Can the kingdom of God fail?

1. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Jesus made it very clear that it cannot!(Mt 16:18)

2. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Matthew 16:18 - And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

3. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Jesus made it very clear that it cannot!(Mt 16:18) • The kingdom of God has God’s authority behind it. (Mt 28:28-20)

4. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Matthew 28:18-20 - And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, • 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

5. Can the kingdom of God fail? • 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

6. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Jesus made it very clear that it cannot!(Mt 16:18) • The kingdom of God has God’s authority behind it. (Mt 28:28-20) • God has plainly said it would never fail. (Isa 9:6-7; Dan 7:13-14)

7. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Isaiah 9:6-7 - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. • 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

8. Can the kingdom of God fail? • 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

9. Can the kingdom of God fail? • “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end”

10. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Our problem is one of identifying and seeing God’s kingdom.

11. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Our problem is one of identifying and seeing God’s kingdom. • Jesus warned about looking at the wrong things. (Lk 17:20-21)

12. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Luke 17:20-21 - Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”

13. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Our problem is one of identifying and seeing God’s kingdom. • Jesus warned about looking at the wrong things. (Lk 17:20-21) • Some were so confident in the Jewish nation.

14. Can the kingdom of God fail? • John the Baptist strongly taught them (Mt 3:9-10)

15. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Matthew 3:9-10 - and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

16. Can the kingdom of God fail? • The people of Jeremiah’s day were to learn a horrible lesson. (Jer 7:4, 8-11)

17. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Jeremiah 7:4 - Do not trust in these lying words, saying, ‘The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these.’

18. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Jeremiah 7:8-11 - “Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. 9 Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, 10 and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered to do all these abominations’?

19. Can the kingdom of God fail? • 11 Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the Lord.

20. Can the kingdom of God fail? • Many have done this with the name “churches of Christ.”

21. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • John expressed doubt in the identity of Jesus. (Lk 7:19-20)

22. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • Luke 7:19-20 - And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 20 When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’”

23. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • John expressed doubt in the identity of Jesus. (Lk 7:19-20) • What had John already seen and confessed? (Mk 1:10-11; Jn 1:32-37)

24. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • Mark 1:10-11 - And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

25. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • John 1:32-33 - And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

26. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • There are two possible reasons for John's doubt.

27. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • Jesus had not done what John expected. (Mt 3:11-12)

28. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • Matthew 3:11-12 - I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

29. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

30. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • Jesus John may have harbored a misconception about the nature of the kingdom!

31. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • John was in prison and likely both isolated and discouraged.

32. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • John was in prison and likely both isolated and discouraged. • Any man who is isolated and suffering, depression and doubt will come.

33. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • John was in prison and likely both isolated and discouraged. • Any man who is isolated and suffering, depression and doubt will come. • The great prophet Elijah knew this feeling! (1 Kgs 19:10, 14, 18)

34. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • 1 Kings 19:10 - So he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

35. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • Kings 19:14- And he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

36. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • 1 Kings 19:18 - Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

37. John the Baptist had a time of doubt • Given the right circumstances it could be you or me!

38. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • Habakkuk, a prophet of God had such doubts. (Hab 1:1-4)

39. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • Habakkuk 1:1-4 - The burden which the prophet Habakkuk saw. 2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” And You will not save. 3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.

40. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • 4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.

41. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • Habakkuk, a prophet of God had such doubts. (Hab 1:1-4) • God’s answer was not what Habakkuk wanted to hear. (Hab 1:5-11)

42. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • Habakkuk 1:5-11 - “Look among the nations and watch— Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you. 6 For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, A bitter and hasty nation Which marches through the breadth of the earth, To possess dwelling places that are not theirs.

43. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • 7 They are terrible and dreadful; Their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. 8 Their horses also are swifter than leopards, And more fierce than evening wolves. Their chargers charge ahead; Their cavalry comes from afar; They fly as the eagle that hastens to eat.

44. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • 9 “They all come for violence; Their faces are set like the east wind. They gather captives like sand. 10 They scoff at kings, And princes are scorned by them. They deride every stronghold, For they heap up earthen mounds and seize it. 11 Then his mind changes, and he transgresses; He commits offense, Ascribing this power to his god.”

45. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • It is important to know that God knows what he is doing.

46. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • It is important to know that God knows what he is doing. • We need to now that some people are beyond repentance. God knows!

47. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • Habakkuk now has a greater problem.

48. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • Habakkuk now has a greater problem. • Have you ever had a problem that started out bad and then grew worse?

49. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • Habakkuk now has a greater problem. • Have you ever had a problem that started out bad and then grew worse? • How could God use such a wicked people? (Hab 1:12-13)

50. Habakkuk had a time of doubt • Habakkuk 1:12-13 - Are You not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, You have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction.