THE KINGDOM OF GOD - PART 1

Highlights from Pastor Jerry’s Message on Sunday, April 27, 2025

The Kingdom of God is not a democracy.  God is never subject to our whims or rule!  We don’t vote Him in or out!  Once you receive Jesus Christ as Savior, He enters to become Lord.  He comes in to rule – to exercise God’s Kingdom rule to achieve our best blessing and highest destiny.

Q. What did Jesus do for 40 days after the Resurrection? Two of the disciples didn’t believe Jesus had risen and were heading away from Jerusalem on the Emmaus Road. Jesus appeared to them and opened the Word to them of God’s redemption plan.  The others were hiding away in the Upper Room when Jesus appeared, making Himself known to them in His glorified state.   Jesus made Himself known to them by opening the Word of God to them.  It was a time of preparation for the disciples, teaching them truths of the Kingdom of God. He emphasized the message of the Kingdom of God – theological things. He established the mission of the Church - instructing them to spread the Gospel and baptize all nations (Matthew 28:19-20). The disciples were reassured and their faith ignited, fueling the spread of Christianity. It was a bridge between Jesus’ earthly ministry and the establishment of the early Church. We, as believers, have the responsibility to carry on Jesus’ teachings.

The Church is God’s people.  God said that His people perish for “lack of revelation knowledge” (Isaiah 5:13). People who lack vision cast off restraint.  The Gospel is complete. 

The Resurrection is central to the Christian faith, symbolizing victory over sin and death.  Resurrection is a transformational event! Jesus is alive!  3:3). We are all walking a journey, guided by the  Holy Spirit! Until you are born-again you can’t even see the Kingdom of God (John 3:3) This church would not be here if it wasn’t for the Resurrection.  And we wouldn’t have a Resurrection life! 

Q. How does it change you?  The Word Jesus spoke to the disciples on the Emmaus Road caused their hearts to “burn within them.” (Luke 24:32)

Luke 1:39-45 is a supernatural event: Mary (pregnant with Jesus) goes to visit Elizabeth (pregnant with John the Baptist). When Mary greeted Elizabeth, baby John leapt in her womb.  John became the forerunner of Jesus, baptizing and preaching a message of repentance: “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” He proclaimed, “I baptize with water unto repentance, but He who is coming will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire! Behold the Lamb of God!”

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”

Patsy had a listening heart, fixed on God’s Word. She heard the Word, and the Holy Spirit empowered her; Fred and Luckky are strong towards hearing Him; *God gave Pastor Richard a vision of and expansion of this church building.

Jesus called the two disciples on the Emmaus Road “foolish and slow of heart to believe.” What does “foolish” mean?  The answer is found in Hebrews 2:3 which warns against neglecting “this so great a salvation.”

Significance of the Lord’s Prayer: In Matthew 6:9 Jesus said to the discipled, “This, then, is how you should pray…“‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.11 Give us today our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts  as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” And v. 13 adds “For Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever!  - TODAY and FOREVER!

The Kingdom of God goes beyond the Church walls!  It’s a model prayer given by Jesus on how to pray. A framework for prayer covering praise, confession, gratitude and requests. It reminds you who God really is, of our dependence upon Him, our need of forgiveness. It is a vision of God’s Kingdom   No Kingdom – no King! No Kingdom – no salvation, no forgiveness, no healing, no deliverance. It expresses a longing for God’s Kingdom to come and His will to be done!! It’s a prayer that looks forward to God’s love and justice. 

Isaiah 9:6,7: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Matthew 27:11; John 18:36, 37 –"Jesus answered Pilate when asked if He was King of the Jews, “It is as you say! My kingdom is not of this world…My kingdom is not from here…You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Jesus is the Christian truth that shapes our Christian practice.  All His promises are Yes and Amen!

As Christians we must remember that we have not chosen Him, but He has chosen us (John 15:16).  Jesus has personally selected us; He calls us into the excellency of His Kingdom, into communion with Him, and into His plans for our lives. We must fully understand our purpose and “press on” so that we may grasp God’s plan for us.!