August 27, 2017 PM

WE BELIEVE WE BELIEVE – THE KINGDOM OF GOD Matthew 20:20-28 Matthew 4:17 -From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. I. THE THEOLOGY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD · One way it speaks of the Kingdom of God is within the context of the general sovereignty or rule that God has over the entire universe Exodus 15:18 - The LORD shall reign for ever and ever. Psalm 24:10 says He is the King of Glory. 1 Timothy 1:17 - Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 19:6 - And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.  · The second way in which the phrase, “the Kingdom of God,” is used, is to describe the rule and reign that Jesus has in the hearts and lives of those who have come to know Him as Lord (another word for King) and Savior · Additionally, the scripture also presents the Kingdom of God both as being a present reality and something which will come to completion at a future time Romans 8:20-23 - 20For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. II. THE PRINCIPLES OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD 1. The Kingdom of God is about glorifying God, not advancing the ambitions of men 2. Life within the Kingdom of God is life lived under God’s authority 3. Life in the Kingdom of God is upside down from life in the empires of men III. THE REALITY OF THE KINGDOM 1. A desire to be holy rather than happy 2. A man may be considered spiritual when he wants to see the honor of God advanced through his life, even if it means that he himself must suffer temporary dishonor or loss 3. The spiritual man wants to carry his cross 4. The spiritual person is one who sees everything in this life and the life to come from God’s point of view 5. A spiritual person is that they would rather die right than live wrong 6. A spiritual man is that he desires to see others advance at his own expense 7. A spiritual man makes decisions based on eternity, instead of basing them on the temporary reality we know as earthly life