The Coming of the Kingdom of God

In this chapter, we will focus on the theme: This is a conflict between two kingdoms. We often pray, Thy kingdom come, which is a line from the Lord's Prayer, meaning let God's kingdom come upon this earth. In reality, this earth is the kingdom of the devil, where the devil reigns. However, if a small piece of God's kingdom emerges in this realm, how does it come about? It is fought for. The coming of God's kingdom to this world is definitely a battle. Therefore, in the kingdom of the devil, to expand a small piece of land belonging to God, one must fight.

Today, some brothers and sisters are unwilling to be Christians who engage in spiritual warfare. But I think we don't seem to have much choice. We cannot be fence-sitters, one side belonging to God's kingdom, and the other side belonging to the devil's kingdom. There is no such thing. Either you belong to God's kingdom, or you belong to the kingdom of the devil. This conflict between two kingdoms is definitely a fierce battle.

A Christian who engages in spiritual warfare is like an airborne troop, dropped into a place to fight for a piece of land and then establish a small nation. Perhaps the kingdom of God is built up little by little in this way. For example, the process of Jesus coming into the world was indeed very tortuous. The devil Satan knew from the beginning that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, and he tried every possible way to prevent Jesus' birth. Even when Jesus was a carpenter, the devil knew that He was the Son of God, and he wanted to kill Jesus. But by the power of God and with God's protection, Jesus finally became flesh, came into this world, and then went out to preach. This began to carve out a small piece of the kingdom.

Peter's Concept of the Kingdom of God: Preaching and Casting Out Demons

So, how to carve out this small piece of God's kingdom? Preaching and casting out demons are warfare. If you don't cast out demons, how can you possibly build the kingdom of God? I cannot understand how the kingdom of God can be established and the glory of God manifested without casting out demons. One must cast out demons, because this land is controlled by the devil.

We can see that there are many problems in the devil's kingdom. Why do I say this? Because many people, carrying various problems, sought doctors but could not be healed and suffered greatly. Finally, they heard that a Jesus had come, preaching that the kingdom of God is at hand, and we should all repent (Mark 1:15). So people came to Jesus from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, beyond the Jordan, Tyre, and Sidon.

Repentance is actually very simple, simpler than spending money. Spending money on medical treatment is a troublesome thing, but repentance can bring healing. Jesus' reputation has spread far and wide, so people who heard of His fame brought those who were sick, and as a result, Jesus healed them. How were they healed? It was by driving out all the unclean spirits from these people. Then Jesus also said a word: And He sternly warned them not to make Him known (cf. Mark 3:12).

A key characteristic of the coming of God's kingdom is preaching, casting out demons, healing, and deliverance. Because in the kingdom of the devil, there are numerous problems. For example, cancer is a characteristic of the devil's kingdom, as are heart disease, angina, high blood pressure... These are some problems that are very difficult to deal with in this world. I think the devil's kingdom is one of burning, killing, robbing, and plundering, making people live a life worse than death, very hard and difficult.

But in God's kingdom, there are all good things. The coming of God's kingdom represents a meaning far beyond being healed from sickness, because it also implies many good things in God's kingdom. If we were to return to heaven and look at God's kingdom today, you would not find cancer patients there, nor those who are poor, nor those who are troubled, nor those with many problems. Those problems do not exist because there are no such problems in God's kingdom. Why, when we accept Jesus Christ, when we enter into God's kingdom, do we suddenly begin to experience some particularly good things? Not because of what you have done, but because these good things are inherent in the kingdom of God, which is a characteristic of God's kingdom. Therefore, the coming of God's kingdom represents hope. We originally had no hope, but today we have begun to have hope.

Preaching and casting out demons are Peter's concept of the kingdom of God. You will find that Peter's preaching and casting out demons are mentioned in Chapter 2 and again in this chapter. Jesus began to choose twelve disciples, who were actually the later apostles, sending them out to preach and giving them authority to cast out demons. Let's not talk about anything else, just this sentence, word for word. If you have a little literacy, you will know, perhaps at the sixth-grade elementary school level, that preaching is one thing, and giving them authority to cast out demons is another thing. That is to say, when the kingdom of God comes, when we take up the authority of God's kingdom, then we can resist the enemy and cast out demons.

These twelve disciples were the first batch of disciples chosen by Jesus. In fact, He later chose seventy other disciples to preach and cast out demons. Even from the simplest literal meaning, preaching and casting out demons should account for 50 percent, right? Maybe not that accurate, but we should have such a concept. Then should the work of the church also inherit this?

Brothers and sisters, begin to know that the kingdom of God is fought for, and the authority that God has given us is for us to use. God has already given us the authority. For God, overcoming the devil Satan and these things is too simple, but saving us humans from the devil's hands is difficult. Why is it difficult? Because on the one hand, it involves our own choice, that is, whether to choose to believe in the Lord Jesus. Only when we have made this choice can we take up this authority to overcome the devil and overcome these dark forces of Satan.

Let everyone begin to ponder why God does this. Without us, God would still do things, wouldn't He? Actually, our own choice is one aspect, and the other reason is that God wants to work with us. God lets us participate in it not for anything else, but so that we may receive rewards. In fact, there are many things we cannot do, but God gives us authority and ability, and then when we do these things in His name, He helps us to do them so that we can be rewarded. Oh my, what great grace this is! We serve this generation on earth, which we could not do without God, but in the future, when we return to heaven, God will still reward us according to what we have done and what we have done. Where can you find such a good thing? In fact, it is all God who does it, only we do it together with God, but we are rewarded. Isn't God's grace greater than we imagine?

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Ephesians 1:4-6)

Originally, God longed for His people to be glorified together with Him, to let us all enter into His glory, because the glory of God's kingdom is so abundant, so God longs for us to share His grace together. God originally had the authority to overcome Satan, but God must use us to manifest His glory through us.

So, do you want to take on such a mission today? Some people quickly lose such a mission because what they see in their eyes is the world. You must know that this is actually a conflict between two kingdoms. Brothers and sisters, you must not underestimate this matter. Sometimes I sweat for some brothers and sisters. Why? These brothers and sisters once followed me to cast out demons, to heal, and to deliver. I am very worried about what will happen to them after they go out. Of course, they can say: I am not leaving God, I am just leaving the church. There are many reasons for what they say. But the problem is that you and I have cast out a lot of demons. If you no longer engage in spiritual warfare, those demons will not let you off! We must always abide in the kingdom of God, we must always abide in the kingdom of God. If you always abide in the kingdom of God, you must keep and follow the word of God. God's word says that you should preach and cast out demons, because you are His disciples. Therefore, the things of God's kingdom are actually the conflict between two kingdoms.

People Will Think We Are Mad

Today, when we cast out demons, many people will think that we are mad. In fact, not only are we considered mad today, but the Lord Jesus was also considered mad by people back then. This is a strategy of the devil. The devil's schemes are very powerful. He will begin to make the church feel that having power is abnormal. For example, when we pray like this, people who have just come may find it strange—but I thank God that people who come among us do not find it strange when we pray like this—actually, rationally speaking, isn't this madness? But I think the kingdom of God is like this. People in the past would say that Jesus was mad, and it is not strange that people today say that we are mad, not strange at all. We are disciples, so we pay the price of being disciples. People say we are mad, say what we are, give us some labels, but what does it matter? He once put the same label on Jesus, but perhaps for us, this label is too big, we are not worthy of it.

Since we are doing the work of preaching and casting out demons today, then we must please God before God. Jesus did nothing but please God the Father. He saw what God the Father was doing, and He did it; God the Father was casting out demons, and He cast out demons. Today we see what Jesus is doing, and we do what He does. This should not be too difficult.

In the Contest Between Two Kingdoms, It is Imperative to Bind the Devil

Jesus taught us that this is a contest between two kingdoms. You must bind the strong man, bind the devil, and then you can rescue the person from the devil's hand. Why am I pushing everyone to pray for your family and to evangelize your family? Because this is a matter of contention between two kingdoms. Are we to stand by and watch our own family members corrupted in the devil's kingdom while we enjoy all the good things of God in God's kingdom? If you do not fight, if you do not bind the dark forces of Satan, the dark forces of the devil, you will not be able to bring your family into the kingdom of God.

Later, I discovered an interesting phenomenon: many brothers and sisters cannot turn their families around but are instead turned around by their families. It is a pity, a great pity. The devil's schemes are very clever. If one views problems with a worldly, fleshly perspective, one will never see clearly. Because with a worldly, fleshly perspective, you do not see the issue as a contest between two kingdoms. You see your physical father and mother, and blood is thicker than water, right? But Jesus said, That which is born of the Spirit is spirit, and that which is born of the flesh is flesh (John 3:6). Today, I encourage everyone to start binding the strong man, to release our own families from the hand of the devil. Never think that there will be good fruit to eat in the devil's kingdom; do not even think about it. It is impossible to have good fruit. So, whether it is for the sake of accounting to God or out of our love for our families, we must rise up to pray and fight.

Since we are to serve this generation, to be a blessing to all nations on earth, should we not first be a blessing to our own family? Joseph in Genesis first became a blessing to the house of Israel and then became a blessing to many people. Evangelism must begin with our own family. You may not agree with my way of evangelizing, and I will not force you to agree. I will adopt a slightly more intense approach. Indeed, a more intense approach may not be suitable for everyone, and you can choose for yourself. But I still encourage you to choose a more effective approach because time is indeed running out.

When Battling in God's Name, There Will Surely Be Those Who Blaspheme You

In this contest between two kingdoms, when you battle in God's name, taking up God's authority, casting out demons, there will surely be those who blaspheme you. To blaspheme you is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit because you are casting out demons, healing, and serving in God's name. So, I think that behind the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is actually the power of darkness. If a person submits to the power of darkness and does such things, it is difficult to be forgiven; he is basically a pawn of the devil, an accomplice of the devil.

That Which is Born of the Spirit is Spirit, That Which is Born of the Flesh is Flesh

Let us look at this passage; it is very interesting.

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:31-35)

What is Jesus saying? Jesus is talking about a fact: that which is born of the Spirit is spirit, and that which is born of the flesh is flesh. Never think that those born of the flesh are all in the kingdom of God. If we have this fleshly concept, we might say, Well, this is my father, my mother. Can my father and mother be wrong? Be careful. Perhaps they are in the devil's kingdom, and they will want to turn you around, to pull you out of God's kingdom. If you look at this issue from the perspective of blood relations, you will be very conflicted. But Jesus does not see it that way. Jesus does not use a fleshly, blood-related perspective; he looks at who does the will of my Father in heaven. Who is my mother? Those who do the will of my Father in heaven are. Who are my brothers and sisters? Those who do the will of my Father in heaven are. This is a kingdom of God concept.

If with a fleshly concept, that is the physical mother, and loving the mother is beyond reproach because the Bible also teaches us to love our parents, to honor our parents. But if it is a matter of two kingdoms, what do you do? This blood relationship instead becomes a restriction on us. This is what Jesus said: Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me (Matthew 10:37). Do you understand? If you love your parents, love your children, more than you love Jesus, you are not worthy to be Jesus' disciple. No matter what you love more than Jesus, you are not worthy to be the Lord Jesus' disciple. Jesus' disciples are too crucial. Why? Because if your love for Jesus cannot surpass your love for your parents, your parents will certainly create many obstacles on your path of faith, even causing you to leave this path.

Today, I share with everyone again a concept: if you do not turn your family around, your family will turn you around. Because that is a blood relationship, a soul tie in the spirit. You are connected to your parents through soul ties in the spirit. If they suffer, you will also suffer; if they are in hardship, you will also be in hardship. Once the devil restricts them, you will definitely lose your footing. So, do we have any choice? I think I do not have much choice. If you have any better choices, you can tell me. Actually, besides releasing our family from the hand of the devil, we basically do not have many choices.

If we cannot release our family from the hand of the devil, I give you a suggestion, which is what I myself do: I will never allow them to turn my path of faith around. I will absolutely trust in God firmly until I see God's face. We must know clearly that because we love them, this love may become a restriction. If you love them more than you love Jesus, the devil will certainly make them your restriction.

I will give you an analogy: it is like there is a button. The devil knows that as long as he touches this button, you will jump around wildly, so the devil will definitely touch it. The devil will make you dance to the rhythm of his pressing that button. If we do not put anything above God, the devil cannot press that button; if he presses it, he will press Jesus, and it will prick his hand.

I think today we need to re-examine our concept of building the church. Building the church is actually expanding the kingdom of God, and it is itself a battle, a risky undertaking. In this adventure, we must pay almost all the price.

Those without a kingdom concept basically cannot understand when they see Jesus doing this. Jesus says: How important it is to do the will of my Father in heaven! Today God has given us two things, one called the Great Commission and one called the Great Commandment. What does the Great Commission say? Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mark 16:15-16). This is the Great Commission. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). There is no commandment greater than these. This is the Great Commandment.

A Great Commission and a Great Commandment, if lost in our lives, you have basically fallen into the devil's kingdom. Seeing people fall into the devil's kingdom, we really feel disheartened. Why? Because in the devil's kingdom, it is full of corruption and disaster. When disaster strikes, people do not know. The devil will never say that today you do this thing, and tomorrow I will make you encounter disaster; he will not be so foolish. If God has mercy, God will certainly do some things before the disaster, giving people a chance to wake up and repent. If God does not have mercy, then what? I tell you, that is God's election. So Paul discovered a mystery in the process of establishing the church, which is that building the church is actually God building.

So, if the people around me come and go like a revolving door, what does it matter? Because it is not me building; it is God building. Let God take away what he wants to take away. May we be able to build God's kingdom together with one heart and one mind in the future, to build God's glorious church, that we can run to the end together, to receive the crown of glory together.

So where is God's will, the Great Commandment, the Great Commission? Are they still in our hearts? Or are we just living a small life in our hearts? I tell you, living a small life for too long will certainly be taken captive by the devil. Do not even think about it. Do not blame me for not warning you. I think today since Jesus has such a determination, I also encourage everyone to have such a determination: keep and follow the will of my Father in heaven.