July 6, 2014 – Pastor Tim – “The Kingdom”
We need to remember that we do not merely belong to the Kingdom of God—the Kingdom of God belongs to us.
Romans 8:16-17, The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.
The Kingdom of God belongs to us is a fact we must lay hold of, by grasping it we turn the whole tide from defeat to victory.
Jesus said three people groups possess the Kingdom:
Matthew 5:3, Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:14, But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Matthew 5:10, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
The “poor in spirit,” “the little children,” and those “persecuted” for cause of Christ —all possess the Kingdom, the Kingdom belongs to them; its powers are theirs.
The first two are somewhat alike: “the poor in spirit,” literally “the renounced in spirit” and those who have the spirit of a little child—simple, unaffected, teachable. The third, is committed to truth and whatever is good and acceptable in the sight of God. In these 3 things we find the key that unlocks the resources of the storehouse of the universe—the Kingdom of God.
Paul prayed that we would discover who we are in Christ, in…
Ephesians 3:14-21, For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
As we surrender to the Kingdom of God, we inherit its powers. As we possess the Kingdom, the Kingdom possess us. Giving all, we take all, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Oh yes, it seems too good to be true—that all these powers are ours! We who have been defeated and negative and afraid; can we dare take all these powers of victory?
Let’s see what people thought of Peter and John when they grasped this concept.
Acts 4:13-20, Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. 14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, 16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” (this would be an example of being persecuted)
18 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
Yes, we must continue to pursue the thought that we do not merely belong to the Kingdom—the Kingdom belongs to us.
2 Peter 1:1b-4, …To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
This is so important, that once we get ahold of who we are and what we are here for, all argument and hesitation and fear are at an end. We can boldly enter abundant living.
2 Corinthians 5:20, Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
An ambassador represents his country—all the powers and privileges of his country center in him. When he speaks, the country speaks; when he decides, the country decides—provided he is not speaking on his own, provided he is surrendered to the will of his country, provided he has merged his interests in the interests of his country. When entirely surrendered, he is entirely masterful—up to the limit of the resources of the country he represents. Are you an Ambassador of Heaven? Is Heaven your Home? If you answered yes to either of these questions then pray with the Apostle Paul…
Ephesians 6:19b-20, …that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Will you be so bold to merged your interests in the Kingdom of God, to entirely surrendered to it, when speaking representing not yourself but the Kingdom, with all the powers of the Kingdom center in you—a Universe speaks when you speak; a Universe acts when you act; a Universe lives when you live. The resources of earthly kingdoms are so limited—the resources of the Kingdom of God are so unlimited!
Can we say today, Yes God, I merge my interests in the Kingdom; I accept its responsibilities; and—dare I say it?—I inherit its powers! Help me to be unafraid, to speak boldly. We are not called to be great. We are called to know You oh God and bring You glory. Amen
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