Advancing the Kingdom of God Series
“What is the Kingdom?”
(Various Scripture)
Pray
WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? (Expound)
1. What priority does the Kingdom have?
a. First
b. None because the Kingdom is future
c. Some
d. Equal to gospel of Christ in preaching priority
Not here to make you cry or give you a tear jerking story but what I want to do is stretch your brain and make it hurt
See God’s priority when it comes to the Kingdom of God
Can someone stand for me and quote Matt 6:33, “Seek first the Kingdom of God…”
Maslow did a thing called Hierarchy of needs…and number one was man’s survival need for food and shelter
Jesus told the disciples I don’t want you to worry about what you will eat or what you will wear
but I want you to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteous…then all these, all needs, will be given to you
The Kingdom has a first priority
Let’s talk about answer “D” - Equal to gospel of Christ in preaching priority
When I was growing up, I wasn’t a church guy…I was a nominal Baptist…I went on Easter and Christmas an VBS sometimes
In other words…I didn’t go enough that it hurt me
I didn’t read the bible…I had the bible read to me by preachers…they told me what it said but now it’s different now
I want to know what the bible’s preachers were preaching
When I read now…I ask what did John Baptist go preaching…what did Paul go preaching…what did Jesus go preaching?
Everyone would say they all preached the gospel…
but no where did they preach the gospel without preaching the Kingdom of God
What am I saying?
I am saying that they went forth and preached the gospel, the good news but they also preached the Kingdom of God
They preached Jesus Christ and the gospel and the Kingdom of God
Matt 3:1-2, John the Baptist preached “Repent…WHY? The Kingdom of Heaven is near”
But then let’s just follow something…Take your bible and go to Matt 4:23, I just want to show you some things
Some are asking, Jimmy what are you saying?
What I am saying is that they went preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ…which we preach…
But they preached something in addition to that which somehow we have lost
They preached that when you come before God and say, I am helpless…I am hopeless to be in relationship with you
I am unclean…I am undone…I am stained without any hope of making any difference
I throw myself on the mercy seat of God…to make myself acceptable…
They didn’t just preach that but they also preached that through the gospel I want you to come into the Kingdom of God
Here’s Jesus in Matt 4:23 (read)….Now go with me to Acts 8:12
Here is what’s happening…
Until now, the gospel has been preached primarily to Jewish people…so you would think that would be Kingdom of God stuff
They were looking for the Messiah, He was going to set up His Kingdom
Here’s a situation now where the apostles have been left in Jerusalem but they’re the only ones left
And the persecution has been so great that God has forced the church to scatter
It’s almost like you hit a puddle of Mercury with a hammer and it spurts in all directions
He told em “I want you to go into all the world and preach the gospel” and they were on Hallelujah hill in Jerusalem and they weren’t going anywhere
Having great church services…people getting saved…our four and no more…
They were huddled up and calling signals but nobody ever went out to play
SO God turned a guy loose named Saul, and he made it so tough that they were scattered all over the world
Now they are not just preaching to Jews, but to strange groups of people, all nations, and tongue, and backgrounds
So here is PHILLIP, who is the only guy in the bible ever called an Evangelist, He is the only one
Look at Acts 8:12
He preached about the good news about the Kingdom of God and Jesus Christ
Now let’s look at a guy named Paul…go with me to Acts 19:8
Who was the apostle, probably to the Jews…Peter
Who was the apostle then to the gentiles…Paul
Who are we….GENTILES…unless you are Jewish
Now if I were a gentile…here comes Paul…if Paul were here today…what would he preach
He would preach the good news…there is no other way to be saved but also…
Look at Acts 19:8, 9
But let’s go to the end of his life…Acts 28:30 & 31
He’s taking anybody that wants to visit him…He’s been put under house arrest…
They have allowed him to rent a house and anyone that wants to visit him can visit
Jewish people are coming to visit as we see up in verse 23 but they came and heard…some believed and some rejected
But now for two years look what is happening in Acts 28:30, 31
Two things he taught and preached JESUS CHRIST AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Can’t find anybody who goes and is just doing one
What am I saying…
This thing called the Kingdom of God is being preached right along with the gospel of Jesus Christ
It certainly has to have some importance
CONCLUSION
God’s Kingdom has a priority…Matthew 6:33 (quote)
It is to have first priority…and we see it is preached with the gospel of Christ
All that preached Jesus, preached about His Kingdom
The Kingdom is significant to us and to all who we preach the gospel to
Next week we will continue by answering the question
2. When is the Kingdom?
Pray
