THE KINGDOM OF GOD CONCEPTS

SERMON STARTER

A friend and I were having an “in depth” discussion about Christianity. During our talk I asked him if he understood Jesus’ teaching on the Kingdom of God. He related that he was not sure. I began to open up to him the concept of the Kingdom of Heaven. This was new to him, so I gave this survey sermon as a way of introducing the subject to him.

          There are a number of obstacles to either seeing or entering the Kingdom. John 3 says we must be “born from above” to see or enter the Kingdom. What does that mean? Does it mean entering heaven? Or, does it mean entering and joining the cultural, religious organization we call the church?

What did Jesus mean?

          Jack Hayford gave me the bedrock teaching on the Kingdom of God. I took a class on Evangelism from him in the Fall of 1973. When I finished my 12 weeks of classes under his instruction, he had shattered forever my concept of the church as the Kingdom of God. Pastor Jack destroyed by paradigm of evangelism as well. On the first night of class he said, “Most of you don’t know what it is you’re evangelizing. So, for the next eight weeks we will study the Kingdom of God."   Pastor Jack was fresh from more than ten years of teaching at Life Bible College in Los Angeles. He knew his subject cold. He never looked at a note and I was unable to take notes of those eight weeks. Brother Jack rattled off the Biblical texts by heart and kept speaking words that fell on my dry and dusty heart like life-giving rain. I have never been the same.

          This sermon explores the basic concepts of the Kingdom of God as taught by Jack Hayford.  I have tweaked the teaching here and there under the influence of John Wimber. Here is my understanding of the Kingdom of God with apologies to brothers Hayford and Wimber.

 

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

 

 

 

September 15, 2019 - Sheepfold Ministries,

Pastor Phil Roland  <><<

 

KINGDOM OF GOD CONCEPTS

Luke 17:20-21

 

“The Kingdom of God is the message Jesus preached. It is the rule and reign of Jesus in this present age. We can enter into it now."       Pastor Phil

 

Luke 17:20-21
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."  Luke 17:20-21

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”           Romans 14:17

JACK HAYFORD’S CONCEPT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD:

I.  KINGDOM RULE ESTABLISHED

          A. God Is Almighty, No Power Is Above His - Jere. 10:12,13

12 He has made the earth by His power, He has established the world by His

            wisdom, And has stretched out the heavens at His discretion. 13 When He             utters His voice, There is a multitude of waters in the heavens: "And He

            causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth. He makes       lightning for the rain, He brings the wind out of His treasuries."

                    1. Sovereignty of God

                    2. God always has the Last Word

          B. God Delegates His Rule of Planet Earth to Man

“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,

            and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the

livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the

ground.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he             created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said    to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.             Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living             creature that moves on the ground.” Genesis 1:26-28

1. The earth was given to man to Rule - Psalm 115:16

          ”The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth he has                                    given to man.”                      

2. Man was to have Authority and Dominion / Rulership

II. KINGDOM RULE LOST TO THE ENEMY

          A. Man Fell From His Place of Relationship with God

1. Adam/Eve Disobeyed in the Garden

                    2. Their disobedience caused mankind to Fall from Grace

          B. Through Forfeiture, Man’s Rule Fell to The Adversary

                    1. The Adversary comes to Kill and to Destroy John 10:10

                    2. The enemy cannot heal, nurture or maintain: he destroys

KINGDOM CONCEPTS, cont., p. 2

 

III. KINGDOM USURPED BY THE ENEMY

          A. The Rule of the Planet Went to Satan/God of This World -

                    1. The Mind Blinder - 2 Corinthians 4:4

                    ”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.”

          2. Prince of this World - John 14:30

                    “I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is

                        coming. . .”

B. This Whole World Lies in the Evil One’s Power - 1 John 5:19

          “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under

            the control of the evil one.”

C. This Is Definitely Not “My Father’s World” - Gal. 1:3,4

          “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

            who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age. . .”

 

IV. KINGDOM RUINED BY FALLEN, GODLESS MANKIND

          A. Present World is under Evil, Rebellious Leadership - 2 Tim. 3:13

                    13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and             being deceived.

                    1. Proud, Arrogant, Narcissistic, Lawless

                    2. Deceiving and being deceived

          B. Evil Rules and Multiplies Its Destruction

                    1. Men choose to walk in darkness, ignoring the consequences

                    2. Never learning from their mistakes

          C. Results from Man’s Disobedience - John 10:10

                    10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have             come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

                    1. Like ripples in a pond

                    2. Sin, Death and Destruction radiate outward

          D. Ends in Satan’s Program of Ruin and Destruction

V. HIS KINGDOM COME ON EARTH - Matt.. 6:10

10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.

          A. Jesus Was Sent as the Messiah, Son of God, Savior, King

          B. Threefold Mission

                    1. Rescue Mankind from His Own Destructiveness

                    2. Restore Mankind’s Relationship with the Living God

                    3. Reinstate Mankind to Their Rightful Estate as Ruler

          C. His Simple Message - Luke 17:21b

           “Repent for the Kingdom of God is Now with You”

          D. His Evidence of the Presence of the Kingdom - Matt. 11:4,5

                    4 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things which you             hear and see: 5 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed             and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel             preached to them.

 

KINGDOM CONCEPTS, cont., p. 3

 

                    1. His Phenomenal Love, Grace and Forgiveness

                    2. His Mighty Miracle and Healings

                    3. His Dominion over the Demonic

 

VI. HIS ULTIMATE KINGDOM VICTORY

          A. Jesus Predicted His Death, Resurrection and Ascension

                    1. He knew in advance - Matthew 20:18-19

                        "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed                            to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn

                        him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and

                        flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

                    2. His Promised Victory over Death and Life - John 14:19,20

          “Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see                                 me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that

            I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”

          B. Jesus Conquered Death!!! - John 14:19

               19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you

          will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.

                    1. Jesus Broke Satan’s Death-Grip on Man and the Planet

                    2. His death / resurrection broke the chains of Fear of death

 

VII. KINGDOM PROMISE

          A. Jesus Promised His Holy Spirit

                    1. His Spirit Makes the Kingdom of God Work Thru Us!

                    2. He is in Us to Continue His Work - John 14:12-17

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have             been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am

going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so

that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for             anything in my name, and I will do it. "If you love me, you will obey             what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you             another Counselor to be with you forever-- the Spirit of truth. The             world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows             him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”

          B. Jesus Taught, “I will build My Church. . .” - Matthew 16:18,19         

          “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church,          and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the          kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven,

and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

C. Jesus Promised Presence and Power - Acts 1:4-8

            ”On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them thiscommand: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father      promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized         with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."  So          when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going         to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to    know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you         will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my KINGDOM CONCEPTS CONT. p.4

 

            witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of       the earth."

            “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city             until you have been clothed with power from on high." Luke 24:49

 

VIII. KINGDOM POWER

"But as many as received Him, to them gave He the power to become the sons and daughters of God."            John 1:12

 

POWER = AUTHORITY

Authority to forgive your enemies their greatest injustice

Authority to Remit or Bind Sin

Authority to Bind or Loose

Authority to Choose Good or Evil

Authority to Obey or Disobey

Authority to Walk in Darkness or Walk in Light

 

         

“Occupy Until I Come. . .”  Rev. 2:25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KINGDOM OF GOD CONCEPTS, Text:

Luke 17:20-37
20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
22 Then He said to the disciples, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.
23 And they will say to you, 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them or follow them.
24 For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His day.
25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.
26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man:
27 They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built;
29 but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
30 Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
31 In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.

KINGDOM OF GOD CONCEPTS, CONT.

 

32 Remember Lot's wife.
33 Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there will be two men in one bed: the one will be taken and the other will be left.
35 Two women will be grinding together: the one will be taken and the other left.
36 Two men will be in the field: the one will be taken and the other left."
37 And they answered and said to Him, "Where, Lord?" So He said to them, "Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together."

 

 

 

 

 

CLOSING KINGDOM ILLUSTRATION

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; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' 37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
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.'  Matthew 25:35-40
          One morning last week a family came in for Emergency Food. There was a young man of perhaps 16 or 17 who kept staring at me. I asked him his name. He said, "Don't you remember me? I used to come to your Sunday School and Church! I'm Alex!" Of course I remembered Alex. He was a young 8 year old the last time I saw him. His uncle Darrell brought him and his brother to church and Sunday School.  Alex was a bright and teachable child with a beautiful countenance. One of our Sheepfold ladies told him what a beautiful young man he was. He said matter-of-factly,

"I know it!"

Alex continued to talk, "You're the one who bought me new winter boots!"  I asked his Uncle Darrell on morning why Alex often went to sleep on the back row of the chapel when he arrived. Darrell pointed to his sneakers and said, "His shoes aren't water-proof. His feet gets wet and cold. When he  gets inside where its warm and he goes to sleep." Darrell's words touched my heart and I took him to K-Mart after the service and got him new socks and a pair of warm, water-proof winter boots.

          That response to the tug of my heart and what happened afterwards was the Kingdom of God. I see opportunities every day to establish God's Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven every day. It's the sweet Presence of Jesus and His Kingdom of Love.

Pastor Phil  <><<

 

KINGDOM OF GOD CONCEPTS, 2019-09-15.ppt

 

Obstacles to the seeing or entering the Kingdom:

 

1) Incorrect church teaching:

 Two disturbing areas of practicing Churches and church leaders keep believers from seeing and entering the Kingdom:

a. Most evangelical churches value reason over feeling and         sensing. Salvation for them is mostly a rational           experience. They feel if you hold correct Biblical truth and knowledge, then, you will enter the Kingdom.

KINGDOM CONCEPTS, Sermon Intro, p. 2

 

          b. Placing more value on their subjective interpretation of salvation than on actual Biblical teaching

          c. Entering the Kingdom of God isn't about salvation. It's about learning which King and Kingdom you serve

2) Wrong family teaching:

          a. Dysfunction in family forcing kids into mental defense systems where everything is safely screened through the      intellect where emotions are eliminated

          b. Punishment for expressing emotion

          c. No-Talk rules that leave family members to interpret all

covert things and events

3) Personal Immaturity – Self centered, controlling people

cannot enter God’s Kingdom

4) Direct Satanic Opposition to the Kingdom of God

          a. The Accuser of the Brethren hates God and His   followers

          b. Malicious Gossip – The devil is known by what he does

 

 

KINGDOM CONCEPTS, #1, 2019-09.jpg

 

KINGDOM CONCEPTS, #2, 2019-09.jpg

 

KINGDOM CONCEPTS, #3, 2019-09.jpg

 

 

 

Mark 1:14-15 (KJV)
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

 

Matthew 4:23 (KJV)
23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

 

Luke 19:10 (KJV)
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

1 John 3:7-8 (NKJV)
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.
8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

 

Romans 14:17 (NKJV)
17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.