The Kingdom: Where is It?
Printed From: OpenHeaven.com
Forum Name: KINGDOM/APOSTOLIC Transformation & Reformation ARTICLES & Discussion
Forum Discription: Revival/renewal and increased personal intimacy with God has led to transformation and reformation toward the kingdom of God.
URL: http://archive.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=45553
Printed Date: 01/17/2017 at 2:02pm
Topic: The Kingdom: Where is It?
Posted By: Ray Ashmore
Subject: The Kingdom: Where is It?
Date Posted: 02/05/2014 at 10:33am
We have entered the Kingdom season. Now look around you. Where
are the kingdom "locations"? If you're looking for one at the corner of
Main and Elm you will be disappointed. Why? Because the kingdom
structure is now on display and few recognize it. The reason we don't
see the obvious is that we are so indoctrinated in western, institutional
thinking the we do not see with eastern eyes.
The kingdom structure is on display today in "relationships" and
"connections." The kingdom is "community," not "constructions." Just as
the Church is not a collection of places but of people, the Kingdom is
not found in architecture but in systemic relationships. These
relationships may gather in different places from time-to-time and take
many different forms, but they transcend "places."
Of course, we westerners want to "build" things. We want to "plant"
things. We want to "organize" things. The Holy Spirit on the other hand
wants to transform people. He wants to establish communities under
Christ's Lordship. He wants to develop relationships within the Body.
He's more about function than form. Although function must take form,
function must be preeminent. Just as function adapts and changes to
different contexts, so then must form. This means that all institutional
forms must be subservient to the transforming work of the Holy Spirit.
Static must yield to dynamic and structure must be subservient to
transformation.
Kingdom communities exist today, newly birthed. Now we await the
transforming life, power, and growth that is promised to come. Even so,
come Lord Jesus.
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