The Spirit of the Kingdom

Kingdom of God Series, Part 1 of 6

  1. The Spirit of the Kingdom
  2. Heroes of the Kingdom
  3. Laws of a Righteous Kingdom
  4. Kingdom Exploits
  5. Kingdom Priorities
  6. Worship the King of the Righteous Kingdom

September 4, 1988 AM

Intro: Here are some statements about JOY ... ( Here are definitions from 'The Amplified New Testament:

We come to understand (1) that we are dealing with paradox; and (2) Jesus would have us to trust Him as to what is and is not lasting reality. The pathway to Life Eternal may be PLAIN, so that no one need be lost— but it is also SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.

It is a Way of trust! FAITH means that we must follow our Shepherd, and trust His wisdom. Everyone seems to be a self-appointed "expert" in this matter of spiritual truth.

R.C. Sproul tells of a theologian and an astronomer in dialogue; the astronomer says to the theologian: "We don't need all this study, these big words— faith and salvation are simply "Do unto others ..."

And the theologian came back: "I think I see what you mean about technical terms and study: I don't understand 'expanding universe' and 'novae' and 'black holes' and the like. Such words are unnecessary; astronomy is simply, "Twinkle, twinkle, Little star ..."

Salvation is truth both SIMPLE and PROFOUND! And (3) JESUS DECLARES THAT OUR "HAPPY" ... OUR "NORMAL" ATTITUDE IS TO BE ONE OF TOTAL DEPENDENCY ON GOD.

I. THE PERCEPTION OF FALLEN MANKIND IS: I AM THE CENTER

  1. We are BORN into the CENTER of our own little universe. Little children, as wonderful as they are, have a very small world that slowly expands— but always has "EGO" at the center!
  2. To be BORN AGAIN is to enter into the REAL WORLD, where God is at the CENTER. We come to believe spiritual reality by the ministry of the Holy Spirit— but we still see things, humanly, from our own eyes, from within our own personalities.

    And so, unless we deliberately accept God's WORD, and stay close to Him, we are tempted to slip back into self-centered ways of living; (1) making selfish goals of prosperity OUR goals; (2) making self-centered judgments of who is or is not important on the basis of OUR benefits.

  3. This is what had happened to the Church at Laodocia: they had failed to remember the Beatitudes, and so they had failed to find real "blessedness." (Revelation 3:17-19 Because you say," I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; be zealous, therefore, and repent.)

II. THE REALITY IS: WE ARE COMPLETE ONLY IN VICE-REGENCY TO GOD

  1. Man does enjoy unique privilege. (Psalm 8!) "When I consider the heavens ... the work of Thy fingers; the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained, WHAT IS MAN? Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels!" Man carries THE VERY IMAGE OF GOD!
  2. The temptation is: You shall be as gods! And yet somehow being God's highest free moral creation does not seem to satisfy man ... he is tempted to be his own god!
  3. Real JOY ("Blessed ...") COMES FROM LIVING IN GRACE JOY IS BEING WHAT WE ARE INTENDED BY GOD TO BE, AND DOING WHAT WE ARE CREATED TO BE DOING!

III. FAITH IS DELIBERATELY ACCEPTING/OBEYING TRUTH FROM ONE WHO KNOWS

  1. Salvation is NOT simply what we do or do not know... or even what we do or do not do. Those things are important. But all too often they keep the spotlight on "SELF."
  2. Salvation is deciding 'WHO shall be God!' and 'Whom shall I believe?!' Who is going to be "at the center of my Universe?'
  3. This may/will require going against "how we feel" at times. How many times pilots or mariners are required to believe what the instruments say instead of how they feel! I have been completely turned around in a white-out fog and ended up at the wrong side of the harbor. Pilots have realized they were literally upside down. Why? Because facts sometimes contradict senses. This is a weak illustration of spiritual reality and faith, perhaps. But it is a valid truth all the same.

CONCLUSION:

Are YOU "blessed?" How happy are you? Perhaps we all need to look at our spirits! We need to ask: Am I 'poor in spirit?'

"Poor in spirit..." does not refer, primarily, to how you happen to "feel" today. But it does have everything to do with your dependency on God's grace:

  1. "Forget" about salvation as a matter of correct doctrine, or believing the "right/correct/Nazarene way!"
  2. And (please don't deliberately misunderstand me!) "Forget" about salvation as a matter of doing this and not doing that;
  3. The real question is: AM I A TOTALLY GOD-DEPENDANT PERSON? Is my life totally wrapped up in His life, His will, His grace— until I am everything I am because of HIM, and nothing I am or have is worth anything apart from Him?

If you want JOY, real JOY, wonderful JOY ... then be dependant!

Prayer: Lord, We do believe You! We refuse to believe this world with its "wisdom!" We are NOT the center of the Universe! YOU are! AMEN!

#367 Jesus Is All the World to Me