Sunday we thought together about how Jesus not only proclaimed but enacted the Kingdom through His healing of all sorts of ailments, both demonic possession and a common fever! N.T. Wright has said that in these events

“Jesus joined in a struggle against the forces of evil and destruction, forces that, like the dark, cruel sea pouring in on top of frightened and helpless travelers, seemed sometimes to be carrying all before them. Jesus came to be the human bridge across which people could climb to safety. And if, in the process, he himself paid with his own life the price of this saving authority, that was simply part of the integrity of his action. The demons had their final shriek at him as he hung on the cross, challenging and mocking for the last time the validity of his authority. On the cross he completed the healing work he began that day in the synagogue. When the church learns again how to speak and act with the same authority, we will find both the saving power of God unleashed once more and a similar heightened opposition from the forces of darkness.”

And yet, there is a hesitancy for us to recognize – and take part in – this Kingdom work. In fact, if you’ve given financially to a church, you may have noticed your year-end giving record necessarily reads “no goods or services have been received by the donor except intangible religious benefits.”

INTANGIBLE RELIGIOUS BENEFITS!? Somehow that doesn’t exactly jive with the Kingdom Jesus has proclaimed and enacted!

Now, we won’t report it to the IRS, but what are some ways you’ve received tangibly as a result of the Kingdom? Are there ways you’ve given tangibly?