REVIEW
FLIP CHART: SOM’S KEY VERSE, GOAL, MOTTO
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness ….” (Mt. 6:33a).
The law sends us to Christ for justification; Christ sends us back to the law for sanctification.
FLIP CHART: Show new “Perfect Righteousness” chart explaining steps to coming to Christ (As a worm, mourning, meek, spiritual hunger/thirst with the result of legal righteousness). Explain: moral righteousness, immediate moral change at conversion, gradual change through life’s challenges and speeding up moral change via CCRC (Concentration, Choice, Reflection and Confession/Thanksgiving). Key verse, “By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy” (Heb. 10:14).
FLIP CHART: John Stott’s outline of SOM.
REVIEW 11.25 – 12.23, 2007
1. We must always remember who God is before we go to prayer. We need especially to remember that He is our Father and He loves us, delights in and loves to answer our prayers.
2. Answered prayer is one of the key ways in which God receives glory and thus it is vital that we pray so that His name will be glorified on this earth!
3. All of our prayers should begin with a cry that God’s name/person be honored, revered and glorified around the world. This is what he desires and this is certainly would be the greatest blessing to all mankind.
This then is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. (Matthew 6:7-13)
INTRODUCTION:
One commentator feels that this prayer sums up in a nutshell the passion of Jesus. We need to keep this in mind as we study the prayer.
He writes,
READING: “This prayer, then, serves as a lens through which to see Jesus himself, and to discover something of what he was about. When Jesus gave his disciples this prayer, he was giving them part of his own breath, his own life, his own prayer.” (N.T. Wright, The Lord and His Prayer. Pg. 2)
OUTLINE FOR TODAY:
1. DEFINING THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN / GOD
2. WHERE IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
3. WHEN DID / WILL THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME?
4. SPREADING THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM
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5. HOW DO I GET INTO THE KINGDOM?
6. LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
7. SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THY KINGDOM COME!
I. DEFINING THE “KINGDOM OF HEAVEN / GOD”
Kingdom comes from the Greek word Basileia (from which we get the word “basilica,” a large building, usually public building.) Basileia means royal power, kingship, dominion, or rule and is not to be confused with an actual kingdom but rather the right or authority to rule over a kingdom. Of course it can also mean the territory subject to the rule of a king.
The “Kingdom of Heaven / God” is of great value and should have primacy in our lives. Jesus spoke of its importance again and again: The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought the field.” (Mt. 13:44)
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Mt. 6:33)
“What is God’s kingdom? This question is not easily answered, for the views of Bible teachers and commentators often have differed greatly, and the Bible presents so many aspects of God’s kingdom and presents them in so many lights that any short answer is incomplete and misleading.” (Boice, 177)
TABLE ACTIVITY: If a non-believer were to read Mt. 6:33 and Mt. 13:44 and ask you, “What is the kingdom of Heaven / God?” how would you answer. Seek to write a short paragraph of no more than 25 words that could provide an answer for the individual.
God’s “kingdom” or “rule” is the range of his effective will, where what he wants done is done. The person of God himself and the action of His will are the organizing principles of his kingdom, but everything that obeys those principles, whether by nature or by choice, is within his kingdom. (Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, Pg. 25)
II. WHERE IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
QUESTION: Where is the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God is in heaven:
“I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14:25)
The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. (II Tim. 4:18)
The Kingdom of God will fill the whole earth
The parables of the sower, mustard seed and leaven (Mt. 13:24-33, 38) indicate that God’s Kingdom will become exceedingly large and fill the whole earth.
“…The field is the world.” (Mt. 13:38)
Yet Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world:
“My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.” (John 18:36)
Jesus and Paul emphasized that God’s kingdom is spiritual:
Once having been asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The Kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the Kingdom of God is within you.” (Lk. 17:20-21).
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit …” (Rom 14:17).
The “Kingdom of God” can be better translated as the “Reign of God.” It does not refer to geographic location but to dominion and sovereignty.
God’s “kingdom” or “rule” is the range of his effective will, where what he wants done is done.
You can identify the presence of God’s Kingdom by asking yourself, “Is God’s will being done in this place and/or in this situation? If that is so God’s Kingdom is present or at least the influence of God’s Kingdom is evident.
III. WHEN DID / WILL THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME?
QUESTION: When will God’s kingdom come?
Although God’s reign was evident in the world prior to the coming of Christ, in a special way the Kingdom of heaven was proclaimed with His coming.
“The law and the prophets were proclaimed until John (the Baptist). Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached ….” (Lk. 16:16).
John the Baptist and the disciples preached that the Kingdom of Heaven was near.
“In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Mt. 3:2)
“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’” (Lk. 10:8)
Where Jesus was, there was the Kingdom of God.
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.” (Lk. 11:20).
The Kingdom of God came before the death of the apostles:
And he said to them, “I tell you the truth, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power.” (Mark 9:1).
Is this a reference to Pentecost and the formation of the church?
Yet, we are told to pray for the coming of God’s Kingdom.
This, then, is how you should pray: … Thy kingdom come …. (Mt. 6:10a)
The Kingdom of God comes, in one sense, every time we submit to His reign. My obedience increases his reign.
The absolute reign of the Kingdom is future and will come suddenly:
When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory … then the king will say …” (Mt. 25:31, 34).
The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our LORD and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 11:15)
READING: The kingdom of God is his royal rule. Again, as He is already holy so He is already King, reigning in absolute sovereignty over both nature and history. Yet when Jesus came he announced a new and special break-in of the kingly rule of God, with all the blessings of salvation and the demands of submission which divine rule implies. To pray that his kingdom may ‘come’ is to pray both that it may grow, as through the church’s witness people submit to Jesus, and that soon it will be consummated when Jesus returns in glory to take his power and reign. (Stott, 147)
IV. SPREADING THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM
Jesus was sent by the Father to preach the good news of the Kingdom.
“Jesus went through out Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, …” (Mt. 4:23).
“I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God in other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” (Lk. 4:43)
The disciples (along with us) are commanded to preach the coming of the Kingdom:
“As you go, preach this message: The Kingdom of Heaven is near.” (Mt. 10:7) …. “And he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God (Lk. 9:2).
Satan opposes the proclamation of the message of the Kingdom:
“When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his hear.” (Mt. 13:19)
ILL: Pentecostal pastor in Surabaya who prayed that his words would be protected against the snatching beak of the devil as they were traveling from his mouth to the ears and hearts of his listeners.
Paul’s preaching focused on the Kingdom of God:
Paul spoke boldly in the synagogue in Ephesus for three month arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God (Acts. 19:8). In parting from the Ephesians he said, “Now I know that not one of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.” (Acts 20:25). When Paul arrived in Rome the Jews came to where he was staying. “From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God …” (Acts 28:23). He rented his own house in Rome and the book of Acts ends with this verse, “Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts. 28:31).
Preaching of Gospel to all ethnic groups a sign of the end of the world.
And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations (ta ethne), and then the end will come (Mt. 24:14)
READING: Electricity is “at hand” – Dallas Willard, The Divine Conspiracy, Pg. 30
We should also be anxious to see this kingdom extending in the lives and hearts of other men and women. So that when we pray, “Thy kingdom come”, we are praying for the success of the gospel, its sway and power; we are praying for the conversion of men and women; we are praying that the kingdom of God may come today in Britain, in Europe, in America, in Australia, everywhere in the world. “Thy kingdom come” is an all-inclusive missionary prayer. (MLJ, 64)
APPLICATION: Our task is to go out into all of the world and say, “Electricity is here.” This is why we pray for our families and neighbors; this is why we are involved in missions.
Jesus shall reign where’er the sun
Does his successive journey’s run.
His kingdom stretch from shore to shore
‘Til moons shall wax and wane no more. (Isaac Watts)
V. HOW DO I GET INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD?
Not all who seem to do what he wants done are true members of the Kingdom. Certain individuals may appear to be true members of the Kingdom of God but they are not. They are referred to by Jesus as evildoers, weeds/tares sown by the devil.
Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Mt. 7:21-23)
The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. (Mt. 13:37-39a)
In one sense it is hard to get into the Kingdom of God.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mt. 19:23-24).
“Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the Kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9-10 and cf. Gal. 5:19-21).
When strengthening the disciples in Asia Minor Paul said, “We must go through many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22)
Righteousness is the key requirement for entering the Kingdom of God:
Jesus said, “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” (Mt. 5:20).
We read in the Beatitudes that the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers and those who are persecuted because of righteousness enter the Kingdom of God (Mt. 5:3-10).
God “calls” us into His kingdom:
“…God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory” (I Thes. 2:12).
He calls all sorts of people. Jesus said, “… the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you (the Pharisees)” (Mt. 21:31). The apostle James said that the poor who are rich in faith are heirs of the Kingdom of God. (James 2:5).
How does God bring us into His kingdom?
Col. 1:12-13 says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
The dominion of darkness is ruled by Satan and his servants, “…the powers of this dark world … spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Eph. 6:12). God rescues us from Satan’s dominion by His almighty power.
He rescues us by giving us a new spiritual birth, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again …. No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the spirit. (John 3:3,5)
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave them the right to become children of God – children not born of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God” (John 1:12-13).
VI. LIVING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The mark of a true member of the Kingdom of God is that he/she does the will of God.
Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my father who is in heaven.” (Mt. 7:21)
The believer is commanded to prioritize the reign of God in his/her life.
“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness …” (Mt. 6:33).
When we pray that the Father’s kingdom would come, we again are praying dangerously. It means we are praying for him to vanquish evil, to remove even the smallest speck of dust that does not bring honor to him. It means we are asking him to remove the parts of our being that don’t bring honor to him. We’re inviting his invasion into our lives . . . This prayer could result in the anguish of self-awareness, the embarrassment of exposure and the painful knowledge that the problem is not without but within. This is the dangerous prayer of the poor in spirit, who belong to the kingdom of God because they recognize their desperate need, who know that the problem is within and long for the Father to rescue them from their own disposition to reject him (Matthew 5:3). (From the Web)
Thy kingdom come, O God;
Thy rule, O Christ, begin;
Break with Thine iron rod
The tyrannies of sin.’
“Thy kingdom come” is a prayer that Satan will be dethroned and Christ enthroned in my heart.
We will never be effective as a Christian until we can earnestly and sincerely pray, “My kingdom go, Thy kingdom come.”
VII. SOME FINAL THOUGHTS ON THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Our heavenly Father determines our position in the kingdom.
ILL: The mother of Zebedee’s sons knelt before Jesus asked that her two sons might sit at his right and left hand in the kingdom. Jesus said that to sit at my right or left will be determined by the Father. (Mt. 20:20-23)
Jesus talked often about “rank” in the Kingdom of God.
“Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches other to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt. 5:19)
I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Mt. 11:11)
Therefore whoever humbles himself like this child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 18:4)
READING: Jesus was the first leader in history to develop a kingdom for losers for the least of these. (Phil Yancey, Rumors of Another World, Page 197)
We should focus on preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, the good news of the Kingdom and not on preaching Christianity.
ILL: Missionaries in Jordan inviting Muslims into the Kingdom of God. The Jordanian government and Islam is against anything that speaks of Christianity, refers to the church. But within Islam there are all kinds of peaceful religious movements that are not opposed by the government. Draw the circle with the Kingdom of God being in the center and then major religions on the outside around the circle. Then show that instead of trying to convert a person from Islam to Christianity we seek to lead them into the Kingdom of God. Tell the story of two Muslim girls, one who wanted to start going to a church and was immediately disciplined by her family and the other that continued to wear the veil but joined a fellowship of converted Muslims who had come into the Kingdom. Tell about the Muslim Arab/Jordanian who witnessed to a contact with a missionary present in a Starbucks in Amman, Jordan. How he put his diagram on the window for all to see and how the lady told the missionary to move out of the way. Explain that several groups of Muslims who have come to Christ are meeting in Jordan but they don’t call themselves the church. They needed a name so they called themselves, “The New Idea.”
CONCLUSION:
READING: Kingdoms come and go but God’s kingdom is eternal. (J. Boice, 178)
Newspaper headline on 12.15.07, “By 2020 China will be on parity with the USA.” Kingdoms come and go!!!
When Jesus explaining the cost of following him he stated, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the Kingdom of God.” (Lk. 9:62)
But lest we tend to be discouraged about slow progress in sharing the good news of the kingdom with the world, Jesus said: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.” (Lk. 12:32)
SO WHAT???
1. The Kingdom of God is of great value therefore citizenship in this kingdom should be cherished.
2. The Kingdom of God came in the past, is coming at the present time, and will come in its final form in the future.
3. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom and is present wherever the will of the King is obeyed.
4. The date of the return of Christ and the end of the world will be determined by the proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom to the last ethnic tribe. IN WHAT WAYS AM I INVOLVED IN THE EVANGELIZATION OF UNREACHED PEOPLE GROUPS? HOW CAN WE BE MORE INVOLVED IN REACHING THE LAST ETHNIC TRIBE?
5. Many people appear to be members of God’s Kingdom but in reality they are weeds, false members.
6. God delivers us from the power of the Kingdom of Darkness and through a new birth caused by the Holy Spirit in our lives brings us into His Kingdom. DO WE OFTEN THANK OUR FATHER FOR DELIVERING US FROM THE KINGDOM OF THE POWER OF DARKNESS? IF NOT, WHY NOT?
7. Believers need to focus on seeing the Kingdom of God (the reign of God) come in and take control of their lives. IN WHICH AREAS OF OUR LIVES DO WE FIND IT MOST DIFFICULT TO SUBMIT TO THE REIGN OF CHRIST?
8. We must remember that we are inviting people into the Kingdom of God and not specifically into Christianity.