The Ripple Effect

Mark 1:14-15 (NIV) “After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

Luke 4:18-19, 21 (NIV) “’The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor…Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’”

Acts 1:8 (NIV) “’But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’”

The kingdom of God is advancing, and there is nothing in this world that can stop it! When Jesus came to earth and began to preach the good news, it was like a stone dropping into the water. The waves of the advancing kingdom of God had begun. As I heard one preacher say, “The kingdom is where Jesus is King.” Although Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, the full extent of his rule in the hearts and minds of people has not reached its completion. His work of the sharing the good news and demonstrating the power of God is the ministry that his followers everywhere have been commissioned to be a part of. Jesus is the epicenter. Just as in the ripple effect the waves circle outward and everything is touched by the advancing waves, likewise the whole world will be touched by the advancing kingdom of God. It is an everlasting kingdom, and it will never end.

In order to be a part of the advancing kingdom, we must be Jesus’ witnesses. Without telling people what the Lord has done for us and is continuing to do in our lives, we end up pushing back against his mission of developing fully devoted followers of Christ. When Jesus said that we would be his witnesses to the ends of the earth, he wasn’t just speaking geographically. Where are the areas in our lives where we are reluctant or downright refuse to shine his light? Where is it difficult for us to be a witness with our words and our actions? These are the areas where we need to stop resisting the ripple effect of the kingdom. It’s time to ride the wave of the Spirit, baby! All of those who are filled with the Spirit are led by the Spirit. This includes our homes, our jobs, our school, our hobbies, etc. In every nook and cranny of our lives Jesus needs to be King. Let’s let him reign!

Jesus, you told us to pray for workers to be sent to the harvest field of your kingdom. Send me as your witness into the places that need the light of your word. May your kingdom come and your will be done through me.