What is the Kingdom of God?

Q: Off the top of your head, what is your definition of the Kingdom of God?

A: Kingdom of God. Well I just preached sermon #112 in Matthew on Sunday (18:1-6), so if I have no clue I'm in big trouble.

That said, my off the top of my head response hopefully matches what I preach. The K of G in its broadest app is the realm of God's sovereign rule, period. Some acknowledge it (all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, Acts 16:31. We call those who profess faith in Christ to faith and obedience to God, by the Spirit's enabling); and some do not (They remain in their sinful rebellion against God. We call them to faith and repentance towards God, as and if He draws them to Himself.).

We then must address man's response to the objective fact. For those who believe, there are 'now' (already) and 'then' (not yet) aspects. We are now experiencing some of the spiritual benefits of the Kingdom of God (justification, sanctification); we will someday enjoy the full spiritual and physical benefits (glorification, new heaven and new earth) of the Kingdom. All who come to God by grace through faith in Christ presently experience His 'king'-dom now as He rules in their hearts. One day these redeemed, elect, born-again believers will be with Christ in His 'consummated' kingdom forever. 

For all people there are present and future ramifications to yielding to or rejecting the fact of Christ's preeminence (His 'king'-dom kingship). For those who believe, suffering joyfully with Him now and reigning joyfully with Him forever. For those who do not believe, living as they please now and consciously suffering the consequences of rejecting Christ forever. 

One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess (admit and agree) that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

(See 2 Cor. 5:14-19; Col. 1:13-20; Phil. 2:9-11)

Jesus loves you!

Random Thoughts on True Greatness

True believers recognize their neediness and admit their self-focus. Instead of seeking prominent position they come back to Jesus. 

Change your mind, check your attitude, so that Christ can refocus you on the priority of humble service. 

True believers focus on Christ's opinion so that they can serve Him appropriately. 

Forget about your definition of greatness and adopt Christ's true view so that you will not remain discouraged but rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

Stop trying so hard to get the praise of man; focus on Christ and His opinion. 

Admit you are bankrupt without Christ and declare your complete dependence on Him. 

Focusing on rank and reputation festers comparison and rivalry;  clinging to Him who went to the cross fosters true humility. 

Eyes on self, earthly fight. 
Eyes on Christ, eternal perspective. 

Jesus loves you!

The beloved hymn “Rock of Ages” has a line that reads: “Nothing in my hands I bring, simply to the cross I cling; naked come to Thee for dress, helpless come to Thee for grace.” It is the humble cry of a dependent heart that knows its condition and the depths of its need. It is the Matt. 5:3 cry of the “poor in spirit”. It reminds me of Jesus’ instructions to His disciples in Matthew 18:1-6 that they must become like children and humble themselves. They must recognize their dependent status and take a humble posture. The only problem was that the disciples were in the middle of a “who’s the greatest” argument. They were mired in rivalry and comparison when God wanted them confessing sin and repenting. And it wouldn’t be the last time. They would constantly battle the urge to put themselves first and fight for position, when God wanted them humble and trusting His provision. We struggle with the same tendency. How do we overcome it? Look to Jesus as your only hope. Trust Him to mold you into the person He intends you to be.

The Greatness of the Humble

What does it take to be truly great? We live in an era that is obsessed with greatness. Nothing new, Jesus' disciples were fixated on it. Matthew 18:1-6 records the diaicples coming to Jesus with a question. From parallel passages (Mark 9:33-37 and Luke 9:46-48) we know they were arguing about who among them was the greatest. They wanted prominence, preeminence. Jesus wanted them humble. Like a child. And how is a child humble? Not in the way you may think. It is common to say things that don't fit reality because of sentiment. I have heard, and been heard to say, that children are humble, but the reasons are not for inherent goodness, or innocence, or openess to being taught. We'd like to think so but our firsthand knowledge of ingrained human sinfulness tells us otherwise. Young children are by position (not by nature) humble - even in our advanced culture they are totally dependent on parents, relatively powerless, consistently immature, and almost completely without standing socially or economically. They are not unimportant, just not adults. And so Jesus uses them to teach some immature adults what it means to really be great.

Basically, you want to be great? Come clean with God. Agree with Him about yourself. Honestly admit to God that you are completely dependent on Him, without power to change yourself, unable to bring yourself to God, not sufficient in and of yourself, completely inadequate spiritually. You following Jesus is only because Jesus wanted it to be so and willed it to be. If you are saved it is only because of Jesus, nothing about you. It seems that every time we think we bring something to thetable we are reminded, humbled, to remember that everything we have is from Him. Jesus is telling them that without Him they can do nothing. John 15:5. How they, and we, are completely unable through human ingenuity or wisdom. It is only by the Spirit and power of God that we live, move, have our being, and are able to serve the Lord in any way. Praise God from Whom all blesings flow!

A Coin in a Fish's Mouth

In Matthew 17:24-27 Jesus provides for Peter a coin in a fish's mouth. This ranks up there with axe heads floating and donkeys talking to prophets.  

What was going on? A lot. More than meets the eye at first glance it turns out. 

Was Jesus teaching that His followers don't need to pay taxes? No. A little understanding of the situation irons out that crooked teaching. V. 24 deals with the temple tax, an annual voluntary payment used for upkeep and maintenance. It was a religious tax. V. 25 refers to civil taxes, which He Himself said His followers were to pay, rendering the things belonging to Caesar to Caesar. Who was exempt? Jesus was, as sons of Kings were. He is the King, the Son of God, whose temple it was. He ought not be required to pay what worshipers paid. 

What's with the coin in the fish's mouth?

Jesus was providing authoritatively for His people in a most dramatic and demonstrative way.  Instead of handing people a stater He had him get a hook, go fishing and wait for a bite. Jesus specifies the situation. He is to take the first fish he catches and do oral surgery, extracting the exact amount needed to pay the tax for Jesus the exempt one and Simon the non-exempt. Why? So as not to cause them offense. Amazing. The One who is the stone of stumbling and rock of offense doesn't want this to be the reason they stumble over Him. There would be ample, much bigger fish to fry in the coming days when He would go to the Cross. 

What does this teach us of Jesus?
He is all-knowing. 
He is all-powerful. 
He provides exactly what is needed in every situation. 
He is sovereign. 
He can and should be trusted and obeyed. 
He is humble and gentle in heart.
What other things can you think of?

How ought this to affect the way will live and serve God? 
Kindness and humility are to flavor our interactions. 
We need to simply trust His provision. 
We need to obey His commands and submit to His authority. 

Jesus loves you!

Lord I believe! Help my Unbelief!

It was faith in Christ that drove the father to bring his only child. For he cried out Lord I believe! Help my unbelief. Help me keep trusting you. When I am tempted to put my faith inertial man, let my heart remain fixed on you. For you alone can truly satisfy the thirsting, despairing, needy soul. With the psalmist we sing, 'My soul find rest in God alone. My Rock and my salvation. My fortress him amidst my foes and all the world's temptations.' 

Jesus loves you!

So Jesus is saying if you have faith nothing (that God wants for you) with be impossible. 

What it doesn't say is 'just have faith that things will work out favorably for you, or you will get your way, or you will realize your hearts desire.' 

That is treating God like a vending machine. As long as you put the requirement in then God is required to give you what you asked for. What you want. That is a warped view of God.

Mercy for the Soul in Despair

Sometimes life gets the best of us, problems become more than we can handle, and difficulties overwhelm us. There is a crucial moment when a decision is made, whether we will sink or swim, will we dive deep into God's abundant mercies or drown in a sea of despair. 

Pain makes us wonder whether God is good or not. Pain drives us to Jesus or despair. In Matthew 17:14-23, we hear of a soul in despair who comes to Jesus. We see a man seeking mercy, a son held captive, a group of people unable to help, and a King so great He can change the soul and bind up every brokenness. Christ alone can truly change and comfort the soul. 

Job 6:26
2 Cor. 1:3-5
Jesus loves you!

Holy High Beams

If anyone has ever flashed their high beams at you while driving at night you know how annoying that can be. If anyone has kept them on, you know how blinding that can be. In the spiritual realm those who would twist God's truths are like that: annoying and blinding. But God has a better way. The Holy Spirit uses the high beam of the Word of God in the lives of the people of God for the glory of God. He uses His servants in the process.

Gospel truths refresh, remind and revive the soul. God shines the spotlight of the Spirit on His holy Word, to illuminate our hearts to His presence and power. He flashes His holy high beams not to blind us but to remind us. Therefore, Christian, fix your eyes on Jesus without shame or fear, knowing you are cleansed by the blood of the Lamb and are being kept by the power of God. You are, and remain, in Christ, by His doing. 

My hope and aim is to trust God to use me, and every born-again believer, as His instruments of grace, wielding the Sword of the Spirit, to highlight gospel truth that transforms.

Inspired by the Word of God: Matthew 17:1-13; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 1 Cor. 1-2; 2 Tim. 1-2; Romans 15-16.