The Kingdom Of God - Seeing The Bigger Picture

2014.01.18.SERMON.the KINGDOM OF GOD

William Akehurst, HSWC

“Seeing the bigger picture”

Today is “Sanctity of Life Sunday” Anti-abortion day to some.

It comes a day before Civil Rights Day/Human Rights day/Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday which is Monday.

There is a parallel to the themes of these 2 days, and we will see these parallels based on scripture.

SANCTITY means: holiness, sacredness, blessedness, purity…of life.

GOD said, “be HOLY because I AM HOLY”

Life is to be sacred, holy, blessed and pure.

RIGHTS: Man has given us rights. But also, GOD has given us rights.

Rights to live equally. Yet the same rights are given to inherit the KINGDOM of GOD. But these rights are by an act of OBEDIENCE to the CREATOR HIMSELF. Because these rights were given by HIM, all we need do is receive HIM to receive HIS RIGHTS.

Unborn parallels with unborn-again

UNBORN can’t speak for themselves, the UNBORN AGAIN do not know, haven’t heard, need to be told.

SAVE the unborn, SAVE the unborn-again

Speak out FOR the unborn, speak out TO the unborn-again.

Who are these unborn again? They are the unborn CHILDREN OF GOD.

Beginning with Mark 1.1-15

REPENT

GOD’S KINGDOM IS NOW

Psalms 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

Deuteronomy 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life,that both thou and thy seed may live:

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Mark 1:1-15

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

PREPARE YOUR HEART AND CHANGE INWARDLY [SPIRIT] AND OUTWARDLY [ACTIONS]

3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;

7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD’S SIGN AND MESSAGE

8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:

11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

12 And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.

13 And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

JESUS MESSAGE, REPENT [CHANGE], BELIEVE, THE KINGDOM IS NOW.

14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

SEEK GOD’S KINGDOM

Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Read Luke 12.27-34

Luke 12:31-32

31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

RECEIVE GOD’S KINGDOM AS CHILDREN

Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little childshall in no wise enter therein.

BE BORN AGAIN

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

LIFE ON EARTH IS NOT EASY

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

POWER OF GOD IS IN THE KINGDOM

1 Corinthians 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.

KINGDOM OF GOD IS PERMANENT