Ordinary life

P 3512 Someone else’s thoughts.

/ DVH

“Keep turning away from your sins and come back to  God, for heaven’s kingdom realm is now accessible.” Matthew 4:17 TPT. Some words in Scripture don’t merely give us information. They give us a new way of seeing reality.

One of those words is basileia – the Greek word usually translated “kingdom.” But basileia isn’t primarily about geography—a territory with borders, a palace, or a throne. When Jesus announced that the Kingdom of heaven had come near, He wasn’t simply telling people where they could go after they die. He was announcing something far more radical: The unseen realm of heaven is constantly breaking into the visible world of earth.

Jesus was introducing a fresh worldview—a way of understanding reality that says the physical world we see isn’t the whole story. There is another dimension of reality. And Jesus was showing us, in His main point in the heart of the Lord’s Prayer and most of the parables, how the two realities overlap.

A new way of seeing the world: Israel had been waiting for God’s Kingdom for centuries. The prophets envisioned a day when God would reign, justice would be established, evil would be defeated, and creation would be restored. Daniel saw a kingdom that would outlast every human empire: “His dominion is everlasting and will never pass away, and his kingdom will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14 TPT.

Then Jesus appeared and made an astonishing announcement at the launch of his ministry: “At last the fulfilment of the age has come! It is time for God’s kingdom to be experienced in its fullness! Turn your lives back to God and put your trust in the hope-filled gospel!” Mark 1:15 TPT. The Greek ēngiken means “has come near” or “has drawn close.” Something from God’s realm has moved toward ours. The Kingdom has come near, and King Jesus came to announce it! Jesus wasn’t merely teaching people about a future Kingdom, although it is eternal, He was revealing that God’s reign was already breaking into the present.

And suddenly, people could see it. The blind saw. The lame walked. The oppressed were set free. Sinners were forgiven. Outcasts were welcomed. The dead were raised. These weren’t isolated displays of supernatural power. They were signs of another reality invading this one. Jesus was showing people what happens when heaven’s rule touches earth.

The Kingdom is a world view: This is why basileia is more than a theological word. It gives us a potent way to perceive our world. We tend to divide reality into two categories: What we can see—and what we can’t. The physical world feels real because we can touch it, measure it, photograph it, and analyse it. The spiritual world can seem distant, mysterious, abstract, or even absent. But Jesus presents a radically different picture. The invisible realm of God is not less real because we cannot see it. And the physical world isn’t disconnected from it. Heaven and earth intersect.

That’s the worldview Jesus introduces. The Kingdom is where God’s rule becomes present in the world we inhabit. Think of it as an intersection. Heaven isn’t merely somewhere far away. God’s Kingdom is the very source of our physical reality. And Jesus teaches us, through His miracles and through His parables how to look for it.

“Your Kingdom come:” This is why Jesus taught His followers to pray:“Manifest your kingdom realm, and cause your every purpose to be fulfilled on earth, just as it is in heaven.” Matthew 6:10 TPT. Notice the direction of the prayer. We’re not simply praying, “Help us get to heaven.” We’re praying: “Let heaven come here.” Let what is true in God’s realm become true in our realm. Let God’s peace enter our anxiety, relationships, and communities. Let God’s healing enter our brokenness. Let God’s generosity break the grip of our fear. Let God’s truth penetrate our confusion. Let Your Kingdom come. This changes the way we walk through ordinary life. The Kingdom means that the kitchen, workplace, hospital room, campsite, classroom, church, and difficult conversation can all become places where heaven touches earth.

We have access to the Kingdom’s power: Here’s the astonishing part. Jesus doesn’t merely tell us that the Kingdom exists. He gives us access to it. He teaches us to pray for it. He invites us to seek it. He sends His followers to announce it. And He gives His followers authority to participate in its work. When Jesus sends out the disciples, He tells them:

“As you go, preach this message: ‘Heaven’s kingdom is accessible, close enough to touch.’ You must continually bring healing to lepers and to those who are sick, and make it your habit to break off the demonic presence from people, and raise the dead back to life.” Matthew 10:7–8 TPT. Notice the connection: Announce the Kingdom. Demonstrate the Kingdom. Words and works. Proclamation and participation. The disciples weren’t merely supposed to tell people that God reigns. They were supposed to show evidence of God’s reign. Power evangelism. And that invitation extends to us. We don’t create the Kingdom. We don’t manufacture God’s power. But we can recognize it, receive it, pray for it, and participate in it.

Learning to see what’s already happening: Perhaps one of the great challenges of Christian spirituality is learning to perceive the Kingdom. Jesus said:“The kingdom is not discovered in one place or another, for God’s kingdom realm is already expanding within some of you.” Luke 17:21 TPT. The Kingdom isn’t always spectacular. Sometimes it looks like forgiveness. Sometimes courage. Sometimes unexpected peace. The Kingdom is God’s reign becoming visible in human lives and in the physical world. Once you begin looking for it, you start seeing the world differently. The question changes from: “What is happening to me?” to: “What is God doing here?” That’s basileia.

The Kingdom changes everything:  Jesus didn’t come merely to give us better religious information. He came announcing that another King is already ruling. And if Jesus is King, then reality is bigger than what our eyes can see. The Kingdom means that your circumstances are not necessarily the final interpretation of your life. The physical world is real—but it isn’t all there is. There is a greater reality pressing into this one. Heaven is touching earth, all the time, right now and forever.

And Jesus invites us to live with our spiritual eyes open. So today: when you walk into an ordinary day, try this simple prayer: “Jesus, help me see Your Kingdom here and now.” Amen. Look around. Where is God bringing life? Where is love overcoming fear? Where is forgiveness breaking through resentment? Where is truth defeating deception? Where is generosity overcoming scarcity? Where is healing beginning? Where is the Spirit prompting you to act?

Then ask the second question: “How can I participate?” Because the Kingdom isn’t merely something we wait for. It is something Jesus has brought near to you. It is the reality we learn to perceive. It is the power we learn to receive. And it is the reign we are invited to embody. The King has come. Heaven has touched earth. And because of Jesus, you live at that intersection. And until earth looks like heaven, we have work to do.”

My guest author is David Housholder, Fulbright scholar, writer, broadcaster and senior pastor at Robinwood church, Southern California. As an aside the Passion paraphrase itself has caused some controversy and it is not a recognised translation. Personally I found this overview of the Kingdom of God helpful and insightful. However, it is certainly not every point of view available to us… and no substitute for legitimate recognised translations of the bible! Bye 👋.🙏.

P 2643 We all have the power to touch many.

/ DVH

John 6:5-13: “When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for He already had in mind what He was going to do. Philip answered Him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.”

This is a story that we all know well. Especially if we went to Sunday School, or Children’s Church! It was probably one of the stories that we heard because those concepts were suitable for kids. Back in the ark I told it with flannel graph. (OK, you never heard of flannel graph, it’s a thing, look it up!) There are many things that stand out about this particular story — I love the fact that this little boy was not intimidated by how many people there were, instead he was prepared to share the little he had with everyone. He was generous. Ya might want to think on that for a couple of years.🤔

I believe that this scripture illustrates that nobody’s life is too small, or too insignificant for the Lord to use. The only secret to living a godly kingdom life, is in giving that life to HIM! That child surrendered his lunch. Which BTW, also meant that he no longer had it!  His lunch wasn’t much by this world’s standards. However, we are kingdom people so we do not have to live by this world’s idea of faith! Christ came, lived and died to show us that fame, money, expertise, and influence mean nothing. After all, Jesus Christ, His life and ministry could have been just a tiny blip on the radar screen of this life. But the Lord changed everything, because He surrendered all He had to His Father … to the death.

Your life is not ordinary. The minute you gave your life to Christ, your potential increased exponentially like that little boy’s lunch. That child’s lunch fed 5,000 people … and … let’s not forget the leftovers … because they matter. One basket left over for each disciple. One basket of proof that God Himself was there with them! Meanwhile, I note that there was no left-over fish, and a good thing that was too! Imagine the smell!! … Moo-ving on …

I dunno why, but in the church in recent years there has been this big push on producing, teaching, training and using people who have been given incredible powerful gifts from God. We advertise these people like rock stars. Sadly often the fame and pressure can lead to them acting like normal human beings and falling on their heads and doing some ugly thing or other. A gift, is no more a sign of perfection than that little boy’s volunteered lunch was a sign of a miracle. The power fell when Jesus Christ accepted the gift and broke it, gave it to His disciples and they distributed it to everyone else.

There is a weird reaction to the phenomenon of the famous Christian — the rest of us trot up to church to sit in a pew or a seat and watch that person do their spiritual thing. Well, that’s just dumb! Why waste the potential of the people who are sitting down? There are also times when we ask other ‘gifted’ people to pray for people in the prayer line etc. That’s even more dumb! Now we are telling everyone else it is OK to be a needy passenger, not a pro-active participant! Thinkaboudit. 

Just stop for a minute. Imagine what this world might look like if everyone who names the Name of Jesus as Lord and Saviour lived this life the way Paul describes in the Epistles. Wouldn’t that blow your mind? 🤯  We can get so busy growing big churches we forget about developing the unseen potential of the person warming a seat in the middle of the congregation. Instead we go about looking for the bright shiny ones, the ones who have an anointing. 

PS The bible says we are all anointed ones!! 1 John 2:20 “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” Sadly those super stars can get knocked over by our enemy because they stand up there in the spotlight ALONE. Or even worse, they stand up there with people who tell them what they want to hear, because ‘you mustn’t touch the anointing.’ 🙄 So instead people just go away and bad-mouth them and complain about them behind their backs. Now there’s a smart move …!!  😱

Here’s my advice to you dear reader, take your little lunch, your only lunch … your only life — and give it to Jesus. Then start behaving like He did, loving people everywhere you go. I’m talking about living your ordinary life, the only life you have, free of the encumbrances of day after day after day of the same old same old! Because your life has a purpose. Trust Him to help you to touch many for His sake. Bye 👋