“Kingdom Allegiance: The Birthplace of Church Unity”

Introduction -

Happy 4th of July weekend! I hope and pray you thoroughly enjoy family, friends, and the freedoms we have in America. My goal today is not to denigrate the celebration of our nation. We experience - still yet! - a measure of economic, social and opportunistic freedom that is simply unparalleled among other nations.

The goal is, however, to show that allegiance to anything other than Christ and His Kingdom forces us to live at odds with the ideals, actions, and values of Jesus our Savior and His Kingdom.

I want to preach this truth: Allegiance to Jesus’ Kingdom is the Birthplace of Church Unity. To flesh that out, I’d like to share 5 Kingdom realities - approaches to living out the Kingdom - that are “upside down” compared to the world’s approach to daily living. Among a myriad of possible Kingdom characteristics, we’ll discuss these five:

- Priorities - “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness…” - Matt 6:33a

- Greatness - “Whoever is great among you must be your servant…” - Mark 10:43-44

- Weakness/Meekness - “We have a great high priest who sympathizes with us…” - Heb. 4:15

- Hardship - “who for the joy set before Him endured the cross…” - Heb. 12:2

- Enemies - “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...” - Matt. 5:44

If the church embodies these five attributes of our King and His Kingdom it will give perpetual birth to the church’s unity. And that unity will be our witness to the world.

I will only have time to allude to these passages rather than fleshing them out in their entirety. I want you to know that this message is a compilation of the material I taught on with Dez at Camp Cowen. This year’s theme was “Upside Down Kingdom”. In a beautiful array of passages, those I’ve chosen were what we utilized to teach theses 5 Kingdom realities to the Junior I campers. Today, we are going to focus on Priorities, Greatness and Weakness. Lord willing, we will close up the series on Unity in the Church next week with a focus on Hardship, Loving our Enemies and Christ’s PRAYER AND priority for church unity!

Let us begin with Priority…

Priorities - Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The Sermon on the Mount is the one-stop spot in the Scriptures for obtaining the ways Christians were to think and act to be a codified people living for their King. In this one message, Jesus actually connects with each of the topics I’ve mentioned. I want to focus for a moment on the hinge point of His message as it is written. Priority.(ies)

Today, we have more options and obsessions competing for #1 in our lives than at any other time. Now, to be clear, it’s not that there is actually more competing for our attention and our affections. It’s that more is thrown right in front of our face at a greater velocity than at any other time before.

Money, power, fame, popularity and prestige, success, sensuality, and indulgence in any and all things is at an all time high in its availability and accessibility.

You don’t just find the shoes you want… you find them among MILLIONS of other shoes; online, using filters to find the style just right for you; choosing your color, the kind of sole you’d like, AND whether or not you want it in Prime’s Time… or if you can actually wait for a “Prime Day” for it’s delivery. You’re likely just like me… You want the Prime overnight or 2 day delivery! (Take 3 days for my shoes… are you kidding me?! I need those NOW!

Listen to me, services such as Amazon Prime are like all the inventions, incentives, innovations and fresh ideas that have been and will be “coming out” for the next millennia! (If Jesus doesn’t return!) They are there to “make like easier.” And, properly used… THEY DO! But, few are the men and women who can utilize and use these tools… and not be utterly used and abused by them!

You see, Amazon (which I’m very grateful for) has a telos (an end goal) in mind. MONEY! That doesn’t make them evil. BUT, it does put them in a position to ask this question of anything they do, “Will this make us more money!?”

Therefore, it’s not that they only offer you what you need when you need it. That’d be glorious! It’s that they’re “offering” you and me what we don’t need… at all times, in all places, under all circumstances… sucking our time, money, and appetite for those things into an oblivion of unmet desires. Ultimately… ALL THAT ACCESS BECOMES THE FOUNDATION FOR ANY OF OUR EXCESS. And our PRIORITIES BECOME searching for deals, looking for things, “window shopping” through the 4 x 3.5 windows of our smart phones for so much that we don’t need!

We do the same with news.

We do the same with sports.

We do the same with stocks.

We do the same thing with … you fill in the blank _______. We ALL do this!

Why is it a problem?

BECAUSE IT TURNS OUR AFFECTION - AND BY PROXY - OUR PRIORITIES UPSIDE DOWN.

Jesus left no questions, however, about where our affections and our priorities lie… to whom and what we give allegiance. It was to put first and foremost of uncontested primary importance THE KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Let me share this one hermeneutical insight about Matthew 6:33. Quickly flip the pages of your Bible back to the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount. Notice this… Jesus’ teachings to the crowds and His disciples cover a variety of insanely difficult situations…

In 5:1-11 - you have the Beatitudes - i.e. - Jesus collective teaching on how HIS FOLLOWERS should perceive their place in this world … when the world WOULD NOT be kind to them.

In 5:12-16 - you have a warning in the form of an analogy. BE SALT… B/C if salt loses its “saltiness” it becomes worthless...

In 5:17-20 - you have Jesus reminder that your and my and the listeners pursuit of righteousness better be flawless, because Jesus didn’t come to abolish The Law, but to fulfill it!

In 5:21-26 - you have a stiff warning against anger and a command for reconciliation with with your brothers and accusers.

In 5:27-30 - you learn how Jesus REALLY FEELS ABOUT our lustfulness...

In 5:31-32 - you learn how Jesus REALLY FEELS ABOUT divorce...

In 5:33-37 - you learn how powerless you really are to swear by anything - just keep your responses to YES or NO...

In 5:38-42 - you learn that you should refrain from retaliation AND put yourself out on the line if opportunity is right in front of you...

In 5:43-48 - you learn who needs your love b/c Jesus love was for his enemies… you and I are to do the same...

In 6:1-4 - you and I learn to NOT seek the praises of others if we can meet their needs. Be quiet about it… and just do it!

In 6:5-15 - you learn how Jesus teaches us to pray earnestly, privately, and for the humility to forgive others that He might forgive us...

In 6:16-18 - you learn how to fast for the sake of God… not for others perception of your sacrifice...

In 6:19 -24 - you learn what Jesus values and where our treasures should be placed… Money CANNOT COMPETE for our allegiance!

In 6:25-33 - Jesus covers the topic of worry or anxiety - what, strangely enough in a world of instant gratification and immeasurable options - may be one of the greatest burdens of the Western world…

IS IT ANY WONDER JESUS SAYS WE MUST SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS… AND ALL THESE THINGS WILL BE ADDED TO YOU…?

Understand… Matthew 6:33 in strict context refers to the provision of ones daily needs (food, clothing and shelter…). However, I find it Truly insightful that Jesus would speak such a thing on the heals of a laundry list of commands and situations in which ALL OF US WOULD FAIL TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT HE’S PREACHING… UNLESS… HIS KINGDOM IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY! Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

The unity of the church rises and falls on its willingness to follow the teachings of our Savior… AND to follow in the footsteps of our Savior.

There is no one greater than Jesus. His disciples picked up on that late in his ministry. They saw him feed thousands with a little bit of nothing, heal the blind, cast out demons, and correct the self-righteous without sinning. But, toward the end of Jesus ministry, he begins talking about His death and crucifixion. In some ways, it appears as though this part of Jesus’ ministry flies right over the heads of some of his followers. Particularly, James and John’s mother. Though Jesus has made clear that he will be going to Jerusalem to suffer and die by the Gentiles at the hands of the scribes and chief priests, James and John’s mother sees his GREATNESS in terms of the RULE AND REIGN that Israel so longed for. But, Jesus had a different idea for conveying greatness. His greatness would not exalt His life… it would instead extinguish it.

Matthew 20:20-28

Matthew 20:20–28 ESV

20 Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. 21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

“Greatness,” as our world defines it, has been, remains, and will always be understood in terms of VICTORY, CONQUEST, ACHIEVEMENT, and PERSONAL GLORY...

Not so with JESUS

Humanity is “prone to power.” The disciples were no different. We can’t act like James and John and their mother were foolish! You and I don’t know what it’s like to be ruled by a tyrannical government! ALL Jews LONGED FOR THE MESSIAH AND HIS DELIVERANCE FOR ROME! Were we to have witnessed the power and authority that Jesus displayed… we would have wanted seats at the right and left of his throne too!

And, just like James and John, we would have remarked, “Yes! We can drink the cup you will drink!” just like they did. AND - JUST LIKE THEY WERE - We would have been speechless when Jesus responded the way he did to their mom’s request.

Did you catch what their pursuit of greatness did to their relationship with the other 10 disciples?! Did you catch that!?!?

Matthew 20:24 (ESV)

24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.

The other 10 were shocked, disgusted, and awestruck! The Greek word is...

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (23. ἀγανακτέω)

23. ἀγανακτέω aganaktĕo, ag-an-ak-teh´-o; from ἄγαν agan (much) and ἄχθος achthŏs (grief; akin to the base of 43); to be greatly afflicted, i.e. (fig.) indignant:—be much (sore) displeased, have (be moved with, with) indignation.

You see… when the disciples were grouching and muttering about who’s gonna get to sit beside Jesus on His throne… they were inadvertently sewing seeds of disunity! They were looking for ways to be at the front of the pack! BOTH among their peers AND in the world!

Jesus, on the other hand, delivers the humiliating truth… Matthew 20:27-28

Matthew 20:27–28 ESV

27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus turned their understanding of greatness completely UPSIDE DOWN! Kingdom Greatness HAS NOTHING to do with self-exultation and power. Instead, Kingdom greatness takes on the lowest, least notable, role(s) in the entire house.

And Jesus expects us to do the same.

But, He doesn’t drop the command and then tell us to figure out how to make it happen… instead he leads by example.

Following this moment in Matthew 20 we see from John’s writing in The Gospel of John the Triumphal Entry in John 12. The next event Jesus is preparation of the Passover Feast… at which Jesus would wash his disciples feet in the upper room. In John 13:12-17

John 13:12–17 ESV

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

This posture is too much for any man or woman to assume on their own. For it to happen, their is but one way to accomplish it. WE MUST FOLLOW SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN WHERE WE CANNOT GO.

SOMEONE WHO KNOWS OUR CONDITION AND UNDERSTANDS OUR WEAKNESS…

Hebrews 4:14-16 - Introduces us to such a servant...

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

How is it that the church can attain the seemingly impossible UNITY that God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have commanded?!?!

The first step, is to prioritize HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS above ALL THINGS… then to live as Christ lived SERVING AND ACTING AS A SLAVE toward those He loved… and to accept HIM and his posture of weakness as a sympathy toward our condition.

We owe allegiance to ONE! KING, JESUS! HE HAS TURNED THIS WORLD’S DEFINITIONS OF PRIORITY, GREATNESS, AND WEAKNESS COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN.

Lord willing, next Sunday, we’ll close up this series on Unity in the Church by studying the final three characteristics of Kingdom Allegiance… our response to Hardship; Loving our Enemies; and Unity being the centerpiece of Jesus final prayer with his disciples.

This morning, we celebrate communion. In preparation, let us all ask these questions of ourselves… are Christ and His Kingdom my first priority? Do I define Greatness as serving my brothers and sisters and being a slave to all? Do I understand the meekness and weakness Jesus took on as His mercy toward me to sympathize with my frail condition in dire need of rest?

Let us take time to examine ourselves now that if there exists any contention we need to fix with a brother or sister - we would do that now. Before we celebrate at the Lord’s Table.

1 Corinthians 11:23–25 (ESV)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,

24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”