CHRIST'S INCREASING KINGDOM Unlike the kingdoms of men, Christ's kingdom is proclaimed, or announced. It exists independently and apart from human effort. Even if there were no righteous people, the kingdom of God is still in place. It is announced in order that men may participate in it. Praise the Lord! When the "day of salvation" drew near, God sent the harbinger, John the Baptist, to announce the kingdom was coming – that it was "at hand" (Matt 3:2). Following His baptism and wilderness temptation, Jesus immediately began preaching "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt 4:17). When Jesus sent out the seventy, He instructed them to preach, "The kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt 10:7). Here is a subject that dominated the preaching of John the Baptist, Jesus, and His disciples! We do well to give attendance to it. -- Tomorrow:
"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. OF THE INCREASE OF HIS GOVERNMENT AND PEACE THERE SHALL BE NO END, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this!" (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Devotion 29 of 36
After Jesus had ascended into heaven, the kingdom of God continued to be proclaimed. "But when they believed Philip preaching the good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were being baptized, men and women alike" (Acts 8:12 NASB). Philip preached about Divine dominion and a Sovereign Savior. His was not a message of worldly solutions or institutional fervor! He proclaimed what God was doing, and how He was doing it!
Notice that the Person of Jesus was immediately associated with this kingdom. He is the Head of it, and under His auspices it is currently spreading. Philip did not preach the church at Jerusalem to the people of Samaria, but the kingdom of God under the reign of Jesus!
The activities of Paul the Apostle were also associated with this kingdom. While dwelling "two full years in his own rented quarters," he was "preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered" (Acts 28:31 NASB). Notice again, he proclaimed the kingdom of God, and taught concerning Jesus Christ. I cannot help but observe the remarkable absence of these two matters in much of the contemporary preaching. It is a tragic commentary on the general departure from the faith that is all about us. Few people hear regularly about the reign of God or the Person of Christ. There is a prevailing ignorance about the nature of Christ's rule that is alarming, and it exists within the professed church!
The kingdom belongs to God, but it is presently administered by Jesus Christ. The purpose is the Father's, and the implementation is accomplished by the Son! This is why the kingdom is identified with both the Father and the Son. "For this you know with certainty, which no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God" (Eph 5:5 NASB). In a most remarkable word, the Spirit tells of the time of "the end," when the Son will deliver the kingdom back to the Father (1 Cor 15:24-25).
HIDDEN NOW, IT SHALL BE REVEALED
The kingdom of God exists – even dominates – yet it is not apparent. Those without faith cannot discern the government of God. They do not behold Him "working salvation in the midst of the earth" (Psalm 74:12), even though that is precisely what He is doing. Unless the heart is renewed, the individual cannot detect that "the whole earth is full of His glory" (Psalm 72:19; Isa 6:3). Still, this is precisely the way things are! God is still "the Governor among the nations" (Psalm 22:28). Christ is exalted, and has received "all power in heaven and earth" (Matt 28:18). Satan has been "destroyed" (Heb 2:14), and principalities and powers have been "spoiled" (Col 2:15). Reigning in uncontested power and glory, Jesus is "bringing many sons to glory" (Heb 2:10). But this does not appear to be the case to the unbeliever.
The Spirit declares this will not always be the case. The kingdom of which we speak will appear when Jesus appears. It is a kingdom that is already in place, but will then be seen by an assembled universe. "I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom" (2 Tim 4:1 NASB). This appearing will take place when the present heavens and earth pass away. Currently, they are the obscuring factor! Those who fasten their attention on the present heavens and earth cannot see the kingdom of God. They are looking at the scaffolding, soon to be torn down at the word of the Lord! For this reason, it is said of believers, "we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor 4:18, NASB).
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for hiding Your kingdom from those who refuse Your Son.