| It is the kingdom of God that lies at the heart of the | | | | by the Holy Spirit - is happening in a realm outside his |
| teaching, life and action of Jesus and it is the kingdom | | | | frame of reference. This is an important principle of the |
| that pervades his parables, miracles and passion. | | | | Kingdom - to be able to recognize and work with the |
| Sadly it would be true to say the church has lost this | | | | activity of the Holy Spirit as He moves into new |
| message. Most Christians think the Kingdom of God is | | | | spheres. |
| something which will happen one day. We have | | | | If we reduce the Kingdom by limiting the scope within |
| reduced the Kingdom to a personal experience now | | | | which the Holy Spirit can work then we limit the |
| and a collective experience in the future. E Stanley | | | | effectiveness of the gospel. Rather we should be |
| Jones put it well when he said. "If Jesus made the | | | | asking God to show us where the Holy Spirit is |
| kingdom of God the centre of his message and the | | | | already at work within our communities and then |
| centre of his endeavour, the greatest need of man, as | | | | looking for ways to work with Him for the expansion |
| I see it, is to rediscover the kingdom of God." | | | | of the Kingdom. |
| So to help us in the process let's put forward 8 | | | | When it comes to the church we can think of Sunday |
| statements that encapsulate some key aspects of the | | | | as the church 'gathered' and Monday as the church |
| Kingdom. | | | | 'scattered'. Sunday then becomes a time to strengthen, |
| 1. Kingdom is the sovereign rule of God | | | | encourage and equip Christians to take the Kingdom |
| When Jesus introduced the Kingdom to his disciples he | | | | into their world. |
| spoke about the rule of God that exists in heaven. He | | | | As church growth expert, Eddie Gibbs says, churches |
| went on to say that this rule is now to be expressed in | | | | should shift from an invitational, 'Come', seeker service |
| the earth. | | | | strategy (which works in largely churched suburbs) to |
| "Our father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. | | | | a 'Go' strategy of dispersal, with a sustained |
| Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is | | | | commitment to infiltrating each segment of this |
| in heaven." In other words Christianity is about heaven | | | | fragmenting world. |
| invading earth not about us escaping here to go to | | | | 6. Kingdom is expressed in a variety of passions |
| heaven. 'All the major events that followed Jesus' | | | | As we have established the Kingdom is all about the |
| inauguration of the Kingdom - the resurrection and | | | | will of God being done on the earth. For this to happen |
| ascension of Jesus and the gift of the Spirit are "not | | | | "God's passion must become our passion" (Wright) |
| designed to take us away from this earth, but to make | | | | When we consider the nature and character of God |
| us agents of the transformation of this earth" (Wright) | | | | we recognize that His passions are broad and diverse. |
| What are the implications for us of God's sovereignty? | | | | The means the Kingdom will be expressed in a wide |
| Jesus said after the resurrection "All authority in | | | | variety of passions. |
| heaven and earth has been given to me" (Matt 28:18). | | | | This table highlights some of the different passions we |
| This means every part of creation is subject to Christ. | | | | find within the different members of the Godhead. |
| Abraham Kuyper put it well when he said ""There is | | | | Just a bit of theology to explain this table. In the |
| not one square inch of the entire creation about which | | | | unfolding of creation each member of the Godhead |
| Jesus Christ does not cry out, 'This is mine! This | | | | has taken the lead in the various phases. So for |
| belongs to me!'" This means all of life is sacred. To | | | | example we see the Father took the lead in Creation, |
| divide the world into sacred and secular domains is to | | | | the Son in salvation and the Holy Spirit in completing |
| deny the sovereignty of God. | | | | the work begun thru the Incarnation. So we can link the |
| God is over all of his creation. There are many | | | | three great commissions to each member of the trinity. |
| spheres within creation. Each of these spheres can be | | | | It follows from this each of these mandates reflect |
| influenced by the redemptive, compassionate and | | | | different aspects of the Kingdom. Creation mandate - |
| loving servanthood of people of the Kingdom. All of life | | | | has a strong emphasis on social justice, dominion, arts |
| relates to God. What happens in each of these | | | | and politics. The evangelistic mandate focuses on |
| spheres is equally important. To serve in the market | | | | evangelism and discipleship. While the relational |
| place is a calling just like it is to be in church ministry. | | | | mandate focuses more on spiritual power and signs |
| 2. Kingdom is a present reality | | | | and wonders. |
| When Jesus began his ministry he said "The Kingdom | | | | So here we have explained three different streams |
| of God is at hand". Later on he talked about things that | | | | within the Christian tradition - the liberals, evangelical |
| were to happen in the future concerning the Kingdom. | | | | and the pentecostials. Each stream validly represents |
| So we see here an important principle about the | | | | different godly passions. |
| Kingdom. It is both 'now' and 'not yet'. There is a | | | | Once we see the vastness of the Kingdom it helps |
| tension here that needs to be recognized. If we focus | | | | understand how other people can be equally |
| solely on the 'now' of the Kingdom we can reduce the | | | | passionate about a range of issues that may not stir |
| Kingdom to social action focused on changing the | | | | our hearts. This passion is an expression of the heart |
| world. Alternatively if we focus on the 'not yet' | | | | of God for His creation. We are to pursue the passion |
| emphasis we fail to address the current pains and | | | | God has given us but equally to validate and |
| needs of the world. | | | | appreciate the passion He has put in others. |
| Jesus saw the ministry of the Kingdom was fulfilling | | | | 7. Kingdom fruit is more than evangelism |
| the prophecy in Isaiah 61. In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus outlines | | | | Recently I had the opportunity to preach on the |
| the integral and holistic nature of the Kingdom. It is | | | | Kingdom in my local church. As part of this message I |
| good news to those who are disinherited either | | | | referred to the warning from Jesus that if we don't |
| physically, socially, politically or spiritually. The Kingdom | | | | produce the fruit of the Kingdom then God will take |
| relates to every level and arena of human life and | | | | the Kingdom from us and give it to someone else who |
| existence. The Hebrew word 'shalom' aptly describes | | | | is being productive for the Kingdom (Matt 21:43). |
| the result of the Kingdom coming to a person or a | | | | It follows that for us to be effective for the Kingdom |
| community. It means the establishment of peace | | | | we need to know what is Kingdom fruit and how can |
| between man and God and the well-being, welfare or | | | | we produce it. In response to this message I had an |
| safety of an individual or a community. | | | | interesting talk with my friend Mark Darling. |
| Our challenge as Christians is to know what the will of | | | | Mark is a psychologist who specializes in |
| God is and to work with God by the power of the | | | | neurofeedback therapy for Autism Spectrum |
| Holy Spirit to see it happen in earth. Commenting on | | | | conditions. Neurofeedback is a non-invasive, painless |
| Matt 6:10 NT Wright, one of the leading theologians of | | | | and fun therapy for children on the Spectrum that is |
| our time, makes this observation. "It's a prayer about | | | | based on complex scientific processes. Mark's |
| God's kingdom coming on earth -which, as we have | | | | dedication to this field of study was initiated by the |
| seen, pretty much sums up what Christianity is all | | | | journey he and Kym have walked with their son |
| about." | | | | Nathan. |
| So simply put - Christianity can be summarized as | | | | He has seen amazing results with families that have |
| seeing God's kingdom come on earth. | | | | been torn apart by trying to cope with children |
| 3. The Church is not the Kingdom | | | | suffering from these conditions. But despite these |
| The question must then be asked. If the Kingdom is | | | | great results Mark made this comment: "And yet the |
| the central message of the gospels and really | | | | little voice says what's the point of all this if they don't |
| summarises the essential heart of Christianity - why do | | | | actually get saved and become Christians..." |
| we hear so little about the Kingdom of God from the | | | | So here's the rub - what is Kingdom fruit? Is what |
| pulpit or in the books we read and the DVDs we | | | | Mark does producing the Kingdom or does it only |
| watch. | | | | become Kingdom if someone makes a personal |
| The answer is quite simple. We have substituted the | | | | commitment to Jesus? |
| church for the Kingdom. In other words many | | | | Many Christians would claim the latter. The only thing |
| Christians believe what God is doing in the earth is | | | | that really counts they believe from God's view point is |
| predominantly expressed thru the church. | | | | personal salvation. But is this what the Scripture |
| Accompanied with this has been the reduction of the | | | | teaches. When asked to explain how we should fulfill |
| gospel to the gospel of salvation not the gospel of the | | | | the great commandment to love our neighbor Jesus |
| Kingdom. As a result much of Christian thinking has | | | | used the illustration of the good Samaritan. Nowhere in |
| been focused on individual salvation and the building up | | | | this story is there the suggestion that seeing the |
| of the church. | | | | wounded man saved is the measure by which |
| Amongst other things such thinking shows a lack of | | | | fulfilment of the commandment will be measured. The |
| understanding of the nature of God's sovereignty. God | | | | ministry of Jesus is summarized in Acts in that he |
| exercises His sovereignty in two ways - saving grace | | | | went about doing good and healing those who were |
| and common grace. As agents of saving grace | | | | oppressed (Acts 10:38). |
| Christians are to evangelize and bring people to Christ. | | | | While it's always possible to swing towards social |
| "As agents of God's common grace, we are called to | | | | action and to neglect an emphasis on evangelism - it is |
| help sustain and renew his creation, to uphold the | | | | wrong I believe to say that those who promote justice, |
| created institutions of family and society, to pursue | | | | healing, compassion and mercy from a Christian |
| science and scholarship, to create works of art and | | | | perspective are not reflecting the heart of God and |
| beauty, and to heal and help those suffering from the | | | | thus producing the fruit of the Kingdom. As they do this |
| results of the Fall." (Colson) | | | | they are sowing seeds of hope and salvation that will |
| We see this principle in the commissions given by | | | | in many cases turn people's hearts towards |
| Jesus. In what is called the "Great Commission '- there | | | | encountering for themselves the reality of a personal |
| is the call to evangelism and discipleship: While in the | | | | relationship with the King of the Kingdom. |
| "Great Commandment' - we are called to love our | | | | 8. Every Christian is an agent for the Kingdom |
| neighbour which includes social action. | | | | Last year I was presenting a seminar called |
| 4. Kingdom is within every person | | | | "Rediscovering the Kingdom of God'. After listening to |
| When Jesus was talking to the Pharisees in Luke 17:21 | | | | my seminar a guy called Matt came up to me, thanked |
| he made another important observation about the | | | | me for my teaching and then made a comment that |
| Kingdom. He said to them "the Kingdom is in your | | | | has stuck with me ever since. He said "I go to church |
| midst" - referring to himself but this can also be | | | | every Sunday and I watch all that is going on and I |
| translated the Kingdom of God is within you. This | | | | think there's got to be more to my Christian faith than |
| concept is reiterated by Paul in Romans when he says | | | | this" |
| "that which is known about God is evident within them" | | | | Be clear Matt wasn't bagging church but he had a |
| (Rom 1:17) Kant wrote "Two things strike me with awe, | | | | desire to see his faith expressed in a meaningful way |
| the starry heavens above and the moral law within" | | | | in the world in which he lived. |
| We are made to obey the laws of the Kingdom. Like | | | | For many Christians the highlight of their week is the |
| the law of gravity these laws operate whether we | | | | Sunday service. Sadly many believe this is where the |
| acknowledge them or not. Why for example does it | | | | Kingdom of God is primarily expressed. Ministry is |
| feel good when we do good? Dr Adler, a Jewish | | | | confined to that which is done within the church. This is |
| psychiatrist, states "I suppose all the ills of human | | | | demonstrated in the true story of a young lawyer who |
| personality can be traced back to one thing - not | | | | was asked what her ministry was. She replied "I teach |
| understanding the meaning of the phrase 'It is more | | | | Sunday school at my church" What a travesty!! |
| blessed to give than to receive'" | | | | Nothing she did during the week in bringing justice, |
| This is how the Kingdom operates. Similarly when we | | | | compassion and resolution to the world in which she |
| make choices that hurt others we experience inner | | | | worked counted, in her mind, as having any spiritual |
| disquiet because we are working against the truth of | | | | value. How can we change people's thinking to break |
| God that is within us. Living against the laws of the | | | | free of this Sunday/Monday dichotomy? |
| Kingdom affects our health. Psychiatrist William Sadler | | | | Our faith makes us responsible to bring the Kingdom |
| put it this way "If we lived in a truly Christian way, half | | | | into every area of life. In the words of Justine, a |
| the diseases of the people of America would drop off | | | | Burundian living in Rwanda, "I see what Jesus meant |
| tomorrow morning and we would stand up a new | | | | by the kingdom of God. I see that it's about changing |
| healthy people." | | | | this world, not just escaping it and retreating into our |
| Because we are made in the image of God each of | | | | churches. If Jesus' message of the kingdom of God is |
| us has within us what Wright calls 'the echoes of the | | | | true, then everything must change. Everything must |
| Spirit'. He identifies four characteristics: | | | | change." |
| Longing for justice | | | | What a profound insight - when the Kingdom is |
| Quest for spirituality | | | | expressed - everything must change. The change |
| Hunger for relationships | | | | begins in us and then it finds its expression in the world |
| Delight in beauty | | | | in which we live and work. It is about bringing God's |
| 5. Kingdom happens outside the church | | | | mercy, compassion, justice and righteousness into |
| Most Kingdom activity will take place outside of church. | | | | every sphere of His creation. So our lawyer friend has |
| Let me go further - the activity of the Holy Spirit is not | | | | the opportunity and responsibility to bring about change |
| restricted to those places where Christians are active. | | | | in her chosen field of endeavour by using her gifts, |
| The Holy Spirit can and does speak and work within | | | | training and experience to be an agent for change - an |
| the lives of those who have not yet met the King of | | | | agent for the Kingdom. |
| the Kingdom. | | | | To illustrate how this happens Jesus used a parable of |
| Take some clear examples from the book of Acts. | | | | the wheat and the tares. (Matt 13:36-43) The field is |
| Phillip is in the midst of a revival when the Holy Spirit | | | | the world and it belongs to Jesus. He sows people of |
| directs him to leave this move of God to go into the | | | | the Kingdom into the field to produce the Kingdom. |
| dessert. There Phillip is led to meet a leader from | | | | While there is opposition it is in this context that the will |
| Ethiopia who just happens to be reading Isaiah 53 and | | | | of God is done on the earth. |
| is wondering who this prophecy is talking about. Clearly | | | | What does all this mean for me? |
| the Holy Spirit was at work long before Phillip came | | | | - What is the passion God has given you? |
| onto the scene. What made it a significant moment | | | | - How has He equipped you in terms of personality, |
| from a Kingdom perspective was Phillip's obedience to | | | | gifting, experience? |
| be at the right place at the right time to work with the | | | | - Where has He planted you or where does He want |
| Holy Spirit. | | | | to plant you? |
| A similar theme emerges in the story of Cornelius. A | | | | - What does it mean to produce the Kingdom in that |
| God-fearing Roman centurion who is visited by an | | | | sphere? |
| angel and directed to send men to Jerusalem to get | | | | - What is the vision God is giving you for producing the |
| Peter to come to his house. Peter struggles with this | | | | Kingdom? |
| situation because the work of the Kingdom - initiated | | | | |