The Now and Coming Kingdom - 5/7/2023 Sunday Sermon

The Now and Coming Kingdom

There is a Now and Coming Kingdom that is ruled by an Absolute Monarch who is 100% worthy to be loved and followed both now and forevermore. Those who receive Him become His eternally blessed subjects!

Read Acts 1:1-11 The Now and Coming Kingdom Let’s Pray!

Today we look at the teaching Jesus did over 40 days between His resurrection and His ascension to Heaven. 10 days after that would be the Feast of Pentecost.

Jesus’ Post-Resurrection teaching of His disciples V. 1-3

Why didn’t Jesus appear to unbelievers over those 40 days? Because God never rewards pride & unbelief with divine knowledge; He rewards humility & faith.

Now what do you need to have a Kingdom?

You need a King; you need subjects; and you need a realm being governed.

There is clearly a now and not yet feature to the Kingdom of God verses. Christ is already reigning spiritually in Heaven and on earth among those who follow Him. One day in the future He will reign physically over the world from Israel (Rev. 20). Churches today are like Kingdom embassies in the world.

Characteristics of God’s Kingdom:

The Kingdom of God is all about God’s presence (Matt. 3:2; 4:17).

You must be born again to experience the Kingdom of God (John 3:3).

You must repent to experience the Kingdom of God (Matthew 4:17).

You must humble yourself before God like a little child in childlike trust to be converted and experience the Kingdom of God (Matt. 18:3-4; Matt. 5:3).

Jesus said experiencing the Kingdom is worth giving up everything you possess for what you gain in Him (Matthew 13:44-45).

Doing and teaching God’s commands make you great in the Kingdom; not doing God’s will may mean your faith is fraudulent (Matt. 5:19; 7:21).

We are to put His Kingdom interests and doing right(eous) things ahead of our own interests and needs (Matthew 6:33).

We are to pray for Christ’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10).

Jesus gives His believing subjects the “Keys of the Kingdom” to bind and loose things in His name (Matthew 16:19).

Jesus guaranteed this Kingdom would expand throughout the earth (Matthew 13). Jesus said the good news of this kingdom will be preached throughout the world before the end (of the present age) comes (Matthew 24:14).

Jesus said His Kingdom will involve many from “east and west” we didn’t anticipate being His (Matt. 8:12), including those who had been “tax collectors and prostitutes (Matt. 21:31).

Paul taught the Kingdom was particularly characterized by righteousness, joy, and peace in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Paul made clear the unrighteous will not inherit the Kingdom (1 Cor. 6:9-11) unless they have been washed and justified by Jesus. Paul made clear that at the moment of salvation believers are transferred from Satan’s domain to the King’s Dominion (Col. 1:13). Paul and John both spoke of being fellow workers for this Kingdom (Col. 4:11; Rev. 1:9).

Jesus’ promise of Holy Spirit power to His disciples V. 4-8

As a Christian I have found waiting on God’s timing very hard. But I have also found acting in the flesh before God okays acting has cost me dearly.

Do you get what Jesus is saying?

Disciples, you are to enthusiastically expect Christ to return and rule, but not become overly focused on the timing of the details. You are instead to focus on reaching the nations for Christ, beginning with where you are!

Jesus’ ascension to Heaven V. 9-11