by Pastor Wendall Ward
Until Jesus returns, we make the invisible kingdom visible. The way we do this is by living a life that bears witness to the RULE OF CHRIST IN OUR HEARTS. The kingdom is meant to manifest in EVERY sphere of life. There is only one way the kingdom of God is going to be manifest in this world before Christ comes. If we manifest it by the way we live as citizens of heaven on the earth.
A Wake Up Call
“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand [approaching in time and space]” (Matt 3:2). God’s prophetic voice had been silent for over 400 years. From Malachi to Matthew there was silence, but now a voice was sounding out from the wilderness.
“Repent” is a wake-up call. It’s an urgent invitation to gain a new understanding of what God is doing on the planet. And it is also indicating that he is doing it now through the kingdom of heaven. The declaration that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” was two messages in one. First it was a prophetic warning to the ruling Jews. Second, it was also an invitation to those who were “weary and heavy laden” by oppressive religion. In addition, the kingdom declaration of John was also a message of hope. It was the good news that the liberating rule of God himself was coming to the human heart. However, the heart needed to make room.
The King and His Kingdom
Jesus came immediately behind John with a proclamation of his own. He said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near [approaching in time and space]; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1: 15). At the heart of both prophetic declarations are two ideas. The first idea is that Jesus was the long-awaited “Anointed One” of God. The second is that He would be the King of this Kingdom. From this point Jesus “…Went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom [the good news of messianic rule] and healing every sickness and every disease among the people” (Matt 9:35). The “word [message] of the kingdom” was now going forth with confirming “signs and wonders” (Matt 13:19).
The earthly ministry of Jesus was winding down and Jesus was about to depart from this earth. His disciples asked Him one last question. They asked, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6b). (They still didn’t understand that God’s purpose for Israel was ending.) His response was not to “upbraid” them for their lack of understanding. Instead, He wanted to reveal the means by which he would continue God’s purpose on the earth. He said: “IT IS NOT FOR YOU TO KNOW TIMES OR SEASONS which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be WITNESSES TO ME in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:7–8). God was about to invade their hearts with HIS SPIRIT. What did He mean?
The Kingdom Within You
When Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world,” He was telling us that the genesis of His kingdom on the earth was something spiritual. That means it takes place first in the human heart. However, in addition, He left a witness in the Scriptures about His Kingdom. Scripture shows that the kingdom and its “works” would also break through from our hearts into this world through Christ and his people—the Church. For this reason, during His earthly ministry, Jesus made comments such as, “If I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Luke 11:20).
Similarly, when Jesus sent out seventy disciples to declare this kingdom, He instructed them to say that “The kingdom of God has come near you” (Luke 10:11b) because Jesus brought it as close as he could until, in the time and season of God, the Spirit of God was given to the people of God (Acts).
Christ is King Right Now!
So, Jesus’ kingship is not something that remains in the future. Christ is King right this minute. He is in the seat of the highest spiritual authority in the heavens. We are seated with Him there (Ephesians 2:6). ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been given to God’s anointed Son. And it has been delegated to his Church to advance the gospel of his kingdom in the earth ( Psalms 2 & Matthew 28:18).
Making the Invisible Seen
Once again, until he returns, we make the invisible kingdom visible. We do this by living in a way that is a witness to the RULE OF CHRIST IN OUR HEARTS. The kingdom is meant to manifest in EVERY aspect of your life. The only way the kingdom of God is going to be seen in this world before Christ comes is if we manifest it by the way we live. Living as citizens of heaven while we are here on the earth.