Kingdom Power - Power Now, Power To Come (Part 1)

The forefront of His ministry

Even a cursory reading of the gospel accounts reveals that the Kingdom of God was very much at the forefront of Jesus’ earthly agenda.

So why is it so conspicuously absent from ours?

The first words out of Jesus’ mouth at the beginning of His public ministry were the announcement that, with His Presence and preaching, the Kingdom of God, long foretold, had at last come near (Matt. 4.17). Jesus brought the Kingdom of God into human history and experience. Wherever He went, in parable after parable, sermon after sermon, Jesus focused the minds of His hearers on the fact that the reign and rule of God had come to earth in Him, and that, from His day forward, everything would change. He as much as said, in Luke 17.20 and 21, that the Kingdom of God is as plain as the nose on your face: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

Following His resurrection, He spent forty days instructing His disciples in the Kingdom of God (Acts 1.3). Forty days! He wanted to make sure that those to whom He was entrusting His ministry understood that the Gospel of the Kingdom is the heart of it all.

Thus, it should not surprise us that the first sermon, in which the apostle Peter heralded the onset of the last days, focused on the call to submit to Jesus as Lord and Christ (Acts 2.36). All the early preachers and prophets of the Church emphatically declared the Gospel of the Kingdom and its presence in time and history (cf. Acts 8.12).

Make no mistake about it: The Kingdom of God is among us.

Evidence of the Kingdom?

With the coming of Jesus, and especially with His ascension to heaven and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a new order of heavenly rule was established on the earth, just as the prophets had foretold (cf. Dan. 2.44, 45; Is. 9.1-7).

And yet we do not have to look very far to see that much—very much—of the world does not appear to have gotten the memo. Evidence for this new reign of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit, which is the Kingdom of God, is in rather short supply (Rom. 14.17). A culture of self-indulgence, material craving, and sensual license inundates the West. Rising giants of the Eastern world strive mightily to walk a balance between traditional cultures, modern forms of governance, and the hankering for material prosperity which they have tasted and found to be most desirable. Wars and rumors of wars continue; natural disasters wipe out the lives and wellbeing of multitudes; violence, slavery, and oppression continue to threaten; and economic uncertainty is the lot of increasing numbers of people. And churches are in decline just about everywhere.

So if the Kingdom has come, where is the evidence of its power?

Look to Jesus

No, we do not now see the full evidence of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit which would indicate the presence of the Kingdom of God with power. But we do see Jesus, exalted, enthroned, advancing His rule, and building His Church (Heb. 2.8, 9). For nearly two millennia the Gospel has been increasing on earth. Men and women have forced their way into the Kingdom of God by grace through faith, putting to death their old selves and falling on the Sword of God for forgiveness and eternal life. Lives have been changed. Cultures have been transformed. Innovations and improvements in almost every area of life have come about as the result of Kingdom citizens drawing on the transforming power of Christ with new ideas and new strength.

No, the full power of the Kingdom of God is not yet visible among us. The day of its complete unveiling is yet to come.

For now, however, His Kingdom is at hand, in our midst, and we who know the King are its citizens and ambassadors (2 Cor. 5.17-21). Power is available to us which can restore the fallen world to the beauty, goodness, and truth God desires. Our calling is to understand that power and to appropriate it, by faith, in every area of our lives.

So today, this week, focus on the power of God’s Kingdom as you see it in your own life, and take the time to give Him thanks for each reminder of His advancing rule on earth.

T. M. Moore