KINGDOM EXPANSION
Do you know that God’s will is for His Kingdom to expand on the earth through the preaching of the Kingdom?
Matthew 4:17 (NKJV) From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 10:7 (NKJV) “And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’
Kingdom expansion must start within the heart of the believer. It does not increase externally until there is first an expansion internally. External growth cannot be sustained without sufficient internal grace.
Where is the Kingdom of God really?
Luke 17:21 (NKJV) “nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.” God’s kingdom will never manifest on the outside until it has been given its place within us. The more place or room we make for it in our hearts the more of the kingdom we will experience; first within, then without.
When someone receives Christ as Savior the Spirit of God comes into the spirit of the new believer and makes him/her one with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). The Kingdom of God has expanded into one more life. I have often heard it said that we are bigger on the inside than we are on the outside (Psalm 119:32).
Picture the new believer stepping into this kingdom within. His spiritual eyes open wide in amazement at the glory and unimaginable expanse. It is like the whole universe opened up to him/her. Then, unfortunately, someone gets his/her attention off to one side along the inside perimeter of the kingdom. This person is locked within what appears to be a jail cell big enough for one. This person says, “Isn’t it a beautiful sight? One day we will get to enjoy it all. Oh. There are some bars here for you to construct your cell. I’ll tell you how it’s done.” And the new believer does as told. Soon enough he/she is stepping into his/her own cell along the perimeter of the kingdom and closing the door.
Soon after another new believer enters and is so captivated by the wonderful beauty and expanse of the kingdom that he/she immediately breaks into a run to see and enjoy all that’s possible in the kingdom. He/she never hears the other believers try to correct this jubilant freedom as he/she runs too far to hear or notice them.
Those in the jail cells assume that soon enough the joyful believer will be brought back to the perimeter to construct his/her cell. After all, we must wait for the kingdom to come before we can enjoy it. For now they must sit and look out from their cells at the kingdom waiting for the rapture or to die so they can be free. Hopefully, they see that free believer again, as he/she comes to release them from their cells so they can see the goodness of God in the land of the living.
When will we understand that the kingdom of God arrived when Jesus stepped on the scene? That’s what He meant by “the kingdom is at hand.” He preached and demonstrated the kingdom. He empowered His disciples and instructed them to also preach and demonstrate the kingdom. They did just that. Jesus has never withdrawn those instructions. They are integral to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are not preaching the whole Gospel unless we are releasing people into the kingdom that their joy be full in Christ.
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Let God enlarge your heart today to see more and more of His kingdom within.
Next time I will tell you how that is done.