Living in the Overlap of Two Worlds
“Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” (Luke:11 v 2)
“So, Moses, are you saying that we will never sin again?” a guy from the group asked.
“No,” Moses kindly answered, “I am saying that Jesus will never sin. And He is now living in you, and will show Himself through you as you stand in Grace.”
“That sounds wonderful,” another replied. “But how does it work?”
“Let me put it this way,” Moses answered. “Did you ever notice that the first thing Jesus said when He went public with His ministry was, ‘Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand?’”
“Yes,” we all replied.
“But then later He told His disciples to pray, ‘Thy Kingdom come.’ So, let me ask — which is it? Is the Kingdom here, or is it yet to come?”
We stared in silence.
Moses then said, “Friends, it is BOTH!”
When Jesus came to this earth He brought the Kingdom of God with Him, as an invasion into a fallen world. Day by day, miracle by miracle, person by person, sermon by sermon – He began spreading the redeeming influence of His Kingdom. He went about doing good, healing all who were overpowered by the devil, for God was with Him.
After He rose from the dead and ascended into glory, He sent forth His Holy Spirit and filled His people with His presence and power that we might follow in His steps and continue His mission. Living as He lived, and doing as He did.
And when He returns again, He will bring the Kingdom in it fullness. God’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven — completely! So the Kingdom is here, and it is yet to come.
Until That Day, we live in the overlap of two Worlds. One, is the Fallen World which resulted when Sin entered; and with Sin, Death came. The other is The Risen World, which came about when Jesus conquered Sin and Death, and included us in His conquest.
We now live in both worlds at the same time. And that is why we have experiences that seem to contradict one another. One day is filled with glory; the next is filled with grief. One day we have victory; the next day, defeat. One day our prayers work with power; the next they seem to fall dead to the ground. One day we triumph in temptation; the next we falter and sin.
Nevertheless! Because Christ is in us, the power of His presence – His Grace – now lifts us above the claims of this lesser world. What I am saying is that you longer have to sin – as though there were no choice. You have been freed from the chains that held you as slaves to sin, and now you can yield yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead!
Where you once were slaves to sin, and doomed to live in perpetual unrighteousness, now you are forgiven, free, and filled with the Spirit of God. You can live a truly righteous life – even in an unrighteous world! And that is why Paul wrote, “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law, but under Grace!”
When you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God – especially in the face of overpowering trials and temptations – God gives His grace in abundance. And, where sin did abound; Grace does much more abound! And while you may not be able to handle the challenge by yourself – you are no longer left to yourself to do so. Christ is in you, and He can handle it through you!
“God will not permit you to be tested above what you are able to bear, and with the trial He will also provide a way of escape so that you may bear the moment in victory. The way of escape which God has provided is GRACE – the empowering presence of God enabling you to be who He created you to be, and to do what He has called you to do – right where you are!
Thus it is written, “Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in our time of need!”
“Oh, give God praise for His amazing grace!” Moses cried out, with triumph in his voice and glory on his face.
By this time a great crowd had gathered at the Pavilion of Praise, and we all began to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
It was truly awesome.
“Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” (Luke:11 v 2)
“So, Moses, are you saying that we will never sin again?” a guy from the group asked.
“No,” Moses kindly answered, “I am saying that Jesus will never sin. And He is now living in you, and will show Himself through you as you stand in Grace.”
“That sounds wonderful,” another replied. “But how does it work?”
“Let me put it this way,” Moses answered. “Did you ever notice that the first thing Jesus said when He went public with His ministry was, ‘Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand?’”
“Yes,” we all replied.
“But then later He told His disciples to pray, ‘Thy Kingdom come.’ So, let me ask — which is it? Is the Kingdom here, or is it yet to come?”
We stared in silence.
Moses then said, “Friends, it is BOTH!”
When Jesus came to this earth He brought the Kingdom of God with Him, as an invasion into a fallen world. Day by day, miracle by miracle, person by person, sermon by sermon – He began spreading the redeeming influence of His Kingdom. He went about doing good, healing all who were overpowered by the devil, for God was with Him.
After He rose from the dead and ascended into glory, He sent forth His Holy Spirit and filled His people with His presence and power that we might follow in His steps and continue His mission. Living as He lived, and doing as He did.
And when He returns again, He will bring the Kingdom in it fullness. God’s will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven — completely! So the Kingdom is here, and it is yet to come.
Until That Day, we live in the overlap of two Worlds. One, is the Fallen World which resulted when Sin entered; and with Sin, Death came. The other is The Risen World, which came about when Jesus conquered Sin and Death, and included us in His conquest.
We now live in both worlds at the same time. And that is why we have experiences that seem to contradict one another. One day is filled with glory; the next is filled with grief. One day we have victory; the next day, defeat. One day our prayers work with power; the next they seem to fall dead to the ground. One day we triumph in temptation; the next we falter and sin.
Nevertheless! Because Christ is in us, the power of His presence – His Grace – now lifts us above the claims of this lesser world. What I am saying is that you longer have to sin – as though there were no choice. You have been freed from the chains that held you as slaves to sin, and now you can yield yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead!
Where you once were slaves to sin, and doomed to live in perpetual unrighteousness, now you are forgiven, free, and filled with the Spirit of God. You can live a truly righteous life – even in an unrighteous world! And that is why Paul wrote, “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law, but under Grace!”
When you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God – especially in the face of overpowering trials and temptations – God gives His grace in abundance. And, where sin did abound; Grace does much more abound! And while you may not be able to handle the challenge by yourself – you are no longer left to yourself to do so. Christ is in you, and He can handle it through you!
“God will not permit you to be tested above what you are able to bear, and with the trial He will also provide a way of escape so that you may bear the moment in victory. The way of escape which God has provided is GRACE – the empowering presence of God enabling you to be who He created you to be, and to do what He has called you to do – right where you are!
Thus it is written, “Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in our time of need!”
“Oh, give God praise for His amazing grace!” Moses cried out, with triumph in his voice and glory on his face.
By this time a great crowd had gathered at the Pavilion of Praise, and we all began to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
It was truly awesome.
