Tag: Kingdom of God

April 27 2021

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

A. Scott Ingram Christian Life, Christian Life and Gospel Leadership, Gospel Leadership, Jesus & The Gospel, Kingdom of God Bible, Church, heal the sick, Healing, Kingdom of God, Mission Trips, Missions, Missions Opportunities 0

Last week we looked at the “apostolic” mission of the church, which, simply stated is this: Jesus conquered sin, death, and the devil (Colossians 2:15) and reclaimed all authority over the earth (Matthew 28:18). It is now the job of the church to announce that there is a new King on the throne and to bring the culture of this new kingdom into the world.

In this post, we will look at exactly how that mission was passed from Jesus, to His first disciples, and carried by the church throughout every generation.

Obedience to Jesus’ Commands

In our previous look at the word “apostle” in the Greek language, we looked at one definition that said being an apostle “signified not merely a messenger but a delegate, bearing a commission, and, so far as his commission extended, wielding his commissioner’s authority.”¹

It is with this in mind I want us to look at Jesus’ first commissioning of His disciples with an apostolic assignment.

Luke’s gospel does not give much clarification on what the word “apostle” meant. He assumes that the reader would understand the cultural implications.

In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when day came, he called his disciples and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles…
^{Luke 6:12-13}

In similar fashion, Matthew discusses the authority Jesus gave to the disciples to do the work, then passively refers to them as “apostles,” without directly saying Jesus used the word.

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction. The names of the twelve apostles are these…
^{Matthew 10:1-2}

It seems as though the commissioning with authority assumed the word apostle. However, when we read Mark’s gospel, it brings it all together.

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
^{Mark 3:13-15}

Jesus called the twelve, naming them “apostles” and gave them a two-part assignment.

Assignment 1: To Be With Jesus

The first thing expected of these disciple-apostles was that they would be with Jesus, learning from Him how to live in His Kingdom as well as how to demonstrate it when they would go out from Him.

Following the Jewish tradition of a rabbi and his disciples, it was understood that these twelve men would follow Jesus closely, learning from Him how to live under God’s law. Now, however, this law would not simply be the law of Moses, but the law of the Spirit (see Romans 8:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:4-18).

In Jesus, they would learn the ways of heaven, and what it means to live under His Kingship as citizens of this new reality. They would hear His teachings, for sure. More than that, however, they would be with Him in the secret moments, watching Him pray, learning how to hear God speaking, and seeing His obedience, even unto death.

This private relationship was key to their ability to publicly represent Him effectively.

Assignment 2: To Be Sent Out By Jesus to Preach and Have Authority

Once the disciples had learned key lessons, Jesus would then send them out to do the ministry themselves. Their assignment was to proclaim the gospel in word and in demonstrations of power. They were to heal the sick, cast out demons, and even raise the dead back to life (Matthew 10:5-11, Mark 9:1). And they did!

Not only did they have the commissioning to go, but they carried the authority of heaven to fulfill this assignment.

The Commission Expands

Later, after the 12 had effectively begun fulfilling their apostolic assignment, Jesus expands this commissioning to other disciples who were close with Him. In Luke 10, He sends out 72 other disciples with the same responsibility of preaching the Gospel and performing signs of the Kingdom’s authority among the people.

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. And he said to them, “…Heal the sick in (the town) and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’”
^{Luke 10:1-2, 8-9 (emphasis mine)}

Once again, they did! The went out preaching, healing the sick, and casting out demons, just as Jesus had taught them to do.

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
^{Luke 10:17-20}

Satan Fell Like Lightening

I believe that when Jesus said, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven,” He was not talking about in ancient times. I fully believe Jesus was telling them, I have been watching what is happening in the unseen world and as you were casting out demons, I have been watching “the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12)” lose their power over the cities you were in. As the disciples went out, the devil’s strongholds were being destroyed.

However, Jesus tells them not to rejoice that these spirits have come under their authority. While that is amazing, it is not the most amazing thing. He tells them that their rejoicing should be that their citizenship has been transferred from the devil’s kingdom into heaven’s!

The command on all the disciples, beyond just the 12 apostles, was to represent God’s Kingdom in this world.

Jesus’ Multiplying Commission

After training up His disciple-apostles and establishing them, then dying on the cross to bring the final victory over Satan and his demons, Jesus gives the Great Commission. This mandate is that the disciples — the citizens of His Kingdom — are to continue preaching, working in power, bringing the culture of heaven to earth, and raising up future generations of disciples who will all obey the same commands Jesus had given to them (see Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18).

Jesus’ great commission is a multiplying commission. He had conquered the devil and taken authority over the earth. Now the world must hear this gospel!

The Two-Part Mission Is The Same

When Jesus commissioned the disciples, the (perceived) downside was that Jesus would no longer be with them. He was leaving. However, He made a promise to them that He would send His Spirit to live in each one of them. This infilling of the Spirit would actually make intimacy with Him easier and deeper than before. This is why He told them it was “better” for them that He leaves (John 16:7)!

Since the first part of the mission is to “be with Him,” Jesus instructed them to wait for the Holy Spirit to come.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
^{Acts 1:4-5}

They would not be able to fulfill the apostolic mission without intimacy and clear guidance from the King.

Once the Holy Spirit came, however, part 2 of the mission would commence, and their being sent out would be immediate and massive!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
^{Acts 1:8}

On the day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they immediately took to the streets, declaring the gospel, and reaping the harvest of heaven. The story begins by saying:

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.
^{Acts 2:1-6}

After a lengthy sermon by Peter, the story ends by saying:

Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
^{Acts 2:37-41}

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

As the early disciples took the gospel to the world, there was a massive expansion of God’s kingdom on earth. They went out, being led by the Holy Spirit, preaching the gospel everywhere, with signs and wonders following them (Mark 16:20).

Jesus prophesied over the 12 apostles that as the church moved forward, revealing Christ’s Kingdom to those He died to liberate, the devil’s ability to defend himself would be useless.

…I will build my church, and the gates (defenses) of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
^{Matthew 16:18-19}

Through the mission and spread of the early church, every corner of the Roman empire (and beyond) heard the gospel and experienced heaven’s reality.

Paul writes to the Corinthian church:

For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
^{1 Corinthians 2:2–5}

He writes to the Thessalonians:

…our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
^{1 Thessalonians 1:5}

The actual experience of heaven was central to the early church’s proclamation of the Gospel. In fact, Paul said “the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20). An apostolic commission requires the messenger carries authority of the sender. If there is no power behind the message, then why believe the messenger?

We Carry Heaven

With all of this as the foundation of our faith, then the realization must come to us that those early disciples and apostles are long-gone. They laid down their lives to see the gospel of the kingdom come across the whole earth. Some of them went out of this world as victors, some as martyrs, yet in either case their dedication to their King was unquestioned.

Now, however, the commissioning comes upon us. It is our time on history’s stage, and we have a job to do.

Major parts of the world have yet to hear that the devil has been defeated and that there is a new King. They don’t know they have been liberated from sin and death. They haven’t experienced the Father’s love or felt heaven’s touch on their lives.

It is our turn to take up the mantle and the mission and go.

It is your calling to go and preach the gospel. It is your time to live in intimacy with the Holy Spirit of God, hearing His voice, and obeying His direction. It is your work to heal the sick, cast out demons, and even raise the dead.

It is the job of the church:

…to preach to the [lost world] the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
^{Ephesians 3:8–12}

It is our job to be the ones who bring heaven to earth in our generation, so that the mission of Kingdom expansion continues!

No More Excuses

When I first became a Christian, I was raised in a stream of Christianity that denies God’s power is for today. I was taught a doctrine called cessationism and believed it very strongly. However, as time went on, both the Word of God and the grace of the Holy Spirit revealed this doctrine to be wrong. Still, in sensitivity, I would keep my “charismatic” beliefs hidden for fear of offending the “unbelieving” believers around me. I am fully convinced, however, this was sinful on my part.

Our job is to obey every command that Jesus gave to the first disciples, and any excuses we may have to keep the word or the power of God hidden is sin. It doesn’t matter what the cost, King Jesus is worth it! It is time to abide in Him in intimacy, and become a living display of heaven to the world. No excuses. No cowardice. No shrinking back.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (listed in Hebrews 11; who have gone before us in the faith), let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
^{Hebrews 12:1-2 (emphasis mine)}

Let’s do this, together. Jesus said we can, and so we must.

Need an Opportunity?

I know this series of posts has been challenging to some people’s life of faith. Although many of you agree with the theology I am writing, you still struggle with the practical, real-life application. The truth is, there is only so much you can learn by reading. You must step out and try it for yourself.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say I would love to help you grow in practical ways. Our ministry, based in east Africa, is always open to take ministry team members on short-term (and longer-term) trips, where we will train you to practically do the things I am teaching here. We will pray for activation and impartation, and give you opportunity to preach, pray for the sick, learn to do deliverance ministry and more. You can find out more about these opportunities here, or contact me directly to plan a personal or church-group mission trip to visit us in Uganda.

Let’s Connect

If you are enjoying what you are reading, you can make sure never to miss a post by signing up to receive my weekly newsletter below. I promise never to SPAM your inbox or share your information with others.

You can also join me on various social media platforms for more #ChristianLife and #GospelLeadership insights throughout the week. I can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Parler, and LinkedIn, and would love to see you there. I have also begun doing regular, live teaching videos on Happs (which shares to other social media pages) if you want to follow me on there.

Footnotes

¹James Hastings et al., “Dictionary of the Bible” (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1909), 44.

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!

Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Please note that I do get a small kickback from Amazon for any purchases made using the links on this post. Should you choose to purchase from them, I just want to say thank you for further supporting my work in ministry!

March 26 2021

How Jesus Revealed His Kingdom

A. Scott Ingram Christian Life, Christian Life and Gospel Leadership, Gospel Leadership, Jesus & The Gospel, Kingdom of God Christian, Christian Life, deliverance, God's Kingdom, Gospel, gospel of the Kingdom, Jesus is God, Jesus is king, Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven 1

When Jesus showed up on the earth, bringing His new kingdom into existence, it was evident that everything changed. The devil’s authority was overthrown (Colossians 2:15, Matthew 28:18). The penalty for the fall of man into sin was paid in full. There was now an offer to every person for salvation, healing, and deliverance, as we choose to follow this new King!

In this post, I want us to fix our attention on how Jesus revealed this new reality during His time on earth. This is especially necessary as there are many Christians who hold to a theological belief that, although Jesus launched His kingdom at His first coming, the benefits of this new kingdom cannot be experienced until His second coming. This view, however, twists or completely overlooks major portions of the gospel narrative! His kingdom is here, now, even if not yet fully realized. The question is not if we can experience it; but how much of His kingdom can we experience now, before He comes again?

Kingdom Revealed

The first thing Jesus did as He entered the public ministry, was to declare to Israel that the fulfillment of God’s promise of a new king — a Messiah — was coming to pass in front of their eyes.

According to Luke, after Jesus was baptized (Luke 3:21-22) he spent time in the wilderness overcoming the enemy’s temptations (Luke 4:1-13) and being empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:14). Then, in His first act of ministry, He went into the synagogue at Nazareth and revealed Himself as the promised Messiah!

First, he stands up to read from the scriptures. He chooses to read one of the most well-known prophetic promises about the King-to-come from Isaiah 61:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
^{Luke 4:18-19}

He then puts away the scroll, and takes his seat to teach the congregation regarding the scripture. However, instead of giving an exegetical explanation of the passage, Jesus looks at the hopeful Jews and says, essentially, “Ta-da! I’m the one!” The bible says:

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
^{Luke 4:20-21 (emphasis mine)}

For anyone who says, “Jesus never claimed to be God.” They are wrong. Over and over again, Jesus claims to be one with the Father, and the fulfillment of all the promises. For example, Jesus said:

Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
^{Matthew 5:17 (emphasis mine)}

He also said

…the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
^{John 5:37-40 (emphasis mine)}

It is clear that Jesus revealed Himself as the King and Messiah of God.

Kingdom Proclaimed

From this first introduction as God’s coming King, Jesus proceeded to spend His entire earthly ministry proclaiming the good news of this new kingdom. Everywhere He went, this was His only message: the kingdom of God has come.

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…
^{Matthew 4:23}

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom…
Matthew 9:35

Remember, a “gospel” is the “good news” concerning a victory which has taken place. The “good news” Jesus proclaimed, is that the Kingdom of God is here, now, replacing the kingdom of darkness which has reigned since the fall:

Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
^{Luke 17:20-21 (emphasis mine)}

In other words, the kingdom of God is right here, within your reach. Don’t miss it!

Kingdom Explained

Beyond His public proclamations, we also see that in every teaching, Jesus had one central message: life in the kingdom of God.

He continually taught the disciples what life in the Kingdom looks like. The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 has been called by some scholars, “the Kingdom manifesto,” because Jesus is demonstrating the cultural and lifestyle differences between His kingdom and the kingdoms of men.

In almost every parable, Jesus begins by saying, “the kingdom of God is like…” and “the kingdom of heaven is like…” Just read through Matthew 13 for a number of examples.

It was not enough for His disciples to know that the kingdom was present in Him. He wanted them to understand the new reality which they were being called to live in, themselves. They were being set free from the world’s rules and expectations, and must learn to see their lives through the eyes of God’s kingdom culture.

Up until His final teaching at the last supper, Jesus was explaining how life in His kingdom is different:

And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you…”
^{Luke 22:25-26a}

Kingdom Demonstrated

Although the message of God’s kingdom was a continual theme in Jewish writings and teachings, in hearing it from Jesus, it was different. For the first time, the words being spoken came with authority and demonstrations of power to back them up!

Nicodemus, a Pharisee, testified to Jesus:

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”
^{John 3:2 (emphasis mine)}

Returning to the verses already quoted above, not only did Jesus go around “proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom…” but they go on to say,

…proclaiming the gospel of the Kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.
^{Matthew 4:23}

…proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
^{Matthew 9:35}

Matthew 8:16 says, “they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick.” Matthew 12:15 says that, “many followed him, and he healed them all.”

The point is that Jesus didn’t just do a few miracles, signs, and wonders. Everywhere He went He was healing the sick, casting out demons, and demonstrating God’s kingdom. The culture of His kingdom was different, and it was evident! In fact, responding to a challenge by the Pharisees, He declares that all of these signs prove the Kingdom of God is present!

…if it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
^{Matthew 12:28}

In another place, He says that the physical manifestations also prove His ability to forgive sin, something only God can do (See Matthew 9:1-8)!

This is why the Apostle Paul, later declares,

For the kingdom realm of God comes with power, not simply impressive words.
^{1 Corinthians 4:20 (The Passion Translation)}

Kingdom Sought After

Jesus not only proclaimed the kingdom with word and demonstrated it with power in His own life; He also tells the disciples that their prayers should be seeking a greater demonstration of this power in the earth as a whole! When he taught them “the Lord’s prayer,” He instructs them to pray and ask God to manifest the Kingdom:

“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
^{Matthew 6:10}

As long as we live in this world, our desire and prayers must be focused on His kingdom being manifested around us!

Kingdom Commissioned

Finally, after revealing, proclaiming, teaching, demonstrating, and telling the disciples to seek the kingdom, He commissioned His followers to join Him in bringing this kingdom to the world.

It began with the 12:

And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every affliction… These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay.
^{Matthew 10:1, 5-8}

Later, the same commission was given to 72 other disciples:

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. (And He said to them) Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
^{Luke 10:1, 8-9}

As Jesus began to prepare for His departure from the earth, He made this incredible promise:

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
^{John 14:12 (emphasis mine)}

And in His final commission before His ascension, He commissioned the entire church, throughout future generations, to continue proclaiming and demonstrating the kingdom of God, until He returns.

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
^{Matthew 28:18-20 (emphasis mine)}

Mark’s gospel shares this same commission this way:

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
^{Mark 16:15-18 (emphasis mine)}

And that is exactly what happened!

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
^{Mark 16:19-20 (emphasis mine)}

The Kingdom Is The Point

When we look at all that Jesus taught and did, it becomes clear that He had one mission while on earth, and that was to launch His kingdom among men, ushering us into the rule and reign of God.

As we will see in the next post, to limit Jesus’ gospel to simply the salvation of our souls at the end of time is a big mistake. His Kingdom came then, it is here now, and it will increase for all eternity (Isaiah 9:7). As believers, we must join Him on this mission of revealing His kingdom to the lost world, until the day He comes again (Matthew 24:14).

Let’s Connect

If you’re enjoying the content I produce, a little caffeine to keep me going would be appreciated!

Photo by ActionVance on Unsplash

January 19 2019

3 Keys for True Kingdom Promotion

A. Scott Ingram Gospel Leadership, Leadership Character Church, competition, Gospel, Kingdom of God, leadership, ministry, promotion 0

Recently, I was discussing the idea of Kingdom ” promotion ” and advancing in ministry life with a fellow missionary and friend. We were discussing all the great things we see God doing in our ministries, and dreaming of the ” more ” we are believing will come. As we discussed where God was taking us, though, we also began sharing how we see God using other people around us, who seem to be a little farther on the journey than we are. These are people we look up to as examples, and who we aspire to emulate in certain ways. However, the dark side of comparison soon came into play in the conversation as well. After doing a little heart-check, it became clear that there are obstacles in our own hearts that keep us from the ” promotions ” in ministry and God’s Kingdom which he wants to move us into. Before we can get our promotions, we must first deal with our hearts concerning two chronic problems in the body of Christ today: criticism and jealousy.

Two Hinderances to Kingdom Promotion

The first heart problem – criticism – creeps in when we judge someone who ministers differently than we think they should be doing it, or we devalue their ministry because it does not measure up to our standards and preferences. These criticisms may be because their ministry isn’t doing as well as our own, and therefore we think they haven’t figured out what we have, or it may be because their ministry is thriving and growing, and as ours is not doing as well, so we assume they must not really be as faithful to the gospel as we are, and are simply entertaining people in order to draw a crowd.

The second heart-problem – jealousy – comes into play when someone has something we don’t or has achieved a level of success which we think we deserve more than they do. This could be invitations to speak at prestigious events, or public recognition they receive from the community, media, or internet traffic. It could be as little as them raising their support for their small mission field assignment quicker than we do. Jealousy can hit us at all levels of ministry, large or small.

Not only are these problems destructive to our own ministry and what God wants to do through us; they are detrimental to the mission of God in the world. When these two problems rise in our hearts, they reveal a judgmental spirit at work in us, which seeks to break unity in the universal body of Christ, thereby hindering the fulfillment of God’s gospel commission.

Identifying Jealousy and Criticism

Jealousy and criticisms among ministers are not new things. Just look at the disciples. They were constantly arguing about which one is greater (Luke 22:24; Matthew 18:1) and seeking an opportunity to sit at Jesus’ side when the Kingdom is fully come (Mark 10:37), while also trying to hold down those who were not one of the group (Mark 9:38-40). These were issues then, just as they are now, and they were issues that Jesus immediately sought to correct in them.

Secondly, we must all admit that this isn’t just an “out there” problem. The truth is we all deal with these tendencies on occasion.

I recently had lunch with my senior pastor, a church planter, his associate pastor, and seminary student. In the course of conversation there was name-dropping of ministers we associate with (or would like to). There was some talk of church sizes, number of salvations, and programs — you know, all the normal minister-to-minister conversation stuff. I am not downplaying that it was an enjoyable lunch.

However, if I am honest about encounters like these, it is sometimes too easy for me to walk away looking at the good things God is doing in someone else’s life and ministry and be overcome with a jealous desire for Him to do it for me; even ignoring the things He is doing in my own life already. Now, that isn’t my heart 99% of the time. The truth is, most of the time I don’t even think to look for self-promotion. I want people to see Jesus, not me. Yet there are times when I am feeling like things aren’t going the way they are supposed to, or at least as good as they could be, and the jealousy bug creeps in.

Three Keys for True Kingdom Promotion

As I began to pray about this issue and ask God how we should protect our hearts from jealousy in the Kingdom of God, He gave me a few key things that are vital to not only preventing criticism and jealousy from taking root, but are vital for us in receiving the legitimate promotions in our ministries which the Lord wants us to receive.

1. Intimacy

John 15:4 — Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.
English Standard Version

If we really want to fulfill the destiny that God has created us for (Ephesians 2:10), we won’t find it by looking at what other ministers are doing and how God is using them. Instead, we must look only to God and see what He wants to do in us. It is in intimacy with Him that we find out who we are and what we are called to do. (Check out this video I did on “the heart of intimacy.”)

2. Faithfulness

Luke 16:10 — “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”
Luke 12:48 — “…Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.”
English Standard Version

Once we have been in the secret place with the Lord and received our individual assignments from the Holy Spirit, the key to receiving more opportunities, and bigger, bolder assignments, is that we first be faithful in what He has called us to today. It is great to dream about the future and to ask God to give you big visions for where He is taking you. However, we cannot pursue the visions of the future so much, that we neglect to act on His directions for today.

Our faithfulness today builds a trust in us in the Kingdom of God, demonstrating that we can be trusted with more!

3. Honor

Matthew 10:41 — The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.
English Standard Version

It is a well-established principle in scripture that shows when you honor what God is doing in another, it opens up a supernatural pathway for Him to do the same for you. I believe one of the primary reasons our enemy stirs us up to jealousy and criticism in our hearts is because he knows that dishonor will block us from receiving that blessing for ourselves.

To me, this fact is the most interesting reality concerning jealousy! We get jealous because we want what they have, yet the Bible teaches that the way God intends us to receive what they have is by first honoring that God is doing it with them! Jealousy and criticism are the Devil’s sinful alternative to God’s calling on us to show honor, created to block us from receiving an impartation of what they have. Romans 12:10 actually teaches us that if we want a competition in the Kingdom of God it is to “outdo one another in showing honor.”

I believe it is time for the church to seek unity, be faithful in our own callings, and to grow in honoring God’s hand on others. It is time to be building one another up and reaching out in fellowship, rather than criticizing and giving into jealousy which tears down and only looks inward.

It is time for each of us to fight these judgmental spirits in ourselves. It is time for us to seek intimacy with the Lord, be faithful in whatever He calls us to do, and to honor His work in others. Then we can celebrate together as He promotes each of us upward in His timing, for the sake of the Kingdom of God.

(This post was originally published July 27, 2015. It has been revised and edited for reposting.)

Photo by Jake Hills on Unsplash