“For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17)

The Glory of God brings the fullness of the Kingdom of God into our midst. Heaven is not a doctrine, it’s a reality. Actually, its an entire realm of reality where the spiritual can become as comfortable and natural as home. The key is to gain a knowledge of the Glory of God by experience and fellowship in the Holy Spirit. Jesus instructed us to become invested in this reality, by teaching us how to pray. “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:10). He called us to pull heaven into earth… into our daily routine.

How close is the Kingdom of Heaven today?

Jesus said repent, or change the way you think; because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (Mt. 4:17). And then He demonstrated its effect on natural reality (Mt. 4:23-25). Can you imagine that? Stretch out your hand. Contemplate the distance from your heart to your finger tips… believe and set your mind to receive – and welcome Him. You will immediately find a door open to you for fellowship. Can you feel that? God has come near by the Holy Spirit. That’s at least how close the Kingdom is to you every day. When we welcome the Presence of God, the Kingdom comes and something begins to shift or make room.

When God’s People seek Him with all of their heart, they are promised to find Him and experience the process of being brought back from captivity (Jer. 29:11-14). What is capturing your heart? God has a better plan and thoughts of a better future! Recognize that the entry of the Kingdom will create space for dwelling. The Holy Spirit will brood over you for access. As you seek Him with a humble posture He will draw near and manifest Himself as Deliverer, Savior and Lord. This process moves out sin, stagnation, religion and anything else that stands in it’s way… in order to create habitation for His Glory (Eph. 2:22)(Jn. 14:23)(Acts 2:12-16). You and I were made for this kind of fullness!

The Church’s Destiny:

It’s time that the Church moves into the fullness of the Kingdom and finds her destiny in God. Scripture tells us that “the Glory of the latter house will be greater than the former” (Hag. 2:9). A lot of people go around looking for the perfect church. They will never find it. God doesn’t promise us that the latter house will be greater. He says that the Glory of the latter house will be greater! Don’t look for the greater house, look for the greater Glory!

Don’t look for the greater house – look for the greater Glory! “For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.” (Hab. 2:14)

What kind of a Church is Jesus looking for? Scripture tells us that He is looking for a Glorious Church (Eph. 5:27). Glorious means “filled with Glory”. At the dedication of the Temple, after Solomon prayed, the Bible says that “fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the Glory of the Lord filled the Temple. And the priests could not enter the House of the Lord, because the Glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s House” (2 Chron. 7:1). I believe that God wants His Church to look like that! Do you think the world will notice the Church if the Glory of God falls on us to that degree? I believe the day is coming when the world will see the Glory of the Lord upon the Church.

• Listen to these words… “Arise, shine, for your light has come! And the Glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His Glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising” (Isa. 60:1-2).

When the Glory shines upon you, people will notice… nothing will remain the same!

He wants to give us a greater and greater understanding of the Glory, so that we can walk in the fullness of His Kingdom. One of the firsts steps we must take is to realize the power of the cross and the victory that was won there. We must realize that without the sacrifice that Jesus paid on the cross, we wouldn’t even have the desire to know Him, let alone experience His Glory. The death and resurrection of Christ opened up a “New and Living Way” for mankind (Heb. 10:20), so that we could really get to know the God who created us… for the fullness of His Kingdom.

The New and Living Way is Fullness!

When I look at the cross, I see two sides:

*First: I see that the death of Jesus has taken away sin, once and for all! “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn. 1:29) That is what we are saved from… no more bondage, no more chains – freedom from sin!

*Second: I see that the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ saving us to something, not just from something! We are saved from sin, but we are also saved to enjoy the glorious life in the Spirit. This is the “New and Living Way” He has promised, in the fullness of His Glory; for every believer. This new way of life began the moment you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. You have eternal life now, not when you die. You have it now. The Kingdom is available to you today.

You can walk as more than a conqueror today! You have been given dominion today to walk in the fullness of the Kingdom of Heaven.