Billy Graham -Who Reigns Over Your Life, Is it God?
Too many people think God is to be found by looking within our own minds and souls, and they often cite these words of Jesus in support of their claim.
The kingdom of God is within you.”—Luke 17:21
Jesus, however, was not teaching that God is within us and that all we need to do is look inward to find God. Instead, Jesus was talking to people who believed that the Messiah would establish an earthly, political kingdom—and Jesus said that was not His goal. “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus told Pilate (John 18:36). His goal instead was to rule in the hearts of men and women. And that is exactly what happens when we give our lives to Christ. When we turn to Him in repentance and faith, He cleanses us of our sins, and He comes to live within us by His Holy Spirit. Once that happens, He begins to rule in our lives. In other words, He sets up His kingdom—His rule—within us.
Instead, Jesus was talking to people who believed that the Messiah would establish an earthly, political kingdom—and Jesus said that was not His goal. “My kingdom is not of this world,” Jesus told Pilate (John 18:36). His goal instead was to rule in the hearts of men and women.
And that is exactly what happens when we give our lives to Christ. When we turn to Him in repentance and faith, He cleanses us of our sins, and He comes to live within us by His Holy Spirit. Once that happens, He begins to rule in our lives. In other words, He sets up His kingdom—His rule—within us.
Billy Graham Association Team
The more we surrender ourselves to Him, the deeper our experience of love will become.
Blessings!