This week we want to look at another aspect of the Kingdom. We have seen that the Kingdom has priority when Jesus said: Seek first the Kingdom of God, and we have also seen that the Kingdom is in us. What else can we learn from the Kingdom?
The protocol of the kingdom!
How can we describe it? What constitutes the Kingdom? Let’s look at an earthly kingdom that most people know about. When you look at the British Monarchy there is a certain protocol that helps to maintain the Monarchy. When you want to go and see the Queen, you have to follow the protocol that is demanded. You don’t just walk in and say: “I am here to see the Queen.” Even if you get an audience with the Queen, you still have to follow the protocol to visit with her. You cannot just show up in jeans and a T-Shirt. You have to be dressed for the occasion and you will most probably get a lesson on etiquette on how to manage yourself when you are having tea with her.
The Kingdom of God is no different. There is a spiritual etiquette that has to be followed to be in the Kingdom. I am thinking in what way we enter into His presence. A lot of people have not been taught how to approach God. We are His children and we are always welcome but that does not permit us to ignore the standard of the Kingdom. Jesus clearly taught us to pray in this manner:
“They kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.”
That simply means that God’s rule and reign are invading earth and if His rule and reign are here, we must obey the protocol of His rule and reign.
Let me give you an example:
How do we enter His presence? Do you live independently from God the whole week and then want to be blessed on a Sunday when you are in Church? Do you pray or worship regularly and come filled up to a meeting, ready to bless God and others because you have something to give away? Do you live like a devil but Sunday you have your mask on and try to be nice. Kingdom does not work that way. You are either in or out. What does scripture say?
Psalm 100:1-5 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endures to all generations.
David pinned this Psalm because of the way the Priests would do things when they entered God’s presence.
a. Make a joyful noise and come before His presence with singing. How many times do we start with the complaining or asking first? Singing speaks of someone with a merry heart. Are we joyful for the fact that
we have the privilege to enter into the presence of the King of the universe, Creator of heaven and earth, worshiped by Angels and Saints? The God who lives in invisible light, the one before whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord of all.
1 Tim 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
b. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His
courts with praise. How many things can we thank Him for before we start
asking? He knows what we have need of even before we ask, can we make a list of our blessings and thank Him for it first. Thankfulness will change the trajectory of your life when you start doing it.
c. Be thankful unto Him and bless His Holy Name. We have
become such an entitled people that we are not even thankful for the little
things anymore. Can we just fall down in a referential posture before Him and describe greatness to Him. In Africa when the king of a tribe comes into a room, the lead warrior would shout out and describe the greatness of his king. It is like an introduction so that everyone in the meeting would know why the king deserves it and why they are expected to do the same.
If you want to experience the fulness of the Kingdom, you have to abide by the expectations.
Rev 4:8-11 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him, and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives forever and ever, The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure, they are and were created.
