Navigating Between Two Kingdoms

Hearing and standing for Truth amid a world of lies.

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The next podcast is coming soon, but in the meantime, I wanted to share some scriptures with you.

As the Bible has a voice concerning the topics we’re beginning to address, it is worthwhile to have it setting in the back of our minds so that the Holy Spirit can use it to stoke and preemptively guide our thinking. This is especially true as we meditate on the nature of our Enemy and the accomplishments of Jesus.

This is important for us, because as you’ll see shortly, you and I have a responsibility to respond to what Jesus has done by faithfully proclaiming Truth.

Before I share these scriptures with you, keep in mind what we have seen already on these last few episodes: the Enemy, as an adversary of YHWH, represents a clear dichotomy for us. On one hand we have the way of YHWH, marked by order (function), peace, holiness, goodness, and righteousness. On the other hand, we see pride, disorder (function), chaos, evil and destruction.

Evil and Good. Truth and Lies. Honesty and Deception.

An important leg of our journey towards untangling the kingdoms is seeking to understand these various dichotomies and their relationships with our world. In fact, this is at the core mission of this podcast and why I felt called to start it.

We will continue to cover plenty of scripture on our podcast but there is such breadth to cover that it will be very difficult to approach every passage with any sort of depth. The verses presented here are just a small sampling of what God’s Word says concerning these topics. Prayerfully read through these verses and passages and let the Holy Spirit help inform your heart and your thinking about the war being waged between YHWH and His Son Jesus against the powers of evil.

Introduction finished! Let’s take a bit of a systematic approach in this blog post!

Evil

Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us in knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat, and live forever -Genesis 3:22

There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers. -Proverbs 6:16-19

The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? -Jeremiah 17:9

For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. -Matthew 15:19, see also Mark 7:20-23

This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. -John 3:19

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. -Galatians 5:16-17

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world. -1 John 2:16

Enemy, His Seed, and Deceptive Work

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. -Genesis 3:15

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil....the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “All this I will give You,” he said, “if You will fall down and worship me.” -Matthew 4:1, 8

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? -Matthew 23:33

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. -John 8:44

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. -John 10:10

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. -2 Corinthians 4:3-4

Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions. -2 Corinthians 11:14-15

You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil–the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. -Ephesians 2:2

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. -Ephesians 6:12

Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour -1 Peter 5:8

Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. -1 John 3:8

We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. -1 John 5:19

I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. -Revelation 2:9, see also Revelation 3:9 for “synagogue of Satan”

Truth always finds a way, no matter how many lies try to suppress it. Therefore, it is wise to always stand with righteousness and truth.

Jesus Messiah and His Gospel Victory

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. -Genesis 3:15

I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery. -Psalm 2:7-9

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. -Daniel 7:13-14

But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. -Isaiah 53:5

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. -John 14:6

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! -Romans 5:10

But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. -2 Corinthians 2:14

He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins....Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence -Colossians 1:13-14, 21-22

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form. And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority. -Colossians 2:8-10

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. -1 John 1:9

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. -1 John 5:4

And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. -Revelation 12:9

And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, into which the beast and the false prophet had already been thrown. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.....Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. -Revelation 20:10, 14

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. -Revelation 21:8

Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” -Revelation 22:12-13

I still believe that standing up for the truth of God is the greatest thing in the world. This is the end of life. The end of life is not to be happy. The end of life is not to achieve pleasure and avoid pain. The end of life is to do the will of God, come what may. -Martin Luther King, Jr

Truth and Action

You shall not hate your brother in your heart….

• but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him (ESV)

• but you must surely reprove your fellow citizen, so that you do not incur sin on account of him (NET)

• Directly rebuke your neighbor, so that you will not incur guilt on account of him (BSB)

• Confront people directly so you will not be held guilty for their sin (NLT)

…..you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. - Leviticus 19:17-18

Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. - Psalm 86:11

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. -Psalm 119:105

Lying lips are detestable to the LORD, but those who deal faithfully are His delight. -Proverbs 12:22

Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. -Proverbs 30:5

And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” -Isaiah 30:21

These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace. -Zechariah 8:16

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -John 8:31-32

Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. -John 17:17

I am sending you to them to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ -Acts 26:17b-18

For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh. The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. -2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. -Ephesians 4:25

Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. -Ephesians 5:11

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. -Ephesians 6:10-13

We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me. -Colossians 1:28-29

You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance, my persecutions, and the sufferings that came upon me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in the things you have learned and firmly believed, since you know from whom you have learned them. From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for instruction, for conviction, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work. -2 Timothy 3:10-17

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. -2 Timothy 4:2

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. -James 4:7

Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth. -1 John 3:18

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world. -1 John 4:1

If you would escape criticism, moral and physical assassination, do nothing, say nothing, be nothing—court obscurity, for only in oblivion does safety lie. -Elbert Hubbard

To close, simply thanks for reading this, or at least scrolling to the end! As I mentioned earlier, seeking to understand these various dichotomies and their relationships with our world is at the core mission of this podcast. I do not know about you, but I do not want to court obscurity to seek safety. If standing for truth and for Jesus Christ brings criticism or worse, suffering, so be it. May YHWH find us standing firm in our faith, sure in our victory, and bold in our proclamation of the gospel of Jesus and TRUTH!

-jer