The Kingdom Of God

Read Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”

PRAY

-Im super excited to kick off this Kingdom Values series today. Because it is important for us to remember that In the midst of election seasons and worldly kingdoms values being spewed out left and right. We must remember we belong to a completely different kingdom.

-And it's crucial for us as Christ followers to uphold Kingdom values. This world, though broken, is entrusted to us as stewards of God's truth and love.

-Our allegiance to Kingdom values reminds us that our ultimate hope lies not in political outcomes but in God's sovereignty. We are called to love our neighbors, seek justice with humility, and demonstrate grace amidst differences. By prioritizing Kingdom values, we avoid being ensnared by toxic political and this worlds kingdom games and instead bear witness to the transformative power of Christ's love in our communities."

Tony Evans once said this about humanity and kingdom:

cradled within the depths that define our humanity lies an unyielding fascination with kingdom. No matter what color, creed, or culture we examine, we find with even the most cursory glance into the accounts passed down by either pen or by tongue something intertwined with kingdom. Whether it be the great kings and rulers of Scripture such as David or Solomon, or whether it be Caesar, Alexander the Great, Charlemagne, and the like, these lives somehow captivate us, intriguing our imaginations.

Even rulers who did not hold the official title of "king" have left their legacies, for good or for bad, to enthrall us. There is Napoleon, the dominator of continental Europe, who possessed a formidable intellect and superior military mind. There is Khan, the evil and brutal ruler, who conquered most of the world during his time. There are the Pharaohs, most of whom possessed strength and skill to such a degree that for many centuries they progressed their nation beyond the others in academics, engineer-ing, medicine, and writing.

Then there are also the Monarchs spanning over sixteen hundred years of history, in one form or fashion, beginning humbly as the Angles, moving to Aengla Land, and eventually becoming what we know today as England.

Stories of conquerors, conquests, rebellions, and conspiracy mesmerize us.

So What is the kingdom of God ?:

The kingdom of God is referenced often in the gospels

Mark 1:15 says “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!””

Mark 10:15 “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.””

Mark 15:43 “Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Sanhedrin who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, came and boldly went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body.”

Luke 17:20–21 “When he was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming with something observable; no one will say, ‘See here!’ or ‘There!’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.””

and other places in the New Testament such as

Acts 28:31 “proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.”

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

1 Corinthians 15:50 “What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption.”

The kingdom of God is synonymous with the kingdom of heaven.

While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books, while “kingdom of heaven” occurs only 32 times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew.

The concept of the kingdom of God takes on various shades of meaning in different passages of Scripture.

Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe.

-Several passages of Scripture show that God is the undeniable Monarch of all creation: “The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). And, as King Nebuchadnezzar declared, “His kingdom is an eternal kingdom” (Daniel 4:3). Every authority that exists has been established by God (Romans 13:1). So, in one sense, the kingdom of God incorporates everything that is. More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority.

-Those who defy God’s authority and refuse to submit to Him are not part of the kingdom of God; in contrast, those who acknowledge the lordship of Christ and gladly surrender to God’s rule in their hearts are part of the kingdom of God. In this sense, the kingdom of God is spiritual.

-Jesus said His kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36) we are gonna break this down a little more in a few minutes. ,

-and He preached that repentance is necessary to be a part of the kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17). That the kingdom of God can be equated with the sphere of salvation is evident in John 3:5–7 “Jesus says “Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.”

-I also think the most important thing I could say about the kingdom of God that would help us make sense out of all the uses is that the basic meaning of the word kingdom in the Bible is God’s reign — R-E-I-G-N — not realm or people. The kingdom creates a realm, the kingdom creates a people, but the kingdom of God is not synonymous with its realm or its people.

-For example, consider Psalm 103:19 “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.”

It doesn’t mean that his kingdom rules over his realm; it means that God’s reign or rule governs all things.

-He sits as king on his throne of the universe, and his kingly rule — his kingdom and his reign — governs all things. The basic meaning of the word kingdom in the Bible is God’s kingly rule — his reign, his action, his lordship, his sovereign governance.

-This is one of the the reasons why proclaiming Jesus is Lord (King/Ruler) can be and is so offensive to those in power!

-The Kingdom of God is not just the church. As God’s reign is over all things . Instead, the church is meant to be a way for others to see life under the Kingdom. The church is meant to “model” God’s rule with mercy and justice and submit to God’s authority. This is why it is important for us to not fall victim to this worlds kingdoms and their values. We must look diffrent.

Read John 18:36 ““My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.””

- Jesus spoke these words during His trial before Pilate. This was a moment when Jesus contrasted His Kingdom with worldly expectations of power and influence.

A couple of things about this verse:

The Distinct Nature of Jesus’ Kingdom Jesus’ statement reveals that His Kingdom is not defined by worldly standards. Unlike earthly kingdoms that rely on power, force, or political maneuvering, Jesus’ Kingdom is characterized by spiritual truth and divine authority.

-Jesus' Kingdom is nothing like our contemporary political systems that often use coercion or manipulation.

Living Out Kingdom Values Amidst Worldly Conflicts The Beatitudes which we broke down at the beginning of our Sermon on The Mount series, provide a blueprint for Kingdom values, such as humility, mercy, and peacemaking.

-These values often stand in contrast to worldly values like power, pride, and conflict.

-These Kingdom values can be lived out in everyday scenarios, such as in the workplace, in family dynamics, and during political debates

We must Avoid the Trap of Worldly Entanglements Romans 12:2 says - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

-Worldly entanglements, such as toxic political games or societal pressures, can distract from our commitment to Kingdom values

-to many individuals or church communities have been sidetracked by political or societal conflicts.

-Various surveys and reports indicate that churches have experienced tension and splits over political issues, especially during heated election cycles or when churches take strong stances on political matters. For instance, a 2020 report by the Barna Group highlighted how political polarization has affected church communities.

-the Pew Research Center and other similar organizations have reported increasing political polarization among American Christians. This polarization often translates into church conflicts and splits, as congregants’ political views increasingly influence their participation in and support for their churches.

-their has been to much synchronizing of our faith and our American political parties.

-We must stay focused on Kingdom values, such as setting boundaries in discussions, avoiding divisive rhetoric, and prioritizing love and unity.

Faith and Trust play a big role in Our Lords Divine Kingdom Proverbs 3:5-6 - “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

-Our faith in God’s sovereignty provides stability and perspective amidst the chaos of the world. Jesus’ Kingdom is rooted in divine authority and wisdom, not human politics.

-we place our trust in God’s plan and rely on His wisdom rather than getting caught up in worldly uncertainties.

-John 18:36 invites us to recognize and live out the distinct nature of Jesus' Kingdom. as we go over the values in the coming weeks we must keep the Kingdom values at the forefront of our lives, especially in challenging times.

These are some of the values we will be covering during this series:

Love God & People, Righteousness & Justice, Mercy & Forgiveness, Humility & Servanthood, Faith & Trust, Stewardship, Unity, Hope & Eternal Perspective