THY KINGDOM COME(1)

“But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad” (Matthew 12:28-30 NKJV).

Kingdom expansion is usually accomplished by conquest. The most recent of such expansions we can easily recall was the annexation of Judah and Samaria, popularly known as West Bank, to become part of the modern Israel.  In June 6, 1967, the confederated armies of Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Iraq armed to the teeth by Russia, marched against Israel in a war that was aimed at obliterating the nation of Israel. However, through the supernatural help of God, the lesser armed Israeli Defence Force (IDF) routed the Arabs and conquered the old city of Jerusalem, West Bank, Golan Heights, and Gaza Strip.  Prior to 1967 war, Israeli’s total land area was barely 8000 square miles (20,720 KM²), but at the end of the war, which lasted for only six days, Israel had expanded its territory to 26,000 square miles (67, 340KM²). The commonest way kingdoms expand throughout history is by conquest through war.

In the spiritual realm, the same pattern is observable.  God’s ordained method of expanding His Kingdom is through conquest.  Before God made Adam and Eve, Satan had been on earth. Subsequent to his expulsion from heaven, Satan settled on earth. “And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” (Revelation 12:7-9 NKJV). It is generally agreed that this war in heaven predated the creation of human beings. Therefore, God intentionally put Adam and Eve, and by implication the entire human race, on earth to repossess it from Satan through conquest.  The first Adam could not hold the fort against Satan’s onslaught making the coming of the Second Adam imperative.

It is not surprising therefore that an important part of the agenda of our Lord’s ministry on earth was targeted at defeating and spoiling his works. The Scripture testifies, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15 NKJV). “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8 NKJV).  Our Lord had to deal with Satan in order to secure the release of those he illegally held captive. He bequeathed the same authority to us, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons....” (Mark 16:17 NKJV). This legitimizes power encounter as a means of expanding the kingdom of God.

Missionary movement throughout history have extended the frontier of the kingdom of God by engaging the forces of hell in battles for the souls of people.  The church today has no choice than to step into the arena and bind the strong man, Satan, and plunder his goods.  The more people that are rescued from Satan and brought into obedience of faith to Christ, the more God’s Kingdom expands. Here then is the question, who is on the Lord’s side? Our Lord said, “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”  Those who are with God are those who gather with Him. God wants to gather His elect through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.(Matthew 24:31 NKJV). Before He employs the angels, let us do our bit, by preaching the gospel to anyone who crosses our path. Let us through warfare prayer bind the strong man that is holding our friends and relations captive, and by witnessing to them bring them into the Kingdom as they confess faith in Christ. Our Lord, said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” O God, help me to fast and prayer until souls flood your kingdom.