KINGDOM BUILDERS
And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly. And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.(Acts 5:12-14 NKJ)
After the incident with Ananias and Sapphira, people were certainly impressed with what God could do, but not many wanted to join the group where it happened! In fact the Word says that none of the rest dared join. Even with great signs and wonders being done by the apostles, they felt it would be a little too risky to join them. The important thing then and now, is that multitudes were being added to the Lord. God did not call anyone to build a kingdom for themselves, He called us all to build THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
When Peter and the guys were going out, they went teaching and preaching Jesus as Christ, convincing fellow Jews as well as gentiles that He was the messiah, the one they had been looking for to the Jews, and the one the Jews had been talking about to the gentiles. These people understood that if Jesus was the Messiah, and He was, that He was Lord and the answer to all there hopes, dreams, and problems.
Now days, we must convince them that He is Lord. The best way to do that is to live like He is our Lord. A great number of people believe, or recognize Jesus as the Son of God, but do not know Him as Lord of their lives, nor do they understand the need to make Him Lord of their lives. More people today are looking to be a king, than are looking for the King of Kings. People are being told that they are god now, and all they need is to move into their own kingdom of potential. They call on psychics, and rocks, and most anything, all because they do not understand that they are looking for the real thing! JESUS is the real thing!! When they are one with Him, then they have potential.
This is why it is so important that Born Again believers in Jesus Christ be builders of the Kingdom of God. If the world sees us just trying to build our own kingdom(our own group or little pet set of beliefs), then what makes us any different. If on the other hand, the world sees us going about doing good for the sake of the Kingdom of God, rejoicing to see people come to the Lord regardless of which group they may be in or may join(as long as the group has Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and Jesus is Lord, of course) that will be a different story. Jesus said that they would know we are Christians by our love. We are to encourage one another in THE FAITH. This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Not our group!
If we are faithful to sow the seeds and trust God to direct storage of the harvest we will be true builders of the kingdom of God. Too many people have focused on the harvest that Jesus spoke of as being their harvest and forgotten that it is His harvest. I have seen people try so hard to get someone into their storage, that they ended up dropping them on the ground or having them rot in the bin. This is not what the Lord intended. God is pouring out His Spirit, and we are going to come to understand that this harvest is His, and that all that matters is what He wants. Seek first the Kingdom of God!!! Build what will last forever.