BVOV Magazine 2013 - present

Not only did Jesus preach about the coming of God’s kingdom, He also put it on display. Anointed by God with the Holy Ghost and power, He “went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil” (Acts 10:38). Everywhere Jesus went, if the people received Him and His message, Kingdom breakthroughs happened. Divine power eruptions broke out. Miracles took place. Demonic bondages were destroyed. God’s will was done on earth as in heaven and the kingdom of God became an earthly reality. People experienced its influence in and upon their lives. “Yes, but Gloria, how can you be sure those things didn’t happen in Jesus’ ministry solely because He’s the sinless Son of God?” Because when He sent out His disciples He told them to minister just like He did. “Into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you,” He said, “heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you” (Luke 10:8-9). Jesus’ disciples followed His instructions, preached the same message He preached, and got the same supernatural results. What’s more, after Jesus finished His earthly ministry and ascended to heaven, His disciples stayed with the program. They continued to preach the gospel of the Kingdom and see Kingdom breakthroughs. So did those who believed their message. In the book of Acts, everyday Christians went around sharing the good news about Jesus with people and bringing God’s power on the scene. Believers like Stephen, who was not an apostle but simply “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,” “did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:5, 8). Jesus had said that believers would do such things. In what today is called the Great Commission, He declared: “These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover…. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” (Mark 16:17–18; Matthew 24:14). That’s the commission of the New Testament Church! As born-again believers, we’re all called to proclaim the good news that, through Jesus, God’s kingdom is here; and to display its power. Everywhere we go, supernatural breakthroughs should happen. When we show up someplace, God’s kingdom should manifest because we are ambassadors of that kingdom. We are in it, and it is in us! Where the King Has Dominion “But how can you say we’re in the kingdom of God when we’re still living in this fallen world?” you might ask. I can say it because the Bible does. It says in Colossians 1:13 that God “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us”—past tense—“into the kingdom of his dear Son.” As those who’ve been translated into God’s kingdom, we’re in it no matter where we are. It goes with us wherever we go. So does the King of that kingdom! He’s here with us all the time because He’s living inside us by His Spirit. He’s not in there just hitching a ride, either. He’s come to live in us to fulfill His great purpose. He’s made us His dwelling place because He wants to move in us, for us, and through us to reveal His goodness and His power. Many times, as believers, we’ve thought we were waiting on God to do something. But really, He’s been waiting on us. He’s always ready to move. He’s always ready to heal, deliver, meet needs and pour out His blessings on people. That’s why it’s such good news that, through Jesus, God’s kingdom has come near. These days we don’t think much in terms of kings and kingdoms. But a kingdom is simply where a king has dominion. It’s where he rules and exercises his power and authority; where he is sovereign, or superior to all others. God is a good King. So, wherever He’s given dominion wonderful things happen. He exercises His sovereign power, which is superior to all others, to overcome evil with good. 28 : BVOV

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