"The Kingdom of God"

Sermon Transcript for July 16, 2000

By Rev. Mike Beck

Scripture Reading: Matthew 4:12-17, Matthew 4:23-5:12

 

The dominant theme in Jesus’ preaching was the "Kingdom of God"; more often referred to as the Kingdom of Heaven. In Matthew 4:17 we’ve got these words, "From that time on, Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." In the Lord’s Prayer--we haven’t forgotten it this morning, we’ll be singing it as our Benediction--are these words, "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven."

And yet, for most of us, the "Kingdom of God" is not a phrase we mention around a lot or perhaps even really understand. So I want for us to look at it carefully today realizing that we don’t have to be real smart to recognize that the world in which we live in is certainly not all that God designed or intended it to be. In fact, we often remark to others, "What in the world is this world coming to!"

I try to be a positive person. I thing God wants Christian people to see the cup is half full, not half empty. And we live in a world with incredible blessings. But we are also well aware that around us is much suffering and pain and heartache and genuine evil exists within the world. Those of you that have had the Disciple Bible Study or other careful studies of the scriptures realize how these 66 books are put together. For those who may not have had that yet God begins in the creation accounts in Genesis 1-2 to tell us that God created originally a world with wonderful design. A world that was good. A world that was a creation with a right relationship with the Creator. But you don’t read very far until you get to Chapter 3 where we discover that with the freedom of will that God has given to us, you can choose to turn your back on God, to go your own way. Sin and all its destructive forces entered into our world. And then all the rest of the Books in between are the unfolding of God’s plan of restoring His original design called the "Kingdom of God" and bringing about the plan of salvation.

In the Books of the Old Testament we realize that God was left holding that plan for His people, the nation of Israel. And so it was to these people, the Jews, that Jesus came preaching about the "Kingdom of God". His preaching struck a responsive chord. A little of bit of historical background helps us understand why. The common Jewish folks to which Jesus was preaching had fallen into a period of pessimism. For these very proud Jewish people were now under the control of the pagan Roman Empire. There had been no great prophets of God among them for a number of centuries. It appeared as though the voice of God was silent within their midst. And so they were looking for a Messiah. They were looking for a deliverer. So when Jesus came to preach the good news of the "Kingdom of God" for them in Jerusalem, in Galilee, His words struck a responsive chord.

But just what was this message of the "Kingdom of God" for the people of Jesus’ day and also for us? Turning to our text again today, Matthew 4: 23-25, I want to say first of all that this was a "Kingdom of Power". Take a look how. For we see that as Jesus went about preaching, He also went about healing and His great miracles were a stand of the liturgy of His preaching about the Kingdom of God. Friends, that same "Kingdom of Power" is available for us today as well. It is still manifested in acts of healing. But perhaps its primary manifestation is seen in transformed lives. As I look out amongst you, I see many examples of transformed lives because you’re a Kingdom of God’s people. Many of you have incredible peace and joy in your lives yet the circumstances of your life at the present time are anything but easy. But you’re transformed people by the power of the "Kingdom of God".

We don’t broadcast this from the pulpit but one of the ways in which God has been greatly working in our church over the past couple of years are several marriage relationships that appeared to be on the rocks. But the transforming power of the "Kingdom of God" has come to bring about restoration in those marriages. Some of you can bear witness today to the fact that your attitudes toward other people in that life are very different than they were before you came to know Christ. Some of you can testify the victory over sin or over addictions that once held you in its grasp but through the power of the "Kingdom of God" your life is different today. Many of you can testify in the words of the Gaither song, "All I had to offer Him was brokeness and strife, but He made something beautiful of my life" because the Kingdom Jesus brings to you is the Kingdom of transforming power.

And, secondly, this morning, I want us to realize that the Kingdom that Jesus came preaching was very different than the Kingdoms of this world. Jesus’ words to Pilate, all the gospels report when He was asked by Pilate, "Are you King?" To which Jesus replied, "Yes, I am." But in John’s gospel it’s reported that He also replied to Pilate, "Pilate, my Kingdom is not of this world." If you look very close, the verses that are beyond our ability to ever fully comprehend in Matthew 5. The versus we call the "Beatitudes". That’s a world turned upside down when Jesus says, in the old version translate "blessed" as the word "happy". Jesus says, "Happy are the poor in spirit. Happy are those who mourn. Happy are the meek. Happy are those who are persecuted because of righteousness." That’s not a world operating on the same rules as the world we live in.

And the reason that many persons in our day and many persons in Jesus’ day fail to find this "Kingdom" was because they were searching for it in the wrong places. Hear me carefully. Our relationship with god does not mean we throw away our intellect. There are any number of proofs for God and for the validity of Scripture. But I’ve got a word for you. If you’re searching after God only with rational logic and human understanding, you’re not going to find Him. For throughout Scripture and in these words of the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, God tells us the Kingdom’s ways and the world’s ways are not the same thing. The "Kingdom of God" is always going to be found under the realm of mystery and the only way to enter the doorway into that Kingdom is through the doorway of saving faith.

It’s a "Kingdom of Power". It’s a Kingdom different than the ways of this world. The "Kingdom of God" has both present and future dimensions. I think more often than not when we think of the "Kingdom of God"; we’re thinking future tense. I love Southern Gospel music. So many songs of Southern Gospel music are talking about the "Kingdom of God" future tense. Let me give you some examples. Songs like, "This world is not my home, I’m just passing through. My treasures all laid up somewhere beyond the blue." Or a quartet song, "I’ll Fly Away to Glory". "I’ve Got a Mansion Where...Just over the Hilltop". Or that great song, "Beaulah Land, Sweet Beaulah Land."

Yet friends, I love and need that dimension of the "Kingdom of God" that is "future" in nature. We’ve kind of gone over the Kingdom in relation to the Bible. The nice thing about the Bible is the last book tells us who wins. The Book of Revelation tells us that the "Kingdom of God" will one day fully be restored. Hear these words in Revelations 21, "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. And the first heaven and the first earth passed away and there was no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven from God prepared as a bride beautifully adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, Behold God is with me and He will live with them and they will be His people. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, every tear. There will be no more mourning, or crying, or pain." Sounds good to me! "For the old former things has passed away." That is the future dimension of the "Kingdom of God" which we ought to rejoice in because in that future dimension of the "Kingdom of God" all the injustices, all the suffering, all the wrongs of this life will be made right in that eternal Kingdom.

But having said all that, perhaps, my friends, the church of Jesus Christ has too often forgotten that the Kingdom of God is not only future, it was also to be the present reality. It’s not just something in the sweet-by-and-by. Jesus told us that the "Kingdom of God" is present among us even now. You may ask, "How do I find that Kingdom?" And I’m going to answer like this. It’s a simple answer but I think it’s an accurate one. "You will find the Kingdom of God wherever and whenever our wills match up with God’s will." There you’ll find a glimpse of the reality of the present "Kingdom of God".

And, hopefully, we’ll see that often within our church. Over here at the Baptismal font just a few weeks ago as we baptized infants and baptized adults. Friends, there was the "Kingdom of God" present among us. We have a Disciple Bible Study group that’s meeting now. They often meet in my office. It’s not a large group, but it’s a powerful, transforming group. I can sense the reality of the presence of the "Kingdom of God" manifest among those people gathered together to study the Word. I believe we’ll see the "Kingdom of God" in our midst in simple ways like gathering on Wednesday evening around the table for a simple meal. Christ is no less a king that is present. Whenever we take up the towel and basin and serve in the name of Christ, there is the "Kingdom of God".

I so appreciate the work and ministry of our Caring Ministry Team. When they are out visiting those who are dealing with health problems, those who are lonely. In those visits, the "Kingdom of God" is in our midst. When Christian love is shared between husband and wife, parent and child, among Christian friends, the "Kingdom of God" is among us. We have three men today concluding their Emmaus walk. Four ladies that will be going this coming weekend. For those who have participated in that powerful experience, during those 72 hours you get a glimpse of what the "Kingdom of God" is like. The "Kingdom of God" has a future reality, but don’t ever forget it also is to be known by us in the present as well.

I thought my sermon was, you know you’re always suppose to have three points, but I added a fourth. Hear me carefully. In closing, perhaps we often forget that a kingdom has a king! We will find God when we seek after Him with our whole heart. Not only as our Savior but also as we come to understand that He wants to be the "Lord" of our life. Friends, I think we’ve lost an understanding in our day that "a Kingdom has a King"! And friends, a king "decrees!" A king is the one who has ownership and absolute authority over people who reside in that Kingdom. Now, yes, Jesus is our Friend. But, friends, that’s not all Jesus is. He’s also our Master. And all too often, instead of seeing Christ as our Lord and King, we look at the book that He’s given us and a list of "suggestions" to follow if we think we want to. Or our giving to the cause of Christ becomes "what we’ve got left over after we’ve taken care of anything else." Or worship is a priority "if there isn’t anything else on our schedule".

That kind of thinking doesn’t sound to me like life within a Kingdom. For a Kingdom has a king. So I would ask, "Where is your Kingdom found today? You’ve all got one. Is it possible that it is found in your possessions? Is your kingdom found in how well your investment portfolio is doing? Is your kingdom found in your job? Is your kingdom found in your social calendar?

Friends, if we’re truly to be a part of the "Kingdom of God", I’ve got news for us. We aren’t the ones calling the shots. If Jesus is our Lord, we report to Him each day and say, "What is it that you have for me to do?" And that sounds hard. And in one sense it is because who said that "dying to ourselves" was ever easy! That’s the ultimate measure of discipleship. That’s the beauty of baptism by immersion. In the symbolism of baptism by immersion, when we go under the water we symbolize that we have died to ourselves but risen to the life of Christ.

To be a Christian, we’ve said over and over again, is to be a follower of Jesus Christ. But the path Jesus tread led Him to the cross! Why should we believe that life within His kingdom won’t involve sacrifice for us as well? But the Kingdom of God doesn’t follow the logic of the world. Jesus said, "If you try to save your life, in a sense you will lose it. But if you lose your life for my sake, you will find it." And then although we are always the servants and God is the King, do you remember though what he said to His servants there, His disciples, in the Upper Room? He gave them the ultimate example of servanthood. The day he said, "I no longer call you servants any more, I call you friends." And later in the New Testament we are told that if we are friends, we’re also heirs. Every promise that God made to His Son, Jesus Christ, is available to us. That includes Heaven as well.

That’s good news! I choose to seek after that kind of Kingdom. And I invite you to seek it as well. For with that search comes a promise that we sang in this service that, "If we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these other things will be added to us as well."

The Kingdom of God, the King among us, Jesus Christ. We’re given the privilege to live in that future, eternal Kingdom, but God wants the Kingdom to be known in our present day-to-day.