Where do you live?

I realize that’s a simple question, but I want
you to stop and think about your answer for a
moment. Your immediate response might be
to name a country or a city. You probably think
of the spot on this earth where you wake up
each morning and go to bed each night—the
place where you keep your natural belongings.

But if you’re a believer, you need to think
more deeply than that.

You need to become aware of the fact that
although you are in this world, you do not
belong to this natural world’s order. You are a
citizen of heaven. You are, even here and now,
privileged to live in that kingdom.

That statement would startle many Christians.
Religion has taught them that they won’t
reach God’s kingdom until they die and go to
heaven. But the Bible says we’ve already made
the transfer. It says, “[The Father] has delivered
and drawn us to Himself out of the control and
the dominion of darkness and has transferred
us into the kingdom of the Son of His love”
(Colossians 1:13, The Amplified Bible).

Because God dwells in us and among us,
His kingdom is present with us right now.
Jesus said it this way: “The kingdom of God
does not come with signs to be observed or
with visible display. Nor will people say, Look!
Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold,
the kingdom of God is within you [in your
hearts] and among you [surrounding you]”
(Luke 17:20-21, The Amplified Bible).

Certainly we will go on to the place
called heaven when our bodies die or when
Jesus catches us away. And that’s great,
because heaven is a wonderful place! It’s the
headquarters of this great kingdom. But,
thank God, since we’re already citizens of
the kingdom now, we can enjoy many of the
benefits of heaven right here on earth.

Gloria Copeland

Matthew 18:18-19
KJV—Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever
ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in
heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say
unto you, That if two of you shall agree on
earth as touching any thing that they shall
ask, it shall be done for them of my Father
which is in heaven.

Amp—Truly, I tell you, whatever you forbid
and declare to be improper and unlawful
on earth must be what is already forbidden
in heaven, and whatever you permit and
declare proper and lawful on earth must
be already permitted in heaven. Again I tell
you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize
together, together make a symphony)
about—anything and everything—whatever
they shall ask, it will come to pass and be
done for them by My Father in heaven.

Moffatt—I tell you truly, Whatever you prohibit
on earth will be prohibited in heaven,
and whatever you permit on earth will be
permitted in heaven. I tell you another thing:
if two of you agree on earth about anything
you pray for, it will be done for you by my
Father in heaven.

NEB—’I tell you this: whatever you forbid
on earth shall be forbidden in heaven,
and whatever you allow on earth shall be
allowed in heaven. ‘Again I tell you this:
if two of you agree on earth about any
request you have to make, that request will
be granted by my heavenly Father.’

Matthew 21:21
KJV—Jesus answered and said unto them,
Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and
doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is
done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say
unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and
be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Amp—And Jesus answered them, Truly, I
say to you, if you have faith—a firm relying
trust—and do not doubt, you will not only
do what has been done to the fig tree, but
even if you say to this mountain, Be taken
up and cast into the sea, it will be done.

Moffatt—Jesus answered, “I tell you truly, if
you have faith, if you have no doubt, you
will not only do what has been done to
the fig tree, but even if you say to this hill,
‘Take and throw yourself into the sea,’ it will
be done.”

NEB—Jesus answered them, ‘I tell you this:
if only you have faith and have no doubts,
you will do what has been done to the figtree;
and more than that, you need only say
to this mountain, “Be lifted from your place
and hurled into the sea”, and what you say
will be done.’

Gloria Copeland

Isaiah 55:7-11
KJV—Let the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let
him return unto the Lord, and he will have
mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will
abundantly pardon.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the
Lord. For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow
from heaven, and returneth not thither, but
watereth the earth, and maketh it bring
forth and bud, that it may give seed to the
sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my
word be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
it shall not return unto me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall
prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Amp—Let the wicked forsake his way, and
the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let
him return to the Lord, and He will have
love, pity and mercy for him; and to our
God, for He will multiply to him His abundant
pardon.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways My ways, says the
Lord. For as the heavens are higher than
the earth, so are My ways higher than your
ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain and snow come down from
the heavens, and return not there again, but
water the earth and make it bring forth and
sprout, that it may give seed to the sower
and bread to the eater, So shall My word
be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall
not return to Me void—without producing
any effect, useless—but it shall accomplish
that which I please and purpose, and it shall
prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Moffatt—Let guilty men give up their ways,
and evil men their purposes; let them turn
back to the Eternal, who will pity them,
turn back to our God, for he will pardon
them abundantly.

For my plans are not like your plans, nor
your ways like my ways—so the Eternal
One declares; nay, as heaven is higher than
the earth, so are my ways higher than your
ways, and my plans than your plans. As
rain and snow from heaven fall not in vain,
but water earth until it yields seed for the
sower, food for hungry men, so with the
promise that has passed my lips: it falls not
fruitless and in vain, but works out what I
will, and carries out my purpose.

NEB—Let the wicked abandon their ways
and evil men their thoughts: let them return
to the Lord, who will have pity on them,
return to our God, for he will freely forgive.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways. This is the
very word of the Lord. For as the heavens
are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways and my thoughts
than your thoughts; and as the rain and the
snow come down from heaven and do not
return until they have watered the earth,
making it blossom and bear fruit, and give
seed for sowing and bread to eat, so shall
the word which comes from my mouth
prevail; it shall not return to me fruitless
without accomplishing my purpose or succeeding
in the task I gave it.

Gloria Copeland