Thy Kindom Come

“Thy Kingdom Come!”
As he began his ministry, John the Baptist proclaimed, ‘The kingdom of Heaven is near” (Mt 3:2) and when Jesus stepped on the scene, he proclaimed ‘the kingdom of God is at hand.’
Jesus spoke a lot about the kingdom of God, and I’m convinced that Satan does everything he can to divert our focus from that kingdom. He wants to keep us focused on the kingdom we live in, the one that we see: the kingdom of the world. Do you remember how Satan tempted Jesus in the desert? He offered him ‘all the kingdoms of the world.” And what is the very thing that chokes our spiritual well being? Luke 8:14 says, “they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”

I’m concerned that this is our greatest battle. Satan wants us all to focus on enjoying the good life. And, if that doesn’t work he wants us to worry and fret with thoughts like where our next penny will come from, or about our situation of not having (whatever). Finally, he will seek to make us discontent - wanting more. In fact, the enemy of our souls will do whatever he can to get our focus on what is seen instead of the unseen. And because our culture is free and we live in a wealthy society compared with much of the world, it is so easy for us to get pulled in many directions… and if we are not careful… those will be worldly directions for more, bigger and greater.

If you serve in a church like I do where there are so many spiritual conversions, the enemy’s #1 strategy has got to be to stop the maturing process. If he can’t keep people from entering the kingdom then he wants to lull them into spiritual complacency and to keep then focused on the world, its values and its temptations.
So how can we stir growth and maturity? We need cultivate a kingdom perspective. Here are three thoughts about the Kingdom to help us gain that perspective:
1. The kingdom is unseen so can they see it? It takes spiritual birth to see the kingdom. ”Jesus told Nicodemus, ‘no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” We need to make sure there has been a spiritual birth. (John:3:3.)
2. The Proof is in the POWER. Resurrection Power is the commodity in the kingdom of God. 1 Cor 4:20 says, “the Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” We want to live in the Resurrection Power of Christ… there is no need to debate or brag about one’s claim to the kingdom, but to live it out with a demonstration of Christ’s Holiness, Love and Righteousness in our lives.
3. It is evidenced by the PRESENCE of a King. The kingdom of God is subject to a King's authority! Christ Jesus the King of Kings should be sitting on the throne of each of our hearts. Cultivating a kingdom perspective means turning from the worldly things and people we love more than God...which are idols in our hearts.... in order to humbly submit to Christ's authority.

Do you see what I’m seeing? As we seek to gain a kingdom perspective and turn from worldly pursuits, we learn to abide in the righteousness of Christ and submit to His rule in our lives! That’s how we all mature and that is how God’s kingdom advances…. In the unseen places of our hearts.

And, that is why the enemy wants all of us to be choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures... because the more we focus on the world, the more blind we become to the kingdom of God.

So the antecdote for fear, worry and discontentment for a born again believer in Christ is to turn our spiritual eyes on God’s Kingdom and His Righteousness, because the more we focus our hearts on His Kingdom, His Righteousness and His glory, the dimmer the world gets.

Lord, your kingdom come! Open the eyes of our hearts to see you… to be able to discern your kingdom. Help us to grow up into the fullness of faith in you. We want to submit to your authority in our lives, we want to help them learn to put on your righteousness that comes by faith, and we want to help them repent from being choked by the worries of the world, the riches and pleasures of the world. For nothing else satisfies. No one but You.

Personal note: If this is new to you, contact me. There is a great Women's Bible Study beginning 9/13/11, taught by our Women's Director Lina Abujamra,MD at Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows... Come at 6:50pm. Ask for the UpsideDown Study of Acts. OR.. head to Harvest Bible Chapel nearest you on Saturday at 5 p.m or Sundays at 9 am or 11:16 am. There is a great study beginning this Sunday. We care about YOU!