Question.
Did the Kingdom of God leave with Jesus when He returned to heaven?
It may sound strange, but think about it.
Is the Kingdom of God somewhere far away with Him, or still here, with us, on earth?
In “Unlocking the Kingdom” we’ve been studying and pondering the vivid reality of the Kingdom of God in Jesus’ ministry and mission, and what I’m asking us to consider is…
Did it end with Him?
What did Jesus anticipate for us when He went to the cross?
Really, think about it.
If a king leaves His castle for a time is his authority still there? Still relevant? Still available for power? Influence? Kingdom needs?
Hmm.
After His resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples to “Go therefore…and make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).
If the Kingdom of God was the main topic Jesus taught on and displayed…
What was He hoping the disciples would say about it after He left?
What did Jesus want them to teach regarding His Kingdom?
He was gone. What were they to do with His Kingdom now?
Our modern summary of the gospel often ends with the resurrection of Jesus, and while His victory on the cross is huge, we don’t witness the potency of God’s Kingdom until after Jesus is gone, at the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Acts…
Only in Acts do we see a Kingdom people, who are:
Filled with the Holy Spirit
Submitted to the Word
Sharing meals and life
Selling homes, land and property and distributing to all as they had need
Signs and wonders filling the church
Overflowing growth with one, unified heart
A people who share everything in common, because of Jesus.
(See Acts 2:1-4, 42-47 & Acts 4:32-35 )
Now, that is “good news!” It’s not easy! It’s not comfortable. But it looks and sounds more like Jesus than much of what we see today.
Who wouldn’t look at that and say, “Whoa! Those people?! That’s otherworldly! That reveals God! Look at their love. Their generosity. Their peace. Their provision. Their prayers. Their healing. Their life…I want to get me some of that!”
The Kingdom ministry of the early church was so threatening that it overturned Rome, and, even in persecution, increased every area it went (Acts 17:6 ).
Like Jubilee, the Kingdom of God in the early church reset everything! The power of God flowed through ordinary people’s lives and into the surrounding culture.
That is the Kingdom of God on the move.
When we wake up.
When we realize what we’ve been given.
When we grab our keys and share this Kingdom mission!
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).
Jesus didn’t just leave a Kingdom here for us. He placed His Keys in our hands. That is why it’s called the great co-mission!
Well, this Sunday is the last in our series, and our topic is “Entering the Kingdom” and we’ll reflect on our series and interact together through worship, prayer, teaching, and blessing.
Let’s be praying that the power of the Holy Spirit who Jesus poured out in Acts would move our hearts and church into further Kingdom momentum! (Acts 2:33)
See you Sunday,
Pastor Dave
PS. And join us Saturday from 9am-1pm for the Creatives Conference, creativity + faith = a powerful way to Unlock the Kingdom in ourselves and others! See below for registration and more!