WAITING FOR THE KINGDOM
(week 43/13)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Luke 23:50-51 KJV: And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just: (51) (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself WAITED FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Luke 2:25 KJV: And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, WAITING for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
Here, we see both Simeon and Joseph WAITING FOR KINGDOM: the manifestation of the TOTAL dominion of God’s righteousness, peace and joy by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom.14:17) in the souls: wills, minds, emotions and bodies of men as exemplified by the Lord Jesus.
In the same way, the Church today is waiting for the manifestation of the Kingdom of God and the consequent glory:
1 Thessalonians 2:12 KJV: That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
As at today November 5, 2013, the kingdom and glory of God has not manifested in the Church as it was in the ministry of the Lord Jesus: we are to wait for it.
Habakkuk 2:3 AMP: For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. [Heb. 10:37, 38.]
We wait because it is this glory that will dispel the gross spiritual and moral darkness that is presently covering the nations of the world:
Isaiah 60:1-3 KJV: Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. (2) For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (3) And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
In fact, the nations of the world are unconsciously earnestly hoping and expecting some divine intervention even though they do not know how it will come: however, when it appears they will recognize that it is what they have been unconsciously waiting for:
Romans 8:19-21 CJB: The creation waits eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed; (20) for the creation was made subject to frustration — not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it. But it was given a reliable hope (21) that it too would be set free from its bondage to decay and would enjoy the freedom accompanying the glory that God’s children will have.
Isaiah 25:6-9 KJV: And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. (7) And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. (8) He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. (9) And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have WAITED for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have WAITED for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
How then do we wait? We are to wait ACTIVELY NOT PASSIVELY!
By the Spirit with patience: consistency in prayer and walking in the Spirit.
Romans 8:25 KJV: But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Galatians 5:5 KJV: For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Hebrews 10:35-37 AMP: Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. (36) For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised. (37) For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.
