Citizens of the Kingdom part4

Welcome into your Inheritance

Citizens of the Kingdom Part 4

I would like to continue with our series on citizens of kingdom of God, what means to be a citizen of the kingdom of God.

The only way our children and those who we love and influence, will be able to grasp this powerful truth, is if we teach them by living in the reality of the kingdom of God.

Php 3:20 But [we are different, because] our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await [the coming of] the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

Our citizenship shapes who we are, what we value, and what is important to us, how we live our lives. As believers we are citizens of God’s kingdom, this reality will change our lives.

The kingdom is where the presence of God is where the Holy Spirit dwells.

Let’s pray

Welcome into your inheritance,

Mat 13:10 Then the disciples came to Him and asked, "Why do You speak to the crowds in parables?"

Mat 13:11 Jesus replied to them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. [Mar_4:11]

When Jesus returns, He will welcome us into the kingdom of God

We are able to experience the kingdom right now, but when Jesus returns, we will inherit the fullness of His kingdom.

This was the last parable Jesus shared before his death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven.

The sheep and the goats

This is what Jesus says.

Mat 25:31 "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.

Mat 25:32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.

Mat 25:33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.

Mat 25:34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in;

Mat 25:36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.'

Mat 25:37 "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?

Mat 25:38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?

Mat 25:39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'

Mat 25:40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Mat 25:41 "Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:

Mat 25:42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;

Mat 25:43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.'

Mat 25:44 "Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?'

Mat 25:45 Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'

Mat 25:46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

At the first glance it seams like Jesus is saying is all about works

What we did and did not do, but we need to look a little closer.

1 Guard your hearts,

What we allow into our hearts matter at the end, offenses, hurts, bitterness and lies from the enemy, will produce, fear, selfishness, we become the victims, the only one we need to protect, and take care of, we cannot trust anyone including our Heavenly Father.

Jesus said

Mat 15:19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts and plans, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slanders (verbal abuse, irreverent speech, blaspheming).

We are responsible for the condition of our hearts, if we allow bad things inn it will come out in words and actions.

Just a week ago I finished reading a book called, Goliath must fall, by Loui Giglio.

Loui is the pastor of a large church he is powerful speaker specially to youth, high school college age kids.

Few years ago, as he finished one of his big tours, he fell into this deep depression and anxiety, he had an emotional and mental breakdown at night he said he was sure he was going to die, during the day it was a struggle, all he could do was to stare at a wall, he was successful, and well liked, but now in deep darkness.

It last for months, the breakthrough came through a song, he new that if God would give him a song he would worship him, so one night when he woke up in the middle of his terror he had a song and worship set him free.

But that experience led him to recognize the giants, who were still taunting him, like fear, rejection, anger.

Pro 4:23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.

The lies of the enemy in our hearts creates platforms for these giants to mock us, and keep us from doing the right things we need to do.

None of us know when our breaking point will come, but we can make sure that we are diligent in keeping our hearts clean, by taking every thought captive to Jesus.

2 This parable is about a relationship with Jesus.

When we walk with Jesus we begin to identify, what He likes and dislikes, we begin to do more what pleases Him and eliminate the things that do not.

We know what satisfy Him and what gives Him Joy, like agreeing with His will, not sacrifices, is about loving people the way Jesus did, being his friend, he call us his friend and let us know everything he does .

Joh 15:12 "This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.

We don’t need to love and respond to all the people in the world, just those who God brings across your path.

Is not about what we can do on our own strength, because what we do with Jesus, He will help us, it becomes easy and very much part of us.

Jesus himself did only what He saw his Heavenly Father do.

Joh 5:19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

Joh 5:20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

As we watch Jesus do His things, we learn and we will do the same, so when the time comes you will not be surprised thinking that, if I only knew what Jesus meant I would have done it.

3 What we do, exposes the condition of our hearts.

Apparently, the people Jesus was referring to, would have no problem in doing the service for him, feeding, giving him water, clothing him or visiting him, but what they missed was to recognize Jesus among the ones in need, or loving others as Jesus loves them.

Luk 6:43 For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. [Mat_7:16, Mat_7:18]

Luk 6:44 For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit. For figs are not picked from thorn bushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a briar bush.

Luk 6:45 The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.

Our words and actions only reveal what is in our hearts, and I’m not saying that if you struggle in an area or another that you are without hope. but I know many good people who mean well, but they can never bring themselves to do the good thing they like to do, or even say God told me to do. Probably a Giant or two are holding you back.

In the story of David and Goliath, intimidating as Goliath was, Goliath the experienced warrior the champion, who was mocking a entire army of well-trained soldiers, was defeated with a small stone from David’s sling shot.

My message is not to challenge you to be like David.

You do not need to be David the brave youth, Jesus is already your champion, He already fought Satan for you and won the victory and He has the head of the giant in His hand. Look to Jesus He has freedom and victory for you.

1Co 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.

To be welcomed into our inheritance

We need to guard our hearts

Maintain our relationship with Jesus

Pay attention to what you do and don’t do.

All this is possible by

making Jesus the Lord of our lives

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3:16

To receive Him we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, asking Him to be your Lord and savior, not that you deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?

Heavenly Father I’m sinner, I’m sorry for my sins, I’m willing to turn away from my sins.

I receive Christ as my savior,

I confess Him as Lord

from this moment on I want to follow and serve him,

in the fellowship of his church,

In Jesus name. Amen!