8th Jun 26 | 14:45
Studies by Book
Luke 17 20-37 Occupy till He returns 02 Bearing witness to the truth of His kingdom
📖 Luke 17:20-37
09Aug2020 - *Bearing witness to the truth of His kingdom* - _Luke 17:20-37_ - Bible reading: _John 18:33-37_
_Luke 17:20-21 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; (21) nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."_
Yesterday, we said that the kingdom of God does not come by observation but the kingdom of God is within us. This must have been a great disappointment to the Jews. They were beginning to consider Jesus as the Messiah but here was the Lord telling them not to look for outward evidence but receive Him by faith, for the kingdom of God, begins from within.
The Jewish leaders were threatened by the popularity being gained by Jesus from the people. They were determined to eliminate the danger by handing Jesus over to the Roman governor to be crucified.
Jesus was now being judged by Pilate. _John 18:33-37 Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"_ This was the accusation that the Jews raised against Jesus to Pilate sayingth here was a person, claiming to be a king, which could be an irritation to the might of Rome and which needs to be stamped out before it gains greater consequence.
_(34) Jesus answered him, "Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?" (35) Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?" (36) Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."_
The first part of the response that our Lord is giving to Pilate is that His kingdom is not of this world. We need to note this answer that Jesus gave Pilate. We, the church, belong to the kingdom of Jesus but our kingdom, the kingdom of Jesus, does not belong to this world. Who is the ruler of this world? The devil is (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11).
We, the church, are in enemy territory. Will the enemy treat us well? No. We need to tighten up our lives and be aware of our context and accordingly live out the life of the kingdom of Jesus, here on earth, where we will face opposition.
_(37) Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."_
Though we have come into a context of hostile territory, we are conscious that our King has come to set up His kingdom and we belong to Him and to His kingdom, which is the truth.
The Jews saw themselves as the primary players in the outworking of God’s kingdom but we as the church are spiritual Israel. We are part of the covenant of Abraham because of faith. We are now the body through whom the outworking of the kingdom of God is to take place.
_Galatians 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Romans 4:11-12 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, (12) and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised._
The Lord had to explain till the very end of His time here on earth that the kingdom of God will be outworked through them by faith and in the enablement of the His Holy Spirit. _Acts 1:6-8 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (7) And He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. (8) But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."_
There will come a day when the kingdom of God will be tangible, concrete and physical but till then we as the church are here to occupy with what the Lord has placed in our hands, in the truth of the kingdom of God, till He returns.
_Luke 19:12-13 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. (13) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come._
*Thought to ponder*
```What is your occupation now? Is it the kingdom of God?```
Community Feedback
Reviews for Luke 17 20-37 Occupy till He returns 02 Bearing witness to the truth of His kingdom
☆☆☆☆☆
0 reviews
Leave a Review
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.