Part 3 : Are You Building The Kingdom of God

Or are you thinking about it? If so go on and read this. 

Are you a servant? Are you a citizen? Are you a soldier? Are you a builder building the Kingdom of your Father?

Whoever you are, you are precious in the eyes of the Father. The Father who desires that all of mankind be reconciled to Him and awakens from their deep slumber into recognizing that He has crafted them in His likeness and image. Like Father, like son we say. Like Father, like son we must be.

In this unique building trade there are three main requirements. Ask these questions of yourself and ponder over them. Chew them and ruminate. And endeavour to answer them honestly. If you can answer a yes to all three then a master builder you shall be.

1.   Do you have the desire to Evangelize? Ask yourself, search within, do you desire to share the good news that you have come to enjoy and the good news that liberated you with those suffering around you? Do you know with every fibre of your being that God the creator is your real Father? Are you able to say Yes to your Father and my Father, that His will may be done in your life and through you? 

The main addendum to the desire to Evangelize is the ability to say a YES with all your strength, body, soul, and mind to Almighty God. A YES to submit to His WILL at all times and to permit His WILL to be done through you in His measure.

If you can say Yes to this give yourself one point.

2.   Do you have the willingness to Encourage and Support fellow builders in Evangelisation? A builder never builds alone. He always works in fellowship. There are always others involved. And these others are like the different cogs in a wheel. Each needs to work and support the other. Each builder needs to serve the other. Each needs to respect and love the other.

You need to have it in you to encourage and support those around you. You need to pray for them, be a sounding board for them, use your gifts and talents in encouraging them and use discernment in guiding them. In a nutshell you need to be a brother to fellow Kingdom builders.

If you can say Yes to this then give yourself another point.

3.   Do you understand the need to grow in Holiness and Humility?

Growing in Holiness and Humility is the most physically painful process. Why do I say that? Because I know that. Understanding and realising this need is the first step. Recognising this need is the quintessential step in spiritual growth. For we need to rise from being servants to being rightful heirs to the Kingdom of God. When we step out as kingdom builders the forces of the world will rise against you and within you. This can only be conquered by personal holiness and humility.

Holiness is not your passport to the bosom of your Father, the blood of Jesus was. Your father enfolds you in His bosom out of love. The only currency in His Kingdom is love. He wants you to love Him just as He loves you, He desires that you desire to walk with Him just as He walked with Adam.

Holiness is to be like Jesus. Holiness is to shed our grimy past and stand washed and clean in the precious blood of the lamb. Holiness is to recognize the fangs of sin and develop strategies to avoid and overcome it. Holiness is to seek the grace of God to overcome sin and to live in purity. On a more practical level Holiness is to turn the other way when sin comes knocking through flesh, mind and sight. 

Holiness is to dress honourably, and speak honourably. To act honourably and to think honourably. When confronted with sin never forget that the Holy Spirit within you is comforter and paraclete. He speaks on your behalf  if in need. Remember that and ask his help.

Grow in humility we all must. Pride goes before a fall we say. It’s much truer for those that walk in the Kingdom of God. The only thing worthy of pride is that you are the son of God the most high. Humility is the knowledge that the graces and personality that you exude, the awe and glory that is accorded to you is just one step away from destruction. Nothing that you have or nothing that is accorded to you is something that has more life than that of a flutter of a butterfly’s wings. Even your spiritual gifts! Recognising this and learning to grow in humility is essential in the life of a builder.

If you understand the need to grow in Holiness and Humility give yourself another point.

Now finally how many yes’s are there?

Three? – Then go ahead and prepare for your work.

Two? One? None? – The time has not yet come. Grow more in knowing your God and Father. Read and ruminate on the Gospel of John and seek the help of the Holy spirit to grow more like Christ. One day the love within you will know no bounds and will begin to overflow. 

Remember always that you have been carved out of God. Your place in him is secure. Secured by the precious blood of the lamb. But in return, love like you have never loved before.

By Dr.Jacqueline Michael