THY KINGDOM COME (13)

“Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:7 NKJV).

Increase is the character of the kingdom of God. Wherever the kingdom influence prevails, growth is inevitable. Our Lord gave several parables that associate the kingdom of God with increase. There is “the parable of the leaven,” where the kingdom of God is likened to a pinch of leaven hidden in three measures of meal, that leavens the whole meal (Matthew 13:33). There is also “the parable of the mustard seed,” which though is the least of seeds but when sown in the soil would germinate and grow to become one of the biggest of trees (Matthew 13:31-32).  The objective lesson in these parables is that though the kingdom of God starts small, it does not stay small. Increase is intrinsic nature of the kingdom of God. At the beginning of His earthly ministry, our Lord was the only reality of the kingdom of God on earth. Soon He gathered a sizeable crowd around Him and the growth has consistently been on the increase until this moment. Today, over two billion people in the world regard themselves as followers of Jesus and our world has become transformed by the values of the kingdom. If we fast-forward to the end of the world, the record is nothing but astounding. “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelations 7:9-10 NKJV). Stagnation, retrogression and recession are clear indicators that God’s kingdom principles are not at play in any given circumstance.

Growth and increase are trademarks of God’s kingdom. The increase in the kingdom of God comes through the value adds by those to whom God has bestowed the kingdom.  In other words, God grows His kingdom through the intentional activities of believers. Those who apply the tools God has endowed them with to benefit the kingdom experience personal increase while those who fail to grow the kingdom experience loss. In “the parable of the talent,” it was clear that the people who gained more talents were blessed while those who did not make gains for the king suffered severe losses.  The Lord revealed an important kingdom principle in this story saying, “To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away” (Matthew 25: 29 NLT). It is obvious that God is interested in increase.  He wants us to prioritize growth. Those who labour to see growth and increase in their assignments are blessed and those who fail to work for increase suffer loss.

The increase in the kingdom of God is perpetual. Our text declared, “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end...”  The Hebrew word translated “government” in this passage can be translated empire or kingdom. We can then render it thus, “of the increase of your kingdom and peace there will be no end...” God has decreed a perpetual increase for His kingdom and that has been the case and will continue to be the case. The increase of God’s kingdom will go on with or without you doing your bit. God cannot be limited by human failure or otherwise. When you do what God has assigned to you to ensure the increase of the Kingdom, you reap a harvest of blessings.  When you fail to do your bit, you suffer loss, but the kingdom will continue to increase.

As a citizen of the kingdom of God, you must not be comfortable with unfruitfulness, stagnation, or retrogression. You ensure the increase of the kingdom by using all your gifts and talents to bring as much glory to God as you can in every circumstance of your life.  It is about making the most of the resources, time and opportunities God has given you. “...As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love” (Ephesians 4:16 NLT).  The Kingdom grows as each of us does what we have the grace to do.  Do yours and be blessed!