Kingdom Order

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your 
ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.—Isaiah 55:8

I heard a man preach about the Kingdom of God.  In fact, I have heard many men preach on the Kingdom of God through the years.  Most of them are a bit random at best.  I have an opinion on why, and even though I am concerned with sounding a bit arrogant, I will share it with you.  I think that one can only study, or preach the Kingdom of God as though they can compare it to something on earth.  Comparing the Kingdom of God to the earthly concept of a kingdom will fall short every time.  This is a concept only revealed by the Holy Spirit.  I personally believe this is a topic that it is best interpreted with the Bible.

The man I heard asked the congregation if they wanted God’s order in their lives. Even though the response of the crowd was “yes,” I couldn’t help but wonder if these mostly fat sassy American Christians really wanted God’s order in their lives.  Do they really understand God’s order?

The reason I am writing about this is because that question and answer really disturbed me.  So if this comes off as me being a bit of a know-it-all, please understand that I am writing about it in order to “process” my thoughts.  If my thoughts seem random or scattered, please understand that is kind of my point: This is a huge concept, and I am going to attempt to process it by using -- for lack of a better way to describe my approach -- “the fairness doctrine,” so to speak.

In my life I have grown up in Charismatic churches and attended Charismatic schools, universities and Bible schools.  I have attended a Nazarene church and even began ministry as a kids’ minister, and the only Charismatic, in a Nazarene church. (Or shall we say “A more traditional church”.)  All of the above had a different concept of the Kingdom of God and “God’s order”. 

Most of what is called “order” in the institutional church is an attempt to control men.   We demand tithes, giving above the tithe if God is going to bless you.  Healing is an act of God’s sovereignty… or is it a result of faith?  Apparently God’s blessing is something we earn by reading, praying and speaking right.  Perhaps you are a worthless loser whom God can’t bless because you didn’t pray, read or say things in line with God’s Word.  In essence, God can’t bless you because of this or that.  After all, the Order of God’s Kingdom requires you to have it all together.  I wish I could see these things as anything less than man’s attempt to control man and call it God’s order. 

We can go the other way and say, “He is a GOD OF LOVE”!  God isn’t concerned with what you give, say, or believe -- only that you love Him.  He won’t hold back blessing, prosperity, health, wisdom, life…because He is a loving Father and His heart is for you.  For you!  Not against you -- faithful to never leave you or forsake you, faithful to heal you, faithful to prosper you…HE IS FAITHFUL.  He isn’t going to abandon you because you and your wife had a stupid argument. 

After much personal study, I lean this way; but one thing I have learned is that prosperity or poverty don’t matter nearly as much to God as it does men.   Even your health isn’t a measuring stick of your faith or standing with your loving Father.  His system of order looks something like Isaiah 55: 8-11: 

"’For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the LORD.”

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

“As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

It looks to me like “order” to God is often far different than our view of “order”.  He is more concerned with you, your heart, your attention, than He is with your being in complete control of life.  Instead, give Him control, follow and obey as He leads.  He is so much bigger than the box you put Him in; so much more faithful than the box you put Him in. 

“He is working all things together for good to them that love Him…”  Sometimes this doesn’t look like you want it to.  In fact, it may take years and horrible, painful situations that look totally awful.  In fact, it may even seem to keep getting worse.  Friends may judge you or you may judge yourself.  But He said, “Seek first the KINGDOM of GOD …and ALL these things will be added to you. 

His Kingdom Order is Jesus first…and all these things will be added to you.  His thoughts really are not your thoughts, neither are our ways His ways…so it is His word that goes out of His mouth:  “IT WILL NOT return to Him empty, but it will accomplish what He desires …”  Rest in our Father’s love, make Him your priority, and you will see the order of the kingdom.