CHRIST'S INCREASING KINGDOM Because their minds are riveted to the earth, unbelievers cannot conceive of something small being blessed by God. When God set up His kingdom, He did not do it in an evident manner. He did not begin with world dominion, and an overthrow of visible powers. From earth's perspective [and ONLY from earth's perspective] He started small. From heaven's perspective, the initiated in the earth kingdom actually started off on an extremely large scale. Death defeated (Acts 2:24)! Satan destroyed (Heb 2:14)! Sin removed (Heb 9:26)! Heaven opened (Eph 3:12)! The world reconciled to God (2 Cor 5:18-19)! Principalities and powers plundered (Col 2:15)! The Spirit sent (Acts 2:33)! Angels have been marshaled for the salvation of men (Heb 1:13-14)! Grace provided for sinners (John 1:17)! You cannot get bigger than that! Still, all of this was, and remains, undetected to those living "in the flesh." -- 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 30 of 36
Jesus declared that what seems small to men, will not remain so! God did not institute an unimpressive salvation, nor did He exalt His Son to administer over a handful of constituents! In His parables, Jesus declared the nature of the kingdom over which He now presides. "He presented another parable to them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; and this is smaller than all other seeds; but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants, and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches'" (Mat 13:31 NASB). He also likened the kingdom to a small amount of yeast that eventually pervades the whole mass of dough (Matt 13:33). Daniel saw it beginning as a small stone that became a mountain, filling the whole earth (Dan 2:35,44). Isaiah saw it involving the knowledge of the Lord covering the earth as the waters cover the sea (Isa 11:9).
At first, the kingdom appeared absolutely non-competitive. What were the few believers in those days to compare with the empire of Rome? But how does it compare now? Where is that mighty Roman empire that once seemed to dwarf a handful of people? God's kingdom in the earth has grown into a "tree," where men and women from every nation under heaven have found lodging! The life of God is in the "seed." Omnipotence lies within its fragile appearance! It has grown in the desert of this world, amidst the stormy assaults of the evil one. It could not be deprived of Divine nourishment, even when a "famine of hearing the Word of the Lord" (Amos 8:11-12) dominated the dark ages. Remarkable!
It has survived opposition, persecution, and even the appalling plague of indifference! Still it grows, bringing within its protecting walls (Isa 26:1) men and women out of every kindred, tribe, tongue, and nation.
THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM INVOLVES PERSONAL GROWTH
Christ's kingdom is an increasing one! That characteristic exists on both collective and individual levels. It is the nature of this kingdom to expand, grow, and swell! It is lamentable that so much of professed Christianity is noted for decline, lack of spiritual life, and lukewarmness. These are not Divine qualities, and do not appear where God is at work. Fellowship with God's dear Son is not attended by dissipation and retardation. Drawing back, in any form, is a sign of unbelief. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the kingdom of God.
The Word of God provides a revelation of the increasing nature of Christ's kingdom. It addresses believers, because of their transfer into Christ's kingdom, as those involved in the process of increase and advance. Salvation necessarily involves growth and increase. This is not something separate from salvation, but integral to it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for the increasing nature of Your kingdom, and for deliverance from decline and mediocrity.