Garwood Presbyterian Church

The Triumph of Good and the Stubbornness of Evil

Isaiah 9:6-7, Mat. 13:31-33, Mat. 16:18, Mat. 24:3-14
#3 In "Your Future Foretold"

Introduction - As time goes by, the Bible says that God's kingdom will continually grow and spread its influence, but at the same time, that evil will persist in trying to have its own way. Who will win out in the end, and more importantly, what should we do in the mean time?

1. God's Kingdom Has Continued to Grow & Spread Its Influence Since the Coming of His Church
   1. This was prophesied in the Old Testament
      1. Isaiah 9:6-7, speaking of Jesus, says "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end."
      2. Daniel 2:31-35 describes the kingdom of God that will come as a rock that becomes a huge mountain and then fills the whole earth.
      3. Isaiah 55:10-11 says that God's word will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.
   2. Jesus also said that this would happen.
      1. In Matthew 13:31-33, He said that the kingdom of heaven is like a very small seed that grows into a tree, and like yeast in flour that works its way through all of the dough.
      2. In Matthew 6:10, He told us to pray "your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."
         1. And we know that this will happen because He said that "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." See Matthew 28:18.
         2. And He also said that "I have given you authority to overcome all the power of the enemy." See Luke 10:19.
      3. So in Matthew 16:18, He said that the gates of Hades would not overcome His Church.
      4. Also, Jesus said that He would send "power from on high" to Christians (Luke 24:49), and that they would "receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you" (Acts 1:8).
   3. This is what happened as "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:4), and God's Church began to explosively grow in spite of terrible persecution and opposition.
   4. The growth of God's kingdom and Church and their influence has continued to this day.
      1. The practice of slavery was ended mainly by Christians like William Wilberforce.
      2. Women are no longer treated like property with no rights because of the Christian faith.
      3. Christianity stopped infanticide, the killing of one's own children without penalty.
      4. Christians have done more for people's physical well being than any other group, con-structing and then serving in 10,000's of hospitals around the world, and beginning the nursing profession and the Red Cross.
      5. Christians have done more for the poor than any other group, starting countless organiza-tions to help the poor, and giving more of their time, money and efforts to help them than anyone else.
      6. Public education for everyone was started by Christians, most universities were founded by Christians, and Christians have done more to end illiteracy than anyone in the world.
      7. Christians are responsible for starting and the spread of representative democratic governments around the world.
      8. The Christian Church has continued to expand and is the largest religion in the world, bringing billions of people into a personal relationship with God who have eternal life.
2. But Evil Stubbornly Continues to Try to Have Its Own Way
   1. Jesus also said that this would happen.
      1. In Matthew 24:3-14, Jesus said that before the end would come that there would be wars, famines, persecution of Christians, Christians turning from their faith, false prophets who would deceive people, an increase of wickedness, and that the love of most people would grow cold.
      2. Jesus also said that "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" And in the context of Luke 18 where He asks this, the answer is clearly "No!"
      3. In the parable of the wheat and the weeds in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Jesus points out that the wheat of the children of God's kingdom and the weeds of the children of the evil one, will grow together right up until "the end of the age."
   2. The prophecies in the book of Revelation of the end times also confirms this.
   3. Events over the last century also confirms this. More Christians have been martyred in the last 100 years than at any time before, there have been two world wars and continuous warfare the entire time, the Mafia, gangs and terrorist organizations have come into being, and there has been a major increase in sexual immorality and greediness in the world.
3. Knowing This Is True, What Should We Do?
   1. Make sure that you are a Christian.
      1. Rev. 12:10 says, "They overcame him (the devil or Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony."
   2. Don't become discouraged or upset because of evil. Don't lose your peace from God because of it.
      1. See Psalm 73:2-5, 12-14, 16-19, 27-28.
      2. See Psalm 37:1-11, 35-40.
   3. Keep working for the kingdom of God and doing your part to keep it moving forward.
      1. I Cor. 15:57-58 says, "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." So "Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."
   4. Be thankful and continue to worship God with reverence and awe.
      1. Hebrews 12:28 says, "Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe."

Conclusion: The Bible says that God's kingdom will continually grow and spread its influence, but that evil will also persist in trying to have its own way. It also says that this will continue right up to "the end of the age." In light of this, we should make sure that we are a Christian, not fret over evil, keep working for God's kingdom, and thankfully worship Him with reverence and awe.