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Posted: 10/21/2009 at 6:55am
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The Clarity of the Kingdom
By Ron McGatlin
This morning as the brightness of the sun dawned upon one of those crystal clear, crisp fall days, the Blue Ridge Mountains to the north of our home which, are often seen through a light blue haze were today crystal clear. Much detail was clearly visible and caused the mountains to seem much closer and more perfectly defined.
I heard God in my spirit clearly say, “I am removing the haze that has limited the crystal clear reality of My kingdom. The last remaining coverings are now being lifted that those who seek my kingdom will clearly see and understand the mysteries of My kingdom. They will no longer see as through a glass darkly.”
It is a good thing to see the beauty of the mountains lightly veiled in their blue haze. They appear as an artist’s painting that portrays the aesthetic overall beauty of form and color without much detail. It is even a more exciting thing to see with clarity the crystal clear details of the mountains emerge into view in the brightness of a new day.
The kingdom of God that many have seen as a distant, lightly veiled, beautiful view is now being revealed in crisp detail as the brightness of the light of God is shining forth by the Spirit of God. Things that have made little or no sense to many will fall into place as God by His Spirit opens the depths of His kingdom word to them.
Things that some have known or felt deep in their hearts but could not express in words or clarity of thought will now become crystallized. The random pieces of spiritual understanding will align and fit together bringing peace, harmony, and assurance in their hearts and lives.
There is not a more satisfying experience of life than coming into oneness with God in His kingdom reality. It is the maturing into knowing Him as we are known of Him. All internal and external religious strife caused by trying to fit conflicting teachings and opposing views together is ended in the clarity of the revelation of the kingdom of God. For many their Bible will seem brand new again as familiar passages open up to speak to us clearly of the kingdom of God now in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Passages will fit together perfectly that we struggled to fit together in the past.
In this day of clarity, reading books and prophetic kingdom writings will yield more light when read again than they did when they were previously read. This may be a time to slow down some of our activities and ask God to reveal the kingdom with clarity into our spirits by His Spirit – a time to sincerely seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. There will be fresh clarity of revelation of Christ and His kingdom for those being given eyes to see and ears to hear.
To those who have more will be given (Mat 25:29).
Kingdom apostles and prophets will be amazed as they speak and write what they had not previously heard. It will flow as they go. The kingdom wisdom developing as they speak or write will be astounding and very satisfying to themselves and to the hearers. Eyes will be opened wide and mouths hanging open with the “wow-factor” of the fresh kingdom word coming to life in their presence.
Real life demonstrations will not be a show but a practical reality of the kingdom invading our lives and the world around us. The time of the kingdom being revealed is here for all who will abandon the past, turn away from distractions, and turn to God with their whole hearts. Let us not allow doubt and unbelief or any religious rocks of preconceived views nor anyone or anything to cause us to miss the kingdom habitation offered to all who sincerely seek it in this window of opportunity. Seek the kingdom with your whole heart in this season of light and clarity.
Growing the Fruit of the Kingdom
Growing the fruit of the kingdom begins with the seed (word). Jesus spoke of the heart of mankind as the soil in which the kingdom seed is to grow. In order to prepare the soil to receive the word of the kingdom, hardened views planted by previous life experiences may need to be plowed up. Hard rocks of religious convictions may need to be thrown out. The thorn bushes of the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches may need to be dug up and thrown out. Our hearts need to be cleared and healed to receive the seed (word) of the kingdom into the Holy Spirit moistened soil of our hearts (Mat 13:1-23).
Mat 13:19: "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.”
The word of the kingdom planted in a prepared heart will grow the kingdom into fruition in our lives and will affect the people and the world around us. The kingdom planted and growing will change our lives. Our lives sown into the world will change our world. The kingdom within brings forth the kingdom without. Kingdom changes people and kingdom people change the world. The grace of God working in and through people can bring forth the works and ways of God in all areas of life.
Mat 13:23: "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."
The kingdom is the work of God. We can no more grow the kingdom than we can grow a field of grain. We can prepare the soil and plant the seed, but we cannot make it grow. We have a part in the process of kingdom of God ruling in the world, but only God can make the kingdom grow in us and into the world.
Mark 4:26-29: And He said, "The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come."
The gospel (good news) of the kingdom of God is that the kingdom is now available through the work of Christ Jesus in the Holy Spirit. He has provided all that is needed for our redemption and the cleansing of our hearts for the preparation of growing the kingdom of God into our world. For centuries Christ Jesus has been working by His Spirit to make soft again our hardened hearts, heal all our wounds, and set us free from the bondages of our afflictions.
Christ Jesus is living in us by the Holy Spirit to grow the word of the kingdom into the rule of God on earth as it is in heaven. The good news is that God is here to rule and reign in the world with His perfect love and power. Christ Jesus is in the world today abiding in His temple (Body) to establish His kingdom in His people and in the world.
Why has it not already fully happened?
Why do we not yet see all things under His feet? What has delayed or held back the fullness of the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven? It has not happened because most believers have not even really heard the word of the kingdom much less grown it to fruition. Most have only heard and believed an incomplete gospel, a gospel focused on the needs and desires of man. We have preached the gospel of man’s salvation to go to heaven, prosperity, healing, and deliverance. These things we ought to have done but we stopped short of the gospel of the kingdom now on earth in Christ Jesus to rule and reign. We have sought these blessings while continuing to live unholy, sinful, pleasure-seeking lives mixed with our seeking to serve God.
The good news (gospel) of the kingdom is that we can be carriers of the Spirit of God and all the attributes needed to re-establish the glorious kingdom of God now on earth. The good news of the kingdom is that the rule of God has come to earth to make all things new on earth as it is in heaven.
It is time to repent (turn) and believe the gospel of the kingdom.
Mark 1:14-15: Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
The Spirit of Christ is again clearly proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom (the good news) that the kingdom is at hand. Repent means to turn and go another way. Jesus is preaching and teaching the word of the kingdom today by His Spirit. “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.”
Mat 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Mat 28:18: And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
Edited by Ron McGatlin on 10/22/2009 at 12:08pm
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Topic: THE CLARITY OF THE KINGDOM
