21 Days of Prayer and Fasting: Kingdom Exploits
Saul/Paul and the advance of the gospel
“The Kingdom of God is near,” was Jesus’ main message.
“Jesus is Lord - The Kingdom is here!” was the message of the first Christians.
That is still the heart of the gospel. The gospel of the Kingdom includes the good news of a new creation, a new humanity in Christ, and this includes forgiveness, deliverance and reconciliation for individuals and communities.
So what do we think of as “Kingdom exploits?”
The Old Testament and Gospels might give the impression it is about individual miracles and people turning to God.
Yes …. but there is much more. The rest of the New Testament gives many indications that what really mattered was people and whole families and communities being transformed by the power of God. Healings and other miracles are part of that but …
The real miracle is love - transformed people loving God, one another and the unlovely around them!
The test is for former enemies to be reconciled, for greedy getters to become givers and for those who pushed themselves forward by force to love, respect and care for others.
In Acts 19:9-10 and Romans 15:18-19, Paul talks of this gospel being spread - a wonderful “Kingdom Exploit!” In 2 Timothy 2:2 and 1 Thessalonians we have a clue how he did it. Paul did not preach directly to everyone in the province of Asia Minor (estimated at 2 million at the time), still less the population of the Eastern Mediterranean. But he did reach them indirectly through the churches he planted and churches that were planted out of those churches. Disciples who make disciples form churches that plant churches!
What a contrast with his Old Testament namesake, King Saul, who seemed to have everything going for him, but failed!
The Saul who became Paul (Acts 13) seemed humanly weak but relied on the Holy Spirit. King Saul was head and shoulders above everyone else (I Samuel 9:2) and he relied on his own strength and human wisdom.
Paul repented of violence (Acts 7:58-9:24) but King Saul relied on violence and force.
Paul shows that anyone can be redeemed and changed but King Saul shows what happens if we don’t repent and invite God to change us.
Paul was led by Spirit and submitted to the redeemed community (Acts 13:1-5 and the rest of the chapter gives other examples). He ministered in the power of the Spirit with miracles confirming his words. Above all, he made disciples who made disciples.
The supreme Kingdom Exploit is spreading the gospel through relational networks so that people are transformed. It might often seem unremarkable. But the yeast of the Kingdom is often hidden. Seeds take time. But God does miracles of transformation as we follow Him obediently.
So let’s fix our eyes on Him, not on looking for instant results. Let’s be true disciples who make disciples.
- Chris Horton
Next steps:
- Join us at every weekday evening during the fast from 7-9pm to pray at All Nations Church, WV2 4AN.
- Connect with our Bible reading plan: https://www.allnations.org.uk/