Did you know there’s a realm called the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God? This Kingdom is all around you? How do I know this? How can I be certain? You may say, “Brett, I can’t see this Kingdom, this spiritual realm, that you say is all around me.” Perhaps maybe you just need a little help looking.

Seeing the Kingdom

Let me show you what Jesus said to a religious guy that was having a conversation with him about miracles and the supernatural events of Jesus’s ministry.

John 3:1-3 (ESV) says, “Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

I think most of the time we teach and are taught that “a person must be born again in order to… go to heaven when they die.” Although I believe that, it’s not what Jesus says. He says “unless a person is born again, they cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Or in the positive sense “a person must be born again to see the Kingdom of God.”

Why can’t I see this Kingdom?

But you might ask, “Well, I know I’m born again. Why can’t I see this Kingdom?” 

(Just a side note for those who are unsure if they are born again. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Being ‘saved’ is being ‘born again.’ You can do that right here and right now. Go for it!)

Paul described a spiritual condition in Acts 28:27 (ESV)“…’For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’”

Now, only the Lord knows your heart. I’m not saying that your heart is dull or your eyes are closed. What I am saying is that we need to ask the Lord to open our eyes to see His Kingdom. We need renewed vision from the throne of God in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven. God renews our perception of reality to match His perception of reality.

What is the Kingdom?

What is this Kingdom? When we see Jesus at the beginning of his ministry, it says that he taught in the synagogues about the good news of the Kingdom. 

Matthew 4:23 (ESV) “And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.”

Somehow the Kingdom of Heaven is associated with good news (aka ‘the gospel’) that Jesus preached, healing of diseases and afflictions, and signs that Jesus performed. Wouldn’t that be a sight? Someone says, “Your sins are forgiven,” and, to prove it, He heals you of your genetic disorder or disease. That’s incredible, and everyone around you would want to hear the good news. “Hey! Good news: I got healed yesterday! Yep, I can move around just fine now.” Too hard to believe? Perhaps that’s why most people don’t see the Kingdom.

When is the Kingdom coming?

Now, you may ask, “OK, so when is His Kingdom going to be here? When is it coming?” Great question; some other guys asked this same question.  Let’s see how Jesus answered it.

Luke 17:20-21 (ESV) “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.””

Some translations read, instead of “in your midst”, they say “within you” or “already among you.” The Kingdom of God is within you, it’s among you, it’s around you right here, right now.  

Jesus proclaimed, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 (ESV). Brett translation: “Hey everyone, you’ll need to change the way you are thinking because God’s Kingdom is right here, right now.”

If God’s Kingdom is here in our midst right now, we have to be born again in order to see it. Now we don’t necessarily see it with physical eyes, because it’s a Spiritual kingdom. But we do see evidence of the Kingdom: people radically transformed when they accept Jesus, people having peace in very difficult situations, people getting healed of hand injuries, people getting healed of other diseases, hearing from the Lord something about your life or someone else’s life, having a spiritual dream or vision. 

What about peace?

Peace is one of the aspects of the kingdom. Romans 14:17 says the Kingdom of God consists of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Do you want joy in the Holy Spirit? You’ll find it in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 (ESV) “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

When we seek his Kingdom first, and when we seek his righteousness first, then everything else in life will fall into place and be provided for. This is a trustworthy promise. It works in the physical realm of your bodily needs; it works in the soul realm: your mind, will, and emotional needs; and it also works in the spiritual realm with your spiritual needs. One of my favorite verses declares this wonderful truth: “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (ESV). God will be found by you. His Kingdom will be discovered by you. You just gotta know where to look.

Let’s Pray

Why don’t you pray this prayer along with me? “Lord, open my eyes to see Your Kingdom. I need a renewed vision from Your throne in order to see the Kingdom of Heaven. God, renew my perception of reality to match Your perception of reality, because You see and know it all. I believe; help my unbelief! I want to see your healing, I want to see your deliverance, I want to see my life and those around me transformed with the good news of the gospel. 

“Teach me, Lord, to do Your will, to seek Your face, to long for Your presence. In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Just like Jesus saw the peace of the Kingdom of Heaven in the midst of the storm, Lord help me to see the peace of your Kingdom. I want to experience the utmost joy in the Holy Spirit; fill me with Your Spirit of joy; fill me to overflowing with Your joyfulness! I love you, Lord, my King and my God. In Jesus’ Name, Amen!”