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