In Part 1, we took a deep dive into what heaven looks like through the Bible, exploring scriptures that describe the beauty and pleasures of God’s Kingdom—a kingdom full of glory, peace, joy, and eternal pleasures. As believers, these treasures are not just for the future; they are accessible to us now, through the Holy Spirit. But how do we actually experience these heavenly realities here on earth?
In this second part, we’ll explore how we can live as citizens of heaven now, how the Holy Spirit acts as the Governor of God’s Kingdom here on earth, and how our connection to the Spirit helps us access the riches and joys of the Kingdom. Let’s continue to see how the Holy Spirit helps us experience heaven now.
1. Living as Citizens of Heaven: Your True Home
As believers, we are citizens of heaven, and this citizenship is not just a future promise—it’s a present reality. In Philippians 3:20, Paul tells us:
"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
Heaven is where we truly belong. Though we live on earth for a time, our true home is in the Kingdom of God, which is already available to us through the Holy Spirit. We are ambassadors of this Kingdom on earth. As an ambassador represents their home country and its values, so we represent the Kingdom of Heaven with all its righteousness, peace, and joy.
The more we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, the more we experience the reality of this heavenly citizenship. The Holy Spirit helps us see the world not as it is, but as it could be when it is fully under the rule of God. He opens our hearts and minds to the truth of our eternal home, reminding us that we have a glorious inheritance that is already ours, even while we are still here on earth.
2. The Holy Spirit as Our Governor: Revealing the Kingdom of God
In every kingdom, the ruler has someone who represents them on earth, someone who helps the citizens understand the values and principles of their home country. In God’s Kingdom, that representative is the Holy Spirit.
In John 14:26, Jesus says:
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
The Holy Spirit is not just a guide; He is the Governor of God’s Kingdom on earth. He’s been sent by God to teach us how to live according to the principles of heaven. His role is to help us understand the ways of God's Kingdom and to help us experience the reality of heaven right now.
Just as a governor in an earthly kingdom instructs citizens on how to live according to the country’s laws, the Holy Spirit instructs us on how to live according to the Kingdom of God. He helps us understand what heaven is like—a place of perfect peace, righteousness, and joy—and He empowers us to live in a way that reflects those values on earth. Through the Holy Spirit, we get to know what it means to live in heaven and to experience its joys and pleasures even while on earth.
3. The More We’re in Tune with the Holy Spirit, the More of Heaven We Experience
The Holy Spirit is already inside of you. As a believer, you have access to the Kingdom of God because the Holy Spirit lives in you. But just like any relationship, the more we spend time with the Holy Spirit, the more we understand and experience the fullness of God’s Kingdom.
In Romans 14:17, we read:
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
The Holy Spirit brings the righteousness, peace, and joy that are hallmarks of God’s Kingdom. These are the pleasures of heaven that we can experience right now! The more we are in tune with the Holy Spirit—through prayer, worship, reading God’s Word, and seeking His presence—the more we will experience the Kingdom of God on earth. The Holy Spirit helps us live in the reality of God’s Kingdom now, and the more we yield to Him, the more we are able to experience His peace and joy.
Just like we eagerly wait for something good to happen—perhaps a family reunion or a celebratory moment—we should eagerly anticipate what the Holy Spirit has for us today. He wants to show us the fullness of God’s Kingdom and teach us how to experience the joy, peace, and abundant life that belong to us.
4. The Holy Spirit Helps Us Understand the Pleasures of God’s Kingdom
The pleasures of heaven are not just about beauty and joy—they are about a deep relationship with God that fills us completely. We often think of pleasures as things that we can taste, touch, or see. However, the pleasures of God’s Kingdom are spiritual delights—things that come from knowing and experiencing God’s presence.
In Psalm 16:11, David says:
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
When we are in God’s presence, we experience the fullness of joy—a joy that doesn’t fade with time or circumstances. This joy is eternal, and it is a pleasure that comes from being in God’s presence.
The Holy Spirit is the one who brings us into that joy. Through His presence, we can experience the pleasures of God’s Kingdom today. When we spend time in God’s presence, the Holy Spirit helps us experience the eternal joy that heaven is full of. And the more we spend time in God’s presence, the more we are able to experience God’s pleasures in our daily lives.
5. The Holy Spirit Brings Us Peace: The Kingdom of God on Earth
In Isaiah 60:19-20, we read:
"The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended."
This verse speaks of the everlasting light that comes from God’s presence. In heaven, there will be no need for the sun or the moon because God’s glory will illuminate everything. For believers, we are already living in this light through the Holy Spirit.
God’s peace is available to us now. In Philippians 4:7, Paul tells us that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard our hearts and minds. This peace is a heavenly peace—the peace that will fill the world when Jesus returns and the Kingdom is fully realized. But we don’t have to wait for that time. The Holy Spirit brings us peace now, a foretaste of the eternal peace that is promised to us.
Conclusion: Access Your Heavenly Inheritance Now
As citizens of heaven, we don’t need to wait to experience the pleasures and riches of God’s Kingdom. The Holy Spirit is God’s Governor on earth, helping us understand and experience heaven’s joys and peace right now. The more we tune in to the Holy Spirit, the more we experience the righteousness, peace, and joy that belong to us as children of God.
You are an ambassador of God’s Kingdom on earth, and through the Holy Spirit, you have access to the eternal pleasures of heaven. Let the Holy Spirit lead you, guide you, and fill you with the joy and peace that come from living as a citizen of God’s Kingdom. Embrace your inheritance and live today in the fullness of what heaven has to offer!
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