We are learning the ways we "shrink Jesus down," from his robust loving nature.
? Last week we discovered his surprising agenda-a kingdom not a religious club. Transformed people of the king transforming their world.
* The tension exists today between Jesus and religion. Religion establishes a club exemplified by the Pharisees while Jesus brought the motion of God’s agenda.
? The tendency of a religious club according to Jesus’ collective teachings:
* It forgets its original purpose and becomes a maintainer of the status quo.
* It neglects genuine transformation (real repentance & fruit). There is little integration with faith & behavior.
* It is separatist, viewing outsiders (non-believers and even believers) with suspect. It often defines itself by who it is against.
* It is performance based, focusing on conforming behavior in order to be and feel more important in the club. (advancing our ego downfield).
* It is rote and rule-based rather than thinking and life-style based.
* This survives fine in grace teaching. Grace is for sin and heaven. But the Christian life is shoulds and oughts.
* And there is not grace if you cross the leader.
* Its leader(s) has all power (control) [versus responsibility] and he/she rewards with power.
* It is static and lifeless without motion.
* "I pray that I may quit of God that I may find God" (Meister Eckhart)
* Wagon horse vs. a stallion, race horse, free-range horse ...
* Jesus and the Kingdom-The Full Agenda
? The Kingdom was Jesus’ primary subject. Jesus spoke of the kingdom often. The word is used 121 times in the gospels (e.g. Mark 1:15)..
Mark 1:15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!" This was Jesus primary message.
? The church is not the kingdom. The ekklesia is the assembly of those "called-out ones." The Kingdom is the Rule or Reign of God or will or heart of God (Mt 5:10).
Mat 5:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
? He came to save us from our sins and to put things right from the kingdom of man. That is, our individual and collective will. The surrender of our hearts (our will, agenda, wants, chosen attitudes, chosen judgments) is key.
? Therefore the kingdom is God’s reign, His will, His agenda in contrast with our fallen, self-oriented, unrighteous agendas.
* Much of life is a clash of wills.
* The answer is not to get rid our will, but be transformed.
* Ants and dial spray.
* Marx and Opiate of the people.
* Two things: direction and intensity.
* Someone’s will, will cross your will. It’s a given. What do you do? We need transformation:
* Nature (hidden wisdom) of the Kingdom ("the Kingdom of Heaven is like...") (Mat 13)
* What you signed up for.
? The Kingdom of heaven is like is used 7x in Mat13 & 3x more in Mat.
? It is of the inestimable worth. Its people recognize this &pursue in wisdom (Mat 13:44-45; 13:17). The kingdom of self tends to negotiate a smaller commitment (Mat 19:20-30; Mat 8:18-22).
Matt. 13:44 "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.
Matt. 13:45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
Matt. 13: 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
Matt. 19:20 "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Matt. 19:21 Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
Matt. 19:22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Matt. 19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matt. 19:25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
Matt. 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Matt. 19:27 Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"
Matt. 19:28 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first
.
Matt. 8:18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
Matt. 8:20 Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."
Matt. 8:21 Another disciple said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
Matt. 8:22 But Jesus told him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
* If you don’t see the value now, you wont see it then.
* Seek me with all your heart.
? It has the specific agenda of bringing God’s will (righteousness) to earth. Its people are focused on the mission (transformed people, transforming this world). Engages the will of all of its subjects to change the world (Mat 7:7, 9-12).
Matt. 7:7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
Matt. 7:9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
* Why fellowship goes stale without mission.
* Fellowship of the Ring.
? Small is big: small egos are big, wise people in the Kingdom. Spiritual humility (brokenness,is of high value, because that is how we learn this wisdom) (Mat 5:3).
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
* Not getting their will
* Small is big (child, last, servant, or least) (Mat 18:4; 20:16; 23:11; Luk 9:48).
Matt. 18:4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 20:16 "So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
Matt. 23:11 The greatest among you will be your servant.
Luke 9:48 "For he who is least among you all-he is the greatest."
* Avoids using God to advance one’s ego or position in the world (Luk 17:7-10).
Luke 17:7 "Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ’Come along now and sit down to eat’? 8 Would he not rather say, ’Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’? 9 Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10 So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ’We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’"
* The people are not a list of who’s who, but ordinary people (Mat 22:2).
Matt. 22:2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
? The primary ingredient of the kingdom for now is love (mercy and grace from the king) Mercy and grace toward others (Mat 18:33).
Matt. 18:33 Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’
? Judgment of those who refuse to bow to the king will come later. We can either yield our kingdom (heart) to Him now or be conquered later (Jn 3:17-21; Mat 13:47; 7:3-5).).
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
Matt. 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Matt. 7:3 "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ’Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Things are never what you think so don’t judge others too soon. A little messy at times (Mat 13:47-50)..
Matt. 13:47 "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate ...
* Truth is coming.
* Judgment and wrath is coming (Mat 3:7).
* It is for those who not only murder but hate & judge others (Mat 5:21-25; 7:1).
* It is for those who commit adultery, fornicate and use other humans, made in the image of God, for selfish, lustful objects (Mat 5:27-32).
* It is for people who lie to get their selfish way (Mat 5:33-37).
* It is for those who don’t bear the fruit of the kingdom.
? Primary response is faith not judgment (experienced as trust, obedience, love, believe in) is the currency of the kingdom.
? There is adversity to kingdom life (Mat 13:1-9).
Matt. 13:1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop-a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear."
Matt. 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
Matt. 13:27 "The owner’s servants came to him and said, ’Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
Matt. 13:28 "’An enemy did this,’ he replied.
"The servants asked him, ’Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
Matt. 13:29 "’No,’ he answered, ’because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’"
? Don’t worry about small beginnings: things grow into what they are. Kingdoms and followers become the real deal.
* If you give y. all to Him, you never have or perform or compromise, you are free.
* Starts small but authentic and builds from the established DNA. Outward, instant success is not the same as true success (Mat 13:31, 33).
Matt. 13:31 He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.
Matt. 13:33 He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
* The kingdom is not necessarily innovative but authentic (Mat 13:52).
Matt. 13:52 He said to them, "Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old."
* Centers on fruit and perseverance and not people’s words (Mat 13:24; 7:15-20, 24-27).
Matt. 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.
Matt. 7:15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Matt. 7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
* Examine your own will you have minor wants that support the major wants. Some are good, some amoral, merely preference, some bad. But the real key is what do you do when you don’t get your way? What do you think? Say? Do? That’s your kingdom.
* Alignment of wheels. Alignment of wills.
* Purify my heart (we sing) will, wanting, agenda.
Seek me with all your heart...
* Prodigal son.
* The Queen. (Movie).
* The Kingdom in the Epistles
* Why not kingdom in the epistles?
? Note all the Scriptures in the epistles about God’s will. They are largely about how we live our lives: Rom 12:2; 1 Cor 1:1; Eph 1:9; Col 4:12; 1 Thes 4:3; 5:18; 2).
Rom. 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
1Cor. 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
Eph. 1:9 And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ,
Col. 4:12 Epaphras ... is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.
1Th. 4:3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
1Th. 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
2Tim. 2:26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.
? Note the prayers for the king’s invasion in our lives: Col 1:9; Phil 1:9; Eph 1:17.
Col. 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Phil. 1:9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God.
Eph. 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
? Living a life of wisdom toward God, self and others is almost synonymous with the kingdom: 1 Cor 1:30; 2:6; 1:17; 3:10; Col 1:9; 2:3, 23; 3:16).
1Cor. 1:30 Christ Jesus ... has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1Cor. 2:6 We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.
Eph. 1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
Eph. 3:10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Col. 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
Col. 2:3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Col. 2:23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Col. 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
? The work of the kingdom is the work of the Spirit in John’s gospel.
? The result is to live freely, fully human in the Image of God.
? One day we will see the kingdom physically but for now it is invisible and only becomes visible when we do the will of the king.
? The kingdom is in you & in the church to the degree that we do the will of the king. So the church is not the kingdom but to be the messenger of the kingdom
* Matrix 1. Did a good job of trying compare two agendas. The false agendas of computers verses the true (real) agenda.
* Lord’s Prayer.
* Jacob and strong wills.
* Taking It Home
? Review the notes and the passages above.
? List the major wants (desires, agendas) of your kingdom. List the minor ones. What do you do when you don’t get your wants?
? What would happen to your wants if you surrendered to the kingdom?
? Pray, asking God’s will to invade your will.
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