Kingdom Influence Introduction
At Keys Vineyard Church, we are presenting a series called ‘Kingdom Influence,’ which we post here on Online Bible Institute.
As we finished our Kingdom Consummated series back in November, we talked about how the story does not end with new creation. Instead, it launches us into our mission right now. The God who is making all things new has invited us to partner with Him today. Our calling is not passive. It is active, intentional, and world-changing. Our mission is to bring God’s rescuing glory into every corner of creation that He is restoring. We are partnering with Him to change the world. Jesus defines that mission with clarity in the Great Commission.
Matthew 28:19-20a (NIV)
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…
That is what Jesus invites us into, and that is what He asks us to invite others into as well. Every person we encounter and every moment we share is a chance for heaven to touch earth, an opportunity for the Kingdom of God to break through. This is the heartbeat of the series we are beginning together: Kingdom Influence.
We want to start by discussing something shaping our culture more than almost anything else right now. Influencers. They are everywhere. Some have millions of followers, and some are famous for doing almost nothing. Some are experts. Some are entertainers. Some just post videos of their pets. But the idea behind an influencer is simple. They shape how people think, act, and live, largely by simply being who they are in front of others. Influence is powerful. Influence is valuable. Influence is happening all the time.
Many people today work hard to build an identity so they can gain influence. They brand, style, curate, and promote themselves. But the Kingdom of God works in a completely different direction. Influence does not begin with what you build. Influence begins with who you already are in Christ. Before you can influence anyone for Jesus, before your life can bear lasting fruit, you must know who you are. Identity comes before impact. Character comes before calling. Formation comes before influence.
This is why the most important question we can ask at the start of this series is this. Do you know who you are in Christ? Because if you do not know, the enemy will gladly tell you who you are not. Just as identity theft in our world can steal your finances or your peace, spiritual identity theft can steal something far more valuable, the abundant life Jesus came to give you.
So as we begin Kingdom Influence, we start with this foundational truth.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
This is who you are, even though we do not always feel that way. We live in the Kingdom tension of now and not yet. In the coming weeks, Jesus will show us, through the Beatitudes, what Kingdom identity looks like.
This weekend at Keys Vineyard Church, we will discuss all this and more, so be sure to join us in person or online.
Steve Lawes is a pastor at Keys Vineyard Church and also the founder of the Online Bible Institute Network.
