Study 20 – Demonstrations of Kingdom Power Here and Now

“And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”  (1 Corinthians 2:4)

Introduction

Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13). Although each facet of God’s dominion is distinct, it always works in conjunction with the others: the kingdom is the rule of heaven, the power is the ability of heaven, and the glory is the atmosphere of heaven. God is calling us to exercise His kingdom rule, demonstrate His power, and manifest His glorious presence on earth – here and now!

While it is important for us to teach people about the kingdom, it is even more powerful to demonstrate it. If we fail to act on what we teach, then we are not being true to ourselves or to others. Jesus Christ demonstrated the kingdom by both teaching and acting with power. And He gave us the ability to do the same through the Holy Spirit.

Study Questions

Part I: Knowledge Should Lead to Supernatural Experience

1. It is not enough just to hear the “word” of the kingdom. That word must be planted in our hearts so it can bear fruit. Indicate what keeps some people from establishing God’s Word in their lives, by completing the following:

Matthew 13:19: “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and ____________ __________ ___________________ ___________, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.”

KEY DEFINITION: The word “understand” in Matthew 13:19 is translated from the Greek word suniemito. It literally means “to put together” and indicates mental comprehension that leads to godly living. (See STRONG, G4920.) In other words, it is an understanding of the knowledge of God that leads to a transformed life.

1. (a) What should we humbly accept? (James 1:21b NIV)

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(b) Doing what God’s Word says, rather than just reading it or listening to it, will help us to understand His Word and establish it within us, so that we are transformed. (See James 1:22.) To whom did the apostle James compare the person who just listens to the Word without applying it to his life? (Verse 23b – 24 NIV)

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REFLECTIONS ON EXPERIENCING THE SUPERNATURAL

The “word of the kingdom” (Matthew 13:19) is like seed. When we receive a revelation from God, allowing it to be implanted within us, it imparts the power that enables us to obey it. But when we do not understand or accept a word from God, it cannot be implanted within us. Instead, it is like seed that gets scatted on the side of the road; it lands on shallow soil and is vulnerable to being eaten by birds and other animals passing by. In a spiritual sense, this is what happens when the enemy comes and steals the word away from us.

Since the human mind is very limited and cannot embrace the greatness of God, we must allow Him to demonstrate in visible form what we believe and proclaim. Each time God gives us knowledge or revelation, He wants us to have personal contact with His kingdom and power. Therefore, anytime we receive a word that inspires us, challenges us, and encourages us to see more of Him, we ae not to remain where we are but are to take the next step and experience the reality of that word, which always leads us to Him.

When we enter into an experience with God based on what we learn from His Word or from a rhema we have received, our perspective changes. We gain greater spiritual depth, and we are able to explain God’s Word with better clarity and insight. We no longer describe God and His truths as external observers. It’s almost as if we are within the truth itself, or a part of it.

We must know God to demonstrate His works.

Part II: The Balance Between the Spirit and the Word

Jesus was able to teach and demonstrate the message of God’s kingdom because He was continually in contact with the Father. His words and actions had the life of God in them. The pattern in Scripture is that God sends His Spirit before sending His word, because His word has power on earth only if it originates from the atmosphere of His presence. A word of God operates on earth when He speaks (either a word from the written Scriptures or a rhema), and the power of God operates when He acts. But a word from God will not demonstrate the kingdom on earth until we receive a revelation of it. God’s Spirit and His word always work together.

1. (a) As an example of the pattern in Scripture discussed above, what occurred before God began to create life on the earth? (Genesis 1:2b)

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(b) Following this, what words did God speak, and what transpired? (Verse 3)

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1. What two things did Jesus say are essential for a person to know in order to have accurate spiritual understanding? (Mark 12:24b)

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People will spiritually dry up and die unless the Holy Spirit moves in them.

1. Manifestation from the Holy Spirit are revelations that are discerned by our natural senses, enabling us to see and/or hear tangible evidence of God’s kingdom, power, and glory. On the day of Pentecost, how did the Holy Spirit tangibly demonstrate God’s kingdom to Jesus’ followers and to the multitude in Jerusalem through manifestations of both sight and sound, Spirit and word? (Acts 2:2-4)

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Part III: Purposes of Demonstrating God’s Kingdom Here and Now

Let us now turn to the purpose of demonstrating God’s Kingdom, to make sure we understand the main reasons why He desires to manifest His eternal realm on earth and why it is essential for us to seek first His kingdom. (See Matthew 6:33.)

• Purpose #1: So Our Faith Will Be Founded on the Power of God

1. How did Paul say he presented his speech and preaching to the Corinthians as he announced the gospel to them, so that their faith would not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God? Complete the following:

1 Corinthians 2:4: “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but ________ _________________________________ ___________ _______________ _______________ _________ ________ ____________________…”

We can demonstrate God only when we have experienced Him.

• Purpose #2: To Establish a Kingdom Context for God’s Power

1. (a) The power of God always comes with the purpose of building and expanding His kingdom. Recall what Jesus spoke of to His followers, after His resurrection but before His ascension, to prepare them for the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. (Acts 1:3b)

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(b) What did Jesus tell His followers that they should “tarry,” or wait, to receive? (Luke 24:49)

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(c) Recall what Kingdom purpose resulted from their receiving this thing, as Peter boldly proclaimed the gospel. (Acts 2:41)

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(d) Recall what miracle occurred shortly thereafter as a further demonstration that the kingdom of God was present among them. (Acts 3:1-8)

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Receiving “Pentecost” without power is merely one more Christian experience.

… To continue next week!

Prayer of Activation

Dear Jesus, we are willing and available to go and demonstrate Your kingdom here and now. We ask You to give us Your supernatural grace to take risks and be bold in order to manifest Your power and glory. We ask Your Holy Spirit to come upon us and empower us now to do the works of the kingdom. Lord Jesus, by faith, wherever we go – to our schools, to our jobs, to restaurants, to sporting events, to malls, on vacation trips, or anywhere else – we will pray for the sick, the oppressed, and the captives, and we will deliver them in Your name. those who haven’t received salvation or the baptism in the Holy Spirit will receive it by Your power! W submit our wills and our hearts to You right now. In Your name, amen.

Action Steps

• A believer who has a kingdom mentality is one who obeys the voice if God, putting into practise the spiritual truths he learns. What truths about the kingdom have you learned but not out into practise? Write down two or three kingdom truths that you haven’t yet acted on and begin to obey them by faith right now. Keep a record of what happens as you follow through in obedience.
• The more we respond in faith to the revelation God gives us, thereby experiencing His presence and power, the more we will grow in our ability to testify with manifestations of the kingdom to support our words, so that we can be credible witnesses of Jesus Christ. When we release the same power through which we have been saved, delivered, and healing to others. To do this, start at the beginning, with your salvation. Tell people what happened to you the day you were born again. Next, tell them how you have changed since that da. No one else can communicate your testimony like you. Only you can speak with absolute certainty about how you have been transformed. As you testify, the power of God will manifest, because you will be a legitimate witness. Share your testimony today. Then, as you receive other demonstrations of God’s power in your life, share those with others as well, so that people can be transformed, healed, and delivered!