It's been 2000 years since
the glorious light of the cross
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illuminated a world veiled in
darkness and confusion about the
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character of God. And
still today the greatest need of
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mankind is a revelation of God's
love as revealed in the life of
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Christ. Amazing Facts presents
the Everlasting Gospel with
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Pastor Doug Batchelor coming
to you each week from Sacramento
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Central Church in sunny
California. Discover hidden
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treasures in God's word today.
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Morning. We're going to
talk today about the kingdom of
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heaven. This is, I think, one of
the most important subjects that
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we could discuss. Back in 1992,
I hope I'm getting this right
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dear, we went to Russia. Must
be Steven wasn't born yet. And
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communism in that country fell
overnight. There was a change
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of government and policy that
just absolutely left the world
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astounded because it happened
really without firing a shot.
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The only way that could be
achieved so quickly is because
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there were so many people in
that country that really felt
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like they wanted to be part of
a different government so that
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when the opportunity came they
seized it. They said we don't
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want to be part of this
communistic regime any more that
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was the very antithesis of what
they promised. I don't know if
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some of you have ever read
a book by George Orwell called
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Animal Farm. It was required
reading in many secular schools.
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Do any of you remember that?
That book? There's this one
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statement in that book. It's
about these animals and it's
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really talking about the
Bolshevik revolution and it
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says we're all equal. That was
the idea of communism. Everybody
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is equal. But later there was
a sign painted on the barn that
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said, Some are more equal
than others. And that's the way
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communism ended up. They
advertised to the people we all
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are going to be equal. It
sounded really good but in
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practice it didn't work out
that way and there was a lot of
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starvation, a lot of oppression.
Nobody had ownership and they
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were so dissatisfied that when
the opportunity came it switched
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to a different government just
like that because in the hearts
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of the people they identified
with something else. You know
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that's going to happen again in
the world. There is a revolution
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simmering in the world. There
are a lot of people who are not
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satisfied with the kingdoms
of this world and we are longing
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for a different regime. Notice
how the priority is placed in
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the Bible on this message I'm
sharing this morning. By the way
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some of the gospels use the
phrase the kingdom of heaven,
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some use the phrase the kingdom
of God. It's mentioned hundreds
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of times especially in the
New Testament. Matthew chapter 3
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verse 1, John the Baptist begins
his ministry with these words:
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In those days came John
the Baptist preaching in the
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wilderness of Judea and saying
repent ye for the kingdom of
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heaven is at hand. Talking about
this new kingdom. Now that would
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probably make the Romans a
little nervous to have this
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wild-eyed, hairy prophet down
there by the Jordan River saying
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there's another kingdom that's
eminent. They probably thought
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there was some fermenting
insurrection about to happen.
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Listen Jesus when he began
echoes the words of John the
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Baptist; Matthew 4:17: From that
time Jesus began to preach and
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say Repent for the kingdom is at
hand. Almost word for word what
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John the Baptist said. The
message of Christ is about this
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other kingdom. But he doesn't
say it will come some day in
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2000 years when I return.
He said it's at hand. It was at
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hand. It's available 2000 years
ago. Then the reinforce this
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then Jesus sends out the
apostles preaching and what do
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you think they said. Matthew
chapter 10 verse 7: As you go
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preach saying, The kingdom
of heaven is at hand. Now they
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leave out the word repent here
in Matthew 10, but when you go
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to Mark it says Jesus sent them
out preaching that the people
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should repent. So obviously they
were saying the same thing that
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John the Baptist and Jesus
said. I haven't heard too many
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preachers stand up and say
repent for the kingdom of heaven
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is at hand. Well, I'm going
to go on record today of being a
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Bible preacher. Here you go.
Repent because the kingdom of
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heaven is at hand. Now in more
ways than one. Back when they
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said it the spiritual kingdom
was available. The literal
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kingdom was coming when Christ
comes. When I say it to you
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today it's twice as important
because both are eminent. The
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inner kingdom is available today
You can reach out, it's at hand.
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But the literal kingdom of
Christ is also eminent today.
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That's why we are here in this
church Adventists. We believe
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in the eminent, the soon Advent
coming of Jesus. So you've got
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every reason to repent and
be part of that kingdom now both
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for the inside and the
outside. Amen? So this is a very
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prominent message. This is
a central message in the Bible
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that we are told by the Lord
to proclaim. This is the central
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message. We are told by the Lord
to go forth and to proclaim that
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the kingdom of God is available
to people and they should repent
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and that's how we prepare out
hearts to receive citizenship
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in that kingdom. Before I go too
far it's always good to define
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words and so let's
define kingdom. I've spent other
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messages talking about
repentance. What is a kingdom?
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Now I want you to especially
underline that last part of the
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definition. A kingdom is, notice
that, c. A realm or sphere in
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which one think is dominant.
If you have received the
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kingdom of God, the kingdom
of heaven in your heart, that is
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the dominant sphere, it is the
realm of another king than the
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one in this world. I'll
hopefully build on that thought
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as we go. Now I've got so
many points I just was mystified
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about how to arrange them in a
sequential order that would make
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some sense, so I'm going to
take a stab at it. How do you
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gain citizenship in this kingdom
Now with some kingdoms, you can
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apply for immigration and
you can get in sometimes by
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marriage. But in this kingdom
the only way is you've got to
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be born into it. You are
naturalized into this kingdom
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by virtue of a birth.
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I will give you
some scriptures for that.
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John 3:3: Jesus said, most
assuredly I say to you unless
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one is born again he cannot see
the kingdom of God. If Jesus'
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words are clear, please
say Amen. It's not enough that
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you've been born in the church.
I worry about that. I meet
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people all the time that think
they've got some kind of special
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advantage because I'm a
fourth generation, I'm a fifth
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generation. It doesn't do
you any good if you're not born
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personally. If you don't have a
personal relationship with Jesus
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It's nice to have history. It's
nice to have heritage. Those are
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good things in the church, but
will that save you? Does that
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give you your citizenship.
You must be born again.
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That's what the Bible
says, let me give you more
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John chapter 1
verses 12 and 13 Jesus said:
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But as many as
received him to them he gave
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power to become the sons of God,
members of that new kingdom,
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even to those that believe
on his name through faith which
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were not born of blood. It's not
your heritage whether you're a
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Jew or you've got a Christian
family or the will of the flesh,
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or the will of man but of God.
They're born of God, they're
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born of the Spirit. That's
what gives them permission to be
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citizens of this kingdom. Now
as with many governments, I know
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in the U.S. if you want to
become naturalized... you know
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some people get into a country
and maybe their visiting, but
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they'd like to find asylum,
they want to become citizens,
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ultimately they're supposed
to take some kind of exam where
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they're naturalized, sometimes
it's done in mass ceremonies,
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but during that time they are
to swear allegiance to the laws
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of the country or the king.
Isn't that right? I mean, who
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here wants citizens that don't
want to follow the laws of the
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land? I understand in Australia,
this is a sensitive subject so
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I'll try and be careful
how I say it but there are some
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imlas of the Islamic religion
that are saying we are trying
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to change the government
of Australia so it is the
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government of Islam. And they're
saying that very openly. And
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England's been tolerating
that kind of language, which I
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personally think is outrageous,
but Australia said, now while
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we're connected with England
we're not going for that. If you
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think that we ought to be a
different form of government
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then you're out of here.
They said if you're not going to
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obey the laws of the land, if
you're thinking that everybody's
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supposed to obey the laws of
Islam in our country then you
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better go somewhere else
because we're not doing that
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here. And they've got a right
to say that don't they. That if
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you're in this country you're
going to obey the laws of this
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land. If you don't want to obey
the laws of this land then you
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should go to another land. And
the Lord says, if you want to be
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citizens of my country, of my
kingdom, you should be willing
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to obey the king. Does that make
sense? What does Jesus say about
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that? Obeying the king is very
important. Matthew 7 verse 21:
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Not everyone who says to me Lord
Lord will enter the kingdom of
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heaven, but he who does, or
obeys, you might say, the will
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of my father in heaven.
Obedience is part and parcel
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of having citizenship in this
new kingdom. John Stott, that
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famous theologian and preacher
said, Greatness in the kingdom
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of God is measured in terms
of obedience. How does Jesus
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identify the great? Those who
are the most surrendered to do
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his will. John Robert Ashcroft
said: All of heaven is waiting
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to help those who will discover
the will of God and do it. It's
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not just knowing it. It's
those who are willing to do it.
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You know, sometimes we use
theology and spirituality and
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fellowship and all these
touchy feely spiritual religious
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overtones as a diversionary
tactic from very simple
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obedience. Remember how Christ
separates the wise man and the
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fool? You say, yeah, one built
on sand and one built on the
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rock. Well what does he say
about that? He said the wise man
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is he who hears these words
of mine and does them. He's
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building on the rock. The fool
hears these words of mine and
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does not do them. Let me
break that down. The foolish man
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doesn't obey. The wise man obeys
Isn't Christ the same? And if
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you want to be part of that
kingdom that's coming we need to
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learn by his grace how to
be doers of his word. Not just
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saying Lord, Lord but being
willing to do. Keep in mind it
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is unreasonable for any
government to make a law
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that citizens are not capable
of obeying. So in America
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we're thinking why don't they
raise the speed limit? We just
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can't drive that slow. Right?
Isn't there usually a stirring
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or some kind of an outrage if a
government mandates its citizens
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to obey a law that's impossible
to obey? I've got to be so
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careful because I know that
other people see these things,
00:12:42.53\00:12:47.02
but... They've got these laws
now, what is it dear, they're
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making some new law that you're
not allowed to spank your child.
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We're to be like Sweden. Then
you're going to have to find
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some way to threaten your child
not to tell that you spanked
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them. I mean, isn't that what
it boils down to? Ah boy, I tell
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you. Russia became democratic
and we're becoming communist.
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Willingness to obey. The
foundational laws of God's
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kingdom when you really think
about it are so different from
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the laws of the world, the
philosophy. It's a radically
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different way of thinking. And
if you're part of God's kingdom
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you've got to be so unusual.
Let me give you some examples.
00:13:34.68\00:13:38.30
For instance, it says in Matthew
18 verse 4, Therefore whoever
00:13:38.34\00:13:41.99
humbles himself like a little
child is the greatest in the
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kingdom of heaven. How opposite
can you be? In our world, it's
00:13:46.10\00:13:50.10
those who make a name for
themselves, those who climb to
00:13:50.13\00:13:52.94
the top of the mountain. They're
the ones who are great. If you
00:13:52.98\00:13:55.52
don't do it no one else will do
it. If you're too slow, it's you
00:13:55.56\00:13:57.84
snooze, you lose. You've got to
fight, you've got to be great,
00:13:57.88\00:14:00.37
you've got to be strong. Jesus,
what he says about his kingdom,
00:14:00.40\00:14:04.38
it's so opposite. It's not the
proud and the mighty. It's the
00:14:04.41\00:14:08.11
little and the humble that are
the greatest. What a radically
00:14:08.15\00:14:11.51
different philosophy from the
kingdoms of the world. Matthew
00:14:11.54\00:14:15.16
23 verse 12: Whoever will exalt
himself will be abased, and
00:14:15.19\00:14:19.58
whoever humbles himself will be
exalted. In God's kingdom it's
00:14:19.62\00:14:24.11
meekness instead of pride that's
of great value. Just look at
00:14:24.15\00:14:27.90
some of the teachings of Jesus
that are so different that are
00:14:27.94\00:14:32.39
the foundations of his kingdom
and his philosophy. Loving and
00:14:32.43\00:14:36.53
forgiving enemies instead of
revenge. Is that normal? Is it
00:14:36.56\00:14:41.08
natural to ask God to forgive
those who are driving nails in
00:14:41.11\00:14:45.25
your hands or making fun of
you? To pray for those who are
00:14:45.28\00:14:49.04
despitefully using you and
persecuting. I haven't got it
00:14:49.08\00:14:53.37
down yet, do you? That's
not easy. But that's the law of
00:14:53.41\00:14:57.29
God's kingdom. It's a whole
different spirit. It's a whole
00:14:57.33\00:15:00.84
different mind, it's a whole
different attitude. And so when
00:15:00.87\00:15:03.94
you are invited to be part
of God's kingdom, you're being
00:15:03.97\00:15:06.97
invited to be an alien. The word
takes on new meaning when I say
00:15:07.01\00:15:11.05
it like that, right? It's like
you're from outer space kind of
00:15:11.09\00:15:14.43
alien. I'm not talking about
someone who just doesn't have
00:15:14.46\00:15:18.27
legal papers. When you're
a real Christian and you're a
00:15:18.31\00:15:21.86
citizen of this other kingdom,
your behavior is out of this
00:15:21.90\00:15:25.69
world, isn't it? The idea that
you'll tell the truth even if it
00:15:25.72\00:15:29.62
kills you. I mean is that really
the philosophy of our generation
00:15:29.66\00:15:33.71
We've got all different kinds of
excuses for white lies and lies
00:15:33.75\00:15:37.77
that you don't want to
hurt people and just bending the
00:15:37.80\00:15:41.21
truth a little bit in the gray
areas. Not for the Christian.
00:15:41.25\00:15:46.29
It's the truth is the truth.
Praising the poor for their
00:15:46.33\00:15:51.30
sacrifice. In the world, every
one gives the glory to the rich.
00:15:51.34\00:15:55.31
Jesus ignored all the rich and
he said see that widow there.
00:15:55.34\00:15:58.79
I'm really impressed with what
she gave because it wasn't the
00:15:58.82\00:16:01.65
amount of money, it was the
amount of heart that was in the
00:16:01.69\00:16:04.49
gift. In the world everyone
notices and they'll name a
00:16:04.52\00:16:07.99
building after you if you give
a large amount. But do they ever
00:16:08.03\00:16:12.18
name a building after the
poorest member of the church
00:16:12.21\00:16:14.01
that gave the biggest percentage
It's different in the world
00:16:14.05\00:16:18.40
isn't it? The philosophy of
Christ is out of this world.
00:16:18.43\00:16:22.98
You're praised for being a
servant. Hey, I got good news.
00:16:23.02\00:16:27.27
What's that? I got a promotion.
Yeah? Now I am the servant of
00:16:27.30\00:16:31.46
our whole corporation. Is that
how we act in our world. No. In
00:16:31.50\00:16:35.63
our world the promotion is
you've got all these people
00:16:35.66\00:16:38.77
serving you and you've really
reached the top of the ladder.
00:16:38.81\00:16:41.60
You've reached the final
rung when you're at the top and
00:16:41.63\00:16:44.89
everyone else is serving you.
But in God's economy and God's
00:16:44.93\00:16:49.32
kingdom that's backwards. Jesus
was his highest just before the
00:16:49.35\00:16:53.66
cross when he knelt the lowest.
He washed the disciples feet,
00:16:53.70\00:16:57.59
he prayed on his face in the
garden. That's when he was the
00:16:57.62\00:17:01.84
greatest. That's so different
from the world. In the world you
00:17:01.88\00:17:05.74
show success by being at the
top of everybody else. In God's
00:17:05.77\00:17:09.53
kingdom you show the success by
being willing to serve the least
00:17:09.56\00:17:15.31
So different. In the world,
you're supposed to do everything
00:17:15.34\00:17:19.91
to try make yourself comfortable
In God's kingdom you're willing
00:17:19.94\00:17:24.48
to suffer privation and
discomfort and be content if
00:17:24.51\00:17:27.66
you're serving God irrespective
of your ease and comfort. That's
00:17:27.70\00:17:31.88
when you're supposed to have the
greatest peace. You could be in
00:17:31.92\00:17:36.07
the midst of a storm in God's
kingdom and be at peace. You
00:17:36.10\00:17:39.30
could be facing death and be at
peace in God's kingdom and your
00:17:39.34\00:17:42.57
circumstances just don't dictate
it. You see for those who are
00:17:42.60\00:17:46.41
citizens of God's kingdom there
is a different mindset. It's
00:17:46.45\00:17:51.14
called the Holy Spirit. I was
reading something this last week
00:17:51.18\00:17:55.84
that sort of embraces
the thought. A lot of us are
00:17:55.87\00:18:00.66
controlled by our environment,
our circumstances. Let's face it
00:18:00.70\00:18:04.69
You go to work and people aren't
being nice around you. It's
00:18:04.72\00:18:08.64
depressing, you get discouraged.
You might complain. You might be
00:18:08.68\00:18:12.07
frustrated or the weather's
rainy as it is today so you feel
00:18:12.10\00:18:20.25
gloomy because of the
environmental conditions of
00:18:20.28\00:18:23.35
the rain. Or you get an
unexpected bill in the mail
00:18:23.38\00:18:26.38
and it sends you spiraling down
because you don't know where
00:18:26.42\00:18:29.38
you're going to get the
two cents to make it all pay.
00:18:29.41\00:18:32.25
Or you've got physical pain and
your body, your friends, your
00:18:32.29\00:18:38.02
environment, your bills, all
these things are determining how
00:18:38.06\00:18:43.75
you feel. You know a happy
person takes their weather with
00:18:43.79\00:18:47.82
them wherever they go. They
determine what their weather's
00:18:47.86\00:18:51.12
going to be and they just take
it with them. And nobody else
00:18:51.15\00:18:54.53
around them by gossip or
circumstances around them cannot
00:18:54.56\00:18:58.05
control how they feel because
they're living in a different
00:18:58.08\00:19:01.54
dimension. They're sort
of detached from the devil's
00:19:01.57\00:19:06.66
reality and they're living in
God's reality and they're happy
00:19:06.70\00:19:10.51
based on that. Because you know
that all things work together
00:19:10.54\00:19:13.49
for the good of those that love
God. And I've met these people.
00:19:13.53\00:19:17.17
They're really strange. I want
to be one of them. These people
00:19:17.21\00:19:20.15
who no matter what's happening
to them they've got the joy of
00:19:20.18\00:19:23.05
the Lord because they take their
weather with them wherever they
00:19:23.08\00:19:25.92
go. And they're living in
another dimension. They're part
00:19:25.95\00:19:29.44
of God's kingdom. They're
part of the kingdom of heaven.
00:19:29.47\00:19:32.89
They're always thinking with
that mind set and so their happy
00:19:32.93\00:19:36.65
They've got this peace that
passes understanding. It doesn't
00:19:36.68\00:19:39.86
matter what's going on around
them. How many of you would like
00:19:39.89\00:19:43.06
to have that kind of peace? Well
that's what it means to be part
00:19:43.09\00:19:46.23
of the kingdom of heaven. That's
why it says the kingdom of
00:19:46.26\00:19:49.66
heaven is within you. It's
something the devil can't take
00:19:49.70\00:19:52.46
away. He can torture your body
but he can't touch your soul.
00:19:52.49\00:19:57.45
You know Christians, when
you really think about it, are
00:19:57.49\00:20:02.38
ambassadors from another world.
We are here in this world, once
00:20:02.42\00:20:07.27
you are initiated into God's
kingdom by that new birth, you
00:20:07.31\00:20:11.24
become citizens of his kingdom
but we're still here for the
00:20:11.27\00:20:16.90
meantime. So you're like an
alien resident. Right? And so as
00:20:16.94\00:20:22.54
alien residents we are
ambassadors of another kingdom.
00:20:22.57\00:20:25.77
Now there are people who
are representatives, they are
00:20:25.80\00:20:28.93
emissaries, they are ambassadors
they are diplomats from other
00:20:28.97\00:20:31.64
countries in other words,
they're legally in America but
00:20:31.67\00:20:35.30
they are here representing
their country in some official
00:20:35.34\00:20:39.86
capacity. That's what you are
as a Christian. I'll tell you.
00:20:39.89\00:20:43.78
You've heard of diplomatic
immunity? I read an article in
00:20:43.81\00:20:47.54
Reader's Digest that's
called That's Outrageous. It's a
00:20:47.57\00:20:50.30
column. The only time I
ever read that is when I'm on an
00:20:50.34\00:20:52.53
airplane because it's a small
book. So I take them with me
00:20:52.57\00:20:56.63
sometimes. I had this article
about diplomatic immunity.
00:20:56.67\00:21:00.98
And sometimes diplomats park
wherever they want. They get a
00:21:01.01\00:21:05.83
ticket, they never have to pay.
Some of them have been abusive
00:21:05.87\00:21:09.54
to people and done all kinds of
things that would land any other
00:21:09.58\00:21:12.86
citizen in jail but because
they're diplomats they're immune
00:21:12.90\00:21:16.49
And it's really outrageous what
they get away with. How many of
00:21:16.52\00:21:19.45
you have heard some of these
horror stories of just the bad
00:21:19.48\00:21:22.66
behavior because I'm immune,
I'm not accountable and they do
00:21:22.70\00:21:25.95
things that none of us would
dare to do as citizens. They
00:21:25.99\00:21:29.17
bring reproach on their country.
Eventually with enough complaint
00:21:29.21\00:21:33.25
they're brought home. They're
never allowed to go back again.
00:21:33.29\00:21:39.22
You know what the greatest dent,
the greatest harm, the most
00:21:39.25\00:21:44.61
toxic advertising for the
Christian religion is? Those who
00:21:44.64\00:21:50.02
say they are citizens of Jesus'
kingdom who have bad behavior.
00:21:50.05\00:21:55.40
They don't represent that
kingdom. We're not very good
00:21:55.43\00:21:58.45
ambassadors sometimes. We say
we're Christians but we don't
00:21:58.49\00:22:01.47
talk like we're Christians
and we don't act like we're
00:22:01.50\00:22:03.72
Christians. As Jesus represented
us we want to do him right don't
00:22:03.76\00:22:09.72
we? Because we take his name.
We take the name of our king
00:22:09.75\00:22:14.41
to this world. So when you say
you're a Christian you are an
00:22:14.45\00:22:19.30
ambassador of another realm. And
while I'm on the subject, if you
00:22:19.33\00:22:23.58
and I are ambassadors then what
does that make the church. It's
00:22:23.62\00:22:27.79
an embassy, isn't it? When you
and I come together right now
00:22:27.83\00:22:31.39
you've got a special protection
did you know that? Not only
00:22:31.42\00:22:34.91
because we pray ahead. You know
when our pastors get together on
00:22:34.95\00:22:37.40
Friday we often pray that God
will set a hedge of angels about
00:22:37.43\00:22:40.41
this church and especially about
each one of our families. We
00:22:40.44\00:22:44.08
pray that God will bless your
families. But even beyond the
00:22:44.12\00:22:47.87
spiritual side, physically in
this world churches are treated
00:22:47.91\00:22:51.98
differently. You know there's a
gal, I think she's from Central
00:22:52.01\00:22:55.56
or Latin America, in Chicago and
they were going to deport her
00:22:55.59\00:22:59.68
so she fled to a church. And she
and her son had been holed up
00:22:59.72\00:23:03.32
in that church for months now
and they have sanctuary there
00:23:03.36\00:23:06.93
based upon the laws of that
government. Are you aware of
00:23:06.97\00:23:10.47
that? The churches are actually
treated as places of sanctuary
00:23:10.51\00:23:14.33
in many governments and the
people can get within the doors
00:23:14.37\00:23:17.27
of the church. Dates all the
way back into the Old Testament.
00:23:17.30\00:23:21.09
That's why Joab fled to the
temple. They had immunity for a
00:23:21.13\00:23:25.45
while they were there. In a
very real sense we're in our
00:23:25.49\00:23:29.78
embassy right now. When
Americans are overseas and they
00:23:29.81\00:23:34.19
are in their embassy... I
remember when I was in Cameroon,
00:23:34.22\00:23:37.41
Africa. I ran into a marine
in the elevator. We were talking
00:23:37.44\00:23:40.72
and he was in dress uniform and
at that time our son Daniel was
00:23:40.75\00:23:43.99
in the Marines and so I struck
up a conversation. He said we're
00:23:44.02\00:23:46.96
here with the American Embassy
and we're having the Marine Ball
00:23:47.00\00:23:49.91
and when we're in the Embassy,
he says, everybody speaks
00:23:49.94\00:23:53.34
American. Though they might
speak French in Cameroon, in the
00:23:53.37\00:23:56.48
Embassy they speak American. He
says we obey American law there.
00:23:56.52\00:23:59.59
We sing American songs there.
We eat American food there.
00:23:59.63\00:24:03.95
It's kind of like our church
isn't it? Potlucks, language.
00:24:03.98\00:24:07.50
I mean, it's like an Embassy
here. We're part of a different
00:24:07.54\00:24:11.20
kingdom. It's great. He felt
when they were together and all
00:24:11.24\00:24:14.86
those Marines that were
scattered around that country,
00:24:14.90\00:24:16.50
when it came to the Embassy for
the Marine Ball it was really
00:24:16.54\00:24:19.19
nice to get together
with everybody who understood
00:24:19.22\00:24:21.76
America. You know what I'm
talking about? I remember when
00:24:21.79\00:24:24.94
Karen and I first went to Russia
to do our series of meetings, we
00:24:24.97\00:24:27.55
went before the doors had barely
been opened and we were six
00:24:27.59\00:24:31.11
weeks in Stavropol and we
didn't run into anybody speaking
00:24:31.14\00:24:34.49
American. You realize American
is not English. We met a few
00:24:34.53\00:24:37.72
people who learned English
out of books but we hadn't met
00:24:37.76\00:24:40.57
anyone who spoke American and
we were in this great big crowd
00:24:40.60\00:24:43.38
and we heard someone else
speaking American. Matter of
00:24:43.41\00:24:46.27
fact, it might have been
Californian which is a dialect
00:24:46.30\00:24:49.09
of America. We just stopped what
we were doing and went right
00:24:49.13\00:24:52.64
over unintroduced and started
talking to them and it was so
00:24:52.68\00:24:56.02
nice to meet someone else from
our kingdom. You start to yearn
00:24:56.05\00:24:59.02
for that after a while. We
didn't even know what to say.
00:24:59.05\00:25:02.36
Just to meet someone else
who could understand what the
00:25:02.40\00:25:05.30
differences were that we were
dealing with in that country.
00:25:05.33\00:25:08.76
Not that I minded being in
Russia but it's different. I
00:25:08.79\00:25:12.05
don't care for Borscht. Sorry.
The food is different, the
00:25:12.08\00:25:14.70
language, the customs are
different. You know you start
00:25:14.74\00:25:17.28
yearning for home after a while.
Well that's what it's like for
00:25:17.32\00:25:21.67
the Christian. Are you getting
comfortable here? Is this where
00:25:21.71\00:25:26.33
you're retiring? Or are you just
doing the job of your King until
00:25:26.36\00:25:30.96
you get to go home? Don't be too
comfortable here. This is not
00:25:30.99\00:25:35.59
it. We're supposed to be
citizens of another kingdom.
00:25:35.62\00:25:40.17
It's a very different philosophy
believing in something that you
00:25:40.21\00:25:45.04
cannot see. To everybody in
this world you know seeing is
00:25:45.08\00:25:49.49
believing. Christ said
believing, faith, we live by
faith. It's a whole
00:25:49.53\00:25:54.44
different paradigm. I talked
a minute ago about the language.
00:25:54.48\00:25:58.51
Words of the people in God's
kingdom are different. We talk
00:25:58.55\00:26:03.24
different. Matthew chapter
five verse 37 Jesus said for the
00:26:03.27\00:26:07.01
Christian, you don't need to
swear by heaven and earth. Let
00:26:07.04\00:26:10.81
your yes be yes and your no
be no, for whatever is more than
00:26:10.85\00:26:14.71
this comes from the evil one.
Colossians 4:6, Paul said: Let
00:26:14.74\00:26:18.94
your speech always be seasoned
with grace, seasoned with salt
00:26:18.97\00:26:23.14
that you might know how
you ought to answer each other.
00:26:23.17\00:26:26.50
Christians should talk different
When you're surrounded in the
00:26:26.54\00:26:31.13
office and maybe you work
in a secular environment and
00:26:31.17\00:26:33.37
everybody starts to engage in
the juicy gossip of the day you
00:26:33.41\00:26:38.66
ought not engage. I hate
gossip unless it's a subject I'm
00:26:38.69\00:26:43.82
interested in otherwise I just
hate gossip. But we ought to
00:26:43.86\00:26:48.07
talk different. Isn't that right
Different kind of language,
00:26:48.11\00:26:51.54
different kind of communication,
different words because we're
00:26:51.58\00:26:54.98
from a different kingdom
and people ought to know that.
00:26:55.01\00:26:58.44
I remember I had met some
people before and I just wanted
00:26:58.48\00:27:01.75
to stop them after listening
a little while and say are you a
00:27:01.79\00:27:04.67
Christian. And just after
listening maybe on a train or in
00:27:04.71\00:27:07.35
the market line or something I'd
hear them talk and I just say
00:27:07.38\00:27:09.99
they've got that accent
of Christians. Christianese.
00:27:10.02\00:27:14.95
You could just detect it. There
was this flavor in their words
00:27:14.98\00:27:18.78
that seemed to have a sanctity
about it and you just knew that
00:27:18.82\00:27:22.58
they had that accent from
another kingdom. Have you met
00:27:22.62\00:27:25.63
those people before? Their
speech is seasoned with grace.
00:27:25.67\00:27:29.84
Christians ought to be that
way. If you are members of God's
00:27:29.88\00:27:34.03
kingdom you have different
priorities. What should be the
00:27:34.06\00:27:37.74
priority? What were the first
words that Jesus said? Repent
00:27:37.78\00:27:40.94
for the kingdom of heaven. John
the Baptist - The Kingdom of
00:27:40.98\00:27:43.75
heaven. The apostles - the
kingdom of heaven. What should
00:27:43.78\00:27:46.89
be our priority with that
kind of heritage? The kingdom of
00:27:46.93\00:27:50.07
heaven should be our priority.
What did Jesus say? Matthew
00:27:50.11\00:27:53.19
6:33. You know this, it's a song
Seek you first what? What should
00:27:53.22\00:27:59.53
be the first thing? The kingdom
of God and his righteousness.
00:27:59.56\00:28:04.63
That's why Christ said, Except
your righteousness exceeds the
00:28:04.66\00:28:08.74
righteousness of the scribes and
the Pharisees, you will by no
00:28:08.78\00:28:12.92
means enter the kingdom of
God. Now that doesn't mean we're
00:28:12.95\00:28:17.06
supposed to be like the
Pharisees. It means it's a
00:28:17.10\00:28:19.36
better quality of righteousness.
It's genuine where theirs was
00:28:19.40\00:28:24.26
counterfeit. He said you
need to have a different kind of
00:28:24.30\00:28:27.17
righteousness than what they
were professing if you want to
00:28:27.21\00:28:30.25
be part of the kingdom of
God. Seeking that righteousness
00:28:30.29\00:28:33.27
should be our priority. Seek ye
first! Show of hands. Be honest
00:28:33.30\00:28:39.68
please. I want everyone to
participate. I don't mean to
00:28:39.72\00:28:42.36
embarrass you, hopefully it
won't embarrass you, but show of
00:28:42.39\00:28:46.36
hands. How many of you who are
driving age have at some time
00:28:46.40\00:28:50.29
run out of gas? That should have
been almost everybody unless you
00:28:50.33\00:28:55.73
just got your license. You know
it's not as common today as it
00:28:55.77\00:29:00.54
used to be. How come? They've
got what they call idiot lights.
00:29:00.57\00:29:04.69
I'm not trying to be derogatory
that's what they call them or
00:29:04.72\00:29:08.50
bells. You know you get down to
your last eighth of a tank and
00:29:08.54\00:29:11.62
something's flashing every time
you turn the key and there are
00:29:11.65\00:29:14.09
lights and there are bells going
off and it's saying you better
00:29:14.13\00:29:16.53
get some gas. Makes it a little
easier to remember, right?
00:29:16.57\00:29:19.05
It's like one father was taking
to his son. He was teaching him
00:29:19.09\00:29:23.03
to drive. He's telling him about
the gages and that's back when
00:29:23.07\00:29:26.60
you used to watch. People knew
what an oil pressure gage was.
00:29:26.63\00:29:30.03
Your oil pressure's gone, you
better turn the key off. If you
00:29:30.06\00:29:32.75
watch the temperature gage. If
it gets too hot you better turn
00:29:32.79\00:29:35.44
the key off and add some
water. You better check it out.
00:29:35.47\00:29:37.54
And some of these instruments
are very important and the
00:29:37.58\00:29:39.84
father said to the boy, the
fuel gage, don't worry about it.
00:29:39.88\00:29:43.05
You run out you just get more.
Right? Don't worry about that
00:29:43.09\00:29:46.49
gauge. You'll find out when
it needs attention. But what if
00:29:46.52\00:29:51.50
you're a pilot? What kind of
priority do you put on the fuel
00:29:51.54\00:29:56.65
gauge if you're a pilot? You
don't just pull over, you don't
00:29:56.69\00:30:01.13
just coast to the side of the
road, especially if you fly over
00:30:01.17\00:30:05.58
the country we fly over
when we go to Covelo. It's very
00:30:05.61\00:30:07.71
mountainous terrain and you can
be sure that part of the check
00:30:07.75\00:30:12.10
list is fuel. Matter of fact, a
good pilot not only looks at the
00:30:12.13\00:30:16.45
gauge, he'll get up and stick
his finger in the tank, he'll
00:30:16.48\00:30:19.70
look visually. You make sure
there's fuel. Not only do you
00:30:19.74\00:30:23.05
look at the gauge and you do
a visual check, but then you go
00:30:23.08\00:30:25.85
around and you put this little
thing under the wing to make
00:30:25.89\00:30:28.82
sure there's no water in
the fuel, that the fuel is pure
00:30:28.85\00:30:32.64
because for the pilot the
fuel is a priority. Well for the
00:30:32.68\00:30:36.16
Christian the Holy Spirit
is a priority and seeking God's
00:30:36.19\00:30:40.75
kingdom first is a priority.
That ought to be just the core
00:30:40.78\00:30:45.22
of everything we do and yet our
priorities are kind of mixed up
00:30:45.26\00:30:49.66
if you don't mind my saying
so. Someone once said everybody
00:30:49.70\00:30:53.68
wants the kingdom of God but
very few people want it first.
00:30:53.71\00:30:58.52
Seek ye first. Jesus said
to someone who said I want to
00:30:58.56\00:31:03.30
follow you but first I've got to
take care of some other things,
00:31:03.33\00:31:06.09
Christ said no one having put
his hand to the plow and looking
00:31:06.13\00:31:09.13
back is fit for the kingdom
of God. You look forward and you
00:31:09.16\00:31:12.05
don't even look back because
it's a priority and there's no
00:31:12.09\00:31:15.63
turning back or you end up like
Lot's wife. Just to give you an
00:31:15.66\00:31:19.17
idea of American priorities:
82 percent of people in an
00:31:19.20\00:31:23.20
Ad week poll said they'd rather
be rich than thin, in spite of
00:31:23.24\00:31:26.77
the fact that you live a lot
longer statistically if you're
00:31:26.81\00:31:30.75
thinner and riches do not make
you live longer. But people said
00:31:30.78\00:31:35.09
they prefer to have the
riches than the better health.
00:31:35.12\00:31:37.55
That's interesting. On the
00:31:37.58\00:31:39.38
same theme of mixed up
priorities 34 percent of
00:31:39.42\00:31:43.66
American pre-school teachers,
administrators, parents and
00:31:43.70\00:31:47.09
child development specialists
said the most important thing
00:31:47.12\00:31:50.87
for a child to learn in pre-
school is self-reliance and self
00:31:50.90\00:31:54.91
confidence. Now that's opposed
to the percentage who said the
00:31:54.94\00:31:58.47
important thing is sympathy and
empathy and concern for others.
00:31:58.50\00:32:02.40
That was only five percent. The
priority was put on self-control
00:32:02.44\00:32:06.18
self-reliance instead of love
for others. Just tells you about
00:32:06.22\00:32:10.44
the mixed up priorities that
we've got in our world. Every
00:32:10.47\00:32:15.24
kingdom has a constitution.
In America the final document of
00:32:15.28\00:32:19.86
arbitration for law is what?
It's the U.S. Constitution,
00:32:19.89\00:32:24.44
right? Isn't that what
the Supreme Court judges are
00:32:24.48\00:32:26.87
ultimately to use as
a foundation for their
00:32:26.90\00:32:29.35
interpretation of what is right
and what is wrong and what is
00:32:29.38\00:32:31.95
just and what is unjust. They
say what does the constitution
00:32:31.99\00:32:36.40
say? That's the basis. What is
our constitution? What did Jesus
00:32:36.44\00:32:40.82
say? Luke 4:4: It is written.
Man shall not live by bread
00:32:40.85\00:32:45.61
alone but by every word that
proceeds from the mouth of God.
00:32:45.65\00:32:50.10
Again, Matthew 24:35, Jesus said
Heaven and earth will pass away
00:32:50.14\00:32:55.02
but my words will not pass away.
So for the Christian in our
00:32:55.06\00:32:58.69
government this kingdom... Do
we have a document that tells us
00:32:58.72\00:33:02.32
about the laws of the kingdom?
Huh? Help me. Act a little
00:33:02.36\00:33:07.32
Pentecostal, just a little,
a little participation here.
00:33:07.35\00:33:12.24
Seventh-day Adventists are so
cerebral. The Bible just be the
00:33:12.28\00:33:17.99
final place where we go to
determine what is true, what is
00:33:18.03\00:33:23.67
the will of our king. How do we
know we're following the laws of
00:33:23.71\00:33:28.38
our government. This is our
constitution. Now the very fact
00:33:28.42\00:33:34.21
that Jesus went out preaching
the kingdom of heaven is at hand
00:33:34.24\00:33:39.43
or that the apostles said
the kingdom of heaven is at hand
00:33:39.46\00:33:44.36
it's amazing that Rome did not
react more. I mean, even Pilate
00:33:44.39\00:33:49.98
said, Are you a king, to Jesus.
Are you coronating yourself, is
00:33:50.01\00:33:55.56
there going to be an
insurrection against the empire
00:33:55.60\00:33:57.56
of Rome? I mean they understood
that he wasn't talking about
00:33:57.59\00:34:00.27
this kingdom because they
weren't even threatened by it.
00:34:00.30\00:34:02.91
The religious leaders tried to
use that when they said Oh he's
00:34:02.94\00:34:06.69
making himself a king and
if there's any king other than
00:34:06.73\00:34:08.67
Caesar Pilate you're in trouble.
That's what finally was the ace
00:34:08.70\00:34:13.08
up their sleeves. But up until
that point the Romans really
00:34:13.11\00:34:16.67
never felt threatened.
Unfortunately in our world
00:34:16.70\00:34:18.98
if you tell people the kingdom
of heaven is at hand they don't
00:34:19.02\00:34:21.96
act like there's about to be
an invasion. It ought to trouble
00:34:22.00\00:34:25.86
people. In a government when you
say your government will soon be
00:34:25.89\00:34:29.43
displaced by another government.
But it doesn't trouble people.
00:34:29.47\00:34:33.07
Why doesn't it trouble them
more? Because there aren't very
00:34:33.11\00:34:36.39
many citizens, aren't very many
soldiers. It doesn't seem like
00:34:36.43\00:34:39.68
anyone's really taking it
seriously. But really there are
00:34:39.71\00:34:42.95
two kingdoms that are at war in
this world. And by the way, that
00:34:42.98\00:34:47.18
means they're at war in your
heart. Have you felt the battle
00:34:47.21\00:34:51.37
before? There is a divided
kingdom in this world. Jesus
00:34:51.40\00:34:57.52
said so. John 12 verse 31:
Now the judgment of this world.
00:34:57.56\00:35:02.17
The ruler of this world will
be cast out. Satan has claimed
00:35:02.21\00:35:06.75
territory that belongs to Jesus.
Even Jesus identified him as the
00:35:06.79\00:35:09.89
prince or the ruler of
this world. He claimed to be
00:35:09.93\00:35:13.06
sovereign Didn't the devil say
to Christ, all these kingdoms
00:35:13.09\00:35:15.86
are mine but I'll give them
to you if you bow down and you
00:35:15.89\00:35:19.52
worship me. There is a cosmic
conflict between these two
00:35:19.55\00:35:24.52
kingdoms that are colliding.
That sort of rhymed didn't it?
00:35:24.55\00:35:29.45
This tension between two
kingdoms. The good news is the
00:35:29.48\00:35:34.31
Lord is saying you can change
kings. You can be part of a
00:35:34.34\00:35:40.67
different kingdom. By the way,
you don't get dual citizenship.
00:35:40.71\00:35:47.01
Jesus said he who is not with me
is against me. I heard a story
00:35:47.04\00:35:53.12
one time. During the civil war
when the war broke out this very
00:35:53.16\00:35:59.17
phlegmatic gentleman had a farm
right on the line between the
00:35:59.20\00:36:02.18
north and the south. And he
talked to his friends north of
00:36:02.22\00:36:05.13
the Mason/Dixon line and they'd
say you ought to join the north
00:36:05.16\00:36:08.08
and be a yank. And he'd talk
to his friends on the south and
00:36:08.11\00:36:11.15
they'd say you ought to be a
reb and join the south. And he
00:36:11.19\00:36:14.05
didn't want to make any one
mad so what he did is he got a
00:36:14.09\00:36:16.88
uniform of each side and he wore
the shirt of the north and the
00:36:16.92\00:36:20.59
pants of the south. He had the
blue and the gray. So what do
00:36:20.62\00:36:24.26
you think that got him?
The north shot him in the pants
00:36:24.29\00:36:28.20
and the south shot him in the
shirt. You can't do both. You
00:36:28.24\00:36:32.06
can't say I'm going to enjoy the
world and the pleasures of sin
00:36:32.10\00:36:35.71
and this kingdom and I'm going
to get all the gusto I can and
00:36:35.75\00:36:38.64
I'm also going to try and be a
Christian at least once a week.
00:36:38.67\00:36:43.23
You can't have dual citizenship.
Jesus said you're either with me
00:36:43.26\00:36:47.78
or against me. Where are you?
Where is your heart? Is it in
00:36:47.82\00:36:50.81
the world or is in
Christ's kingdom? Jesus said in
00:36:50.85\00:36:55.96
Luke 11:17: Every kingdom
divided against itself is
00:36:55.99\00:37:01.03
brought to desolation. A house
divided against itself falleth.
00:37:01.07\00:37:05.20
Some of you have felt this
division inside. It doesn't
00:37:05.24\00:37:10.06
last long. There can't be
this division indefinitely.
00:37:10.09\00:37:12.65
Wars don't go on forever. Even
the 100 year war finally came to
00:37:12.69\00:37:15.99
an end didn't it? And though the
war in this world may have been
00:37:16.03\00:37:19.53
6000 years it can't last forever
There's a division in this world
00:37:19.56\00:37:23.02
It just is not going to last and
I think we see it coming to a
00:37:23.05\00:37:26.98
head. In your hearts one of two
things will happen. You'll feel
00:37:27.02\00:37:30.42
that struggle inside. Either
Jesus will win or the devil will
00:37:30.46\00:37:33.61
win. You're going one way or the
other. You can't stay neutral
00:37:33.65\00:37:38.77
in this divided kingdom. We're
to pray for our king. Have you
00:37:38.81\00:37:42.84
ever been to England or some of
these countries where they all
00:37:42.87\00:37:47.14
say God save the queen or God
save the king or in a lot of the
00:37:47.17\00:37:51.91
official slogans of the ever
diminishing number of monarchies
00:37:51.95\00:37:56.66
in the world, there are
very few left, but part of their
00:37:56.69\00:37:59.65
language is to pray for the
king. Matter of fact, you find
00:37:59.68\00:38:02.58
in the Old Testament, it says
remember to pray for the king.
00:38:02.62\00:38:06.36
Samuel said pray for the king.
What about us? Are we supposed
00:38:06.39\00:38:10.10
to pray for our kingdom?
What does Jesus say? The Lord's
00:38:10.13\00:38:13.48
prayer. Look at the priority
that Jesus puts on the kingdom
00:38:13.52\00:38:16.16
of heaven, the kingdom of God.
Right in the Lord's prayer twice
00:38:16.19\00:38:18.79
You kingdom come, your will
be done on earth as it is in
00:38:18.83\00:38:22.64
heaven and it's ended in Matthew
by saying for thine is the
00:38:22.68\00:38:25.84
kingdom and the power and the
glory. I mean, this was central
00:38:25.88\00:38:29.01
to Jesus' teaching. How
many parables does Jesus say the
00:38:29.04\00:38:32.64
kingdom of heaven is like a net
cast in the sea, the kingdom of
00:38:32.68\00:38:35.10
heaven is like a merchant
seeking pearls, the kingdom of
00:38:35.13\00:38:37.57
heaven is like a treasure,
the kingdom of heaven is like,
00:38:37.60\00:38:40.14
the kingdom of heaven is like.
Jesus is trying to get us to
00:38:40.18\00:38:43.98
think kingdom thoughts, that
we're part of a different empire
00:38:44.02\00:38:48.66
a different dimension. Do
you forget sometimes that we're
00:38:48.70\00:38:53.20
ambassadors of another world.
An English visitor to the U.S.
00:38:53.23\00:38:57.29
commented about U.S. churches.
You Americans are so concerned
00:38:57.33\00:39:01.35
about being happy as if our
kingdom were the focal point
00:39:01.39\00:39:04.36
of God's designs rather than
God's kingdom being the focal
00:39:04.39\00:39:08.27
point of ours. They're right.
That's a good observation.
00:39:08.31\00:39:12.12
In American and many of the new
evangelical churches it's like
00:39:12.16\00:39:17.35
God exists to make us
comfortable in this kingdom.
00:39:17.39\00:39:20.70
Come on. There's all this name
it, claim it theology and if you
00:39:20.73\00:39:23.93
come to our church God is going
to do this for you and make you
00:39:23.97\00:39:27.13
comfortable in this kingdom.
That's not the purpose. Our
00:39:27.17\00:39:30.73
comfort is not the issue. His
kingdom, our doing the will to
00:39:30.77\00:39:34.98
expand his kingdom is what
should be our priority. We pray
00:39:35.02\00:39:38.70
for his kingdom or are you
comfortable with this kingdom
00:39:38.73\00:39:42.35
here? The keys to the kingdom.
You know Jesus said Matthew 16
00:39:42.38\00:39:47.21
I will give unto thee... Wow
these are powerful words that
00:39:47.25\00:39:51.01
have often been abused and
people think that God gave some
00:39:51.04\00:39:54.64
special key to Peter himself,
but really it's telling us that
00:39:54.68\00:39:58.83
Jesus gives every believer the
keys to unlock the kingdom. Can
00:39:58.87\00:40:04.33
you imagine if you were given
the keys. It's like a whole city
00:40:04.36\00:40:09.41
a capital kingdom where the
castle is surrounded by a wall
00:40:09.44\00:40:14.42
and the opposing army is at the
gates and at night you're given
00:40:14.45\00:40:18.99
the key to unlock the gate and
let the other army in or to let
00:40:19.03\00:40:22.76
the captives out. You've got
that key between the corridors
00:40:22.79\00:40:26.81
of the two empires. That's a
pretty powerful thing to have.
00:40:26.84\00:40:31.12
You have that. What is it for?
It's not talking about keys that
00:40:31.16\00:40:35.93
were given to Peter or the Pope.
Jesus is the key that you use to
00:40:35.96\00:40:40.47
unlock the hearts of others that
they might find eternal life and
00:40:40.50\00:40:46.26
the kingdom. Isaiah 22:22.
You can remember that one.
00:40:46.30\00:40:49.04
The key of the
house of David I will
00:40:49.08\00:40:51.57
lay on his shoulders, speaking
of the Messiah. He will open
00:40:51.61\00:40:53.85
and no man will shut. He will
shut and no man will open. And
00:40:53.88\00:40:57.53
that's quoted by Jesus in
Revelation. You and I are given
00:40:57.57\00:41:01.15
the keys. In sharing the gospel
you unlock the gates of heaven
00:41:01.18\00:41:05.83
for others. That's what that
means. What a privilege that you
00:41:05.87\00:41:10.49
can go round and help
other people find citizenship.
00:41:10.52\00:41:14.46
Periodically when we travel,
matter of fact it happens
00:41:14.50\00:41:17.80
frequently when we travel
especially in some third world
00:41:17.84\00:41:21.22
countries, people befriend us
there and then we'll have them
00:41:21.25\00:41:24.82
very delicately come to us and
say you know I would sure like
00:41:24.86\00:41:28.56
to visit your country but I need
a sponsor. I need someone who
00:41:28.59\00:41:31.65
can make it possible. I just
need name and address to give
00:41:31.68\00:41:35.32
to our embassy so I can come
visit America. Can I use your
00:41:35.36\00:41:39.66
name? Will you help me get my
visa so I can come. You all know
00:41:39.69\00:41:43.96
what I'm talking about?
As pastors and missionaries
00:41:44.00\00:41:47.08
traveling you've got to be
careful about doing that because
00:41:47.12\00:41:50.50
you can get into trouble. But
the fact is, you are given the
00:41:50.53\00:41:54.14
ability to help other people
emigrate. You're given the
00:41:54.17\00:41:58.13
keys so they can change and
become citizens. Somebody Karen
00:41:58.17\00:42:01.48
and I met in Russia, matter of
fact, you've seen him on TV and
00:42:01.52\00:42:04.33
you don't even know him. We met
him there for the first time. A
00:42:04.36\00:42:07.14
young man, he ended up doing
some translation for us and
00:42:07.17\00:42:10.58
through our relationship with
our team he gradually was able
00:42:10.62\00:42:13.86
to visit and go to school and
now is married and resides here
00:42:13.90\00:42:17.11
and is contributing to the
church and the country and in
00:42:17.14\00:42:21.96
one sense we felt like we
were the key and it's fun to see
00:42:22.00\00:42:25.92
some... Because he'd come from
a life where that was so much
00:42:25.96\00:42:30.74
poverty and so little to such
affluence. To think you can be
00:42:30.77\00:42:34.56
used that way and it's wonderful
to see this young person
00:42:34.60\00:42:39.24
prospering compared to when
we first saw him. You have that
00:42:39.28\00:42:43.89
privilege of helping people
transition from bondage to
00:42:43.92\00:42:47.56
royalty. Matter of fact, this is
the story of the Exodus. Think
00:42:47.60\00:42:52.22
about it. Have you ever seen
a kingdom born? The children of
00:42:52.26\00:42:56.56
Israel went as a tribe into
Egypt. They became a nation of
00:42:56.60\00:43:01.15
slaves and when God brought them
out God established them as a
00:43:01.19\00:43:04.76
new kingdom. Matter of fact,
he said, I'm giving you a new
00:43:04.80\00:43:07.91
calendar, I'm giving you a new
government. You are going to be
00:43:07.95\00:43:10.87
a new kingdom. He took them
from a nation of slaves and they
00:43:10.91\00:43:13.97
became a new kingdom. Well God
can do for you what he did for
00:43:14.01\00:43:18.40
the Israelites. You can become
from slavery royalty. God said
00:43:18.43\00:43:23.85
you're a kingdom of kings,
a kingdom of priests and don't
00:43:23.89\00:43:27.81
forget that in any kingdom the
two highest positions that can
00:43:27.85\00:43:32.29
be held were the royalty and the
priesthood. And God says you get
00:43:32.33\00:43:37.38
both when you become citizens
in his kingdom. This is the only
00:43:37.41\00:43:41.97
kingdom that's going to last.
Kingdoms come and kingdoms fall.
00:43:42.01\00:43:46.32
Jesus said there are going to be
wars and rumors of wars, nation
00:43:46.35\00:43:50.63
will rise against nation
and kingdom against kingdom but
00:43:50.67\00:43:53.47
they rise and they fall. History
seems to repeat itself but is
00:43:53.50\00:43:57.69
one of them going to
last. Daniel chapter 2 verse 44:
00:43:57.72\00:44:01.83
And in the days of these kings
the God of heaven will set up a
00:44:01.87\00:44:05.85
kingdom that will never be
destroyed and the kingdom will
00:44:05.88\00:44:08.98
not be left to other people. It
will break in pieces and consume
00:44:09.01\00:44:13.15
all of these kingdoms. It shall
stand forever. Now kingdoms come
00:44:13.19\00:44:17.29
and kingdoms go but one
kingdom is going to endure.
00:44:17.32\00:44:19.55
Which kingdom is that? Let
me reword that. If we know that
00:44:19.58\00:44:24.55
kingdoms come and kingdoms go,
they rise and they fall, they
00:44:24.59\00:44:28.86
flourish and they vaporize, some
of these kingdoms used to rule
00:44:28.89\00:44:32.58
the world and they've totally
disappeared off the scene, no
00:44:32.61\00:44:36.12
vestiges left, but if you knew
there was one kingdom that was
00:44:36.15\00:44:39.73
going to be the final kingdom
that would last through eternity
00:44:39.77\00:44:42.57
which one would you want to be
part of. I mean, don't you want
00:44:42.60\00:44:46.05
to be on the winning team? The
kingdom that's going to last is
00:44:46.08\00:44:50.65
Jesus. Revelation 11 verse 15:
The kingdoms of this world have
00:44:50.68\00:44:55.10
become the kingdoms of our Lord
and his Christ and he will reign
00:44:55.14\00:44:58.99
forever and ever. That's the one
that's going to last. Now how
00:44:59.02\00:45:02.84
does that happen? We've
been trying to emphasize that it
00:45:02.87\00:45:06.99
starts on the inside. It begins
by your accepting the inner
00:45:07.02\00:45:10.53
kingdom. Let me just reiterate.
When we talk about the kingdom
00:45:10.57\00:45:14.05
of God we're talking about
two things. A kingdom that is
00:45:14.08\00:45:17.50
available right now and
it's been available since Christ
00:45:17.54\00:45:20.50
began preaching and John
the Baptist began preaching 2000
00:45:20.53\00:45:23.46
years ago. But it's the
spiritual inner kingdom.
00:45:23.49\00:45:26.61
You can have that now, it's at
hand right now. Then you've got
00:45:26.64\00:45:30.32
the literal physical kingdom. In
the book of Acts, chapter 1 when
00:45:30.36\00:45:33.48
Jesus was about to ascend to
heaven one of the disciples said
00:45:33.52\00:45:36.59
Lord will you at this time
restore the kingdom to Israel?
00:45:36.62\00:45:39.72
What was he thinking of? What
was that apostle thinking of?
00:45:39.75\00:45:42.69
The inner kingdom or the outer
kingdom? The outer kingdom.
00:45:42.72\00:45:45.25
Jesus was trying to shake them
and wake them and say look you
00:45:45.29\00:45:47.82
still don't get it. That's
not why I come the first time.
00:45:47.85\00:45:50.22
The first time is the inner
kingdom, the second time the
00:45:50.25\00:45:52.55
outer kingdom. Isn't that right?
He said it's not going to come
00:45:52.59\00:45:57.34
through that kind of observation
not at this time. But later that
00:45:57.38\00:46:02.10
kingdom will come as well.
That's the one that's going to
00:46:02.14\00:46:04.51
last. Right now it's an inner
kingdom. The kingdom of God does
00:46:04.55\00:46:08.29
not come with observation nor
will they say see here or see
00:46:08.33\00:46:12.61
there. For indeed the kingdom
of God is, present tense, within
00:46:12.65\00:46:16.90
you. Not it will be, it is
within you. Now with that in
00:46:16.94\00:46:20.74
mind here are some of the most
important things I can share
00:46:20.78\00:46:24.62
with you. If you have felt that
conflict between two empires
00:46:24.65\00:46:29.65
raging in your heart, you
can invite Jesus to sit on the
00:46:29.69\00:46:33.98
throne of your heart and
sin will no longer have dominion
00:46:34.02\00:46:38.24
over you. Look at those words
in Romans chapter 6 verse 12 and
00:46:38.27\00:46:42.40
then verse 14. Notice the
language is kingdom language.
00:46:42.44\00:46:46.24
Therefore do not let sin reign.
He could have used a lot of
00:46:46.27\00:46:50.00
other words but he used the word
that has to do with a government
00:46:50.04\00:46:52.89
a king, sitting on the throne
reigning. Don't let sin reign.
00:46:52.93\00:46:58.90
The opposite of that is Jesus
reigns in your heart. Verse 14:
00:46:58.93\00:47:03.74
For sin shall not have dominion
over you. I'm so thankful he
00:47:03.77\00:47:08.51
worded it that way because let's
face it, even in a kingdom where
00:47:08.54\00:47:13.78
there's an element of peace and
prosperity you think of the most
00:47:13.82\00:47:18.56
safe place in the world you
could live. Are there still some
00:47:18.60\00:47:22.84
violators in those kingdoms. Are
there still occasional rebels
00:47:22.87\00:47:26.81
and people who disobey and J
walk or whatever it is? Right
00:47:26.85\00:47:30.75
sure. But they don't have
dominion. Ah there are some
00:47:30.79\00:47:34.56
placed in the world right
now namely some in Africa where
00:47:34.59\00:47:38.29
there are... If they're in the
midst of a civil war and you're
00:47:38.33\00:47:41.74
not sure from day to day who is
in charge. Terrible insecurity.
00:47:41.78\00:47:45.84
Violence. When you accept Jesus
and he takes dominion in your
00:47:45.87\00:47:50.02
heart that doesn't mean there
won't be the occasional you know
00:47:50.06\00:47:54.18
violation. It doesn't mean
there won't be the occasional
00:47:54.21\00:47:56.74
disturbance, but it is not the
pattern anymore because there's
00:47:56.77\00:48:00.89
a new power on the throne of the
heart, right? Do you understand
00:48:00.93\00:48:05.02
what I'm talking about? Sin
doesn't reign. Before you're a
00:48:05.05\00:48:08.49
Christian we're addicted to
sin. It's a pattern in our life.
00:48:08.52\00:48:11.88
After we become Christians there
is a new power inside and you're
00:48:11.92\00:48:15.69
growing in sanctification and
it's no longer the pattern. Sin
00:48:15.73\00:48:20.69
doesn't have control over
you any more. That's good news.
00:48:20.73\00:48:25.39
Colossians 1 verse 27: I've
asked Karen if no one else says
00:48:25.42\00:48:28.74
Amen will you please help me?
So she's pretty good about it.
00:48:28.77\00:48:32.43
Thank you dear, I appreciate it.
To them that will to make known
00:48:32.46\00:48:35.92
what are the riches of his glory
the mystery among the gentiles
00:48:35.95\00:48:39.37
which is Christ in you, the
kingdom of God within, Christ
00:48:39.41\00:48:43.63
in you sitting on the throne
of your heart and your mind, the
00:48:43.66\00:48:47.87
hope of glory. Your mind is
filled with him. It pervades and
00:48:47.90\00:48:52.67
permeates all you do. What is
the main law in God's kingdom?
00:48:52.71\00:48:58.26
It's love. The driving motive in
God's kingdom is love. This is
00:48:58.29\00:49:02.76
where one of the big differences
comes in. In the world what is
00:49:02.80\00:49:08.61
the principle motive of action.
Selfishness, it is, self. I had
00:49:08.64\00:49:14.42
someone observe one time that
years ago the magazines were
00:49:14.46\00:49:18.35
things like Look, Time,
Life. Some of those went out of
00:49:18.39\00:49:22.22
business and now the magazines
are Me, Self, Glamour. I mean
00:49:22.25\00:49:28.35
it's all so into yourself.
People are very egocentric in
00:49:28.38\00:49:33.15
the world today. It's all about
worshipping yourself, but in
00:49:33.18\00:49:37.89
God's kingdom it's a kingdom
based on love and so he puts
00:49:37.92\00:49:42.37
that in your hearts. You've
heard me quote this before. Near
00:49:42.41\00:49:46.33
the end of his life when
Napoleon was a prisoner on Elba
00:49:46.36\00:49:51.23
he said, Alexander, Caesar,
Charlemagne and myself founded
00:49:51.26\00:49:55.83
great empires, but Jesus alone
founded his empire upon love
00:49:55.86\00:50:00.09
and to this very day millions
would die for him. Jesus Christ
00:50:00.13\00:50:04.00
was more than a man. He realized
their empires were all founded
00:50:04.03\00:50:08.66
on force and selfishness. Now
here's the good news. Everybody
00:50:08.69\00:50:12.65
is invited to be part of this
kingdom but it's sometimes made
00:50:12.69\00:50:17.03
up of a rag tag group. You
remember in the Bible when King
00:50:17.06\00:50:20.99
Saul was rejected as king
because of his pride and his
00:50:21.02\00:50:24.87
rebellion? So Samuel went and
anointed David. Even after David
00:50:24.91\00:50:29.57
was anointed as king did he get
to be king the same day. He was
00:50:29.60\00:50:33.17
anointed as king. That meant as
far a God was concerned it says
00:50:33.20\00:50:37.81
the Spirit of God left Saul, the
Holy Spirit filled David and an
00:50:37.84\00:50:42.41
evil spirit began to torment
Saul and then there were years
00:50:42.44\00:50:46.36
when Saul was still on the
throne acting like king but as
00:50:46.40\00:50:50.25
far as God was concerned David
was king. But David didn't look
00:50:50.28\00:50:53.53
like king. He's living in caves.
He's running from the enemy.
00:50:53.57\00:50:56.66
That's what's happening in the
world today. The devil has lost
00:50:56.69\00:51:01.08
his kingdom. Jesus is the king
in this world. You see what I'm
00:51:01.12\00:51:05.47
saying? But it may look like
Saul's on the throne. It may
00:51:05.51\00:51:09.31
look like the devil's on the
throne. But David, Jesus, is the
00:51:09.34\00:51:12.67
king who is coming. Let me tell
you what it said about David.
00:51:12.70\00:51:18.53
I Samuel 22:2: Everyone who was
in distress, would that be you,
00:51:18.56\00:51:23.49
everyone who was in debt, that
might be you, everyone who was
00:51:23.53\00:51:28.43
discontent, unsatisfied
with what was happening in the
00:51:28.46\00:51:31.86
government, they gathered to
David. He became a captain over
00:51:31.89\00:51:35.69
them. That sounds like he was
sort of a leader of a Robin Hood
00:51:35.73\00:51:39.49
group. Everybody can come
to Jesus. Even before David was
00:51:39.52\00:51:43.02
king people gathered to him.
Did you get that? We can gather
00:51:43.05\00:51:46.01
and become part of Christ's
kingdom. Now don't forget this.
00:51:46.04\00:51:50.25
Those that joined David before
he took the throne are the ones
00:51:50.29\00:51:54.85
who ruled with him when he
took the throne. Those who were
00:51:54.88\00:51:58.71
faithful to him during the time
when he seemed like he was the
00:51:58.74\00:52:01.93
underdog were the ones who were
promoted when he finally did
00:52:01.96\00:52:04.97
have the kingdom. Right now
Jesus looks like the underdog
00:52:05.00\00:52:07.94
in this world doesn't he. But if
you and I, even though we might
00:52:07.97\00:52:12.60
be poor and in debt and
discontent and have all our
00:52:12.64\00:52:15.05
problems, if we will join
ourselves to the Son of David
00:52:15.09\00:52:17.43
and say I know that he is going
to be the ultimate king then you
00:52:17.47\00:52:21.16
will get to reign with him.
That's exciting when you think
00:52:21.19\00:52:24.46
about it. You know I started the
message with the words of Christ
00:52:24.50\00:52:29.04
the kingdom of heaven is at hand
Let me repeat that in your ears
00:52:29.08\00:52:32.68
today. The kingdom of heaven
is at hand. What does that mean?
00:52:32.72\00:52:38.73
It means within reach. At hand
means you can take it now. How
00:52:38.76\00:52:43.14
sad that the kingdom of Christ
and you could become a citizen
00:52:43.18\00:52:46.88
of the kingdom, that that
opportunity is present right now
00:52:46.92\00:52:50.59
and you wouldn't want it
because this kingdom is not
00:52:50.62\00:52:53.33
going to last. I was reading in
history about one of the great
00:52:53.37\00:52:57.54
tragedies of history was the
South Pole expedition. There was
00:52:57.58\00:53:01.72
a Norwegian team led by
Amundsen and there was an
00:53:01.75\00:53:05.98
English team led by Captain
Robert Scott that were both
00:53:06.02\00:53:09.05
about the same time trying to
make their way to the South Pole
00:53:09.08\00:53:13.19
Amundsen was a little sharper
maybe from living in Norway and
00:53:13.22\00:53:17.11
he knew that the best way to try
to tackle the South Pole was to
00:53:17.14\00:53:20.99
use dogs as your means
of carrying supplies and
00:53:21.03\00:53:23.05
transportation. But this was
still a whole new novel idea and
00:53:23.08\00:53:26.22
the English, you know, they were
used to conquering with horses.
00:53:26.26\00:53:30.91
But in the arctic zones the dog
is king. Well Scott, though he
00:53:30.95\00:53:34.63
must be commended for his
bravery and his tenacity he said
00:53:34.66\00:53:38.02
no we're going to be Englishmen,
we're going to use horses. So
00:53:38.06\00:53:41.04
they took horses to Antarctica
and tried to use these horses
00:53:41.08\00:53:43.64
to pull the sleds across this
frozen land. There's no grass
00:53:43.67\00:53:46.16
anywhere. Frozen waste. And they
died half way to the South Pole.
00:53:46.19\00:53:51.51
And finally the men had to pull
the sleds manually. They managed
00:53:51.54\00:53:55.47
to reach the South Pole and can
you imagine how discouraged they
00:53:55.51\00:53:58.70
were when they're barely alive,
they get to the South Pole and
00:53:58.74\00:54:01.90
they found out that the
Norwegians, the flag of Norway
00:54:01.93\00:54:06.57
is there. They'd missed it
by four weeks. On the way home
00:54:06.60\00:54:10.46
they crossed I don't know how
many hundreds of thousands of
00:54:10.49\00:54:15.23
miles back to this depot or
shelter where they had food and
00:54:15.26\00:54:19.93
provision that they had erected.
The last three including Captain
00:54:19.97\00:54:24.16
Scott froze to death within
11 miles of the depot. They got
00:54:24.19\00:54:27.71
into a blizzard, they couldn't
get out of their tent for days.
00:54:27.75\00:54:30.75
You can read his diary, I read
it last night, very sad. They
00:54:30.78\00:54:33.64
knew it was 11 miles away and
they got so close it was right
00:54:33.68\00:54:36.50
at hand. And they thought
oh we'll just go through the
00:54:36.54\00:54:39.38
blizzard and try and find it
and they froze to death in their
00:54:39.42\00:54:42.67
tents. Talk about how sad to be
so close to the South Pole and
00:54:42.71\00:54:46.07
at least a position in history.
They missed it. And to be so
00:54:46.10\00:54:49.43
close to at least surviving
and they missed it. To miss
00:54:49.47\00:54:53.81
something that's life and death
is really sad. It's like this
00:54:53.84\00:54:56.83
traveler across the desert who
was found right over the sand
00:54:56.87\00:54:59.98
dune from an oasis, died of
thirst. If he had gone over one
00:55:00.02\00:55:03.38
more hill he would have found
it. Those stories are always so
00:55:03.42\00:55:07.22
sad. To be so close and not
get a hold of it. Jesus said the
00:55:07.25\00:55:12.10
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Some of you realize maybe you've
00:55:12.14\00:55:16.75
been acting like citizens of
this world instead of citizens
00:55:16.78\00:55:21.09
of Christ's kingdom and you'd
like to be born and naturalized
00:55:21.12\00:55:25.41
in that new empire. You know
before we sing, I want to ask
00:55:25.44\00:55:28.69
you right now. I'd like to
invite everybody here to just
00:55:28.72\00:55:32.35
close their eyes please. Close
your eyes. You might bow your
00:55:32.39\00:55:35.99
heads for a moment before
God. Put aside any outside
00:55:36.02\00:55:40.04
distraction that might be
present and in your heart I'd
00:55:40.08\00:55:44.45
like to invite you to ask
yourself what is my priority in
00:55:44.48\00:55:49.65
life? Am I seeking first God's
kingdom. Is that part and the
00:55:49.69\00:55:53.80
start of my prayers and the
conclusion of my prayers that
00:55:53.84\00:55:57.75
his kingdom come for his is the
kingdom. Do you see your role
00:55:57.78\00:56:01.89
in this life as an ambassador
of another realm? Or are you
00:56:01.92\00:56:04.90
finding that you're getting
a little too comfortable in a
00:56:04.93\00:56:08.31
foreign land? If this morning
the Holy Spirit's speaking to
00:56:08.34\00:56:11.50
you and you say Lord, I would
like to have that new birth.
00:56:11.54\00:56:15.60
I want to be a citizen of your
kingdom. I want to repent and
00:56:15.64\00:56:19.34
and reach out and take that
kingdom that's available right
00:56:19.37\00:56:23.00
now. The kingdom of heaven can
begin reigning in your heart and
00:56:23.03\00:56:26.05
mine right now. If you'd like
to ask for that would you lift
00:56:26.08\00:56:30.38
your hands with me right now.
I want to pray for you right now
00:56:30.42\00:56:36.86
Loving Lord, our King. We want
to come before you and accept
00:56:36.90\00:56:42.49
on your terms the offer you've
made for us to be citizens of
00:56:42.52\00:56:47.33
your kingdom that's available.
Lord right now we're inviting
00:56:47.36\00:56:51.43
Jesus to reign on the throne of
our hearts. Sometimes we don't
00:56:51.47\00:56:55.50
act like we're willing.
Sometimes we sense that struggle
00:56:55.54\00:56:58.27
inside because there is another
enemy force, there's another
00:56:58.31\00:57:01.32
king who's clamoring for
control. Lord we are giving you
00:57:01.35\00:57:04.29
the permission. We are choosing
by our will to say Lord we want
00:57:04.32\00:57:08.55
you to be the king in our lives,
in our minds, in our hearts.
00:57:08.58\00:57:12.53
And by making that choice Lord
we pray that you will subdue
00:57:12.57\00:57:17.36
every other influence, every
enemy, every alien force that is
00:57:17.39\00:57:21.55
resisting your supremacy. Take
our hearts and take our minds
00:57:21.59\00:57:26.90
as only yours Lord. And as we
invite this internal kingdom we
00:57:26.93\00:57:32.21
pray that we can live as
ambassadors in your world,
00:57:32.25\00:57:34.67
that our church will be an
embassy in this foreign land,
00:57:34.70\00:57:38.38
that we will find encouragement
from one another. And most of
00:57:38.42\00:57:42.11
all, we pray that we will do
everything we can through the
00:57:42.15\00:57:46.03
keys you've placed in our hands
to prepare people for the next
00:57:46.06\00:57:49.73
kingdom, the physical kingdom,
that will come when Jesus comes
00:57:49.77\00:57:53.48
again. Bless each person that
they might experience Christ
00:57:53.51\00:57:57.18
ruling on the throne
in their hearts and minds.
00:57:57.22\00:57:59.70
We ask in Jesus' name, Amen.
00:57:59.74\00:58:02.57