Devotional - 99-09-18 - Thy Kingdom Come, The World's Only Hope

I don't know about you, but reading about the teenagers, shot, killed and injured in Texas, just made me long even more for Jesus' return...

The dispensations of time are ordained of God for the purpose of revealing the magnitude of mans failure apart from Him. The unregenerate person argues that man is a total package, lacking nothing, but the Word of God insists that he is a dependent creature; disassociated from God he is a miserable failure. One thing man resents above all else; having to acknowledge his absolute need of the God who put him here. The dispensations of human history have demonstrated what man can do or cannot do.

"Thy kingdom come" has been the model for believers prayers for over nineteen hundred years. So far we have seen only a world in chaos. Rebellion and wickedness are at the highest level since the days of the flood. The attitude of the people of this world fits perfectly the Lord Jesus' parabolical description of himself as a "nobleman" who went to a far country to receive a kingdom and returned (Luke 19:12). In his baseness the servants were to carry out their assigned tasks.The rest of the subjects expressed this attitude toward the nobleman: " We will not have this man to reign over us!" So the world today overwhelmingly boasts, " we will not have this man Jesus Christ-to rule over us!"

Psalm 2 predicts the worlds final attempt to remove God's yoke, an international voice of protest and opposition under Antichrists leadership. They agree unanimously, "we will not accept the Kingdom of God on earth. We can solve our own problems by instituting a one world government independent of God." The Lord Jesus has already told us what the results will be: "There shall be upon the earth...distress of nations with perplexity" (Luke 21:25) Is this not the present state of affairs? "Perplexity" [Greek aporia] literally means in a straight with no way out." Leaders of nations vow "we will make things better." Delegates gather together to out-lie each other. Most often they return to their respective countries only to ignore their treaties and agreements. But there had to be a show...no one wants the finger pointing at them.

Our only hope, whether as individuals or as nations is to repent and say to God, " we have tried and failed and we need the Savior."

Let's consider the Lords model prayer: " After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come..." (Matt. 6:9,10). This is the churches prayer, but producing the kingdom is not her responsibility. Here is where some major denominations fail to rightly divide the Word of Truth. In trying to build the kingdom they have wrought havoc instead.

To Pontiffs Pilate's question, " Art thou the King of the Jews?" (John 18:33) Jesus replied "My kingdom is not of this world" (vs 36). Because of this statement many a millennialists have concluded that there will be no literal kingdom. The problem evolves around the preposition Jesus used. Note: he said "My kingdom is not OF this world," meaning it did not originate down here. This is not to say that it will not ultimately be manifested on earth. Those who understand this do not involve themselves in kingdom building, but rather become engaged in the greatest of all activities, soul winning.

What did Jesus mean "My kingdom is not of this world"? The answer is found in Daniel 2. In a dream God gave to Nebuchadnezzar he saw a series of visions showing Gentile supremacy under four major world empires. In the final stage there is to be a ten kingdom federation ruled by Antichrist, "the man of sin." God said a "stone" cut out of a mountain "without hands (not touched by human hands)" is to smite the feet of the image, resulting in it's collapse and pulverization. Then the wind comes and the dust disappears-thus will vanish all the empires o the Gentiles.

The interpretation is in vs. 44 "In the days of these kings [the ten kings satellites of the Antichrist] shall the God of heaven [note-it is the God of heaven not Christ's church who is to] set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people..." No more succession of rulers; the Son of God occupying that throne shall reign forever in the power of resurrection life, never again to be touched by death. To Be continued

In His Service
Rick and Sandy

liv4yeshua@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org