Restored kingdom
Witness to the world: Book of Acts • Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 38:06
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We have a question?
We have a question?
(I have a question slide inserted here)
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Questions, we all have them, sometimes questions and answers lead to more questions, but hopefully questions lead to answers and answers to understanding and understanding to application. Tonight we are looking at a question from the apostles and the impact of the question then and today.
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Why? How many times when your children were growing up did you get asked that question, why? Or are we there yet? (LOL). But even now shouldn’t we ask questions, the who, the what, the why, how and when questions? Of course we should. We are not different than the prophets and the apostles who asked questions.
Why questions from prophets (Ps10:1)
1 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?
Why questions from apostles (Jn13:37)
37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.”
Sometimes teaching leads to more questions (Act1:6)
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
and keeping thing in context and to complete our passage tonight we need to add the following verses
7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
I think we can agree that questions are good, though sometimes we may not like the answer we get and oftentimes questions lead to more questions. Israel was looking for a restored kingdom of Israel a physical kingdom that would have all its promised land back (by the way they had and lost). People today are looking for a new kingdom here on earth for 1000 years at the end which all of Isreal would be saved. So, is that scriptural? Let’s look at the restored kingdom tonight and what is meant by that, scriptually speaking.
Some commentators, in fact, many, are still looking for an earthly kingdom, a political kingdom in which David will be king and the kingdom being Israel. Some commentators profess that the apostles did not understand the nature of the kingdom at this point either being a physical vs. spiritual kingdom. Weather they did or did not I cannot profess, but to invite us to allow the scripture to speak regarding the nature of the restored kingdom.
Disciples History and the kingdom
Disciples History and the kingdom
During the life of Jesus the disciples had some privilege that even the angels did not have. Let’s see what the scripture has to say.
Angels wished to know what was revealed to the apostles (1Pt1:12)
12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.
The prophets before had revelation that was for a future time, and they were not serving themselves but those in the church age, the kingdom age. They were to have what the angels even looked for.
Jesus gave revelation to the apostles (Mk4:10-11)
10 As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. 11 And He was saying to them, “To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables,
Jesus told the followers, the apostles they had been granted the ability to know the mystery of the kingdom of God.
Jesus gave revelation and taught in private to apostles (Mk4:33-34)
33 With many such parables He was speaking the word to them, so far as they were able to hear it; 34 and He did not speak to them without a parable; but He was explaining everything privately to His own disciples.
Jesus explained privately to his disciples. Jesus did not hold back from them and they did not hold back from us, hence why we have the bible and the book of acts for us to understand the nature of the kingdom.
Nature of the kingdom questioned, explained.
Nature of the kingdom questioned, explained.
Mystery revealed through the scripture about the kingdom of God.
Kingdom was not coming with signs (Lk17:20)
20 Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed;
Jesus bluntly told the people that the kingdom was not coming with signs, something to be seen like that.
Kingdom was something that was in their midst (Lk17:21)
21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Notice what it says here in (v.21) the kingdom of God is in your midst. Why was the kingdom in their midst? - because Jesus was with them. Jesus brought the kingdom with Him!
Kingdom is not of this world (Jn18:36-37)
Jesus told the authorities (Pilate in this instance) about the nature of the kingdom and that He is the king!
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
what do we learn about the kingdom from these verses? It is not of this world, not of this realm; Jesus said that he was born to be king.
Jesus taught, spoke of the kingdom from beginning until end (Mk1:14; Act1:3)
From the very beginning of His ministry until the ascension Jesus taugh on the kingdom.
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
and where we are now in Acts
3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Jesus opened the eyes to the kingdom (Lk24:25-27, 32, 44-45)
to the two men on the road to Emmaus we see some important facts, let’s let the scripture speak for itself.
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
I think there is a very important fact that we see in (v.27) what is it?
Now pay attention Jesus from the beginning has told them about the kingdom, the nature of the kingdom and even the restoration of the kingdom, now He is going open their minds to understanding the kingdom.
44 Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
I know this is a study of the book of Acts and this leads us back to our passage, or at least to the question about the kingdom they asked
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
So may we press on and look at the restored kingdom now.
The Restored Kingdom
The Restored Kingdom
The restored kingdom was foretold in the Old Testament and announced in the New testament and fulfilled as Jesus has just stated, in short he is the fulfilling of the prophesy, He is the one that was announced and He is the One who has rule, reign and authority over the kingdom today in which you are in and are a part of.
Restored kingdom promised in the Old Testament
It was promised to David (2Sam7:11-16)
While this a long passage it is a vital passage about the promised kingdom, the restored kingdom, the everlasting kingdom.
11 even from the day that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you. 12 “When your days are complete and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come forth from you, and I will establish his kingdom.
13 “He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men,
15 but My lovingkindness shall not depart from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. 16 “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
17 In accordance with all these words and all this vision, so Nathan spoke to David.
The promised was prophesied to David by Nathan, of the kingdom that would be forever. God swore by it in the form of a covenant.
It was in a form of a covenant (Ps89:3-4, 28-29, 35-36)
3 “I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant, 4 I will establish your seed forever And build up your throne to all generations.” Selah.
Notice in this passage that the covenant was sworn to David and would be his “seed” forever and that the throne would be everlasting.
28 “My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall be confirmed to him. 29 “So I will establish his descendants forever And his throne as the days of heaven.
Established through his descendants forever!
35 “Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. 36 “His descendants shall endure forever And his throne as the sun before Me.
God will not lie, so the covenant, the promise, the prophesy would be fulfilled forever
Even in a divided Israel the promise continued (Hos3:5; Amo9:11; Isa9:6-7; Jer23:5-6 and Eze34:23-24)
I know that is a lot of scripture, but this is a bible study and we are simply Christians so I strongly encourage you get an outline and read the passages and chew on them personally and disgest them on your own for this is a lot to take in. We are not done, we need to look at the promise continued and given again even in the divided kingdom.
5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.
and then there was to Amos
11 “In that day I will raise up the fallen booth of David, And wall up its breaches; I will also raise up its ruins And rebuild it as in the days of old;
Both of those were to the Judah, then there is to the northern kingdom Israel
6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
Look at these verses, what do you learn about the kingdom? Government will rest on His shoulders; there will be no end to his rule or reign and it is on the throne of David that this will happen. God desired, God promised, God made a covenant, God will not lie, and God has a zeal to accomplish this, the eternal everlasting kingdom!
Oh how about some Jeremiah? or Ezekiel, I will let you look up those passages they are in your outline. For, I have not gotten to the announced in the New Testament yet.
Announced in the New Testament
Announced by Gabriel (Lk1:31-33)
He will be great, Son of the Most high God, He will be given the throne of David.
By Zecharias (Lk1:38-70) and by Peter on Pentecost (Act2:30-36)
Zecharias after the birth of his son John the Baptist announced the one to come in Lk1:38-70)
And then Peter on Pentecost and that we will save to when we get there in our study, but feel free to read, study ahead.
Announcement was the what would be the fulfillment of (Isa9:7)
Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. Jesus was given so that the kingdom could be ours, the covenant could be ours, not only here on earth but in heaven too.
Jesus rule, reign was more than here on earth (Mt28:18)
All authority had been given on heaven and earth.
Jesus command was for more than just Israel (Mt28:19); 1Tim6:14-15; Act15:17)
The command the commission was to make disciples in all nations, not just Israel.
The kingdom that he was king of king, lord of lords of
That included the Gentiles, again, this is bigger than just Israel
It would start in Jerusalem and radiate out (Lk24:47-48; Act1:8)
47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things.
and that leads to part of passage that we will get more into next week
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
The question changes from when and what signs (Mt24:3) to is it now Lord (Act1:6)
3 As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”
And the question we started with tonight
6 So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
So, the question was now is it time? The question was about time not about the kingdom or the nature of the kingdom, did they fully understand, I don’t know, I know we can today. But through His teaching, through the Spirit that was going to remind them of all things, through their faith and having their spiritual eyes opened they did come to understand the nature of the kingdom by the time these inspired words were penned for us.
So where is the restoration, when is the restoration, may I offer up the following scripture for your contemplation (Act1:9; Dan7:13-14)
9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.
May we consider that it was at the ascension the kingdom restoration began, and you, now, today are a part of that restored kingdom. This restored kingdom is the fulfillment of the prophesy of Daniel
13 “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. 14 “And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.
This kingdom that you are a part of
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,
The church that Christ has rule, reign and authority over
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
The kingdom prophesied, promised then announced and proclaimed now is! While the apostles had lots to learn, so do we, may we always be teachable, but first we need to be reachable and be in the kingdom
(invitation slide 1) invitation to the kingdom; reminder of the kingdom) (invitation slide 2) prayer, (Exit slides)