Kingdom Living
I would like to share with my church community the message preached October 12, 2014 on Kingdom Living
Proclaiming The Kingdom
John the Baptist and Jesus proclaimed the nearness of God's kingdom
Matt 3:2 "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand."
Jesus Preached the kingdom of God is at hand
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mar 1:15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The Kingdom is closer then you think
- " Jesus told his disciples to say after they healed the sick (Matthew 10:7). "The kingdom of God has come near you
(Luk 10:9, 11 KJV 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ... 11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.).
The Kingdom is not visible to everyone
His kingdom was not of this world
Jhn 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.
Jesus answered and said unto Nicodemus,
Jhn 3:3 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
- The kingdom of God was a spiritual kingdom, not a physical organization. •Present condition of the kingdom
some of Jesus' teachings and parables explain that the kingdom does not come in a dramatic way. The seed grows quietly (Mark 4:26-29); the kingdom starts as small as a mustard seed (verses 30-32) and is hidden like yeast (Matthew 13:33).
The manifestation of the Kingdom is the destroying of the works of Satan.
The timing of the kingdom, it is both present and future. •It’s Present: Mark 1:15, John announced, "The time has come.... The kingdom of God is near."
Jesus said, after casting out demons, "
Mat 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
Warfare is experience by every believer who dare advance to Kingdom living.
•Satan still exerts some influence, but he has been defeated and condemned (John 16:11). He has been partially restrained (Mark 3:27). Jesus overcame Satan's world (John 16:33), and with God's help we are overcoming it, too (1 John 5:4).
•Satan is still influential; we still look forward to the glorious future of the kingdom. The future kingdom has affected us now, but has not yet transformed the world.
•"The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing,
Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. --
Luk 16:16 The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
Receiving the truth revealed in simplicity
•Jesus indicates that the kingdom is something we must receive in some way, apparently in this life as children.
Mar 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Mat 21:15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
Mar 11:10 Blessed [be] the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
Citizenship in heaven
•We have already been brought into God's kingdom -- Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:).
We are already receiving a kingdom, and our proper response is reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28).
Our citizenship is in heaven, and we look forward to a time of greater glory (Philippians 3:20-21 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.).
Christ "has made us [past tense] to be a kingdom" (Revelation 1:6).
Overcoming this present darkness.
•We are a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9) -- already and currently a holy kingdom -- but it does not yet appear what we shall be. When Christ returns, we will appear like him (1 John 3:2).
•For that reason, we purify ourselves, putting away sin (verses 3-6). In this age, we share not only in the kingdom but also in the persecutions that it now involves (Revelation 1:9).
•God has rescued us from the dominion of sin and transferred us into his kingdom, under his ruling authority. He has given us salvation and his Holy Spirit. How do we respond to his love and generosity? •By faithful allegiance -- by willingly remaining under the authority and protection of the King as a loyal subject.
Seek and you shall find the Kingdom
•The kingdom announcement demands a decision. It is a call to action -- a call that not everyone has ears to hear (Mark 4:10-12, Matthew 13:11).
•Just as someone who found a great treasure was willing to give up everything else for it, so we should be willing to give up everything to follow Jesus, the way of God's kingdom
Mat 13:44-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Then what manner of person ought we be
•We are told to reflect God's compassion and his righteous way of thinking and acting. As we look forward to the fulfillment, we should "live holy and godly lives...make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him"
2Pe 3:11, 14 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, ... 14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
© 2024 Created by Raliegh Jones Jr..
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