Final Report: God Wins!
Acts 12:19b-24

The turning point of degradation in the history of the nation of Israel came when the people of God asked for a king. Israel was created by God not to be a monarchy, nor a democracy, but a theocracy, a God-governed people. The nation God had created to demonstrate His government had forsaken Him for human leadership.

The Church today fails whenever it forgets that we are meant to be a theocracy, a God-governed people. The responsibility of the Church is to demonstrate the Kingship of God. Jesus made the Kingdom of God a central theme of His ministry and so must the Church today.
In order for any people to be the Kingdom of God, the master-passion of their lives must be to do the will of God. To dethrone God is to put oneself in God's place. When God does not occupy the throne of life, man will assume the functions of Deity.

I. God's Law of Justice and Retribution Is Always at Work.

A. The working of that law is not always seen, but now and then God lets us see the flashing of His sword of judgement.
B. Right is on the throne; wrong will be punished.
C. Times of persecution and hardships seem to be devastating, but it has never been found to be more than a temporary hindrance to the cause of Christ.

II. Christ's Cause Will Triumph

A. Right will finally prevail over wrong and the Kingdom of God over the kingdom of Satan.
B. This world is a battlefield between God and Satan, but do not be mistaken, the victory belongs to God!

1. Sin has reached a degree of power and influence almost unprecedented in the history of the world.
2. One cannot claim to be a child of God and live with sin like the devil's children.
3. One cannot claim to be holy and seek your pleasure among the devil's crowd and the devil's places.
4. One cannot claim to serve God and while ruining your witness by compromising with Satan.
5. One simply cannot be united with God and united with sinful behavior!

III. Never Loose Faith in God.

A. Let us never doubt the final outcome, no matter how dark the present day may seem.
B. Poem adapted from Frederick W. Faber:

Christian! Loose not heart,
But learn what God is like;
And in the darkest battlefield
You will know where to strike.

Triple blest is he to whom is given
The instinct that can tell
That God is on the battle field,
When senses least can tell.

Blest too is he who can discern
Right - even when tis hidden,
And dares to take right's side
When tis unseen to other's eyes.

For right is right, since God is God,
And right the day will win;
To doubt would be disloyalty,
To falter would be sin.