Children of the Kingdom
Series: Discovering the Kingdom of God – Message #2
Pastor Chuck Hill - Trinity Fellowship Church
Sunday, October 15, 2006
What is the Kingdom of God?
Last week we discovered that the Kingdom of God is…
…the working of God here on earth even as it is in Heaven. Not limited to a place, the Kingdom of God is everywhere God is ruling and reigning – everywhere God’s people live and serve Him!
And here is the power of this truth…the Bible tells us that God is not just with us, but through His Spirit, He lives within us and where he is – so is His Kingdom!
Folks, God has redeemed us – He has recreated our hearts and our minds for the purpose…the sole purpose of being His representatives here on Earth. In fact, it is His purpose for us to establish His Kingdom agenda right here where we are just as it has always been established in Heaven.
So what does this mean to you and me?
What does being a Kingdom representative mean to you and me? Well, Bible says in Matthew 18:2-3…
“Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. Then He said, ‘I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven!’”
Matthew 18:2-3 (NLT)
Jesus tells us that we must become as Children if we are to enter into the Kingdom. Why? Why would Jesus describe the process of being a part of the Kingdom by saying we have to be like little children? Well, to find the answer to this question, I asked my 8 year old theologian son…and he gave me some great insight on this. He said that he thought the reason was because children are cooler than adults. He also said, children just like to laugh and have fun and God liked that. I of course summarized that statement in the “Joy”. Noticing this, he added…”Kids are joyful, peaceful, loving…” And then I realized he was just giving me what he thought would impress me – the fruit of the Spirit.
But maybe he has something there. Children naturally love to have fun…and wouldn’t it just make sense for God to want those who claim to be apart of His family to be full of Joy. Because, the Kingdom of God should be a Kingdom of celebration.
That reminds me of the penciled drawing that I saw of Jesus. Maybe some of you have seen this. It is called the laughing Jesus. And it is great. It has Jesus surrounded by children and his head is thrown back in laughter. I think that is a great picture of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Well this week I ran across some prayers prayed by children…listen to the honesty in some of these. They will make you laugh!
• Dear God,
Thank you for the baby brother…but what I asked for was a puppy. I never asked for anything before. Honest, you can look it up.
- Joyce
• Dear God,
I like the story about Noah the best of all of them. You really made up some good ones. Oh yeah, I like the walking on water too!
- Glenn
• Dear God,
My Grandpa says you were around when he was a little boy. How far back do you go?
- Love, Dennis
• Dear God,
Did you mean for giraffes to look like that or was it an accident?
- Norma
• Dear God,
In Bible times, did they really talk that fancy?
- Jennifer
• Dear God,
My brother told me about how you are born...but it just doesn’t sound right. What do you say?
- Marsha
• Dear God,
I am doing the best I can. Really!!!
- Frank
• Dear God,
I didn’t think orange went with purple until I saw the sunset you made on Tuesday night. That was really cool!
- Thomas
Jesus said that if we want to be apart of His Kingdom…then we must repent and become like little children. And if we do – if we repent and turn from our selfish ways, our sin…then in that moment, literally become connected to that great Kingdom. Not of this world…but of the Kingdom of God.
Pastor Jack Hayford once wrote concerning this passage…
“With these words, Jesus confronts the tendency of humanity to associate authority with an exercise of dominance over others. The dominion or authority in Kingdom life that God wants to reinstate within us is for victorious, fruitful living and for the overthrow of hellish powers, not for gaining control of others or for serving our own interests. His call to childlike humility and a servant-like heart establishes the spirit and style by which the authority of the believer is to be exercised as an agent of God’s Kingdom power.”
You see, Jesus has called us to turn the world on it’s ear by taking the simple things and confounding the workings and the powers of this world and establishing the Kingdom of God.
But Jesus also says that if we want to really succeed as His representatives of the Kingdom here on earth, then we must put first things first. Listen to how He said it.
He said…
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)
What things? All the things that we typically are searching for – provision, care, friendships, love, life…all of this and more is provided when we put the Kingdom of God first in our lives.
The Kingdom of God is more than a place, and it is also more than just a future event when God recreates the heavens and the earth at the end of time as we know it. It is more than just the end of time…it is also here and now.
The Kingdom of God is something that is taking place right here and right now in our daily lives.
Look at the words of Jesus in Mark 1:15. Mark writes,
"The time has come," he (Jesus) said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"
Mark 1:15 (NIV)
The Kingdom of God is near. It is at hand. It is close. It is now. It is taking place right now.
Jesus didn’t say it would only be something to take place in the future…but He really stirred things up when He said, the Kingdom is HERE! It is NEAR.
And then he added one more great addition to His statement. He said. “…believe the good news!”
The Kingdom of God being here in our lives right now – is good news! And we have been included in this Kingdom. In fact, we are children of this wonderful Kingdom of God.
So, the big question is this:
If we are to live as Children of the Kingdom, then what should we do?
How should we respond? Is there anything that the Bible tells us in regards to how we should pattern our lives?
Yes! The bible is very specific about what life should look like for you and me. In order to explain this type of life that we are called to, I first need to establish a base from which we can build upon. So this morning, I want you to turn in your bibles with me back to Exodus.
Exodus 19:3-8
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ’You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you [a] will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites." 7 So Moses went back and summoned the elders of the people and set before them all the words the LORD had commanded him to speak. 8 The people all responded together, "We will do everything the LORD has said." So Moses brought their answer back to the LORD.
Exodus 19:3-8
Those of you who are parents, have you ever rewarded your children fro certain behavior?
“Son, if you will…then I will.” (clean your room, eat your vegetables, finish your homework, earn a certain grade…)
Do you know what I am talking about?
Well, in a sense, God does this with His people here in this chapter of Exodus. He tells them, if they we will obey and do as He commands…then He will do something great for them.
What this is – is a promise. It is literally a covenant that God was making with His people. Do you know what a covenant is? It is something that He does out of Hs love – it was a pact or treaty between God and His people. Now this wasn’t the first covenant we find Him making after the sin of Adam. But rather, this is the third covenant he made in the O.T.
• In Genesis – the first covenant made was with Noah – do you remember the rainbow…God promised to never again destroy the earth with water (this promise was with Noah and all of humanity)
• In Genesis 12 – he made the second covenant with Abraham and his descendants – God promised that He would multiply his seed and ultimately bless the entire earth through him. Not just an area…but the whole earth.
• And then we come to the third covenant of God here in Exodus 19 – But this covenant was different than the first two. The first two dealt with individuals…yet this one was made with all of the people of Israel – millions of people. An entire nation. Here God covenants to bless them and make them a royal holy priesthood.
When it comes to this covenant with God, you need to understand – since we are partakers of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, we are also included in the promised blessings of God to the people of Israel. So as we read through the O.T. and find promises made to them, you can write your name in and apply these promises to your life as well.
Well here are so important things that you need to understand in regards to the Covenant of God.
1. God’s Covenant always calls for Our Response
But not just any response…He requires a response of obedience:
This covenant was prior to their response. It came first. They did not earn it. But they did respond to it.
You see, God had already begun the blessings in their lives back when they were still in bondage in Egypt. He began His work of deliverance and provision for them long before they responded to His promise.
I want you to get this because it is very important…they had already been delivered, set free, and after that, God then made this wonderful and powerful covenant with them. But when the promise was made…it required a response from them.
They could not just sir idly by. The promise demanded a response. But not just any response, God was looking for them to respond with obedience.
Now, don’t mistake the covenant of obedience with a works Gospel.
What we have through Christ as believers in this day and age is a covenant of blessing which comes before our obedience. But once we believe and embrace – we will respond.
God’s covenant – His promise to us…His blessing extend to you and me always calls us to respond.
You cannot just sit back…the beauty and power of God within you will drive you to a place of response. It will turn your life around and get you up on your feet – making a difference in this world for Him.
You will become a worker, a servant for the Kingdom of God. But notice that your response comes after you have received…not before.
Obedience follows Salvation – it does not precede it!
Secondly, I want you to know…
2. Our Obedience Comes As A Voluntary Response.
When God rescued you and me from the destructive life we were living. When He changed our destiny, He didn’t strong arm us into His Kingdom. Neither does He force us to obey Him against our will.
He doesn’t make you obey.
Again, notice the words God spoke to His people Israel in verse 5. He said…
“Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’”
Notice that little word “if”. He allows us the free choice to obey or not.
He is not forcing us to obey. He gives man a free choice to obey.
Yet, he does warn us in love that our disobedience will bring consequences.
There is something that many people misunderstand. When it comes to following God’s Word and living lives of purity, or holiness, or obedience, many people think that their obedience blesses God…or helps God to feel good. As if – our obedience is for His sake.
But that is far from the truth…the reality is that our obedience is for our sake. Our obedience actually saves us from harm, it sets us free from pain, it delivers us from frustration and failure.
If we obey God – then God will provide us with deliverance on so many levels.
As Kingdom Agents here in this world, our very relationship or connection to God is verified by our obedience to Him. There is a scripture passage that we just looked at as a church on Wednesday night. It is found in 1 John 2. Listen to what John writes:
3We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. 4The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love] is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: 6Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.
1 John 2:3-6
This passage tells us that if we know Him, we will keep His commandments; in other words, the flow of His life in us will produce obedience on our part, and out of that will flow power.
So, God’s covenant always calls for a response of obedience…
But our obedience comes as a voluntary act…not a forced response.
And thirdly…
3. Our Obedience Is the Only Appropriate Response.
When you consider our deliverance…obedience is really the only true and appropriate response.
Why? Why should we obey?
Because…
• God has set us free…
• He has delivered us from our sin…
• He has provided everything that we need! Everything.
• He has completely removed the weight and chains that were binding us in slavery to our sin.
And because of this, the only proper response is to obey Him!
But not just shallow obedience…but rather our obedience should be an overflow of our passion for God and this passionate obedience should be connected with (or motivated by) a thankful spirit.
Folks, can I let you in on a little secret?
It is our obedience to God which opens doors of opportunity and allows us to enjoy the relationship of both protection and connection with His Kingdom.
This kind of living is what God intended from the very beginning. Even back in the Garden of Eden…God’s plan was for man to obey Him and live within His bounty and provision.
Even Jesus acknowledged that obedience was the only appropriate response to God’s covenant. As you know, there were who followed Jesus around with the desire to trick Him and trap Him by His words…and in John 10:24 some of these were asking him if He is going to keep them in suspense or if He was ever going to just come out and tell them that He was the Messiah.
And Jesus, (knowing their hearts and their intent) answered their question by stating…
25…"I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
John 10:25-28 (NIV)
He was saying that his sheep are in tune to His voice and respond obediently.
If you are obeying – you know and respond to His voice. Conversely, if you do not listen and obey – then you are not one of His sheep.
Here is the deal…
Your actions and heart tell the truth of your connection or disconnection to God.
It is more than mere words that matter. How you live is crucial to your connection with the Kingdom of God. We must LIVE as Children of the Kingdom!
Maybe I should ask you a few probing questions to help you determine the state of your heart. Ask yourself:
• What do you harbor in your heart?
• What do you do when no one is watching?
• How do you treat others?
• What is driving you on the inside?
Are you sending out mixed messages by you words and your actions?
Now, here is the good news if you choose to live as a child of the Kingdom of God:
In Deuteronomy – God gives the details of His blessings! Look with me at Deuteronomy 11.
Beginning at verse 1 the Word of God says…
1 Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.
Now, look down at verse 8…
8 Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 9 and so that you may live long in the land that the LORD swore to your forefathers to give to them and their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.
And now skip down to verse 13…
13 So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today—to love the LORD your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- 14 then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil. 15 I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.
And again, skip down to verse 16…
16 Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. 17 Then the LORD’s anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the LORD is giving you. 18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth.
22 If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow—to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways and to hold fast to him- 23 then the LORD will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you. 24 Every place where you set your foot will be yours: Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the Euphrates River to the western sea. [b] 25 No man will be able to stand against you. The LORD your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go. 26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse- 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.
God basically says, I have two doors for you to choose from:
One is the door of Blessing – rain, provision, protection, etc.
The other is the door of Cursing – hurt, anguish, pain, failure, etc.
If I asked any of you, you would agree that you want to walk through the door of blessing. So, the big question is this:
How do we get through the doorway of blessing?
- - It is only opened through our response of obedience!
How do we go through the doorway of cursing? – though disobedience and selfishness.
God wants to give you and me the best life has to offer…but this only comes through fellowship and obedience.
Freedom. Fullness. Strength and blessing. Relationship, provision. All of this is included in the promise of God’s covenant with those who follow Him!
You say, I don’t see it – and I tell you – hold on and stay faithful.
If you put your trust in God -- He will not disappoint you.
Trust Him.
Wait on Him!
Obey Him!
And you will enjoy all these blessings of God – and you will push back the curses!
Obedience is the only appropriate response to God’s Covenant.
