed the gospel. Those who believe enter God’s kingdom. They “are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:19-20 NIV). Maybe someone has heard and believed the gospel shortly before passing from this life. Maybe someone has heard the call into God’s kingdom and believed the gospel and yet has no possibility to be nurtured and refreshed in faith other than through the sermons on the Kingdom of Peace website. We just don’t know. Only God knows. However, we believe that God will not leave any of His own alone. We also acknowledge that those who have believed the gospel and have the means and possibility to connect to other believers will eventually find God’s children. God will help them connect via the internet or find a physical congregation. They will not remain orphans. Also, their acquaintances will notice the change in their lives. The fruits of their faith will be evident. Jesus says: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16 KJV)
As we do the work of God’s kingdom, it is good to remember that we can never join with other churches in the work of God’s kingdom. There will be a continuous battle between the kingdom of God and the forces of evil until the end of time. As Daniel records: “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever.” (Daniel 2:44 NIV). Even in our mission to “awaken and inspire Christian values and ethics” God’s kingdom stands alone. “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders.” (John 18:36 NIV) We do not work with other churches even to promote righteousness of life. Although we may appreciate the work that others do to inspire Christian values and ethics, we cannot join or work with them because we know that we don’t believe the same. Jesus taught that we can never join in spiritual work with other churches. He said, “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined” and “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” (Luke 11:17,23 NIV)
As believers, we fulfill or mission to awaken and inspire Christian values and ethics by our simple confession of faith, including how we live our life, rather than through large social media followings or public events. Even as we pray that God would increase Christian values and ethics among people in our families, communities and countries, we have a more earnest prayer that God would yet call these people into His kingdom and that they could own Christ’s righteousness through faith. “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14:17 KJV) Above all, we pray that we could personally remain in His precious kingdom.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is comforting to repeat Jesus’ teaching “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21 NIV)
It seems appropriate to recall Jesus’ warnings that “many false prophets will appear and deceive many people” and “because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold”, while taking comfort in His promise “but the one who stands firm (or endures) to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 24:11-13 NIV)
Although we may doubt and have weak faith, it is enough that we are still on the journey to heaven in the kingdom of grace here on earth. As Paul wrote: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV) We can be content that “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16 NIV)
Jesus said “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32 KJV) and “upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18 KJV) We can firmly trust that if we endure to the end of our lives in the safety of God’s kingdom, which is “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15 KJV), we will reach our goal of eternal life in heaven. One day this battling kingdom will be lifted to heaven as a kingdom of glory. There, with new tongues, we can praise God forever for the gift of His kingdom.
Discussion Questions:
How can one see (or recognize) God’s kingdom? How does God reveal His kingdom?
Where is God’s kingdom?
Do you have any personal experiences that you could share where God has revealed His kingdom to you or to others? Explain what happened and how it made you feel.
When Jesus was on earth, he engaged in many conversations with and about the Pharisees, including the statement “The kingdom of God is in your midst.” What does this statement and other conversations Jesus had with the Pharisees teach us today?
Do you have any experiences with false teachers that you could share? Where have you heard them teach? In what ways have you interacted with them? How did you realize that they were false teachers? Why are false teachers dangerous?
Why do you think that Luther connects the request in the Lord’s Prayer “Thy kingdom come” to living a godly life here on earth, and in Heaven forever?
What does righteousness of life or societal righteousness mean to you?
Over your lifetime, do you feel that societal righteousness has increased or decreased? What specific examples could you share to show why you feel this way?
Jesus says “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4 NIV). What does the statement “it is yet a time of work in God’s kingdom” mean to you?
How might a believer awaken and inspire Christian values and ethics among the people of our nations?