Title: The Kingdom of God
Luke 17:20 - 21
Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation,
nor will people say, ’Here it is,’ or ’There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you."
If we were to take all that Jesus said in his preaching and examine it, one of the central themes that would be displayed is his teaching concerning THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Many times when he spoke about the Kingdom he taught in parables.
I would like to examine three truths that arise from Jesus’ teaching.
1. The coming of the Kingdom of God and the preaching of the good news doesn’t appear to be much, but it is very much
2. The Kingdom of God is the most valuable thing that anyone could posses and it free.
And finally
3. Everyone is welcome to share in the Kingdom of God but some will foolishly reject it.
PRAYER
1. The coming of the Kingdom of God and the preaching of the good news doesn’t appear to be much, but it is very much
Jesus likens the Kingdom to:
a seed (Matthew 13:31),
And yeast (Matthew 13:33),
Both small things....
Matthew 13:31-33
Jesus Said "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. [32] Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
[33] He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough."
Here Jesus takes a heavenly concept and puts it into concrete terms.
He chooses Baking and Gardening to help us understand how God is at work accomplishing his will.
Consider the YEAST
in a right combination with flour, water, sugar and salt the results of yeast in baking are amazing especially compared to its miniscule size.
And then there is the SEED
-The power contained in just one seed and it ability to grow up into a huge tree is imperceptible when it is first viewed.
But once it takes root we marvel at its ability to grow and flourish
It starts out as just this little thing and look now it is become like a tree and a home for birds.
Though we can’t perceive it like God does
Every time his gospel is preached His kingdom is going forth
(Illustration)
Years ago a sociology class from John Hopkins University made a study of Children in a deprived neighborhoods of Baltimore Maryland in the USA. They identified two hundred children who appeared doomed to spend years in prison. After 25 years another study was made to discover what had happened to those particular children. Surprisingly only two had been imprisoned. As these men and women were interviewed over and over again came the name of their teacher known as Aunt Hannah
The sociologists were correct in their predictions. The children would be the trash of society had it not been for the intervention of, Aunt Hanna, an elementary school teacher who had shown them the love of Christ
Who could have known?
That one person showing Jesus love could make such a vast difference.
Though imperceptible at its beginning this story illustrates that The influence of the Kingdom of God cannot be measured, Cannot be predicted,And certainly
Cannot be stopped.
In Context,
Jesus was speaking to disciples who would soon be Apostles preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God to many people.
Jesus wanted them to know
That though they might not perceive the good they were doing by preaching the good news...
Though it may appear that the coming of the KINGDOM OF GOD at their hands might not be much...
They need not be ashamed because It is much, much more than we can imagine!!!!
That is why The Apostle Paul said
Romans 1:16
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes:
So every time we share the good news with someone, we need to leave its outcome in God’s hands
Don’t be ashamed
You plant and water
And God will cause it to grow and bring forth fruit.
Secondly
2. The Kingdom of God is the most valuable thing that anyone could posses, and it free!
In (Matthew 13:44) Jesus described it like a treasure
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
in (Matthew 13:45) he called it a pearl,
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. [46] When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
The Kingdom of God is the most valuable thing we could posses because receiving the kingdom of God is
receiving Jesus Christ himself.
And along with that
all that he wants to do for us.
Luke 4:16-21
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. [17] The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
[18] "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
[19] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor."
[20] Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, [21] and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."
Jesus unrolled the heavy scroll, and read from Isaiah 61:1-3 which His listeners knew described the Messiah.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,” Jesus read. “He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor . . . to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”
Then Jesus told them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
This was the clearest possible claim that the Carpenter who had been their neighbor was in fact the long promised Messiah,
The Son of God.
Luke 4:22
All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. "Isn’t this Joseph’s son?" they asked.
The people were stunned
And completely unwilling to believe that Jesus was the messiah
And further sought to kill him.
Which they did eventually do.
But not according to their plan, according to God will.
That the kingdom of God might be established in the world
Jesus who claimed to be the savior...
Truly is the savior...
And has proven it by his resurrection from the dead and ascension to the right hand of God.
Offering fellowship with God through the remission of sins by his sacrifice.
The rest of the scroll is Jesus read from will come to pass and by freely receiving His free gift we benefit.
Isaiah 61:1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
[2] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
[3] and provide for those who grieve in Zion--
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called trees of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
That he might be glorified…..
Truly, the Kingdom is worth more than tongue can tell.
Finally,
3. Everyone is welcome to share in the Kingdom of God but some will foolishly reject it.
JESUS CALLED THE KINGDOM OF GOD A FISHNET (Matthew 13:47-48),
He said, "the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.
JESUS LIKENED THE KINGDOM UNTO A FIELD OF THE WHEAT AND TARES (Matthew 13:24-31),
"The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
"The owner’s servants came to him and said, ’Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
’An enemy did this,’ he replied.
"The servants asked him, ’Do you want us to go and pull them up?’
[ ’No,’ he answered, ’because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’
FURTHER JESUS said "THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE A KING WHO PREPARED A WEDDING BANQUET FOR HIS SON.
(Matthew 22:2-11)
" He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
"Then he sent some more servants and said, ’Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
"But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
"Then he said to his servants, ’The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
FINALLY JESUS SAID THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN WILL BE LIKE TEN VIRGINS WHO TOOK THEIR LAMPS AND WENT OUT TO MEET THE BRIDEGROOM. (MATTHEW 25:1-10)
Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
"At midnight the cry rang out: ’Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ’Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
" ’No,’ they replied, ’there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
COnclusion:
Jesus The King of Kings offers the Kingdom of God to all who believe
Let us proclaim it so that all may know
Receive it so that we might be set free
And realize that there are some who will foolishly reject the Kingdom of God
May we not be among them….
