Published on March 17th, 2009 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Graham Cooke at Graham Cooke Ministries.

The Kingdom

Graham Cooke

People are realizing that the church by itself is one dimensional. Led mostly by man in a somewhat, somehow, some kind of partnership with the Lord. As a result it is more likely to be functional not relational, performance oriented with shallow friendships, and purpose driven rather than Presence centered.

Each of these is a wonderful paradox of the Mary/Martha dynamic in our midst. We need both, but we must agree on the precedence set by Jesus which is “being” ahead of “doing”. Martha gives way to Mary in the relational context of church. Mary prefers Martha in the functional task of ministry. There is obviously a lot of overlap between the two!

Church without Kingdom produces a man centered spirituality based more on human nature than the Person of God in our midst. Without an acknowledgment and practice of the Kingdom, the church cannot maintain her place in the world.

Only the Kingdom can deliver us to a place of majesty, glory and Presence. It is the revelation of Kingdom that can develop relationships with God at a higher level where we are tuned into what the Father is opening up. Kingdom cannot come out of the church. It is not an upgrade.

The Church has to be founded on apostles and prophets with Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone. He came preaching the gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven. He came praying “your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven.” He came to show us the Father and to teach us how to interact with Heaven. He came to teach us how to experience God in relationship as we entered His Kingdom.

We live our lives in the clash between two kingdoms ‐ the only real and relevant Kingdom of Light through Christ and the faux kingdom of darkness that is the partnership between the demonic realm and wicked people.

A kingdom minded church community understands the role of the apostolic/prophetic in the development of God’s people into the multi‐faceted role of a true spiritual community on earth. The church without the living context and experience of kingdom often simply degenerates into a meeting construct that is sanctuary driven and purely for the benefit of the sanctified.

The church is also a Body with many members, each having a specific function in relationship with the whole. It is a Building that provides a structure designed to serve the life. It is a family of relational people connecting with one another for the sake of love, mercy, grace, laugher and glory.

It is an Army dedicated to the fight locally and extra locally. Raising up soldiers, warriors and champions who radiate majesty. It is a Bride who prizes intimacy and presence above all else.

It is a field that develops an organic spirituality that empowers people to experience God and be led by the Spirit. It is the Household of faith that is a major resource to everyone in the region, Christian and pre‐Christian.

The church is to be filled with the radiant nature of God as we are made in His image. The church can only come out of a Kingdom dynamic that lifts us into the higher realm of Heaven on earth.

The Kingdom engages us with the community of Heaven. It provides values that establish Presence. It marks us with being “made in His image”. The Kingdom opens us up to fullness and abundance. It releases a level of favor that can take territory.

When a church is not firmly established on the practice of Kingdom living it develops a dysfunctional relationship with the Godhead. A logical rationale creeps into all our practices. We cease to be primarily Spirit led. Hearing the voice of God is relegated to vision and direction rather than a lifestyle of relational intimacy and friendship. God is subtly made in our image.

There is no visible dependence on the fruit of the Spirit to build relationships of worth and value. The flesh rises up easily. People carry offenses and carnality is undisputed. In this mindset we are more liable to borrow concepts and practices from the world around us than learn the wisdom of God.

Without the apostolic/prophetic foundation of the Kingdom our spirituality becomes earthbound and our mindsets/practices become entrenched and vigorously defended. The only way to renew people’s minds is through a transformed heart that has a radiant idea of God and an experience to match that revelation.

The Kingdom wakes us up to majesty. It maintains and establishes the capacity to be astonished and amazed. Church comes out of Kingdom because that is the only viable way to touch Heaven, and see it come to earth. As we engage with the Kingdom, Jesus is lifted up; people are drawn to Him and made into His image.

On the surface, no one would probably disagree with that assessment. What bothers people is the practice of dismantling church structures and the rebuilding of ancient ruins, the restoration of church life in relation to the King and His Kingdom. We cannot simply bolt the Kingdom onto existing church structures. We must love the King enough to accept His measure of rule in what is being rebuilt. This is not an easy thing for church leaders to accept. The prevailing church mindset is mostly about an upgrade. A makeover rather than a face lift. We want power without transformation; an outpouring rather than a rebuilding.

Talking to some leaders reminds me of the conversation Jesus attempted with the rich young ruler. This man understood what Jesus was about and wanted it badly. Sadly he had too much of himself invested in the way of life he had chosen, so the truth could not set him free. He walked away from his destiny by choosing the modicum of success that he had achieved to that point.

Many leaders want new but think old. They do not want to start again, even though the journey will be full of life, love and laughter. The joy of doing the will of God can never be underestimated. The power, grace, and glory that will result from a Kingdom lifestyle are worth all the hassle we face.

The seeds are sown. Now we wait to see who rises up.

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