Participants: Pr. Doug Batchelor
Series Code: EG
Program Code: EG002715
|
00:09 It's been 2000 years since the glorious light of the cross
00:12 illuminated a world veiled in darkness and confusion about the 00:15 character of God. And still today the greatest need of 00:19 mankind is a revelation of God's love as revealed in the life of 00:23 Christ. Amazing Facts presents the Everlasting Gospel with 00:27 Pastor Doug Batchelor coming to you each week from Sacramento 00:30 Central Church in sunny California. Discover hidden 00:33 treasures in God's word today. 00:36 Morning. We're going to talk today about the kingdom of 00:45 heaven. This is, I think, one of the most important subjects that 00:51 we could discuss. Back in 1992, I hope I'm getting this right 00:57 dear, we went to Russia. Must be Steven wasn't born yet. And 01:05 communism in that country fell overnight. There was a change 01:11 of government and policy that just absolutely left the world 01:16 astounded because it happened really without firing a shot. 01:22 The only way that could be achieved so quickly is because 01:26 there were so many people in that country that really felt 01:31 like they wanted to be part of a different government so that 01:35 when the opportunity came they seized it. They said we don't 01:40 want to be part of this communistic regime any more that 01:45 was the very antithesis of what they promised. I don't know if 01:49 some of you have ever read a book by George Orwell called 01:52 Animal Farm. It was required reading in many secular schools. 01:54 Do any of you remember that? That book? There's this one 01:57 statement in that book. It's about these animals and it's 02:00 really talking about the Bolshevik revolution and it 02:03 says we're all equal. That was the idea of communism. Everybody 02:06 is equal. But later there was a sign painted on the barn that 02:10 said, Some are more equal than others. And that's the way 02:13 communism ended up. They advertised to the people we all 02:15 are going to be equal. It sounded really good but in 02:18 practice it didn't work out that way and there was a lot of 02:22 starvation, a lot of oppression. Nobody had ownership and they 02:25 were so dissatisfied that when the opportunity came it switched 02:28 to a different government just like that because in the hearts 02:33 of the people they identified with something else. You know 02:38 that's going to happen again in the world. There is a revolution 02:44 simmering in the world. There are a lot of people who are not 02:48 satisfied with the kingdoms of this world and we are longing 02:53 for a different regime. Notice how the priority is placed in 02:58 the Bible on this message I'm sharing this morning. By the way 03:02 some of the gospels use the phrase the kingdom of heaven, 03:05 some use the phrase the kingdom of God. It's mentioned hundreds 03:09 of times especially in the New Testament. Matthew chapter 3 03:13 verse 1, John the Baptist begins his ministry with these words: 03:16 In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the 03:20 wilderness of Judea and saying repent ye for the kingdom of 03:25 heaven is at hand. Talking about this new kingdom. Now that would 03:30 probably make the Romans a little nervous to have this 03:33 wild-eyed, hairy prophet down there by the Jordan River saying 03:37 there's another kingdom that's eminent. They probably thought 03:42 there was some fermenting insurrection about to happen. 03:45 Listen Jesus when he began echoes the words of John the 03:50 Baptist; Matthew 4:17: From that time Jesus began to preach and 03:54 say Repent for the kingdom is at hand. Almost word for word what 04:01 John the Baptist said. The message of Christ is about this 04:04 other kingdom. But he doesn't say it will come some day in 04:08 2000 years when I return. He said it's at hand. It was at 04:12 hand. It's available 2000 years ago. Then the reinforce this 04:16 then Jesus sends out the apostles preaching and what do 04:20 you think they said. Matthew chapter 10 verse 7: As you go 04:25 preach saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Now they 04:28 leave out the word repent here in Matthew 10, but when you go 04:31 to Mark it says Jesus sent them out preaching that the people 04:34 should repent. So obviously they were saying the same thing that 04:38 John the Baptist and Jesus said. I haven't heard too many 04:42 preachers stand up and say repent for the kingdom of heaven 04:45 is at hand. Well, I'm going to go on record today of being a 04:49 Bible preacher. Here you go. Repent because the kingdom of 04:54 heaven is at hand. Now in more ways than one. Back when they 04:59 said it the spiritual kingdom was available. The literal 05:03 kingdom was coming when Christ comes. When I say it to you 05:07 today it's twice as important because both are eminent. The 05:12 inner kingdom is available today You can reach out, it's at hand. 05:16 But the literal kingdom of Christ is also eminent today. 05:20 That's why we are here in this church Adventists. We believe 05:25 in the eminent, the soon Advent coming of Jesus. So you've got 05:29 every reason to repent and be part of that kingdom now both 05:34 for the inside and the outside. Amen? So this is a very 05:38 prominent message. This is a central message in the Bible 05:42 that we are told by the Lord to proclaim. This is the central 05:47 message. We are told by the Lord to go forth and to proclaim that 05:51 the kingdom of God is available to people and they should repent 05:55 and that's how we prepare out hearts to receive citizenship 05:59 in that kingdom. Before I go too far it's always good to define 06:03 words and so let's define kingdom. I've spent other 06:06 messages talking about repentance. What is a kingdom? 06:28 Now I want you to especially underline that last part of the 06:32 definition. A kingdom is, notice that, c. A realm or sphere in 06:36 which one think is dominant. If you have received the 06:41 kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven in your heart, that is 06:46 the dominant sphere, it is the realm of another king than the 06:50 one in this world. I'll hopefully build on that thought 06:54 as we go. Now I've got so many points I just was mystified 06:58 about how to arrange them in a sequential order that would make 07:02 some sense, so I'm going to take a stab at it. How do you 07:05 gain citizenship in this kingdom Now with some kingdoms, you can 07:13 apply for immigration and you can get in sometimes by 07:18 marriage. But in this kingdom the only way is you've got to 07:20 be born into it. You are naturalized into this kingdom 07:24 by virtue of a birth. 07:26 I will give you some scriptures for that. 07:29 John 3:3: Jesus said, most assuredly I say to you unless 07:33 one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. If Jesus' 07:39 words are clear, please say Amen. It's not enough that 07:43 you've been born in the church. I worry about that. I meet 07:46 people all the time that think they've got some kind of special 07:49 advantage because I'm a fourth generation, I'm a fifth 07:53 generation. It doesn't do you any good if you're not born 07:58 personally. If you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus 08:01 It's nice to have history. It's nice to have heritage. Those are 08:04 good things in the church, but will that save you? Does that 08:08 give you your citizenship. You must be born again. 08:12 That's what the Bible says, let me give you more 08:15 John chapter 1 verses 12 and 13 Jesus said: 08:18 But as many as received him to them he gave 08:21 power to become the sons of God, members of that new kingdom, 08:25 even to those that believe on his name through faith which 08:29 were not born of blood. It's not your heritage whether you're a 08:33 Jew or you've got a Christian family or the will of the flesh, 08:36 or the will of man but of God. They're born of God, they're 08:40 born of the Spirit. That's what gives them permission to be 08:44 citizens of this kingdom. Now as with many governments, I know 08:49 in the U.S. if you want to become naturalized... you know 08:53 some people get into a country and maybe their visiting, but 08:56 they'd like to find asylum, they want to become citizens, 09:00 ultimately they're supposed to take some kind of exam where 09:03 they're naturalized, sometimes it's done in mass ceremonies, 09:08 but during that time they are to swear allegiance to the laws 09:13 of the country or the king. Isn't that right? I mean, who 09:17 here wants citizens that don't want to follow the laws of the 09:22 land? I understand in Australia, this is a sensitive subject so 09:26 I'll try and be careful how I say it but there are some 09:30 imlas of the Islamic religion that are saying we are trying 09:36 to change the government of Australia so it is the 09:39 government of Islam. And they're saying that very openly. And 09:42 England's been tolerating that kind of language, which I 09:45 personally think is outrageous, but Australia said, now while 09:48 we're connected with England we're not going for that. If you 09:51 think that we ought to be a different form of government 09:54 then you're out of here. They said if you're not going to 09:57 obey the laws of the land, if you're thinking that everybody's 10:00 supposed to obey the laws of Islam in our country then you 10:03 better go somewhere else because we're not doing that 10:04 here. And they've got a right to say that don't they. That if 10:07 you're in this country you're going to obey the laws of this 10:10 land. If you don't want to obey the laws of this land then you 10:14 should go to another land. And the Lord says, if you want to be 10:18 citizens of my country, of my kingdom, you should be willing 10:23 to obey the king. Does that make sense? What does Jesus say about 10:27 that? Obeying the king is very important. Matthew 7 verse 21: 10:31 Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of 10:34 heaven, but he who does, or obeys, you might say, the will 10:39 of my father in heaven. Obedience is part and parcel 10:42 of having citizenship in this new kingdom. John Stott, that 10:47 famous theologian and preacher said, Greatness in the kingdom 10:52 of God is measured in terms of obedience. How does Jesus 10:57 identify the great? Those who are the most surrendered to do 11:02 his will. John Robert Ashcroft said: All of heaven is waiting 11:08 to help those who will discover the will of God and do it. It's 11:13 not just knowing it. It's those who are willing to do it. 11:18 You know, sometimes we use theology and spirituality and 11:23 fellowship and all these touchy feely spiritual religious 11:27 overtones as a diversionary tactic from very simple 11:33 obedience. Remember how Christ separates the wise man and the 11:37 fool? You say, yeah, one built on sand and one built on the 11:41 rock. Well what does he say about that? He said the wise man 11:44 is he who hears these words of mine and does them. He's 11:49 building on the rock. The fool hears these words of mine and 11:52 does not do them. Let me break that down. The foolish man 11:56 doesn't obey. The wise man obeys Isn't Christ the same? And if 12:01 you want to be part of that kingdom that's coming we need to 12:05 learn by his grace how to be doers of his word. Not just 12:10 saying Lord, Lord but being willing to do. Keep in mind it 12:14 is unreasonable for any government to make a law 12:18 that citizens are not capable of obeying. So in America 12:24 we're thinking why don't they raise the speed limit? We just 12:29 can't drive that slow. Right? Isn't there usually a stirring 12:33 or some kind of an outrage if a government mandates its citizens 12:37 to obey a law that's impossible to obey? I've got to be so 12:42 careful because I know that other people see these things, 12:47 but... They've got these laws now, what is it dear, they're 12:51 making some new law that you're not allowed to spank your child. 12:55 We're to be like Sweden. Then you're going to have to find 12:59 some way to threaten your child not to tell that you spanked 13:05 them. I mean, isn't that what it boils down to? Ah boy, I tell 13:11 you. Russia became democratic and we're becoming communist. 13:16 Willingness to obey. The foundational laws of God's 13:24 kingdom when you really think about it are so different from 13:27 the laws of the world, the philosophy. It's a radically 13:30 different way of thinking. And if you're part of God's kingdom 13:34 you've got to be so unusual. Let me give you some examples. 13:38 For instance, it says in Matthew 18 verse 4, Therefore whoever 13:42 humbles himself like a little child is the greatest in the 13:46 kingdom of heaven. How opposite can you be? In our world, it's 13:50 those who make a name for themselves, those who climb to 13:52 the top of the mountain. They're the ones who are great. If you 13:55 don't do it no one else will do it. If you're too slow, it's you 13:57 snooze, you lose. You've got to fight, you've got to be great, 14:00 you've got to be strong. Jesus, what he says about his kingdom, 14:04 it's so opposite. It's not the proud and the mighty. It's the 14:08 little and the humble that are the greatest. What a radically 14:11 different philosophy from the kingdoms of the world. Matthew 14:15 23 verse 12: Whoever will exalt himself will be abased, and 14:19 whoever humbles himself will be exalted. In God's kingdom it's 14:24 meekness instead of pride that's of great value. Just look at 14:27 some of the teachings of Jesus that are so different that are 14:32 the foundations of his kingdom and his philosophy. Loving and 14:36 forgiving enemies instead of revenge. Is that normal? Is it 14:41 natural to ask God to forgive those who are driving nails in 14:45 your hands or making fun of you? To pray for those who are 14:49 despitefully using you and persecuting. I haven't got it 14:53 down yet, do you? That's not easy. But that's the law of 14:57 God's kingdom. It's a whole different spirit. It's a whole 15:00 different mind, it's a whole different attitude. And so when 15:03 you are invited to be part of God's kingdom, you're being 15:07 invited to be an alien. The word takes on new meaning when I say 15:11 it like that, right? It's like you're from outer space kind of 15:14 alien. I'm not talking about someone who just doesn't have 15:18 legal papers. When you're a real Christian and you're a 15:21 citizen of this other kingdom, your behavior is out of this 15:25 world, isn't it? The idea that you'll tell the truth even if it 15:29 kills you. I mean is that really the philosophy of our generation 15:33 We've got all different kinds of excuses for white lies and lies 15:37 that you don't want to hurt people and just bending the 15:41 truth a little bit in the gray areas. Not for the Christian. 15:46 It's the truth is the truth. Praising the poor for their 15:51 sacrifice. In the world, every one gives the glory to the rich. 15:55 Jesus ignored all the rich and he said see that widow there. 15:58 I'm really impressed with what she gave because it wasn't the 16:01 amount of money, it was the amount of heart that was in the 16:04 gift. In the world everyone notices and they'll name a 16:08 building after you if you give a large amount. But do they ever 16:12 name a building after the poorest member of the church 16:14 that gave the biggest percentage It's different in the world 16:18 isn't it? The philosophy of Christ is out of this world. 16:23 You're praised for being a servant. Hey, I got good news. 16:27 What's that? I got a promotion. Yeah? Now I am the servant of 16:31 our whole corporation. Is that how we act in our world. No. In 16:35 our world the promotion is you've got all these people 16:38 serving you and you've really reached the top of the ladder. 16:41 You've reached the final rung when you're at the top and 16:44 everyone else is serving you. But in God's economy and God's 16:49 kingdom that's backwards. Jesus was his highest just before the 16:53 cross when he knelt the lowest. He washed the disciples feet, 16:57 he prayed on his face in the garden. That's when he was the 17:01 greatest. That's so different from the world. In the world you 17:05 show success by being at the top of everybody else. In God's 17:09 kingdom you show the success by being willing to serve the least 17:15 So different. In the world, you're supposed to do everything 17:19 to try make yourself comfortable In God's kingdom you're willing 17:24 to suffer privation and discomfort and be content if 17:27 you're serving God irrespective of your ease and comfort. That's 17:31 when you're supposed to have the greatest peace. You could be in 17:36 the midst of a storm in God's kingdom and be at peace. You 17:39 could be facing death and be at peace in God's kingdom and your 17:42 circumstances just don't dictate it. You see for those who are 17:46 citizens of God's kingdom there is a different mindset. It's 17:51 called the Holy Spirit. I was reading something this last week 17:55 that sort of embraces the thought. A lot of us are 18:00 controlled by our environment, our circumstances. Let's face it 18:04 You go to work and people aren't being nice around you. It's 18:08 depressing, you get discouraged. You might complain. You might be 18:12 frustrated or the weather's rainy as it is today so you feel 18:20 gloomy because of the environmental conditions of 18:23 the rain. Or you get an unexpected bill in the mail 18:26 and it sends you spiraling down because you don't know where 18:29 you're going to get the two cents to make it all pay. 18:32 Or you've got physical pain and your body, your friends, your 18:38 environment, your bills, all these things are determining how 18:43 you feel. You know a happy person takes their weather with 18:47 them wherever they go. They determine what their weather's 18:51 going to be and they just take it with them. And nobody else 18:54 around them by gossip or circumstances around them cannot 18:58 control how they feel because they're living in a different 19:01 dimension. They're sort of detached from the devil's 19:06 reality and they're living in God's reality and they're happy 19:10 based on that. Because you know that all things work together 19:13 for the good of those that love God. And I've met these people. 19:17 They're really strange. I want to be one of them. These people 19:20 who no matter what's happening to them they've got the joy of 19:23 the Lord because they take their weather with them wherever they 19:25 go. And they're living in another dimension. They're part 19:29 of God's kingdom. They're part of the kingdom of heaven. 19:32 They're always thinking with that mind set and so their happy 19:36 They've got this peace that passes understanding. It doesn't 19:39 matter what's going on around them. How many of you would like 19:43 to have that kind of peace? Well that's what it means to be part 19:46 of the kingdom of heaven. That's why it says the kingdom of 19:49 heaven is within you. It's something the devil can't take 19:52 away. He can torture your body but he can't touch your soul. 19:57 You know Christians, when you really think about it, are 20:02 ambassadors from another world. We are here in this world, once 20:07 you are initiated into God's kingdom by that new birth, you 20:11 become citizens of his kingdom but we're still here for the 20:16 meantime. So you're like an alien resident. Right? And so as 20:22 alien residents we are ambassadors of another kingdom. 20:25 Now there are people who are representatives, they are 20:28 emissaries, they are ambassadors they are diplomats from other 20:31 countries in other words, they're legally in America but 20:35 they are here representing their country in some official 20:39 capacity. That's what you are as a Christian. I'll tell you. 20:43 You've heard of diplomatic immunity? I read an article in 20:47 Reader's Digest that's called That's Outrageous. It's a 20:50 column. The only time I ever read that is when I'm on an 20:52 airplane because it's a small book. So I take them with me 20:56 sometimes. I had this article about diplomatic immunity. 21:01 And sometimes diplomats park wherever they want. They get a 21:05 ticket, they never have to pay. Some of them have been abusive 21:09 to people and done all kinds of things that would land any other 21:12 citizen in jail but because they're diplomats they're immune 21:16 And it's really outrageous what they get away with. How many of 21:19 you have heard some of these horror stories of just the bad 21:22 behavior because I'm immune, I'm not accountable and they do 21:25 things that none of us would dare to do as citizens. They 21:29 bring reproach on their country. Eventually with enough complaint 21:33 they're brought home. They're never allowed to go back again. 21:39 You know what the greatest dent, the greatest harm, the most 21:44 toxic advertising for the Christian religion is? Those who 21:50 say they are citizens of Jesus' kingdom who have bad behavior. 21:55 They don't represent that kingdom. We're not very good 21:58 ambassadors sometimes. We say we're Christians but we don't 22:01 talk like we're Christians and we don't act like we're 22:03 Christians. As Jesus represented us we want to do him right don't 22:09 we? Because we take his name. We take the name of our king 22:14 to this world. So when you say you're a Christian you are an 22:19 ambassador of another realm. And while I'm on the subject, if you 22:23 and I are ambassadors then what does that make the church. It's 22:27 an embassy, isn't it? When you and I come together right now 22:31 you've got a special protection did you know that? Not only 22:34 because we pray ahead. You know when our pastors get together on 22:37 Friday we often pray that God will set a hedge of angels about 22:40 this church and especially about each one of our families. We 22:44 pray that God will bless your families. But even beyond the 22:47 spiritual side, physically in this world churches are treated 22:52 differently. You know there's a gal, I think she's from Central 22:55 or Latin America, in Chicago and they were going to deport her 22:59 so she fled to a church. And she and her son had been holed up 23:03 in that church for months now and they have sanctuary there 23:06 based upon the laws of that government. Are you aware of 23:10 that? The churches are actually treated as places of sanctuary 23:14 in many governments and the people can get within the doors 23:17 of the church. Dates all the way back into the Old Testament. 23:21 That's why Joab fled to the temple. They had immunity for a 23:25 while they were there. In a very real sense we're in our 23:29 embassy right now. When Americans are overseas and they 23:34 are in their embassy... I remember when I was in Cameroon, 23:37 Africa. I ran into a marine in the elevator. We were talking 23:40 and he was in dress uniform and at that time our son Daniel was 23:44 in the Marines and so I struck up a conversation. He said we're 23:47 here with the American Embassy and we're having the Marine Ball 23:49 and when we're in the Embassy, he says, everybody speaks 23:53 American. Though they might speak French in Cameroon, in the 23:56 Embassy they speak American. He says we obey American law there. 23:59 We sing American songs there. We eat American food there. 24:03 It's kind of like our church isn't it? Potlucks, language. 24:07 I mean, it's like an Embassy here. We're part of a different 24:11 kingdom. It's great. He felt when they were together and all 24:14 those Marines that were scattered around that country, 24:16 when it came to the Embassy for the Marine Ball it was really 24:19 nice to get together with everybody who understood 24:21 America. You know what I'm talking about? I remember when 24:24 Karen and I first went to Russia to do our series of meetings, we 24:27 went before the doors had barely been opened and we were six 24:31 weeks in Stavropol and we didn't run into anybody speaking 24:34 American. You realize American is not English. We met a few 24:37 people who learned English out of books but we hadn't met 24:40 anyone who spoke American and we were in this great big crowd 24:43 and we heard someone else speaking American. Matter of 24:46 fact, it might have been Californian which is a dialect 24:49 of America. We just stopped what we were doing and went right 24:52 over unintroduced and started talking to them and it was so 24:56 nice to meet someone else from our kingdom. You start to yearn 24:59 for that after a while. We didn't even know what to say. 25:02 Just to meet someone else who could understand what the 25:05 differences were that we were dealing with in that country. 25:08 Not that I minded being in Russia but it's different. I 25:12 don't care for Borscht. Sorry. The food is different, the 25:14 language, the customs are different. You know you start 25:17 yearning for home after a while. Well that's what it's like for 25:21 the Christian. Are you getting comfortable here? Is this where 25:26 you're retiring? Or are you just doing the job of your King until 25:30 you get to go home? Don't be too comfortable here. This is not 25:35 it. We're supposed to be citizens of another kingdom. 25:40 It's a very different philosophy believing in something that you 25:45 cannot see. To everybody in this world you know seeing is 25:49 believing. Christ said believing, faith, we live by faith. It's a whole 25:54 different paradigm. I talked a minute ago about the language. 25:58 Words of the people in God's kingdom are different. We talk 26:03 different. Matthew chapter five verse 37 Jesus said for the 26:07 Christian, you don't need to swear by heaven and earth. Let 26:10 your yes be yes and your no be no, for whatever is more than 26:14 this comes from the evil one. Colossians 4:6, Paul said: Let 26:18 your speech always be seasoned with grace, seasoned with salt 26:23 that you might know how you ought to answer each other. 26:26 Christians should talk different When you're surrounded in the 26:31 office and maybe you work in a secular environment and 26:33 everybody starts to engage in the juicy gossip of the day you 26:38 ought not engage. I hate gossip unless it's a subject I'm 26:43 interested in otherwise I just hate gossip. But we ought to 26:48 talk different. Isn't that right Different kind of language, 26:51 different kind of communication, different words because we're 26:55 from a different kingdom and people ought to know that. 26:58 I remember I had met some people before and I just wanted 27:01 to stop them after listening a little while and say are you a 27:04 Christian. And just after listening maybe on a train or in 27:07 the market line or something I'd hear them talk and I just say 27:10 they've got that accent of Christians. Christianese. 27:14 You could just detect it. There was this flavor in their words 27:18 that seemed to have a sanctity about it and you just knew that 27:22 they had that accent from another kingdom. Have you met 27:25 those people before? Their speech is seasoned with grace. 27:29 Christians ought to be that way. If you are members of God's 27:34 kingdom you have different priorities. What should be the 27:37 priority? What were the first words that Jesus said? Repent 27:40 for the kingdom of heaven. John the Baptist - The Kingdom of 27:43 heaven. The apostles - the kingdom of heaven. What should 27:46 be our priority with that kind of heritage? The kingdom of 27:50 heaven should be our priority. What did Jesus say? Matthew 27:53 6:33. You know this, it's a song Seek you first what? What should 27:59 be the first thing? The kingdom of God and his righteousness. 28:04 That's why Christ said, Except your righteousness exceeds the 28:08 righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will by no 28:12 means enter the kingdom of God. Now that doesn't mean we're 28:17 supposed to be like the Pharisees. It means it's a 28:19 better quality of righteousness. It's genuine where theirs was 28:24 counterfeit. He said you need to have a different kind of 28:27 righteousness than what they were professing if you want to 28:30 be part of the kingdom of God. Seeking that righteousness 28:33 should be our priority. Seek ye first! Show of hands. Be honest 28:39 please. I want everyone to participate. I don't mean to 28:42 embarrass you, hopefully it won't embarrass you, but show of 28:46 hands. How many of you who are driving age have at some time 28:50 run out of gas? That should have been almost everybody unless you 28:55 just got your license. You know it's not as common today as it 29:00 used to be. How come? They've got what they call idiot lights. 29:04 I'm not trying to be derogatory that's what they call them or 29:08 bells. You know you get down to your last eighth of a tank and 29:11 something's flashing every time you turn the key and there are 29:14 lights and there are bells going off and it's saying you better 29:16 get some gas. Makes it a little easier to remember, right? 29:19 It's like one father was taking to his son. He was teaching him 29:23 to drive. He's telling him about the gages and that's back when 29:26 you used to watch. People knew what an oil pressure gage was. 29:30 Your oil pressure's gone, you better turn the key off. If you 29:32 watch the temperature gage. If it gets too hot you better turn 29:35 the key off and add some water. You better check it out. 29:37 And some of these instruments are very important and the 29:39 father said to the boy, the fuel gage, don't worry about it. 29:43 You run out you just get more. Right? Don't worry about that 29:46 gauge. You'll find out when it needs attention. But what if 29:51 you're a pilot? What kind of priority do you put on the fuel 29:56 gauge if you're a pilot? You don't just pull over, you don't 30:01 just coast to the side of the road, especially if you fly over 30:05 the country we fly over when we go to Covelo. It's very 30:07 mountainous terrain and you can be sure that part of the check 30:12 list is fuel. Matter of fact, a good pilot not only looks at the 30:16 gauge, he'll get up and stick his finger in the tank, he'll 30:19 look visually. You make sure there's fuel. Not only do you 30:23 look at the gauge and you do a visual check, but then you go 30:25 around and you put this little thing under the wing to make 30:28 sure there's no water in the fuel, that the fuel is pure 30:32 because for the pilot the fuel is a priority. Well for the 30:36 Christian the Holy Spirit is a priority and seeking God's 30:40 kingdom first is a priority. That ought to be just the core 30:45 of everything we do and yet our priorities are kind of mixed up 30:49 if you don't mind my saying so. Someone once said everybody 30:53 wants the kingdom of God but very few people want it first. 30:58 Seek ye first. Jesus said to someone who said I want to 31:03 follow you but first I've got to take care of some other things, 31:06 Christ said no one having put his hand to the plow and looking 31:09 back is fit for the kingdom of God. You look forward and you 31:12 don't even look back because it's a priority and there's no 31:15 turning back or you end up like Lot's wife. Just to give you an 31:19 idea of American priorities: 82 percent of people in an 31:23 Ad week poll said they'd rather be rich than thin, in spite of 31:26 the fact that you live a lot longer statistically if you're 31:30 thinner and riches do not make you live longer. But people said 31:35 they prefer to have the riches than the better health. 31:37 That's interesting. On the 31:39 same theme of mixed up priorities 34 percent of 31:43 American pre-school teachers, administrators, parents and 31:47 child development specialists said the most important thing 31:50 for a child to learn in pre- school is self-reliance and self 31:54 confidence. Now that's opposed to the percentage who said the 31:58 important thing is sympathy and empathy and concern for others. 32:02 That was only five percent. The priority was put on self-control 32:06 self-reliance instead of love for others. Just tells you about 32:10 the mixed up priorities that we've got in our world. Every 32:15 kingdom has a constitution. In America the final document of 32:19 arbitration for law is what? It's the U.S. Constitution, 32:24 right? Isn't that what the Supreme Court judges are 32:26 ultimately to use as a foundation for their 32:29 interpretation of what is right and what is wrong and what is 32:31 just and what is unjust. They say what does the constitution 32:36 say? That's the basis. What is our constitution? What did Jesus 32:40 say? Luke 4:4: It is written. Man shall not live by bread 32:45 alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. 32:50 Again, Matthew 24:35, Jesus said Heaven and earth will pass away 32:55 but my words will not pass away. So for the Christian in our 32:58 government this kingdom... Do we have a document that tells us 33:02 about the laws of the kingdom? Huh? Help me. Act a little 33:07 Pentecostal, just a little, a little participation here. 33:12 Seventh-day Adventists are so cerebral. The Bible just be the 33:18 final place where we go to determine what is true, what is 33:23 the will of our king. How do we know we're following the laws of 33:28 our government. This is our constitution. Now the very fact 33:34 that Jesus went out preaching the kingdom of heaven is at hand 33:39 or that the apostles said the kingdom of heaven is at hand 33:44 it's amazing that Rome did not react more. I mean, even Pilate 33:50 said, Are you a king, to Jesus. Are you coronating yourself, is 33:55 there going to be an insurrection against the empire 33:57 of Rome? I mean they understood that he wasn't talking about 34:00 this kingdom because they weren't even threatened by it. 34:02 The religious leaders tried to use that when they said Oh he's 34:06 making himself a king and if there's any king other than 34:08 Caesar Pilate you're in trouble. That's what finally was the ace 34:13 up their sleeves. But up until that point the Romans really 34:16 never felt threatened. Unfortunately in our world 34:19 if you tell people the kingdom of heaven is at hand they don't 34:22 act like there's about to be an invasion. It ought to trouble 34:25 people. In a government when you say your government will soon be 34:29 displaced by another government. But it doesn't trouble people. 34:33 Why doesn't it trouble them more? Because there aren't very 34:36 many citizens, aren't very many soldiers. It doesn't seem like 34:39 anyone's really taking it seriously. But really there are 34:42 two kingdoms that are at war in this world. And by the way, that 34:47 means they're at war in your heart. Have you felt the battle 34:51 before? There is a divided kingdom in this world. Jesus 34:57 said so. John 12 verse 31: Now the judgment of this world. 35:02 The ruler of this world will be cast out. Satan has claimed 35:06 territory that belongs to Jesus. Even Jesus identified him as the 35:09 prince or the ruler of this world. He claimed to be 35:13 sovereign Didn't the devil say to Christ, all these kingdoms 35:15 are mine but I'll give them to you if you bow down and you 35:19 worship me. There is a cosmic conflict between these two 35:24 kingdoms that are colliding. That sort of rhymed didn't it? 35:29 This tension between two kingdoms. The good news is the 35:34 Lord is saying you can change kings. You can be part of a 35:40 different kingdom. By the way, you don't get dual citizenship. 35:47 Jesus said he who is not with me is against me. I heard a story 35:53 one time. During the civil war when the war broke out this very 35:59 phlegmatic gentleman had a farm right on the line between the 36:02 north and the south. And he talked to his friends north of 36:05 the Mason/Dixon line and they'd say you ought to join the north 36:08 and be a yank. And he'd talk to his friends on the south and 36:11 they'd say you ought to be a reb and join the south. And he 36:14 didn't want to make any one mad so what he did is he got a 36:16 uniform of each side and he wore the shirt of the north and the 36:20 pants of the south. He had the blue and the gray. So what do 36:24 you think that got him? The north shot him in the pants 36:28 and the south shot him in the shirt. You can't do both. You 36:32 can't say I'm going to enjoy the world and the pleasures of sin 36:35 and this kingdom and I'm going to get all the gusto I can and 36:38 I'm also going to try and be a Christian at least once a week. 36:43 You can't have dual citizenship. Jesus said you're either with me 36:47 or against me. Where are you? Where is your heart? Is it in 36:50 the world or is in Christ's kingdom? Jesus said in 36:55 Luke 11:17: Every kingdom divided against itself is 37:01 brought to desolation. A house divided against itself falleth. 37:05 Some of you have felt this division inside. It doesn't 37:10 last long. There can't be this division indefinitely. 37:12 Wars don't go on forever. Even the 100 year war finally came to 37:16 an end didn't it? And though the war in this world may have been 37:19 6000 years it can't last forever There's a division in this world 37:23 It just is not going to last and I think we see it coming to a 37:27 head. In your hearts one of two things will happen. You'll feel 37:30 that struggle inside. Either Jesus will win or the devil will 37:33 win. You're going one way or the other. You can't stay neutral 37:38 in this divided kingdom. We're to pray for our king. Have you 37:42 ever been to England or some of these countries where they all 37:47 say God save the queen or God save the king or in a lot of the 37:51 official slogans of the ever diminishing number of monarchies 37:56 in the world, there are very few left, but part of their 37:59 language is to pray for the king. Matter of fact, you find 38:02 in the Old Testament, it says remember to pray for the king. 38:06 Samuel said pray for the king. What about us? Are we supposed 38:10 to pray for our kingdom? What does Jesus say? The Lord's 38:13 prayer. Look at the priority that Jesus puts on the kingdom 38:16 of heaven, the kingdom of God. Right in the Lord's prayer twice 38:18 You kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in 38:22 heaven and it's ended in Matthew by saying for thine is the 38:25 kingdom and the power and the glory. I mean, this was central 38:29 to Jesus' teaching. How many parables does Jesus say the 38:32 kingdom of heaven is like a net cast in the sea, the kingdom of 38:35 heaven is like a merchant seeking pearls, the kingdom of 38:37 heaven is like a treasure, the kingdom of heaven is like, 38:40 the kingdom of heaven is like. Jesus is trying to get us to 38:44 think kingdom thoughts, that we're part of a different empire 38:48 a different dimension. Do you forget sometimes that we're 38:53 ambassadors of another world. An English visitor to the U.S. 38:57 commented about U.S. churches. You Americans are so concerned 39:01 about being happy as if our kingdom were the focal point 39:04 of God's designs rather than God's kingdom being the focal 39:08 point of ours. They're right. That's a good observation. 39:12 In American and many of the new evangelical churches it's like 39:17 God exists to make us comfortable in this kingdom. 39:20 Come on. There's all this name it, claim it theology and if you 39:23 come to our church God is going to do this for you and make you 39:27 comfortable in this kingdom. That's not the purpose. Our 39:30 comfort is not the issue. His kingdom, our doing the will to 39:35 expand his kingdom is what should be our priority. We pray 39:38 for his kingdom or are you comfortable with this kingdom 39:42 here? The keys to the kingdom. You know Jesus said Matthew 16 39:47 I will give unto thee... Wow these are powerful words that 39:51 have often been abused and people think that God gave some 39:54 special key to Peter himself, but really it's telling us that 39:58 Jesus gives every believer the keys to unlock the kingdom. Can 40:04 you imagine if you were given the keys. It's like a whole city 40:09 a capital kingdom where the castle is surrounded by a wall 40:14 and the opposing army is at the gates and at night you're given 40:19 the key to unlock the gate and let the other army in or to let 40:22 the captives out. You've got that key between the corridors 40:26 of the two empires. That's a pretty powerful thing to have. 40:31 You have that. What is it for? It's not talking about keys that 40:35 were given to Peter or the Pope. Jesus is the key that you use to 40:40 unlock the hearts of others that they might find eternal life and 40:46 the kingdom. Isaiah 22:22. You can remember that one. 40:49 The key of the house of David I will 40:51 lay on his shoulders, speaking of the Messiah. He will open 40:53 and no man will shut. He will shut and no man will open. And 40:57 that's quoted by Jesus in Revelation. You and I are given 41:01 the keys. In sharing the gospel you unlock the gates of heaven 41:05 for others. That's what that means. What a privilege that you 41:10 can go round and help other people find citizenship. 41:14 Periodically when we travel, matter of fact it happens 41:17 frequently when we travel especially in some third world 41:21 countries, people befriend us there and then we'll have them 41:24 very delicately come to us and say you know I would sure like 41:28 to visit your country but I need a sponsor. I need someone who 41:31 can make it possible. I just need name and address to give 41:35 to our embassy so I can come visit America. Can I use your 41:39 name? Will you help me get my visa so I can come. You all know 41:44 what I'm talking about? As pastors and missionaries 41:47 traveling you've got to be careful about doing that because 41:50 you can get into trouble. But the fact is, you are given the 41:54 ability to help other people emigrate. You're given the 41:58 keys so they can change and become citizens. Somebody Karen 42:01 and I met in Russia, matter of fact, you've seen him on TV and 42:04 you don't even know him. We met him there for the first time. A 42:07 young man, he ended up doing some translation for us and 42:10 through our relationship with our team he gradually was able 42:13 to visit and go to school and now is married and resides here 42:17 and is contributing to the church and the country and in 42:22 one sense we felt like we were the key and it's fun to see 42:25 some... Because he'd come from a life where that was so much 42:30 poverty and so little to such affluence. To think you can be 42:34 used that way and it's wonderful to see this young person 42:39 prospering compared to when we first saw him. You have that 42:43 privilege of helping people transition from bondage to 42:47 royalty. Matter of fact, this is the story of the Exodus. Think 42:52 about it. Have you ever seen a kingdom born? The children of 42:56 Israel went as a tribe into Egypt. They became a nation of 43:01 slaves and when God brought them out God established them as a 43:04 new kingdom. Matter of fact, he said, I'm giving you a new 43:07 calendar, I'm giving you a new government. You are going to be 43:10 a new kingdom. He took them from a nation of slaves and they 43:14 became a new kingdom. Well God can do for you what he did for 43:18 the Israelites. You can become from slavery royalty. God said 43:23 you're a kingdom of kings, a kingdom of priests and don't 43:27 forget that in any kingdom the two highest positions that can 43:32 be held were the royalty and the priesthood. And God says you get 43:37 both when you become citizens in his kingdom. This is the only 43:42 kingdom that's going to last. Kingdoms come and kingdoms fall. 43:46 Jesus said there are going to be wars and rumors of wars, nation 43:50 will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom but 43:53 they rise and they fall. History seems to repeat itself but is 43:57 one of them going to last. Daniel chapter 2 verse 44: 44:01 And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a 44:05 kingdom that will never be destroyed and the kingdom will 44:09 not be left to other people. It will break in pieces and consume 44:13 all of these kingdoms. It shall stand forever. Now kingdoms come 44:17 and kingdoms go but one kingdom is going to endure. 44:19 Which kingdom is that? Let me reword that. If we know that 44:24 kingdoms come and kingdoms go, they rise and they fall, they 44:28 flourish and they vaporize, some of these kingdoms used to rule 44:32 the world and they've totally disappeared off the scene, no 44:36 vestiges left, but if you knew there was one kingdom that was 44:39 going to be the final kingdom that would last through eternity 44:42 which one would you want to be part of. I mean, don't you want 44:46 to be on the winning team? The kingdom that's going to last is 44:50 Jesus. Revelation 11 verse 15: The kingdoms of this world have 44:55 become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ and he will reign 44:59 forever and ever. That's the one that's going to last. Now how 45:02 does that happen? We've been trying to emphasize that it 45:07 starts on the inside. It begins by your accepting the inner 45:10 kingdom. Let me just reiterate. When we talk about the kingdom 45:14 of God we're talking about two things. A kingdom that is 45:17 available right now and it's been available since Christ 45:20 began preaching and John the Baptist began preaching 2000 45:23 years ago. But it's the spiritual inner kingdom. 45:26 You can have that now, it's at hand right now. Then you've got 45:30 the literal physical kingdom. In the book of Acts, chapter 1 when 45:33 Jesus was about to ascend to heaven one of the disciples said 45:36 Lord will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? 45:39 What was he thinking of? What was that apostle thinking of? 45:42 The inner kingdom or the outer kingdom? The outer kingdom. 45:45 Jesus was trying to shake them and wake them and say look you 45:47 still don't get it. That's not why I come the first time. 45:50 The first time is the inner kingdom, the second time the 45:52 outer kingdom. Isn't that right? He said it's not going to come 45:57 through that kind of observation not at this time. But later that 46:02 kingdom will come as well. That's the one that's going to 46:04 last. Right now it's an inner kingdom. The kingdom of God does 46:08 not come with observation nor will they say see here or see 46:12 there. For indeed the kingdom of God is, present tense, within 46:16 you. Not it will be, it is within you. Now with that in 46:20 mind here are some of the most important things I can share 46:24 with you. If you have felt that conflict between two empires 46:29 raging in your heart, you can invite Jesus to sit on the 46:34 throne of your heart and sin will no longer have dominion 46:38 over you. Look at those words in Romans chapter 6 verse 12 and 46:42 then verse 14. Notice the language is kingdom language. 46:46 Therefore do not let sin reign. He could have used a lot of 46:50 other words but he used the word that has to do with a government 46:52 a king, sitting on the throne reigning. Don't let sin reign. 46:58 The opposite of that is Jesus reigns in your heart. Verse 14: 47:03 For sin shall not have dominion over you. I'm so thankful he 47:08 worded it that way because let's face it, even in a kingdom where 47:13 there's an element of peace and prosperity you think of the most 47:18 safe place in the world you could live. Are there still some 47:22 violators in those kingdoms. Are there still occasional rebels 47:26 and people who disobey and J walk or whatever it is? Right 47:30 sure. But they don't have dominion. Ah there are some 47:34 placed in the world right now namely some in Africa where 47:38 there are... If they're in the midst of a civil war and you're 47:41 not sure from day to day who is in charge. Terrible insecurity. 47:45 Violence. When you accept Jesus and he takes dominion in your 47:50 heart that doesn't mean there won't be the occasional you know 47:54 violation. It doesn't mean there won't be the occasional 47:56 disturbance, but it is not the pattern anymore because there's 48:00 a new power on the throne of the heart, right? Do you understand 48:05 what I'm talking about? Sin doesn't reign. Before you're a 48:08 Christian we're addicted to sin. It's a pattern in our life. 48:11 After we become Christians there is a new power inside and you're 48:15 growing in sanctification and it's no longer the pattern. Sin 48:20 doesn't have control over you any more. That's good news. 48:25 Colossians 1 verse 27: I've asked Karen if no one else says 48:28 Amen will you please help me? So she's pretty good about it. 48:32 Thank you dear, I appreciate it. To them that will to make known 48:35 what are the riches of his glory the mystery among the gentiles 48:39 which is Christ in you, the kingdom of God within, Christ 48:43 in you sitting on the throne of your heart and your mind, the 48:47 hope of glory. Your mind is filled with him. It pervades and 48:52 permeates all you do. What is the main law in God's kingdom? 48:58 It's love. The driving motive in God's kingdom is love. This is 49:02 where one of the big differences comes in. In the world what is 49:08 the principle motive of action. Selfishness, it is, self. I had 49:14 someone observe one time that years ago the magazines were 49:18 things like Look, Time, Life. Some of those went out of 49:22 business and now the magazines are Me, Self, Glamour. I mean 49:28 it's all so into yourself. People are very egocentric in 49:33 the world today. It's all about worshipping yourself, but in 49:37 God's kingdom it's a kingdom based on love and so he puts 49:42 that in your hearts. You've heard me quote this before. Near 49:46 the end of his life when Napoleon was a prisoner on Elba 49:51 he said, Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and myself founded 49:55 great empires, but Jesus alone founded his empire upon love 50:00 and to this very day millions would die for him. Jesus Christ 50:04 was more than a man. He realized their empires were all founded 50:08 on force and selfishness. Now here's the good news. Everybody 50:12 is invited to be part of this kingdom but it's sometimes made 50:17 up of a rag tag group. You remember in the Bible when King 50:21 Saul was rejected as king because of his pride and his 50:24 rebellion? So Samuel went and anointed David. Even after David 50:29 was anointed as king did he get to be king the same day. He was 50:33 anointed as king. That meant as far a God was concerned it says 50:37 the Spirit of God left Saul, the Holy Spirit filled David and an 50:42 evil spirit began to torment Saul and then there were years 50:46 when Saul was still on the throne acting like king but as 50:50 far as God was concerned David was king. But David didn't look 50:53 like king. He's living in caves. He's running from the enemy. 50:56 That's what's happening in the world today. The devil has lost 51:01 his kingdom. Jesus is the king in this world. You see what I'm 51:05 saying? But it may look like Saul's on the throne. It may 51:09 look like the devil's on the throne. But David, Jesus, is the 51:12 king who is coming. Let me tell you what it said about David. 51:18 I Samuel 22:2: Everyone who was in distress, would that be you, 51:23 everyone who was in debt, that might be you, everyone who was 51:28 discontent, unsatisfied with what was happening in the 51:31 government, they gathered to David. He became a captain over 51:35 them. That sounds like he was sort of a leader of a Robin Hood 51:39 group. Everybody can come to Jesus. Even before David was 51:43 king people gathered to him. Did you get that? We can gather 51:46 and become part of Christ's kingdom. Now don't forget this. 51:50 Those that joined David before he took the throne are the ones 51:54 who ruled with him when he took the throne. Those who were 51:58 faithful to him during the time when he seemed like he was the 52:01 underdog were the ones who were promoted when he finally did 52:05 have the kingdom. Right now Jesus looks like the underdog 52:07 in this world doesn't he. But if you and I, even though we might 52:12 be poor and in debt and discontent and have all our 52:15 problems, if we will join ourselves to the Son of David 52:17 and say I know that he is going to be the ultimate king then you 52:21 will get to reign with him. That's exciting when you think 52:24 about it. You know I started the message with the words of Christ 52:29 the kingdom of heaven is at hand Let me repeat that in your ears 52:32 today. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. What does that mean? 52:38 It means within reach. At hand means you can take it now. How 52:43 sad that the kingdom of Christ and you could become a citizen 52:46 of the kingdom, that that opportunity is present right now 52:50 and you wouldn't want it because this kingdom is not 52:53 going to last. I was reading in history about one of the great 52:57 tragedies of history was the South Pole expedition. There was 53:01 a Norwegian team led by Amundsen and there was an 53:06 English team led by Captain Robert Scott that were both 53:09 about the same time trying to make their way to the South Pole 53:13 Amundsen was a little sharper maybe from living in Norway and 53:17 he knew that the best way to try to tackle the South Pole was to 53:21 use dogs as your means of carrying supplies and 53:23 transportation. But this was still a whole new novel idea and 53:26 the English, you know, they were used to conquering with horses. 53:30 But in the arctic zones the dog is king. Well Scott, though he 53:34 must be commended for his bravery and his tenacity he said 53:38 no we're going to be Englishmen, we're going to use horses. So 53:41 they took horses to Antarctica and tried to use these horses 53:43 to pull the sleds across this frozen land. There's no grass 53:46 anywhere. Frozen waste. And they died half way to the South Pole. 53:51 And finally the men had to pull the sleds manually. They managed 53:55 to reach the South Pole and can you imagine how discouraged they 53:58 were when they're barely alive, they get to the South Pole and 54:01 they found out that the Norwegians, the flag of Norway 54:06 is there. They'd missed it by four weeks. On the way home 54:10 they crossed I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of 54:15 miles back to this depot or shelter where they had food and 54:19 provision that they had erected. The last three including Captain 54:24 Scott froze to death within 11 miles of the depot. They got 54:27 into a blizzard, they couldn't get out of their tent for days. 54:30 You can read his diary, I read it last night, very sad. They 54:33 knew it was 11 miles away and they got so close it was right 54:36 at hand. And they thought oh we'll just go through the 54:39 blizzard and try and find it and they froze to death in their 54:42 tents. Talk about how sad to be so close to the South Pole and 54:46 at least a position in history. They missed it. And to be so 54:49 close to at least surviving and they missed it. To miss 54:53 something that's life and death is really sad. It's like this 54:56 traveler across the desert who was found right over the sand 55:00 dune from an oasis, died of thirst. If he had gone over one 55:03 more hill he would have found it. Those stories are always so 55:07 sad. To be so close and not get a hold of it. Jesus said the 55:12 kingdom of heaven is at hand. Some of you realize maybe you've 55:16 been acting like citizens of this world instead of citizens 55:21 of Christ's kingdom and you'd like to be born and naturalized 55:25 in that new empire. You know before we sing, I want to ask 55:28 you right now. I'd like to invite everybody here to just 55:32 close their eyes please. Close your eyes. You might bow your 55:36 heads for a moment before God. Put aside any outside 55:40 distraction that might be present and in your heart I'd 55:44 like to invite you to ask yourself what is my priority in 55:49 life? Am I seeking first God's kingdom. Is that part and the 55:53 start of my prayers and the conclusion of my prayers that 55:57 his kingdom come for his is the kingdom. Do you see your role 56:01 in this life as an ambassador of another realm? Or are you 56:04 finding that you're getting a little too comfortable in a 56:08 foreign land? If this morning the Holy Spirit's speaking to 56:11 you and you say Lord, I would like to have that new birth. 56:15 I want to be a citizen of your kingdom. I want to repent and 56:19 and reach out and take that kingdom that's available right 56:23 now. The kingdom of heaven can begin reigning in your heart and 56:26 mine right now. If you'd like to ask for that would you lift 56:30 your hands with me right now. I want to pray for you right now 56:36 Loving Lord, our King. We want to come before you and accept 56:42 on your terms the offer you've made for us to be citizens of 56:47 your kingdom that's available. Lord right now we're inviting 56:51 Jesus to reign on the throne of our hearts. Sometimes we don't 56:55 act like we're willing. Sometimes we sense that struggle 56:58 inside because there is another enemy force, there's another 57:01 king who's clamoring for control. Lord we are giving you 57:04 the permission. We are choosing by our will to say Lord we want 57:08 you to be the king in our lives, in our minds, in our hearts. 57:12 And by making that choice Lord we pray that you will subdue 57:17 every other influence, every enemy, every alien force that is 57:21 resisting your supremacy. Take our hearts and take our minds 57:26 as only yours Lord. And as we invite this internal kingdom we 57:32 pray that we can live as ambassadors in your world, 57:34 that our church will be an embassy in this foreign land, 57:38 that we will find encouragement from one another. And most of 57:42 all, we pray that we will do everything we can through the 57:46 keys you've placed in our hands to prepare people for the next 57:49 kingdom, the physical kingdom, that will come when Jesus comes 57:53 again. Bless each person that they might experience Christ 57:57 ruling on the throne in their hearts and minds. 57:59 We ask in Jesus' name, Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17