| Understanding this Present
MomentHow Can the Kingdom of God Advance?
One of the most significant messages I ever heard was shared in a meeting in Germany to
a small group of people in Aachen.
Horst Kruger, a German pastor who was a missionary in Brazil for 20 years, shared with
us that a Jewish researcher of the Scriptures was looking for understanding about Matt
11:12 - From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been
forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. He could not see the
connection of this verse with the rest of the text, and thought that the words forcefully
and forceful could be better translated.
Suddenly he remembered Micah 2:12,13: "I will surely gather all of you, O
Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like
sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. One who
breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out.
Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head."
Micah was referring to the work of a shepherd spending the night with his flock in the
field: He would gather the flock and build around them a low wall of stones and thorns to
offer some protection to his sheep. When the night had passed, he would remove a few
stones to make a narrow gap and go out. As the first lambs follow him through the gap,
they would force more stones, widening the way and making a gate for the other sheep to
follow.
This is what Jesus was saying: The kingdom of God has been
advancing through the one who breaks open the gate (the good shepherd), and those who
break through the gate, those who will force their way to follow him and lay hold of the
kingdom.
"I will make them
hungry for the Holy Spirit"
We know that Jean Darnall's prophecy about Revival in the UK
says that "God will make His people very hungry for the Holy Spirit. He would
fill them with the Holy Spirit." Travelling around the UK over the last 3 years,
we have been witnesses to God making His people hungry for His Spirit, and filling them
with His presence. Everywhere we went we saw God's people asking for MORE of His presence,
and receiving more.
However, the prophecy doesn't stop here, and I believe that
the following points are very significant to understand the present moment for the Church
of Jesus in the UK. Let's compare the next statements with Micah 2:12,13:
"I will bring them
together"
The prophecy carries on saying: "The whole concept
of the Body of Christ would come alive, and barriers between denominations and different
types of Christians would break down as people met each other."
Again, we have witnessed in the last few years a growing
awareness of the unity of the body, and leaders are increasingly moving towards each
other. Of course there are many barriers still to come down, but the expressions of unity
amongst God's people here have been very encouraging.
"I will lead them
out"
Finally, the prophecy says that after God renews and revives
His saints in the UK, He would, through these believers, bring a witness to this land.
I believe that we are in this moment of the church's life in
the UK: The night is over, the Good Shepherd in the last 2 years has been removing the
first stones (from our own hearts and from the way ahead of us), and He expects us now to
follow Him outside. It means that Jesus is leading His flock to be a witness to this land,
outside the pen, outside the four walls.
When the lambs see the shepherd moving out, there are
different reactions. Some are afraid, and will prefer not to leave the comfort of the pen
and the security of the flock. But a few will dare to move, and will break through the
gate to follow the shepherd. They will pay a higher price, because their shoulders can be
bruised forcing the stones on the way. But they will be closer to the shepherd than anyone
else. Many will follow them, and will just enjoy the way that now is open wide. However,
Jesus is calling the ones who want to break through first and follow Him outside. Are you
willing to go?
(Marcos Barros) |
