There are several key concepts that underlie what the house church movement is about. Perhaps one of the most important is that God’s Kingdom is here, now, at work through every believer. This Kingdom life-force is powerful and dynamic and is not restricted to a place, time, liturgy, or structure. It is the life of God at work through each and every one of His people at all times and in every place.
To grasp the significance of this, we must start with what this Kingdom is. It is the life-force that originates from the center of God. It is God’s power, authority and energy that comes from His realm. It is the life of heaven. When humankind turned away from God, we were translated out of His realm into the realm of darkness (Satan’s realm) and into a world cut off from the fullness of His life and power.
However, Jesus declared that the Kingdom of heaven is now come. The power of God’s realm is now fully available to us even while we live within the realm of this world. Prior to Jesus’ coming, we were subject only to the realm of this world—the natural laws and forces—and the realm of Satan who is the prince of this world. When Jesus came, He declared that a new force was present upon earth—the force of the Kingdom of heaven. The power and the authority and the life that flows from the throne of God is now flowing into the lives of His people. It is this life force that touches, heals, delivers, frees, imparts truth, cleanses, brings revelation, and causes the activity and guidance of heaven to take control of our lives on earth.
It is as though we are submerged underwater (in this world) but connected to an umbilical cord that reaches up into the oxygen above. Everything that we need and more is available to us through that umbilical cord. Our spirit is an open conduit for all of God’s life to flow into our life.
The point is this. Jesus makes this connection to the heavenly realm available to each believer, every believer, every place that we go, every situation that we are in. Jesus is now in us; His life is now in us; He works in us; He works through us; all the time; in every situation. We do not go to a building or a gathering of any kind in order for this heavenly life to be at work in us. It is available every day in every way. In our homes, in our beds, in our offices, in our places of work. Christ in us… the hope of glory… is the reality that we walk in every moment of our believing lives.
The kingdom is not more resident where there is a certain liturgy present. It is not more present when a certain type of prayer is spoken. It is not more present in certain people who have certain roles. It is not more present when a gathering is officiated by someone who has a unique calling, anointing, or ministry. The Kingdom of God has come. Period. Through the marvelous working of the sacrifice of Jesus’ life, we no longer belong to the realm of this world nor the realm of darkness because all of the power of heaven is at work in us. We live in this world, but the power of the everlasting kingdom of God is constantly being poured into us like a lifeline that reaches up to the very throne. This is the reality that God would have His people, every person, by faith, walk in!
We lose the magnificence of this truth when we declare that certain events, places, or people are “special.” There was a “special” service in which God was present. There was a “special” speaker who imparted something wonderful to those present. There was a “special” crusade. God does work wonderfully through many different ways… all of which, because they are of God, are more than special. But we must not take away from the greatest miracle of all: that God is working in a high and special way at all times through each one of us when we simply take this truth by faith and walk it out. It’s true.
All of what makes God special is at work in each one of us always. Always. His kingdom, in all of its “specialness” and glory is in me and in you. That’s the truth that we want to recover so that the earth is filled with His “special” followers doing “special” things frequently and regularly. How else will the earth be filled with His glory than by millions of believers who grasp how wonderfully and powerfully they are filled with the life, the power, the beauty, the glory, and the fullness of God’s kingdom—the very life-force of heaven—all day, at all times, in every situation they are in.
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2 responses to “The Kingdom Is Here Now”
First of all let me say that this article on the Kingdom being here NOW and in fullness is very good! The Kingdom is the most powerful force in heaven and earth! It is the source of the power and life that we have through Christ. Sadly I don’t think many of us know much of anything about the Kingdom.
I would like to add some points to what is being said (concerning “what is the Kingdom”)and perhaps give food for more thought. I understand that some will not agree with some of the things I am about to say, but remember that we are on this blog for the sake of growth, edification and empowerment so that we can advance God’s kingdom in the earth. In order to do this, we must continue to challenge our old habits and paradigms. The Kingdom has been misunderstood for so long – it is time to recover this truth so that more/all believers are walking in power. The Kingdom is the central teaching of Christ.
• The Kingdom IS the gospel (i.e. “the gospel of the kingdom”) For too long we have reduced the Gospel to merely being “the Gospel of Salvation”.
But, salvation is just the door. The good news is that Gods kingdom has now come and is now available to every man. This means that every man can escape the lowly earthly realm and live in the heavenly realms together with Christ – living in heaven while living on the earth. I believe that this is what Jesus meant when he said “I go to prepare a place for you….that where I am (presently) there you may be also”.
• The Kingdom of God HAS and WILL take over the whole earth.
Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be NO END. (Isa 9:7)
“The kingdom of the world HAS become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”(Rev 11:15)
The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and ALL who live in it;(Psalms 24:1)
The point is that everything belongs to God.
• The Kingdom of God is within us and does not come with external observation.
Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:20-22)
I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
(1 Corinthians 15:50)
Friends, scripture is clear on this matter. The Kingdom of God does not come with pretty buildings, programs, nice suits, or spiritual practices on a special day (as stated well in the blog). You all know this. But what about our expectations of a future coming “physical kingdom”? I believe that WE are the way by which the Kingdom comes down out of heaven and transforms the earth. I believe that we should place our expectations not on something future and physical, but on the ever-expanding ever-increasing ever-powerful Kingdom that lives within us. And the more we understand this, the more our world we be changed and the glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
There is much more I can say on this subject. Let us continue to seek the Kingdom and advance the truth.Why? Through the finished work of Christ and His transer of the Kingdom to us, Our ability is LIMITLESS!!!
Blessings,
Eric
When the house church movement is over with, the kingdom will still remain.
What I mean is this. Through the years, God has been restoring to his church, the tools and means for advancing his kingdom. God has been breathing life back into the church, restoring to us the keys to the kingdom.
Since the time of Martin Luther, elements of his intention for the church have been reintroduced back into normative Christianity. But, as Wolfgang Simson details in his book, Houses that Change the World, the structure of the church has been relatively untouched for the last 1700 years.
Now that God is awakening the church to these relational and organic expressions of community, the gospel of the kingdom has much greater potential to reach the world. House church is the most natural way and God’s plan for the family of God to grow and express the His nature in the earth, without the confines of the religious systems and structures that quench the organic growth of individual believers and the church as a whole.
But, as important as this focus on house church is, it is not the end-all of what God will do with the Gospel of the Kingdom. God will continue to move by his Spirit. And, as we catch on and grow organically instead of organizationally, He will probably move past this emphasis as he has with other movements. He will continue to empower and build his church. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom. The house church movement is a temporal step in our transformation. I hope we don’t miss what he is doing through the house church movement and I pray we move on with him as he continues to reveal the kingdom to us. After all, it is his good pleasure to give us the kingdom.