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Intention

To sacrificially serve Jesus, who came as the Lamb to save, but will return as the Rock to end all kingdoms.

Scripture

“If anyone hears my words and does not obey them, I do not judge him. For I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not accept my words has a judge; the word I have spoken will judge him at the last day.”

– John 12:47–48

“In the time of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will crush all those kingdoms and bring them to an end, but it will itself endure forever. This is the meaning of the vision of the rock cut out of a mountain, but not by human hands—a rock that broke the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver and the gold to pieces.”

– Daniel 2:44–45

Reflection

It is easy for Christians to become distracted by politics from the greater spiritual reality happening in Christ.

But our mission before Jesus’ return is so simple.

When He was here on earth, Jesus said His mission was to save the world (John 12:47). Our mission is to tell the world that Jesus loves them and wants them to be saved (John 3:16).

In the verses above from Daniel 2:44–45, the prophet Daniel explains King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. Daniel reveals that the God of heaven will set up an everlasting kingdom (pictured as a rock) that will crush all other earthly kingdoms.

Every kingdom has a king. Therefore, the rock is both a kingdom and a king.

The Bible reveals that Jesus is God’s special, appointed and anointed king. He is the rock. He is the one who will lead the people of God in an invisible kingdom, which is not formed by “human hands” but by the move of the Holy Spirit.

The kingdom begins with the giving of the Holy Spirit, and when the King comes back for the people of His kingdom, He will conquer all the earthly kingdoms (Revelation 19:11–16).

Human beings often make the mistake of trusting in other human beings. Instead, we should trust in Jesus as the cornerstone, the rock of our salvation.

Many have mistranslated what Jesus meant in Matthew 16:18 regarding the identity of the rock.

With the aid of a Greek translation, the passage reads, “And I say to you, that you are Peter (petros, meaning a ‘little pebble or small stone’), and on this rock (petra, meaning a ‘mountain of rock, a cliff immovable’) I will build my assembly/church (ekklesia), and the gates of hell (hades) will not overpower her.”

This immovable rock is Jesus Himself. The rock is not in the same category as a little pebble. A petros is a shifting, rolling, or insecure stone, while petra is a solid, immovable rock.

Several times in the Old Testament, God Himself is called the Rock of Israel and the Rock of our salvation.

Deuteronomy 32:3–4 proclaims, “Ascribe greatness to our God; he is the Rock’’. King David wrote these words in a song, saying, “The God of Israel said, ‘The Rock of Israel spoke to me’” (2 Samuel 23:3). He also wrote in Psalm 62:1–2, “Truly my soul waits upon God… He only is my rock and my salvation’’.

Following the ascension of church men into state power (from the 300s onwards), many people in the church have selfishly sought for earthly political power.

This attitude somewhat mirrors what Peter and the apostles thought when they rejected the way of the cross (Matthew 16:22). Jesus said that this was a satanic refusal of Jesus’ sacrificial path (Matthew 16:23).

The Corinthians claimed they were already reigning on the earth as kings with Jesus (1 Corinthians 4:8). Paul reminded them that while that would be nice, it wasn’t reality.

Believers in Jesus have already been seated in heavenly places with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). But we haven’t yet been seated in earthly places. The latter position awaits Jesus’ triumphant return.

That’s why Paul reminds the Corinthians that his life looked nothing like that of an earthly king. “God has displayed us, the apostles, in last place, like men condemned to die” and as “dishonoured… fools for Christ” (1 Corinthians 4:9–10).

Jesus is our Rock, and we trust in His powerful return. Since we have this certain, victorious future, we can hold loosely the things of this life. More than that, we can imitate Paul’s ministry and give our lives away in sacrificial service of our coming, conquering King.

In 1 Corinthians 4:10–13, Paul explained that those who follow the way of Jesus are those who:

1. Minister in weakness, meekness, humility, knowing that following Jesus means “dying to self”. It may lead to a violent death for your public testimony to the pagan followers of the age.
2. Work hard with your hands and for the gospel, regardless of whether earthly-minded people refuse to honour God’s work through you.
3. Bless people when they curse you.
4. Answer kindly when someone slanders your integrity.
5. Just as Jesus was rejected and treated as scum, hated for His light that exposes darkness, so you will be treated as such.

We will be displayed “in last place” in this life.

But let us never forget the promise of our Rock. Those who place themselves last in this life will be first in the next (Matthew 19:30), in an everlasting kingdom that will conquer all (Daniel 2:44–45).

Video

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for Your King, Jesus our Rock. We thank You that our future with You is certain, in a glorious kingdom that will never end.

Until then, help us to embrace the way of the cross, as Jesus and Paul did. We ask for Your Spirit to work powerfully in us so that we can minister Your love and the message of salvation in Jesus in humility, embrace sacrifice, and serve those around us.

We ask this in the name of our Rock, Jesus, amen.

Author Bio

Darryl Budge (B.A. Justice Studies) is the State Director of FamilyVoice in Western Australia. He has long experience speaking about the love and truth of Jesus through our human pains and struggles, which was made more vivid through his recent battle with cancer.

Darryl leads the Communications Team, developing publications and responses to issues that arise in the nation.

Prayer Points and Purpose for Turn the Tide 2025

1. A righteous government that upholds truth and Christian values. 1 Timothy 2:1–4

2. Wisdom for voters to perceive the true agenda of political parties. Proverbs 14:15

3. A church that disciples the nation in this window of grace. Matthew 28:18–20

We invite you to support this prayer campaign to multiply prayer in Australia for the 2025 federal election. Every donation to the Canberra Declaration helps us promote prayer and make a stand for family, faith, freedom, life, and the good news of God’s love through Jesus Christ, His Son.

Join us for our nightly Zoom prayer call:

DATES: Every night from Sunday, 13 April to Saturday, 3 May

TIME: 8 PM (AEST), 7:30 PM (SA & NT), 6 PM (WA)

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