Discerning the Secret Kingdom

DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM MAY 15, 2022 DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM WHAT IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD? • “The Kingdom of God is that spiritual state in which the life of God and of heaven is made accessible to men, and they enter into its enjoyment here on earth.” -- Andrew Murray DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM 4 FACTS OF THE KINGDOM: 1.The mark of a kingdom is the presence of the king 2.The mark of a kingdom is the rule of the king 3.The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, & joy in the Holy Spirit 4.The mark of a kingdom is power DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM Matthew 13:10–12 (NIV) — 10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.  Some Will Learn The Secrets Of This Kingdom -- Others Will Not  They Are Hard Of Hearing & They've Closed Their (Spiritual) Eyes  The Kingdom Cannot Be Discerned By Them DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM  Those who understand that He is the King -- and his Kingdom is alive and well --will discern and know the secrets of the Kingdom DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM There Two Kingdoms: • The Kingdom Of This World • The Kingdom Of God DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM The Kingdom Of This World is Facing a Tremendous Crisis • The Struggle Of Resources • Economic Uncertainty • Godly Morality Rejected • 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV) — 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM • Many People Call Evil “Good” And Good “Evil,” Promoting Behaviors That The Bible Specifically Calls Sinful. • 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NIV) — 3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. • Matthew 24:12 (NKJV) — 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM • Lawlessness = People Do Whatever They Want To With No Concern For The Law, Righteousness, Or Morality •Lawless Revolutionaries -- Deny The Existence Of God •Throw Off The Idea That The Bible Is The Word Of God •A Full-Scale Unrelenting Rebellion Against God DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM • The Kingdom Of This World Has No Answers •The Kingdom Of The Lord Does Have Answers •His Kingdom Is An Invisible Kingdom DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM • For Anyone To Gain Entrance Into God’s Kingdom Of Light, They Must Experience A Spiritual Birth DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM • Jesus Declared “The Kingdom Is Here And I've Come To Open It To You And Show You How It Works.” • The Kingdom Of Jesus Has No Limits • Christ’s Kingdom Provides All That The World Can't Deliver DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM There Are Ways That His Kingdom Works • God's Kingdom Is One Of Absolute Abundance • Entering His Kingdom -- We Partner With Him • We Partner To Do The Work Of His Kingdom On The Earth DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM • A Crucial Link Between Us And His Kingdom Is Prayer • The Kingdom Is Established By Faith • We Speak Kingdom Truths -- We Think Kingdom Thoughts • Kingdom Authority Flows Through The Spiritual Not Physical DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM •We All Choose Which Kingdom We Will Live and Die For •If We Live For This World -- We Are Dead To God’s Kingdom •The True Kingdom Lasts •The True Kingdom Triumphs •The True Kingdom Is Left Standing DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM There Are Laws Of The Kingdom The Law Of Giving -- Give and It Will Be Given Unto You • Luke 6:38 (NIV) — 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” • Matthew 7:12 (NLT) — 12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.  when we give there is a great return DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM The Law Of Use: If We Do Not Use It -- We Will Lose It • Use Whatever You Are Given • Little Is Much When It Is In God’s Hands DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM The Law Of Persevering •Matthew 7:7 (NLT) — 7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. •We “Keep On -- Keeping On!” • We Must Endure To The End -- The Victory Is Won DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM The Law Of Responsibility: We Are Responsible To Be Faithful To Whatever God Has Entrusted To Us •With Opportunity Comes Expectation •With Favor Comes Responsibility • Luke 12:48b (NIV) — 48b … From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM The Law Of Greatness: •Matthew 20:25–28 (NLT) — 25 But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. 26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  Greatness Is Not Found Through Self Promotion / Manipulation  Those Who Serve Become Great. DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM The Law Of Unity --We Reject Division And Dissension  When We Flow In Unity There Is Nothing We Cannot Do •Psalm 133:1 (NIV) — 1 How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM The Law Of Miracles -- A Miracle Is When God Disrupts His Natural Order To Accomplish His Purpose. •The First Principle Is Faith •It Is Important That We Do Not Doubt • We Vocalize And Speak Our Faith • We Declare The Power And Blessing Of The Lord DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM The Proof Of The Kingdom's Power Are Seen In Jesus  Healing  Calming the Sea  Casting Out Demons  Defeating Death Darkness and Dumbness DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM Responses To The Kingdom: • Preach Repentance • Pray: “Thy Kingdom Come” • Do God’s Will To Enter • Preach The Message : The Kingdom Is Near • Get Involved In The Spiritual Battle DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM • Unite With The Kingdom, It’s King And People • Understand And Value The Secrets Of The Kingdom – Given To You • The Kingdom Is Your Greatest Treasure –Go After It • Grab Onto The Kingdom Keys: Jesus Is The Christ DISCERNING THE SECRET KINGDOM Kingdom Changes That We Make: • Our Allegiance • Our Expectations • Our Values • Our Priorities • Our Mission