in Sermon Notes

The Kingdom of God

A Spiritual Awakening!

Eph. 1:18-19

What is the Kingdom of God? (Gen. 1–3:5)

Configuration:

1. Ownership—God owns everything (Gen. 2:1–2, Acts 7:50)

2. Sonship—God created ‘mankind’ in His image (Gen. 1:26–28)

3. Assignment—God entrusted mankind, made in His image, with stewardship over the earth (Gen. 1:28–30; 2:15)

Control:

1. Theocracy—God is the absolute Ruler (Dan. 4:35)

a. Absolute authority—God rules by command (Gen. 1:3a; 2:16a)

b. Delegated authority—God exercises His rule on earth through those He appoints (Dan. 4:32b; Gen. 1:28; Ps. 115:16; Luke 4:5–6)

2. The Word—the Bible is the final rule (John 1:1; Josh. 1:8; Ps. 119:11, 105)

Characteristics:

1. It is a superior Kingdom (Dan. 2:44)

2. It is an invisible Kingdom (Luke 17:20–21)

3. It is an everlasting Kingdom (Dan. 7:27)

4. It is a gender-neutral Kingdom (Gal. 3:28a)

5. It is a class-neutral Kingdom (Gal. 3:28b)

6. It is a generational Kingdom (Dan. 4:35b)

7. It is an otherworldly Kingdom (John 18:36a)

Citizenry:

1. Spirits inhabit it—the sons of God (John 4:23–24; Job 1:6; 2:1; 38:7; 1 Cor. 15:50a; Gal. 3:26)

2. For humans, citizenship comes only through new birth (John 3:3, 5)

3. Only humans are granted dual citizenship (Phil. 3:20; John 17:16; 2 Cor. 10:3; Gal. 5:25)

4. All citizens are related (Heb. 2:11)

5. Citizens have one assignment: do God’s will (Matt. 6:10; John 5:19; Matt. 6:33)

A Few Truths about the Kingdom

• Received by Revelation (Matt. 11:27; 16:17; 1 Cor. 2:10)

• Faith as a currency (Heb. 10:38; Heb. 11:6a)

• Reward as a compensation system (Matt. 6:1–16; Heb. 11:6b; Isa. 40:10)

• Self-sufficiency of God (Phil. 4:19; Prov. 3:5–6)

• Does not operate by Meritocracy (Matt. 20:1–16)

• Allows only His Perfect Will (Matt. 6:10)

• Citizens address natural problems with supernatural power, spiritual dependence, and divine wisdom (2 Cor. 10:3–4; Matt. 17:24–27; 16:8–10)

Pitfalls to Avoid as Citizens:

• Trying to be like others (1 Sam. 8:5–6, 19–20)

• Relying on human wisdom or strength (2 Sam. 24:10; cf. 1 Chron. 21)

2. Beware of worldly traps (Prov. 29:25)

• Honour civic duties without compromising higher moral and spiritual obligations (Matt. 22:21; 17:24–27)

3. Beware of self-inflicted delays (Deut. 1:2)

• They come with personal and group consequences (Num. 12:1–15)

CALL TO ACTION: It is time to arise, shine, for OUR light has come! (Isa. 60:1a)