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There are two competing
kingdoms in this universe. There is the Kingdom of the World, dominated by
Satan, the god of this world, and there is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of the World is visible.
It seems so real and substantial. The Kingdom of God is invisible. To many it seems
unreal and insubstantial. Each one has its own values, goals, loves, interests,
and priorities. You are either a part of The Kingdom of the World, or a part
of the Kingdom of God. Whichever one you are part of
will determine your destiny.
The
Kingdom of the World tells us: You are the
most important being that exists. The universe
exists to serve you. You are more important than
anyone or anything else. Put yourself first. If
there is a god or gods, he or they exist to serve
you and make you happy. So, make sure to put yourself,
your interests and your will, first. You are in
charge. Do things your way.
The
Kingdom of God says: Messiah Yeshua has come
down from Heaven, and testified to its reality.
Then He ascended back to Heaven. If you have been
raised up with Messiah, keep seeking the things
above, where Messiah is, seated at the right hand
of God. Set your mind on the things above, not
on the things that are on Earth. Don't give in
to sensuality. There are many legitimate pleasures,
but don't be a seeker of pleasure. Don't make
pleasure your priority. Consider the parts of
your earthly body to be dead to immorality, impurity,
passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts
to idolatry. Don't put any of these things before
God. Live modestly, love soberly. Live for God,
and to accomplish His purposes. Make sure you
are doing the things He wants you to do, like
being part of Messiah's Holy Community, helping
to build it up and strengthen it, reaching out
to the lost with the Good News of salvation provided
by God and Messiah. Seek to fulfill what God has
for you. Set your mind on things above.
The
Kingdom of the World tells us: Have sex with
whoever you want to have sex with, whenever you
want to have sex.
The
Kingdom of God says: Sex is good, but it is
exclusively reserved for a marriage relationship
between a man and a woman. Sex outside of marriage
is wrong. There are many serious and bad consequences
that will result from the misuse of our sexuality.
The marriage bed must not be defiled.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: If you have desires, grab as much as you can, and get it now.
The
Kingdom of God says: Learn how to postpone
your desire for immediate gratification. Become
mature men and women. One of the results of God's
Spirit living in you is self-control, so practice
self-control. Learn patience.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: Make as much money as you can. Get rich, since wealth equals a good
and happy and successful life.
The
Kingdom of God says: Learn how to be content
with what you have. If you have your basic necessities
met, you are doing well. Be grateful. In fact,
do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth,
where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves
break in and steal, and stock markets plunge,
and currencies are devalued, and housing markets
deflate. But store up for yourselves treasures
in Heaven, where the true wealth is, where neither
moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not
break in or steal; for where your treasure is,
there your heart will be also. You can't serve
God and money, and it makes so much more sense
to serve God, and not money, for we bring no material
possessions into this world, and we can leave
with none. Why strive for a life that is based
on the acquisition of more and more material possessions?
However, there are some things that we can take
with us, and therefore those are the things worth
pursuing. Salvation; your good name; your good
works which will be rewarded by God; your sacrifices
for others that will be rewarded by the Creator,
your service for Him; your love and knowledge
of God. So, if that is what you can take with
you, it only makes sense that that is what you
direct your time, your energies, your mind, your
thoughts, your efforts, your education, and your
resources towards.
The
Kingdom of the World tells us: Life is uncertain,
so you must be very concerned about having enough
things.
The
Kingdom of God says: Do not be worried about
your life, as to what you will eat or what you
will drink; nor for your body, as to what you
will put on. Is not life more than food, and the
body more than clothing? And who of you by being
worried can add a single hour to his life? You
of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, "What
will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What
will we wear for clothing?" For the Gentiles who
don't know the Lord eagerly seek all these things;
for your heavenly Father knows that you need all
these things. Instead, seek first His kingdom
and His righteousness, and all these things will
be added to you." God loves you and knows your
needs. He has made it possible for your needs
to be met by your ability to work, or by the generosity
of others. Trust God to provide for your needs.
Focus your attention, your thoughts, your time,
your energies into serving God, extending His
Kingdom, reaching the lost with the Good New about
salvation, building yourself up in your most holy
Faith, finding your part in His Community, building
up His Community. Don't be concerned about having
enough things. God will provide.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us:< Play it safe. Don't stand out. Don't make waves. Don't rock the
boat. Don't go against the crowd. Go with the majority. The majority is always
right. Go with the majority. It's important to be accepted. Make sure that
you receive the approval of men. It's OK to be religious, but keep your religion
to yourself. Don't offend anyone by telling them that they need to believe
in God and Messiah Yeshua, and live a godly life. Keep quiet so you can live
a safe and comfortable life.
The
Kingdom of God says:The world is utterly lost,
and its people dead in trespasses and sins, under
the domination of a Satanic Tyrant. The majority
is wrong about ultimate truth. Don't go along
with the majority. They need to hear the message
of salvation made possible by God and Messiah.
How can they hear unless you go and tell them
the message of salvation? God is not going to
come down from Heaven, and preach the Good News.
We are His ambassadors. We are His representatives.
We are a royal priesthood. We must tell them the
Good News of salvation through the Messiah! We
must work with God, and fulfill the Great Commission.
Don't fear those who can kill the body, but are
unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who
is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell!
Get yourself up on a high mountain, in a place
of visibility and prominence, and declare the
Good News! What Messiah tell us in the darkness,
we must speak in the light; what we hear whispered
in our ear, we are to shout from our rooftops.
Don't worry what people say about you. In fact,
you are blessed if you have been persecuted for
the sake of righteousness, for yours is the kingdom
of Heaven! You are blessed when people insult
you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds
of evil against you are identified with God, and
Messiah, and salvation, and speak out for Him,
and live for Him. Rejoice and be glad, for your
reward in Heaven is great; for in the same way
they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
When it comes to genuine religion, "enter through
the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the
way is broad that leads to destruction, and there
are many who enter through it. For the gate is
small and the way is narrow that leads to life,
and there are few who find it." It doesn't matter
what the world thinks of you. What is important
is that you gain God's approval.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: A little religion may be OK, but don't take it too seriously. Give
a little acknowledgment to religion - on holidays and perhaps a few other
occasions during the year, but certainly not 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If you do that you will be a religious fanatic! What a waste your life will
be if you overdo religion.
The
Kingdom of God says: Meditate in the Word
of God day and night. Be filled with the Spirit
continually. Pray without ceasing. Share the Good
News day by day - in season and out of season,
whether you feel like it or not. Become intimately
connected to Messiah's Holy Community. Be an active
member of Messiah's Body, whose Head is the Son
of God.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: Love yourself first, and of course your family. Spare a little love for your
nation too. You don't need to love those who are outside of your family and
people. Hate your enemy. Do unto others before they do unto you.
The
Kingdom of God says: Love God first, even
more than your life in this world. Messiah said,
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny
himself, and take up his cross, and heads toward
suffering and death, and follow Me. The one who
does not take his cross and follow after Me, is
not worthy of Me. Whoever wishes to save his life
will lose it; but whoever loses his life, and
gives up his own interests, plans, priorities
and desires, for My sake, will find life - everlasting
life. For what will it profit a man if he gains
the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what
will a man give in exchange for his soul? The
one who loves father or mother, son or daughter,
more than Me, is not worthy of Me." Yes, love
your family, and love your people and nation,
but your love should not stop there. Love your
neighbor, and the whole world is your neighbor,
even those who are different from you, even those
who don't share your Faith, as the parable of
the Good Samaritan teaches us. Love your enemy,
by trying to do what is good and best for him.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto
you.
The
Kingdom of the World tells us: You are happy
if you are self-assured, confident in your abilities,
in control of your circumstances. You can do it!
The
Kingdom of God says: Blessed are the poor
in spirit. You will be happy when you understand
that you are not that impressive to an infinitely
holy, perfectly righteous, all-good God. Apart
from what we do with God, for God, connected to
God, all that we do will be vain, useless, meaningless,
empty, without eternal significance. Apart from
Him we can accomplish nothing significant, nothing
lasting, nothing rewarding. Only those things
wrought in God, accomplished with God and for
God will last. You are not in control - He is.
But you can trust Him, and His grace, and His
love and His goodness and His faithfulness, and
His mercy.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: It's very important that you be happy, so always do those things
that will enhance your own personal happiness. Avoid sad situations, people
with problems, visiting people in the hospitals, and funerals. Try to have
as much fun as you possibly can.
The
Kingdom of God says: Blessed are those who
mourn, for they shall be comforted. There is so
much wrong with this world. It's proper, it's
right, it's appropriate, it's good to be sad about
the lostness of human beings, so many going to
Hell, missing God, missing out on true life, so
many ignoring God and His ways, and not living
for His glory, and not honoring Him. Life in this
fallen sinful, temporary world is not about having
fun and being happy all the time. It's better
to go to a funeral than to a party, since it reminds
you of the temporariness of life, and that life
is serious. There is so much important work for
us to do, and time is so limited. Use your time
wisely, redemptively. The focus of our life is
about redemption. It's about salvation. It's about
sacrifice. It's doesn't center around having fun.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: Be tough. Be aggressive. Make sure that you are first. Then you
will be successful.
The
Kingdom of God says: Blessed are the gentle,
for they shall inherit the Earth. Be kind to people,
especially to those in need, to the hurting, to
the disadvantaged. Put other's interests ahead
of your own. You don't always need to win, come
in first, make the most money, have the best position,
the most fame.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: Seek power, fame, influence, money, recognition. That's the way
to a happy and meaningful life.
The
Kingdom of God says: Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they
shall be satisfied. Get in a right relationship
to God, and do the right things. That will bring
you true happiness.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: It's OK if you cut moral and ethical corners, as long as you are
not caught, and no one sees. Everyone lies, everyone cheats a little. It's
no big deal.
The
Kingdom of God says: Blessed are the pure
in heart, for they shall see God. The invisible
and all-knowing God sees your innermost being,
and your motives, and your inner purity or lack
of purity. So be pure in your heart. Be true in
your innermost being. Have good and godly motives,
serving God in your heart of hearts. Don't be
a liar, because all liars will end in the Lake
of Fire.
The Kingdom of the World
tells us: If someone slaps you on the check, punch him in the face. Never
apologize. The world is a jungle. Only the fittest will survive. Don't be
afraid to use force. The army with the best weapons usually wins. Destroy
your enemy.
The
Kingdom of God says: Blessed are the merciful.
Blessed are the peacemakers. Don't be quick to
retaliate, to punish others for the sins against
you. Be quick to forgive. Have God's perspective,
that human beings who may have hurt you are still
made in the image of God, and precious, and try
to redeem those messed up human being - not harm
them.
The
Kingdom of the World tells us: There are no
absolutes, no rights and wrongs. It's the journey
that is important, not arriving at any destination.
Truth is relative. There is not only one way.
There is no divinely inspired Book. The Bible
is not true. Be tolerant of all opinions, all
religions, all philosophies, all ideas. They are
all equally valid, equally good, equally true
- except for Christianity of course! You are a
bad person if you say that I am wrong. If you
insist that I am wrong, then I don't have to practice
tolerance, and I can persecute you!
The
Kingdom of God says: There are absolutes.
There are things that are wrong, and things that
are right, and the Creator has the right to tell
us, "Thou shalt not!" The Lord is the God of truth.
Yeshua is the Truth! God's Word is truth. There
is only one way to God and eternal life. The Holy
Scriptures are divinely inspired. God's Spirit
moved and breathed on Holy Men, who wrote down
exactly what He want communicated.
The
Kingdom of the World tells us: Don't believe
the miracles of the Bible, that there is an infinitely
wise and powerful Creator who made the laws of
nature, but who can suspend them for a special
circumstance. Instead, seek the miraculous through
the occult and New Age spirituality.
The
Kingdom of God says: The Creator made the
universe, the Earth, and everything in it, the
moon, the sun, the billions of galaxies and multiplies
trillions of stars. Is anything too difficult
for Him? What is the parting of the Red Sea to
Him? Messiah's Virgin Birth? His resurrection,
and His Second Coming in power and glory? All
the miracles described in the Bible are simple
to the Creator. Don't get involved in false and
demonic miracles, false prophets, or the occult.
That's wrong, dangerous, an abomination to God,
and a dead end.
Conclusion:
My friends, the Kingdom of the World
has its own priorities, its own interests, its
own values, and its own philosophy. It seems so
real, so enduring but it will not last. It is
temporary. It is doomed. It will be totally destroyed.
The Kingdom of the World will become the Kingdom
of Our God, and His Messiah! And He will reign
forever and ever! All those who remain part of
the Kingdom of the World, by merely doing nothing,
by refusing to transfer their allegiance, their
citizenship, to the Kingdom of God, by refusing
to turn away from the world's corrupt values,
and remaining under the power of the god of this
world, will share the destiny of The Kingdom of
the World. And that's tragic, and very sad, and
that's what the majority are going to do.
Our challenge
is to be in the world, but not of the world -
sharing its corrupt values, priorities and interests.
Our challenge is to enter the Kingdom of God,
which may be invisible to us right now, and may
not seem quite real, but it is real. It is eternal.
It is good. It is blessed. All those who are in
the world, but not of the world, who have drawn
near to God and Yeshua, and who share God's values,
God's priorities, God's interests, will be delivered
from the destruction of The Kingdom of the World,
and participate in the Kingdom of God and the
World-to-Come. They will live forever and ever,
receiving the true reaches, experiencing genuine
success and everlasting happiness.
Which
Kingdom are you in? Which Kingdom do your values,
interests and priorities reflect? Which Kingdom
do you want to be part of?
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