THE CLASH OF TWO KINGDOMS
THE CLASH OF TWO KINGDOMS
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, September 7, 2014, the year of our Lord
Joe Biden spoke a prophetic word of the times this past week. He declared that we would fight ISIS all the way to the gates of hell.
There is a battle going on in the heavenlies over all the nations of the earth between the kingdom of darkness and the Kingdom of God.
An overcoming church is presently spoiling the kingdom of darkness by means of a life-style of abundant living (Jn. 10:10). “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly.”
We are going to the “gates of hell” to get building material for Jesus! Col 2:15: “Jesus having spoiled principalities and powers, made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Matt. 16:18: “…upon this rock will I build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
What rock: “16:16: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”
Matt. 16:19: “I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
We enter the Kingdom of heaven by birth and not by death.
The Kingdom is presently expressed on the earth through the saints. The Kingdom of God is an everlasting Kingdom. There has never been a time when the Kingdom of God has not been in existence. The Kingdom of God is sovereign ruling over all kingdoms. In each age or dispensation, there is a continual revelation or revealing of the Kingdom of God. The sphere of the Kingdom of God is wherever Jesus of Nazareth is Lord. It is in the Holy Ghost. It is within you and among us. Thus, the Kingdom has come to those areas of our lives wherein Jesus is Lord.
Now that we have received the life of Jesus (Mt. 5: 3-6) and released the life of Jesus (Matt. 5:7-9), we come into conflict and clash with the kingdom of darkness. This must be so, for as peacemakers, we have declared war on anything that disturbs his peace.
Thus the world wide persecution, mocking and killing of Christians---this is the battle of the Kingdom of darkness in the spirit of anti-Christ against the Kingdom of God.
The clash of two kingdoms = spiritual warfare. The instruments in this spiritual warfare are men. Saul will always try to pin the chosen man after God’s heart to the system (wall).
Simply speaking, there are two kingdoms in the universe; the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness.
Kingdom of God: Light, understanding, life, righteousness, peace and joy.
Kingdom of Darkness: Darkness, ignorance, death, unrighteousness, iniquity, lawlessness, turmoil, unrest, anxiety, sorrow, mourning.
Those who know Jesus of Nazareth as Lord have been brought out of the darkness into His marvelous light. We have passed from death into life. We have exchanged our spirits of heaviness for garments of praise. We understand that the night is far spent and the day is at hand.
The Kingdom involves persecution, tribulation and affliction. The half-hearted will not fight the good fight of faith. This walk is for over-comers who are victorious in Jesus.
Persecution is proof that one is under the rule of God. 2 Timothy 3:12: “All that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived... But continue in the things which you have learned and have been assured, knowing of whom you have learned them; that from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Luke 21:12: “…before all these (earthquakes, famines, pestilences , fearful sights, and great signs from heaven) they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. It shall turn to you for a testimony’
The sons of God are going to deliver this creation from the abomination of condemnation. When we learn to take the Word of God and cast down the accuser and persecutor of the brethren, then shall be released from us this great ministry of the kingdom…of the Christ from within…of the prophet, the priest, and the king…producing the righteousness, peace and joy of the King.
Then shall come salvation, strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ!
Here is wisdom. We must understand why we are persecuted ---is it for righteousness sake (Jesus’ sake). That is because of His nature, His Word, His Way and His will.
Not all persecution is for righteousness sake. Some people are persecuted for being:
- Objectionable – controversial
- Foolish and unwise ---novice – naivety.
- Self-righteous – proud look
- Over zealous without knowledge – “shotgun” evangelism without wisdom.
- A nuisance or busybody ---obnoxious ---always butting in.
- A fighter for a cause---issues that have nothing to do with the Kingdom of God; doctrinal issues – Matt. 23:23-24: “blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel”; denominational traditions; prejudices against race, gender, social status, etc.
- One who is “good”, noble, or sacrificial and letting everyone know it.
- God’s “right-hand man” – always doing.
- God’s “savior; healer” ---saving and healing everybody
- God’s “Solomon” – wise; always has an answer, and the right answer on top of that.
- God’s “spokesman” – everybody has to hear what He says; “my” message or “my” sermon. These people will persecute other ministers who receive messages from the Lord.
- God’s “sacrifice”
- God’s judge – a critical spirit who presumes to straighten everybody else out and presumes to be the standard bearer.
- Ministers who exaggerate their ministry and its results.
The positive side of persecution is because we have the Christ nature in us. John 15: 18-21: “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.”
We are godly and are vessels of His light and life. We have been changed and now possess the nature of the king. This light exposes darkness and darkness hates this exposure.
John 3: 19-21: “This is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, less his deeds should be reproved. He that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
The simplicity of the purpose of the Kingdom is for the Kingdom instrument (church) to take the Kingdom of God to those who are still captives in the Kingdom of darkness.
This is a world-wide battleground and no neutrality. This is the battle before the world at this time. Matt. 12:30-33: “He that Is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathers not with Me scatters abroad….Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.”
The Christ in us is to be released through the spoken word. God is going to have a community of prophets to stand in the earth and proclaim his word. This many-membered voice is going to shake heaven and earth. When the Lord speaks, we can rest in the performance of what He has said.
The sons of God walk the road of most resistance and pressure. If you are like me, I can be reluctant to take that road, but also know it is the road to a greater weight of glory.
We are to spoil the kingdom of darkness. (Mt. 12: 22-30)
God’s way is narrow. There is only one way and one road. John 14:6 “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man comes to the Father, but by Me’.”
These are epochal days. We have been brought into the Kingdom for such a time as this. The world system is in chaos. We are seeing before our eyes, “the distress of nations”. The righteous judgment of the Lord is shaking heaven and earth. Only that which is part of this unshakeable Kingdom cannot and will not be moved. This Kingdom is going to stand! The next world government is the Kingdom of God. Like Noah of old, there will be a people who will inherit the earth…a people who will remain after the days of shaking (Heb. 12:26-29; Matt. 24: 37-41; Rev. 3:2). We shall, like Noah, be left to inherit the earth! The word for “remain” is “perileipo” and means “to leave over or to survive” and points to the remnant of those who are not moved by the shaking of the World systems.
The preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom is to persuade men “concerning Jesus” (the King) as seen in Acts 28:23. it is a message that proclaims Jesus to be Lord.
There is no compromise with another gospel. Paul pronounced a curse on anyone who preaches another Gospel than of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Kingdom is to be taken to the whole earth.
The motive of the Kingdom of God is love. However, as we walk in love, we cannot call evil good or good evil. There is a clear commitment and no compromise with doctrines of coexist which embraces all religions.
Our Gospel is not a gospel of political correctness. The Kingdom takes priority and is the only way by which men can be saved.
++++++++++++++
We invite you if you have not received the baptism of water to come to baptism service this evening. The only requirement is to receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and thus be born again into the Kingdom of God. Everything in the Kingdom must be after the pattern of Jesus, the pattern son.
Jesus experience three foundational steps:
- He was born of the Spirit (Luke 1:35).
- He was baptized in water and
- He was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 3:21-22).
After the sealing of the baptism water, the Lord will begin an inward cleansing and sanctification process as we make the life journey of being filled with the fullness of Jesus Christ.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V.
I entered into the labors of Dr. Kelley Varner, Sermon on the Mount and quoted Vice President Joe Biden. Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of those who I entered into their labors.