Kingdom 102: We Are Prisoners In a Foreign Land
To understand the Kingdom concept, is to understand God's Constitution with clarity. Every human being has been held captive in this fallen world. This is a universal human dilemma. Until we are enlightened and set free by Jesus the Christ, we are all prisoners in the Kingdom of darkness. All of us are born in a prison of sin (disobedience) and darkness. And, yes, that cute little newborn baby is a cute little sinner. Because of our sinful (disobedient) nature that we inherited from Adam, we are unrighteous. Being unrighteous means that while we are still created in the image of God (although somewhat marred by this world) we have no Kingdom rights. Our citizenship is nonexistent until our unrighteous condition is removed.
The Lord Jesus stated His reason for coming to planet earth. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” He quoted this passage from Isaiah. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn The Lord Jesus came to restore our position in God's government, to make us righteous in His sight, not our own. He came to restore our "passport" so that we can once again claim and enjoy our citizen promises. Until the fullness of time for the coming of the Lord Jesus, God (His Father) has set up a temporary government on earth called the covenant. The history, development and specific circumstances of this covenant are related in the Old Testament. God established His covenant with Abram (later called Abraham). He promised to make him a great nation through which all the people on the earth would be blessed. Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Even though Abraham and his wife Sarai (later called Sarah) were childless and far beyond childbearing age, but God's Word is sovereign. The Lord God assured them that this great number of people would descend from a son born to them in their old age. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Now take note, righteousness means being in correct standing or position with God, getting into relationship with God's government and being able to claim all the benefits promised in the covenant. When Abram believed God, the Lord God declared him righteous on the basis of his faith, and Abram became a qualified citizen of the Kingdom of God. Abram received his "passport".
As I have said before, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God and His Word.
Luke 4:18-19 Isaiah 61:1-2 Genesis 12:1-3 Genesis 15:4-6
~~W.R. Luchie
The Lord Jesus stated His reason for coming to planet earth. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” He quoted this passage from Isaiah. “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn The Lord Jesus came to restore our position in God's government, to make us righteous in His sight, not our own. He came to restore our "passport" so that we can once again claim and enjoy our citizen promises. Until the fullness of time for the coming of the Lord Jesus, God (His Father) has set up a temporary government on earth called the covenant. The history, development and specific circumstances of this covenant are related in the Old Testament. God established His covenant with Abram (later called Abraham). He promised to make him a great nation through which all the people on the earth would be blessed. Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Even though Abraham and his wife Sarai (later called Sarah) were childless and far beyond childbearing age, but God's Word is sovereign. The Lord God assured them that this great number of people would descend from a son born to them in their old age. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Now take note, righteousness means being in correct standing or position with God, getting into relationship with God's government and being able to claim all the benefits promised in the covenant. When Abram believed God, the Lord God declared him righteous on the basis of his faith, and Abram became a qualified citizen of the Kingdom of God. Abram received his "passport".
As I have said before, your greatest asset is your faith in the Lord God and His Word.
Luke 4:18-19 Isaiah 61:1-2 Genesis 12:1-3 Genesis 15:4-6
~~W.R. Luchie
