“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
The kingdom is not a put there event, we are in it and it is within us.
Therefore being ready is in this moment.
Therefore this now is a designated time and we designated to be in it just as in Ecclesiastes
“a time for every season under heaven. “
Now is a time for malleable, flexibility and versatility as God continues to shift His church.
Like David inquired of the Lord every step of his progress into battle and switched tack to obey each command not taking anything for granted in his advance so should we be finely honed and lead.
Now is a window of time where more than ever we need to go with what God is designating. It is no longer the time for what we want from church, as in the consumer’s mindset but for what God wants.
It may even be uncomfortable and a place where we feel a lone voice set apart but the enemy is wanting us to back down instead we are called to stand firm and strong as in Ephesians and go against confident in the armour we have on.
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”
Post pandemic We are a generation destined to make a mark. We are not invalidated or to be intimidated.
Following in the wake of this pandemic God will have His way and we will leave a legacy as Christians.
The church must be stronger than compromise or cultural power or whatever else is out there.
We, as in Peters time, will be those where the gates of hell shall not prevail, not on our watch, we will stand strong as gatekeepers and embrace everyone as Jesus embraces and abides in us.
“Abide in me, and I in you. “
Our hearts aligned to bring every opportunity for Jesus to work through us for the doing of even greater things.
The unity in the spirit of the kingdom to out power all other curated attempts to distract and deflect.
Now is the time to be in place. Not to step aside or retreat but to stay firm regardless of controversy or resistance.
The spiritual landscape is different and in need of discerning.
It is not we who send ourselves but we go where God sends us.
Know where God wants us to be and confident that He will equip us for that place.
God gives us grace to resist distraction. God gives us grace to make wise decisions. God gives us grace to be amongst those He has always chosen to champion.
This is our time to ask Him to show us what will result in the response from Him ? “Well done” and “faithful servant. “
The illustration shows honed listening to God and the Holy Spirit from within to discern the kingdom. The spectrum being the Spirit the response in the here and now bringing the light in the darkness.
Nine Scriptures that come to mind:
“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.””Luke 17:20-21 ESV
“And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will you give them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will certainly give the Philistines into your hand.”
And when David inquired of the Lord, he said, “You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees.
And David did as the Lord commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer.”2 Samuel 5:19, 23, 25 ESV
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.””Matthew 16:18-19 ESV
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.”John 15:4 ESV
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”Ephesians 6:10-11 ESV
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”Ephesians 6:12 ESV
“Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”1 John 4:4 ESV
The song Here As In Heaven. Josie Buchanan
https://youtu.be/AgMmTj2wPIQ
Lessisgreater 