Sunday, September 23, 2012

THE KINGDOM SERIES - I


THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

In an earlier century, there lay a large boulder in the middle of the roadway. Traveler after traveler walked past the boulder, veering off the side of the road to get around it. All the while, they were shaking their head and muttering, "Can you believe that? Someone should get that big thing out of the way. What an inconvenience! "Finally, a man came along and, seeing the boulder, took a branch from a tree and pried the boulder enough to get it rolling and rolled it off to the side of the road.

Lying underneath the rock, he found a small bag with a note. The man picked up the note and read it. It read as follows: "Thank you for being a true servant of the kingdom. Many have passed this way and complained because of the state of the problem and spoken of what ought to be done. But you have taken the responsibility upon yourself to serve the kingdom instead. You are the type of citizen we need more of in this kingdom. Please accept this bag of gold that traveler after traveler have walked by simply because they didn’t care enough about the kingdom to serve."[1]

I wonder what "bags of gold" we’re missing each day, simply because we don’t bother to get involved in serving our heavenly kingdom. When I gave my life to Jesus in the 80’s I realized that I belonged to the Kingdom of God. In those days it was a major theme in the Christian world. But unfortunately in the 21st century many Christians don’t even know there is something called the Kingdom of God, let alone getting involved in Kingdom service.  For the next few weeks we will look into this all too important, yet largely over looked subject the Kingdom of God. Today we are going to learn about why a Christian should know about the Kingdom of God and how this would impact their day to day living.

When I talk about the Kingdom of God I am not talking the movie called “the Kingdom of Heaven” produced in 2005 but I am talking about the Kingdom of God found in all four gospels and in the Apostle Paul’s letters. It is a foundational concept in the Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. What is the significance of the kingdom of God? Five reasons, why the Kingdom of God is significant?

I.                   OT PROHETS PROPHESIED ABOUT THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Kings and Kingdoms were well known to the Old Testament people. When God called Abraham from among the heathen nations his intention was to form a Kingdom for Himself through the offspring of Abraham. Rightly, so Abraham was called, “A mighty prince” literally meaning “prince of God.”(Gen 23:6) We know the rest of the story, Abraham had two sons namely Ishmael and Isaac. Ishmael became the father of 12 princes but the covenant of God was established through Isaac. Later on Isaac became the father of Jacob out of whom came the twelve tribes of Israel. At one point Israel was one huge united Kingdom.
The greatest king who ever lived in Israel was King David. Several OT prophets predicted that one day God will establish His Kingdom on earth through the offspring of David. In 722 B.C the prophet Isaiah prophesied, Isaiah 9:6-7, “For a child has born for us the gift of a son for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings. He’ll rule from historic David throne over that promised kingdom. He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing and keep it going, with fair dealing and right living beginning now and lasting always. (The Message).

This scripture is predicting that one day all nations, including the sovereign and the so called rouge nations, as a matter of fact, the whole earth will come under the rule of Christ. The second reason of significance is Jesus’ birth.

II.                JESUS USHERED IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Hundreds of years later after Isaiah’s first prophecy we began to see its fulfillment. Do you recall the Carols we sing during Christmas season, what are they all about? They were the announcements of the angles about the birth of the Savior of the world. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” Luke (2:9-12 The Message).We know that the baby was not an ordinary baby.

The wise men from the east came to worship him. This is what they said to the King Herod, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.” (Mat 2:2). Think of the gifts they presented to the baby Jesus. They were not toys or kids cloths but of great value and significance. One of them was gold; again gold represents the royalty and the kingship of Jesus.
III. IT WAS THE MISSION OF JESUS
The little boy Jesus matured, growing up in both body and spirit; blessed by both God and people. At age 30 he was baptized by his cousin John. Immediately after that he was led by the Spirit to be tempted in the wilderness for 40 days. After victoriously overcoming Satan’s temptation at age 30 Jesus preached his first message saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (Matt 4:17)

Throughout his life time on numerous occasions Jesus preached to the crowds and taught his disciples about the kingdom of God which were recorded by all four gospel writers. The phrase, “the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven occurs over 26 times in the gospels. Not only during his life time; even after he rose from the dead Jesus spent over a period of 40 days before he ascended to heaven teaching the principles of the kingdom of God to his disciples.(Acts 1:3) If the kingdom of God placed such high priority for Jesus don’t you think it should also be our number one priority? Why else is the kingdom of God significant?

IV.              SEEKING THE KINDOM OF GOD RELEASES BLESSINGS
When we talk about the kingdom of God we have a notion to anticipate a futuristic kingdom that one day will be established at the culmination of the world. Yes that will happen sooner than. we expect; but do we only have wait until such time? No! we can experience all the blessings of the kingdom of God right here while we are still alive. Matthew 6:33 tells us “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” This is one of the most misquoted scriptures in the Bible.

I heard preachers used this scripture and mislead many people. They would say if you seek God’s kingdom first God will give you whatever you want. That is not simply true. The text is simply promising food, clothing and water to those who seek God’s kingdom first. In other words your basic needs will be taken care and anything else is a bonus from God.

Elsewhere Jesus answered Peter who was concerned about what he was going to get since he had left everything to follow Christ. “Jesus replied, Yes, you have followed me. In the recreation of the world, when the Son of Man will rule gloriously, you who have followed me will also rule, starting with the twelve tribes of Israel. And not only you, but all who sacrifices home, family, fields- whatever- because of me will get it all back a hundred times over, not mention the considerable bonus of eternal life.”(Mat 19:28-29)

These scriptures tell us that seeking the kingdom of God first yields heavenly rewards as well as earthly blessings. It doesn’t mean you become super rich as many wealth and health gospel preachers suggest. I know many who are sincere kingdom seekers are poor by earthly standards but they are super rich in faith, relationships, generosity, in helping others and loving and serving the unlovable and marginalized. What does it mean to seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness first? It means keeping God’s priorities first in our lives. It means living out the kingdom principles found in scriptures to the best of our ability. It means making a commitment to live lives that are pleasing to God. It means fearing God and voiding evil.

I can share many examples of God’s blessings both spiritual and material over my three decades of seeking God’s kingdom. I have seen both abundant provision and need and lack. When it comes to providing for his children God seems to have a sense of humor. At times He can overwhelm you with unexpected ways and undeserved blessings. He can throw in your lap a free trip to the Disneyland or a vacation on Cape Cod, a free car, a free Air Ticket a overseas trip, a new house, or a job. God knows how to take good care of the citizens of his Kingdom

For me the last and perhaps the most exiting reason of significance of the kingdom of God is that it is our heavenly destination. If you are a follower of Christ, that’s where you are going to live forever.
V.  KINGDOM OF GOD IS OUR HEAVENLY DESTINATION
Sadly, many people today are busy in pursuing earthly happiness thinking that here on earth they are going to live forever. The truth of the matter is that we are not permanent residence here on earth. They have no clue about the wonderful life that is yet to come.
           
Let me Illustrate, “The man who is about to sail for Australia or New Zealand as a settler, is naturally anxious to know something about his future home, its climate, its employments, its inhabitants, its ways, its customs. All these are subjects of deep interest to him. You are leaving the land your nativity; you are going to spend the rest of your life in a new hemisphere. It would be strange indeed if you did not desire information about new abode.
Now surely, if we hope to dwell for ever in that “better country, even a heavenly one,” we ought to seek all the knowledge we can get about it. Before we go to our eternal home we should try to become acquainted with it.” These are the words of J.C. Ryle in his book on Heaven.[2]

This explains the significance of knowing about the kingdom of God. Jesus before he was taken up to heaven said to his disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you; I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3)

Jesus is taking over two thousand years to prepare a place for you in heaven. There is place for every body, but does that mean everyone will automatically get there? No! Only those who believes in the one who said I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.(John 14:6) If you don’t know the way to your heavenly destination; you can find it today by accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior by repenting of your sins, then by faith you too will become a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amen

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