Kingdom Here

When you are saved your life is turned over to God, he is your king, you can say no to your king is Jesus truly your king to start a portion of the upcoming Pastor Abbott on shop Clearview church in Henderson, North Carolina I Clearview. Our focus is on making Christ visible in the way that we worship the way that we serve in the way that we love one another.

Come check us out at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson.

Find us on social media or visit us online@clearviewvc.org join us for the rest of this week's message for gospel without a king is no gospel at all is a false gospel in our series today begin to learn what that truly means. If you have your Bibles with you. Look at several passages. The first passage I'm reading is from Matthew chapter 4 and verse 23. Now what you pay attention to one phrase that will be repeated in all the passages one phrase you will see coming up again and again. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Matthew 935 then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Here's a tart reference in Matthew 24 and verse 14 and this gospel of the kingdom.

Are you catching the phrase that is common and this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

And here's the final passage that read this morning. It's from Mark chapter 1 and verse 14 Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God and saying the time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is at hand repent and believe in the gospel and I think you know what the common phrase is it is the gospel of the kingdom. For some reason we have The gospel and we have removed the kingdom.

So now we have a gospel that saves you but it doesn't have a king, which means it has a Savior, but no one to rule that why is that important. It is important because when you are saved your life is turned over to God, he is your king, you can say no to your king, how do you know what the king has said below seen this message. This is the decree of the king. Whatever he says goes. Is Jesus truly your king or is he just your Savior. The other Savior, the forgiveness only gospel that says I'm saved and I'm going to heaven.

Oh, this is a sin in your life are well that's my business Jesus as your Savior, but he is not your king, and this morning if you're lost, you need to get say, but if you're saved, you need to surrender to the king whatever he says a few weeks back I preach on discipleship. The last series was on discipleship in the series. I explained the importance of the kingdom of God. Many of you may remember that how Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God. He came teaching about the kingdom of heaven. In fact, in the Gospels you find the idea of kingdom over 100 times. Matthew Mark Luke John over 100 times. Talk about the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven. Unfortunately, we have taken the kingdom out of the gospel. So now we have the gospel. How do you get say what you tell Jesus you're sorry for your sins and ask him to come into your life and forgive you there's nothing about the kingdom and I'm guilty of that because many times I have forgotten to tell people that now he is your king, he is your boss. You do whatever he tells you to do and that's not a bad thing that's actually something good, but unfortunately we have taken the idea of King and kingdom out of the gospel. So now we have a gospel that's more like an insurance policy rather than a deed of surrender that now my life belongs to him.

Now our gospel is more like a nonbinding contractor were nonbinding contractors is a handshake in good faith so people come to Jesus and give them a handshake in good faith and say I'll do the best I can. Several years ago, I led a young person to Christ and I guess what I'm going to call that and then I said what I want you to come. I don't know if it was Wednesday night or Sunday morning and get into a Bible study and start growing in his answer to me was where I can promise anything.

Do the best I can and I said okay and I walked away wondering what exactly did he and I just do what exactly what we saying to Jesus or to God when we said Lord forgive me of my sins come into my life and from this day I'm a live for you, did he mean that obviously not because he prayed the prayer, but he had zero desire to follow God not want to misunderstand the gospel does bring great joy and freedom you when you give your life to Christ is not like he immediately puts you in shackles and says now you are my subject and you do whatever I tell it just the opposite.

He set you free.

But do you know how that freedom comes it comes by obeying the word of God. It comes by trusting him and knowing that I don't know the best but he does so even though this goes contrary to what I would've done. I am going to obey the word of God. Following Jesus Christ. Obeying Jesus Christ is not bondage is actually freedom not let me come back to our subject unless we get this kingdom idea back into the gospel. Discipleship will only be optional this morning.

I want to share with you three things about the kingdom of God when it comes to the gospel.

What is that really mean three things when you talk about Jesus being our King and we are coming into his kingdom. When we get say what is that really mean number what it means. The kingdom of God is a spiritual and internal change. Now the Jewish people knew what the kingdom of God was in fact they had known about this all their lives from the Old Testament that God is sovereign and he is in control of the world at the present time that controlled the power is limited, that power is invisible.

It is there but you can really see it but one day down the road. God's going to come and truly rule the world and it will be external and it will be eternal to the Jewish people believe that at one time God did control but right now, not much. But one day he will.

But Jesus does something that they were not expecting what Jesus say he came and said repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. It's here that this was very frustrating for the Jewish people.

The Jewish leaders at Howdy what you mean. The kingdom of heaven is near.

Where is it the Romans are still ruling the sinners are still sending we don't see God in his holy temple. What you mean.

The kingdom of God is in hand and they asked Jesus about it and how to Jesus answer look the screen. He said the kingdom of God does not come with observation, nor will they say, see, hear or see.

Therefore, indeed, the kingdom of God is where is within you. Some translations have it.

The kingdom of God is in your midst know what did Jesus mean by this two things. Number one he meant that he is the king and he is standing among them, wherever the king is, there's the kingdom. The second meaning is this the kingdom of God is not external rule and power is internal. They can see it but is there inside of them. If they receive Jesus as their Savior. So he gave them many parables. Let me give you a couple of those real quickly. He said the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. Not many farmers in our church.

When you sow seeds in the ground you don't see the seed anymore it somewhere deep inside the soil. When do you know that you really planted the seed when the shoots begin to come out when the plant begins to grow the crop begins to grow, so also when a person receive Jesus as their Savior.

You can see it immediately, but the seed is there and in time you begin to see the fruits the way the man treats his wife the way she treats her husband begins to change the way the kids follow God or they hear the word of God begins to change.

What else the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal when you put that little leaven in their at first you don't see anything and then what begins to happen, it grows something else. The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field is like a man knows somehow there is treasure in the field to the naturalize the ordinary Isa just looks like a field with rocks and thistles and thorns like just a field man goes not want to buy. He buys it because there is treasure in their so also in people receive Jesus on the surface it seems like what's the big deal about that you go to church. You can sleep in on Sunday you read the Bible you can be reading so many other cool books you're serving God you could do better things with your time and your money but you realize there's a treasure in that field and you're willing to give up everything you have for that treasure.

Something else. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls folks pearls don't you know Bob over the water. Do you has anybody seen them bobbing up and down on the ocean surface. Let me know their deep inside you have to go find a seat. That's how the kingdom of heaven is, it is internal and it is spiritual, but it's happening and it's very real. Do you have the kingdom of God. You see, the gospel has not changed. It is the same gospel of the kingdom that Jesus preached, and this gospel is it is not external invisible but is internal and invisible.

But listen in time, it manifests itself on the external and it is visible to other people. Has there been a change in your life or are you still the same to the kingdom of God is a spiritual and internal change. So when we talk about the gospel of the kingdom were not talking about's will setting you King of in the at at the courthouse or at the City Hall talk about setting a king up in Washington DC or or in London were talking about is a spiritual internal change. When you receive Jesus as your Savior that here's a second point. The first is the kingdom of God is a spiritual internal change. The kingdom of God demands listen carefully.

It demands submission to King Jesus using unlike the gospel we preach today. Unlike the gospel we hear about today. Jesus demanded submission to him enter his words if you want to be saved. You have to submit to the king is not just coming to the Savior. You're also coming to the king who saves you and he truly cared about this point because repeatedly in the gospel. He talked about submission is Matthew 2131.

Listen to what Jesus said assuredly, I say to you, tax collectors and harlots.

Prostitutes enter where the kingdom of God before you. He was talking to the chief priests, the religious leaders and what he was saying to them is this bad people sinful people enter the kingdom before you do. Now what is he mean by that. You see, the priests, the Jewish leaders were self-righteous. They trusted in their self-righteousness. I'm a good person. I do good things. I go to the temple I give alms to the poor, but the prostitutes, the tax collectors then do all those things open.

Jesus said come to me and they said you got it. The temple people to warn us, but if you want us will come to you in Jesus that you see. You see, they don't have any self-righteousness, but you do. Guess what they're going to come before you listen very carefully. If you are trusting in your self-righteousness to enter the kingdom of God. You're wasting your time.

He is not interested in how good a person you been.

He doesn't care about how nice you are to people and give them the shirt off your back. Those things are nothing in the side of God coming to the king means coming empty-handed here I am here when you have your self-righteousness is very hard to submit to the king's number two Mark 947 if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with the one I'd rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire for Jesus was saying is this, you have to be willing to let go of sin to such an extent that if you had to pluck out the side that always messes you up stumbles you do it when you come to King Jesus. If you're still hanging on to that relationship that you know is not good for you if you're still hanging on to that habit. If you're still hanging on to that vanity. If you're still hanging on to that pornography and you still say get say, but I'm not letting go of this, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. Somebody will say mass tough because does that mean I gotta give up all my sin, no you didn't hear me correctly. I'm not telling you that you will be set free from sin before you can come to Jesus. Listen if you can handle your sin without Jesus.

You don't need Jesus.

What I am saying is this, if you are reluctant to let go of sin, you should be willing to say God if you can help me if you can save me.

I'll give up whatever when a person says I'll get say, but load I'm not giving up nothing right now. That's when you say maybe you go back and sit back down because you're not ready.

Here's number three and again this is the kingdom of God demands submission to King Jesus is easier Jesus said in Mark 1025 for a camel to go through the eye of the needle then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of their it is about the kingdom of God. Jesus is saying this if you are rich and your trusting in your earthly treasures. Your degrees your accomplishment, your business, your bank account your family pedigree. People care about that so much but see if your trusting in these things, you cannot enter the kingdom of God here is Matthew 721 Jesus said not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven which means this if you only give lip service. Your lips services. Praise Jesus love you Jesus. All God is so good to me.

Please sit down. Here's another one.

Luke 962 but Jesus said to them, to him, no one having put his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God which means this. If you have hesitation you cannot enter the kingdom of God is like. I wanted I want to go to church but you know what I'm I'm just going to play with you for little bit. I'm just gonna try to throw myself my own little pity party I'm just going to pity myself and it's my party and I'll cry if I want to know something like that. Jesus said you looking back you cannot enter the kingdom of God you not fit for. Here's another one.

Luke chapter 18 in verse 17 Jesus said assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. Which means this party enter the kingdom of God.

It has to be with a willing heart can be stubborn.

We know that, but in this situation is more about the eagerness of a child say I'll do it. I want to get up there. I want to play. I want to try this if you're a stubborn person that's fine. It's all right to have that stubbornness when you're working hard in this world and not giving up and be persistent but if you're stubborn when it comes to the things of God. God says this is my word, obey it, but you like I would be stubborn.

You know what it says you will by no means enter it. Don't even come here, make sure your stubbornness is in the right direction definitely won't be stubborn against God. Here's the last one. Jesus answered and said to him. John 33 Nicodemus most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot.

What's the word C, which is another way of saying you cannot enter the kingdom of God unless you are born again. I want you pay attention with me. How much input does a little infant baby inside the mother's womb. How much input does the baby have in having been born. I mean does the infant ring of the mom and says mom I think today is a day you get what I'm saying. The baby doesn't have any input, there is no communication. There is no baby telling you this and that baby is completely totally dependent on you. When Jesus told Nicodemus what he was saying is you have to be completely helpless. And trust me and that's how you going to see the kingdom of God like a little baby born again you don't have to be sin free to come to Christ. In fact, you can't be without the work of the Holy Spirit you cannot come to Jesus.

So if you say want to clean up my act. I want to go back and give up that relationship. I want to give up this habit or on the give up my language on the give up my pornography before I come to Jesus. Listen, you're missing the point. If you can. Great, but trust me when I say this without Jesus in your life you can do that.

What I am saying is this, you should be willing to give up anything when you come to Jesus is that what if I'm having a tough time being willing. Here's my question to you.

Are you willing to be made willing to surrender interest where the Holy Spirit helps you the even helps you with your will. So when you come to Jesus and you sat I don't know. I'm still I'm addicted to this or I still have an anger problem or I still have this relationship when you come to Jesus. He doesn't say what you get rid of that before you come to me know. He says good come to me. Let me help you get rid of that to the question again is this, are you willing to be made willing to surrender because if you're not willing to be made willing, no use, stay where you are, so the kingdom of God is a spiritual and internal change. The kingdom of God demands submission to King Jesus. Here's the last point, the kingdom of God is a life long journey of restoration. Sometimes Christians find it confusing that Jesus talked about the kingdom so much. But Paul and Peter and John. They hardly talk about it. Ephesians chapter 2.

There's nothing about the kingdom. Romans chapter 10 there is nothing about the kingdom to some people wonder. Jesus talked about the kingdom, but the apostles never talk about the kingdom of the book of acts of Romans are Corinthian Zoar or of Peter's letters or John's letters. I want you to hear me carefully that you talk about, but the use different terms and terminology instead of calling it the kingdom of God. They talk about the new creation that talk about the new heavens and the earth. They talk about being restored to God, read a few verses for use on the screen, starting in Romans chapter 6 verse four solid you turn your attention to the screen. Listen to what Paul says. Therefore, we were buried with him through baptism into death when our king died, we died with him. That just as Christ was raised from the dead. The king was raised. We raise up with him by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk.

What's the word there in newness of life.

So even though the word king and kingdom is not mentioned is new books is the same idea. Here's the references found in second Corinthians 517, Paul says again. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. All things have passed away behold all things have become new. You see, even though the word kingdom is not used. The idea of new and newness and a new life is all over the New Testament, which means that once you enter into the kingdom of Jesus. You don't go back to the old ways is a new life with new laws, a new master and a new goal. Second Peter 313. Nevertheless, this is Peter speaking me according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The old heavens, the old earth. The old king who was the old King Satan himself has been dethroned.

Now it's a new king with a new promise. Here's another one that is found in Revelation chapter 21 verse one now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, that he who sat on the throne wasn't me who sits on the throne, the king sits on the throne than he who sat on the throne said, behold, I make all things new. You get the connection King kingdom new newness folks. The idea of King and kingdom hasn't gone away. Question this morning to use. Are you on this lifelong journey of restoration is a restoration to what restoration to a new kingdom restoration to a new life. Are you being set free from the bondage and the damage of sin and restore to the glorious and the gracious rule of Jesus Christ. Because if you're still living in sin and you still struggling with those old behaviors and you not following Jesus Christ you're not in the new heavens and new earth are still in the old heaven and the all earth, and Satan is your king and the more you understand this, the more you begin to submit to him as your king and the more you become the cycles you see how discipleship is connected to the kingship of Jesus you know why people have trouble with discipleship is not because all you know we don't emphasize discipleship will read and notice that it's the gospel. That's where the problem begins. If you gospel doesn't have a king, why would you change you just get your insurance policy and business as usual. Are you willing to surrender to King Jesus.

Some of you who have never done that. Today's a day to surrender to King Jesus and be saved. How about those who are saved use a lot. I am saved but I don't understand all this, but I believe all this. My question to you is are you living by this. Are you actually obedient to Jesus Christ. What happens going to get saved again.

No, you need to read surrender your life to King Jesus as believers kingdom of God. Spiritual injury can change the way we live our lives, we can only do that. You willing to be made willing to live a life of obedience to the kingdom of God. For more information visit us online at Clearview B. See.org and for the sermons, notes, check a pastor child and I would not shock