TWO KINDOMS ON PLANET EARTH.
All living beings belong to one or the other.
1. Why does God allow bad things to happen?
To Understand this question, it is imperative to understand that there are two kingdoms. The kingdom of this world and the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 12:25-26 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. [26] If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand?
(1) According to this passage, does Satan have a Kingdom? ___.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.
(1) Who's in charge of planet earth; whose responsible for all of the disasters and destruction that occurs? ___________.
John 8:43-44 Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. [44] You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
(1) Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders in this passage. Who did Jesus say their father was, identifying the family to whom they belonged? _______________________.
John 18:36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
(1) Did Jesus identify His kingdom as being different than the kingdom of this world? __________________________________.
Col 1:13 For he [Jesus] has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,
(1) God's word identifies the kingdom of Satan as the ____________ of __________________________.
(2) Scripture identifies the other kingdom as the kingdom of the _______ _____________
(3) Does this verse indicate that people can change from one kingdom to the other in this life? _______.
A. Is the kingdom of God available to those of us who live on this earth.
Luke 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
(1) Can you conclude that Jesus made the Kingdom of God accessible to believers from His time on earth until now?_________________________________________________.
Luke 9:2 and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. Luke 9:11 but the crowds learned about it and followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of G od, and healed those who needed healing.
(1) Does this verse indicate that the kingdom of God is availible immediately or sometime in the future? _____.
Matthew 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
(1) When will Jesus give Peter the Keys to the Kingdom? ______________________________________________________.
B. Who then can come into the kingdom of God?
John 3:5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
(1) What is the first requirement that must be met, for one to become a citizen of the kingdom of God? A person must be born naturally (of the water) and of the ____________, or he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
John 3:6-7 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. [7] You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'
(1) You must first be born of the flesh and then born a second time by the ___________ to enter the kingdom of God. (2) A person who is born again is birthed by the flesh and by the __________.
1 Cor 15:50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
2 Cor. 5:1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
(1) What near event would enable men to enter the Kingdom of Heaven? __________________________________________
John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.
C. Who cannot enter the kingdom of God?
1 Cor 6:9-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor male prostitutes, nor homosexual offenders [10] nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
(1) Besides many other truths that we will deal with later, what does this verse teach about "who will not enter the kingdom of God?" ________________________________.
D. So why does God allow bad things to happen? That can be
best answered by another question; Which kingdom do most
people belong to and Who is the ruler of that kingdom? If your
answer was the kingdom of this world or the kingdom of
Satan you are correct. The previous verses and John 10:10
indicate that Jesus came to bring spiritual life to men; to make it possible
for men to be born again.
John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus]
have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
(1) What did Jesus desire to give men? ___________________. (as we will learn later "to the full" means eternal life.)
(2) What does Satan, (thief) desire for the citizens of his kingdom? to __________, __________ and __________.
(3) Is it any wonder why there is so much misery on planet earth? _________
(4) Who is responsible for the bad things, God? _________.
(5) In what way are we responsible for our own misery? _______________ _____________________________________________________________.
(6) What kingdom and kingdom laws have you chosen to live under? The kingdom of _____________________________.
Will you agree that the Holy Scripture teaches that there
are two coexisting kingdoms with two different sets of
laws. There is the kingdom of the dominion of darkness,
under control of the evil one, and there is the kingdom of
God. We must choose who's rule and law we desire to live
under; the thief who laws, kill, steal and destroy or that
of our loving God Jesus, who came to give us life and that
abundantly. A continued study of the word of God, and the
revealing presence of the Holy Spirit within us, will make
clear those principles and laws of His kingdom.
If you have any questions or comments please Email me, Greg at deans@interpath.com
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