I love the culture of Hope Chapel.
We are group of people who can be serious about God’s business but never take ourselves too seriously.No one around here claims to be better than someone else. I’ve said this before, but its worth saying again, the word that sums us up is AUTHENTIC.
Lord knows I’m tired of playing church.
And I think many of you are as well.
If it ain’t legit we must quit.
In other words, the way we do church is a reflection of who we are as a people, a community..heart-felt, passionate, honest, vulnerable. That probably expresses how we live for God as well: Heart-felt, passionate, honest, vulnerable.
This 5 week study on the kingdom of God will be just that. If you are looking for seminary answers that fit really well into your traditional theology, you may not find it.
Because I’m real interested in not only talking about what God intends…what He reveals in Scripture, I’m also interested in wrestling with what it looks like in our community. And often times, it’s messy.
But I am determined to see our culture here at Hope Chapel become immersed in the culture of the Kingdom of God. For us to be who we are…living in a kingdom culture. Well today I am going to teach you all about the kingdom of God…to pull back some of the mystery surrounding it in a message I have entitled “Knowing”
PRAY…
Centuries ago, there was a man wandering in the desert whose throat was parched, his body dehydrated from the desert heat, his stomach empty of food. Just as all hope escaped him a stranger walked up to him. The stranger told him that civilization wasn’t too far from him. In fact, there was entire kingdom just a few miles away. Our exhausted friend followed the stranger. Once entering the gates to the city, he received water & food.
The man near death was now revived, full of life. Though the man heard other activity inside the city he was content to stay right by the gates to this incredible kingdom.
Such it is with us. We have been brought to the entrance to the kingdom of God, but many have failed to truly live in the kingdom.
For there is activity going on in there that we are missing. I think the reason we don’t live in the kingdom is because we really don’t understand it. Many are not living, proclaiming and advancing the kingdom of God, because they do not UNDERSTAND it.
And there’s a really great reason for that: SCRIPTURE! Ha, that’s right, what the bible teaches about God’s kingdom seems contradictory at times.
LET’S BREAK IT DOWN:
WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
The word "KINGDOM" appears in the New Testament 158 times in 150 verses, including the times it appears in the terms "kingdom of heaven" and "kingdom of God".
The term "KINGDOM OF GOD" appears 70 times in 69 verses almost always on the lips of Jesus. The synonymous phrase, "kingdom of heaven," appears 33 times in the Gospel of Matthew.
WHAT IS IT?
Part of the confusion is because of the apparent contradictions in
Scripture:
Is It Present? Mark “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near, repent & believe the good news.”
Is it Future? Matthew 25:34 " Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Is It Here On Earth? Parables imply that it is present and at work in the world.
Or Is It Elsewhere? John 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world.”
Definition: The K.O.G. Is God’s Reign & the REALM in which God’s reign may be experienced. Do not think in terms of LOCATION but AUTHORITY.
II. HISTORY OF GOD’S REIGN:
#2. God has always wanted to be king of a people
he expressed his hope early on:
“Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:6
But the nation of Israel eventually rejected God’s authority…His reign..His kingdom & wanted an earthly king instead.
“they have rejected me as their king. As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt…forsaking me and serving other gods...” 1 Samuel 8:7-8
The people had to be somehow TRANSFORMED. The Old Testament is a period of PREPARATION not only for the MESSIAH, but also for God’s KINGDOM. The people increasingly started to hope…and expect a messiah to come.
#3. The key to understanding the life, ministry & message of Jesus
Under Roman oppression, Israel’s expectation and hope intensified.
This intense Messianic hope & expectation is the BACKDROP of the GOSPELS.
FINALLY, many believed that the “king” had arrived in the person of Jesus. Jesus was declaring the kingdom of God, but the people expected a different kind of king and kingdom. So Jesus spent his entire ministry correcting their understanding of the Kingdom of God.
Therefore, much of the Teaching, Actions and Miracles of Jesus should be understood in this light:
Jesus correcting the people’s perception of God, His reign, and how the people under His reign should live.
Now let me take a few moments & read some key scriptures that show you that the kingdom of God is the key to understanding the ministry of Jesus. I am laying a foundation today, so I have to read more scriptures to show it to you.
1. Citizens have a lifestyle: Mat 5:20 “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. “
Supernatural proves it: Matthew 12:28 “But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. “
2. It’s arrival: Mark 1:15 “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near, repent & believe the good news.”
Weapon against satan: Mark 1:39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
3. Jesus is King: Luke 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end."
His purpose to declare: Luke 4:43 " I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. " How to enter it: Luke 18:17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.
4. “King” Jesus was crucified: John 19:12
Jesus returns to complete it
5. Jesus is The Risen King Who Gives Authority To His People To Expand His Kingdom
Mat 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, " All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. "
III. What does the Kingdom of God mean for us today?
All along God’s kingdom has been God’s reign. The cross opened the door for all to be under His reign.
Jesus had all this talk about the kingdom but when he ascended to the father, he left no city, no effective kingdom, no visible army, no apparent subjects. And Rome still oppressed Israel.
Jesus’ life is like a seed. Small, mysterious & hidden. He is sown in the field of the world, he dies, rises & vanishes.
But it was on the day of Pentecost that the first sprout of the kingdom becomes evident.
Israel thought the Messiah would overthrow foreign oppressors. He didn’t. He wanted to overthrow foreign oppressors over their hearts…the kingdom of darkness.
The age of peace, justice & mercy had come in Jesus. His army began to rise. People began to see the city of God through believers. His kingdom was in effect!
When jesus came, so did his kingdom! His kingdom was now established! In the hearts of his people!
He wanted & still wants to expand his kingdom…the rule, the reign of God in the hearts of more people..of all people!
• Realize its nearness
God’s kingdom has been brought near to us because Chris has come near to us! When Jesus is describing the kingdom, he is describing himself in the hearts of many! The mystery of the kingdom of God is Christ himself!
We know that his kingdom is near because his power is at work!
How should this affect you?
The way you pray!
The way you think & live!
We have access to the kingdom right now!
But it is only partial. His kingdom has not fully come. That’s why Jesus said we should pray, “your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven”
• Proclaim how to enter it
The “good news” of the kingdom is that it is now open to ALL through Jesus!
Coming under God’s reign now through faith in Jesus Christ secures us a place in his future kingdom!
We must hold up our lives and say, “this is what living under God’s reign looks like!”
• Teach others how to live in it
The citizens of the kingdom have certain codes they live by. The have a certain language they speak. There is a certain culture within this kingdom.
We cannot leave people siting at the entrance of the kingdom, we must teach people how to live in the kingdom. It’s laws, how it works.
Just like astronauts must learn how to navigate in outer space…
Just like sailers on the sea.
Just like deep sea divers…
There is way to function in those environments.
So it is in the kingdom of God.
