How To Reign In The Interior Life

The kingdom of God is an inner, spiritual realm, not an external, physical one. Jesus teaches that it is not a place to observe, but exists within those who live according to God’s will. In this kingdom, individuals find freedom from external pre ssures and sin, with Christ as the sovereign who bears all burdens. The true power of this kingdom lies in inner peace and triumph over worldly struggles.

When the Pharisees asked him when the kingdom of God would come, he answered, "It does not come with observation."" Neither shall they say, 'Look, here!'" or, look there! For, Behold, the kingdom of God is within you." The phrases "kingdom of God" and "kingdom of Heaven" refer to the divine life in the soul. They are in Scripture. They mean simply the place or condition where God rules, and where His will is done. It is an interior kingdom, not an exterior one. Its thrones are not for human pomp and glory. They are for dominion over the things of time and sense. Its kings wear not royal robes of purple and fine linen. They wear instead the inner garments of purity and truth. And its reign is not in outward show, but in inward power.

Neither is it in one place rather than another, nor in one form of things above another. We should not seek Christ in this mountain or at Jerusalem. That is not where to find Him and enter His kingdom. It is not a matter of place at all, but one of condition. In every place, under every name, and in every form, all who seek God and do good will find His kingdom within them. But this is very little understood. Our childish literalism has led us to believe that a kingdom must be in a specific place. We expected the kingdom of heaven to mean an outward victory of heaven over earth in some particular location. We thought that to sit on a throne with Christ would mean to be publicly uplifted in power and glory.

But, as Scripture's inner sense unfolds, we see that this would be a poor, superficial fulfillment of the real meaning of these symbols. And the vision of their true significance grows before the "eyes that see." At last, we know our Lord's words were truer than we had ever dreamed. The "kingdom of God comes not with observation; neither shall they say, lord here! or, lord there!" for, behold, the kingdom of God is wi thin you.”

Daniel 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever,” announces the kingdom. Isaiah 9:6-7 announces the King: -- “ For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace, there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

This kingdom has the right to destroy all others. The law says the inward must rule the outward. If there is peace within, no turmoil can affect the soul. But outward peace can't calm an inner storm. A happy heart can walk, indifferent, through a sea of trouble. But internal anguish can't find joy in the best surroundings. A man's inner self makes or unmakes his joy, not his possessions. Someone told Diogenes, "The king has degraded you." “Yes , ” replied Diogenes triump hantly, “but I am not degraded!” No act of kings or emperors can degrade a soul that retains its own dignity; no tyrant can enslave an inwardly free man.

So, to have this divine kingdom within means all other powers to conquer or enslave are broken. The soul reigns triumphant over them all. Men and devils may try to enslave one. But they are powerless before the might of this interior kingdom. No longer will fashion, convention, or fear of man rule a soul raised to a throne in this inward kingdom. Nor will the love of ease. Christians cringe and bow to many tyrants. No sin or temptation can overcome, no sorrow can crush, no discouragement can hinder.

Let a man or woman have been bound in ever so tyrannical chains of sinful habits, this kingdom will set them free. Circumstances may make men kings in the outside world. But, in the hidden life, men become kings over circumstances. And, the soul that was once a slave to a thousand things, now finds itself completely independent of them.

For the King in this kingdom is one whom nothing can affect or baffle. He it is who makes circumstances. Since the government is on His shoulders, we cannot doubt that He will rule with perfect justice. His subjects will want for nothing. The phrase "the government shall be upon His shoulder" holds the secret of this wonderful kingdom. Upon His shoulder, not upon ours. The care is His. The burdens are His. The responsibility is His. The protection is His. The planning, providing, controlling, and guiding are all in His hands. No one can question as to His perfect fulfilment of every requirement of His kingship. So, those in His kingdom are free from anxiety, burden, and trouble.

And by this deliverance they become kings. The government is not upon their shoulders, and they have no business to interfere with it. Their King has assumed all responsibility. If He sees His subjects happy and prosperous, He is content to bear all the weight and care of kingship. We often speak of the duties of earthly kings. We pity them for the burdens of kingship. We recognize, even on an earthly plane, that to be a king means, or ought to mean, the bearing of the burdens of even the meanest of his subject.

Even now, as I write, many hearts ache for the new Czar. He has taken on the heavy burden of the vast Russian Empire.

We can learn, from every human heart, of kingship's duties. It means to be in a kingdom where God is King. He has declared that all things shall be ordered with judgment and justice, forever. Surely no care or anxiety can ever enter here, if the heart but knows its kingdom and its King! In John 18:36, our King tells us the tactics of His kingdom: “ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

Earthly kings and kingdoms gain supremacy through war. God's kingdom conquers by inward power.

Earthly kings subdue enemies; God subdues enmity. His victories must be interior before they can be exterior. He does not subjugate, but he conquers. Even we, on our earthly plane, know this principle.

We do not value any victory over another that only reaches the body and has not subdued the heart. No true mother cares for an outward obedience merely; nothing will satisfy her but the inward surrender.

Unless the center of the heart is conquered, the conquest seem worthless. And with God how much more so? We are told, “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearan ce or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1samuel 16:7) We speak of "subduing hearts." We do not mean to force a surrender. We mean that they are won and willingly given to another. And it is after this fashion and no other that God subdues. So that to read that “His kingdom rules over all” means that all hearts are won to His service in a glad and willing surrender.

For again I repeat, His reign must be inward before it can be outward. And in truth, it is no reign at all, unless it is within. If we think for a moment, we will see this must be so. It is impossible to imagine God reigning in a kingdom where His subjects' actions are not controlled beyond their outward actions.

His kingdom is not of this world. It is a spiritual realm. Its power is over souls, not bodies.

So, it can only be set up once the soul is conquered.

Seen this way, all those declarations and prophecies become full of love and blessing. They say that God will subdue His enemies and will rule them in righteousness and power! And how glorious with hope does the voice of that great multitude heard by John sound out, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God omnipotent reigns” In confirmation of all this we have two passages descriptive of this kingdom, in (Romans.14:17) “ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” , and (1 Corinthian s 4:20): “ For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.”

Not outward things, but inward. Not what a man eats or drinks. Not where he lives. Not his nationality or the customs of his race. Not even his thoughts or words. But what are the inward traits of his nature?

What is the power of his spirit? For these alone constitute this kingdom of God.

Not what I do, but what I am, is to decide whether I belong to it or not. This kingdom can be set up only when we have and experience, inward righteousness, peace, joy, and power. So, no external domination can achieve such results. Only the inner work of God's all-subduing spirit can.

I have learned a lot from the story of Odysseus and his journey, when he was sailing past the islands of the sirens. These sirens could charm anyone who listened to their songs. They lured them to leap into the sea. To avert this danger, Odysseus filled his crew's ears with wax. He did this so they would not hear the fatal music. He then bound himself to the mast with knotted cords. They passed the isle in safety. But, when Orpheus had to sail by the same island, he won a better victory. He made sweeter music than the sirens and enchanted his crew with more alluring songs. So, they passed the dangerous charmers, not only safely but with disdain. Wax and knotted cords kept Odysseus and his crew from a fatal leap. But, inward delights let Orpheus and his crew triumph over temptation itself. And just so is it with the kingdom of which we speak. It needs no outward law to bind it, but reigns by right of its inward life.

So that it is said of those who have entered it, “Against such there is no law. “For it is a kingdom of kings. The song we shall one day sing, nay, that we ought to be singing even now and here in this life, declares this: " and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (Revelation.1:5- 6.)

We who have entered this kingdom, or, rather, in whom this kingdom is set up, sit upon the throne with our King and share His dominion. The world was His footstool, and it becomes our footstool also. He reigned above the things of time and sense. A life lived in a higher, superior plane gave him that power.

So may we. We all know the saying that someone "rises above his surroundings." It means there is a hidden power in that person. It controls his surroundings instead of being controlled by them. Our King rose above His surroundings. We, who reign with Him, can do the same.

But, just as He was not a king in outward appearance, but only in inward power, so shall we be. He reigned, not in that He had all the world's riches. But that He had none, and could do without them.

And so shall our reigning be. We shall not have all men bow to us, nor do all things bend to our will.

With all men opposing us and all things adverse, we shall walk in a royal triumph of soul through them.

We shall suffer the loss of all things, and by that loss be set forever free from their power to bind. We shall hide in the King's will, an impregnable fortress. There, we shall reign in a perpetual Kingdom.

All this is contrary to man’s thought of kingship. The human heart can only grasp one idea. It is this: that outward circumstances must bend to the soul that is on a throne with Christ. Friends must approve, enemies must be silenced, and obstacles must be overcome. Affairs must prosper, or there can be no reigning. If man had ordered Daniel's business, or the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace, he would have said to win, they must change the kings' minds. Daniel should not have been cast into the lion's den, and the Hebrew children should have been kept out of the furnace.

But God’s way was infinitely grander. He allowed Daniel to be cast among the lions. He wanted to reign triumphant over them in their midst. He allowed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be cast into a burning furnace. He wanted them to walk through it without even the smell of fire on them. He tells us, not to walk in paths without dragons and adders. But, we shall walk through the midst of them, and "tread them under our feet."”

And how much more glorious a kingdom is this than any outward rule or control could be! To be a king inside, but a slave outside, is a great triumph. It is the best our hearts can conceive. To be destitute, afflicted, and tormented. To be stoned, torn apart, and slain with the sword. To wander in sheepskins and goatskins, and in deserts, mountains, dens, and caves. Yet, through it all, to be kings in a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. This is a kingdom that none but God could give, and none but God-like souls could receive.

We have seen or heard of a few such kings. All hearts have acknowledged their unconscious effect. I read about one of the members of the St. Cyr monastery. Their devotion made the monasteries and their superiors hate them. They were cast out as evil from their community. One was sent as a prisoner to a monastery where his enemies dwelt. There, he suffered cruel and degrading treatment. Although he came from a noble background and was a former leader, he had to do the simplest tasks . He was forced to carry a heavy burden on his back and made to beg with a sign on his chest saying he was the worst of the worst. But, through it all, the saint's spirit triumphed. Nothing disturbed his calm or soured his Christ-like sweetness.

For his persecutors, he never had anything but words of kindness and smiles of love. At last, by the divine kingdom's great power, he won all hearts. He became the trusted friend and adviser, and the beloved ruler of his former enemies who had once delighted in persecuting him. “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Mathew 5:5) . By his meekness, he conquered and became king. At one time, a dangerous criminal was sent to the monastery for imprisonment. He was so violent that no bonds sufficed to bind him, and no strength could control him. At last, he was taken to the cell of a brother from St. Cyr. They were shut up together. Even the stolid monks recognized that divine meekness. It had a power to conquer that surpassed all they knew. The saint received the violent man as a beloved brother and smiled upon him with heavenly kindness.

But the criminal returned it with abuse and violence. He broke the monk’s furniture and destroyed his bed, he kicked him, beat him, and tore his hair, and spat upon him. He exhausted himself in his violence against him. Through it all, the monk resisted nothing.

He spoke only words of love. Finally, the criminal, worn out with fury, paused to catch his breath. The beaten and outraged man then smiled at his persecutor with deep love and compassion. It was as if he wanted to comfort him for his misery. It was more than the criminal could bear. Hatred, revenge, and anger he could repay in kind. But, he had no weapons against such love and meekness. His heart was conquered. He fell at the feet of the saint and washed them with his tears, as he entreated forgiveness for his cruelty, and vowed a lifelong loyalty to his service.

And from that moment all trouble with that criminal was over. He followed the saint about like a loving and faithful dog, eager to do or to be anything the other might desire. When his prison term ended, the gates opened. He could not be induced to leave, for he could not bear to leave the man who had saved him by love. Of such a nature is kingship in this kingdom of heaven. Each soul can make the application for itself, without need of comment from me.

In ( Mathew 5: 6-7), we have the King of this kingdom describing the characteristics of His kingdom and giving the laws for Hi s subjects. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Not the rich, or great, or wise, or learned. But the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the pure in heart, those who mourn, and those who hunger and thirst. Also, the persecuted, reviled, and slandered. All such belong to this kingdom. These kings are gentle, yielding, meek, and charitable. They reign with that power.

One Christian asked anoth er, “How can I make people respect me?” “I would command their respect,” was the reply. This meant, not that he should demand, "Respect me!" But, he should act, live, and be, so that all would respect him. Men can win a show of respect by being tyrannical. But, to rule their hearts, they must try other methods.

Our Lord developed this thought to some who wished to share His throne. He called them to Him, and said, “But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it o ver them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.”(Mathew 20:25). But it shall not be so among you. Whoever wants to be great must be your minister. Whoever wants to be first must be the servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

From a human view, only one man reigns. He is the one who can be lord over those around him.

From the divine standpoint the soul that serves is the soul that reigns.

Not he who demands most, receives this inward crowning, but he who gives up most. What greater leadership can be imagined than Christ's in the Sermon on the Mount? “But I say to you, do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also . ” If someone sues you and takes your shirt, give them your coat too . And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. (Mathew 5:39) Surely only a soul that is in harmony with God can mount such a throne of dominion as this! But this is our destiny. We are made for this purpose. We are born of a kingly race, and are heirs to this Inexpressible kingdom; “ and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him .”(Romans 8:17) With that we could realize this, and, see in every act of service or surrender, an upward step. It would lead us to our kingdom and throne! I mean this in a very practical sense. I mean that our daily, humble tasks and small sacrifices, if done well, will be steps up a ladder to our thrones. If we are faithful over the "few things" of our earthly kingdom, we shall be made rulers over the "many things" of the heavenly kingdom.

He who serves and suffers for Christ will reign with Him. He will be the "chiefest" in His kingdom of love. Knowing this, who would hesitate to turn the other cheek? A kingdom and a throne are to be won.

Joseph was a type of all this. In slavery and in prison he reigned as king, as truly as when seated on Pharaoh’s throne or riding in Pharaoh’s chariot. (See Gen. 39:6) “So he left all that he had in Joseph’s charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”

(Genesis 39:22- 23.) “ And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, beca use the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.” He became the greatest by being the least, the chiefest by being servant of all.

Dear reader, are you ruling in this way, in this kind of kingdom? Are you the greatest in your small world — at home, church, or in your social circle? Then be the least. Be the servant of everyone. If not, your kingdom is not Christ’s kingdom, and your throne is not shared with Him. Accessing the secrets and power of this inner kingdom is not a fantasy . It’s not just an imagined victory. It’s a real and true way of reigning. It will make you rise above the world and its concerns. You will move through it, unaffected by its praise or criticism. You will live in a place of peace and victory that the world can neither give nor take away.

“For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” It is not a talk but a fact , and those who are in it recognize their kingship and prove it by reigning. But perhaps thou will say, “How can I enter into this kingdom , if I am not already in?” Let our Lord himself answer you: “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? ” (Mathew 18:1) “And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said , 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”(Mathew 18:2 -3) It is a kingdom of childlike hearts, and only such can en ter it. To be a “little child” means simply to be one. I cannot describe it better than this. We all know little children.

We delight in their simplicity, trust, and carelessness. We admire their unquestioning obedience to authority. To be the greatest in this divine kingdom, one must have the most of this child's trusting, tender, and obedient heart. It is guileless and self-forgetting.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Fa ther who is in heaven.”( Matthew 7:21 ) .It is not saying, but doing, that will avail us here. We must be a child, or we cannot sit on the child’s throne. And to be a child means to do the Father’s will, since the very essence of true childhood is the spirit of obedience united to the spirit of trust.

Become a little child. Set aside your greatness, self-assertion, and wisdom. Give up your strength and self-dependence. Consent to die to your old self. Be born again into the kingdom of God. The only way out of one life into another is by a death to one and a new birth into the other. It is the old story, therefore, reiterated so often and in so many different ways, of through death to life. Die, then, that you my live. Lose your own life that you may find Christ’s life.

They can only enter the butterfly's kingdom by dying to its caterpillar life, and then becoming a butterfly. Likewise, we can only enter God's kingdom by dying to the kingdom of self, and then rising to life in Christ. Let go of everything natural. This includes your ideas, plans, and thoughts. Instead, accept God's plans, ways, and thoughts. Do this faithfully and persistently. You shall, at last, sit on His throne and reign with Him in an eternal kingdom. It will break and consume all other kingdoms, and stand forever.

There is no other way. This kingdom can't be entered through pride, appearance, or power . It can only be entered by littleness, helplessness, childlikeness, babyhood, and death. Only he who humbles himself shall be exalted. To share Christ's throne, we must first follow Him in suffering, loss, and crucifixion. If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with Him.

Not as an arbitrary reward for our suffering, but as the result that will follow in the very nature of things. Christ's loss must bring Christ's gain. His death must bring His resurrection. To follow Him in the regeneration will, without fail, bring the soul that follows to His crown and throne. In a volume of sermons for children, I have found a vivid illustration of this royal kingdom: – A young boy from one of the refuges in England had risked his life to save his friend. The Queen of England had sent him a medal through one of her earls. His friends pushed him forward to receive it, as he was shy and nervous and tried to step away.

Look at the honorable chairman. He had come from the House of Lords, where earls, dukes, and distinguished men like lawyers, judges, statesmen, and warriors were gathered. Royal princes were also there. Yet, all peer though he was, he was moved. He murmured, "I have the honor," and pinned the lifesaving medal on the child's jacket. His heart was full. He paused to swallow down something that would rise in his throat before he could go on.

There is the 'glory and honor' of statesmen, warriors, and lawyers. But the glory of selfless lifesaving excels all. That was the wondrous glory won by this boy." He had plunged into the stream and shared a drowning boy's risk. That little hand, look at it there, steadying him by holding the table, had come out holding the saved.

“Why has self -forgetfulness such mighty power? How was it that a twelve-year old boy could bow down an audience of grown men before him? What gave to that brow, that it’s stubby crown of carroty hair, a glory and honor more than the luster of gold and jewels?

Why did that small body in its little breeches and jacket, wiping its tears on the rough little sleeve, grip thousands of hearts? Why did it make them, for a time, loyal subjects of its kingdom?

Why was all this so? It was so because that little boy had been like Christ, in his spirit of selfless sacrifice for others." He had some of the beauty we are meant to worship. It is the glory that makes angels shout. All of heaven falls and adores. They say, " saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”( Revelations 5:12) .The Lamb that was slain is the mightiest King ever. All who share His spirit are in His kingdom. This kingdom is not a place, but a character. So, those without that character cannot be in it.

We pray daily, “Your kingdom come.” Do we know what we are praying for? Do we comprehend the change it will make in us if it comes in us? Are we willing to be so changed? What is the kingdom of God but the rule of God? And what is the rule of God but the will of God? Therefore, when we pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” we have touched the secret of it all. A group of savages might take over a kingdom by force, but to truly control its civilization, they must follow its rules. The same is true for the kingdom of heaven. It only grants its power to those who obey its laws. “ The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne . ”( Revelation 3:21 ) “He always reigns who sides with God,” says an old writer. And again, “He who perfectly accepts the will of God, dwells in a perpetual kingdom.”

Are you reigning after this fashion and in this sort of a kingdom? Are you the most important by being the servant of all? Are you a king over your circumstances, or do your circumstances reign over you?

Do you triumph over your temptations, or do your temptations triumph over you? Can you sit on an inward throne in the midst of outward defeat and loss?

Can you conquer by yielding, and become the greatest by being the least? If you can’t answer yes to all these questions, then you can’t come into his kingdom. "Whatever yo ur lot or men's opinions, you are among those whom our Lord calls 'the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'"