Jesus preached a message identical to that of John the Baptist.
From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near. “ (Matthew 4:17).
Dallas Willard defines the kingdom of God as the effective reach of God’s power. Even though the United States is not a kingdom, its government has some similarities.
For example, if you break one of the nation’s laws, the full force of its power will fall on you. The power of the nation reaches into your wallet and extracts taxes. On the other hand, the nation uses its power to protect and benefit its citizens.
I have been using an illustration from Dallas Willard to describe how God’s kingdom works. At a conference, he asked a woman in the front row if he could have her purse. She grabbed the purse and said, “No.”
Willard used this as an object lesson to explain the principle of a kingdom. He said, “This purse is part of the woman’s kingdom. It is under her power and not mine.”
After Jesus declared the arrival of God’s kingdom on earth, He encountered the first four men who would become His disciples.
As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea for they were fishers.
And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people. Immediately they left their nets and followed him.
As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him (Matthew 4:18-22).
While the woman correctly refused Dallas Willard’s request to take her purse, these men rightly surrendered their business to Him. Something about Jesus compelled them to leave their life’s work and join Jesus for the journey of their lives.
The Question of Authority
Governmental representatives are often called “the authorities” because they wield the power of the nation they serve.
When Jesus spoke in Capernaum, He proclaimed that God’s government had arrived in their midst. The first disciples recognized Jesus’ authority and responded by following His directions.
There are many scenes in the Gospels where the issue of authority is raised.
The crowds that followed Jesus were amazed at the authority of His words in the Sermon on the Mount.
Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes (Matthew 7:28-29).
When Jesus calmed the raging sea, His close followers were amazed at His authority. They were amazed, saying, What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him? (Matthew 8:27).
Jesus was often opposed by the religious establishment because His teaching and behavior conflicted with their authority. After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the cleansing of the temple, they questioned Jesus.
By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?
Jesus said to them, I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things” (Mark 11:28-29).
The question of authority resides in this issue: can God’s effective power reach us? Will we offer God our purse, allowing Him access to the personal areas of our lives? Will we change our occupation so we can be better aligned with God’s purpose for us?
New Job Success Stories
I am blessed to know many outstanding men and women who willingly allowed the rule of God to redirect their lives.
One man was a very successful inventor, but a tragic human being. In a moment of desperation, he was about to take his life when the effective power of God’s love reached him. Jesus spoke to his heart and said, “Give your life to me.”
The man found the first AA hall he came to and worked the steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. His next stop was finding a church where he devoted his life to Jesus.
He and I met while we were speakers at a conference. Later, over coffee, he told me of his new work. He had invented a way to cheaply purify water. He was giving the technology away to local pastors in Africa so they could provide water to their communities.
Another friend of mine was successful in business but lacked the peace that life with Jesus brings. After his conversion, he took a vow of poverty and served urban Kansas City residents with services that included counseling, food, job training, and the good news of God’s love.
This man allowed God’s kingdom to rule his life and is the most godly person I have met in my 76 years on earth.
God wants the effective reach of His power to touch every aspect of our lives. He does so not to make our lives miserable, but to give us the best life possible. It takes faith to surrender the personal parts of our lives to the Lord, but history proves it is the best choice possible.
YouTube Discussion
Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discussed this passage on YouTube today.
Real Voices 