The Gospel of the Kingdom (part 8)

June 4, 2021

The Gospel of the Kingdom (part 8)

With Rev. David Sabet

Review:

In part 7 of this series, we were learning how important it is to God for us to stand strong in the LORD, and be conquers clothed in white. If God be for us, who can be against us? We need to see things through the eyes of a HOLY GOD, and make adjustments where needed. When Christ returns, we will know Him, because we will be like Him!

God gave us His written word to learn of Him and His will. Old and New Testament! (II Tim. 3:16a: All scripture is given by inspiration of God …) He doesn’t want us to be ignorant and lost, he wants to save us from ourselves.

The Old Testament is full of instructional guidelines that were given to us from the very beginning when mankind started. It contains God’s original plans for us, and they haven’t been done away with! It is man that keeps trying to change God’s word – but He doesn’t change!!! (Malachi 3:6a: For I am the LORD, I change not; …)

Now, let’s see what God Himself has to say about His Word:

I Corinthians 10:11 (KJV)

Now all these things, (The events of the Old Testament),

happened unto them for ensamples: (Examples for us to pay

attention to!), and they are written for our admonition, (For our

instruction.), upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Matthew 5:17 (KJV) “Jesus Speaking!”

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, (The Old Testament

guidelines set out for us by God from the beginning.), or the

prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

(TO LIVE IT, HERE AND NOW, IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!!!)

This is the Gospel of the Kingdom!

Matthew 5:17-20 (L.B. Par.) “Let’s Read it Again for Clarity.”

17) “Don’t misunderstand why I have come – it isn’t to cancel

the Laws of Moses and the warnings of the prophets. No, I

came to fulfill them, and to make them all come true.

18) With all the earnestness I have I say: Every law in the Book

(The Bible) will continue until its purpose is achieved.

19) And so if anyone breaks the least commandment, and

teaches others to, he shall be the least in the Kingdom of

Heaven. But those who teach God’s laws and obey them

shall be great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

20) “But I warn you – unless your goodness is greater than that

of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders, you can’t get into

the Kingdom of Heaven at all!”

This goodness is only found in God, through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ! Jesus Himself said that there is none good but God. Only when we are walking in fellowship with God can any goodness flow out of us.

The Kingdom of Heaven is a place where the will of God is obeyed! Jesus said that it is nigh you, it is even in your mouth. What is in your heart? Is the river of God flowing out of you? (Thy will be done, in earth, as it is in heaven.) This is the Gospel of the Kingdom!

Matthew 13:52 (ERV)

Then Jesus said to the followers, “So every teacher of the law

who has learned about God’s Kingdom has some new things to

teach. He is like the owner of a house. He has new things and

old things saved in that house. And he brings out the new with

the old.”

Christ came to bring the WORD to life in us, here and now! To raise us from the dead. Without Jesus, we are spiritually dead. Choose life!!!

When you understand what is at stake – you should forsake all else! The rewards God has for the obedient are out of this world! They are eternity in Heaven with the God who loves you!

Matthew 13:44 (LB Par.)

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure a man discovered in a

field. In his excitement, he sold everything he owned to get

enough money to buy the field – and get the treasure, too!

Matthew 13:45-46 (LB Par.)

45) Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a pearl merchant on the

lookout for choice pearls.

46) He discovered a real bargain – a pearl of great value – and

sold everything he owned to purchase it!

Having a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father is worth more than anything that this world has to offer, including your life! This is what Christianity is all about! A true Christian is in love with Jesus Christ, and has been set free from sin. Born again in the newness of life in the Holy Spirit. We have been set free!!! No amount of money can obtain this.

However, choosing to walk in God’s kingdom now makes you a threat to satan’s kingdom. The spiritual battles have just begun. Stand on God’s word and fight the good fight.

*Now, let’s get some encouragement and some pointers out of God’s word on how, and why, to walk as victors and not victims:

Hebrew 12:1 (LB Par.) / (KJV)

Since we have such a huge crowd of men of faith watching us

from the grand stands, (KJV – a cloud of witnesses) let us strip off

anything that slows us down or holds us back, (KJV – lay aside

every weight) and especially those sins that wrap

themselves so tightly around our feet and trip us up; (KJV – the

sin which doth so easily beset us) and let us run with patience

the particular race that God has set before us.

*In the scriptures, the Christian life is likened unto a race. We are told to run the race with patience. Why? Because rewards follow patient obedience!!!

Hebrews 10:36 (KJV)

For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of

God, ye might receive the promise.

(The promise is all of God’s riches at Christ’s expense!!!)

Patience = endurance. Endurance is necessary, because this race called life is a marathon – not a sprint! Jesus said that they that endured to the end would be saved. Being saved doesn’t prevent us from sinning or having tough times. However, sinning will prevent us from running the race well, and makes life tougher. If you fall, make a quick recovery. (Here’s some Homework — Read Psalm 51.) Let’s break this verse down and look at its encouragement to us:

“Hebrews 12:1 explained”

A cloud of witnesses – Jesus and all of the others who have gone

on before us are watching us from Heaven, cheering us on.

Lay aside every weight – Anything that holds you back from

totally surrendering to God and walking like Jesus. Disobedience

= sin! Anything that has more of you than Jesus – needs to go!

Matthew 5:29-30 (KJV) “How serious Jesus feels about sin”

29) And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from

thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members

should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast

into hell.

30) And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from

thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members

should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast

into hell.

*These are just hyperboles, but in them, Jesus is telling us how serious he is about sin. If you’re a true Christian, you’ll take sin seriously too.

“Back to Hebrews 12:1:”

The sin which doth so easily beset us – The thorn in our flesh / that

sin with which we personally struggle with. (Everyone battles!)

James 1:14 (KJV)

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own

lust, and enticed.

*Victory occurs in our lives when we walk in loving obedience to our Heavenly Father. Not my will – but thine be done! This is the Gospel of the Kingdom! Walking in the resurrection power of the Holy Ghost! Don’t try to walk this life alone, under your own power. If you do, you will lose. Walk with Jesus and win!!!

Psalm 119:9-11 (ERV)

9) How can a young man live a pure life? By obeying your word.

10) I try with all my heart to serve you. Help me obey your

commands.

(74)

11) I study your teaching very carefully so that I will not sin

against you.

Vs. 11 (KJV):

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against

thee.

I John 5:3-5 (ERV)

3) Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s

commands are not too hard for us,

4) because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win

against the world. It is our faith that has won the victory

against the world.

5) So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that

Jesus is the Son of God.

Psalm 37:39-40 (LB Par.)

39) The Lord saves the Godly! He is their salvation and their

refuge when trouble comes.

40) Because they trust in him, he helps them and delivers them

from the plots of evil men.

Read it Again in the KJV:

39) But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD; he is their

strength in the time of trouble.

40) And the LORD shall help them, and deliver them from the

wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.

I Chronicles 28:9 (KJV)

… know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect

heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts,

and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou

seek him, he will be found of thee: but if thou forsake him, he

will cast thee off for ever.

Jeremiah 17:10 (KJV)

I the LORD search the heart, I try the reigns, even to give every

man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his

doings.

“WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO GOD PERSONALLY!”

“CHOOSE YOU THIS DAY WHO YOU’RE GOING TO SERVE!”

James 1:22-25 (ERV)

22) Do what God’s teaching says; don’t just listen and do

nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling

yourselves.

23) Hearing God’s teaching and doing nothing is like looking at

your face in the mirror

24) and doing nothing about what you saw. You go away and

immediately forget how bad you looked.

25) But when you look into God’s perfect law that sets people

free, pay attention to it. If you do what it says, you will have

God’s blessing. Never just listen to his teaching and forget

what you heard.

(77)

Romans 13:11-14 (LB Par.)

11) Another reason for right living is this: you know how late it

is, time is running out. Wake up, for the coming of the Lord

is nearer now than when we first believed.

12 & 13) The night is far gone, the day of His return will soon be

here. So quit the evil deeds of darkness and put on the

armor of right living, as we who live in the daylight should!

Be descent and true in everything you do so that all can

approve your behavior. Don’t spend your time in wild

parties and getting drunk or in adultery and lust, or fighting,

or jealousy.

14) But ask the Lord Jesus Christ to help you live as you should,

and don’t make plans to enjoy evil.

I John 4:17 (KJV)

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in

the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.

*This is the message of “The Gospel of the Kingdom”. Living like Christ, here and now, in earth as it is in Heaven! Repent! Wash your garments! Jesus Christ is coming back for a bride without spot or wrinkle!