Living in the Kingdom
Text: Matthew 3:1-8
Introduction: Think about this: "Most Christians repent enough to get forgiven, but not enough to see the Kingdom." Now think about what John was saying: "Repent, because the kingdom of heaven has come near!" A modern translation puts it: "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near." To the Jew of the time, a kingdom of their own was a much sought after dream. Having had their kingdom taken from them and having been under the rulership of foreign nations for hundreds of years, their main desire was to be free - free to rule themselves.
John came as an initiator - one who was sent to herald the arrival of the Kingdom of God. He came with a message much different than the world anticipated. His attire, his ways were so different. He proclaimed the arrival of this most momentous event in such a different way. Yet, something about him attracted the multitudes to him. His message, though different had meaning; his presence, though different had authority. His message of repentance and the Kingdom of God attracted multitudes unto him.
Let’s take a moment and gain a better understanding of what this word "Kingdom" means. King-dom = King’s domain = implies authority & lordship. Basically, Jesus came into this earthly domain, ruled by the powers of darkness, and offered to all who were willing to receive - the benefits of His world. The Kingdom refers to the realm of God’s domain - a realm of all sufficiency! Jesus illustrated the benefits of that Kingdom through His works of forgiveness, deliverance and healing.
Israel expected a Messiah. Prophets of old had predicted the coming of this One who would deliver them. Their expectation, though, was a King who would come, deliver them from their enemies and then rule over their nation as David and Solomon had done. They expected One who would rule with a rod of iron and avenge them for the suffering and persecution they had endured. What they failed to recognize was that their need, as well as ours, was not vengence upon their physical enemies but rather he enemies of the soul such as sin, the devil and his works, and the self-righteous attitudes of the religious.
The Messiah came but so did many surprises. His purpose was not according to their plan. His ways were not what they desired. His message of repentance caught them completely off-guard. In fact, He brought His world with Him!
John’s message contained two main points: repentance and the coming of God’s Kingdom. Let’s look at these two main points for a few moments and in so doing, experience within ourselves the arrival of God’s Kingdom.
In introducing the Kingdom of God to his listeners, John began by proclaiming that:
1. Kingdom Living Requires True Repentance
- v. 2 - "Repent...."
A. The Message Bible translates this very literally: "Change your life."
B. What is repentance?
1. We understand that "Most Christians repent enough to get forgiven, but not enough to see the Kingdom."
2. Repentance comes from a Greek word - metanoeo - which literally means to think differently.
3. Paul gives us a clearer understanding in Romans 12:2 where he uses two specific words to define this repentant attitude: conformed & transformed - "do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."
a. conformed means fashioned after - don’t be fashioned after this world’s ways & thinking
b. transformed means complete change (metamorphosis) - comes about by a complete renewal of one’s pattern of thinking
C. Repentance means much more than simply crying over our sin, or even turning from those sins to follow God.
1. Turning from sin to God is more the result of true repentance than it is the actual act.
2. Repentance means you change your way of thinking.
3. Only those who truly repent will discover the true focus of Jesus’ ministry - the Kingdom.
D. Repentance could be described as doing an about-face in life.
1. One day I was going one direction in life and I all of a sudden I changed in order to pursue another.
2. Perhaps the thing that cripples the Church more than anything else today is hidden sin.
a. Hidden sin keeps us from the purity that is necessary for us to have boldness and great faith.
b. Hidden sin hobbles the Church.
3. We repent to a certain extent but continue with the sin we feel nobody else knows about.
4. Remember what I said: "Most Christians repent enough to get forgiven, but not enought to see the Kingdom!"
5. Repentance is incomplete until it envisions His Kingdom.
6. The focus of repentance is to change or transform our way of thinking until the presence of His Kingdom fills our consciousness.
E. V.8 says: "produce fruit consistent with repentance."
Application: The enemy attempts to harness our affections and thinking to this physical realm in order to prevent us from seeing the spiritual realm or Kingdom realm. Only when we can remove our minds, affections, thoughts and actions from this physical world or realm will we begin to experience the Kingdom life that Jesus came to establish. Where are you at in this process? Is hidden sin confining you and preventing you from experiencing all God has for you? Hidden sin prevents you from having holy boldness and the faith necessary to see great things happen.
John’s message of repentance further detailed God’s Kingdom plan and that is:
2. Kingdom Living Is For The Now
- v. 2 - "...the kingdom of heaven has come near!"
A. "Near" is translated as at hand, near, nigh or as the Msg Bible puts it: "God’s kingdom is here."
B. In Lk 17, the Pharisees were grilling Christ concerning the coming of God’s Kingdom - Christ responded by saying: "God’s kingdom is already among you." (v. 21, KJV)
C. Kingdom living is for the now -
1. It is not some long sought after event still to come.
2. It is here now but this is not the best of it.
3. Greater things are still to come.
D. Kingdom living is available to all -
1. In Mt 21, Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and church leaders.
2. In v. 43, He said: "I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing its fruit."
3. God is looking to bestow His Kingdom upon those who will do something with it.
D. The ministry of Jesus initiated its coming.
1. The words of Jesus recorded in Mk 9:1 speak of its inception.
2. Jesus said: "I assure you: There are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God come in power."
Application: That Kingdom came in great power on the day of Pentecost. Many experienced its radical transformation in thinking and actions. Many experienced its power to heal and deliver. That power, that force is available for all right now. We can quit living in anticipation of the coming Kingdom and recognize we are now a part of that Kingdom.
Conclusion: When John came preaching, his message was different; his style was different; his demeanor was different. He attracted the crowds because he stood out in the crowd. His message was a message of life - life for the here and now.
So, what exactly does it mean for one to be a part of God’s present domain? As we once again consider John’s message, it is interesting to note that his message was preached at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus - the implication here is watch Him and His life and you will see exactly what it means to be a part of God’s domain. Jesus exemplified Kingdom living.
As we consider this idea of Kingdom Living, I ask you: Are you producing fruit consistent with repentance? Is your life pleasing God? Are your actions pleasing God? Are you truly living the Kingdom life that God has designed you to live?
You can hear this and other sermons on our website at: www.corministry.com.
