Kingdom Come

Jesus’ Perspective: Kingdom

Jesus’ perspective is unique. It is different than ours because he views everything with Kingdom vision.

througout John especially(?), is vehement against the Pharisees yet welcomes the repentent sinners.

He is opposed to Pharisees but even the worst sinners, if repentant, are welcomed. There is no in between.

There is no in between.

Jesus sees a distinction between the worldly Kingdom and the Kingdom of God.

he views everything with Kingdom vision. He sees people as a part of one and treats them accordingly.

He sees people as a part of one or the other and treats them accordingly.

He says things paradoxically: “ the blind will see and those who see will be blind” ().

It is like Jesus is using some sort of code when He talks. There must be something added to make sense.

This is because His Kingdom is working a principle that is opposite of the Kingdom that we know: He is God and we are not.

(((Buffalo in the car.--- The logic behind this is beyond what you are thinking about. While you are thinking about how to fit buffalo into Larisa’s office, the only way to understand what is being asked is if you know the rule. IF you understand the viewpoint, then you will understand what I am asking. )))

The logic behind this is beyond what you are thinking about. While you are thinking about how to fit buffalo into Larisa’s office, the only way to understand what is being asked is if you know the rule. IF you understand the viewpoint, then you will understand what I am asking.

What is the Kingdom

It is past, present and future. Already and Not yet. It encompasses all things and people, but excludes some.

In one way, the Kingdom of God is including everyone because God (whether we like it or not) is King of the universe. He is in charge and therefore all are in His Kingdom.

“The Lord established his throne in the heavens, and His Kingdom rules over all

On the other hand, there are verses that talk about how some are decisively NOT in his kingdom because they do not believe in Him.

“But you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.”

On another hand, we read parable after parable about how the Kingdom starts and grows, sometimes in large quantities, other times it is stifled by the opposing Kingdom.

Parables of the seeds and the weeds

On another hand, we also read about how His Kingdom WILL be established forever and ever.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

7 Of the increase of his government and of peacethere will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

On another hand, Jesus tells us that it is “coming”, it is“near” as well as it is “upon us”

“If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, the the Kingdom of God has come upon you”

: Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

English Standard Version Chapter 1

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

We need to establish a foundational understanding that the Kingdom of God is God Reigning as King- not necessarily a place, a group of people or physical realm where we can see him sitting on the throne with a crown like want to.

That is coming, but right now, it doesn’t look like that. It comes in a different shape. In a different form.

If you would like to live, expecting God’s kingdom to look just like other kingdoms, you will be disappointed.

If we don’t recognize that King Jesus’ Kingdom works how it does then we will be really confused.

If you would like to live, expecting God’s kingdom to look just like other kingdoms, you will be disappointed.

The Kingdom of God is Bringing Shalom

Why is it like this? Why so confusing? God’s purpose here on earth is to save sinners and then remake the world for them.

So, His kingdom needs to accomplish that.

This is how Jesus does it: his Kingdom comes quietly, different than any other one.

Through a baby in a stable. Through a humble, long-awaited, quietness. He is ushering in peace or SHALOM- everything as it was created to be; wholeness.

He is bringing peace between God-man, man-man, man-creation, and man-self.

So, he starts in a person’s heart and the kingdom, like a seed, grows. It heals the relationship between God and man, the maturity of a Christian is a healing source of the man-man and man-self relationships.

We see God’s Kingly rule as he brings people together into congregations that live a citizens of a new Kingdom. A heavenly Kingdom. And as they live, they wait.

As they sit in the tension of waiting for Jesus to come back, they share what the Kingdom has done and that peace, that shalom, presses outward into the world and relationships around them.

So, we know that Jesus came. We know that he lived perfectly, died, came back to life and now sits next to the Father. This means that His Kingdom is not only him being an authority, but also extended into our hearts and relationship with god.

However, we all know we are not perfect. But Shalom is the goal we are being moved toward.

This is what Already/Not Yet is. It is a mystery. It is present, but without consummation. It is experienced in that WAITING

It is present, but without consummation.

, Jesus makes the point that the Kingdom is NOT going to come immediately. There is a process. Now, the process has begun. But, that process is not finished. But, he then goes on to say that the Kingdom is at hand and near.

How can these things all exist at once? Present, absent. Here, coming. How?

The answer is that the Kingdom of God is God’s reign.

He is redeeming a people now and will fully deliver them at a future time, renew the people and the universe too.

He brings the Kingdom in two stages. The first is as a servant King. The second is as a glorious warrior King.

The Kingdom and Christmas

I wanted to talk about this because as we are entering in the Christmas season, I need us to have the correct focus. We all need us to have the correct focus. (***other sermon, conviction***)

The Christmas story is the beginning of that first stage (Jesus as the Servant King) but the story is incomplete without the the second stage (Jesus as the Warrior King). Let’s make sure we are including the whole story this year.

Jesus being born is the worst news.

The entrance of the Kingdom is movement toward the end. The end houses judgement. The end houses punishment. The end is where many souls are going to wake and realize they had the chance, they never believed and now they are going to perish in hell for eternity.

Did you ever consider the dark side of the Christmas story?

Lies. Pride. Fear. Corruption. Self-obsession. Babies slaughtered. This is the reaction of sin when it is told that King Jesus is coming.

Here is the announcement: the Kingdom of God has finally come to rescue us from ourselves, from each other, from evil, from sin! What is the response? Violence. Rebellion. Dark-hearted hate.

But, that is not just one evil King from the Nativity Story. That is every soul. When our hearts our challenged with the cost of surrendering to King Jesus and giving up the throne to him, suddenly Jingle Bells doesn’t sound so great anymore.

Christmas Then and Now

Think through this: Jesus lived on earth and did some interesting things.

When Jesus showed up he found a mixed bag.

But everyone had problems. Political problems. Money problems. Family problems. Physical problems. Sin issues. Guilt issues. Religious issues. Trust issues. Bad habits.

Then we read about some who were waiting, though. Some who engaged Jesus readily. People like Simeon. People like Mary.

Some people were faithful and cared about what God had been teaching.

One interesting thing that Jesus did is called the Messianic Secret.

Jesus would perform a miracle or a great work and then tell people not to divulge the information that Jesus was King.

Why? Because people are looking for a solution to all their problems. They would force Jesus onto a throne as an earthly king, like they wanted to do in .

But, this is not how Jesus knew things needed to happen. He avoids the premature publicity.

He avoids their desire to make a king in their own image.

Snap back to our day for a moment.

Going into the Christmas season people are excited. Some are giddy. Some are hopeful. Others are depressed. Even more so, some hate this time of year. High suicide rates around this time of year. People are really broken.

Everyone still has problems. Political problems. Money problems. Family problems. Physical problems. Sin issues. Guilt issues. Religious issues. Trust issues. Bad habits.

Others are depressed. Even more so, some hate this time of year. Everyone has issues, but most of those issues float to the top during the Christmas Season. People are really broken. People are looking for peace. Some are embittered because they haven’t found it and others are engaged because they feel like they can feel it more this time of year.

Everyone has issues, but most of those issues float to the top during the Christmas Season. Some are embittered because they haven’t found it and others are engaged because they feel like they can feel it more this time of year.High suicide rates around this time of year. People are really broken.

People are looking for peace. And they like the Christmas story because it seems to offer a nice solution to these sad problems. A solution that doesn’t mess up our Kingdom

Does this sound familiar to you at all? Because it is the same setting as the first Christmas story. (I see a shadow every year)

People are coming, looking to find a fix somewhere.

The nation of Israel had been waiting for this Messiah to come along and be the king they wanted.

Today, people are still excited about Jesus being born!

Going to church sounds like an easy way to escape hell.

It sounds like a King that looks and talks and acts just like me! Just like the Kingdom that I know already.

People expect that this Christmas season to be about good news. Easy News.

But Jesus just coming into the world isn’t good news for those people.

But Jesus just coming into the world isn’t good news.

Jesus says, “you don’t understand my Kingdom. It works differently than that. It doesn’t work the way this world works. I am not going to just come and sit on your man-made throne— I have to die.”

People don’t like that answer. What happened to jingle Bells and stocking stuffers.

Jesus says, “I came here to be crucified.”

People look around and say “why?”

Jesus says “because of your sin. I love you enough to save you.”

Now they have a choice in front of them. But for many, this is bad news. Because they will not accept the fact that they need saving. They wont accept the fact that they are “that bad”.

Jesus being born and saving us is the best news.

He is the Savior. He is the only one who could bring us back from the death that we chose to exult. His entrance, the bugle of his Kingdom into that manger, it is the sweetest, most humbling reality that there is.

Because, you can’t get to the good news with out first staring into the face of the bad news. You will never look to Jesus as King if you think that your Kingdom here on earth is doing just fine.

There is no way to sugar coat depravity. We can not be saved without Him.

So, lets adjust our view of the Christmas story. Tell the full story.

The idea of “taking Christ out of Christmas” is not new. They tried that the first Christmas ever.

But, how often do we take the full message of Christmas away by not finishing the story?

We enter this season thinking that it is all about making problems go away by spreading cheer, but if Jesus didn’t die on the cross then his birth is the scariest thing in the world!

The baby in the manger will be my executioner unless I come to know him as the Savior of the world and King of the Universe

This Kingdom is still advancing, still moving in and around us. And the most joyful, cheerful time of the year may in fact be the most horrific, terminal news that people could imagine if they never understand how this baby grows up and goes to the cross for them.

This should cause us to do 3 things:

1. Be thankful.

We don’t deserve our salvation.

2. Be thoughtful.

When people reject the idea of Christmas, lets open up a conversation and see if they are also rejecting the King of the universe

3. Be thirsty (Longing- “as a deer pants...”).

We are told to pray for the Kingdom to come.

Are we so comfortable celebrating the holiday’s of this worldly Kingdom about the King of the Universe that you no longer have the desire to die and to be with him?

There are categories of people hearing this

1. Christians who know this. I want this message to sit with you in 3 ways:

1. Be thankful. They are humble and they know that they haven’t deserved the salvation they have been given. Keep in mind that you didn’t deserve for Jesus to come down to this earth, let alone die for you.

2. Be thoughtful. My challenge to you is to engage the full Christmas Kingdom story this advent season. When the door is opened in conversation, take the focus past the cheery carols to the ugliness of sin, the cause of Jesus on the cross, and then onto the beauty of Christ coming back to life preparing a place for his people in heaven.

3. Be thirsty. As Christians we are told to pray for the Kingdom to come. Long for a time where Jesus is fully reigning over all and sin is no more. Long for heaven more than earth.

Think through this: Jesus lived on earth and did some interesting things.

2. People who are looking for hope. I want you to know that the hope your looking for is real.

You can feel that church, Jesus, Christians, this whole Christmas thing— there is hope near and around it. The hope is in Jesus. My challenge to you is to consider how well you would do in front of God if you died today. Consider if you have lived perfectly enough to walk into heaven. Consider if you need someone to save you. The lamb of God has come into the world to die for our sins. Now, he asks you to trust in him. He calls you to finish the Christmas story, where he dies in your place, come back to life, victorious over death and offers you life. Do you believe? Do you trust in him as your King? Will you turn away from the solutions of this world, and be born again into His Kingdom?

One thing is called the Messianic Secret. Jesus would perform a miracle or a great work and then tell people not to divulge the information that Jesus was King. Why? Because people are looking for a solution to all their problems. They would force Jesus onto a throne as an earthly king, like they wanted to do in .

But, this is not how Jesus knew things needed to happen. He avoids the premature publicity. He avoids their desire to make a king in thier own image.

This Christmas season, lets finish telling the story.

Snap back to our day for a moment. Going into the Christmas season people are excited. Some are giddy. Some are hopeful. Others are depressed. Even more so, some hate this time of year. Everyone has issues, but most of those issues float to the top during the Christmas Season. People are really broken. People are looking for peace. Some are embittered because they haven’t found it and others are engaged because they feel like they can feel it more this time of year.

Does this sound familiar to you at all? Because it is the same setting as the first Christmas story. People are coming, hoping to find some hope somewhere. The entire nation has been waiting for this Messiah to come along. They have been waiting for a solution. People are willing to make a King if promises are given. So, when they see what they think is the fix to their issues everyone is excited! People are still excited!

People expect you to be nicer around the holidays. They expect to be welcomed into your lives and homes. People expect nice gifts and warm hugs. People expect that this day is about good news. But for many it isn’t. For many, they see this Jesus figure and these nice Christians and this Merry Christmas time and they get excited that problems are going to melt away.

That is a not what Jesus does, though. Jesus says, “you don’t understand my Kingdom. It works differently than that. It doesn’t work the way this world works. I am not going to just come and sit on your throne— I have to die.”

People don’t like that answer. What happened to jingle Bells and stocking stuffers.

Jesus says, “I came here to be crucified.” People look around and say “why?” and Jesus says “because of your sin. I love you enough to save you.”

Now they have a choice in front of them. But for many, this is bad news. Because they will not accept the fact that they need saving. They wont accept the fact that they are “that bad”.