The Increase of His Government
7th OCTOBER 2025
“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” [Isaiah 9:7 NKJV]
The word increase [Gr. mar·bêh] speaks of greatness, multiplication, and expansion. In Isaiah’s prophecy, the Hebrew phrase lə·mar·bêh [‘of the increase of’] points to the ever-growing and eternal reign of the Messiah. This Kingdom, established through Christ, does not plateau or decline — it continually abounds. It represents an everlasting dominion where the government and peace of Christ are without limit. For believers, this means living under the rule of a King whose reign brings eternal stability, victory, and increase. Everyone within His Kingdom partakes in this continual growth, experiencing ever-growing measures of peace and divine order.
Romans 14:17 reveals what the increase of Christ’s government looks like: ‘For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.’ The Kingdom is characterised not by material or outward expressions, but by spiritual realities that transform its citizens. Since a kingdom reflects the nature of its ruler, citizens of God’s Kingdom are called to manifest these same traits — righteousness, peace, and joy — as visible signs of divine increase in their lives. As believers, these qualities should be ever-growing, for they reveal the living presence of Christ’s rule within us. Righteousness, joy and peace should be marks of God’s increase in our lives, because we belong to Him [Isaiah 43:1; Ephesians 1:6; Romans 14:18].
Righteousness is the first mark of this increase. It reflects God’s pure, sinless, and just nature — one that cannot coexist with sin. The righteousness of God is not earned by human effort; rather, it is imputed to believers through Christ’s redemptive work. According to 2 Corinthians 5:21, ‘He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.’ Through this Beautiful Exchange — our sin for His righteousness — believers are declared righteous before God. Romans 5:19 and 21 affirm that this righteousness is a free gift granted through Christ’s obedience and sacrifice. This righteousness is divine, perfect, and complete — it does not improve over time, for it is God’s own righteousness bestowed upon us.
Another mark of the increase of His Kingdom is peace. Scripture distinguishes between peace with God and the peace of God. Peace with God occurs the moment one is reconciled to Him through faith in Christ [Romans 5:1]. It means hostility with God is ended, and a new relationship begins. The peace of God, however, is a continual experience — a state of inner calm that transcends all understanding [Philippians 4:6 — 7]. All means what? ALL! It enables believers to remain unshaken despite life’s challenges. This peace is not circumstantial; it is ever-present, and a defining feature of Kingdom life.
Joy, hope in seemingly hopeless situations, is the next characteristic of the Kingdom of Heaven. Joy is a deep, spiritual gladness rooted in God, not external conditions. Joy is not mere happiness or emotional excitement but a manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit that flows from within the believer. It is the strength of the believer [Nehemiah 8:10] and evidence of God’s indwelling presence. True joy arises from fellowship with Christ and remains even in trials, reflecting the unchanging nature of God’s Kingdom. The Word of God talks about having the joy of the Lord, rejoicing always, and rejoicing in the Lord.
As Kingdom citizens, we have this privilege of enjoying these as they are a part of the Kingdom life — the righteousness of God, the peace with and of God, and the joy that is of the Holy Spirit.
You are blessed if you’re a citizen of this Kingdom of Christ. If you’re not, it will take knowing Christ and making a decision for Him as Romans 10:9–10 and 13 describe: if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that He was raised from the dead, you will be saved!
PRAYER: Thank You, Jesus, for Your work on the cross. By virtue of that, I am accepted in the Beloved — I have Your righteousness, Your peace and Your joy. Not just that, but I belong to a Kingdom that is ever-increasing! You are great and I honour You! In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen!
Further Reading: Isaiah 9:6, Isaiah 43:1, Ephesians 1:6, Romans 14:18]
Bible In One Year: John 8–11
