NOTE: I do not keep comments open on my blog simply because of the busyness of my own schedule at this time. It is very hard for me to engage in any "back and forth" conversation. However, if you wish to communicate with me something the Lord is showing you about what I've written, or your own heart on a subject matter I am sharing, please don't hesitate to write me personally at cjdipilato@aol.com.
Since my website is called "Herald of His Kingdom" (hopefully to be restored to online status this weekend), I felt it most in order to declare in at least one blog exactly what it is I am "heralding"!!!
So much is written, preached, taught, and prophesied about His glorious kingdom, we cannot even begin to touch the surface of it. Everyone who is getting the message of the kingdom has some insight to contribute, and my own website is simply a way to share what God gives me at any given time, and much of it is foundational truth.
I feel though, I want to bring a bit of clarity to my own personal understanding of the kingdom of God as simply as I can.
The kingdom of God is the rule of God and His domain both in heaven and in the earth. Are the kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven synonomous terms?
No, but the two meet together when the Lord's Prayer is appropriated, apprehended and executed: "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." When the kingdom of heaven is manifested on earth it becomes bigger than just the "kingdom of heaven". It is then the "kingdom of God".
Eternity relates to the heavenly. Time relates to the earthly. But the kingdom of God relates to both time AND eternity! When we bring to bear the kingdom of heaven upon this earth, we are activating and enforcing the kingdom of God.
When we consider the will of God as it's practiced in heaven, can you begin to imagine any sickness, or disease, or death, or famine, or lack, or infirmity on the golden streets of glory??? I think NOT!!! When Jesus spoke to His disciples that the kingdom of heaven was "at hand"??? Exactly WHAT was "at hand"? JESUS was "at hand" healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, raising the dead, and delivering all that were oppressed of the devil!
Jesus was in a relationship with His heavenly Father whereby He knew and understood what the Father was doing, and He did it. Jesus saw past any veils of fear, doubt, or unbelief to behold His Father ministering healing, deliverance and LIFE, and so He did likewise! By faith, Jesus pulled eternity into the realm of time, and thus executed the kingdom of God! (Read carefully John 5, especially verses 17 and 19).
We can become quite astute in ministering revelation knowledge about the kingdom of God, and I personally delight in hearing every bit of it. But, this kingdom is a kingdom that doesn't just come in word, but it comes in POWER, and that is how we know we are truly walking in it and possessing it!!!
(See 1 Corinthians 2:3-5)
This is what sets the kingdom of God apart from every other kingdom on earth!!!
The power of God!!! Sick healed! Blind eyes opened! Deaf ears unstopped!
Lepers cleansed! Demoniacs delivered, clothed and in their right minds!!!!
Can you imagine walking into a meeting called by some branch or form of government in the world, and before the meeting even started someone declaring, "Well, before we get started on the "business at hand", we need to rebuke and cast out some devils and heal anyone here who is sick!!! First thing...is there anyone here who needs to repent??? "
Beloved, if the whole earth that is groaning and travailing for the manifestation of the sons of God begins to have it's prayers and cries heard we will be seeing that very thing happen!!! It will just be a little taste of the "kingdoms of this world becoming the kingdoms of our Lord, and His Christ!"
And beloved friend, this is nothing less than a manifestation of the LOVE OF GOD, He has for humanity! God just keeps building love upon love, mercy upon mercy, grace upon grace! If the kingdom message was nothing more than the glorious gospel that saved our souls from sin and separation from God, that would indeed be enough! It would be music to our ears! But, that's only the very beginning. This " gospel of the kingdom" doesn't only save you! It heals you and delivers you, too!!! And it feeds the hungry!!!
When we consider the context in which Jesus ministered as He went about healing those that were oppressed of the devil, and healing all manner of sickness and disease, His ministry was taking place among those far more like the nations of the earth than those who live comfortably and are at ease. We have very little concept of suffering as many in this world do. But get a spirit of infirmity attaching itself to your life, or some dread terminal illness, or have a loved one manifesting signs of demon possession, and except God give you much grace, your peace pretty much walks right out the door.
Someone can come to you with a pamphlet on the 25 Attributes of the Kingdom, and it might be the most glorious piece of spiritual literature ever written, but if you've got a child in the bedroom writhing in pain from a tumor on the brain, you want someone who is coming in power and who has authority in the Name of Jesus who will MANIFEST and DEMONSTRATE the Kingdom of God, and not just talk about it!!!
When Jesus spoke to His disciples that " this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come", He was speaking of the gospel that was "at hand". He said THIS gospel!!! (See Matthew 24:14) The gospel that's going to bring in the last great harvesting of souls is a gospel that heals the sick, and raises the dead, and I also believe the miraculous feeding of the hungry on a widescale as manifest through the miracle of the loaves and fishes. (More on this subject in a new article to appear soon, "The Kingdom Commission." )
There's going to be a "just so you know that Jesus has power to forgive sins" confidence saturating a last day kingdom ministry by virtue of the healing power of God being manifest at the same time! (See Matthew 9:5-7)
Some scriptures to consider:
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Matthew 12:28
Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. Luke 9:1-2
And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. Luke 9:11
But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. Luke 11:20
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matthew 10:7,8
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 1 Corinthians 4:20
Next blog will be about the role of the Church in manifesting the Kingdom of God.
For now, let us pray: Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus we thank You that You're allowing us to take a part in Your Glorious Kingdom!!! Help us to be a people prepared that we might truly do the works of the One who sends us forth! Help us to apprehend that for which we have been apprehended of God! Lord, let us not get bogged down in the intricacies of the scope and length and breadth of this Kingdom which is without end, so that we miss the opportunities AT HAND to use the authority You have given us in the Name of Jesus to manifest Your Kingdom RIGHT NOW!!! Lord, we ask you to help us to overcome ALL fear, doubt and unbelief to step into the walk of faith You are calling us into that we might see YOUR kingdom come, and YOUR will be done on earth as it is heaven! In the Name of Jesus we pray, AMEN and AMEN!!!
Always in the Love of Jesus,
Clo DiPilato