The Kingdom Reality

“The Kingdom of God is at hand.” That’s how Jesus announced His earthly ministry.

Jesus came bearing the realities of another dimension, a much higher dimension. A realm where spirit controls matter. Where the natural yields to the supernatural. It is the reality permeated with God’s presence. With this reality mired in purity and Truth, the key words reflecting its witness in the seen world have been: demonstration and power.

What Jesus set in motion with His unique unveiling of the manifestations of this reality was a movement. People were drawn to it. It was contagious. For those touched by this realm came a metamorphosis in perspective and mindset. This contagion mirrored the way the early church operated whenever they gathered: spontaneously; in homes; prayer-focused; outside the box; and always in demonstration and in power.

Yet, with the coming of Jesus the release of this reality collided with ones brokering other powers, both worldly and religious. Jesus noted that there was a gateway into this realm …. that was both narrow and difficult to traverse. Crossing its threshold came at a cost. A cost with change and a standard in which there was no middle ground. This unseen reality clashed with bastions of the impure and untruthful. As the prophet Nahum observed: “Where the Lord walks, storms arise.” 

Entering and embracing this realm of God’s Kingdom triggers a radical change of mind-set, of perspective, of the way one views and processes reality. Among the subtleties tied to this reality-clash …. one involving both power and thinking, Jesus warned His followers about the leaven of both Herod and the Pharisees …. the proactive, but compromised religious and political counterfeits to this reality.

Despite these warnings, over time this vibrant movement digressed into becoming institutionalized, losing the key dimensions that had originally defined it: its demonstration and power with its spontaneity as a movement. With this loss there emerged a watered-down version of its true dimensions, blending with the realm it had been displacing.

And so history has evidenced cycles of these realities colliding …. clashes with religious and temporal power …. as dedicated remnants of the generations that have followed have reached to capture a glimmer of the potency of this unseen realm and sought entrance to living their lives on the right side of its narrow entrance gate.

So it was that within the short but intense time of His earthly ministry, that Jesus dramatically interrupted the course of history with His strategy releasing this reality.

The Kingdom of God: the Bible unveils key purposes resulting from the explosive release of this dimension of reality. At the forefront was setting in motion the restoration of all things …. to the original state of God’s creation described in Genesis. In concert with this purpose, Jesus came to impart Life, with a creative life-giving pathway reflecting the Creator’s original intent. Together with each of these was the purpose of dismantling the works of the evil one, which seductively held mankind in bondage.

Having set these matters in motion, Jesus passed the baton to the generations following, to believers who would penetrate the veil and entrance into this Kingdom …. progressively bearing the fruits of this mantle. With this brief grasp of the dynamics of the reality of God’s Kingdom and its purpose, the issue then is “how should we as believers then manifest this reality?” The parameters to this answer begin by embracing the culture of the Kingdom.

A Shared Culture
Culture defines a society by its standards, values and ideology. Cultural identity will determine how people live, interact and think – how they process reality and respond to the world around them.

Far more so than the Church over the years, the Jewish community has embraced and comprehensively put into practice the dynamics, identity and culture of faith. Their principles have been spelled out in detail by Moses’ Sinai revelation … representing the standards involved in how, in practical terms, to operate from generation to generation as a society of believers: as a God-centered, economically-based community. What Moses was detailing was the model demonstrated by Abraham of these dimensions in operating as a society of God’s people: again, with the dynamics of being God centered, entrepreneurial, and community-driven. These elements are foundational to having a shared culture.
“For by faith, Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose builder and architect is God.” Heb 11:10

So, from the time of Abraham, because of this self-sustaining cultural model, God’s people have served as cultural game-changers, interrupters of the course of history …. in response to the clashes of power, demonstrating the premises for living in the reality of being a society of God’s people.

This model promotes the shared culture yielding God’s Kingdom rule. It is the structure, authority and power by which this reality exists and is nurtured. I once heard the late Peter Wagner comment on his take on the aura of success over history of the Jewish people …. being that they have been and are groomed to think like God.

Interesting observation, with merit. And a challenge to the Church. Stephen Pease’s book “The Golden Age of Jewish Achievement” supports this assertion in his research that unwraps the disproportionate achievement of the Jewish people. Indeed, over the centuries Jews have been at the apex of power …. shaping Western culture as advisors to kings, merchants and an array of political leaders. Indeed, the disproportionate number of Jews in just the last generation receiving awards such as Nobel prizes to the influence Jews have had in shaping the course of Western civilization, gives credence to Dr. Wagner’s premise.

Contrary to the philosophies and religions of the world, what has most distinguished Abraham and Moses’ approach to this reality has been that it was based on knowing and interacting with the Person of God. It was after the awesome demonstration of God’s power in the crossing of the Red Sea that Moses dramatically cried out to the Lord: “If I have found favor in Your sight, please show me Your ways that I might know you.” Ex 33:13

To know God. Up until that point, Moses had only seen the confrontations that demonstrated God’s power. Wisely, Moses knew there was a depth he had only seen the peripheries of. Yet, as vital as it was to know God and His ways, there was something more.

In much the same way that the Lord had interacted with Abraham, God spoke to Moses promising that the consciousness and power of His presence would accompany Moses and the people of Israel as they followed God’s instructions and direction. What this alluded to was the spiritual atmosphere evoked by God being with His people. As Moses wisely observed:
“Is it not in Your going with us, that we are distinct, from every other people on the face of the earth?” Ex 33:16

The Spiritual Atmosphere
So, the “rest of the story” that accompanied Moses’ request to know God in order to abide in His favor was that of God’s accompanying presence. Dramatically, Moses’ request was “If your presence will not go with us, do not bring us up from here.”

It is God’s presence that changes the spiritual atmosphere.

That’s why Paul, in his first epistle to the Corinthians, revealed that it was not the influence of what he had to say that had primary significance, but the demonstration of the Spirit and of power; the result of God’s presence. Because of Jesus being raised from the dead and the subsequent sending of the Holy Spirit, the potential of this dimension, referred to as the anointing, is available to every believer.

The anointing is a term used to describe the manifestation of God’s presence through a believer. Again and again, it has been God’s presence, a consciousness that impacts the spiritual atmosphere that has proved to be the equalizer on behalf of God’s people in the outcome of their conflicts and clashes. A consciousness of His presence recognized by even unbelievers. A consciousness that is multiplied exponentially when believers gather.

The Transition
We’ve entered a time unlike any before in history, yet it is just the transition. The Kingdom reality undergirding this transition is described by the scripture: “The Kingdom suffers violence, but the violent take it by force.” It is about authority. Moving into a dimension of authority heretofore seldom seen in the history of men. It’s about maturity. The type of spiritual maturity that binds us together. A maturity that grasps and embraces the parameters and costs in wielding this authority. A maturity that recognizes that we are never alone.

The authority accompanying God’s presence touches the dark places of the earth to bring Light and Life. It manifests especially during times of overwhelming conflicts. It comes with supernatural manifestations of His reality through those, who like Joseph and Daniel, have been prepared to prevail. It defines times and seasons in which the glimmers have been grasped by ones who have paid terrible costs to have the spiritual eyes to see and wield this authority.

The Great Cloud of Witnesses
Throughout the history of God’s people, such has been those who have been given the ability to see; to capture the glimpses, outside the realm of time, of the extent and development of Kingdom realities.

In the same way that the role of community to penetrate and reflect this realm is enhanced through unity …. the glimpses of this reality are further strengthened through the connections established from across the generations. Glimpses of the violent taking territories by force. Glimpses of the mix of hidden conflicts that evokes the authority that transcends the natural with signs and miracles. Glimpses that unveil the realities of the connections, across the realm of time, that underscore that we are not alone.

Not losing the focus of the centrality of God’s covenant with Israel …. the manifestation of God’s presence through community unity combines with the realm described in Hebrews as that “great cloud of witnesses.” Daniel’s vision in Daniel 12 uniquely captures and unwraps this dynamic …. involving Israel and that great cloud of witnesses ….. the mystery connecting us across the boundaries of time.
“At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. At that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in this book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth  shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky and those who turn many many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end, when many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase.” Dan 12:1-4

This passage in Daniel is pregnant with insights for manifesting Kingdom reality in the season now emerging upon us.

A time of trouble, yet a time of miracles and the manifestation of Kingdom reality. A focus on Israel that taps the revelations received by Daniel, by John the Revelator, by Paul and others.
“For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean, but life from the dead?” Rom 11:15

Manifesting Kingdom Reality
So, entering the realm of thinking-like-God begins with a focus on rightly processing and manifesting Kingdom reality and Truth. Reaching for this level of this dimension requires a mix of wisdom and the Spirit’s power. Understanding that Proverbs describes wisdom as the principal thing. Scripture reveals that wisdom served a major role at the time of creation. It offers a glimpse into the emerging season tied to the vital nature of the anointed dimension of the creative that can be expected as the equalizer in bringing about God’s restoration.
“Then the Lord showed me four craftsmen. And I said ‘What are these coming to do?’ He said, ‘These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one raised his head. And these have come to terrify them, to cast down the horns of the nations who lifted up their horns against the land of Judah to scatter it.’” Zech 1:20-21

The four craftsmen. A divine release of the wisdom and the creative needed to turn the tide. The creative anointing of Joseph and Daniel in the face of dominant worldly power structures and leader-. So it will be, as the restoration begins. So along with “thinking-like God” is Jesus’ strategy of releasing and living within this Kingdom reality, as citizens of this realm, manifesting His presence and thus impacting the spiritual atmosphere with the dimensions and realities and depths of His power.

The Path into Greater Works
Understanding this power and the creative for this season draws deeply from when Jesus began preparing His inner circle for His departure. It was the discourse following Judas leaving to betray Him. Having very directly shared with them that He was in the Father and the Father was in Him …. He explained that with the impact of His departure, that they would come into the amazing realm of doing greater works than Him.

This path into greater works incorporates the investments made by that great cloud of witnesses, which activates the power of wisdom and the creative in manifesting God’s presence and reality. The book of Acts reveals that there are certain parts of the revelations for the unfolding and timing of these dimensions that are reserved for the Father’s discretion alone.

My walk with the Lord began in being exposed to the reality of God. It came during a time of genuine revival as the 1970s were just getting underway. This wasn’t a meeting I attended. I was largely unchurched at the time. But it was the atmosphere around us …. it almost seemed like the presence of the Lord was everywhere. Indeed, it was the consciousness of His presence in the atmosphere.

Everyone I knew was talking about God. I was a combat-seasoned Marine at the time, dedicated and serious about my identity and career in the Marines. Yet, there was something so very pure, something so real and potent about the consciousness of this reality. There then came the encounter …. so real …. that NOTHING else seemed to have any bearing or importance. And so the change took place that began the journey that extends to this stage in my life.

At that beginning stage, I had to pray to ask God about church. We weren’t disappointed. Dick Woodward had a gift of bringing those like us together with traditionalists. However, church was far more than this pastor’s anointed teachings and the activities in this very active congregation. Church began to be wherever you might meet with other believers. Getting together to pray took place so spontaneously. Miracle answers to these prayer-times were simply commonplace.

Having said all that …. together with having begun a walk consistently dedicated to reaching for more of this dimension of the reality in God, I am convinced we have before us a time unlike any that has transpired in my lifetime. Many speak of revival …. and unfortunately too much of what is being alluded to involves institutionally-directed programs.

Something greater is coming. A consciousness of His presence that transcends time and space …. with a connectedness that extends across the nations, with an awareness knowing that we are not alone. A movement not to fill the pews but the highways and byways of workplaces and neighborhoods. A hunger among people that sends them to us to grab the hem of our garments because they recognize that God is with us.

The Kingdom of God is at hand. This expectation suggests a time of serious preparation and consecration. A time to choose and fully embrace this Kingdom reality. A time to pause, reach and listen so that our thoughts are His thoughts, our priorities are His priorities. A time to proactively seek the spontaneity of small gatherings that are evidenced by His power and presence. A time to embrace our role of manifesting His reality and being game-changers in the course of history.

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Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner of the Joseph-calling and God’s economy message, being an international voice for the higher dimensions of spiritual game-changers and intercessors since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation, the Strategic Intercession Global Network [SIGN] and designer of the God’s Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program and the Jewish Business Secrets YouTube series, Mr. Ruddick’s messages equip leaders and economic community builders with strategy where God’s light is dim in diverse regions around the globe.

He is author of “The Joseph-Daniel Calling;” “Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;” “The Heart of a King;” “Something More;” “Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;” “Leadership by Anointing;” and “Mantle of Fire,” which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders with destinies to impact their communities. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.apple.com/ibooks and www.BarnesandNoble.com.

Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts mobilize economic community builders imparting influence and the blessings of God. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to 3838 South Wabash Street, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card at https://strategic-initiatives.org/donate/

2024 Copyright Morris Ruddick — info@strategic-initiatives.org

Since early 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For more information go to https://strategic-initiatives.org