By this point, a clearer picture of the kingdom of heaven had begun to develop in my head and heart. But one question still loomed . . . probably the most difficult of all to answer . . . HOW?! How do I experience the kingdom of heaven?
If I were completely honest with myself and you all, I would say I do not experience the kingdom of heaven on a daily basis. (which I firmly believe is how often Jesus desires us to live in, lay hold of, and experience the kingdom of heaven!)
Sometimes I am busy, distracted, and worried about my own schedule or desires. Sometimes out of fear I am not as bold as I ought to be in proclaiming the kingdom of heaven. Sometimes I feel the Holy Spirit welling up in me to say something to a stranger, pray for a person or reach out to somebody on the street, and I ignore him. Sometimes I am just too comfortable in my daily routine that it’s just plain easy to accomplish all I need to do without giving Jesus a second thought . . . but that’s just me, and lately it has started to really grieve my heart.
“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”
As I word studied this verse, the verb tense “has been forcefully advancing” is the present passive indicative tense. This means that something is presently acting on the subject, in this case, the kingdom of heaven, to cause the action of forcefully advancing.
I believe the one performing the action is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is forcefully advancing the kingdom of heaven.
The second verb tense “lay hold of it” is the present active indicative tense. This means the subject is the one presently performing the action. In this case, forceful men, are the ones laying hold of the kingdom of heaven. The men have to act. They will not lay hold of the kingdom of heaven without acting.
Some synonyms for forceful are: dynamic, energetic, assertive, authoritative, vigorous, powerful, strong, driving, determined, insistent, commanding, dominant, feisty.
Some antonyms are: weak, unassertive, and passive.
THIS BLEW MY MIND! Because it spoke so clearly to me of intentionality.
They Holy Spirit is advancing the kingdom of heaven in our world. God’s divine and prophetic sovereignty is accomplishing his will in the world. We have the opportunity to join in and lay hold of it, but it takes intentionality on our part.
The times when I do not experience the kingdom of heaven, are when I am walking in my flesh and not by the Spirit; when I am not allowing the Lord to reign and rule fully over my heart, mind, emotions, mouth, actions, days, hours, and minutes; when I wake up and jump to start the things Kristen wants to do, instead of sitting, waiting and hearing what the Holy Spirit desires for that day.
As I sit this New Year’s Eve waiting for another year to dawn, my mind and heart meditate on the Kingdom of Heaven. Anxious anticipation mounts. To my spirit, the Holy Spirit is speaking, 2012 is a year of intentional pursuit and daily seeking; daily sitting at the feet of Jesus; daily seeking to walk by the Spirit; daily submitting my will to the reign and rule of the Lord; and daily laying hold of the kingdom of heaven.
