Day 17 of the “What Child is This?” Advent Devotional
Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end… (Isaiah 9:7)
The earth is shaking. Scripture confirms this to be so. I’m not necessarily making end-time references here. Wherever we chart on the Last Days roadmap, the obvious present reality is that the world is shaking. It is groaning. Governments are collapsing. That which is not built upon the stable and eternal is crumbling all around us. Is this reason for despair and escapist Christianity? No!
When things are shaking, we know that the eternal is breaking through and breaking in. Christmas reminds us of everything that is certain, stable, and unshakeable in this world, and that is Jesus. Here is the outstanding invitation for you and I. We get to participate in seeing the unshakeable, increasing Kingdom of God advance throughout the Earth.
In the Message Bible, Isaiah 9:7 reads this way: His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
Time after time, as we see Jesus bringing people into collisions with the Kingdom throughout the Gospels, what is the result? Wholeness. Healing. Deliverance. Restoration. Soundness of Mind. Today, every time we see that someone is healed of disease or emotional hurt, a marriage is restored, a mind is supernaturally delivered from torment, addictions are broken, we are actually witnessing Isaiah 9:7 coming to pass.
The Kingdom of God is increasing. It’s expanding. And the wonderful thing is, we get to participate. We are no mere spectators to the reality of God’s glory covering the Earth. We have received the Spirit of God, and as we see in the Gospel accounts, it is the Spirit of God that released the Kingdom of God through Jesus.
In the same way, the Holy Spirit empowers you and I to release the Kingdom of God in our everyday lives. Let’s start doing it. Don’t get caught up in the spectacular. You don’t need to raise the dead in order to advance the Kingdom. Simply bring encouragement. Be proactive about finding someone who is hopeless or hurting, and release life over them. Joy. Peace. Ask for God opportunities; there is no lack, trust me!
This is not license to go out and offer people some cheesy Christian platitudes or religious lingo without any substance. We carry so much more. You have the Holy Spirit. Ask Him for wisdom. Ask Him for direction. He always delivers. He will lead you and guide you.
He may release information to you about a person that you have no natural way of knowing. This is a Word of Knowledge or Word of Wisdom. He may give you words of life to speak over someone that go straight to the heart of a matter and release strength, hope and courage. This is flowing in the prophetic. It is incredible how quickly we naturally begin flowing in the supernatural when we embrace this perspective!
This is truly where increasing the reign of His Kingdom begins.
Advent Prayer
Holy Spirit, I ask that You lead me to those I can bring Your Kingdom to. Show me how I can minister life, hope, or healing to them.
I ask that You give me ears to hear Your voice and give me eyes to see how You are working.
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