March 18: The Kingdom is Within You
♫ Music:
Friday, March 18
Scripture: Luke 17:20-21
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 within you.”
THE KINGDOM IS WITHIN YOU
Today’s reading observes a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees have been wondering when the kingdom of God would come. But Jesus shows them their complete misunderstanding – the kingdom of God is no longer a question of when? but rather have you heard? The kingdom of God is, in fact, here, within you – more nearly meaning among or in the midst of you. Even though Jesus spoke these words prior to his death and resurrection, his ascension to his Father’s right hand, and his glorious return that we still await, these words were already true. The coming of the Son of God in flesh established the in-breaking kingdom of God forever.
But the Pharisees are just one of many groups to be put on notice. Everything under the sun now has a new context within which it exists - the already present kingdom. God's kingdom stands in judging opposition to all that is fallen, broken, or unjust. Today's art piece, entitled The Fourth Angel, makes a two-fold reference to judgment in the Revelation to John. The judgment of God - the divine "No" - has been declared against the whole lot of vanity and evil in the world by the establishment of the divine reign in Christ.
But the joyous divine “Yes” has been spoken far louder than the judging “No.” The kingdom of God is here. While it calls everything to account, it does so much more. We have but to look to the rest of Luke’s gospel, both before and after this moment, to see. Luke’s gospel is the gospel of Mary’s “Magnificat,” Zachariah’s prophecy, the joy of Simeon and Anna, and the rejoicing of the angelic host. The kingdom brings salvation in forgiveness of sin. It fulfills Scripture. It brings cleansing and healing. Christ sacrificed himself and rose again to secure our own resurrection. God has loved us.
Our music for today builds on this joy, fittingly evoking Isaiah, “And of the increase of your government there shall be no end.” The kingdom has come, and it keeps spreading from the “not yet” into the “already.” As we journey through Lent in Christ’s imitation, we are in Christ declaring to the whole world the “No” and the “Yes” of God’s kingdom. We have been given eyes to see. We stand against the Pharisees. We declare something in their midst that is utterly foreign, so foreign they cannot see it (not see it yet, we hope and pray).
But how do we make the kingdom known? We start with the threefold prayer formed in today’s music, “Lord, take up your holy throne deep within my heart… throughout all this land … throughout all the earth, take the place that is yours alone.” Having submitted ourselves to the King and his kingdom, we go out and spread the gospel in teaching and practice.
PRAYER
LORD JESUS CHRIST,
My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
I address my verses to the king;
my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.
You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
grace is poured upon your lips;
therefore God has blessed you forever.
Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
in your splendor and majesty!
In your majesty ride out victoriously
for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
Your arrows are sharp
in the heart of the king’s enemies;
the peoples fall under you.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.
Amen.
- Psalm 45:1-9
Daniel Chrosniak, Philosophy Student, Torrey Honors Institute
The Fourth Angel
Enrique Martinez Celaya
Oil and wax on canvas
About the Artist and Art
Enrique Martinez Celaya is a Los Angeles artist whose work examines the complexities and mysteries of individual experience, particularly in its relation to nature and time. It explores the question of authenticity by addressing “memory, familiarity, attachment, love, death, and longing.” His work has been widely exhibited internationally and is included in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York, the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, and the Museum der bildenden Kunste in Leipzig. He has authored two volumes, Collected Writings and Interviews 1990-2010 and The Nebraska Lectures. His poetic painting, The Fourth Angel vividly depicts a young man with winglike flames burning on each shoulder. This searing image seems to echo the plea for the Holy Spirit to build His kingdom deep within our hearts.
www.martinezcelaya.com
About the Music
“Lord Take Up Your Holy Throne”
Lyrics
Lord take up your holy Throne,
Deep within my heart.
Take the place that is yours alone,
Deep within my heart.
And of the increase of your government,
There shall be no end;
There shall be no end;
There shall be no end.
You are worthy Lord to reign.
Lord take up your holy Throne,
throughout all this land.
Take the place that is yours alone,
throughout all this land.
Lord take up your holy Throne,
throughout all the earth.
Take the place that is yours alone,
throughout all the earth.
And of the increase of your government,
There shall be no end;
There shall be no end;
There shall be no end;
You are worthy Lord to reign.
Lord take up your holy Throne.
About the Composer/Performer
Paul Robert Wilbur (b. 1951) is a Messianic Jewish musician, worship leader, and guitarist. For over forty years, in thousands of concerts and recording projects that have reached millions across the planet, Wilbur’s distinctive songs of praise and worship have addressed matters of the heart. Whether he’s leading worship before crowds in the Middle East, singing to packed soccer stadiums throughout Latin America, or bringing his anointed Messianic message directly to the people of Israel, Wilbur speaks a language of melody and meaning that reaches far beyond cultural, social, and political borders to profoundly touch people with the love of God.
www.wilburministries.com