Kingdom Now

Dear People Who Keep Company With God,

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is already here (Mark 1:15). I do not struggle believing that, but there are times I struggle seeing it. And Jesus gave us the answer for seeing it, change your mind and believe.

To help understand what I should change my mind about and believe, I identified some of the signs or effects that reveal the kingdom is present and at work. All of these are still at work or at least can be at work today through us if we will believe they are part of the gospel.

1. The kingdom overcomes sickness, disease and brings healing. In Luke 10:8-9, Jesus sends out the seventy disciples and tells them, “Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you; heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.'” Note the connection between the coming of the kingdom and the healing of the sick. This was Jesus modus operandi, He preached the kingdom and healed the sick.

2. The kingdom overcomes death. In Matthew 10:7-8, Jesus sent the twelve out and told them, “Preach as you go saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead…” They were to preach, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand (present)!” And we are to perform certain signs including raising the dead.

3. The kingdom brings deliverance from demons. In Luke 11:20, Jesus says, “If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” In Matthew 10:1 it says, “Jesus called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out . . .”

4. The kingdom brings life altering changes. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The power of the kingdom is what gives us the desire and ability to radically change the direction and attitude of our entire life.

5. The kingdom brings forgiveness. In Matthew 18:23-35, Jesus illustrated that the kingdom of heaven is like a king who called his debtors to account, and when one of them pleads for mercy concerning a very large financial debt that he had no way to pay, the king has pity and forgives him everything he owes. All of our sins are forgiven (Col. 2:13).

6. The kingdom brings righteousness. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus told us to, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…” When the kingdom of God comes, it comes with righteousness. Paul said in Romans 14:17, “The kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness…” It sounds like heresy, but the truth is we are as righteous as Jesus (1 Cor. 1:30).

7. The kingdom brings joy and happiness. In Matthew 5:10, Jesus said, “Blessed—happy—are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Romans 14:17 says, “The kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness joy and peace in the Holy Spirit.”

8. The kingdom makes us priests. Revelation 1:6 says, “[Jesus] has made us a kingdom of priests to his God and Father…” If you belong to the kingdom, you belong to a “royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). You are a priest. Jesus revealed that a priest’s job is to draw near to God with the burdens of people, and to draw near to people with the blessings of God.

9. It is a kingdom of love. Last, but certainly not the least, it is a “kingdom of His dearly beloved Son” (Col. 1:13). The greater always includes the lesser. And certainly love is the greatest. All is included in His kingdom of love. I am certain I have seen our future; it is love.

Many Blessings, BW