The kingdom of God is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. For HE (emphasis) that in these things serves Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men Romans 14; 17.
 The kingdom is WITHIN YOU. It is INDIVIDUAL sole responsibility and bussiness. It is the reign of Christ within each and every one of us. The reign and the kingdom are prosperous according to individual’s allowance of it and openness to it.
It is Christ in you…..dwelling in YOUR heart by faith.
 It is left to individual who has come by faith into the kingdom of God to zealously guarding and maintaining the virtues, gifts and the graces they received from the Lord; to labour diligently to improve and increasing in them.
Nothing and none should be allowed to spoil or destroy these things from you….righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy-Ghost.
 It is the ground of satisfying the mind of God, the proofs of our appreciating the grace of Christ and the testimony of our conversion before men.
 Relationship with God is unique. Christ righteousness becomes yours – you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5; 21.
 
Individual is responsible and accountable to God without any ground of justification or condemnation at the excused or expense of another…. be it indeed that I have erred, mine error remained with myself.  Job 19; 4.
It is your error, it’s becomes your fault, for it is expected of you to be wise for yourself in the kingdom of God. Proverbs 9; 12.
 
We must bear each other’s burden according to the law of Christ, helping to lift up them which are down, counseling them who are confused, rejoicing with them that rejoiced and mourning with them that mourned…… the heart knows his OWN bitterness; and a stranger does not intermeddle with HIS joy Proverbs 14; 10…The sum of it is this; every man shall bear his OWN burden…. which means that each and every one of us shall be accountable and answerable for  him/her before the throne of God – if you succeed or fail in  your spiritual life, it’s all rest on you, just like Lot’s obedient could not be accounted nor credited for his wife’s dis-obedience as she looked back and became pillar of salt. Genesis 19; 26.
 Each shall live hereafter for their righteousness and righteous life in Christ or perish (second death) for their sin and sinful life while in the world hereafter. Galatians 6; 5; 7-8.
 None is responsible to maintain the righteousness you received from the Lord. You must hold it fast, live and walk in it; and not let it go… My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go: my heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live. Job 27; 6.
 The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day he commit sin….little children, let no man deceive you; he (whosoever or individual) that does righteousness is righteous, even as he (Christ) is righteous. He that commits sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the Devil. Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed (the word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee) remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God…1 John 3; 8-11
If others refused to walk in the path of righteousness, it should not deter you from doing what is right and walking uprightly before the all-seeing eyes of God…The righteous also shall hold on his way, and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger…..Job 17; 9 If God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
And spared not the old world, BUT SAVED NOAH THE EIGHTH PERSON, A PREACHER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorra into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; AND DELIVERED JUST LOT (the last man standing and walking in righteousness) vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 2 Peter 2; 1-9.
All souls are mine; says the Lord; as the soul of the father, so also is the soul of the son is mine; the soul that sins, it shall die. Seek and follow after righteousness. Stop doing what you see many doing which is wrong. Stay on and stand by the word of God. Keep yielding your members as instruments of righteousness unto holiness and the end eternal life. Ezekiel 18; 4. Romans 6; 19-23.
 
Uniquement of Kingdom Peace.
 
And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself, by him I say, whether they are things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1; 20.
 The peace of God in Christ is not for all sundry. If have it, it rest on YOU to keep it as a precious gift, prospering and benefiting from, maximizing and activating its power in every circumstances and situations…A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it, wheresoever it turns, it prospers. Proverbs 17; 8.
 Christ says, do not think I bring peace upon the earth…..if you have received Christ peace, you must walk in it, seek and pursue it….it is your personal responsibility.Matthew 10; 34-35. Nothing and none should be allowed to spoil or destroy that peace for you.
 The disobedient of our first parents in the garden of God was the cause of universal curse and physical death, corruption, spiritual separation, condemnation and enmity between God and man – for by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. Romans 5; 12.
 The eyes of God are purer than to behold sin – thus enmity and separation ensured in the relationship between Him and man.
 Man was driven out of the presence of God, out from the Garden of quietness, peace and of God’s fellowship into the world of chaos, confusion and despair.
There can be no genuine relationship with God, neither can we have present or eternal peace with Him except we accept by faith that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself by Jesus Christ.
 Relationship and peace with God is on the merit and virtue of Christ atonement and sacrificial work which enthroned him as the Prince of peace in your life, who came and preached peace to those which were afar off and to them that were near, namely nations of mankind.
We cannot have the peace of God, peace with heaven or peace of heaven on earth until we settled the case of our sins and normalized our spiritual situation with him through Christ Jesus – Christ is our peace, who has come to preach peace to them that are far and nigh!
 Christ peace is the perfect, none contentious, un-comprehending inner peace which comes from the total satisfaction and confidence in him whose yoke’s is easy and his burden light.
The peace from the Lord is non-comparable to the temporal, measurable satisfactions which the uncircumcised derives from the material gains and possessions of the goods of this world and while it is no more there, they are troubled and are off balance….some turns to junk, some commit suicide…. My peace I give unto you, not as the world gives. John 14; 27.
 Now the Lord of peace himself gives you peace always by all means. 2 Thessalonians 3; 16. …this promise appears like the only unconditional promise in the scripture.
Here, we see God engaging himself to do all at His disposal, whatever it takes, to give us peace at all cost and at all time. I love this!
 Alas! There is no free promise in the word of God -whenever a believer walks in the flesh, he reaps the fruit of bitterness, envy (the rottenness of the bones) strife and confusion, contrary to peace, the fruit of the Spirit.
 
If and when you grieved the Holy-Spirit by unjustified or ungodly anger, corrupt communication or a sin not confessed and forsaken, you are “off” and ‘’out’’ of fellowship.
The only way to be at peace with God is to humbly confess your sins and be cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
This is the provision for immediate restoration and reconciliation – if we confess our sin; he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1; 8-9.
 Careful and worrisome spirit, a life of anxiety and discontentment shall deprived any believer from the peace of God – Is it not written, be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let YOUR request be made known unto God, and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus? Philippians 4; 6-7.
 Instant, complete, continuous and unconditional obedience to live by the word of God is our sure and unshakable foundation of a peaceful life and security in the world of chaos – Thus says the Lord, thy redeemer, the holy one of Israel….Oh that thou hast hearkened (obeyed) my commandments! Then had YOUR peace been as a river and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48; 17-18.
 Restlessness and confusion could follow if we missed out of divine guidance – As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man that wandered from his place. Proverbs 27; 8.  Lost guidance is wasting of time and energy, doing the wrong thing, been at the wrong place, serving the wrong people.
It is like an airplane lost in the radar with no contact with the pilot from the control room. It is very catastrophe and stood the risk of crashing.
 Consider the incident which followed after the victory at Mount Camel where Elijah defeated and destroyed the four-hundred false prophets of Baal. Jezebel intimidated and threatened Elijah with death and he took to his heels for fear of his life.
An angel met him on the way and gave him bread and water to strengthen him and direct him to go to where he shall meet God for further ministerial instructions.
There at Mount Horeb, as the Lord was passing by, he was asked, what are you doing here Elijah? (God is always concern with where we are, where are you Adam, where are you Cain, where are you Jonah)?
You are not in the right place at this time!
You have no work to do for me here; your next assignment is on the wilderness of Damascus!
Had you waited long enough for me at Samaria, you should not have suffered walking for forty days and nights before you know what to do! 1 Kings 19; 12-16.
 Mark the divine manifestations of the Lord (appearances of a great and strong wind which rent the mountains, the earthquakes and fire) before “the small still voice” spoke to his confused servant.
 
Note, without quietness of mind, we cannot hear clearly from God.
Not only that the Lord shall bring or give peace, the Lord shall speak peace unto his people and to his saints; but let them not turn again to folly. 1 Kings 19; 12-16. Psalms 85; 8.
 Christ asked a question from his disciples to instill boldness and to re-assure them of God’s unfailing protection over His own children.
If God cares enough for the life and safety of the beasts of the earth, much more for the safety and security of his own children (Psalms 36;6)
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?
And none of them shall fall on the ground without your Father.
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10; 29-31.
 If any Jezebel is threatening your life, do not be afraid, neither take to your heel in haste to the wrong place for covering – the righteous is bold as lion, while the wicked flee, when no one is pursuing. Proverbs 28; 1.
 Never forget His promise that you are to be the object of fear and not a victim to the enemy’s intimidation. You are to be afraid off and not to fear – for the Lord shall put your terror on the nations and no man shall be able to stand before you all the days of thy life – And Saul was afraid of David, because the Lord was with him, and was departed from him. 1 Samuel 18; 12. Deuteronomy 11; 25.
 Certainly, we can evidently see the manifestations of power of God’s peace and love in the life of Job!
Despite his afflictions and the mockeries he endured from his friends for the losses of all his financial and material possession, including the loss of all his children; he sought not for strong drink (alcohol) to drink away his sorrow, neither cigarette to smoke away his stress and problems, neither any stimulant to re-comfort or remonstrate his moral.
 The presence and fullness of God’s inner peace in Job was sufficient to see him through in his days of adversity.
He perfectly managed his crisis without sinning with his mouth in the midst of provocative comforters and miserable friends, full of wicked hearts and words…I also could speak as you do; if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake my head at you. But I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the moving of my lips should assuage your grief…. “I know that my redeemer lives”.  Job 16; 1-3; 19; 25.
What a peaceful mind in an awful spiritual and physical condition!
Though his heaven was shut up and all he has was destroyed, excluding his senseless material -conscious wife; yet he acknowledged the divine sovereignty of him who has power to wound and to heal, as he humbly said; he (God) performed the thing that is appointed (planned, designated or written of me) for me, and many such things are with him. Job 23;14.
Let your mind stay in God, though he slay you, trust in him at all times – be still and know that he is God…
He’s our un-shaking refuge and hiding place, for he shall keep HIM in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed (rest and wait) on God, because he trusted in Him. Isaiah 26; 3.
Whatever way the divine providence may be directing, refining and maturing us, let us not murmur nor frown against divine love and wisdom.
Though for now, his chastening not joyous but grievous, nevertheless it shall yield the peaceable fruits of righteousness to them that exercise themselves in it. Hebrews 12; 11.
 
 
Uniqueness of Kingdom Joy.
 
We must bear each other’s burden according to the law of Christ, helping to lift up them which are down, counseling them who are confused, rejoicing with them that are rejoicing and mourning with them that are mourning…… the heart knows his OWN bitterness; and a stranger does not intermeddle with HIS joy. Proverbs 14; 10.
If Christ has borne our grief and carried our sorrows according to the scriptures…we are left with no choice than to rejoice always in the Lord. We must serve the Lord with joy and gladness of heart, for the appreciation of our salvation and privileges of our daily fellowship with him…Because thou serves not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee. Deuteronomy 28; 47-48.
Nothing should excite me here on earth above or beyond the joy of my salvation and of the hope of eternal life. I am instructed to rejoice evermore….1 Thessalonians 5; 16.
The joy of the Lord should and must be our strength in every situations and circumstances. We have no right whatsoever to complain or murmur against the Lord’s dealings with us as beloved children….neither let us murmur as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 1 Corinthians 10; 10.
In Isaiah 61; verse 3;  we read…To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. It is individual sole responsibility to put on the garment of praise and be anointed with the oil of gladness for mourning even in an unwarranted situation…when our fig tree does not blossom, neither fruit be in our vines; when the labor of our olive fail, and our field yield no meat; when our flocks are cut off from the fold; and no herds in our stalls; yet YOU (I) must rejoice in the Lord…Habakkuk 3; 17- 19.
If the Lord is your portion in the land of the living, it makes all the difference when those things of the sight, taste and sound that give carnal and worldly pleasures and satisfactions are not there. You are always thankful and joyful for the gift of life and the infinite wisdom of God’s providence and dealings with you….whom having not seen you love; in whom, though now you see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith even the salvation of your soul. 1 Peter 1; 3-9.