Christ has a Growing Kingdom
Isaiah 9:7
“Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. …”
Matthew 13:31-32
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
The Kingdom of Christ is different than what the Jews thought it would be before Jesus came. The Kingdom of Christ increases by the people of faith. He becomes the King in a much greater way than a temporary physical kingdom. He forms the spiritual kingdom of subjects who make Jesus their King and their Lord which continues to grow until He comes back and rules over the whole earth - over all kings and kingdoms. We call that the Millennial Kingdom on earth as promised in Revelations 20. Through the apostle John, we learn after that the great white throne judgment forms the pure kingdom of heaven, ruled by the Father and Son who sit upon the throne forever.
His coming as a baby is so unlike the prophecies in Isaiah. Many didn’t who He was, but the angles did. Most were unaware, but the wise men knew. King Herod did not know, but the Magi from the East knew. The priests and Scribes and Sadducees and Pharisees didn’t know, but the lowly shepherds were given the heavenly revelation. He wasn’t only to be destined as the ruler over Israel, but a much larger kingdom.
Jesus told a parable that the Kingdom of heaven is like the grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all seeds; but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs, and becomes like a tree so that the birds of the air can come and lodge in its branches. His kingdom will likewise begin small, but it will grow so that multitudes will know of His greatness. Of this kingdom there are members of all races, all countries, all nationality, all languages. His subjects are all those who by faith have made Christ their king.
Jesus was for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles; for the righteous and for the sinner; for Judas and for soldiers who nailed Him to the cross; for the Pharisees and for Herod, for the Sanhedrin and for you and me.
I am discouraged with the decrease in conversions in the United States and the reduction of church attendance and commitments to Christ. It seems like secularism is growing and people are leaving the church and the faith.
But globally, that is not the case at all. There are fewer atheists around the world today than in 1970 and the Gordon-Conwell report expects the number to continue to decline into 2050.
Not only is religion growing overall, but Christianity specifically is growing. The two fastest growing Christian groups around the world are evangelicals and charismatics. Christianity is growing faster in Africa than any other place in the world. More Christians live in Africa than any other continent. By 2050, most Christians around the world will live in non-majority Christian nations.
God’s Word continues to expand into new languages in new and exciting ways, including pastors and theologians in India developing and printing newly translated Bibles and studies in village languages.
The kingdom of God is on the move. We must seek what God would have us do to spread the Word through the power of His Holy Spirit. Pray more people this coming year discover Jesus to be their King and Savior.
