Lk.9:11 – But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and He welcomed them and began speaking to them about the kingdom of God, and curing those who had need of healing.
Rom.14:17 – for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Just before the miracle of the feeding of the multitudes Jesus was said to be preaching about he kingdom of God. This was at the very heart of Who He is and why He came. It was apparent that the spiritual leaders, the disciples, and the crowds of people had no understanding of God’s kingdom, they were stuck on earthly kingdoms. Jesus was anxious to bring the people into an understanding of the kingdom of God but that did not happen until after the coming of the Holy Spirit beginning on the Day of Pentecost. Paul taught about the kingdom of God and described it as the work of the Spirit. Here is how Adam Clarke described the message of the kingdom of God.
“Is not meat and drink. It consists not in these outward and indifferent things. It neither particularly enjoins nor particularly forbids such.
But righteousness. Pardon of sin, and holiness of heart and life.
And peace. In the soul, from a sense of God’s mercy; peace regulating, ruling, and harmonizing the heart.
And joy in the Holy Ghost. Solid spiritual happiness; a joy which springs from a clear sense of God’s mercy; the love of God being shed abroad in the heart by the Holy Ghost. In a word, it is happiness brought into the soul by the Holy Spirit, and maintained there by the same influence. This is a genuine counterpart of heaven; righteousness without sin, PEACE without inward disturbance, JOY without any kind of mental agony or distressing fear.”
This message that Jesus and Paul preached is our message today, the kingdom is a spiritual kingdom and brings righteousness, peace, and joy into the lives of everyone who believes by the power of the Holy Spirit. The kingdom has nothing to do with our accomplishments or a political power that is ruling on earth. The kingdom of God is literally the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He births a new nature within us characterized by a righteous lifestyle, peace in our hearts, and a fountain of joy that bubbles up inside of us by the power of the Spirit. This is the evidence of the kingdom of God.