THE KINGDOM OF GOD PT2

INTRODUCTION

Yesterday we looked at the kingdom of God and we said that to understand history, the present and the future is to understand the kingdom of God.

The conflict that has, is, and will be going on is between the kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness. We looked at how opposite the kingdom of God is compared to the kingdoms of this world which are patterned after the principles of darkness. ( if you want to listen to all that you can get the DVD or the audio at the sales desk).

Today I want to talk to us about the pledge of loyalty. If you ever went to the schools in the 80s and 90s you would remember the pledge of loyalty.

Every assembly time the schools we went to would sing the national anthem and then after that we would say the Kenya Loyalty pledge. It went something like this

I pledge my loyalty to the president and the nation of Kenya. My readiness and duty to defend the flag of our republic. My devotion to the words of our national anthem, my life and strength in the task of our nation’s building In the living spirit embodied in our national motto – Harambee! And perpetuated in the Nyayo philosophy of peace, love and unity.

Now what we were saying is that what we are proclaiming in theory we will do in deeds.

What we are pledging in principle we will live in practice. It will not just be we say but do something different but rather we will live out the creed we have just confessed. For this nation of Kenya to progress, for this Kingdom, if you may allow me to use that term, for this kingdom to develop we must practice what we preach.

What we are pledging in principle we will live in practice.

It will not just be we say but do something different but rather we will live out the creed we have just confessed.

For this nation of Kenya to progress, for this Kingdom, if you may allow me to use that term, for this kingdom to develop we must practice what we preach.

Similarly in the Kingdom of God, for the Kingdom of God to advance, the citizens of the Kingdom must live out the creeds of their confession; they must pledge the principles and then practice those principles.

I) DEFINITION OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

So what exactly is the Kingdom of God?

definition; the Kingdom of God is the comprehensive rule of God over every area of Life.

It is the manifestation of the will of God with its accompanying blessings in our lives.

If we are to live a victorious Christian life in every aspect then we have to live a kingdom lifestyle and the Word of GOD shows us how to live that lifestyle.

when we apply the word of God in our marriages, our single lives, in our businesses, in our communities

than the accompanying blessings of the kingdom of God will invade the kingdom of darkness and bring us light.

So turn with me to the Book of Luke and let us see what is the purpose of the Kingdom of God in 3 categories I want to look at.

So turn with me to the Book of Luke and let us see what is the purpose of the Kingdom of God in 3 categories I want to look at.

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good newsp to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind,

to set the oppressed free,

19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

II)

The gospels are not written in sequence, they’re not written chronologically and so this is not the beginning of Jesus ministry.

He had already began his ministry,

he had gone to Jerusalem and purged the temple and kicked out all those who were selling at the temple.

He then came through Samaria and talked to a samaritan woman and Samaria was changed by her message.

He then passed through Capernaum and did some amazing things in Capernaum- he had healed the centurions servant.

So by the time he comes to Nazareth there is so much news about him, the man of God, the prophet and so there is excitement in the air and anticipation. Jesus is then given the scroll to read and he finds and he reads from it.

What Jesus reads is his life mission, the reason why he came, the reason why he is anointed and called of God

What Jesus reads is his life mission, the reason why he came, the reason why he is anointed and called of Go

And this mission, this reason is the same reason for the Kingdom of God.

d. And this mission, this reason is the same reason for the Kingdom of God. This is the mission of the Ekklesia of God, the Church of Jesus Christ. If we are to have a different mission from the categories listed on Luke than we are not engaged in the Kingdom of God.

This is the mission of the Ekklesia of God, the Church of Jesus Christ.

If we are to have a different mission from the categories listed on Luke than we are not engaged in the Kingdom of God.

So Jesus talks about and I will divide them into 3 areas that the church is to be engaged in as the Kingdom of God ushering in the comprehensive will of God into every area of Life.

i will divide these categories into 3 areas that the church is to be engaged in as the Kingdom of God ushering in the comprehensive will of God into every area of Life.

II) THE INDIVIDUAL

The first category Jesus began with was the individual

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

The Spirit of the Lord is on the Church because he has anointed us to proclaim the good news to the poor.

I like that word anointed ( in the greek Chrio) means to assign someone a task and give them the supernatural sanction to do it, to give them the blessing and the resources to accomplish that task.

That is what it means to be anointed. For us to know that someone has been anointed we see the evidence, the fruit of the ministry

and then we know that the Holy Spirit is on them, working through that person to perform the task they were assigned,

That is why Nicodemus could tell Jesus in we know that you are a teacher sent from God for no one could do the signs you are performing if God were not with him.

He recognized the work of the Holy Spirit by the fruit of Jesus ministry.

Similarly we know that the Church which is the kingdom of God in this dispensation has been anointed by the Holy Spirit when we see her preaching the gospel to the poor.

NOW WHAT IS THIS GOSPEL TO THE POOR?

God has an affinity for the poor, most of the times if you wanted to find Jesus you would find him among the poor, and sinners, those were Jesus hangouts.

Often times poverty makes people nameless, they are grouped as a class of people,

a category of people rather than individuals who have names, have a meaning in life,

have self worth, have dignity and value, are loved by God,

because poor people don’t have the goods of this world that would give them a name.

People with the cash, chicks and Cadillacs, those are the ones who are recognized not the poor..what can they offer? But Jesus came to preach the good news to the poor, himself having been born in poverty and grown up in poverty. The thinking of the time as it is now- is that those who have are in favor with God, the evidence being they have, look at their cars, their houses, where they take their kids to school, those who have not have been cursed by God or are in disfavor with God. and so from time to time the rich, would give out the bak shish to the poor so that the rich can feel good about themselves. But Jesus born in poverty came to tell them that at the foot of the cross the ground is equal….you’re not a project you’re a person, you’re not a statistic you’re a soul, you are not devalued before God, you are of great worth and value you and the wealthiest christian are the children of the living God and the judgment of your life will not what you had or didn’t have ..but rather did you bear fruit in line with the Kingdom. And those who are last in the kingdom will be first and those who are deemed to be first in the kingdom shall be last.

People with the chicks, cash, and Cadillacs, those are the ones who are recognized not the poor, what can they offer?

But Jesus came to preach the good news to the poor, himself having been born in poverty and grown up in poverty.

ILLUSTRATION

The thinking of the time as it is now- is that those who have are in favor with God, are the ones with the cars, the houses, eat at the expensive hotels, take their kids to fantabulous schools

those who have not have been cursed by God or are in disfavor with God. and so from time to time the rich, would give out the bak shish to the poor so that the rich can feel good about themselves. But Jesus born in poverty came to tell them that at the foot of the cross the ground is equal….you’re not a project you’re a person, you’re not a statistic you’re a soul, you are not devalued before God, you are of great worth and value you and the wealthiest christian are the children of the living God and the judgment of your life will not what you had or didn’t have ..but rather did you bear fruit in line with the Kingdom. And those who are last in the kingdom will be first and those who are deemed to be first in the kingdom shall be last.

those who have not, have been cursed by God or are in disfavor with God.

and so from time to time the rich, would give out the bak shish to the poor so that the rich can feel good about themselves.

But Jesus born in poverty came to tell them that at the foot of the cross the ground is equal.

you’re not a project you’re a person, you’re not a statistic you’re a soul,

you are not devalued before God, you are of great worth and value

you and the wealthiest christian are the children of the living God and the judgment of your life will not what you had or didn’t have.

but rather did you bear fruit in line with the Kingdom.

we are all created in the image of God whether rich or poor, we are all valuable before God and we have all sinned before a holy God- we are all poor-because the essence of poverty is a broken relationship with God-

we are all created in the image of God whether rich or poor,

we are all valuable before God and

we have all sinned before a holy God-

we are all poor-because the essence of poverty is a broken relationship with God-not what we possess or don’t possess, and that is why Jesus was sent-

not what we possess or don’t possess, and that is why Jesus was sent-

ILLUSTRATION

because if our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator,

if our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist,

if our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist, if our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us a business man. But since our greatest need was forgiveness God sent us a savior. And all creation man and woman boy and girl, high born or low born needed that Savior- that is the gospel to the poor, You are not inferior in any way before the Jesus who loves you. You are not in disfavor with God just because you lack the possessions of this world. Our worth before God is not our net worth, but his self worth.

if our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us a business man.

But since our greatest need was forgiveness God sent us a savior.

And all creation man and woman boy and girl, high born or low born needed that Savior- that is the gospel to the poor,

We are not inferior in any way before the Jesus who loves you, because our worth before God is not our net worth, but his self worth.

The spirit of the Lord is upon us because he has anointed us to proclaim the gospel to the poor.

Jesus began with the individual, next he went to the community

III THE COMMUNITY

Vs 18 He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind.

and recovery of sight to the blind

The next agenda for the Kingdom of God as it proclaims the good news to the poor is to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind.

Prisoners here were those chained down in sin, chained down with demonic oppression in whatever fashion that was

and recovery of sight to the blind-

this was figuratively used of those who are blinded in their minds to the truth, the word Typhlois-

blind meant to cover with smoke so that one cannot see clearly.

One is held in chains as a prisoner, blinded to the truth of what they are, what they can become.

In Africa I am convinced that the Kingdom of God is the answer to many of our community issues, because many of our social concerns have to do with being blinded and as a result we are held prisoners.

In Africa I am convinced that the Kingdom of God is the answer to our community issues, because many of our social concerns have to do with being blinded and as a result we are held prisoners.

A) ILLUSTRATION

Africa for the longest has been held in spiritual bondage to spiritism through our cultures,

tribal affiliations that have bound people to loyalties that are hateful and cruel to others.

Africa has been held in mental mindsets ( mindset- the established set of attitudes held by someone, the beliefs that control someone’s behavior) that are evil and heartless to others and our world view is shaped by leaderships that do not have the best interest of its people.

But there is a new wind blowing, it has started a like a whisper of a wind but soon it will become a whirlwind. It is the Kingdom of God and this kingdom is impacting individuals and communities. Jesus gave the parable of the woman who took a small portion of yeast and mixed it in about 30 kilos of flour and the yeast worked itself through the whole amount of flour. That is the Kingdom of God starting small, seemingly insignificant, moving almost our of radar such that by the time you come to see it, the whole community has been transformed by its power.

But there is a new wind blowing, it has started a like a whisper of a wind but soon it will become a whirlwind.

It is the Kingdom of God and this kingdom is impacting individuals and communities.

Jesus gave the parable of the woman who took a small portion of yeast and mixed it in about 30 kilos of flour and the yeast worked itself through the whole amount of flour.

That is the Kingdom of God starting small, seemingly insignificant, moving almost our of radar such that by the time you come to see it, the whole community has been transformed by its power.

B) THE CHURCH IS SUPPOSED TO BE

The church is supposed to be more than a weekly gathering where we come and have a 2 hour worship serve na pambio Moto Moto and then after the sermon we go home.

The church is supposed to be more than a weekly gathering where we come and have a 2 hour worship serve na pambio Moto Moto and then after the sermon we go home. It is meant to be more than just information and inspiration and we leave just like we came. The church is the kingdom of God in the community its set and its supposed to reflect and impact the community its in with kingdom values, advancing the kingdom- proclaiming freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the bilnd.

of sight to the bilnd.

It is meant to be more than just information and inspiration and we leave just like we came.

The church is the kingdom of God in the community reflecting and impacting the community

with kingdom values, advancing the kingdom-

proclaiming freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind.

ILL

C) ILLUSTRATION

i was reading that magazine- Impact and i read where this congregation of Umoja has planted 30 other churches with schools, trainings, providing rite of passage, free medical camps and dad said his vision is to plant campuses, develop the community, bless people and bring souls into the kingdom. that is proclaiming freedom to the captives and opening the eyes of the blind.

I was looking for a school here for a child who was autistic- that is the child has impaired communication skills, and is developmentally delayed. And In the process of looking I was referred to a school in Kibera called Little Rock Academy; I get to this school and it just blew me away. This sister who started this school felt that there was more to her christianity than just sitting in the pews and listening to the Sunday message and going home. She followed that passion she was feeling in her heart about the Kids in Kibera and she kept telling us that she wanted to provide a quality education to these children such as you would find in the elite schools in Nairobi. With her own retirement money and little assistance from here and there she started just a little bit with 5 children….before long she had to be thinking about 100 children…now she is dealing with 1000 children. Kids affected with AIDS, disabled, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, down syndrome… all these are taken in. she has opened a center for young girls who get pregnant and have been chased away …she has had to open another center for abandoned children. Mothers who just give birth and come and leave those babies at the doorstep. She has opened teacher training centers, medical camps, opened rescue houses for the vulnerable in the society ….Her motto is turning their scars into smiling stars……That is the kingdom of God breaking into the kingdom of darkness and saying without apology that the SPIRIT OF THE LORD is upon me for he has pointed me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind.

I was looking for a school here for a child who was autistic-

that is the child has impaired communication skills, and is developmentally delayed.

And In the process of looking I was referred to a school in Kibera;

I get to this school and it just blew me away.

This sister who started this school felt that there was more to her christianity than just sitting in the pews and listening to the Sunday message and going home.

She followed that passion she was feeling in her heart about the Kids in Kibera and she kept telling us that she wanted to provide a quality education to these children such as you would find in the elite schools in Nairobi.

With her own retirement money and little assistance from here and there she started just a little bit with 5 children,

before long she had to be thinking about 100 children,

now she is dealing with 1000 children.

Kids affected with AIDS, disabled, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, down syndrome.

all these are taken in.

she has opened a center for young girls who get pregnant and have been chased away.

she has had to open another center for abandoned children, Mothers who just give birth and come and leave those babies at the doorstep.

She has opened teacher training centers, medical camps, opened rescue houses for the vulnerable in the society.

Her motto is turning their scars into smiling stars

That is the kingdom of God breaking into the kingdom of darkness and saying without apology that the SPIRIT OF THE LORD is upon me for he has pointed me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind.

APPLICATION

The Scriptures tell us that The Lord of the Kingdom has given some 1 talent, another 2 talents and another 5 talents each according to his or her ability. we all have something God has given us to extend and advance his kingdom in the community. spend some time and ask God, what did you give me. what is it that you envision, that burns in your heart…that could be a hint of what and where the Lord is leading you, to bring his kingdom and bless the community and bring souls into the Kingdom.

THE NATION

CHRIST BEGAN WITH THE PERSON THEN HE WENT TO THE COMMUNITY LASTLY TO THE NATION

to set the oppressed free, AND 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

This portion of scripture is not in Jesus pulled this portion of scripture from the nation of Israel were complaining to God telling God we have fasted and yet you have no listened we have humbled ourselves with fasting but you have ignored us why? And the Lord replied to them

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please

and exploit all your workers.

4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,

and in striking each other with wicked fists.

You cannot fast as you do today

And expect your voice to be heard on high.

Vs 6 Is not this the kind of fastingl I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

God was appealing to the nation of Israel and calling them back to their responsibility to make sure there are no oppressed people.

Not to exploit their workers and to quarrel and cause strife and corruption and think they can fast with those kind of deeds and expect the Lord to hear from on high.

Now Jesus comes and says the Spirit of the Lord is upon me to set the oppressed free.

And that is the last mission the church.

On the national level the kingdom of God is supposed to call the nation to the ethics of the kingdom, the culture of the kingdom, the responsibilities of the kingdom. In one word JUSTICE!

ILLUSTRATION

In purpose center where I am one of the pastors we have a little course that we we run and in one of the classes we are doing God and Justice.

In that class we look at the source of justice, define it and describe it and how it should look like in our nation.

We learn that Justice is not what God does, Justice is who God is. the function of justice comes out of his very nature. God is Justice we would say…….

and that is why God is very keen about how a nation treats its people

how leaders treat their subjects and the citizens of a nation.

How the national wealth of a nation is distributed, how the offices of a land operate, how the choosing of leaders is carried out……

because God is a God of Justice……listen to which is one of the memory verses we memorize in class

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,

24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. aFor in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”

If we say we understand and know the Lord, we will be known to practice justice and righteousness for these things delight the Lord. That is the responsibility of the kingdom of God.

ILLUSTRATION

You see the church was not called to be the master of the nation, neither was the church called to be the slave of the nation. The church was called to be the conscience of the nation.

And if the conscience of a person is dead then that person is warped and perverted because there is nothing to give him a moral compass.

Similarly when the conscience of the nation, the kingdom of God doesn’t take its rightful place in the nation then Woe is that nation.

That is why for the kings of Israel, God would raise a prophet who would call that king to the requirements of the kingdom of God, constantly and consistently remind them.

And for the kings that obeyed the land prospered and the people were blessed and judgment was averted….

a nation can only go as far as the church allows it. But when the kingdom of God rises as one man and we say enough is enough and we get into prayer and from the pulpit proclaim what God desires for the nation —

and we shun convoluted gospel messages that entertain the mind but do not profit the spirit then from on high God will reverse the rushing waters of judgment on the nation and in turn bless it.

2 chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

ILLUSTRATION

When I was young I remember a time that this country was going through some very turbulent waters, it was a time of great turmoil and please forgive me if my memory is short…

but I remember there was such an awareness among the churches and their leaders that walks were arranged…

and some church congregations walked from Westlands,

others from Eastlands, others from

Ngong road coming down and we met in Uhuru park and we prayed..

and we let the authorities and powers in the heavenliness that this is our nation

and there would be no destruction,

there would be no strife, that we would be a country at peace and there would be no bloodshed…..

as one the kingdom of God stood and can I tell you….there is no devil in hell that could stop those prayers because the kingdom of God stood their ground on behalf of the nation….for the SPIRIT OF THE LORD is upon us to set the oppressed free and to declare the Jubilee year of the Lord…….

APPLICATION

The church in Kenya has prayed numerous times for peace and Kenya is one of the few countries in Africa that has never gone through political upheavals and bloodshed, because the Kingdom of God has stood in the heavenlies concerning that. we need to start praying for Justice, the rule of God over our executive office, the rule of God over the legislative office, the rule of God over our judiciary

the rule of God in our cities, our counties and our villages. so that every kenyan can enjoy the benefits, the advantages and dignitiy that accrue to them as kenyans and we can live the confession of our national anthem

Oh God of all creation

Bless this land and nation

justice be our shield and defender

may we dwell in unity

peace and liberty

plenty be found within our borders.