Kingdom Living

These are just some things that are going through my mind lately, mostly because of reading When Heaven Invades Earth by Bill Johnson. I'm not advocating any new agenda, I'm just pondering some things, and writing down my thoughts, not polished, just some ramblings.

 Jesus told us to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is on heaven". This is the primary focus of prayer, that God would rule on earth as He does in heaven, that just as Gods will is done I heaven, so it will be on earth. We pray the revealed will of God, through an exercise of faith. Enduring faith doesn't let go. Such an invasion causes the circumstances here to line up with heaven.

Everything that happens here is supposed to be a shadow of heaven. Matt 6:33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things shall be added to you." In prayer, we seek His kingdom, ask that the Lordship of Christ would be seen in all circumstances of life. As the kingdom of God confronts sin, forgiveness is given and change comes. When His rule collides with disease, people are healed. The kingdom message provides salvation for the whole man--spirit, soul, and body.

 What Jesus was saying is that, if we seek His kingdom first, we'll find that His kingdom is fully equipped. It brings with it His answer to our needs. When we pray for His kingdom to come, we are asking Him to superimpose His rules, orders, and benefits of His world over this one until this one looks like His.

 Like a McDonald's franchise. When I am travelling and I see those golden arches, I know what to expect if I stop. Every menu item in Little Rock AK will be the same as in Stephenville TX. If you want to open a McDonalds, you agree to all the rules, the menu, the way things are done. You also get all the benefits; the name recognition, advertizing, etc. God's Kingdom is like that. If we line up our lives with all of His ways, then we get the benefits, too.

 The honor we have in being able to pray is beyond all comprehension. We are His representative on earth--ambassadors of His world. Our cries touch His heart. Intimacy is the main purpose of prayer. And its through relationship that God entrusts to us the secrets of His heart, that we might express them in prayer.

In Luke 2:25-30 Simeon and Anna prayed for the messiah because God told them that he was coming soon, and He showed them when he came. God has full power and dominion to do anything he wants, but what he wants to do is answer our prayer. God has chosen to work through us. We are His delegated authority on planet earth, and prayer is the vehicle that gives occasion for his invasion. If we don't pray, we allow darkness to continue to rule. 


 Matt 11:11 Jesus said that John was the greatest until then, but the least in the kingdom would be greater. Matt 3:11 John explains why, because Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Holy Spirit makes a lifestyle available to us which not even John the Baptist had access to.


Every believer has written into her spiritual DNA the desire for the supernatural , to see God do amazing things that only He can do. We need to focus on Gods presence in our lives, and that means we are willing to live beyond reason. Not impulsively or foolishly, but willing to be obedient to God. Obedience is the expression of faith.


In John 3, Nicodemus said, "We know you are a teacher from God, because no one can do these signs apart from God". Jesus did a lot of miracles. Then, He sent out 70 disciples and said they would do everything he did, and should tell people that the kingdom of God was there.


 In Luke 10:9 John 14:10 says that Jesus did the signs not on his own but by the father. John 5, Jesus did nothing apart from the father, "I can of myself do nothing". Luke 4, Jesus the spirit was on him to preach, to heal, to proclaim liberty. Everything Jesus did was from God's heart. The supernatural interventions of God were done to reveal the extravagant heart of the father for people. Every miracle is a revelation of His nature. And in that revelation is imbedded an invitation for relationship. Don't we need that today? We need the Father Himself. We need his presence, to woo the hearts of mankind through His live.


Many believers have made it their primary goal in life to be well respected citizens. Good character makes us solid citizens, and we should be that, but, MUCH more. Jesus sends us out, not to just be good, but to represent His kingdom here on earth today.


Acts 2:28 we are to be witnesses..with power. Jesus died for us, we are forgiven, born again, children of God, with the Holy Spirit, all the power that raised Jesus from the dead at our disposal. We are told to not grieve the spirit in Eph. 4:30. That deals with sin. We are also told to not quench the spirit in 1 Thess. 5:19 That means, Don't stop the flow. I wonder how much I stop the flow of the Spirit in my life. Im not sure I even understand what that means. 


Biblical passion is a mysterious mixture of humility, supernatural hunger, and faith. I pursue because I have been pursued. Lethargy must not be found in me. I don't want to accept an explanation or rationale that excuses mediocrity. Gods kingdom is here. With power. We are representatives of that kingdom, so we should live like it. By looking for chances to serve, to pray for people, to reach out, we give the holy spirit the opportunity to do what only he van do. Give God a chance to do whatever only He can do.