The Advancing Kingdom

Since going on this sabbatical, I have had time to think about what my wife and I saw in God's heart that brought us to this place to plant and lead what has become by God's grace a wonderful church family. I know that "vision statements" are the vogue these days. These simple, short sentences that define a preferred future can become very helpful in keeping organizations on track. John Wimber, the founder of the Vineyard Church movement used to say, "Stay focused on the main and the plain!"

So what is the "main and plain" for the Heartland Vineyard Church? What is our vision? What do we see that keeps us firmly planted in the will of God and moving toward His purposes?

I find the Biblical word "Kingdom" as something that carries a beautiful picture, a vision of what I personally want to be involved in all my life and lead others toward. Jesus' central message was the Kingdom of God. He never taught without mentioning the Kingdom of God. His parables were stories describing the Kingdom of God. Jesus didn't just talk about the Kingdom of God. He demonstrated the Kingdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. Demons would leave oppressed people and Jesus would call that the Kingdom of God. Broken, hurting people would be healed of all sorts of maladies and Jesus would call that the advancing Kingdom of God. Compassion and mercy would fall upon people lying in gutters of sin and be lifted into the fullness of their created purpose and Jesus would call that the Kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul in Romans defined the Kingdom of God as "righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit". The Kingdom of God is not a future reality we love forward to some day called heaven. Though heaven is a part of the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is a present reality when God's loving and holy ambitions for His people are fully realized.

The Kingdom of God is when God's original and blessed intent for men and women, boys and girls are established and people find themselves living an abundant life. The Kingdom is when God is ruling and reigning. When a husband and wife find loving and harmonious union as they follow Christ's leadership, children experiencing the affection of their dads and moms because Jesus Christ is the King of that home, this is the Kingdom of God. When defeated, desperate people are led by God's loving Holy Spirit out of the bondage of addiction to live productive and generous lives, the sick healed and people are lifted from depression and fear into joy and peace, this is the Kingdom of God. When people reconcile through the power of forgiveness, anger absolved, criticism silenced and encouragement and affirmation expressed, this is the Kingdom.

Ultimately, when people realize the immense love God has for them and they accept the gift of life through Jesus and His sacrificial death on the cross and begin to walk with God in real and life giving relationship, the Kingdom of God has come.

When I hear the word "Kingdom", I picture everything that is wrong in this world being made right. And as a member of God's church, He will use me and he will use you to advance His Kingdom. Jesus said, "The Kingdom is forcefully advancing and the violent take it by force".

What is the vision that drives me as a Christian? What is the vision that drives the church? It is a vision of advancing the Kingdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.