INTRODUCTION
Two thousand years ago there was a major turning point in history. The birth of Jesus literally split history right down the middle! Even the secular world presently still measures time from His birth, although some in our culture would like to see that removed. But there is no disputing the fact that no other person in all of recorded history has ever been given this same honor!

There have been other turning points of history since Jesus walked the earth, but no one has ever had the impact that His life and ministry had on this world. He and his band of ‘rough-neck’’ radicals turned the world upside down!

SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM
In Matthew chapter 10, Jesus commissions His twelve disciples, sending them out two by two to announce that "the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Today, our contemporized sense of the phrase 'at hand' would be 'near,' or 'close,' however, a more accurate meaning of 'at hand' would be a taste or a glimpse of what is to come.

He came the first time to announce that there was a Kingdom coming that was not of this world and to prepare us for a greater dimension of fullness sometime in the future.

In the same context, Jesus then defines this glimpse of the 'Kingdom' as a demonstration of supernatural power by instructing His disciples to "...heal the sick, raise the dead to life, heal people who have leprosy, and force out demons." Just as a billboard may give you a hint of what is up ahead on the highway; a restaurant or gas stop, these would be the ‘signs’ to point the way to a greater kingdom yet to come.

FUTURE CONSUMMATION
If you can accept that there is a futuristic component to the Book of Revelation, it declares in chapter 21:3-4, "...God’s home is now with His people. He will live with them, and they will be His own. Yes, God will make His home among His people. He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever." This is the future consummation of the new heavens and the new earth coming together as one kingdom where God dwells with His people forever more.

The similarity between Jesus' instructions to His disciples and the final result of Revelation 21 is obvious. In both cases the Kingdom of Heaven meets the earth and is defined as a place devoid of all human suffering and death. The end result is immeasurably greater than the 'glimpse,' however; Jesus did want to give us a first look 2,000 years ago.

NEW TIME, NEW PARADIGM!
Today, we stand on the brink of a new paradigm shift. There is a fresh move of His Spirit with an emphasis on supernatural healing, raising the dead and deliverance from evil influences, which is rapidly spreading throughout many parts of the western world. There has never been a shortage of miracles in third world countries where there are not the luxury of medical options that the West offers. In many of those nations the only option they have is the God option! The difference is desperation!

In recent times, the Holy Spirit has been turning up the heat of desperation, hunger and passion for God’s presence and miracle working power in the West and we are beginning to see the same level of signs and wonders as we used to only see in the Third World.

Nothing stifles the supernatural like rampant materialism! However, this fresh wave of spiritual heat is leading to outpourings of His power and a manifest demonstration of the Kingdom.

As it was in Jesus' day, some have enthusiastically embraced it, others ardently opposed it, some have been cautious and others have just had questions.

Q AND A

In Matthew 11:11, Jesus says, “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." Earlier on in the same chapter, John had sent two of his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are You the Coming One or do we look for another…?” (Matthew 11:3).

If it was good enough for the ‘greatest’ in the Old Testament to have a question about Jesus, even after God had confirmed to him by special revelation who Jesus was at the River Jordan, then it should be good enough for us. Even Jesus had questions concerning His purpose and destiny in the Garden of Gethsemane and He on the cross He cried out “Why…?”

There’s nothing wrong with genuine questions but uninformed or judgmental responses, which are seldom ever productive, have always been associated with moves of God throughout history. Even more sad, the tendency in any move of God is that it has been opposed by the leaders of the previous move of God. This present outpouring has demonstrated some breaking of this pattern with a confluence of leaders involved from the renewal at Toronto, the Brownsville Revival along with the apostolic and prophetic movements.

On June 23rd, the Apostolic Alignment Service that I was a part of at the Florida Outpouring, along with Peter Wagner, Che Ahn, Bill Johnson, John Arnott is just one example of how the different generations of revival are presently working together.

Either way, whether we agree with what is happening or not, and even if we are indifferent, there is an undeniable shift in the making right now! Could it be that we are on the brink of another turning point of history?

THE CLOUD IS MOVING
Although the prophesy of Isaiah 60:2 ("The earth and its people are covered with darkness, but the glory of the Lord is shining upon you."), primarily refers to Jerusalem, would it be too much to think that it could have an application for this season? There has been a descent into economic and social darkness recently, with even Christians feeling its effects but we don’t’ need to give in to this negativity!

Jeremiah 17:5-8 says, "I, the Lord, have put a curse on those who turn from me and trust in human strength. They will dry up like a bush in salty desert soil, where nothing can grow. But I will bless those who trust me. They will be like trees growing beside a stream - trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves that are always green. They bear fruit every year and are never worried by a lack of rain." Bad times for the world mean good times for the Kingdom of Heaven!

If we are on the brink of another turning point, then just like the time when God's chosen people were poised to cross the River Jordan, they had a choice; they could either stay on the wilderness side, or cross over into a new promised land! Those that stayed behind never inherited the full blessing of God, so let’s move on in the things of God for this season.

Those who keep moving with the cloud of God's advancing Kingdom agenda will never be left behind or become redundant in His plan to see Heaven and Earth united as one. #