The Kingdom Within Past articles have focused primarily on “The Divine Indwelling,” which refers to the Holy Spirit abiding on the inside of the believer. The evidence of God’s Spirit residing on the inside of us can and should be seen through a variety of ways. Apostle Paul reminds us, “The kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” We now possess and are to be possessed by God’s righteousness, peace, and joy by virtue of the Kingdom being within us. Jesus primarily taught two realms of the Kingdom: the Kingdom within and the Kingdom “at hand,” or around us. There are various passages in the Gospel accounts where we find this revealed. God’s Kingdom is in us and needs to be demonstrated outwardly. Ultimately, this involves the work of the Holy Spirit. The “Divine Indwelling” is essential if we are going to demonstrate the Kingdom to a lost and hurting world. Clearly, two ways in which the Kingdom is revealed through our lives include both the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit. If we are “led by the Spirit,” we will not “fulfill the lust the flesh” (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16). In other words, we will not portray behavior that is contrary to God and doesn’t (and cannot) please Him. The presence of the Holy Spirit and Kingdom of God will influence the way we think, and this will be manifested through the corresponding action seen in our lives. To be sure, there are many things that can and will hinder this manifestation. Just as we are admonished to “give no place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27), we are likewise warned to “make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:14). The need for surrender has been discussed previously. The degree to which we yield to the Spirit determines the degree to which we will manifest the Kingdom of God outwardly. Though it is possible to put on a “mask” or act a particular way when we around certain people, sooner or later what is inside will be revealed in our character, behavior, and even relationships. If we truly desire to manifest God’s Kingdom in our lives, we must submit to the “Divine Indwelling”! The fruit and gifts become the natural outpouring. We do not have to “work” at being more like Christ. We simply must learn to yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to glorify the Lord in our daily walk. Paul urged believers to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). This is best accomplished as we experience God’s presence in our daily lives and learn the fine art of submission to the Spirit; for just as the Son of God came to glorify the Father, the Holy Spirit has come to glorify the Son. If you feel as though this message has spoken to you, then you’ll definitely want to read the upcoming blog as well. Next time we will discuss what may well be the number one hindrance to the manifestation of God’s Kingdom in and through our lives. Until then . . . Grace & peace, pg