I’ve had the sense for the past few weeks that my understanding of God’s kingdom is growing. Seeing and experiencing so many different things here has given me a greater sense of how big God is and how no matter how I may try to put God in a box, that box can never be big enough.

About a month or so ago we went to hear a man named Myles Monroe speak at a church in Pretoria. The place was packed with people of all colors, and he delivered a powerful message about the kingdom of God (or the kingdom of heaven). It was then that I began thinking about the part of the Lord’s Prayer that goes, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” It blew my mind to think of the kingdom of God advancing throughout the earth, instead of being some far off place we go to when we die. I imagine it being a lot like the United Kingdom going around back in the day conquering lands and adding to their territory. But of course the King of the kingdom of God is a true King, not a ruthless tyrant. He is one that is worthy to wield so much power, dominion and authority; one who truly deserves worship and reverence and awe; one that leaves His subjects with no choice but to fall flat on our faces when in His presence. In other words, the kingdom of God is nothing like the U.K. or any other earthly kingdom. Instead of brute force and might, the kingdom spreads through this earth with love. And it’s not some kind of mystical or magic love; it’s real, tangible love spread by God’s ambassadors: Christians.

I’ve witnessed God’s kingdom coming on earth as we’ve gone out with the Powerhouse team to bring food to the poor each week. We visit a lot of sad situations. But each week those situations are improving and it’s nothing short of God’s doing. This last week we witnessed a lot of things that convinced me God is at work. For instance, we’ve been visiting a house where there’s a man with one leg, two or three gogos with various health issues and a slew of tenants that live behind the house that don’t know what to do and are often overwhelmed by the situation.

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. —Jesus in Matthew 13:44

One of the gogos, Johanna, is blind. The first time we met her it was at the banquet for the disabled and elderly. She had to be carried in and helped around. We started visiting her and praying with her, and every week she’d report some kind of improvement. One week she was not only walking but dancing around and singing. Truly, despite ups and downs, God is working on her body. Then this past week, she reported to us that she can see! Her vision is still cloudy but she could tell Rebecca exactly what she was wearing and that she had white skin. It was a true miracle seeing the scales literally fall off her eyes, and I believe God will keep working in her body and her life until she can fully see…and He won’t stop there. There are many other issues related to ancestral worship, her past as a sangoma (a witch doctor) and other things that need prayer; but God will continue to work in her life, bringing His Kingdom and His will to this earth. What a privilege it is to be a part of that.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. —Jesus in Matthew 13:45-46

I just want to say that God is big. He’s bigger than any concept we can possibly imagine. Yet He loves every one of us individually so much that He knows the number of hairs on our head. He loves us all so much that He risked everything by becoming a tiny, helpless baby born into a world full of hostility toward Him. While on earth he spent His time healing people of their diseases, telling people about the kingdom of God and trying to prepare His disciples to take over after He was gone. I want to be a disciple, bringing His kingdom on earth. I want to believe in miracles. I want to let God be God. I want to let myself reflect His image, instead of making God into something that reflects my image. I want to know about this kingdom of God that Jesus speaks more of than any other subject during his public ministry.

As we visited the last house this past week, I prayed for a 23-year-old orphan named Colin and his grandmother. As I did, I could feel the love of God coming to that place. As God gave me the words to pray, I could sense His kingdom invading whatever darkness was there. I could almost hear the shackles of poverty rattling loose. When I finished praying, I could see the change on that young man’s face as tears welled up and he thanked us for coming to see them. As I walked back to the car, trying to keep myself together, I knew we had experienced a small piece of the kingdom of God.

If you’re still wanting more, Allan recently preached a great sermon at the Powerhouse on the kingdom of God—click the button below to listen.

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Filed under: General by Nathan on December 8th, 2008, feeding scheme, Jesus, Kingdom of God, miracles