A battle of two kingdoms

Intro: (Slide 1)

This morning we are beginning a new 3 part sermon called “the coming king”. This series has been stirring in my heart since the end of last year. The bottomline of this series is that we need to make sure that our eyes are open to the truth.

There has always been spiritual battles in society, but they are rapidly intensifying. What once lurked in the shadows is being paraded openly and publicly. Wickedness and darkness once on the fringe of society is now widely embraced. The degrading condition of the nation along with the rapid moral decay of nations around the world should heighten our spiritual antennas.

Jesus said, in Luke 17:26–27 “And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.”

God has instructed His church in 2 Timothy 4:5 “But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Every believer is called to the ministry and we must be watchful in all things. Like Esther in her generation, we are strategically positioned for this time and season. We are not here by accident. God in His sovereignty has placed us here and now. He has given us all things pertaining to life and Godliness. Through the Holy Spirit we are equipped for everything that we will face in our time.

We must run the race set before us with the mindset to win! God calls us a victorious people! Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,”

Heaven is cheering us on watching with anticipation as we run our race for the kingdom of God.

(Pray- Lord open our eyes) ___________________________________________________________

Submit:

Our anchor verse for the series is found in Isaiah 60:1–2, which says, “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.”

I love this passage of Scripture! The punctuation of the first sentence lets us know that He is shouting at us. Isaiah by the Spirit of the Lord is shouting for us to ARISE and SHINE! Revelation and Glory have risen upon you! This is the beckoning of God! We are to arise and shine!

2 Peter 1:3 says, “as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,”

We have everything we need! The darkness in the world cannot overcome the light of revelation and glory that God has placed on your life! God calls us out of fear, out of doubt and unbelief, out of powerlessness, and into Glory.

We don’t need to fear what is happening in the earth. He has told us in advance that darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the people. These things should not cause us to lose heart! I have read the end of the book. We win!

To many people shrink back into obscurity and hopelessness through fear of what is happening in our nation and around the earth. We must not allow ourselves to shrink back or be fearful! Now is the time to Arise! To change our posture! To boldly reveal the Love of God and shine brightly for His Kingdom.

When the Apostles where threatened in Acts 4:29 they cried out to the Lord for boldness! They said, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word,” This should be our prayer as well! Lord give us boldness!

Let me declare to you today. The King is Coming!!

The battle is raging, but the king is coming! I want to show you a few images from the past 12 months to expose the enemy. My aim for these pictures is to make sure that our eyes are open to the truth, and the hour that we live in. This morning I am going to turn the light on.

I will give a word of caution as some of the images I am about to show you may be offensive to you. Each image represents current events within the past 12 months from the US and other nations.

(Slide 7) Satan Statue in Detroit. Notice the attempt to normalize the worship of satan. Their target is the next generation.

(Slide 8) Picture from the Grammy’s. Song was called unholy. Trying to normalize the worship of satan.

(Slide 9) Picture from the Video Music Awards.

(Slide 10) Dodgers baseball pre-game. Man giving Jesus a pole dance while he is on the cross. They invited the group sisters of perpetual indulgence. All the sisters were men dressed in drag.

(Slide 11) Sculpture displayed outside the United Nations similar to the description found in Daniel 7 of the beast that would arise. It has now been removed.

(Slide 12) Photos from 2023 Carnival in Rio De Janeiro. Jesus being pushed through the streets by Satan.

(Slide 13) Photos from 2023 Carnival In Rio depicting satan about to hit Jesus with the pitchfork during crucifixion. One of the many massive floats depicting satan.

(Slide 14) State of NM’s Abortion Hotline referring women to the Satanic temple of Health for abortions.

(Slide 15) Notice the amount for donations. 666.

(Slide 16) One of the many recent cartoons called little demon aimed at normalizing relationship with satan. There are many others on Disney+ that teach the occult and casting spells like Owl House.

(Slide 17) Recent concert by a popular recording artist depicting an occult ritual. The name of the song is willow. In witchcraft and the occult willows play an important role. The official music video depicts the same. I watched the beginning of the live concert from the slide on YouTube. What absolutely gutted my heart was hearing the crowd go crazy for what was being done. They were like sheep being led to the slaughter without understanding.

I showed you these photos because the darkness is real. What many are sensing about the world and the prophetic timetables is real. Now more than ever we must give careful attention to watch and pray.

The culture of the world is preparing for and aligning with biblical prophecy for the rule of the anti-christ. What grips my heart as a minister is that so many are completely oblivious to it. Many go about their everyday lives without so much as a thought about things to come.

Most will continue to do so unless the bride chooses to Arise and Shine.

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Apply:

Why does the world want to normalize the worship of satan?

The scripture is clear of what is to come in the earth. In the prophet Daniels 70 weeks prophesy he speaks of a ruler who will come. He will rule for seven years. Half way through he will break the seven year covenant he has signed with Israel, and there will be great tribulation. During this time he will enter into the Holy of Holies in the third temple and declare himself to be God. This is what is known as the abomination of desolation.

At the halfway point of the tribulation there will be a mark that is given to buy or sell. This mark goes beyond transactions and purchases. The bible tells us that the one who receives it declares personal allegiance to the anti-christ, and will worship him.

An important thing to note about the mark is that those who receive the mark of the beast will be damned for eternity. There will be no more hope of salvation.

The normalization of satan in culture is a sign of what is to come. It is physical proof of spiritual realities. It is needed for the body of Christ to understand the urgency of the hour in which we live. We must take the gospel to the world. God has placed us as watchmen in our generation. We are the ones carrying the baton.

The world desperately needs the message of the Gospel. Not simply in word, but in deeds. We need to declare the message through surrendered transformed lives. This is the hour that we must not shrink back in fear or defeat. Ephesians 6:10-18.

We need to live out Ephesians 6:10–18 which says, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:13–15 “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;”

Ephesians 6:16–18 “above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—”

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Closing:

We are instructed to be watchful to this end with all perseverance.

Our strength is not in ourselves! We are strong in the Lord! It is through His armor, his strength, and his power that we will stand against the schemes of the devil. We will wrestle against the enemy, but through Christ we will withstand the evil in our day and advance His kingdom.

We have the greater one living on the inside of us! We must let our light shine by walking in the love of God, doing good to our neighbor, sharing the Gospel with all who will hear, lay hands on the sick that they might recover and see the goodness of God! This is not the hour of darkness, but the hour of the kingdom! We have assignment and by the power of the Holy Spirit we will see salvation and victory in the lives of people.

Let’s Pray!

Lord, Open our eyes.

Strengthen us with might by the Holy Spirit.

Give us boldness.

Salvation.