The Kingdom - Part 7

Introduction: A Kingdom Coming Culture

Been talking a lot about the KINGDOM of GOD

We have established that God created....a physical universe

His intent was to establish his kingdom in this physical world

• To experience ‘HEAVEN ON EARTH’
• To have heaven without having to go to heaven

To experience Heaven before you die

• No sickness – poverty – lying – etc.

People talk a lot about life after death - I believe in life before death

Not just pie in the sky when you die – but steak on the plate while I wait

This is where the plan and purpose of mankind comes in

1. Establish relationship with man (not a religion)

• It was never God's plan to establish a religion

Christianity is a relationship – not a religion

• The purposes of the invisible God would be served by a visible creation

2. Extend his heavenly kingdom to earth through mankind

Let THEM rule – not ‘US’

Gen 1:26 NIV Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air

• Man was created to exercise power and designed to manage it

God made earth to be inhabited

Isa 45:18 NIV For this is what the LORD says he who created the heavens, he is God; he who fashioned and made the earth, he founded it; he did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited he says: "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Jesus mission was to colonize earth with heaven

• Same way great Britain colonized Australia

Religion focuses on leaving earth and going to heaven

That’s why Jesus main message was the KINGDOM

• All His teaching revolved around the kingdom of God

E.g. Jesus had to teach disciples how to pray

Mat 6:9-10 NIV "This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, (10) your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

• Our father – relationship with man
• Your Kingdom come – your will done on earth

Imagine disciples all excited – “we know how to pray”

• Then reality hits
• What does “your kingdom come” mean
  • How does it come
  • What does it look like

So....How does the Kingdom come?

• Note: The Kingdom has come, is now and is yet to come

In short – When the king’s commands are obeyed

• Every Kingdom must have subjects
• The duty of every subject to subject themselves to the Kings commands.
• Must obey God’s will, word and His ways

(Prov 14:12 NIV) There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

(2 Sam 22:31 NIV) "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.

As good as an answer as that is – it is too ambiguous

Let's look at 4 specific where by the Kingdom comes...

1. Whenever there is submission to structural spiritual authority

• E.g. Centurion (servant healed)
  Mat 8:5-10 NIV When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. (6) "Lord," he said, "my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." (7) Jesus said to him, "I will go and heal him." (8) The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. (9) For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." (10) When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.

This is true for...

• Government – (Rom.13:1) E.g. paying taxes
  (Rom 13:1NIV) Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.
• Home – husband & wife, parent and child (Eph.5:22-6:4)
• Work place – employer and employee (Eph.6:5-8)
• Church – (Heb.13&17)

2. Whenever supernatural authority is released

Mat 12:28 NIV But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

• Deliverance = Gods kingdom having authority over devils kingdom
• Jesus taught with authority

Mat 7:28-29 NIV When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, (29) because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

• E.g. Healing – Gods healing authority over sickness

3. Whenever financial prosperity is released in a biblical way

2Co 8:1-2 NIV And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. (2) Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity.

• Generosity is something you ARE not something you do
• E.g. some sold homes – church grew daily

4. Whenever genuine purity is demonstrated

(1 Tim 4:12 NIV) Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

• Purity - Innocent, modest, clean, perfect
• E.g. sex in marriage – honest business deals

Conclusion

The Church is the means through whom God chooses to release His Kingdom

It is because there is a mission, that there is a church.

Not...because there is a church, that there is a mission.

The church doesn’t exist as an end in itself. IT’S A MEANS TO AN END

We are to preach, live and experience the Kingdom of God

(1 Cor 4:20 NIV) For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

• Power is a by product of purpose
• The purpose of the church is the king and the kingdom