wonders” – God
When I first heard this quote, something in my mind of how I
viewed God changed. This is what finally
connected the God of the Bible to the God of today in my mind! Sure I know God never changes, but this
simple sentence struck something within me as I reflect back on the footprints
I’ve left behind and see when and where God showed up…when I was in souled out
worship of HIM, not what I was doing (and giving him credit) and when I just
opened my mouth and spoke truth out! That’s when the wonders came! That’s when the
sick were healed and the broken hearted putting that long awaited smile on!!
When we look at the ‘Kingdom’
that Jesus is telling us about, why do we have such a hard time grasping it?
I always thought it was good works and being ‘humble’. Being less so everyone
can be more, yet being at the top of the chain in leadership so I could
demonstrate that humility…well that was quite the contradictory life I found
myself in. I dubbed it my season of being ‘pridefully humble’. I went to the extreme of works and
expecting God to show up! So often people would be blessed, but I was still
disappointed when the ‘miracles’ just weren’t there. I was wrapped up in
the lies that I had something wrong with me. I felt that I was lacking
something. But, in the last few weeks it has
dawned on me that the only thing in the way of me and the fullness of power
that God wanted to use through me was…well, me!
So what does this have to do
with the ‘Kingdom’? Well, Jesus
says that the kingdom isn’t something you are looking for or waiting for. It’s
WITHIN you! (Luke 17:20-21) This idea I had of try to bring the Kingdom
with my works and service was challenged. This vast, expansive, and divine
Kingdom isn’t something I need to strive for or to do anything special for.
It’s part of me, part my DNA. So, as revelation
goes, I have a responsibility to search out the scriptures and match it to what
my spirit is saying. Is there a connection?!
God’s Kingdom is
everlasting, it has always existed (Daniel 4:3), it rules over all other
kingdoms; the world has never existed without a savior!
and the kingdom
of Heaven are the same
thing. Jesus speaks of both in different accounts. They both are scripturally
the exact same thing with different ‘names’ so to speak.
And so, this ‘Kingdom’ that
is apparently within me and what Jesus says is at hand (within reach) looks
like what then here on earth?! Well, Jesus prays a prayer our churches
pray every Sunday in Matthew 6:9-13. In verse 10 He
prays boldly that the Kingdom COME and God’s will be done on earth as it is in
Heaven. There is no doubt that his purpose and plan is for the earth to
be exactly what he created it for in the first place. Not a place of peace and
harmony so everyone gets along, but rather for His children (us) to share that
beautiful inheritance with us! His plan has
never altered; we are still in Plan A.
to be that instrument here on earth to bring in His Kingdom. Israel isn’t this little plot of land in the
Middle East, it’s the people of the nations, His beloved his children…Jews and
Gentiles alike, we are all His beloved Israel! God used the natural Israel
to show us the way as He is looking to spiritual Israel to take hold of this thing.
The Church is who we are. And the Church is God is looking to for ushering in
the Kingdom here on earth JUST as it is in Heaven. Bottom line!
So my question is; am I
bringing in His glorious Kingdom in my own life? Truth is that I have
absolutely no-one else to blame or to compare anything to! If Jesus’ words are true that the Kingdom is within
me, then I have some work to do if there is death in my life. If people
around me aren’t coming ALIVE in who they are, then I’m missing something. If
I’m having a bad day and feel as though I need a day off to ‘deal’ with stuff,
then I’m missing the point. If I’m holding on to
things of the past and living in my own little party, then I’m missing the
whole point!
All I have to do is SHOW UP
for my own life! I have to be willing to choose the Kingdom before
anything else when my head leaves my pillow in the morning. I have the
responsibility to put others before myself in any circumstance. This world is
much different than what we think once we start to look a little bit deeper
into it all. If we only see our faults, fears,
failures, and ultimately ourselves, then we’ve lost the plot. Might as
well pray for God to take you up now! We are here for a much greater purpose
than to survive! We are here to BRING the
KINGDOM…come on Church! Let’s be that instrument that we are created to
be. We’re the best plan God ever had! So let’s
get over ourselves and LIVE THIS LIFE!!
The Kingdom work we are
called to do is using what He’s given us for His glory!
on our faces and stand in awe of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Let’s
start allowing Him to guide us instead of striving for control in our own lives
all the time. Let’s start sharing in that sweet victory that Jesus is asking us
to share in with Him! Let’s start becoming the men and women of God that we are
by speaking LIFE as Jesus taught us to.
and step into FAITH as God is more than willing to show His wonders and
miracles as soon as we get out of the way!!
