Jesus is on the Throne

Welcome

Thank you so much for joining us today. We are so glad that you are here. If there is anything, we can do to serve you and your family, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Also, if you are ever in the (Orlando/DC) area, be sure to stop by, we would love to worship with you and your family.

Summary

We are concluding our Exiles series. If you missed it, please go back and check it out as I believe the message set the tone and context that we will be addressing over the new few weeks. The biggest take away was, we are exiles, which means our citizenship is in heaven. (Phil 3:20; Daniel 1:8)

We can thrive where we are, don't forget where you are from. We are Exiles. We are loyal to the lamb, not the donkey or elephant. Our main scripture for this series is

Draw the Line

Under the Influence

Pray or Prey

Context

Daniel has a variety of visions that include what I can only categorize as captivating and terrifying. He sees images of these hybrid beasts that really was hard to define or describe. Daniels prophetic revelations are so profoundly accurate that it has caused a debate in some scholastic circles for the way he was able to forecast the rise and fall of nations and empires.

Scriptures

Daniel 7:13–14 CSB

I continued watching in the night visions, and suddenly one like a son of man was coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

Prayer

Lord, we thank you that you’re word alone serves as the blueprint for our lives. If we follow it, goodness and mercy shall follow us. Give us open eyes, open ears, open hearts. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen!

Illustration

I recall when I first moved to the DC area, being enamored with the magnitude of the city. Seeing all the sites and museums. Thinking about the history. It wasn’t long after arriving, we had a tragic incident. It was August of 2017 and there was a demonstration in Charlottesville, VA, which is about 100 miles outside of DC. On this sad day, there was a loss of life. It was a very heavy time for our nation. That Sunday, we decided to pray for those who were injured, for those whose lives were lost, for our nation to begin to heal. What happened next was startling. After service, we were confronted and accused of being divisive. Divisive for praying for the family of the young lady that was killed. Divisive for asking God to unify us. It served as a reality check of how broken our world is. When you do what the Bible says we should do. When we do what we seen Jesus do, we are vilified for it. I recognized then that our politics was infusing itself into our beliefs in such a way that when we mourn with those who morn, we were vilified for it. Somehow, we’ve allowed our faith to be politicized so a kingdom expression is viewed as divisive. I know pastors, that have struggled with how to respond to injustice, oppression, death among the most vulnerable…because each of those matters have been hi-jacked by politics and to share a kingdom principle is to make a political statement.

I have noticed over the years, people who have been close friends for years, no longer talk, because of politics. I have seen people that literally have done life together…marriage, divorce, loss of spouses, surgery, cancer…no longer friends because of their politics! Let’s keep in mind, I have gone to restaurants in DC and have seen the very politicians that people are losing their family and friendships over, sitting together at a table…laughing and talking about their weekend plans.

Transition

How did we get here? How did we get to a place where we have elevated politics over people? No surprise, the answer is in scriptures.

John 18:35–36 CSB

35 “I’m not a Jew, am I?” Pilate replied. “Your own nation and the chief priests handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.”

Jesus was handed over to the political powers by the people that should have been following Him. We are living in a time, where it seems like we are doing the same thing. Politicizing Christ and losing sight of the fact that the Kingdom transcends it. Let us remember, that we are siblings in the Kingdom, not enemies. I want to point you to some important passages of scripture...

Colossians 3:2 CSB

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

John 12:32 CSB

As for me, if I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people to myself.”

I know we are very passionate about the well being of our country. I am too. I know we see how policies can really help reinforce Christian values, I do too.

Jeremiah 29:4–7 CSB

4 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. 7 Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.”

I pray often about the world that will meet my children and grandchildren as they get older.

What gives me peace is knowing…no matter who’s in the White House, Jesus is on the Throne!

His Kingdom does not need permission from the empire to have impact!!!

We are seeing revival in some of the most persecuted countries in the world because the kingdom of God does not need permission from the empire to have impact. When you look at scripture, the people of God have survived and thrived, because God is on the throne. They survived Egypt because God is on the throne. Babylon, because God is on the throne. Persians-Medes, because God is on the throne. Greeks, because God is on the throne. The Roman Empire, because God is on the throne. We have survived depression, sickness, anxiety, division, divorce, loss of jobs and loved ones, because God is on the throne. We can rest because Jesus never sleeps. When you know what you have survived, you have a different perspective on what you face. Let us never forget that Jesus is on the Throne.

Background

Daniel’s writing takes a dramatic shift. It goes from narrative to apocalyptic. Apocalyptic literature means symbolic images and language typically conveying specific messages to particular groups of people caught up in dire situations.…Visionary literature announces an end to the way things are and opens up alternative possibilities to the audience as a result of God’s impending intervention in human affairs. Three types of messages are usually associated with the visionary literature of the Bible: (1) a message of encouragement to the oppressed; (2) a warning to the oppressor; and (3) a call to faith for those wavering between God’s truth and human wisdom.

Observations

There is a mention of 4 animals that serve as hybrids. Literally 2 animals mixed together. This speaks to how the enemy corrupts God’s creation. (Marriage, sex, relationships, church) This is set in the sea, which was seen as a place of chaos and confusion. We then see that the strategy is to make war against the people of God and began to prevail against them; wear them out. As we look at the world we live in, we see corruption, chaos and confusion, and it seems like we are fighting nonstop. With each other, work, family…it just seems like there is no relief. Feels like we are getting worn out, with no relief…any hope. It feels like we are being bullied by our present reality.

It reminds me of high school. I was being picked on by a kid for no logical reason. Each day, it seemed like it got worse. It got to the point that I didn’t want to go to school. Then one day, a friend of mine witnessed the bullying and left. I felt abandoned. As the day came to a close, I noticed one of my brothers friends standing outside. Then I noticed another one. Then another one. As we walked into the hall, I saw what appeared to be the entire senior class waiting outside. My brother walked up to the guy and asked him if he had a problem with his brother. The guy had no idea who my family was. My brother literally showed up and took his authority.

Daniel paints a picture of the people of God having to deal with kings and dictators and oppressors that have caused corruption and chaos, but it all shifts with Ancient of Days shows up, when the son of man shows up, when the Messiah shows up, He takes the authority from the enemy.

Matthew 28:18 CSB

18 Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

Revelation 1:18 CSB

18 and the Living One. I was dead, but look—I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and Hades.

When Jesus shows up, authority shows up! Stability shows up. He is establishing a kingdom that cannot be destroyed or shaken!

A Kingdom that can not be shaken

Hebrews 12:28 CSB

28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe,

We are in a season where it seems like everything is being shaken. Jesus is on the Throne. Churches are being shaken. Jesus is on the Throne. Families are being shaken. Jesus is on the Throne. Jobs are being shaken. Jesus is on the Throne. Our country is being shaken. Jesus is on the Throne.

However, the kingdom is not being shaken; Jesus is not worried! If something is loose it could be that is because it is not rooted in the kingdom and God is shaking things up to ensure the kingdom is not just on the surface. When I season my chicken, I shake it up because I want to make sure the flavor is evenly distributed. We are called to be salt, Matthew 5:13 so sometimes God will allow a little shaking to reveal the areas that are not seasoned with the flavor kingdom of God.

Be encouraged, Jesus is on the throne. Jesus is not worried!

Jesus is on the throne!!! In moments of uncertainty, let this be the echo in your heart, Jesus is on the throne! The kingdom of God can not be shaken. Whatever you put into the hands of God, can’t be shaken or taken by the enemy. When you can really embrace the fact that the kingdom of God is the foundation that we build our lives on, we can find stability even when things are not stable.

God’s Family Pursuing God’s Kingdom

We are in a place where we will not passively wait to experience what God has for us, we will passionately pursue it. We are God’s family pursuing God’s Kingdom. When David battled against the Philistines he pursued them. When he recovered his family from the Amelekites, he pursued them. Prodigal son pursued wholeness. God doesn’t want us to just experience victory, He wants us to pursue dominion for the next generation! Pursuing the Kingdom requires us to have a kingdom perspective.

Kingdom vs The Empire

I want to help reset our vision. It’s like going to the eye doctor and they begin to ask you, which one is better, this one or this one. I want us to see that the kingdom view is better.

Daniel 7:14 CSB

He was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, so that those of every people, nation, and language should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will not be destroyed.

There is a difference between the kingdom and the empire.

The empire is fragile, the kingdom will not be destroyed.

The empire has to prepare for destruction, the kingdom will not be destroyed.

The economy of the empire fluctuates. Investing in the kingdom has eternal impact

The economy of the EMPIRE fluctuates. Investing in the Stockmarket goes up and down. But an investment in the KINGDOM, your tithe, never a bad investment.

The EMPIRE causes anxiety. But the KINGDOM gives us a peace that the world does not give to us. (John 14:27)

The empire tears down, the kingdom builds up

I sense that God has shaken things up so that we can really see and separate the empire from the kingdom.

Daniel 7:18 CSB

But the holy ones of the Most High will receive the kingdom and possess it forever, yes, forever and ever.’

What will you possess, the empire or the kingdom? Whatever you hold on to, will hold on to you!

Closing

We are living in what Dr. Imes calls the liminal space. It’s the on the road but not there yet. Now and not yet. Eden to Eden. We have an opportunity now. On earth as it is in heaven.

Revelation 21:3–5 CSB

Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away. Then the one seated on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.”

When Jesus is on the throne…and He is making all things new

On earth as it is in heaven.

No more tears: Comfort on earth as it is in heaven

No more mourning: Justice on earth as it is in heaven

No more fear: Peace on earth as it is in heaven

No more anxiety: as it is in heaven

No more death: as it is in heaven

I want us to change the way we see things. When Jesus is on the throne of our hearts, we experience the benefits of heaven on earth!