Summer
1987
The Message of The Kingdom
Wade E Taylor
Jesus began His ministry with these words: "The time
is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye,
and believe the Gospel" Mark 1:15. His next words were
to two fishermen, while they were working at their trade.
"And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will
make you to become fishers of men" Mark 1:17.
Here, the message of the Kingdom was applied to the lives
of these men through a practical application to their occupation.
They had been fishers of fish. Now, Jesus was calling them
to become fishers of men.
Note carefully that they were to continue fishing, but with
a higher purpose in view. The Kingdom message in its functioning
is intended to lift the earthly aspect of our vocation into
a higher purpose.
The word "Kingdom" has been both misunderstood
and misapplied. It has often been relegated to a future millennium
or to heaven. However, the claim of the Kingdom that Jesus
presented here was meant to be a present reality in the lives
of all who would respond to it.
It was to be both practical and effective in the every day
life experience of His people. It did not imply that those
who responded would be promoted into a place of rulership,
or prominence. Rather, it expressed the coming of Kingdom
authority that would reign over the lives of all who would
submit to its message. It would permeate every aspect of their
daily pattern of life.
This Kingdom was presented by Jesus as being "at hand".
That is, it was meant to work in the immediate circumstances
of all who responded. It was not intended that it would find
its function in some ethereal religious form, or in a future
hope. It was presented as being attainable and touchable,
"Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers
of men" Mark 1:17.
This Kingdom that is at hand requires a submission to the
rule of God. To enter this Kingdom, we must embrace the rule
of God and recognize the LORD Jesus Christ as our personal
King, and then place everything that pertains to us in subjection
to His Kingdom rule.
Jesus said, "Come ye after me." If we do not recognize
Him as our personal King and then allow the operation of the
Kingdom in our lives, we will not be able to abide in the
place of His calling. If our lives are as they were before
salvation, plus the salt of religion, we are falling far short
of His claim upon us, and His desire for us.
Today, He is establishing His true Church in Divine order
and authority. Things that the Lord once winked at in the
past will no longer be left unchallenged in our lives. Everything
that can be shaken is shaking, until it has been reduced to
the place where it will be able to submit to His Kingdom claim.
The Lord will no longer allow His people to remain in the
realm of blessing alone. He is causing them to acknowledge
the claim of His Kingdom upon their lives. He is bringing
each one of us to the place where we must make a decision
as to what we will do with this Kingdom that He said "is
at hand."
The Kingdom is a present reality. In its present form, the
outworking of it will be manifested within us as "righteousness,
and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost" Rom 14:17. All else
will pass away.
Do not draw back, accept what Jesus is saying to you, and
then press into this Kingdom.