God is in the business of using ordinary people like us to move extraordinarily to advance His kingdom here on earth. Jesus spoke numerous times about the kingdom of God, inviting us to be a part of it and being citizens of it. But He reminds us that it is by His power and not ours that God's kingdom can advance here on earth.
Sometimes it can feel like we aren't being effective in being workers of God. I've questioned myself many times whether God is really using me to advance His kingdom in my community and my city. Often we doubt ourselves and our effectiveness, thinking that God's kingdom advancement is dependent on our skills and results. But God can and will advance His kingdom despite our weaknesses and shortcomings.
In Matthew 6:10, Jesus teaches us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
God does not ask any of us to build His kingdom for Him. God asks us to pray for His kingdom to come and to seek His kingdom (Matthew 6:33), but Jesus will be the one to build the church (Matthew 16:18) and His kingdom on earth.
Romans 14:17 says, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
While God uses us to be channels of His power and grace, we must always remember that it is only by the empowering of the Holy Spirit that we can advance God's kingdom in our homes, offices and communities.
Yes, God uses us to be channels of His power when we boldly proclaim the gospel to the lost. But unless we do so with the power of the Holy Spirit and the move of Jesus in the hearts of those who we share Christ to, our work is in vain. The work of advancing God's kingdom has and always will be based on God's power. That is why we are assured of the victory in Christ because there is no way God is going to fail.
Since Jesus is the One who lays the foundation of God's kingdom while the Holy Spirit works its power through us, what is our job then? In Matthew 28:19, Jesus instructs us, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."
Our job is to make disciples by loving God and loving our neighbours as we love ourselves.
Discipleship is a call to build relationships with people and shine with the light of Jesus Christ that comes naturally when we are connected to Him. Everything else that is in our control is now up to God because He is the One who establishes the kingdom of God.
