Kingdom of God (6) - Beautiful Kingdom
The Holy Spirit will bring in a beautiful Kingdom. He will work in the hearts of all people to convict them of sin and to testify to Jesus. He will draw all men to Jesus, causing them to be born again. The Holy Spirit will guide them into all truth and teach them how to live. As he produces the fruits of love, peace, patience, kindness and joy, people will begin to care for each other and provide everyone with what they need. Peace on earth will come and the groaning creation will be restored.
The kingdom that most Christians want is an ugly Kingdom. Jesus will return to Jerusalem and beat the world into shape with an iron rod. His followers will control the world using political power and military force. Those who hate Jesus will be cowed into silence and forced to obey his word. Those who rebel will be destroyed by violent power. This is an ugly kingdom, but it is not the Kingdom that Jesus proclaimed.
The Kingdom of God that the Holy Spirit creates will be a voluntary kingdom. There will be no need for coercion and force. Political power and violence will become redundant.Not by might
The Kingdom of God will be built by the Holy Spirit working in the lives of ordinary people. It will be based on love and service, so power and coercion will be unnecessary. The Holy Spirit will create a beautiful kingdom.
nor by power,
but by my Spirit,
says the LORD Almighty (Zech 4:6).
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