Building the Kingdom of God
Whenever anyone asks what our ministry charges for a conference or for a counseling fee, I tell them the same thing:
“We are a true faith-only Christian ministry. This means that we charge no one anything for anything that we do. We teach people to trust the Lord in all things. It is only right and good that we practice this in our ministry.”
This means that we turn to the Lord and it is He who touches the hearts of those who give and has them send us financial support on a regular (and not so regular) basis. This isn’t an easy way for me to run a ministry. I started working when I was 9 and I have never been without work. I’m still not without work – I’m REALLY busy; I just don’t work an hour and get an hour wage anymore. I most likely never will.
So, people give; and I wanted to take a moment to summarize what we accomplish in our ministry so people will know what this support enables us to do.
We build the Kingdom of God.
I should clarify what I mean when I say that term: “Kingdom of God.”
Early in His ministry Jesus made a proclamation:
“The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
When He said that, He had not yet gone to the Cross and through the grave. We don’t, as many Christians believe, have to physically die to experience the Kingdom of God. Jesus brought in the Kingdom of God and it is here now for us! The Kingdom of God has to do with His power, His life, His freedom….His rule and reign flowing through us now. That’s what He meant when He said that “the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand.”
The lost people around us…and many of the born again….suffer because Jesus does not rule and reign in their lives.
All Christians are called to be ministers:
“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:18-20)
We are called to bring man and God back together – to reclaim the relationship that was lost in the Garden of Eden. This is also to give back to mankind what was squandered there: dominion (a kingdom word.)
So, in the building of HIS Kingdom God releases a vision as to what He wants done to that end. In what I call “Mike McInerney Ministries” this involves pastoral care, counseling, discipleship, travel, meeting in homes and other places, evangelism and teaching. These are not just things that are done; they are literally the work of Kingdom building.
The evangelism I do online and have done in Guyana (South America), then…brings the Kingdom of God into people; they become Christians. The counseling and discipleship that I do in my office and in homes and restaurants and parking lots, then…is building the Kingdom of God in Christians. The teaching I have done in Sierra Leone (West Africa) and do online and in my office and in the Gatherings in our home, restaurants and other homes, then…is propagating the Kingdom of God through Christians.
These three work together to establish and expand the Kingdom of God in the world. They also establish and grow the Body of Christ in the Kingdom because the Kingdom of God is built in people and consists of people who give themselves to Jesus.
You know, despite the fact that prominent men and women in the media are apparently trying to build their own kingdoms on the earth – there really are only TWO kingdoms. All earthly “kingdoms” are really subsets of these two: the kingdom of satan or the Kingdom of God. The Bible refers to the earthly kings who align themselves against God and His Kingdom as “the kings of the earth.”
God addresses this:
“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'’ Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” (Psalm 2:2-12)
I appeal to us all to decide today…EVERY today…..which kingdom will we help build?
One will be destroyed. One will remain forever.
“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” (Psalm 45:6)
I choose to help build the Kingdom that will never end.
“…the saints (Christians) of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.” (Daniel 7:18)
I choose to receive that kingdom and possess it! I believe it is why we live.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)
As a ministry of the Lord we thank the Lord Jesus for all who help us populate the plans God has for us in building His Kingdom.
Pastor Mike McInerney
Mike McInerney Ministries, Inc.
Decatur, Texas
© May 2, 2012 - (First published June 9, 2010)
(For use with permission)