“The Kingdom of God - Its Timing, Power, Purpose & Hope!”      Acts 1:1-11

“There’s a scene of its grandness before me, of its greatness there can be no end; it is joy, it is peace, it is glory, in my heart, how these riches do blend!  ’Tis a kingdom of peace, it is reigning within, it shall ever increase in my soul; we posses it right here when He saves from all sin, and t’will last while the ages shall roll.” - 

The Kingdom of Peace, Barney E. Warren 1897

Lyrics written 129 years ago, still as meaningful, hopeful and relevant today as first penned because they are founded upon the Bible.

Everything we know in this life has a beginning and an end - everything has a ‘shelf life” - even you and me, this is a sobering reality.  When I was a child, I never thought about spiritual matters. When I was a teen and even as I moved into my 20’s, 30,s and even 40’s I thought I was going to live forever, thought my parents would too.  But my 50’s and now my 60’s has really gotten my attention.  Life is a gift of God, not to be taken for granted, but it seems too short the older I get.  It becomes, in a way more difficult too as more and more of loved ones, family and friends pass away.  Life too seems so cruel when our loved ones pass and the world marches right on, doesn’t stop or slow down, no, not for anyone.  We are forced to continue on, just as the early disciples did without Jesus.  We have to go on too for those still with us, and for the sake of the mission, for all those that still have not received the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ - “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” - John 11:25

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16

Wow - what hope!  Hope for today, tomorrow and beyond the grave!  By the grace of God we can experience the present kingdom of God via the new birth (“…unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” - John 3:3), the greatest miracle of all!  Jesus said in Luke, “…the kingdom of God is within you” (cf. 17: 21).  The timing of His kingdom is not only a present reality but future reality too!  In Revelation 21, starting at verse 2 we read, “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  And behold a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, God Himself will be with them and be their God.  And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”  Wow - what a hope!  Wow - what a purpose to live for!  And Jesus has given us His Holy Spirit in the meantime, “Christ in us the hope of glory,” to live out our lives for His glory!  Or as Jesus put it, “we shall be His witnesses!” (cf. Acts 1: 8).

God’s continued blessings and favor!

Pastor Rodney

“For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” - Acts 20:27