Fall 1986
The Reality of Kingdom Living
Joseph Nieves
Former Academic Dean

God is presently doing a special work in His people in a way that we, in past days, never thought possible. These last days that we are in, are not an end, but rather the beginning of a new era, a new Dispensation in God.

The Lord is taking His people through a time of special Spiritual preparation, that they might not make the same mistakes that Israel made, and then need to go through a prolonged journey, as happened to them. The Lord's intent for Israel was that they might come out of Egypt, and then go into the Promised Land in a short period of time.

But, because of their unbelief and their rebellious ways, they had to encamp in the desert for a period of forty years. We often feel that we must go this prolonged desert way also. The Lord has a word for us concerning this: "For He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth" Romans 9:28. If God's people have their ear attuned to hear what the Spirit is saying to them, and working in them, they will be enabled to go by a way which they have never gone before.

God is calling a people today to spearhead "a way where there is no way", and then begin to press into His Kingdom. It is demanded of the Church in these last days that we begin to enter into that which the Lord has purposed to do.

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord declares that He will do a new thing in the earth. He is seeking out a people today that will allow Him to reveal Himself to them, and then bring forth this new thing through them. This may be so contrary to our own thinking that if we are not careful, we can miss what God wants us to do or be.

But, if we will have an ear to hear what the Spirit is saying, and a heart that is submissive to the Lord, and then allow Him to work in our lives, He will bring us through.

The Lord is calling His people to walk in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit is not ethereal or superfluous, but it is very natural and down to earth. Acts17:29 tells us that "in Him we live, and move, and have our being". This is what walking in the Spirit is all about; the fact that we are in Him, moving in Him, and having our being in Him.

The Lord Jesus Christ was supernaturally natural. He was born by the Spirit, and walked and lived in the Spirit. The Bible says that He gave Himself on Calvary by the Spirit; He was resurrected by the Spirit; His whole life activity was ordered by the Spirit. Yet, He had to be singled out from a crowd of people by a kiss from Judas.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not complicated or complex. The Apostle Paul writing to the Corinthian Church said that he feared for them, lest Satan through his subtlety should beguile them (deceive or corrupt their minds),from the simplicity which is in Christ Jesus. He was talking about a singleness of purpose, or intent; keeping our eyes on the Lord in simplicity and following Him. The writer of the Hebrews says, "looking unto Jesus," that is, looking away from everything else which would be a distraction and then fixing our gaze upon Him.

"But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb. . ." Gal1:15. In this hour, the Lord is separating unto Himself a people who are being severed or cut off from their mother's womb. This womb may be anything that we are depending upon, that is less than the Lord Himself. He is bringing to birth a people. In Rev 12:5 the Bible speaks of this as a manchild that is being birthed by the woman, the Church. God is cutting the umbilical cord, severing our identity with these lesser things and is identifying us with a new nature, the Lord Himself.

When we look at ourselves, we say it is impossible with us. But, then we realize that it is the Christ within us. As the Scripture says, "But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, to reveal His Son in me". God has called us for the purpose of revealing the Lord Jesus in us.

It is "Christ in you, the hope of Glory". This is why Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who impowers me, who strengthens me from within". We must not look at ourselves, but at Him who has called us and is able to complete His work in us.