The Power of the Kingdom

The Power of the Kingdom

By Apostle Felix

17  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Matthew 4: 17

20  For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

1 Corinthians 4: 20

17  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Romans 14: 17

The word “kingdom” originates from the Greek word basileia, which means royal rule or a realm where a king reigns. Etymologically, it can also be understood as a compound concept combining two distinct ideas: “king” and “domain.”  In the Kingdom of God, Jesus is the King, and His domain encompasses both the hearts of humanity and the entirety of creation. Because every kingdom naturally reflects the character and nature of its ruler, an evil king produces an evil kingdom; consequently, the Kingdom of God perfectly embodies the righteous character and holy nature of Jesus Christ.

Jesus officially announced the arrival of the Kingdom of God upon His return from the wilderness, forty days after being filled with the Holy Spirit. His public ministry famously began with this introduction of God’s Kingdom, building upon a similar appeal that John the Baptist had been making to the people earlier. Remarkably, both Jesus and John the Baptist delivered the exact same urgent mandate: they commanded the people to repent because the Kingdom of God had arrived.

1  In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2  And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Matthew 3: 1, 2

The word “repent” comes from the Greek word metanoeo, which means to think differently or to fundamentally change the way one thinks. Interestingly, neither Jesus nor John the Baptist initially called the crowds to be born again, but rather commanded them to repent. While repentance itself is not the same as being born again, it is the vital catalyst that changes a person’s mindset and ultimately leads them to salvation and the new birth.

10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

2 Corinthians 7: 10

The new birth imparts everything a believer will ever need, but it is repentance that enables them to fully recognise and manifest what has been placed inside them. We often hear believers calling for extended seasons of prayer and fasting in their quest to obtain more spiritual power. However, prayer and fasting do not actually generate or bring new power into a believer’s life; rather, these spiritual disciplines simply help the believer crucify the flesh and realign their mind to release the power that is already resident within them. This is because the Kingdom of God is already fully established in a believer’s life, just as Jesus famously answered the Pharisees by declaring that the Kingdom of God is within you.

20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Luke 17: 20, 21

If the kingdom of God is within you, then the very power of God is within you as well. It is not a force we must search for in distant places, nor is the Kingdom something we must physically see or emotionally feel before we can believe it. The moment King Jesus enters your heart, His Kingdom is fully established in your life. Therefore, rather than chasing external experiences, you and I simply need to intentionally realign our minds, emotions, and wills with the Word of God—and this internal realignment is exactly what it means to repent.