KINGDOM FOCUS by BILL BURNS
Kingdom focus establishes eternal perspective in us. Too many Christians are
focused on this temporal life in the flesh instead of maintaining an eternal
perspective.
Temporal – “relating to time as opposed to eternity” or of relating to earthly
life rather than kingdom life.
The Kingdom of God is an eternal kingdom, an everlasting kingdom, and “Kingdom
Focus” will establish us in the kingdom of God (now). Kingdom life will flow
through you all of the time. You can live in kingdom atmosphere where God is
ever-present.
Jesus On The Kingdom
Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God
would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with
observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the
kingdom of God is within you."
Within you – your spirit man (born again) is connected to the invisible kingdom
of God.
The apostle Paul identified where kingdom life comes from:
Romans 14:17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit
The internal connection of my spirit with the Holy Spirit brings kingdom life
(righteousness, peace and joy).
John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Abundantly – “beyond measure”
Paul’s prayer for our realization:
Ephesians 3:
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted
and grounded in love,
18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length
and depth and height—
19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled
with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and
ever. Amen.
That you may be able to comprehend this kingdom life and that you might live in
kingdom power (might).
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
The Kingdom of God was established by the Word, but it exists by power. It is
manifest by power. The Kingdom of God that we live in is a kingdom of power.
Another prayer from Paul:
Ephesians 1:
15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love
for all the saints,
16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,
18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is
the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in
the saints,
19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty power.
His power to you – given to you to live in – power over the enemy.
Luke 10:18-19 And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over
all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
Power to …
Mark 16:17-18 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they
will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up
serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they
will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Acts 1:8 "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you;
and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and
to the end of the earth."
Power to live the kingdom life of victory.
Kingdom Vision
Perspective – we are in a time of transition from the Church Age to the Kingdom
Age.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world
as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Kingdom focus – we are living in the end of the Church Age.
Luke 21:
25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on
the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;
26 "men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things
which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.
27 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great
glory.
28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption draws near."
29 Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees.
30 "When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer
is now near.
31 "So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of
God is near.
Know that the physical kingdom of God will be established on this earth under
the rule of Jesus Christ and the saints.
Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.
Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Closing Thoughts
We must maintain kingdom focus because we are living in the end of the age.
Without focus, we cannot see clearly (binoculars). These are perilous times, and
we must be led by the Holy Spirit. It is time to experience the abundance of
kingdom life.
3 John 2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health,
just as your soul prospers.