“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
Simplistically there are two kingdoms . That of God’s kingdom where Christ reigns in Light and that of the world where Satan has dominion in darkness.
We cry out for revival and for God’s glory to come and to see the darkness dissipate but there is a sense that God’s metaphorical shooting Satan down would firstly take too many of us with him and secondly that we have to be made ready to steward God’s kingdom well.
Some dismantling and some discernment work has to be implemented. We have to become true Christ image bearers and corrected to the God drawn line of the kingdom and only in humility will we be prepared for that responsibility.
We have accidentally drawn our own lines and made our own shapes of being self serving.
Our cry is more for reforming and being ready to rebuild a new thing of God. We have to allow Jesus to confront us with our habits and for us to dismantle what is not constructive for this season.
Many of us have subscribed to serving our own needs and therefore not serving God fully.
His kingdom is not hiding from us but we have to open our eyes and ears to see the life we are building.
To see and distinguish clearly the line between the two kingdoms. Differentiate between them and cut away. Deny ourselves.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
We do not accidentally want to be seeking the wrong thing. We could give ourselves over to nurturing what we thought was the promise only to find it to be an Ishmael.
Ishmael was Abrahams son to Hagar his second wife who for 14 years was thought to be the one but only when Sarah who had appeared to be barren, had Isaac but as she was his first wife it was it clear that he carried the DNA of the promise God made to them.
We empower Satan in nurturing the wrong cause accidentally. It gives him power and authority that is not his.
Scripturally it is clear that as well as Satan having dominion in the world it is also in the government and institutions that are man made and not God made.
As Satan’s temptation of Jesus in the wilderness portrayed.
“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.”
God is challenging our thinking and so that we do not uphold the kingdom of darkness but know where the line lies between the two kingdoms.
It is on our knees He will shock us into revelatory thinking and become brave enough to name it, expose it and act on it.
We cannot coexist with sin and feel comfortable with that any more. We cannot be double minded.
Psalm 2 holds our reassurance in its promise that Christ will restore all that we have lost. We, hidden in Him, will have all restored. At the cross He already redeemed us and now we, as His bride, make ourselves ready to be for His kingdom as in heaven on earth.
“Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
The illustration shows those breaking free of the world and death coming forth into light and pushing back the darkness.
Five Scriptures that come to mind:
“We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”
1 John 5:19 ESV
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”Matthew 6:33 ESV
“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will.”Luke 4:5-6 ESV
“And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear’s, and its mouth was like a lion’s mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority.”Revelation 13:1-2 ESV
“I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”Psalm 2:7-12 ESV
The song Return To You. Gas Street Luke Hellebronth https://youtu.be/lrKjNcAeRyE
Lessisgreater 