Primary Text: Luke 17:20–36
Theme: The Kingdom of God is not merely a place we hope to enter someday; it is God’s rule that must be reflected in the way we live today.
Introduction: Where Is the Kingdom?
Have you ever wondered why Jesus spoke about the Kingdom of God in ways that were difficult for even religious people to understand? In Luke 17, the Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God would come.They were looking for something they could observe. Perhaps a dramatic event, a visible political transformation, or a powerful demonstration that would leave no room for doubt. But Jesus answered them in a way that challenged their entire understanding: “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation.” — Luke 17:20, KJV
He then said:“For, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.” — Luke 17:21, KJV
Some translations render this as “the kingdom of God is in your midst” or “among you.” Given that Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees, who did not necessarily believe in Him, this is an important distinction. Jesus was pointing to the Kingdom’s presence among them through His own person and ministry.The King was standing before them, yet many were looking for the Kingdom somewhere else! And that brings us to our theme today: We are carriers of the Kingdom. But what does that mean? How do we understand it, and how should it affect the way we live?
1. First, What Is the Kingdom of God? The Kingdom of God is not simply heaven. Neither is it a church building, a denomination, a religious gathering, or a geographical territory. At its heart, the Kingdom of God is God’s rule, authority and reign.
Where God’s will is acknowledged, His authority respected, and His character reflected, there we see evidence of His Kingdom at work. Consider the prayer Jesus taught His disciples: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10, KJV. Notice the connection between God’s Kingdom and God’s will.The Kingdom comes into view as God’s will is done on earth.When truth replaces deceit, when mercy triumphs over cruelty, when justice replaces oppression, when forgiveness defeats bitterness, and when love displaces selfishness, we see the values of God’s Kingdom being expressed.This does not mean that every good deed automatically establishes God’s Kingdom, or that Christians can bring about its complete fulfilment through human effort. The Kingdom belongs to God. He establishes it, and we are called to submit to His rule and bear witness to it.The question, therefore, is not merely, “Am I going to heaven?” It is also, “Is the rule of God evident in the way I live?”
2. What Does It Mean to Be a Carrier of the Kingdom? A carrier takes something from one place to another. If we are carriers of the Kingdom, we carry its values into places where those values may be absent.We carry them into our homes, offices, businesses, markets, schools, churches and relationships.We carry them into our conversations, our decisions, our treatment of people, and even our private thoughts. Jesus said in Matthew 5:14: “Ye are the light of the world.” Light does not need to announce itself continually. Its presence becomes evident because it illuminates what was dark. In the same way, the Christian should not merely announce the Kingdom with words. Our lives should provide evidence of the King we claim to serve. We are not the Kingdom’s owners. We are its representatives.We cannot carry what we refuse to live by. We cannot preach honesty and practise fraud. We cannot preach love and delight in another person’s suffering. We cannot proclaim God’s justice while exploiting those who are powerless. We cannot sing about the grace of God while refusing to show grace to those who have offended us.To carry the Kingdom is to allow the character and authority of its King to influence our conduct.
3. Carrying the Kingdom into Everyday Life. Let us bring this truth down from the abstract to the practical. At home: Are we carriers of peace or sources of constant conflict? Do our spouses, children and relatives experience patience, respect, fairness and compassion from us? It is possible to appear deeply spiritual in church while making home unbearable for everyone else.
At work: Are we carriers of integrity? Do we keep our word, pay people fairly, fulfil our responsibilities and refuse dishonest shortcuts? Our Christianity should be visible in how we handle money, power, time and responsibility.
In business: Do we see customers as people to serve or merely opportunities to exploit? Do we tell the truth about our products? Do we honour agreements even when breaking them would be more profitable?
On the road and in public: What happens when someone cuts into our lane, bumps our vehicle, jumps a queue or speaks rudely to us? Does the Kingdom disappear the moment our patience is tested?
In our relationships: Can we disagree without hatred? Can we correct someone without humiliating them? Can we forgive without pretending that wrongdoing did not happen? Can we pursue justice without being consumed by revenge? These are not insignificant matters. They are the everyday places where our professed faith is tested.The Kingdom is not demonstrated only when we pray loudly, preach eloquently or perform extraordinary acts. It is also demonstrated when we choose what is right in ordinary situations where nobody is watching.
4. The Kingdom Is Present, but We Must Remain Watchful. There is another important lesson in Luke 17. After speaking about the Kingdom, Jesus turned to His disciples and spoke about the days of the Son of Man. He compared those days with the times of Noah and Lot. People were eating, drinking, marrying, buying, selling, planting and building. These activities were not inherently sinful. The warning was that ordinary life continued, and people became absorbed in it without recognising the significance of what God was doing or the judgment that was coming. Jesus was warning against spiritual complacency.We can become so occupied with making money, building careers, raising families, acquiring possessions and pursuing personal ambitions that we forget our ultimate accountability to God.There is nothing wrong with working, building, buying or planning. The problem arises when these things become the whole of our existence. A carrier of the Kingdom must live in the present without forgetting eternity.We work, but we do not make work our god. We build, but we do not place our security entirely in what we build. We enjoy life, but we do not allow pleasure to blind us to our responsibility before God. Jesus’ warning is sobering: do not assume that because life appears normal, there is no need to be spiritually prepared.Our daily choices matter, and our readiness for God must not be postponed.
5. We Carry the Kingdom, but We Do Not Control It. Let us guard against another misunderstanding. Being a carrier of the Kingdom does not mean that we possess supernatural power to command every circumstance, guarantee success or prevent every tragedy. Nor does it mean that Christians will never suffer, face disappointment or experience injustice. Jesus Himself suffered. His followers also face trials. Our calling is not to control every outcome. It is to remain faithful to the King in every circumstance. Sometimes carrying the Kingdom means speaking the truth when silence would be convenient. Sometimes it means serving when nobody applauds. Sometimes it means forgiving while still maintaining wise boundaries. Sometimes it means standing for justice even when there is a personal cost. And sometimes it means trusting God when we cannot explain what He is permitting.We carry the Kingdom by remaining faithful to God’s character and purposes, not by pretending that we have control over everything that happens around us.
6. How Do We Become Faithful Carriers?. We begin by submitting ourselves to the King.We cannot represent Christ faithfully if we are unwilling to be changed by Him.We need to know His Word, cultivate a life of prayer, depend on the Holy Spirit, repent when we go wrong, and grow in Christlike character. Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.These qualities are not decorations for a Christian life. They are evidence of the Spirit’s transforming work within us. And when we fail, we do not hide behind religious appearances. We return to God, confess our wrongdoing, seek forgiveness where necessary, make amends where possible, and continue growing.The carrier must continually allow the King to shape the person carrying His message.
Reflection: What Do People Experience When They Encounter Us? Imagine that someone spends a week working with you.They never attend your church. They never hear you preach. They do not know the Bible verses you have memorised. But they observe how you treat your subordinates, how you speak about people who cannot defend themselves, how you respond to criticism, how you handle a financial disagreement, and whether your promises can be trusted. After that week, would they have encountered anything of the character of Christ through you? This is not a question of whether we are perfect. None of us is. It is a question of whether we are genuinely allowing Christ to transform us.The Kingdom of God is not merely a message we proclaim with our lips. It is a reality to which our lives must bear witness.
Closing Thought
The Pharisees wanted to know when the Kingdom would come. Jesus challenged their understanding because the Kingdom was already among them in the presence of the King.Today, we too can spend so much time discussing the Kingdom, singing about it, preaching about it and waiting for its future fulfilment that we overlook the responsibility we have in the present. So let us ask ourselves: When we enter a home, does our presence bring love and peace? When we enter a workplace, does our conduct reflect integrity? When we encounter injustice, do we stand for what is right? When we are offended, do we allow Christ to govern our response? When we have power over another person, do we use it to serve or to oppress?We are carriers of the Kingdom. Let us carry it well.
Closing Prayer
Father, help us to understand Your Kingdom beyond words, ceremonies and religious appearances. Let Your rule shape our hearts, our thoughts, our decisions and our conduct. May we reflect the character of Christ in our homes, workplaces, businesses and relationships. Teach us to live faithfully in the present while remaining mindful of eternity. And wherever You place us, may others encounter Your truth, love, mercy and righteousness through our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.