The What?-dom of God?!?
Assorted Scriptures; July 10, 2005
Intro:
Of Kings and Kingdoms, 21st century people such as ourselves might have a little trouble. The concept is difficult to really grasp. It is not a part of our experience, current Canadian political satire aside. We have an idea; the concepts are vaguely familiar from literature, from movies, perhaps even somehow from a recent “royal visit” – although little purple signs on a newly re-named highway really don’t invoke the glory and majesty that the ideals of King and Kingdom are meant to convey.
Yet the idea of “Kingdom” is central to the message of Christianity. It is part of the Angel Gabriel’s message to Mary before Jesus was conceived: “his kingdom will never end.” (Lk 1:33) The first recorded words of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark are “The time has come… The kingdom of God is near.” (Mk 1:15). All through Jesus’ ministry, He talked about “The Kingdom of God.” Right to the very end, that was His message: immediately before being handed over for crucifixion, Jesus says to Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (Jn 18:36). It was even Jesus’ message following His resurrection: Acts 1:3 – “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
But what is this elusive thing called “The Kingdom of God”? And how does it apply to us?
Kingdom Is:
In its most simple form, “kingdom” is about domain. It is about territory, about rule, about reign, about people who are subject to “the king”. Kingdom is effectively “the extent of the rule of the King.” The Kingdom of God is effectively “the extent of the rule of the King Jesus.” It is a spiritual Kingdom: Paul tells us so in 1 Cor 15:50 – “I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”
Extent of The Rule:
Think with me about your understanding of the idea of “kingdom”. Perhaps it is from reading about King Arthur, or Narnia, or The Lord of the Rings. Perhaps it is from movies like Braveheart, Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail, or even from Shrek2. These medieval images, as diverse as they are, help us begin to understand.
A Kingdom revolves around a King. There is a central castle, with strong defenses, with much activity, with places of great elegance and beauty, and with people dedicated to the service of their King. From that central place radiates power and influence, protection and allegiance, and at its best love and genuine concern for the subjects.
At the heart of the Kingdom is, logically, the king. That is the center, the focus, the main character. When the king is both strong and good, the people’s lives are safe and rich. Of course the opposite is true, and many of the stories we know revolve around kings who are corrupt and who do not use their authority for the good of their subjects. Luckily, our King is not like that. Since the king is the most important part of the Kingdom, I’m going to leave that to last.
But I do want you to think for a moment about the extent of a King’s Kingdom. It was not defined so much by lines on maps, but by how far out the King’s rule, the King’s protection, the King’s subjects would be found. The Kingdom extended as far as there were people who pledged their allegiance to the King, and who chose to serve and defend His Kingdom. As long as they served the King, they were a part of the Kingdom.
That means that the same rules applied. The same expectations existed as far as paying taxes and serving in the military. The same oath of allegiance was expected from the subjects, and ideally the same love was shared between King and peasant.
If we take and move that same idea from the physical world into the spiritual world, we begin to understand the Kingdom of God. Being part of God’s Kingdom means that we place ourselves under His rule, under His power and influence. Having sworn our allegiance to King Jesus, we then gladly serve our King, fight for our King, and live in a love relationship with our King. We bow to Jesus, and we place our lives in His hands to do with as He chooses.
In Jesus’ day, most often Jesus was misunderstood – but there was one day where it seems they “got it”, where it looks like they understood who Jesus was and, maybe only in a tiny way, that He was their King. I refer to Palm Sunday, the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where the crowds lined the road, laying palm branches, as Jesus road into Jerusalem on a donkey. John tells us what they shouted: “"Hosanna!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the King of Israel!"” (Jn 12:13).
The passage tells us that Jesus’ disciples didn’t understand this at first; and they probably didn’t until they began to understand the Kingdom of God as a spiritual Kingdom instead of a national or physical Kingdom.
Life At The Edge:
In a physical Kingdom, the power and influence diminishes the further one goes from the center of the Kingdom. Life near the “edge of the Kingdom” brings danger, uncertainty, and an expected delay in response to a call for aid. In one sense, this is true also in the Kingdom of God – the further away we walk from God, the more into danger. The further we go, the more easy it is to forget who our King is, how powerful, and how loving; and the more easy it is for us to be deceived into believing “rumors” about how maybe our King has abandoned us, or that maybe our King has rejected us, or that maybe our King is using us for His own sport and enjoyment.
Those lies fade in the presence of our King, where we are overwhelmed with His majesty and grace and goodness. When we see the love in His eyes, when we hear His response to our questions and concerns, when we know His heart for His people. Those lies do not stand a chance.
That leads me to a pointed question: if we extend the analogy into your life today, how close are you to the King? Are you in the royal chamber, talking and laughing and feasting at His table? You have been invited, and you will be welcome. Are you listening outside the door, wanting to go in yet still afraid? His perfect love will drive out that fear, if you will let Him. Are you in the castle somewhere, trying to be close but not to close, hoping that there might be some leftovers you can scrounge later on? The feast is really much, much nicer, and there is a place prepared for you. Are you outside the castle?; and if so which direction are you headed? Or, are you far away, out on the edge of the Kingdom, with a vague memory of what the King is like but it has been a long time since you met Him. How close are you to the King?
And yet, while there is great danger in living at the “edge of the Kingdom”, that is also the point of expanse. It is the place where “territory” is being taken back from the enemy. There is a huge difference, between living as far away from the King as possible, and being sent to those outer edges on a mission, sent directly by the King Himself. When we approach these edges under the command and authority of the King, equipped and empowered for battle, with a clear mission and the resources to accomplish that mission, it is a different story.
In the spiritual Kingdom of God, that is often where we find ourselves – in the middle of the battle. The battle for personal obedience. The battle for prevailing “goodness”. And the most fierce battle, for the hearts and souls of people we love who do not know Jesus. We have been sent, commissioned, empowered, and gifted. Now we need to engage. I really believe that the Christian life in this world is going to be a battle – we battle temptation, we battle the consequences of sin, we battle to be obedient. This is what Paul meant in Eph 6:12 – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
The critical part of understanding the battle is that it has already been won. That is what happened at the cross and the empty tomb. And it is what Paul tells us clearly: 1 Cor 15:56-57 “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Notice in that Scripture that it is not just the eternal, final victory that Paul is telling us about. Rather it is personal – “He gives us the victory”, and it is over our personal sin.
Here comes my second, pointed question: will you choose to fight? Sometimes we see Christians walking around defeated. They seem to have given up the fight against sin, they maybe got beat up once and lost, and are afraid to get back out there. Maybe that is you. But let me promise you this – when we stop fighting that spiritual battle, we die. It might happen slowly, over time, sneaking up on us. At first we feel like we are just asleep, but in fact it is death, creeping slowly over us. We can lose years, even decades of our lives because we haven’t let God heal the wound, forgive the sin, and breathe life into us once again. Romans 6:12-14 says: “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
You might wonder about the cost. Hear Jesus’ response: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” (Matt 13:44-46)
The cost is great; that’s plain. But, and this is the key: the treasure is greater.
A Child Of The King: Relationships in God’s Kingdom
Let’s move from “where you are” in the Kingdom, to “who you are in the Kingdom.” And here, Scripture says it far better than I could.
Gal 3:26-4:7 “You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
1What I am saying is that as long as the heir is a child, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2He is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. 4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. 6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[a] Father." 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Did you hear that? In God’s Kingdom, you are a child of the King, and an heir. You are a prince, a princess. Think again about who a “prince” or a “princess” is in an earthly Kingdom – they are held in great honor, they have the ear and the love of the King. Their loyalty is never in doubt, their position is never in jeopardy, their service is motivated by love and by an acceptance of their birthright.
Honestly, I really believe, deep deep down, that if we truly understood who we are as children of God, our lives would be much different, and so would our planet.
Do You Know Him?
The Kingdom revolves around the King. I promised to save the most important to last. Often I find that others have said things better than I, and that is the case in describing our King. I’m going to hand my conclusion off to a preacher named Dr. S.M. Lockridge (play sound):
The Bible says my King is a seven-way king....He’s the King of the Jews; that’s a racial king....He’s the King of Israel; that’s a national King....He’s the King of Righteousness....He’s the King of the Ages.....He’s the King of Heaven....He’s the King of Glory....He’s the King of kings, and He’s the Lord of lords. That’s my King. Well....I wonder, do you know Him?.... David said, "The Heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork. My King is a sovereign King. No means of measure can define His limitless love. No far seeing telescope can bring into visibility the coastline of His shoreless supply. No barrier can hinder Him from pouring out His blessings. He’s enduringly strong....He’s entirely sincere....He’s eternally steadfast....He’s immortally graceful....He’s imperially powerful....He’s impartially merciful....... Do you know Him?
He’s the greatest phenomenon that ever crossed the horizon of this world. He’s God’s Son....He’s a sinner’s Saviour....He’s the centerpiece of civilization....He stands in the solitude of Himself....He’s august....He’s unique....He’s unparalleled....He’s unprecedented....He’s the loftiest idea in literature....He’s the highest personality in philosophy....He’s the supreme problem in higher criticism....He’s the fundamental doctrine of true theology....He’s the cardinal necessity for spiritual religion....He’s the miracle of the age.... He’s the superlative of everything good that you choose to call Him....He’s the only one qualified to be an all sufficient Saviour...... I wonder if you know Him today?
He supplies strength for the weak....He’s available for the tempted and the tried....He sympathizes and He saves....He strengthens and sustains....He guards and He guides....He heals the sick....He cleanses lepers....He forgives sinners....He discharges debtors....He delivers captives....He defends the feeble....He blesses the young....He serves the unfortunate....He regards the aged....He rewards the diligent....and He beautifies the meek....... I wonder if you know Him?
Well, my King....is the King....He’s the key to knowledge....He’s the wellspring to wisdom....He’s the doorway of deliverance....He’s the pathway of peace....He’s the roadway of righteousness ....He’s the highway of holiness....He’s the gateway of glory....... Do you know Him?
Well....His office is manifold....His promise is sure....His light is matchless....His goodness is limitless....His mercy is everlasting....His love never changes....His word is enough....His grace is sufficient....His reign is righteous....and His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. I wish I could describe Him to you, but He’s indescribable....He’s incomprehensible....He’s invincible....He’s irresistible.
Well, you can’t get Him out of your mind....You can’t get Him off of your hand....You can’t out live Him, and you can’t live without Him....The Pharisees couldn’t stand Him, but they found out they couldn’t stop Him....Pilate couldn’t find any fault in Him....The witnesses couldn’t get their testimonies to agree....Herod couldn’t kill Him....Death couldn’t handle Him, and the grave couldn’t hold Him. Yea!!!, that’s my King, that’s my King.
Father..."Thine is the Kingdom....and the Power....and the Glory....Forever"....and ever, and ever, and ever, and ever. How long is that? And ever...and ever...and when you get through with all the forevers, then.... AMEN!....AMEN!
(from http://www.bible-commentaries.com/source/audio/myking.htm)
