Finding God’s Kingdom in Your Story

I have always believed God has a plan for His people that is much larger than to merely have them suffer through sin until they’re set free in death. I haven’t always experienced this, but I’ve continued to believe it nonetheless.

For many years, I tried an assortment of Christian practices to help me stop looking at pornography (and the shameful lying that often followed). I had seasons where I did better, and seasons where I failed… hard.

Through it all though, I had two truths firmly rooted in my heart:

There was something wrong with me deep inside, and…
Whatever it was, God could fix it.

I found many things that helped—accountability partners, regular fasting, disciplined bible reading, singing worship songs, going to church—but none of them successfully fixed the problem.

Eventually, I discovered my battle was spiritual in nature, and the strongholds of lust and deception I’d allowed the enemy to erect in my heart could only be broken down by a power greater than my own. I could not do this by my own will. I would need to trust God and submit to whatever He asked of me.

I had struggled with not wanting to submit my sin to God, hoping instead to be like God without His help. I eventually realized that was just my foolish pride. Once I began to submit to the difficult and courageous steps God was asking me to take—becoming honest with my wife, pursuing bible-centered counseling, repenting from the lies I had believed about my sin, accepting some hard words from the godly men I trusted—I began to experience significant breakthroughs.

It was in that period of my life when I came across Mid-Valley Fellowship. This unassuming ministry was bringing people to Jesus for the same kind of healing that I had recently found. Mid-Valley wasn’t like the other ministries I’d encountered in my wanderings: programs that assume you’ll always struggle, only now you can do so “victoriously.” These people were looking for a deeper place of healing and genuine transformation that only the Spirit of God could bring.

Last year’s benefit dinner, for example, was particularly moving. Several people shared deeply personal testimonies about the struggles they’ve had (and continue to have) in seeking God’s design for their lives. All of them were in the process of recognizing their true identities as children of God. This gospel truly was good news.

As I heard their stories, I felt my own heart ring with a genuine connection to God’s kingdom. The work of God that had set me free was at work in these men and women too. It was yet another reminder that God wants to do more than just make us disciplined—He wants to change us and make us whole.

He wants to bring His Kingdom deeper into this world through our connection with Him, transforming our lives and leading us into resounding joy.

When Jesus returns, there will be many stories of redemption and restoration to share. But even today, much of God’s Kingdom is being shared through the testimonies of people who struggle in a dark and corrupt world yet have found the power of the Lord when they needed it most.

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“You are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.”

—1 Peter 2:5—

•••

I am learning to see God’s Church as a people set apart from the world, not just people who go to a specific building on Sunday mornings.

I’m learning what it means that God “does not dwell in temples made by human hands.”

And now, more than ever, I am putting my hope in this transforming message of Jesus. As He travelled the countryside in a backwater Roman colony, He kept repeating the same phrase: “Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”

As I continue to hear more stories of redemption in those who have trusted Christ, I have to say I whole-heartedly agree—the Kingdom of Heaven truly is at hand.

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Luke Zedwick worked for 11 years as a math teacher, church elder, and an occasionally paid minister of the Gospel of Jesus of Nazareth. He’s spent the last few years as a school principal, husband & dad, and Bible teacher in his local church home group.

If you would like to contact Luke, you can reach him here.

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