The Kingdoms of this World at War with the Kingdoms of God

November 9th, 2024

SCRIPTURE: “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 35 For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; 36 and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:32-39

The kingdoms are at war, not just with the people who are opposed to the Christian life and God’s Word, but there are invisible forces fighting in the spiritual realm for the very causes in which they have determined, for the kingdom of this world is under the sway of Satan. Their job is to infiltrate the Kingdom of God with error and lies. It cannot destroy the Kingdom of God, nor can it cancel it out. At best, Satan can try to neutralize and discourage with deception and lies by infiltrating the Kingdom of God. Believers are called to go into the world, Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The Kingdom of God is supposed to be an invasion, invading the kingdom of this world with truth. The kingdom of this world, under the sway of Satan is responding by trying to infiltrate the church. It cannot resist the kingdom of God because the kingdom of God will always prevail. Jesus said it in another way in Matthew 16:18 “on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus is making clear that the kingdom of this world will never defeat the Kingdom of God. But Satan will use the kingdom of this world to deceive and try to destroy and devour those who are unbelievers, but also those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember, the kingdom of this world will never defeat the Kingdom of God.

PRAYER: Oh Lord our God, we know that we see the enemy working his destructive works in the world and in the physical church, but our every confidence is in Your Sovereignty and great power seen in the finished work and victory of Christ on the cross for us (Colossians 2:12-15). In Jesus’ glorious name, amen.
By Pastor Wayne Cockrell