Some people view hearing from God as the clouds parting and the sun shining through on you and a deep booming voice telling you something
That’s not normally how it looks
Today we’re going to explore what it actually looks like when God “talks” to you
How many people have ever heard from God?
Two extremes of people hearing from God
Some people God talks to all the time
Woke me up
Eat oatmeal
Wear your old shoes today
He only speaks through His word
My stance:
God still speaks.
He does not give new revelation on par with the words of Jesus or the apostles, but he still speaks.
Why is it important to hear from God?
Relationship with God
He will seem distant and unrelatable
It makes your faith “real”
You can direction
Helps ensure you are in His will
Moses Meets God
Scriptural Context
The Pharaoh made a declaration that all Jewish male children would be killed
Moses sent down river
Found by Pharaoh's daughter
At 40 decided to go to his people
Moses killed a man
Got married at 40
Living in his father-in-law’s house
He’s now 80
Ministry started at 80
Key Scripture
Exodus 3:1-6
Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 The angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. 3 So Moses said, “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then He said, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He said also, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.
Mose’s Identity
“I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham”
God solidified Moses’ identity by acknowledging Him as one of His chosen people
Knowing God’s Name
Later on God told Moses His true name
When you know someone’s name you know them at a deeper level
Example: Mc Hammer
“I call him Stanley”
Angel of the Lord
Who was Moses speaking to at the bush?
God
Angel of the Lord
An angel
Why was Mose afraid to look at God?
They believed you would die if you saw God
Not “an” angel of the Lord but “the” angel of the Lord
The angel of the Lord shows that when God wants to draw near someone without destroying them
The angel of the Lord is the form of God‘s presence when he can be among sinners and not destroy them
Characteristics of the Angel of the Lord
Speaks in first person
Speaks the word of God in the first person
Gabriel only spoke in the 3rd person
Preincarnate Jesus Christ
Theophaphony
Christophany
God Spoke Through Unusual Circumstances
God spoke to Moses through unusual circumstances
He Spoke when Moses turned aside
Story: Starting my company Stories
Start a company after layoff
Preachers on the radio
Worship
Dream sister died
Answer someone else's prayer
How God Speaks to Us
What are some ways God speaks to us today?
Bible
Unusual circumstances / coincidences
Fleece
Prayer
Pastors / teachers
Prophetic words
Tongues / Interpretations
Dreams / Visions
Peace
Closing doors
Bringing things to your memory
Voice
Inspired thoughts
Prompting of the Holy Spirit
Draw your Attention to something
Nature
Worship / music
Emotions
Angels
We also need to listen to God. We need to believe that he answers us.
Bible
The Scriptures are the ultimate authority
Reading the Bible is what trains you to hear
Will you feel something inside when it first is specifically for you
Connecting your heart to what God has said enables you to hear what God is saying
Example: flip a page open Stories:
Anger, layoff peace
Verse of the day
Bible opened to a verse
Head and not the tail
Russel Wilson
Unusual circumstances/unusual coincidences
Stories:
Job ex-team lead
Fleece
Judges 6:36-38
36Then Gideon said to God, “If You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken,37behold, I will put a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece only, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that You will deliver Israel through me, as You have spoken.”38And it was so. When he arose early the next morning and squeezed the fleece, he drained the dew from the fleece, a bowl full of water.
Stories:
Communion
Job away from San Diego
Girlfriend at comedy show
Prayer
Don’t just talk
Sitting and listening is part of prayer
Preachers / Teachers
Stories:
Trip to Africa
Distinct by Design
Take the job at HP
Migraine cured
[to be continued … ]
Conclusion
After Adam fell, He heard the sound of God walking in the garden. The Bible never said that He saw God again.
What was the first thing God said to Adam after the fall? …”where are you?”
There was a separation.
Sin separates us from God’s presence
But Adam could still hear God
The first step to reestablishing our relationship with God is being able to hear Him.
Jesus said:
He who has an ear let him hear
Paul said:
Faith cometh by hearing
Hearing by the word of God
Faith cometh by hearing
Salvation cometh by faith
Therefore salvation cometh by hearing
John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ
He was the “voice crying in the wilderness”
The voice that prepared the way of Jesus
Hearing the voice precedes the encounter
What’s the most important commandment?
Mark 12:29-31
29Jesus answered, “The foremost is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; 30AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ 31“The second is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Jesus answered, “The foremost is, Hear, O Israel!”
We need to prioritize hearing from God
The enemy fears those who hear from God directly
It’s harder to deceive someone if they’re connected directly to the source
Hearing from God changes your religion to an encounter
Hearing from God changes your religion to a relationship
Hearing from God let’s you know you’re on the right path
Allows God to fine tune your GPS to navigate through life
Your biggest desire and most constant prayer should be to hear from God
20 "It was at this time that Moses was born; and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father's home.
21 "And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh's daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son.
22 "Moses was educated in all the learning of the Egyptians, and he was a man of power in words and deeds.
23 "But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
24 "And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian.
25 "And he supposed that his brethren understood that God was granting them deliverance through him, but they did not understand.
26 "On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, 'Men, you are brethren, why do you injure one another?'
27 "But the one who was injuring his neighbor pushed him away, saying, 'WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US?
28 'YOU DO NOT MEAN TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY, DO YOU?'
29 "At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME AN ALIEN IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he became the father of two sons.
30 "After forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING THORN BUSH.
31 "When Moses saw it, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord:
32 'I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.' Moses shook with fear and would not venture to look.
33 "BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, 'TAKE OFF THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND.
Test your knowledge about the Kingdom of God by taking this bible quiz...
1. The Kingdom of God is the same as:
Eternal life
The Kingdom of Heaven
The millennium
The church
Matthew 19:23-24
23And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 11:11
"Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Luke 7:28
28 "I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."
4. The parable of the sower tells us that which of these can prevent the word from growing in your heart
Worries of the world
Lust of the flesh
Pride
Sin
Matthew 13:18-23
18 "Hear then the parable of the sower.
19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road.
20 "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;
21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away.
22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
28 God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
So some people wouldn’t understand what He was saying
Matthew 13:10-17
10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
11 Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.
12 "For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
13 "Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
Answer: So some people wouldn’t understand what He was saying
12. The parable of the householder/scribe emphasizes understanding the Kingdom as well as _____ ?
The Gospel
The Beatitudes
Your neighbor
The Old Testament
Matthew 13:52
52 And Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple of the kingdom of heaven is like a head of a household, who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
We should be persecuted for the sake of righteousness
We should be insulted and persecuted
All of the above
None of the above
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
2 He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
3 " Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Jesus is no more telling us to be meek than He is telling us to try to get persecuted. He is stating that these are the people who first accepted the Kingdom. It’s similar to if I brought running water to a village and came in and said “happy are those who are dying of thirst for you shall be satisfied.''
20. What role will Christians play after Jesus returns
We will play harps
We will be the light of the world because there will be no more sun
We will rule upon the earth
We will be shepherds
Revelation 5:9-10
9 And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
1 Corinthians 6:1-3
1Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
14And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute; when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds were amazed. 15But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” 16Others, to test Him, were demanding of Him a sign from heaven. 17But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. 18“If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19“And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. 20“But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
14 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,
15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Jesus came preaching the “gospel of God”
“Repent the kingdom of God is at hand”
The Ancient Jewish Perspective of the Kingdom
In order to understand what the Gospel authors were expressing we have to understand the context of their intended readers and the people to whom Jesus was speaking
The English word gospel is derived from the Anglo-Saxon godspell (“good story”). The classical Greek word euangelion means “a reward for bringing of good news” or the “good news” itself. In the emperor cult particularly, in which the Roman emperor was venerated as the spirit and protector of the empire, the term took on a religious meaning: the announcement of the appearance or accession to the throne of the ruler. In contemporary Greek it denoted a weighty, authoritative, royal, and official message.
That was the word used to announce Augustus was the new king
That word only meant one thing in Greek
Good news Cesar has won and he is going to be crowned emperor
For those of you who are on his side congratulations you are the victors
For those of you who are in opposition you had better hope he is merciful
There was a time span between the announcement of the triumph and the arrival and coronation of the king
When Jesus said “believe in the Gospel” He was announcing that something had already happened.
He was announcing that God was already victorious
It is not something you choose
Kingdom means “Reign/Rule”
basileia
The Word “Kingdom” means “reign”
Kingdom of God means the Reign/Rule of God
The Kingdom of God is Not a Place
The Kingdom of God is not where God rules; it is the fact that God is ruling
It is not a political or geographical location
It is the state of a nation or an individual
The Jewish Messiah
The Kingdom would be ushered in by the Messiah
The Jews expected a messiah to:
Fulfill the Scriptures
Defeat the political enemy
Rebuild or cleanse the temple so that God can come back into it
Establish God’s reign over Israel and the world
God’s presence would once again be among (them like when they had the Ark)
Messiah for The Nation of Israel
The Messiah would save the nation of Israel as a whole.
They weren’t looking for a personal savior
How could Jesus be the Messiah if Israel was not free?
How can the Kingdom be here if we are still under Roman rule?
How can God’s rule be in place if we’re still paying taxes to Ceaser?
How can God’s rule be in place if the earth is not under submission to Israel?
Kingdom of God is the Same as the Kingdom of Heaven
The term “Kingdom of God” is the same as the “Kingdom of Heaven”
Matthew is the only one who mentions The Kingdom of Heaven
“Heaven” was commonly used to replace the name of G-d for Jews who thought the name was too Holy to speak
Jesus even “uses” them interchangeably
Matthew 19:23-24
23And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24“Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
He was praying a something that was common to all Jewish prayers.
“No Jewish prayer is complete unless you pray for God’s kingdom to come”
-- Jewish Rabbi
All Jewish prayers were supposed to pray that God’s Kingdom would come.
This is still done today
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God
A look at how the Kingdom of God theme was used from Genesis to Revelation
If your whole perception of the gospel is that you get to go to heaven after you die then you may end up thinking hat is the point of life on earth?”
Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden was where Heaven met earth
The Garden of Eden was the place on earth where God’s presence dwelled
The Garden of Eden was created as a place where God could commune with man
God Created Mankind to Rule the Earth
Genesis 1:26
26Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
God wanted to have His will implemented on earth through the dominion of mankind
God was delegating His authority to Adam and Eve
Adam was given dominion to reign over all living creatures on earth
Adam lost all or part of his dominion when he sinned against God
Adam’s sin changed our relationship with God
God Chose Israel
God chose a people to restore His fellowship with man
God chose a people through which He could implement His plan
Israel Will Be a Kingdom of Priests
Exodus 19:5-6
5‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
You will be a nation of priests ruling the entire world
Heaven on Earth Was Restored With the Tabernacle
The tabernacle / temple is where God dwelled with His people on earth
This is where sins were forgiven
The Garden was partially restored
Israel continually rebelled against God, the temple was destroyed and God was no longer present
Jesus Fulfilled God’s Plan
God came down as a man to fulfill His plan
God had to come down Himself and become the perfect human
Forgiveness and healing is no longer associated with the tabernacle but now it is associated through Jesus
The Kingdom of God was represented in Jesus Himself
It’s the stitching together of God and man
The Kingdom is God and humanity reunited with God
The reign of God was fully realized in the person of Jesus
Jesus Defeated The Kingdom of Darkness
Luke 11:18-20
18“If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19“And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. 20“But if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Satan and Demons
Satan is referred to as Beelzebul - the leader of the demons
Beelzebul means “Lord of the Flies”
Casting out demons showed that the Kingdom of God was here (now)
Demons are in opposition to the “rule” of God
Both God and demons want you to do their will
Demons oppose people from implementing God’s will in their lives
Demons influence you to sin against God
Casting out demons showed that Jesus was the Messiah
Since God’s presence was no longer with the Israelites His supernatural power was no longer with them
They only saw supernatural power from the Kingdom of Darkness
Jesus was saying that, If God’s supernatural power was indeed being manifested then that means that “the Kingdom of God is here”
We Became the Temple
God is now living with us
Jesus brought down the Holy Spirit to dwell in is
2 Cor 6:16
Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.
Now that we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit God can dwell among mankind
The kingdom isn’t something that we enter at death. The kingdom is something that we enter when The Holy Spirit enters us.
We become a New Creation when the Holy Spirit enters us
The Second Coming
When Jesus returns the Kingdom will be fully implemented on earth
The idea of the second coming is not to take people somewhere else.
It’s the time when Christ returns to rule
He inaugurated the Kingdom when He came and will fulfill it when He returns.
All “evil doers” will be removed from God’s kingdom
1 cor 15:20-26
20But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Jesus Will Be Made Ruler
Every knee will bow to Jesus
Jesus completely implement the Kingdom of God
He will then subject it to God
We Will Be Resurrected
Jesus is the first fruit of the dead
We will rise from the dead when Jesus returns
At Jesus Second Coming we will receive our incorruptible bodies
Victory Over Death
The final victory is over death.
The meaning of “defeat of death” is that we will be brought back to life
We will get an incorruptible body
We Will Reign With Jesus
Revelation 5:9-10 9 And they *sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
We will once again be given dominion over the earth
We will then reign forever and ever with Jesus
We will once again be given dominion over the earth
God will once again reign through His son and a group of people that He has called out of the earth
We have become the nation of Kings and priests
The New Jerusalem
The Garden of Eden will be restored.
Revelations 22:1-5
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
This is a new Garden of Eden
God will eventually restore His original Paradise
The saints will rule with Jesus forever and ever
God will once again reign through His son and a group of people that He has called out
No More Curse
The curse will be removed
Sin will be eliminated
We can dwell in the presence of God
Communing With God
No more temple / tabernacle needed because sin is removed
No More Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
Only the tree of Life is mentioned in the New Jerusalem
No more tree of good and evil
Now And Not Yet
The now and the not yet means that some things have been made right already and some won’t be right until Jesus comes back.
We saw that Jesus clearly talks about entering the Kingdom of God now, but He also talks about entering the Kingdom at His second coming.
In both scenarios, the Kingdom is here on earth.
When we become the new creation and get partially back to where Adam was
We have begun the change, but not completely
Some consequences of Adam’s sin are still in place
Some of the the curses are still in place.
The earth is cursed
We are cursed from the fall
Death still exist
Enteringthe Kingdom of God
John 3:3-5
3 Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"
5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
Born again = born of water and Spirit
Things birth themselves. Flesh births flesh spirit births spirit.
We were initially born of Adam we became born of the Holy Spirit.
He was announcing that no longer was their Jewish heritage sufficient to enter the Kingdom. It was now more than your natural/national pedigree.
Creation / Covenant
The whole Bible can be summarized like this
God creates a world
creates a man - Adam
makes a covenant with him - Don’t eat from the tree
God changes the world (the flood - separates languages)
Creates a new people
Creates a new covenant with Abraham
Then God changes a new world (Holy Spirit - universal tongue)
Creates a new people
Establishes a new covenant
The New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Paul speaks to us being a creature that has never been seen before on earth
As Christians we get a regenerated mind and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit
Entering the kingdom is when those who are Christians act in the way that Jesus commanded us.
It is us living our lives according to God’s will in every situation.
It is applying God’s wisdom to our lives, and walking within the principles of God instead of the values of the world.
Holy Spirit Dwelling Within us Empowers Us
We are more than we were once the Holy Spirit indwells us
Indwelled by the Holy Spirit
The Kingdom of God is being indwelled by the Holy Spirit and living and loving in complete agreement with the Holy Spirit
The fruit of inheriting the Kingdom is living under God’s rule
Implementing God’s will at all time
Your will is aligned with God’s will
Having the fruits of the spirit
How the Holy Spirit Works
The Holy Spirit convict you of your own sin.
Sanctification is yielding to the Holy Spirit in every situation. The goal is to let God‘s will be done in every situation in your life.
The process of sanctification is the Holy Spirit showing me what’s in me. After he shows me it is my job is to repent and ask for forgiveness to break the hold of anything I need to get out of my life.
The “Works of God” Is To Believe in Jesus
Jesus clearly defined what “works” are needed to obtain eternal life and enter the Kingdom
John 6:28-29
28 Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."
The work of God is to believe in Jesus
...That’s it
Eternal life allows you to remain on the earth when the final Kingdom is put in place
Salvation is the means in which we help God implement His plan
Salvation is not the final goal
Parables About the Kingdom of God
Parable of the Sower/Soils
Whether or not someone accepts the message of the Kingdom is determined by the condition of their heart
Things that impact whether someone enters the Kingdom include:
The enemy
Chasing worldly success
Cares of the world
Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds
Some people will appear to be in the Kingdom but they are not
These people are actually supporting the enemy
Parable of the Leaven
There will be opposition from within the Kingdom
Wrong teaching, and false doctrine will get mixed throughout the Kingdom
Parable of the Mustard Seed
The Kingdom started small and grew rapidly
There will be external opposition to the Kingdom
Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Some will find the Kingdom unexpectedly and recognize its worth
Parable of the Pearl
Some are searching for the Kingdom and will give up everything else when they find it
Parable of the Dragnet
The message of the Kingdom will be appealing to many people - good and evil
The wicked will be separated from the righteous at the end of the age
Parable of the Scribe
To fully understand the Kingdom you need to be a student of the Kingdom as well as the Old Testament
Parable of the Growing Seed
God causes the growth of the Kingdom -- not us
Parable of the Wedding Feast
We should make sure we are relying on God’s provision of salvation, not on our own good works or religious service.
Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard
We need to trust God to determine what is fair and not lean on our own understanding
Parable of the 10 Virgins
Some will not make it into the Kingdom because they will not endure to the end
Parable of the Talents
Jesus has different expectations of our fruit based on the resources and ability that we’ve been given
Parable of the Sheep and Goats
Some will obtain eternal life because they do the works of the father
The only “works of the father” is to believe in the Son
Parable of the Unmerciful Servant
Reconciliation and maintaining healthy earthly relationships are a high priority of the Kingdom
Teachings of Jesus
Jesus taught these truths multiple times
Both “good” and “evil” people were invited into the Kingdom
At the “end of the age” the “wicked/evil/unrighteous/” will be removed from the Kingdom
Jesus never talks about the saints being removed
There will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth”
The Kingdom can be missed (parable of the seeds, dragnet, virgins and lamps)
There are people who appear to be part of the Kingdom but they are not
Jesus talks about rewarding people in heaven for what they had given up on earth to follow Him
The first shall be last and the last shall be first
Heaven’s value system is different than earth’s value system.
Those who were the lowest in society were the first to enter the kingdom
There will be an end to the kingdom as it exists today
The end will come suddenly
Once the transition is made it is permanent
Living the Kingdom Lifestyle
Most of Jesus’ teaching about the Kingdom emphasized how to live your life vs what happens after you die
“Repent the Kingdom of God is here”
Repent means to rethink the way you were thinking about your life.
Jesus taught
Forgive others
Love enemies
Feed the poor
Heal sick
Jesus was not announcing that everyone in the world is living this way.
But that it is now possible to live this way
Your kingdom is what has control over your life.
Jesus is saying that we should submit our kingdom over to God.
The kingdom of God exists where what God wants to be done is done.
God is ruling over your life if your goals and actions are what God wants you to be doing
For many Christians believing in Christ is our religion and obeying Christ is not.
Jesus was calling people to live a lifestyle which would cause people to stop and question why in the world are you doing that?
A Renewed Heart
Jesus was also teaching about a renewed heart.
Jesus is talking about the purity of the heart to which the other laws were pointing.
Turn the Other Cheek
When you turn the other cheek and remaining vulnerable after someone hurts you you are leaving room for God’s action. If someone hits me and I hit them back they know exactly what to do. If they hit me and I don’t hit them back now they have to make a conscious decision not just an instinctive reaction.
Murder
Jesus explains that if you look at the Commandment thou shall not kill … just not killing isn’t the solution. It is good if you choose not to kill someone. But if you still want to kill them and are just not doing it because it’s illegal then there is still a problem. If you would be happier if you found out they were dead then there is still a problem.
So we have to deal with anger.
Jesus is addressing the underlying problem
Just because you don’t commit the sin doesn’t mean you are where are you were supposed to be
Don’t Commit Adultery
When it comes to adultery and lusting. Jesus explains that the issue was not just did you have sex or not but what would you have liked to have done? Many people are faithful because they don’t have an easy opportunity to cheat.
Forgive Seven Times Seventy
Jesus says to forgive people.
If you are keeping a record of what they did wrong then you haven’t forgiven them.
Forgiving is giving up the right to the wrong against them in the future.
Kingdom Power
Jesus is raising the standard from the Law. Jesus is telling us that now that we are in the Kingdom we have the ability to be more righteous than before. Now that we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit we have more power to resist temptation, more power to fight sin.
You are now better equipped to fight your demons.
Living in the Kingdom is about more than having your sins forgiven and going to Heaven. Living in the Kingdom should affect how you live.
We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit. We can now act in the name of Jesus.
Our Relationship With God
Jesus also told us pray to give and to forgive.
When we give to the poor, the Bible says God is in debt to us.
When we don’t forgive others it impacts us internally, but it also impacts our relationship with God.
Why did Jesus teach us how to pray? Prayer is how God enables us to tap into all of His power. Prayer is how God enables us to access His power while still being under His control.
When we enter into the Kingdom of God, we are entering into the will of God.
When we enter into the Kingdom we are living in total submission to the Holy Spirit.
When we enter into the Kingdom we are abiding in Christ and Christ is abiding in us.
When we enter into the Kingdom God allows us to do and have whatever we want
Because we only want what God wants
When we enter into the Kingdom, we qualify ourselves to rule the earth
50 And a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council, a good and righteous man 51 (he had not consented to their plan and action), a man from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who was waiting for the kingdom of God; 52 this man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Parables of Jesus
Parable of the Sower/Soils
Matthew 13:18-23
18 "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 "When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 "The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 "And the one on whom seed was sown on the good soil, this is the man who hears the word and understands it; who indeed bears fruit and brings forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty."
A person’s spiritual development is based on how they receive God's word in their heart.
If you don't understand the word about the kingdom the enemy can snatch it away
Someone can receive the word with joy and then lose the Kingdom
The Kingdom can be missed
The enemy can prevent the seed of the Kingdom from staying in someone’s heart
The Kingdom can be obtained and then lost
Concern over your earthly situation can cause you to lose the Kingdom
Chasing after worldly success can cause you to lose the Kingdom
The Kingdom grows at different rates in different people
Christ Defeated Sin and Death
Rescue from the Kingdom of Darkness includes:
Dominion over demons
Forgiveness of sins
Resurrection from the death - immortality
Romans 6:8-11
8Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Death was “master over” Jesus because He was in a flesh body
Jesus conquered death
We also have victory over sin and death because we have been given eternal life
Jesus’ miracles were proof that God was tabernacling among mankind.
His resurrection was the proof that He defeated death.
Reigning With Jesus
1 Corinthians 6:1-3
1Does any one of you, when he has a case against his neighbor, dare to go to law before the unrighteous and not before the saints? 2Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life?
We will rule over the angels
God will once again reign through His son and a group of people that He has called out of the earth
New Jerusalem
No More Temple / Tabernacle
Revelations 21:1-4
1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”
There will be no more sin or death
All will live in obedience to God
Kingdom of Christ
Ephesians 5:5
“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” EPHESIANS 5:5 NASBhttps://www.bible.com/bible/100/eph.5.5.nasb
1 Corinthians 15:20-28
20But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him.
24Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. 25For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him. 28And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.
Colossians 1:12-14
12giving thanksto the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
We were rescued from the Kingdom of Satan into the Kingdom of Christ
