Advancing Gods Kingdom
As life goes on, I have thought through some things, and I am always looking for kingdom processes that bear fruit and fruit that remains. I live my life to advance Gods kingdom, and here is what I believe works.
Preach the gospel. The word gospel means ‘good news’. The good news is that we can be forgiven of our sins, reconciled to God, and become born again into the Kingdom of God and eternal life. So then the first step in the kingdom is to become born-again. https://www.chrisaomministries.com/2017/02/do-you-want-to-go-to-heaven
1. Receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit, and begin to experience the presence and power of God. This event can happen very quickly, in fact, in Cornelius house, happened at the same time and place as their salvation. https://www.chrisaomministries.com/2016/03/is-tongues-initial-evidence-of-the-holy-spirit-baptism
2. Embrace the call to discipleship and kingdom living. Not my will but thine be done. Making Jesus our personal Lord, and studying to show our selves approved in the Word of God. John 8: 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
3. We submit our lives to learning and obeying the Word of God, and we learn truth, knowing it intimately. This truth that we know, makes us free. This discipleship process can occur many ways, I’ve seen strong church planting movements raised up, where pastors personally raise up and disciple elders in their churches, like Jesus, investing their lives into their core group of people, and turning the world upside down. I have discovered the Bible school method to be faster, because an individual is exposed to more of the Bible in a full time teaching environment, than a pastor can deliver in their weekly church services. https://www.chrisaomministries.com/2018/01/why-should-i-start-a-bible-school-12
It is the dream of every pastor that people grow up in the things of God, and that the kingdom expands through his or her ministry:
Eph 4:16 AMPC
For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love.
We see here that each of us need to be in our place, working properly, in order for the kingdom of God to grow.
4. As time marches on, We grow in the things of God, and Jesus deals with us, and raises us up to become the incredible royal kingdom citizens we are created to become, fulfilling eternal destiny in this temporal life. History makers, nation shakers. Most of the time, we find a place in our local church, and provide strong support and impact the world right there, but for some of us, that is not what He requires…The mission is still the Great Commission to the whole world: https://www.chrisaomministries.com/2016/09/the-great-commission and He requires us to GO! When this happens, we need to obey Him and do exactly that, and Go. Suddenly the 23rd Psalm takes on fresh meaning. Who is our pastor when we step out in full obedience to Holy Spirit? 23 The LORD is my shepherd (pastor, overseerer)…One man said, “Just stay on the beaten gospel path…” Another true missionary replied “Beaten paths are only for beaten men. Go boldly where God calls you, whether there is a path or not.”
Somewhere in these four steps is you. You are either not yet born-again, and need the gospel, or not yet filled with Holy Spirit, or in need of discipleship, or having been discipled, you need to discover your place of service.
Let’s pray:
“Father, here I am. I recognize You created me for a purpose as part of Your plan and Kingdom. Move me with Sovereign power into my place for this season of my life. Fill me afresh and anew with Holy Spirit, and equip me to bear eternal fruit for You. I ask, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.”