Pilate answered [Jesus], Am I a Jew? your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you unto me: what have you done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here. Pilate therefore said unto him, Are you a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth hears my voice.
(Joh 18:35-37 KJ2000)
Pilate asked Jesus what He had done to be delivered to be delivered by the Jewish authority for execution. Jesus answered him succinctly, “My kingdom is not of this world.”
If we are of this world (kosmos – world system) we will support the governments of men on one side or the other, putting our hopes in them and not the Prince of Peace. We will stand and fight and the world will love us. Our actions will always lead to murder and war (see James 4:1-6). The “peace movement” of the sixties turned violent very quickly because they were ignorant of this fact. Satan had them in his hand in a heartbeat.
Jesus was killed by the religious and governmental systems of men because he was NOT of this world so were Stephen and the rest of the early church martyrs. It was not until Christianity became a religious system under Emperor Constantine’s control that it became murderous. “God and country” whether it is Allah and country under sheriah law or the American version “Moral Majority” is still the same murderous delusion. When religion gets punitive power it becomes bloody every time, even killing the Christ and His messengers who come to save them from themselves.
Much of Christianity today appeals to the Old Covenant to justify governmental power and even murder. They use it to justify hatred for minorities, homosexuals and other religions of the world, but Jesus brought an end to that covenant and filled up the just requirements of its law as He died on the cross as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. We are not under that covenant, but rather one that is NEW in every way with Christ, the Prince of Peace, as our only Head. If we had known what this means, “I shall have mercy, not sacrifice,” we would have not condemned the guiltless. Jesus came to tear down the wall of separation between all men, not establish a new one. His mercy triumphs over judgement and HIS kingdom will triumph over the fallen kingdoms of men.
Choices are being made in this hour as to who is our King and in which kingdom we will be found taking our stand. Guns stores are being emptied of weapons and ammunition here in America. There will be another bloody revolution as King Obama or is ilk continues to strip away our civil rights with increasing centralized governmental power. To many Christians in America this is a severe test. May we who belong to Jesus all be found standing with the Prince of Peace in the days ahead no matter the cost.
A Wilderness Voice 
Dear Michael
I had to smile when I read your mentioning the “moral majority”, I had to smile. Yes, my friend, what a deceptive enemy the idol of morality can be.
I have just started a series of posts to unmask this deceptive lie that so easily ensnares us. If you think of it, anything that just slighty reeks of us determining good and evil, makes us the judge of our Pappa for He alone is good. From Him alone, and Him alone, can any goodness flows! Morality is Satan’s deception to lure us away from this truth, for no one can ever be good if it is not derived from Pappa!
I was thinking of you today when we had an extremely HOT, HUMID day here in South Africa. I don’t think you would have appreciated this wheather!!
Love to you and your dear wife
Mia
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Yes, Mia, Like Jesus said, “None are good but our Father which is in heaven.” To man, “good” is always relative. “I am good. I have never killed anyone,” they say. Well, to that Jesus said, “If you have hated a man you are guilty of murder.” The absolute goodness of God was demonstrated in His Son and He is what we will be judged by. This is why our only chance of salvation is to abide in Christ and let the cross do its work on the old Adam within. “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.”
You are right, I know I can’t handle your kind of heat down there. I was in the same kind of heat in July in Wichta, Kansas and about died.
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I like this last line..it sums it all up. “May we who belong to Jesus all be found standing with the Prince of Peace in the days ahead no matter the cost.”
“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”
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Well done Michael! Sometimes believers can get so caught up in what they are against, that you can’t tell who they’re for. Remember the Maccabees and Masada when those Jews revolted against the governments that God had allowed to overpower them. They were fighting, but not according to the will of the Lord. Tragic endings for sure.
What IS tragic today, is how so many so-called believers relate to this world more than they do to Christ and His Kingdom. Our spiritual ancestors and heroes saw BEYOND this realm and set their sights on a Kingdom not made with human hands. They considered themselves to be strangers and sojourners on this planet.
There is a severe lack of vision amongst the “church” today. Many are not prepared for what is to come.The fire of trials that are meant to season us and make us ready for our new bodies, are looked upon with disdain. The itching ears of the self absorbed only want to hear what appeals to their greedy nature.
May it not be so for those who know the truth and see the magnificent purposes of our Father. May we fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finsher of our most holy faith. The Kindom of God is at hand!!
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Yes, Mike, it is coming down just like Paul said it would,
“But let every man take heed how he builds thereupon. For no other foundation can a man lay than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall test every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1Co 3:10-15 KJ2000)
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… and with the lead-in scripture comes the question:
What kingdom I’m living in? Do I live, feel, work and think after the Kingdom of God… or id this world my focus and my thoughts… and PRAYERS… are filled with worrying about the things I see enfolding around me visible for my natural eyes?
What motivates me… my action… yes, I’m especially emphasizing the so called “good” or “righteous” drives we have? When we fast and pray for “lost” ones, our governments to make decisions after our understanding? Or when we are self-sacrificingly giving ourselves into some activities we regard as “holy” just they so suite our limited understanding right now?
Mike Messer mentioned the Masada resistance… and did very right to do so. His kingdom isn’t coming after our imagination… and if you believe it or not: The ones most praying for spiritual awakening… are in most cases the ones resisting it most to come true!
I read a book and it was about a study how God gave revival in the past… and what ended it. This man was using all his cleverness to go in every aspect and to find out how we should act so revival would last. He put much effort in writing… but was completely off track.
God gives… and He takes! A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. John 3:27
Jesus said: “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above.” (Jo. 19:11)
Did He fear for His life? Did He fear for His kingdom to be ruined by seeing all how He was crucified?
No, He wasn’t! He wasn’t impressed by what He saw developing here on earth… He lived in another dimension! In that dimension a death meant to be the erection of an eternal kingdom putting all worldly kingdoms to dust one day soon.
And we? What have we learned from our Master? How do we think about all that is enfolding around us? Are we impressed? Do we fervently pray God to stop all this we see enfolding before our eyes? Do we pray: YOUR kingdom come?
When God was giving power to mere men to capture and crucify Jesus… do you believe He can do so with all we see enfolding in the political arena of this world today?
Do you believe this God who’s watching every hair of yours… is the one who allows “evil” to have power over you… so His kingdom will be established through you?
The disciple isn’t over his master – where the Master is the disciple is supposed to be too… and He has given us the example we should follow in His footsteps.
So what is moving us? Do we believe in His word… and confess this “faith” with what we say, write and live? Or do we ridicule His word by living double standards?
His kingdom is NOT from this earth and it can only be forwarded if His disciples learn to hear His voice first before starting their action here on earth.
Keep in mind: A defeat here on earth can well be an eternal victory with Him!
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“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2Ti 2:24-26 KJV)
It seems the ALL good and perfect gifts come down from the Father of Lights and the most important one is repentance. What a privilege it is when we bow before Him with contrite hearts. I pray that all our eyes might be opened to see the vastness of His Kingdom and will for our lives.
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I don’t understand how God could want me to sit idly by and watch this government rip my children from me for being a Bible Believing Saint. Does he not want me to protect them from the abusers that may one day come for them? 9 children is a lot of children to endure watching be stripped of their faith by the ungodly – by their lies – by their vain philosophy and who’s to say what else might happen to them at the hands of a wicked government.
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