"Our vision for the kingdom of God is not dependent, however, on us acting on our own. This kingdom is the project of the Almighty Lord. He has revealed to us that it will be overwhelmingly successful in history—in this church-age dispensation—and in human culture. God has ordained that it transform the world. We desire, therefore, to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that His power working through us will advance kingdom purposes." ~ The Kingdom of God Paragraph 3
"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5
"Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;/Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:/Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;/Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,/And He must win the battle." ~ A Mighty Fortress is Our God by Martin Luther
Here we are at the second section of the series on the Elders' Vision Statement. We've gone over the paragraph about having a Kingdom-oriented perspective by which we arrange our decisions and activities around. Since then, you may have thought of areas that we could put in subjection to Christ. Perhaps you are motivated to expand the Kingdom into every area of life. But a problem arises, there is sin present within us and within the pre-Christian world that opposes the work of Christ. That fact can make our Kingdom vision look rosy and unrealistic. If we are not careful, we could get discouraged to the point that we become hardened and stagnant. However, we can glean some things from this paragraph in the Elders' Vision; we cannot of ourselves fight our indwelling sin and the pre-Christian world, we must put our trust in God’s promises and call upon Him to aid us in our battles. We must let the Holy Spirit speak to us through His word and be our strength in our war against sin.
We might as well face it, we are up against a duo of formidable foes. That is, the flesh (indwelling sin) and the world (as in humanity before it will be completely restored.) Our indwelling sin makes us fall short of our Kingdom potential. We have the will to work out our salvation but our flesh dulls our enthusiasm for more Kingdom glory. The pre-Christian world can discourage us with its thinking and ambition which permeate our governments, schools, news media, families, religious assemblies, and even churches. It can make us think, "I'm a little, innocent tourist imprisoned in this wicked, old world." These two tools of Satan hinder us from effectual Kingdom service.
Thus we cannot by ourselves bring the Kingdom of God to fruition in Christ. This work requires a gracious and optimistic God to bring healing to us and the nations. Our God is Almighty, He has spoken the universe into existence. He has destroyed large armies that opposed Israel after the flesh. He has provided for His people when they needed it. He has spoken His pure word through depraved prophets and apostles, and much more. Ultimately He has crushed sin and death through the death and resurrection of Christ. There is nothing impossible with Him. And what He promised He will not fail (Isaiah 55:11). He has said in His word that He will deal with the flesh and the pre-Christian world (Job 17:9; Phil 2:12-13; Heb 13:20-21; Psalm 2; 110, Rev 22:1-2). We can and must trust Him to do so.
"The world, the flesh and the devil can never overwhelm the weakest person who will set their face towards God." ~ J. C. Ryles, The Christian Race and Other Sermons
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