There are always great difficulties when there exists a difference of ideology in a culture or when there is a conflict of allegiance among the peoples, especially in a non-democratic society. Much more is this so when you include conflict over religion and moral principal as we are seeing everyday in America. This is also how it was when Messiah Jesus walked the earth two thousand years ago. Listen in today as we move forward in the gospel of Saint Mark in the sixth chapter as Pastor Landis presents a message revealing how power can produce corruption and great lawlessness in his message called: “When Kingdoms Collide”
Old Testament Scripture Reading: Daniel 2:37 – 44 (NASB)
Dan 2:37 “You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the glory;
Dan 2:38 and wherever the sons of men dwell, or the beasts of the field, or the birds of the sky, He has given them into your hand and has caused you to rule over them all. You are the head of gold.
Dan 2:39 “And after you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third kingdom of bronze, which will rule over all the earth.
Dan 2:40 “Then there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron; inasmuch as iron crushes and shatters all things, so, like iron that breaks in pieces, it will crush and break all these in pieces.
Dan 2:41 “And in that you saw the feet and toes, partly of potter’s clay and partly of iron, it will be a divided kingdom; but it will have in it the toughness of iron, inasmuch as you saw the iron mixed with common clay.
Dan 2:42 “And as the toes of the feet were partly of iron and partly of pottery, so some of the kingdom will be strong and part of it will be brittle.
Dan 2:43 “And in that you saw the iron mixed with common clay, they will combine with one another in the seed of men; but they will not adhere to one another, even as iron does not combine with pottery.
Dan 2:44 “And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever.
New Testament Scripture Reading: Mark 6:14 – 30 (KJV)
Mark 6:14 And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.
Mark 6:15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.
Mark 6:16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.
Mark 6:18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.
Mark 6:19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:
Mark 6:20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
Mark 6:21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;
Mark 6:22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.
Mark 6:23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.
Mark 6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
Mark 6:25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
Mark 6:26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.
Mark 6:27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Mark 6:28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
Mark 6:29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Mark 6:30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.
Transforming Power Statements:
#1) From the early days of the civilization of man, God has ordained human government as a means of regulating the affairs of men for the general benefit of society in general, yet kingdoms have risen and fallen based on God’s agenda to place His Son on the throne as the Prince of the Most High God Whom He has decreed to be King of kings and Lord of lords.
#2) Governmental authority when applied by sinful man, is very often twisted and serious corruption results especially when absolute power is given or usurped by a particular ruler, who God will remove in due time based on the advancement of His plan.
#3) The Kingdom that God is preparing for those who love Him will never end and will exist in perfect righteousness for ever and ever when the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.
