The Truth About Opposing Kingdoms
- May 1
- 4 min read
Jesus spoke more about the Kingdom of God than any other subject. He taught who would inherit it, how to enter it, and who would be excluded. Scripture is clear: The only way to inherit the Kingdom of God is to be born again. A truly born‑again believer lives with a singular pursuit:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” — Matthew 6:33
But Jesus also revealed another kingdom—the kingdom of darkness, the devil’s domain. Where there is darkness, there is sin; and where there is sin, demons find room to operate. Darkness is their environment. If they find a hiding place in the shadows of a person’s soul, they exploit it.
When we are born again, God supernaturally transfers us from darkness to light. This is not self‑reform. It is divine rescue.
Derek Prince, in Spiritual Warfare, reminds us that God’s people are pictured as a legislative assembly, a family, a temple, and the bride of Christ. But the final picture in Ephesians is unmistakable:
God’s people are an army.
Throughout Scripture, God never sent His people into victory as anything less than warriors. They may have trembled, doubted, or hesitated—but they endured.
Paul describes our conflict with sobering clarity:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” — Ephesians 6:12 NKJV
The Living Bible paraphrases it this way:
“We are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies… mighty satanic beings… great evil princes of darkness… and huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.”
Derek Prince uses the word dominators—a fitting description of Satan and his forces. Satan seeks to dominate; God seeks to participate. Satan enslaves; Jesus empowers.
Revelation affirms our calling:
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” 26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations— ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’— as I also have received from My Father; — Revelation 5:10 and 2:26–27
Peter echoes the same identity:
You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you called out of darkness into His marvelous light…..so that you may praise Him! — 1 Peter 2:9
We are already reigning on earth under Christ’s authority, and we will reign with Him in eternity. Jesus is our Commander‑in‑Chief, and through Him we wield spiritual authority unavailable to the unbeliever.
Paul uses the sport of wrestling to illustrate spiritual warfare. In his day, wrestling was brutal—every limb, every tactic, every ounce of strength engaged. It was often a fight to the death.
Our wrestling match begins in the mind.
“As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” — Proverbs 23:7
If we agree with the enemy’s thoughts, we yield to his influence. A careless thought life eventually becomes a compromised physical life.
Mental health matters deeply—but it must be measured by God’s Word, not personal opinion.
Five Biblical Practices to Strengthen Your Thought Life
1. Pull down strongholds and destroy ungodly thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5–6
2. Allow God’s Word to transform your thinking. Romans 12:2
3. Set your mind on things above. Colossians 3:2
4. Think spiritually, not carnally—because the Spirit brings life and peace. Romans 8:5–6
5. Meditate on what is praiseworthy and good. Philippians 4:8
To stand firmly in God’s Kingdom, you must use His Word to war.
The Contrast Between Two Kingdoms
There is no overlap between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of Light. One is ruled by Satan; the other is illuminated by Christ.
“God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” — 1 John 1:5 “I am the light of the world… he who follows Me shall not walk in darkness.” — John 8:12
John 3:19–21 reveals three truths:
Those who do evil hate the Light.
Darkness fears exposure.
Those who practice truth come to the Light.
Ephesians 5 paints the transformation vividly:
From futile thinking → to renewed minds
From separation → to edifying speech
From deceitful desires → to righteous living
From bitterness → to kindness and forgiveness
From impurity → to giving no place to the devil
From greed → to generosity
From stealing → to working
From corrupt talk → to imparting grace
You are called to be a contrast to darkness—living in such a way that the enemy finds no foothold.
Live Like Someone Who Has Been Rescued
“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves…” — Colossians 1:12–14
You have been rescued. You have been transferred. You have been empowered. Now live like it.
Let's pray,
Heavenly Father, hallowed be Your name. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Help me to be a participant and not merely a spectator in the war that rages for souls. You have given me all authority in Jesus name to be a conqueror; therefore, I stand when I have done all I can. The battle is Yours, but I am willing to fight. In Jesus name, amen.
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