Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. But the Jews had for centuries
expected that a Messiah would come and set up a kingdom which
would have no end. They were right in their expectation
but completely ignorant of the nature and manifestation of that
kingdom. They assumed that the promised kingdom would be one
of flesh and blood which could be viewed by the natural eye.
They assumed that the subjects of that kingdom would be those
who were born by natural birth into the heritage of Abraham.
They assumed that this kingdom would be one which freed them
from all their earthly oppressors. They assumed that the throne
of this kingdom would be set up in the city of Jerusalem,
and would establish the land of Israel as a supreme nation
in the earth. The Lord said that His kingdom
was not one which could be discerned by the natural eye. The Lord
said that His kingdom was not inherited by natural descent,
but by heavenly birth. When the Jews boasted of their
heritage, the Lord said, there shall be weeping and gnashing
of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the
prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
The Lord pointed out the relative insignificance of the troubles
and oppressions which occur in the earth. By implication, he
showed the superiority of the kingdom which he came to establish
over and against one whose main purpose is to deliver its subjects
from earthly subjugation and difficulty. Behold, I give unto
you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the
power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Notwithstanding, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject
unto you, but rather rejoice, because your names are written
in heaven. He that loveth his life shall lose it, and he that
hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
The Lord said his kingdom was neither in Samaria nor Jerusalem
when he spoke to the woman at the well. But the hour cometh,
and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit
and in truth. For the Father seeketh such to
worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship Him must
worship Him in spirit and truth. Yet we see the disciples who
were with the Lord night and day for three years, expecting
that there was yet to be an establishment of a kingdom of flesh and blood.
Though the Lord taught them, they were still dull of hearing,
and it was not His purpose that they should receive a complete
revelation of the nature of His kingdom, until the day of Pentecost,
when He poured out His Spirit upon them and endued them with
power. In fact, this was the very answer
that he gave them when they inquired of the establishment of his kingdom.
But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon
you, and ye shall be witnesses unto me in both in Jerusalem,
and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
the earth. "'The establishment and manifestation
of this kingdom "'was prophesied by the prophet Joel. "'And ye
shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, "'and that I am the
Lord your God and none else, "'and my people shall never be
ashamed. "'And it shall come to pass afterward
"'that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, "'and your sons
and your daughters shall prophesy. "'Your old men shall dream dreams,
"'your young men shall see visions. "'And also upon the servants
and upon the handmaids "'in those days will I pour out my spirit. The kingdom of the Lord Jesus
Christ is a mediatorial kingdom. It is based upon the work of
redemption which he accomplished on Calvary's cross and is manifested
as he is pleased to give his children life and call them from
the byways of this world, giving them gifts which he has purchased
with his own blood. This is no future event which
the subjects of his kingdom long for, but is rather realized and
enjoyed each and every time that the gospel of the glory of the
blessed God is preached by those whom he sends. Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor me his prisoners, but
be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the
power of God, who has saved us and called us with an holy calling,
not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world
began. but is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death
and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
What a glorious kingdom, one which surely has no end. Of the
increase of his government and peace there shall be no end,
and upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom to order
it and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth
even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts
will perform this. All thy works shall praise thee,
O Lord, and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak
of the glory of thy kingdom and talk of thy power, to make known
to the sons of men his mighty acts and the glorious majesty
of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting
kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. If you would like a free transcript
of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.