Recorded by Tan Lay Leng
The Clash of Kingdoms
4 May 2020 Monday
Day 23 Things Pertaining to the Kingdom
#perikingdom2020
On Day 20 of #perikingdom2020, Ps Henson noticed a shift in the intensity of the seriousness of kingdom commitment. There will come a time when “the clash of the kingdoms” will become very real for us. As brothers and sisters in the kingdom of God, we are engaged in the family business, which is kingdom business; and it is serious business.
God is causing us to examine more deeply what kingdom commitment is. It is not a light commitment. Out of this commitment, we are asking what obedience is all about.
There is also a need to get “self” out of the way. What does it mean to crucify self? It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20). Dealign from the things of the self, dealign from the things of the world, it is no longer my own desire but the alignment with the Lord’s will and purposes. It is also about loving others and looking out for others. In the days ahead, we need to live these truths out. God is bringing kingdom connections and partnerships.
God wants to raise kingdom warriors for this spiritual battle. Will we seek the things of the kingdom, and not just seek for ourselves? It is not about our agenda. God is raising soldiers who will shift into His agenda. Will you shift into a kingdom gear?
A kingdom message, Archippus Awakening has been declaring to know our kingdom assignment that we may fulfil it (see Colossians 4:17). Archippus is mentioned in Colossians 4:17 and Philemon 2. In Philemon 2, Paul calls Archippus a fellow soldier. Ps Henson declares that we have shifted into a time when Philemon 2 has been brought to the forefront. During these times, Philemon 2 is demanding equal prominence as Colossians 4:17.
Paul uses the image of a soldier often because he knows it is a spiritual war we are in. As we seek the kingdom of God, we know that there is a clash of kingdoms and that finally, we win. However, knowing is one thing but going through the battle is another. Do we know how to fight this spiritual battle?
Paul’s word to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:3-4:
You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
2 Timothy 2:3-4 NKJV
As good soldiers of Jesus Christ, we want to please the Commander. And the Commander alone. How do we posture ourselves as good soldiers?
We have been ENLISTED by Jesus Christ our Commander, who puts us on the roll of His troops. “Enlist” in the original text means someone coming to collect or choose. We did not volunteer. We have been enlisted by God not because we are good, but it is by the grace of our Lord Jesus. We do not fight this in our own strength. We are in for the kingdom of God.
As good soldiers, we need to be ENGAGED in warfare in the power of His might and strength of His grace. It is critical we wake up, know our kingdom assignments and get into our area of operations. Our weapons of warfare are mighty through God. We fight with the promises of God given to us. In our areas of operation, we must fight the good fight of faith.
Those who are engaged do not become ENTANGLED with the things of the world. To entangle is to “interwine” and “braid”. In the final days, there is a mix of iron and clay (Daniel 2:43) and we are not to be a part of this system. People of the kingdom, come out of Babylon (Revelation 18:4). Get out of the distractions that hold us back or pull us away. Come out of the kingdom of the world.
Our focus is on the battlefront. When we know our place in the battlefield, we will not be entangled.
We must ENDURE hardships as soldiers do. The phrase “endure hardship” is derived from two words, kakos (evil) and pathos (passion; suffering). There will be an opposition, an evil from the other kingdom that will cause us to suffer. Soldiers understand how tough it is on the battlefield (not the tulip field or the rose field). Yet, we are willing to endure for the sake of Jesus and His kingdom.
Be ENCOURAGED. We are fellow soldiers and we do not fight alone in this clash of the kingdoms.
Do you have one desire only? To please the Commander? We may have battle scars but we carry the marks of Jesus. Are we already dead to ourselves but alive in Jesus Christ?
As good soldiers of Jesus Christ, know that something has shifted. Kingdom business is serious business. This 40-day journey is for Jesus to reveal to us His kingdom that we may know where we fit in and how we should respond. After the 40 days, like the disciples who were told to wait for the Holy Spirit, we shall be postured and ready. Without a kingdom perspective, how do we move on our kingdom assignments?
Fellow soldiers! Would you shift with our King, align with one another as we align with the Commander?