Here is a video in which John Wimber teaches on Worship.

By Francis Frangipane
www.frangipane.org

“The disciples came to Him, saying, ‘The place is desolate, and the time is already past; so send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.’ But Jesus said to them, ‘They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!’ And they said to Him, ‘We have here only five loaves and two fish’” (Matt. 14:15-17).

I want to talk about how the Lord raises up a mature man or woman of God–the drives and attitudes that propel a person into a fully committed walk with Jesus Christ. It is essential to realize from the beginning that, when it comes to doing God’s will, both the person and God’s provision will always seem inadequate. Oh, you will have been prepared, somewhat. You will have studied and prayed, but not enough. You will have faithfully given of your time and finances, but nothing you do will be something you can confidently rely upon. Indeed, when you’ve done all you could, you will mutter to the Lord your equivalent of the disciples’: “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

Yet, to know that you are inadequate is a tremendous advantage in spiritual growth. It is a milestone en route toward true spirituality, which is born of dependency on God, not human self-sufficiency. Once a person knows he is inadequate, he will not waste years discovering it.

Not a day goes by that I am not aware of my inadequacies. Besides struggling with “feelings” of inadequacy, I know I actually am inadequate. I know the very best of my efforts, in and of themselves, are totally insufficient. The moment I think otherwise, I guarantee failure for myself.

While the Lord has many ways to inspire my spiritual growth, the greatest seasons of increase come almost in spite of myself. The process begins with the Lord revealing some task or need that is both absolutely necessary and totally impossible for me to fulfill. My first reaction is to pray, “Lord, raise up someone who’ll do the job.” But then, when no one else shows up, I realize He wants me to step forward. As I do, I soon hear Him say the words He spoke to His disciples, “You give them something to eat.”

Sometimes, I hide in the “familiar” tasks I know I can accomplish, but a time of reckoning comes. It usually is a time of pressure or stress that, beginning with the rediscovery of my frailties, ends with me broken and waiting upon the Lord. It is right here, as I am contemplating the pitifully small “five loaves and two fish” which I am offering Jesus, that He says to my heart, “Bring them here to Me.” And here is where the miracle of grace begins. For as I surrender myself afresh into His hands, a new dimension in my walk with God starts to unfold, one of supernatural multiplication.

“He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed the food, and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes, and they all ate, and were satisfied” (v.19).

Whatever you give to Jesus He will bless and break. A true disciple always carries these two seeming contradictory characteristics. We know His wonderful, undeserved blessing; and we are broken of pride, self-sufficiency and boasting. He lets us know assuredly that, as Christians, we have one source for all of our power. The sooner we realize our effectiveness does not originate in us, but in Christ, the quicker we will experience the miracles that He produces. Indeed, when He reveals to us our weaknesses, it is only because He is preparing us to receive more of His power into our lives.

Consider: When Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fish, He and His disciples were already weary and needed strength (see Mark 6:31). Added to this came the distressing news that John the Baptist had been beheaded. The Lord was seeking to take His disciples to a place where they could “rest a while.” Yet, great multitudes came, perhaps over twelve thousand men, women and children. It was in this very circumstance of weakness that He performed this great miracle of grace.

As it was with Jesus, so it is with us: It is when we sense our weaknesses most vividly, that God can use us most mightily! The Lord will continually present to us tasks that we have never done before. He will require of each of us to give our all, even as inadequate as we seem. There will be no “knights in shining armor” in God’s kingdom; our armor will have many dings and dents. No, no perfect Hollywood heroes will ride to save the day; just wearied saints who look to God and, in weakness, find Christ’s strength. This, indeed, is the essence of God’s kingdom: divine greatness manifest in common people.

In these days ahead, the Lord is going to show you a need that will seem absolutely beyond you to perform. Your natural response will be, “I’m just an average person with limited resources. I can’t do what He’s asked me to do.” Yet, if you will be still, you shall soon hear your Master’s voice quietly, confidently saying, “Bring the need to Me.”

Do as He commands, for as you give the insufficiency of your skills and your pitiful provisions to Him, He will begin to bless and break you, and then multiply what you give Him miraculously. In all my years of ministry, I know of no transforming grace greater than that which comes when, in spite of our inadequacies, we obey God in the face of the impossible.

Dr. James Kallas suggests in his book, Jesus and the Power of Satan that Jesus never explained the kingdom of God because the people to whom he was speaking knew what it meant or thought they knew what it meant.

Jesus actually built on the popular accepted meaning of the kingdom of God to explain why he had come. Importantly Jesus sought to transform their views about the kingdom of God through his teachings and his works.

The words and works of Jesus form a unity in which the kingdom of God is spoken about and demonstrated. What Jesus did was as important as what he said. Twenty First Century Christians are often more preoccupied with what he said. Too often we forget that what he did carries the same message. He taught as much by doing as by saying.

Continuing with our study of the kingdom, let’s look at the two ways which it was understood by Jesus’ audience. They are called the Davidic concept and the Apocalyptic concept of the kingdom of God.

The Davidic concept of the kingdom
Israel had reached its apex during the rule of King David and King Solomon. At the death of Solomon the kingdom divided into two kingdoms with their own kings and governments. This division set in place a longing among the Jews for God to restore to them their past blessings. Israel’s hope was that God would send a king like David. The focus was militaristic and geographic. Israel wanted a nationalistic kingdom to return.

The prophets of the Old Testament began using a phrase “the day of the Lord,” which was a two-sided belief system including restoration and judgment. Israel believed that the “day of the Lord” was a time when Israel would be fully restored (Amos 9:14; Isa.11; Zech. 8:4-8). The nations would be judged (Amos 1).

The kingdom of God was thought to be a kingdom of this world which would be peopled by the Jews. There was nothing spiritual or future about it. The kingdom was a dream of Jewish nationalism.

The Apocalyptic concept of the kingdom
During the Intertestamental Period (404 B.C. – 6 B.C.) there arose a new kind of writing within Judaism called Apocalyptic Literature and the term kingdom of God came into popular usage.

The hope of the Apocalyptic writers was for a heavenly kingdom which would end this present evil age. A new world would break into the present world and bring the rule of God. The belief was that Satan dominated this present evil age; it was under his rule. When Antiochus Epiphanes unleashed his persecution on Israel (175-164 B.C.), this view began to flourish. This horrific deluge of evil could only be the result of a cosmic conflict.

This view of the kingdom saw God himself ushering in his kingdom and reversing the evils of Satan. Good would triumph, healing would occur, the demonic would be defeated.

Rejecting Jesus is rejecting the kingdom
It should be clear to us that Jesus’ concept of the kingdom was broader than the Davidic concept, the nationalistic material (militaristic and geographic) kingdom the people dreamt of having. It is actually pervasive and inclusive, more than just for the Jews.

The idea of a return to the good old days, of full restoration is correct. So is a day when everything is consummated, “the day of the Lord” for restoration and also judgment. But it is a return of all that men and women have lost, and when God takes over completely.

The Apocalyptic concept was spot on in terms of the cosmic conflict and the understanding that Satan dominated this present evil age; good would ultimately triumph etc.

However, both views could not anticipate the mystery of the kingdom (that’s why it’s called a mystery and needs prophetic revelation): that that the kingdom of God could be fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus, but without being consummated.

The promise of God to put an end to this present evil age was fulfilled when Jesus came forgiving sins, healing sicknesses, driving out demons, and raising the dead. But sadly, Jesus’ proclamation and demonstration that the kingdom had come in him fell on many deaf ears, and many of his listeners rejected him as the long awaited Messiah.

Click on the link to see the list of other posts on the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God is a prophetic revelation of reality. And our present reality is living in this present evil age under the rule of Satan. But because of Jesus we can experience what we call breakthroughs, of God’s power and God’s rule from the future age into this present age.

Now when you open the pages of the New Testament you may be struck by the fact that the mission of Jesus was to destroy the activity of Satan in the world.

Matthew’s gospel (12:22-31) clearly demonstrates that the war between Jesus and Satan is not a civil war within a kingdom. Rather it is a battle between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Accordingly the term, the kingdom of God, was frequently on Jesus’ lips and it was central to his proclamation and works. What Jesus did was just as important as what he said. And what he did carried the same message. Jesus brought the rule of God from the future into the present in his ministry of healing the sick and casting out demons.

The kingdom of God can provides a basis or framework for understanding and relating to God’s word and work as recorded in the Bible. In fact, it is interesting to note that in the beginning of the Bible we are told about the way it was, and at the end of it, how it’s going to be (the future age).

In the beginning, Genesis 1, 2, & 3: Chapter 1 & 2 is set before the event, which Christians call the Fall of man. God is revealed as the creator. Everything he created is good (1:10, 12, 18, 21, 25, and 31). No sin, no pain, no sickness, no death, no heart-aches, no shame; there is intimate fellowship with God.

In Chapter 3, we lost it all. We entered into total depravity – and there is no way home, by our own strength or abilities.

God alone can save the day, and from the very beginning, God is prepared to step up and do the work of restoration. God prophesies that one day there will be a complete restoration. There would be a sacrifice involving the shedding of the blood of an innocent to give us a covering. We will be able to freely approach God, without shame and condemnation. And the Enemy would be defeated and crushed. 3:21, 15.

Satan is therefore the original usurper of authority. By deceiving Adam and Eve and he become the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4). Satan together with the other angels who join forces with him in the rebellion against God takes charge of this world. Sin (wrong doings and wickedness), sickness and death have come into this present evil age.

At the end, Revelation 21 & 22: In Chapter 22, verse 7 John the Apostle is reminded that Jesus will come soon, and the age to come will start. 21:3-4 describes the full restoration: Again there will be no sin, no pain, no sickness, no death, no heart-aches, and no shame. There is intimate fellowship with God, for the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. There is a new heaven and a new earth and the old order of things has passed away. The consummation of the kingdom of God occurs and as expressed in the song of Moses (Exodus 15:18) the Lord will reign for ever and ever.

In between, Genesis 4 to Revelations 20, we learn more about the character, ways, purpose and provisions of God. There is the outworking of the consequences of Adam’s choice, and the story of how God lives up to and works out his declaration that he would step up to restore what was lost.

The Messiah, Christ (the Anointed One) is promised in the Old Testament. He is the one who would come to defeat all evil, demons, sickness and death, and save his people. God promised to establish His kingdom by destroying the kingdom of darkness, and heaven will come to earth! And so in Revelations chapter 20 (before the vision of the age to come) John saw Satan and his angels damned and thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where they will be tormented day and night for ever and ever, and the dead are judged.

God is passionate about his work of restoration and he gives us in the Bible many imageries of the richness, fullness and beauty of the kingdom of God. Just a few (non exhaustive) examples are:

(1) Solomon’s party (1 King 8:63,65)
(2) David’s party (Psalm 23:5-6)
(3) Life giving river (Ezekiel 47:9-12)
(4) God’s power and dominion (Daniel 7:13-14, 27)
(5) God’s protection (Psalm 91)

These imageries should inspire us to join in God’s work of invading this present evil age with his kingdom rule, and the power of the age to come.

As for John Wimber, he simply looked at Jesus’ pattern of ministry: his proclamation and demonstration of the kingdom of God.

Even when he was a successful pastor, John remained uneasy and sensed a gap between the early Disciples’ experience as they spread the gospel of the kingdom of God and what his own congregation experienced. Learning about the kingdom of God made all the different for John and the Vineyard churches. John began to express our mission in terms of rescuing those who have been captive as a result of Adam’s fall. He was so excited about the prospect of the people being equipped to go out and preach and demonstrate the gospel, engaging in power encounters and experiencing the signs of the kingdom.

Click on the link to see the list of other posts on the kingdom of God.

God speaks and his words powerfully reveal to us answers to the basic questions that mankind has always asked: Where is it all going or what is the destiny of mankind? How does it work and what are the implications for us living in this present age?

There is a story shared by a Vineyard Pastor about two men at work by the roadside and they were carrying warning signs: Beware, the end is near. A car drove by and the driver dismissed the signs as they appeared to be the kind of religious message that most people hardly pay any attention to. A short while later there was the sound of screeching tires as the car desperately braked and attempted to stop. One of the work man turned to the other and said, Do you think we should change our message to say that the bridge is broken?

The story drives home the point that the implications of the kingdom of God are always in play or in operation in all our lives: whether we know it or not; like it or not. It is not a religious message. We ignore this prophetic revelation of reality at our own peril!

The theology of the kingdom is best presented by looking at history, which is basically about events, dates and periods. And the principal events in the history of mankind are the Fall (near the beginning), the coming of Jesus to die on the cross, Pentecost, and the Second Coming of Jesus (right at the very end).

The Second Coming of Jesus will mark the end of history and this event therefore divides the history of mankind into two periods, this “present evil age” and the “age to come” or the “future age”.

The Bible calls this period of time which we live in as this “present evil age”. Gal 1:4. Example of references to the two ages, are Matthew 12:32, Matthew 24:3, Ephesians 1:20-21.

The kingdom of God is the rule of God’s power (the power which is evident and universally at work in the future age) that has arrived suddenly, or broken through, in this present age. The promise of God to put an end to this present evil age was fulfilled when Jesus came forgiving sins, healing sicknesses, driving out demons, and raising the dead. In Jesus’ life, but even more so in his death on the cross, resurrection and ascension was Satan and his rule decisively defeated. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit was poured out. 1 John 3:8, Matthew 12:28.

We accept the mystery of the kingdom of God that it is simultaneously here, almost here, delayed and coming in the future and at the end of time because this reality was taught and lived by Jesus. However it becomes clear when we see that the kingdom of God has become present, and was inaugurated and fulfilled in the first coming of Jesus, but without being consummated.

In legal terms, Jesus fulfilled and satisfied all the conditions precedents that will bring in God’s rule on earth. God has the moral right and authority to reclaim what was originally his.

However, in his sovereign purpose and wisdom, it is “not yet” time for a complete end to this age, and God has not taken over completely. This will only happen at the second coming of Christ!

Christians are born from above and have already entered the kingdom of God, according to John 3:3-7. But we are also born into this present evil age. This explains why in our lives we experience the tension of two ages: the future age and this present age.

We live in between ages or times. We are already, not yet people. This is one of the biggest implications of the kingdom of God: We have a role to pray (Matthew 6:10) and to play to bring the kingdom to earth. The people of God (the Church), whether they know it or not, like it or not, are combatants in the thick of a war! We are the instruments of God’s rule to confront and destroy evil by being vessels that God can use to bring the power of the age to come, to invade this present age!

Click on the link to see the list of other posts on the kingdom of God.