The Commission of the Kingdom
Notes
Transcript
What is the Kingdom and why do we struggle fulfilling its purpose
What is the Kingdom and why do we struggle fulfilling its purpose
The Commission of the Kingdom (Revised)
One of our greatest struggles deal with our view of God and our purpose in and working in conjunction with the Kingdom of God to establish a body of believers
We battle stasis and conformity
We battle ease and prosperity
(Eufaula)
Our greatest weapons are not formed for self but for the lost and dying that surround us
Isaiah 58:6–12 (NRSV)
6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
Acts 28:25–31 (NRSV)
25 So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
26 ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’
28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
To those that know what is expected and refuse to do it this brings other issues to the surface
Ezekiel 12:1–3 (AMP)
THE WORD of the Lord also came to me, saying,
2 Son of man, you dwell in the midst of the house of the rebellious, who have eyes to see and see not, who have ears to hear and hear not, for they are a rebellious house. [Mark 8:18.]
3 Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for removing and going into exile, and move out by day in their sight; and you shall remove from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider and perceive that they are a rebellious house.
Matthew 16:19 (KJV 1900)
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
We see the motif of the Kingdom of God flicker in the OT
But it is in the New Testament where we see Jesus telling thouse who would listen about the his Kingdom
Three primary themes about God’s kingdom emerge in biblical and extrabiblical literature:
• the everlasting duration of the kingdom;
• its present and tangible aspects in the lives of the ancient Israelites;
• the belief in a future appearance of a superior and more comprehensive kingdom of God.[1]
The kingdom is an already - not yet kingdom-
Luke 11:16–23 (KJV 1900)
16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
It’s a powerful Kingdom
The Mission Statement of the Kingdom
Luke 4:18–19 (KJV 1900)
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 19:10 (KJV 1900)
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
There are aspects that are already working in the world.
One can see that the church is the visible representation of Christ here on earth
The Kingdom of Heaven here on earth is a microcosm of what we will experience once we get to heaven
The Value of The Kingdom
Matthew 13:44–46 (KJV 1900)
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The Cost of The Kingdom
Luke 18:18–30 (NRSV)
The Rich Ruler
(Mt 19:16–30; Mk 10:17-31)
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”
28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Yet to be in the kingdom requires that its denizens fulfill the duties of citizenship
We have a duty to the Kingdom and to our redeemer to operate in a manner that is pleasing to God brining those that He died for into relationship
Romans 10:17 (KJV 1900)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith comes by hearing but faith also demands as response
Hebrews 4:2 (KJV 1900)
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Faith….
Hebrews 11:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 10:39 (NRSV)
39 But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
When it comes to faith there needs to be a people who do not shrink back
Not from the fight
Not from the trial
And not from the immensity of the harvest
Those that will not shrink back at the fear of not understanding how God is going to give the new building and how we can disciple and teach the masses
We are curious people in that our faith is constrained to belief in only certain areas
I can believe for cancer but not for the addict
I can believe for a raise but not for children
I can believe for move ins but not for the backslider
I can believe for the backslider but not for the unchurched
Our faith needs to be not in our understanding but in the power and plan of almighty God
Hebrews 11:1–3 (NRSV)
The Meaning of Faith
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen, though now actually existing, the substance of things hoped for, but not yet present. It deals with the unseen present, as well as with the unseen future. As the evidence of things not seen, it rejoices in Christ our complete sanctification, as a present possession.[2]
Further more
We know how faith acts, and what its great hindrances are, Faith in God stands opposed to trust in self: specially to its willing and working. Faith is hindered by every effort to do something ourselves. Faith looks to God working, and yields itself to His strength, as revealed in Christ through the Spirit; it allows God to work both to will and to do. Faith must work; without works it is dead, by works alone can it be perfected; in Jesus Christ, as Paul says, nothing avails but 'faith working by love.' But these works, which faith in God's working inspires and performs, are very different from the works in which a believer often puts forth his best efforts, only to find that he fails.[3]
I don’t work ibn my power
I don’t work by a program
I work by and through the vision that God gave to the man of God and the church
If I will buy into the vision and act in faith God is bound by his word bring to pass that which he has spoken
And as by effort, so faith is also hindered by the desire to see and feel. '
It doesn’t matter what we seen and feel it matters what God has said and promised
If thou believest, thou shalt see;' the Holy Spirit will seal our faith with a Divine experience; we shall see the glory of God. But this is His work: ours is, when all appears dark and cold, in the face of all that nature or experience testifies, still each moment to believe in Jesus as our all-sufficient sanctification, in whom we are perfected before God. Complaints as to want of feeling, as to weakness or deadness, seldom profit: it is the soul that refuses to occupy itself with itself, either with its own weakness or the strength of the enemy, but only looks to what Jesus is, and has promised to do, to whom progress in holiness will be a joyful march from victory to victory. 'The Lord Himself doth fight for you;' this thought, so often repeated in connection with Israel's possession of the promised land, is the food of faith: in conscious weakness, in presence of mighty enemies, it sings the conqueror's song. When God appears to be not doing what we trusted Him for, then is just the time for faith to glory in Him.[4]
The opening phrase “Now faith celebrates,” speaks of steadfast faithfulness to God and his word of promise.
The characterization of faith that follows exposes the dynamic nature of the response to God which receives divine attestation in Scripture and that obtains the realization of promised blessings “faith arises when a person lets himself be convinced by God, and so attains a certainty which is objectively grounded and which transcends all human possibilities in its reliability”).
Every word has been carefully chosen and weighed so as to draw attention to characteristics of faith that had particular relevance to the immediate situation of the persons addressed.
The object that faith celebrates is considered under two aspects: “the reality of the blessings for which we hope, the demonstration of events not seen.”
It speaks an objective reality that is unquestionable and securely established. contends that a process of realization that takes in the beginning, middle, and completion of reality[5]
Speaking of faith, we then must grasp the purpose of his anointing and implementation of the gift of faith in our lives.
To do this we need to start with our purpose
Genesis 12:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
There is a blessing and a protection that comes to a child of God
Galatians 3:6–8 (KJV 1900)
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
The church should partake in the benefits of the covenant
Genesis 22:17–18 (KJV 1900)
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Where does this start
2 Corinthians 10:2–6 (KJV 1900)
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
It starts when we change our vista in which we view the things of God and start tearing down strongholds
Strongholds of:
Imaginations
3053. λογισμός lŏgismŏs, log-is-mos´; from 3049; computation, i.e. (fig.) reasoning (conscience, conceit):—imagination, thought.[6]
Thought
3540. νόημα nŏēma, nŏ´-ay-mah; from 3539; a perception, i.e. purpose, or (by impl.) the intellect, disposition, itself:—device, mind, thought.[7]
We have to tear down old traditions (this is the way that we have always done it)
We have to tear down self-speak
Past
Fears and doubts
And allow faith to work in our live to fulfill the will and purpose of God
Abraham was called. His faith was not enough there was places that God called him too.
The rabbis believe that one of the main components was his love for his family.. the call of the church is to love one another
Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV 1900)
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Country – kingdom, governmental structure
Kindred – societal frame
Fathers house – inheritance
WHAT MUST ABRAM LEAVE? Let us begin with an exploration of exactly what it is that God is asking Abram to leave. In the Torah it is described by three expressions – aretz, moledet, and beit av. The first is the easiest. Aretz is usually translated as land, and that is perfectly appropriate in this context. God wants Abram to relocate, to leave his current land and move to a different one. The second term, moledet, is a bit more complex. It is often translated as birthplace, but that doesn’t work here. After all, Abram’s birthplace is Ur Kasdim, and he already left there when his father moved the family at the end of Genesis 11. The context therefore demands a new interpretation of moledet, and I believe that it is related to the concept of group or national identity.3 It is certainly used that way in contemporary Hebrew, and in this context it means that as Abram relocates himself geographically God wants him to simultaneously eschew his group identity. The third element, beit av (literally, “the father’s home”) likely refers to those values one learns at home. God also wants Abram to abandon some of the values he has learned in his father’s house, probably referring to Terah’s idolatry.4 When we put the picture together, God is essentially asking Abram to abandon three fundamental elements of his identity:5 his geographical connection, his national affiliation, and even some of the core values he learned at home. The combination of these three elements form the core of one’s identity vis-à-vis the external world. (This is not the identity of “Who am I?” but of “Who am I in context of?”) Lest the reader think that this is too much of a stretch, this combination of expressions resurfaces by the one person identified in the Bible as leaving behind her origins to affiliate with the Hebrews, and by another identified by the rabbis as doing the same. Ruth, surprised by Boaz’s generosity of spirit, asks why he is so kind to her.
Ruth 1:16–17 (KJV 1900)
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
His response is brief and to the point: “Boaz responded and said to her, ‘I was told about all that you had done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband; you left your mother and father and the eretz of your moledet’” (Ruth 2:11). The language of the father’s home, the eretz, and the moledet unmistakably parallels the language used with Abram, and the meaning of that formula is clear: the renunciation of one identity and the adoption of a new one. As Ruth herself famously says to Naomi: “For where you go I shall go, where you sleep I shall sleep; your nation is my nation and your God is my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth’s declaration of allegiance is her statement of trading in one affiliative identity for another – in rabbinic language, conversion to the Hebrew people[8].6
Most commentators have regarded this divine imperative as a test of faith: Abram is to give up all he holds dearest for an unknown land promised by God.[9]
Faith always requires that you leave old ways for places that God is calling the church
Lot has to stay don’t bring him on the journey to the purpose that God has for the church
Abraham and Lot are types of two classes of Christians. Lot was a righteous man, but, living by sight and sense, he sought only his own pleasure and profit. He is the type of an unconsecrated Christian. Abraham lives by faith on the promise of God. He may fail, but not like Lot, who never could do anything to help Abraham. Lot builded no altar. The unconsecrated life can live without worship. The well-watered plains have more attraction for the worldly believer. The “higher Christian life” just means higher motives in living[10]
James 2:17–26 (KJV 1900)
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Could it be that the reason our faith is anemic is because we are not using it for its intended purpose
Matthew 28:16–20 (NRSV)
The Commissioning of the Disciples
(Mk 16:14–18; Lk 24:36–49; Jn 20:19–23; Acts 1:6–8)
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15–18 (NRSV)
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Tear down strongholds
Faith demands that you roll away the stone
Faith demands that you step into places you may not want to go into the Jordan Naaman for your miracle. Into the Jordan with the ark to get to the promise land.
Faith demands that you build an ark when you don’t see rain.
Faith always demands a response
Faith will work but it demands a response
I’m going to believe and I’m going to act
I’m going to pray
I’m going to fast
I’m going to worship
But my faith extends beyond the walls
I’m going to reach for those that the King of kings and the Lord of lords died for
I’m reaching and bring faith to the lost and the dying
Faith demanded that I do the will of the Father and reach out side of my comfort zone
Mark 2:1–5 (KJV 1900)
And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Faith demands that we have the ability to bring the needy into the presents of God that they might receive his purpose on earth.
[1] Seal, D. (2016). Kingdom of God. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[3] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[4] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[5] William L. Lane, Hebrews 9–13, vol. 47B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1991), 328.
fig. figurative, figuratively
[6] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 45.
impl. implication, implied
[7] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 50.
[8] Grumet, Zvi. Genesis: From Creation to Covenant . Maggid Books. Kindle Edition.
[9] Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1–15, vol. 1, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1987), 274.
[10] James Smith and Robert Lee, Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII, vol. 1, five-volume edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971), 66.The Commission of the Kingdom (Revised)
One of our greatest struggles deal with our view of God and our purpose in and working in conjunction with the Kingdom of God to establish a body of believers
We battle stasis and conformity
We battle ease and prosperity
(Eufaula)
Our greatest weapons are not formed for self but for the lost and dying that surround us
Isaiah 58:6–12 (NRSV)
6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
Acts 28:25–31 (NRSV)
25 So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
26 ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’
28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
To those that know what is expected and refuse to do it this brings other issues to the surface
Ezekiel 12:1–3 (AMP)
THE WORD of the Lord also came to me, saying,
2 Son of man, you dwell in the midst of the house of the rebellious, who have eyes to see and see not, who have ears to hear and hear not, for they are a rebellious house. [Mark 8:18.]
3 Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for removing and going into exile, and move out by day in their sight; and you shall remove from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider and perceive that they are a rebellious house.
Matthew 16:19 (KJV 1900)
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
We see the motif of the Kingdom of God flicker in the OT
But it is in the New Testament where we see Jesus telling thouse who would listen about the his Kingdom
Three primary themes about God’s kingdom emerge in biblical and extrabiblical literature:
• the everlasting duration of the kingdom;
• its present and tangible aspects in the lives of the ancient Israelites;
• the belief in a future appearance of a superior and more comprehensive kingdom of God.[1]
The kingdom is an already - not yet kingdom-
Luke 11:16–23 (KJV 1900)
16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
It’s a powerful Kingdom
The Mission Statement of the Kingdom
Luke 4:18–19 (KJV 1900)
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 19:10 (KJV 1900)
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
There are aspects that are already working in the world.
One can see that the church is the visible representation of Christ here on earth
The Kingdom of Heaven here on earth is a microcosm of what we will experience once we get to heaven
The Value of The Kingdom
Matthew 13:44–46 (KJV 1900)
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The Cost of The Kingdom
Luke 18:18–30 (NRSV)
The Rich Ruler
(Mt 19:16–30; Mk 10:17-31)
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”
28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Yet to be in the kingdom requires that its denizens fulfill the duties of citizenship
We have a duty to the Kingdom and to our redeemer to operate in a manner that is pleasing to God brining those that He died for into relationship
Romans 10:17 (KJV 1900)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith comes by hearing but faith also demands as response
Hebrews 4:2 (KJV 1900)
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Faith….
Hebrews 11:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 10:39 (NRSV)
39 But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
When it comes to faith there needs to be a people who do not shrink back
Not from the fight
Not from the trial
And not from the immensity of the harvest
Those that will not shrink back at the fear of not understanding how God is going to give the new building and how we can disciple and teach the masses
We are curious people in that our faith is constrained to belief in only certain areas
I can believe for cancer but not for the addict
I can believe for a raise but not for children
I can believe for move ins but not for the backslider
I can believe for the backslider but not for the unchurched
Our faith needs to be not in our understanding but in the power and plan of almighty God
Hebrews 11:1–3 (NRSV)
The Meaning of Faith
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen, though now actually existing, the substance of things hoped for, but not yet present. It deals with the unseen present, as well as with the unseen future. As the evidence of things not seen, it rejoices in Christ our complete sanctification, as a present possession.[2]
Further more
We know how faith acts, and what its great hindrances are, Faith in God stands opposed to trust in self: specially to its willing and working. Faith is hindered by every effort to do something ourselves. Faith looks to God working, and yields itself to His strength, as revealed in Christ through the Spirit; it allows God to work both to will and to do. Faith must work; without works it is dead, by works alone can it be perfected; in Jesus Christ, as Paul says, nothing avails but 'faith working by love.' But these works, which faith in God's working inspires and performs, are very different from the works in which a believer often puts forth his best efforts, only to find that he fails.[3]
I don’t work ibn my power
I don’t work by a program
I work by and through the vision that God gave to the man of God and the church
If I will buy into the vision and act in faith God is bound by his word bring to pass that which he has spoken
And as by effort, so faith is also hindered by the desire to see and feel. '
It doesn’t matter what we seen and feel it matters what God has said and promised
If thou believest, thou shalt see;' the Holy Spirit will seal our faith with a Divine experience; we shall see the glory of God. But this is His work: ours is, when all appears dark and cold, in the face of all that nature or experience testifies, still each moment to believe in Jesus as our all-sufficient sanctification, in whom we are perfected before God. Complaints as to want of feeling, as to weakness or deadness, seldom profit: it is the soul that refuses to occupy itself with itself, either with its own weakness or the strength of the enemy, but only looks to what Jesus is, and has promised to do, to whom progress in holiness will be a joyful march from victory to victory. 'The Lord Himself doth fight for you;' this thought, so often repeated in connection with Israel's possession of the promised land, is the food of faith: in conscious weakness, in presence of mighty enemies, it sings the conqueror's song. When God appears to be not doing what we trusted Him for, then is just the time for faith to glory in Him.[4]
The opening phrase “Now faith celebrates,” speaks of steadfast faithfulness to God and his word of promise.
The characterization of faith that follows exposes the dynamic nature of the response to God which receives divine attestation in Scripture and that obtains the realization of promised blessings “faith arises when a person lets himself be convinced by God, and so attains a certainty which is objectively grounded and which transcends all human possibilities in its reliability”).
Every word has been carefully chosen and weighed so as to draw attention to characteristics of faith that had particular relevance to the immediate situation of the persons addressed.
The object that faith celebrates is considered under two aspects: “the reality of the blessings for which we hope, the demonstration of events not seen.”
It speaks an objective reality that is unquestionable and securely established. contends that a process of realization that takes in the beginning, middle, and completion of reality[5]
Speaking of faith, we then must grasp the purpose of his anointing and implementation of the gift of faith in our lives.
To do this we need to start with our purpose
Genesis 12:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
There is a blessing and a protection that comes to a child of God
Galatians 3:6–8 (KJV 1900)
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
The church should partake in the benefits of the covenant
Genesis 22:17–18 (KJV 1900)
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Where does this start
2 Corinthians 10:2–6 (KJV 1900)
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
It starts when we change our vista in which we view the things of God and start tearing down strongholds
Strongholds of:
Imaginations
3053. λογισμός lŏgismŏs, log-is-mos´; from 3049; computation, i.e. (fig.) reasoning (conscience, conceit):—imagination, thought.[6]
Thought
3540. νόημα nŏēma, nŏ´-ay-mah; from 3539; a perception, i.e. purpose, or (by impl.) the intellect, disposition, itself:—device, mind, thought.[7]
We have to tear down old traditions (this is the way that we have always done it)
We have to tear down self-speak
Past
Fears and doubts
And allow faith to work in our live to fulfill the will and purpose of God
Abraham was called. His faith was not enough there was places that God called him too.
The rabbis believe that one of the main components was his love for his family.. the call of the church is to love one another
Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV 1900)
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Country – kingdom, governmental structure
Kindred – societal frame
Fathers house – inheritance
WHAT MUST ABRAM LEAVE? Let us begin with an exploration of exactly what it is that God is asking Abram to leave. In the Torah it is described by three expressions – aretz, moledet, and beit av. The first is the easiest. Aretz is usually translated as land, and that is perfectly appropriate in this context. God wants Abram to relocate, to leave his current land and move to a different one. The second term, moledet, is a bit more complex. It is often translated as birthplace, but that doesn’t work here. After all, Abram’s birthplace is Ur Kasdim, and he already left there when his father moved the family at the end of Genesis 11. The context therefore demands a new interpretation of moledet, and I believe that it is related to the concept of group or national identity.3 It is certainly used that way in contemporary Hebrew, and in this context it means that as Abram relocates himself geographically God wants him to simultaneously eschew his group identity. The third element, beit av (literally, “the father’s home”) likely refers to those values one learns at home. God also wants Abram to abandon some of the values he has learned in his father’s house, probably referring to Terah’s idolatry.4 When we put the picture together, God is essentially asking Abram to abandon three fundamental elements of his identity:5 his geographical connection, his national affiliation, and even some of the core values he learned at home. The combination of these three elements form the core of one’s identity vis-à-vis the external world. (This is not the identity of “Who am I?” but of “Who am I in context of?”) Lest the reader think that this is too much of a stretch, this combination of expressions resurfaces by the one person identified in the Bible as leaving behind her origins to affiliate with the Hebrews, and by another identified by the rabbis as doing the same. Ruth, surprised by Boaz’s generosity of spirit, asks why he is so kind to her.
Ruth 1:16–17 (KJV 1900)
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
His response is brief and to the point: “Boaz responded and said to her, ‘I was told about all that you had done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband; you left your mother and father and the eretz of your moledet’” (Ruth 2:11). The language of the father’s home, the eretz, and the moledet unmistakably parallels the language used with Abram, and the meaning of that formula is clear: the renunciation of one identity and the adoption of a new one. As Ruth herself famously says to Naomi: “For where you go I shall go, where you sleep I shall sleep; your nation is my nation and your God is my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth’s declaration of allegiance is her statement of trading in one affiliative identity for another – in rabbinic language, conversion to the Hebrew people[8].6
Most commentators have regarded this divine imperative as a test of faith: Abram is to give up all he holds dearest for an unknown land promised by God.[9]
Faith always requires that you leave old ways for places that God is calling the church
Lot has to stay don’t bring him on the journey to the purpose that God has for the church
Abraham and Lot are types of two classes of Christians. Lot was a righteous man, but, living by sight and sense, he sought only his own pleasure and profit. He is the type of an unconsecrated Christian. Abraham lives by faith on the promise of God. He may fail, but not like Lot, who never could do anything to help Abraham. Lot builded no altar. The unconsecrated life can live without worship. The well-watered plains have more attraction for the worldly believer. The “higher Christian life” just means higher motives in living[10]
James 2:17–26 (KJV 1900)
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Could it be that the reason our faith is anemic is because we are not using it for its intended purpose
Matthew 28:16–20 (NRSV)
The Commissioning of the Disciples
(Mk 16:14–18; Lk 24:36–49; Jn 20:19–23; Acts 1:6–8)
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15–18 (NRSV)
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Tear down strongholds
Faith demands that you roll away the stone
Faith demands that you step into places you may not want to go into the Jordan Naaman for your miracle. Into the Jordan with the ark to get to the promise land.
Faith demands that you build an ark when you don’t see rain.
Faith always demands a response
Faith will work but it demands a response
I’m going to believe and I’m going to act
I’m going to pray
I’m going to fast
I’m going to worship
But my faith extends beyond the walls
I’m going to reach for those that the King of kings and the Lord of lords died for
I’m reaching and bring faith to the lost and the dying
Faith demanded that I do the will of the Father and reach out side of my comfort zone
Mark 2:1–5 (KJV 1900)
And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Faith demands that we have the ability to bring the needy into the presents of God that they might receive his purpose on earth.
[1] Seal, D. (2016). Kingdom of God. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[3] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[4] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[5] William L. Lane, Hebrews 9–13, vol. 47B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1991), 328.
fig. figurative, figuratively
[6] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 45.
impl. implication, implied
[7] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 50.
[8] Grumet, Zvi. Genesis: From Creation to Covenant . Maggid Books. Kindle Edition.
[9] Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1–15, vol. 1, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1987), 274.
[10] James Smith and Robert Lee, Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII, vol. 1, five-volume edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971), 66.The Commission of the Kingdom (Revised)
One of our greatest struggles deal with our view of God and our purpose in and working in conjunction with the Kingdom of God to establish a body of believers
We battle stasis and conformity
We battle ease and prosperity
(Eufaula)
Our greatest weapons are not formed for self but for the lost and dying that surround us
Isaiah 58:6–12 (NRSV)
6 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin?
8 Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,
10 if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.
12 Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.
Acts 28:25–31 (NRSV)
25 So they disagreed with each other; and as they were leaving, Paul made one further statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your ancestors through the prophet Isaiah,
26 ‘Go to this people and say, You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’
28 Let it be known to you then that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
To those that know what is expected and refuse to do it this brings other issues to the surface
Ezekiel 12:1–3 (AMP)
THE WORD of the Lord also came to me, saying,
2 Son of man, you dwell in the midst of the house of the rebellious, who have eyes to see and see not, who have ears to hear and hear not, for they are a rebellious house. [Mark 8:18.]
3 Therefore, son of man, prepare your belongings for removing and going into exile, and move out by day in their sight; and you shall remove from your place to another place in their sight. It may be they will consider and perceive that they are a rebellious house.
Matthew 16:19 (KJV 1900)
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
We see the motif of the Kingdom of God flicker in the OT
But it is in the New Testament where we see Jesus telling thouse who would listen about the his Kingdom
Three primary themes about God’s kingdom emerge in biblical and extrabiblical literature:
• the everlasting duration of the kingdom;
• its present and tangible aspects in the lives of the ancient Israelites;
• the belief in a future appearance of a superior and more comprehensive kingdom of God.[1]
The kingdom is an already - not yet kingdom-
Luke 11:16–23 (KJV 1900)
16 And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. 18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub. 19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. 20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. 21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: 22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armour wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. 23 He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.
It’s a powerful Kingdom
The Mission Statement of the Kingdom
Luke 4:18–19 (KJV 1900)
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 19:10 (KJV 1900)
10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
There are aspects that are already working in the world.
One can see that the church is the visible representation of Christ here on earth
The Kingdom of Heaven here on earth is a microcosm of what we will experience once we get to heaven
The Value of The Kingdom
Matthew 13:44–46 (KJV 1900)
44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The Cost of The Kingdom
Luke 18:18–30 (NRSV)
The Rich Ruler
(Mt 19:16–30; Mk 10:17-31)
18 A certain ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother.’ ” 21 He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.”
28 Then Peter said, “Look, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not get back very much more in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
Yet to be in the kingdom requires that its denizens fulfill the duties of citizenship
We have a duty to the Kingdom and to our redeemer to operate in a manner that is pleasing to God brining those that He died for into relationship
Romans 10:17 (KJV 1900)
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Faith comes by hearing but faith also demands as response
Hebrews 4:2 (KJV 1900)
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Faith….
Hebrews 11:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Hebrews 10:39 (NRSV)
39 But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.
When it comes to faith there needs to be a people who do not shrink back
Not from the fight
Not from the trial
And not from the immensity of the harvest
Those that will not shrink back at the fear of not understanding how God is going to give the new building and how we can disciple and teach the masses
We are curious people in that our faith is constrained to belief in only certain areas
I can believe for cancer but not for the addict
I can believe for a raise but not for children
I can believe for move ins but not for the backslider
I can believe for the backslider but not for the unchurched
Our faith needs to be not in our understanding but in the power and plan of almighty God
Hebrews 11:1–3 (NRSV)
The Meaning of Faith
11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.
Faith is the evidence of things not seen, though now actually existing, the substance of things hoped for, but not yet present. It deals with the unseen present, as well as with the unseen future. As the evidence of things not seen, it rejoices in Christ our complete sanctification, as a present possession.[2]
Further more
We know how faith acts, and what its great hindrances are, Faith in God stands opposed to trust in self: specially to its willing and working. Faith is hindered by every effort to do something ourselves. Faith looks to God working, and yields itself to His strength, as revealed in Christ through the Spirit; it allows God to work both to will and to do. Faith must work; without works it is dead, by works alone can it be perfected; in Jesus Christ, as Paul says, nothing avails but 'faith working by love.' But these works, which faith in God's working inspires and performs, are very different from the works in which a believer often puts forth his best efforts, only to find that he fails.[3]
I don’t work ibn my power
I don’t work by a program
I work by and through the vision that God gave to the man of God and the church
If I will buy into the vision and act in faith God is bound by his word bring to pass that which he has spoken
And as by effort, so faith is also hindered by the desire to see and feel. '
It doesn’t matter what we seen and feel it matters what God has said and promised
If thou believest, thou shalt see;' the Holy Spirit will seal our faith with a Divine experience; we shall see the glory of God. But this is His work: ours is, when all appears dark and cold, in the face of all that nature or experience testifies, still each moment to believe in Jesus as our all-sufficient sanctification, in whom we are perfected before God. Complaints as to want of feeling, as to weakness or deadness, seldom profit: it is the soul that refuses to occupy itself with itself, either with its own weakness or the strength of the enemy, but only looks to what Jesus is, and has promised to do, to whom progress in holiness will be a joyful march from victory to victory. 'The Lord Himself doth fight for you;' this thought, so often repeated in connection with Israel's possession of the promised land, is the food of faith: in conscious weakness, in presence of mighty enemies, it sings the conqueror's song. When God appears to be not doing what we trusted Him for, then is just the time for faith to glory in Him.[4]
The opening phrase “Now faith celebrates,” speaks of steadfast faithfulness to God and his word of promise.
The characterization of faith that follows exposes the dynamic nature of the response to God which receives divine attestation in Scripture and that obtains the realization of promised blessings “faith arises when a person lets himself be convinced by God, and so attains a certainty which is objectively grounded and which transcends all human possibilities in its reliability”).
Every word has been carefully chosen and weighed so as to draw attention to characteristics of faith that had particular relevance to the immediate situation of the persons addressed.
The object that faith celebrates is considered under two aspects: “the reality of the blessings for which we hope, the demonstration of events not seen.”
It speaks an objective reality that is unquestionable and securely established. contends that a process of realization that takes in the beginning, middle, and completion of reality[5]
Speaking of faith, we then must grasp the purpose of his anointing and implementation of the gift of faith in our lives.
To do this we need to start with our purpose
Genesis 12:1–3 (KJV 1900)
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
There is a blessing and a protection that comes to a child of God
Galatians 3:6–8 (KJV 1900)
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 8 And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.
The church should partake in the benefits of the covenant
Genesis 22:17–18 (KJV 1900)
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Where does this start
2 Corinthians 10:2–6 (KJV 1900)
2 But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
It starts when we change our vista in which we view the things of God and start tearing down strongholds
Strongholds of:
Imaginations
3053. λογισμός lŏgismŏs, log-is-mos´; from 3049; computation, i.e. (fig.) reasoning (conscience, conceit):—imagination, thought.[6]
Thought
3540. νόημα nŏēma, nŏ´-ay-mah; from 3539; a perception, i.e. purpose, or (by impl.) the intellect, disposition, itself:—device, mind, thought.[7]
We have to tear down old traditions (this is the way that we have always done it)
We have to tear down self-speak
Past
Fears and doubts
And allow faith to work in our live to fulfill the will and purpose of God
Abraham was called. His faith was not enough there was places that God called him too.
The rabbis believe that one of the main components was his love for his family.. the call of the church is to love one another
Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV 1900)
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Country – kingdom, governmental structure
Kindred – societal frame
Fathers house – inheritance
WHAT MUST ABRAM LEAVE? Let us begin with an exploration of exactly what it is that God is asking Abram to leave. In the Torah it is described by three expressions – aretz, moledet, and beit av. The first is the easiest. Aretz is usually translated as land, and that is perfectly appropriate in this context. God wants Abram to relocate, to leave his current land and move to a different one. The second term, moledet, is a bit more complex. It is often translated as birthplace, but that doesn’t work here. After all, Abram’s birthplace is Ur Kasdim, and he already left there when his father moved the family at the end of Genesis 11. The context therefore demands a new interpretation of moledet, and I believe that it is related to the concept of group or national identity.3 It is certainly used that way in contemporary Hebrew, and in this context it means that as Abram relocates himself geographically God wants him to simultaneously eschew his group identity. The third element, beit av (literally, “the father’s home”) likely refers to those values one learns at home. God also wants Abram to abandon some of the values he has learned in his father’s house, probably referring to Terah’s idolatry.4 When we put the picture together, God is essentially asking Abram to abandon three fundamental elements of his identity:5 his geographical connection, his national affiliation, and even some of the core values he learned at home. The combination of these three elements form the core of one’s identity vis-à-vis the external world. (This is not the identity of “Who am I?” but of “Who am I in context of?”) Lest the reader think that this is too much of a stretch, this combination of expressions resurfaces by the one person identified in the Bible as leaving behind her origins to affiliate with the Hebrews, and by another identified by the rabbis as doing the same. Ruth, surprised by Boaz’s generosity of spirit, asks why he is so kind to her.
Ruth 1:16–17 (KJV 1900)
16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.
His response is brief and to the point: “Boaz responded and said to her, ‘I was told about all that you had done for your mother-in-law following the death of your husband; you left your mother and father and the eretz of your moledet’” (Ruth 2:11). The language of the father’s home, the eretz, and the moledet unmistakably parallels the language used with Abram, and the meaning of that formula is clear: the renunciation of one identity and the adoption of a new one. As Ruth herself famously says to Naomi: “For where you go I shall go, where you sleep I shall sleep; your nation is my nation and your God is my God” (Ruth 1:16). Ruth’s declaration of allegiance is her statement of trading in one affiliative identity for another – in rabbinic language, conversion to the Hebrew people[8].6
Most commentators have regarded this divine imperative as a test of faith: Abram is to give up all he holds dearest for an unknown land promised by God.[9]
Faith always requires that you leave old ways for places that God is calling the church
Lot has to stay don’t bring him on the journey to the purpose that God has for the church
Abraham and Lot are types of two classes of Christians. Lot was a righteous man, but, living by sight and sense, he sought only his own pleasure and profit. He is the type of an unconsecrated Christian. Abraham lives by faith on the promise of God. He may fail, but not like Lot, who never could do anything to help Abraham. Lot builded no altar. The unconsecrated life can live without worship. The well-watered plains have more attraction for the worldly believer. The “higher Christian life” just means higher motives in living[10]
James 2:17–26 (KJV 1900)
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Could it be that the reason our faith is anemic is because we are not using it for its intended purpose
Matthew 28:16–20 (NRSV)
The Commissioning of the Disciples
(Mk 16:14–18; Lk 24:36–49; Jn 20:19–23; Acts 1:6–8)
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Mark 16:15–18 (NRSV)
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. 16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Tear down strongholds
Faith demands that you roll away the stone
Faith demands that you step into places you may not want to go into the Jordan Naaman for your miracle. Into the Jordan with the ark to get to the promise land.
Faith demands that you build an ark when you don’t see rain.
Faith always demands a response
Faith will work but it demands a response
I’m going to believe and I’m going to act
I’m going to pray
I’m going to fast
I’m going to worship
But my faith extends beyond the walls
I’m going to reach for those that the King of kings and the Lord of lords died for
I’m reaching and bring faith to the lost and the dying
Faith demanded that I do the will of the Father and reach out side of my comfort zone
Mark 2:1–5 (KJV 1900)
And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
Faith demands that we have the ability to bring the needy into the presents of God that they might receive his purpose on earth.
[1] Seal, D. (2016). Kingdom of God. In J. D. Barry, D. Bomar, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, D. Mangum, C. Sinclair Wolcott, … W. Widder (Eds.), The Lexham Bible Dictionary. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
[2] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[3] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[4] https://biblehub.com/library/murray/holy_in_christ/eighteenth_day_holiness_and_faith.htm
[5] William L. Lane, Hebrews 9–13, vol. 47B, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1991), 328.
fig. figurative, figuratively
[6] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 45.
impl. implication, implied
[7] James Strong, A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009), 50.
[8] Grumet, Zvi. Genesis: From Creation to Covenant . Maggid Books. Kindle Edition.
[9] Gordon J. Wenham, Genesis 1–15, vol. 1, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1987), 274.
[10] James Smith and Robert Lee, Handfuls on Purpose for Christian Workers and Bible Students, Series I–XIII, vol. 1, five-volume edition. (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1971), 66.