Skip to main content

I AM Working on It: Growing Through the Stages of Kingdom Life

 

"A seed growing into a tree as a symbol of spiritual maturity."

I AM Working on It (Ephesians 5:5)

"You can be sure of this: no immoral, impure or greedy person who commits idolatry can have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God."  Ephesians 5:5 (KSB)

   There are steps to this; there are stages to this. In the natural, we go through stages of development, in the womb, zygote, embryo, fetus, and then we come out of the womb as a newborn, infant, toddler, child, adolescent, young adult, and into late adulthood. Life happens in steps and stages naturally, and it’s the same way supernaturally. It is the same way spiritually. Things happen in steps and stages. When we are in the world, and then the Word hits our heart, we become conceived in the Spirit in the womb of the church. Spiritually, we are those zygotes, embryos, and fetuses learning who God is, who Jesus is, who the Holy Spirit is, and who we are in Him. We begin learning spiritual disciplines in the womb of the church.

   But there comes a point where we outgrow the womb of the church. The water breaks, and the church pushes us out, we are birthed into the Kingdom. When you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, you are not immediately “born again” fully grown, you are conceived. Just as conception begins life in the natural, conception in the Spirit requires growth and development before birthing into Kingdom living. Jesus said, “Except you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). Seeing the Kingdom means recognizing that it exists, knowing that there is something beyond the church. It is realizing that God’s power and presence rule over all creation, and that His will is meant to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

   Once we see the Kingdom, the next step is Entering the Kingdom. Entering means learning the principles and practices of Kingdom living, walking in love, living balanced, embracing divinity, engaging in prayer, and trusting God’s promises of optimal health, harmonious relationships, and overflowing provision. As we grow deeper, we move into Inheriting the Kingdom. This is what Paul speaks of in Ephesians 5:5 receiving the benefits of Kingdom life. It is no longer just us working the Kingdom, but the Kingdom working for us. Our lives begin to reflect transformation, health, peace, restored relationships, and provision flow as we live in thanksgiving, forgiveness, and generosity.

   Everyone in the Kingdom is at different stages of development. Just as in the natural world, no one grows at the same pace. There are three systems at work on the earth, the world, the church, and the Kingdom. The question is, where are you in your stage of Kingdom development?

Stages of Kingdom Life

1. Seeing – Knowing

2. Entering – Practicing

3. Inheriting – Benefiting

đź“– Reflection: Which stage of Kingdom life are you in right now seeing, entering, or inheriting?

đź’ˇ Action Step: Ask God to show you where He wants you to grow. Commit to one Kingdom practice this week—thanksgiving, forgiving, or life-giving—and watch your spiritual maturity deepen.

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Universe Means One Thing: Love

  Universe Means One Thing: Love "For all the law is fulfilled in this one word, love: Love your neighbor as yourself."   Galatians 5:14 (KSB)    Sometimes, the word “universe” can feel mysterious even spooky to some. Others think it's irreverent or sacrilegious when used in spiritual conversations. But what if we redefined it? What if “universe” simply meant love? What if it meant God, since God is love?  When we say, “the universe,” we can think of it as pointing to one word love. Just one word. The entire Bible, composed of 66 books and written by over 40 different authors, ultimately speaks to one central theme: love. From beginning to end, this divine book points us toward loving God, loving ourselves, and loving others.  In the Old Testament, God's people had 636 laws civil, ceremonial, and moral. They guided everything from relationships to religious festivals. But then Jesus came and said, “Let me make this simple Love God. Love yourself. L...
Post a Comment
Read more

Refocus Your Faith: How to Overcome Distraction, Disappointment, and Discouragement

  Refocus Your Faith: How to Overcome Distraction, Disappointment, and Discouragement "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."   Galatians 5:6 (KSB)    With everything going on around us, it's easy to feel lost. Distractions come quickly, disappointments pile up, and discouragement sneaks in. We all face these moments. But even when we get off track, there is a way back and that path is through our faith, principles, and core values.  When you live your life anchored in principles, it gives you a compass for when the road gets unclear. Knowing your vision, your mission, and your core values makes it easier to realign when life feels out of control. But if you don’t know who you are, how can you get back to being your best self? If you don’t know what you stand on, what can you stand up on after a fall?    Clarity of purpose keeps you ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hidden Treasure: You Are a Vessel, Not Just an Instrument

I AM Not an Instrument. I AM a Vessel “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” – 2 Corinthians 4:7 (KSB) Hidden in Plain Sight The image that Paul presents in 2 Corinthians 4 is that of a treasure hidden within an earthen vessel. In the Old Testament, people didn’t have locks, alarm systems, or cameras to protect their valuables. Instead, their belongings were often left exposed, making them vulnerable to thieves and robbers. To safeguard their most valuable treasures, they would hide them in jars of clay—earthen vessels—placing them in plain sight. A thief or robber would never think to look there because it wasn’t an obvious hiding place. Likewise, God has placed something valuable inside of you—a treasure of great worth. Yet, people often fail to see it. You may be right in front of them, but they don’t recognize your gifts, skills, talents, anointing, abilities, or sensitivities. You are hidden in plain sight bec...
Post a Comment
Read more