Eternal Kingdom

This morning at breakfast sitting with kids, youngest: I want to relax today. But daddy has to preach and mum has to sing with the kids, so we have to go to church.

I said: well, not the only reason: we want to meet God. If God is there, I need to be there. One of the others. But He is also here, right? I thought, she is right. So lucky I have to preach – otherwise we would not be here…

Question she brought up was sincere…

Where do you find God in your daily life and important? What is the place you have the highest chance of meeting Him?

2. This is the question David asks. Long way since his anointing as king. Goliath, persecution by Saul, death of Saul, conquering Jerusalem, victories over attacking enemies. Palace, smell of beautiful expensive cedar wood around him. He sits there on the couch , “been there, done that”, Netflix bores him: what now? Looks outside his window, he sees the sanctuary from God.

Tabernacle, tent. Made it in desert. Sure, this tent made of finest meterials – no decathlon, but tent hundreds years old… I have a house… time we give God a house! Consults prophet Nathan. Nathan does what every ministry leader would say if someone wants to give a big donation… “follow your heart!” Off course God wants a temple!

Sleep… message: no!

Why would God not want that?! World is full of people who go their own way, just when you think you do something really good for God, He says no? How could God not want this?

3. Important to understand… Christian for some time.. you know Gods overarching plans… you are certain what the Lord wants and go that way. Dead end street… hurt! God wants us to prosper

A. God says: you can’t pin me down! Kings in the Ancient Near east alwyas did it like this. Egypt Tutmoses 3 - almost peace. Priest: now you have made this temple… Where do you come from? Shepherd boy. I was with you! Israel, desert… constantly on the move. I was with them… just because you have settled, that does not mean

The Lord was already with David ánd with Israel when they were on the move. You do not need a temple to experience God presence. Enemies defeated, safety you live in… gift!

B. I have not asked for it… You are right. It will come. Pray. Patient. Person I will do it through. C. Something is of more importance now. I will make you a house… your sons will be on the throne forever. Eternal king! Gods presence not in a building… but in a person… Matthew 1:1. Shepherds: town of David.

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Eternal kingdom… is connected to an eternal King

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Eternal kingdom does not end

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But is this real? Dynasties come and go. Other nations take over. You think you live in a time of peace. But history teaches us, what is here today, is no guarantee for tomorrow at all! David: tremendous paradox. Not good enough to make a temple. But good enough to give the face to God? Sin.

‌‌Grace!! Not we do for God. But what He does for us. Cross, greatest thing done for God in the world, was done by God himself.

Jesus’ victory : death and satan

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Prayer: let us lay it all down for him today. Chaos in world-politics. Chaos in church. You reign!

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Expecting the eternal Kingdom

David himself shows that… He had his plans… Tricky: He was the King. This was his task. now we But when God spoke, he had to back off and change directions. Hard! Seemed so perfect

‌And so He did. Obedience.

leads to stability (compare to quickly changing rules all over the world) —> leads to trust. Trust leads to allegiance (no risk that your allegiance will cost you)

Church: where two or three are gathered… do not want to miss it!

‌What is there in your life, you need to lay down?

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The royal decree of this king is “an invitation to a kingdom-spirituality, invoking the power of the king to liberate those held in Satan’s bondage.”61 Our kingdom task is clear: Living a life of submission to this king, this Son of David, is a life in covenant with God, a life marked with ḥesed-love and marked also with commitment to his causes. It means taking up his causes and planting the flag of his kingdom in territory currently occupied by contesting claimants. (N.T. Wright)

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You commit yourself to the work of healing and liberation, both actual and symbolic. You commit yourself to freeing slaves, to loosening the bonds of debt, to bringing good news to the poor. And you commit yourself to doing those things, not as a grand social action which you will implement by your own energy and ingenuity, but in the power, and with the weapons, of the kingdom of God: by prayer and fasting, by truth and righteousness, by the gospel of peace, by faith, by salvation, by the word of God. (N.T. Wright)