Series: “The Kingdom” Sermon #1 “Announcing the Kingdom”

Series: “The Kingdom” Sermon #1 “Announcing the Kingdom”

Ecclesiastes 10:5-7 “There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as an error which proceedeth from the ruler: Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place. I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking as servants upon the earth.”

Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end,…”

“Christ came to set up the kingdom of God on earth and to overthrow the power of Satan.”

Tertullian — 2nd Century Church Father

Acts 1:2-3  “He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles … during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.”

Jesus last instructions before ascending.

Acts 28:30-31 “Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.”

Mark 1:15 (NIV) “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” 

Think again. Take a fresh look at this good news!!! Problem is He’s a veiled King.

One of the greatest difference between the old and new covenant is the location of GOD!!!

The people of Jesus day were looking for a Political Revolution and National restoration. Instead the were confronted by a teacher and story teller, operating in supernatural ability and a champion of the marginalised and common people

Luke 4:43 “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Luke 12:32 “Do not be seized with alarm and struck with fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom!”  A gift of His rule, ability, glory, influence – SPIRIT!

Luke 17:20-21 “… Pharisees (asked) when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.’”

Herod wanted to kill Jesus because He was a political threat.

Matthew 27:11   “Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you say.’”

Romans killed Him because He was a political threat.

John 18:36-37  “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ … ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.’”

The kingdom of God is not something that can be localised to a particular time or place. It is not a physical kingdom that can be observed or pointed to. Rather, the kingdom of God is a spiritual reality that is present wherever Jesus is honoured as KING.

Colossians 1:12-13  “…giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” 

Acts 17:6   “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king—Jesus.”

They flipped the whole system. Transformed society!

Kingdom (Dictionary):— the domain over which the spiritual sovereignty of God or Christ extends, whether in heaven or on earth.

A kingdom is the governing influence of a king over his territory, impacting it with his will, his purpose and his intent. producing a citizenry of people who reflect his culture and manifest his nature and glory.

I Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not in word (Logus) but in power (Dunamis). ”

Romans 14:17 “…the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

John 3:5-7 “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

Every Kingdom has a Ruler, Realm, and Rules.    It’s not a place.  — It is a Monarch and the exercise of His influence through His people. The Kingdom of God is expressd where people {realm} have yielded to His authority {ruler} and manifest His rule. {rules}

Romans 5:17  “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”      He is the King of kings. 

                                                   Kingdom of God 

 Adam Lost Rule                          Jesus Restored

_____________________CROSS______________________________

                                 (Time)

                                                      kingdom of

                                                       darkness

Revelation  1:5-6 / 5:10 “To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,  and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen .… And we shall reign on the earth.”

Religion has kept people on the tread mill of performance.  The letter kills but the Spirit gives life.

Mathew 23:13-15 “You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”  

Religion preoccupies man until he finds                    The Kingdom. 

Religion prepares man to leave earth;               The Kingdom empowers man to dominate earth. 

Religion focuses on Heaven;                             The Kingdom focuses on earth. 

Religion is reaching up to God;                          The Kingdom is God coming down to man. 

Religion wants to escape earth;                     The Kingdom impacts, influences and changes earth. 

Religion seeks to take earth to Heaven;             The Kingdom seeks to bring Heaven to earth.

Matthew 13:33  (NLT) “The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Quietly — Progressively — Inevitably

His Kingdom will fill every thing every way!!!