In Luke 13 verse 18 Jesus says then said he unto what is the kingdom of God like
and where unto shall I resemble it the title of the sermon tonight is what is
the kingdom of God I mean isn't that kind of question you like to know what
is the kingdom of God now for the most part of my life as a Christian as
someone reading my Bible you know I would often think about Jesus Christ and
you know to seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness but one thing
that really bothered me I'm like yes Lord I'll seek first the kingdom of God
but the question that always bothered me was what is the kingdom of God I mean if
God wants me to search this first in my life what is it because as I read through
my Bible and as you've probably read through your Bible you're gonna find
many times that apparent contradictions about what the kingdom is is the kingdom
of God here is it still in the future is it something that's physical is it
something that's spiritual and if you've gone to an independent Baptist Church
or maybe other churches that are similar if you've come across dispensationalism
they'll throw another curveball at you and say well the kingdom of heaven is
different to the kingdom of God they'll say I say the kingdom of heaven that's
for the Jews and the kingdom of God or is it the other way around I can't remember
the kingdom of God is for the Gentiles and it's become really confusing Lord you
want me to seek his first but what is the kingdom of God it wasn't until I got
to Luke 13 that it finally made sense and so that's something I wanted to
cover today now Luke 13 is quite a short chapter in comparison to many of the
other chapters that we've looked I looked in the book of Luke you know
instead of being 50 or 60 verses it's it's about 30 what is it 35 verses but
still it's a chunky chapter there's a lot to cover in here so I'm gonna do my
best to cover it so let's start off with verse number one Luke 13 verse 1 now this
is a passage of Scripture which people use to again bring in a workspace
gospel to bring in a gospel of repenting of your sins for salvation let's have a
look at it verse number one then we're present at that season some of them that
told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices
so there are some with Jesus that tell him about a story about some Galileans
that had their blood mingled or had they been put to death I had their
bloodshed with their sacrifices what's that so you know obviously that you come
and you bring your sacrifice to the temple in Jerusalem and at that point in
time and for whatever reason while that was happening their blood was mingled
with the blood of the sacrifices now somehow Pilate and and his armies had
killed certain Galileans during this time we don't know a lot about this
story we just know what we see here this is all we know verse number two and
Jesus answered and said unto them suppose ye that these Galileans were
sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things I tell you nay
but except you repent you shall all likewise perish now verse number three
in verse number five of very popular verses that are quoted by the repent of
your sins crowd let's keep reading verse number four it says all yeah this is
Jesus brings up another another group of people he says all these eighteen upon
whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them thinking that they were sinners
above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem I tell you nay but except you repent you
shall all likewise perish and there you go guys there's the power crystal clear
passage on salvation all right I mean if I'm going to turn to the Bible and teach
someone about salvation here this is what I'm going to turn to right Luke 13
verses 1 to 5 crystal clear this is how you get saved no it's not a crystal
clear passage about salvation is it and yet that's what they do they take these
verses verses 3 & 5 and say well here it is you've got to repent of your sins to
be saved you know and I'll never forget I was in one of my old Baptist churches
and we had a traveling evangelist coming through coming from America coming
through and having multiple services so if you're not familiar with how they do
things they have a traveling evangelist that evangelist basically goes by faith
and churches give to their work and quite often our pastors will then ask
the congregation to come and bring your friends come and bring your family to
hear the evangelists and then they go out and they do a track distribution of
some sort but that they give out invitations to this traveling evangelist
like to the community hey we've got evangelist so-and-so coming you know
here's your invitation and when I looked at one of those invitations I mean the
the gospel message on the back of it was was pretty good except they quoted verse
number five I tell you nay but except you repent you shall all likewise perish
without any explanation as to what that's about okay so I went to the guy
that did the did the invitation I said oh so as I realized you put the
invitation together what do you mean by verse number five except you shall
repent except except you repent you shall all likewise perish and this is
exactly what he said to me he goes I don't know you know I just found that on
another tracks and I thought it sounded good so I put it into this invitation
he had no idea why he's adding this verse to the invitation which had the
gospel message in it you know he had no idea even what he just did it because
all these other tracks apparently had it you know in there so it's a crazy thing
and people often turn to this like I said teach and they repent of your sins
salvation but let's look at verse number five quickly doesn't say here does it
say I tell you nay but except you repent of your sins you shall all likewise
perish it doesn't say that doesn't okay doesn't say that but that's what they
want you to believe it's saying okay now first of all let me think let me say
this if this was a passage about salvation the salvation of the soul I
would have no problem with verse number five if it was about salvation of the
soul I tell you nay but except you repent you shall all likewise perish yes
because all of us must come to a point of repentance and put our faith on the
Lord Jesus Christ we must come from trusting in whatever else we were
trusting him before unbelief in Jesus Christ and you put all that faith on
Jesus Christ 100% so I have no problem with getting behind the pulpit and
saying except you repent you shall all likewise perish I have no problem with
that statement at all if I was going to teach that on the gospel okay salvation
of your soul because I believe it I believe in repentance as long as it's
correctly defined but when you look at the context of what we read is this
really about the salvation of the soul it's not okay so let's have a quick
understanding of what it is I explained to you what verse number two was that
some people had been killed or their blood was shed while there was
sacrifices being given at the altar you know that the temple worship in
Jerusalem okay now when I think of Pilate you know we don't know much about
Pilate except we do know that Pilate did not want to crucify Jesus Christ he gave
into peer pressure okay he doesn't seem like the kind of guy that would just go
after innocent flesh for no reason he's not doesn't seem like the kind of guy
that wants to create turmoil and violence for no reason I mean even he
even got to the point where symbolically he washed his hands right claiming to be
he wasn't innocent because he still sentenced Jesus to death okay but just
symbolically he knew Christ was innocent you know but because of the pressure
that was coming from the great multitudes wanted to crucify Jesus
Christ he allowed that to happen okay so it's not the kind of guy that just goes
out seemingly to me anyway to cause problems my first thought is these
people were probably troublemakers okay they probably were troublemakers to the
point where Pilate had to go and persecute them maybe they fled into the
temple we don't know the Bible doesn't tell us maybe they fled in there
thinking they're going to get sanctuary and protection and instead they were put
to death okay but then Jesus tells another story here in verse number four
all those 18 so who are these 18 well we don't really know much except for what
we read here upon whom the tower in Siloam fell and slew them what's this
other group it's just an it seems like a some type of disaster a building
collapses and it kills 18 people okay it kills 18 people so let me just think
about this right now when we talk about perishing okay we think of maybe John
3 16 you know whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting
life the parish there is associated with everlasting life isn't it it's compared
there with everlasting life so it's safe to assume the parish in there is to have
everlasting damnation wouldn't it but when you read this is the context of
this story here what is the perishing about is it the perishing of the soul
has Jesus talked about eternal life has he talked about salvation has he talked
about heaven has he talked about having your sins forgiven no the perishing
because it says look in verse number five again and verse number three I tell
you nay but except you repent you shall all likewise perish that's the key word
the likewise perish how did these other people perish they perish a physical
death you know that blood was mingled as sacrifices or some tower fell upon them
the context is a physical death okay so with the very little information we have
gone with this this is what I believe Jesus is teaching okay basically he's
giving good advice okay giving good advice to not perish physically you
know don't be a troublemaker is how I see it okay don't be you know you know
do you think these guys were more sinners than you guys you know except
you repent you shall all likewise perish hey don't be a troublemaker like these
guys that are getting themselves into dangerous positions I don't know why
this this tower fell you know was it because they they were doing something
foolish with the tower it fell upon them I don't know you know is it just a
natural disaster that you know there's no reason but we don't know but here's
the thing that the context is about the physical death okay and one way to
protect yourself from dying or perishing foolishly is to heed good advice you
know repent yeah turn away from your weakness and your sins and all those
kinds of things that's fine because that's going to guarantee you a longer
life you know a life with more protection otherwise if you live the
dangerous life you're probably going to pass away quicker you're going to die
quicker if you find yourself in a position of danger so that's what I
believe Luke 13 verses 1 to 5 is about it's just good advice you know stay
away from trouble and you know don't don't cause any more problems than you
need to verse number six he spake also this parable a certain man had a fig
tree planted in his vineyard and he came and sought fruit thereon and found none
now look notice that he found none okay now this parable is about people
obviously okay Jesus Christ wants us to be fruitful and ultimately what doesn't
mean to be fruitful is to our safe souls okay to bring more people into the
kingdom of God so these people that he's talking about with no fruit there
on a people that I have have no interest in preaching the gospel have no interest
in seeing their family and friends saved have no interest in any of that and I'm
just reminded like you know we've all been in churches where you've just got
your stale Christians you know that they just come to church they do their hour
they go home they've got no interest to serve the Lord and it seems like you
know no matter how much preaching they hear no matter how much you know
motivational preaching how it doesn't matter how much they hear about hell you
know the horrors of hell and no matter how much they're encouraged to go out
there and preach the gospel they just don't do it okay and I believe this
parable is about them let's have a look at there's no fruit there on okay and
found on verse number seven then said he answered the dresser of his vineyard
behold these three years I come seeking fruit on this victory and find none okay
none now if you've won a soul to the Lord you've at least got one fruit
hanging off that tree okay this is someone that has none after three years
okay there might be some symbolism as well with Christ you know ministry being
three years long you know I'm not entirely sure but look it says uh and
find none cut it down why come birth at the ground what does it mean to come
birth the ground it means it it's it takes up the nutrients of the ground
okay it's preventing the nutrients that are in the ground from going to other
trees that are fruitful okay now you know what kind of tree are you you know
are you a fruitful tree are you seeking to serve the Lord are you using the
opportunities that God has given you to preach the gospel and be fruitful you
know or you just the kind of tree that's covering the ground that's just
taking up space that's just preventing other trees from being fruitful you know
and then it says in verse number eight and he answering said unto him Lord let
it alone this year also till I shall dig about it and dung it and if it bear
fruits well and if not then after that they shall cut it down all right so if
you've got no fruit in your life okay you've got you're not serving the Lord
you're not using the opportunities to preach the gospel you know the Lord's
gonna come to a point where it says look I'm gonna give this person one more
chance all right and I'm gonna dung them okay I'm gonna bring some dung into
their life I'm gonna bring them some turbo some problem something that's
gonna get them off there you know the off their backsides and serve the Lord
all right now if you've gone through difficulties and and you know and you
know maybe that's a good question to ask have I been fruitful am I do I have
fruit on this tree or not and if you've got no fruit on the tree maybe the Lord
has dug in a little bit and put some dung into your life okay man you it
doesn't smell good okay it gets all over the place you know if you ever stepped
in in dog poo you know and they walked into your house I mean it's just it's a
hassle to get rid of it okay dung is not a pretty thing you know man you was not
nice hey but if it does the job okay if God puts you through difficulties and
trials hey it might do the job and get you out there finally serving the Lord
and getting some fruit on that tree of yours okay but look there comes a time
as well that if you don't bear fruit you know after that season then he might cut
you down okay and of course we know that you cannot lose your salvation okay well
I'm not talking about salvation here it's just that you're just never gonna
be fruitful for the Lord you're gonna be that stale Christian that sits at the
back you know that comes to church and and does nothing for the Lord goes home
and you know no rewards in heaven are they still saved absolutely because they
still have the foundation of salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ but no fruit no
rewards okay no fruit no rewards okay and yeah just may very well be cut down
as a tree verse number 10 and he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the
Sabbath and behold there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity 18 years
and was bowed together and could in no wise lift up herself so this is a woman
with her infirmity of 18 years where she's bowed like she she's basically
she's walking around like that like you know bowed she can't get up I've seen I
I've seen people like that here just you know even a family friend of ours she
she couldn't get up for whatever reason she was bowed down like she needed
surgery to get herself back straightened up and for some people the surgery is
too late but she's in this situation she's been like this for 18 years
and then in verse number 12 and when Jesus saw her he called her to him and
said unto her woman thou art loosed from thine infirmity and he laid his hands on
her and immediately she was made straight and glorified God hey that's
what we do right when the Lord comes and answers our prayers he gets us through
the trials and difficulties well he brings you through sickness and heals
you then what we should do is glorify God you know this woman was a believer
this woman knew who had healed her and she glorified God verse number 14 and
the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation because that Jesus had
healed on the Sabbath day and said unto the people there are six days in which
man ought to work in them therefore come and be healed and not on the Sabbath day
we see this happening again and again with Jesus Christ Jesus Christ healing
on the Sabbath and the rulers the Pharisees whatever those that are
higher up are being critical of Jesus Christ healing a human being okay and he
blames the Sabbath day now look Jesus was the Sabbath day did not stop Jesus
from being a good neighbor did it it did not stop him from healing the sick you
know and you know I don't know if I've mentioned this before but there was
someone in our church that would not go soul winning with us on Sunday because
they counted it in their mind as the Sabbath day all right and I'm not going
to work on the Sabbath day it's the same as this ruler okay what I've got all
these other days to go soul winning I've got all these other days to go help
people why am I gonna do it on the so-called Sabbath day that's a false
teaching there's a lot of people I don't know why there's a lot of people that
believe Sunday you know is the New Testament Sabbath day that somehow God
made a change on what the Sabbath meant and I want to talk about that a little
bit but let's keep reading in verse number verse number 15 the Lord then
answered him and said thou hypocrites doth not each one of you on the Sabbath
loose his ox or his ass from the stall and lead him away to watering he goes
look ruler and you other guys that have been critical you guys are hypocrites
because even on the Sabbath day you look after your animals even on the Sabbath
you take your your donkey and what your oxen and take them to the water so they
can drink a bit of water okay what's he saying you care more about animals then
you do human beings okay you care more about animals than you do human beings
and hey we live in a society like that we live in a society where people love
their animals they love their pets like a like another human being okay but they
don't bat an eyelid when all this abortion that's going on you know every
day in Australia you know the same thing caring about the animals you know
that they find an excuse in the seventh day to to look after animals but not to
look after their fellow man verse number 16 and ought not this woman being a
daughter of Abraham whom Satan hath bound lo these 18 years be loosed from
this bond on the Sabbath day and when he had said these things all his
adversaries were shamed and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious
things that were done by him they should be ashamed they should be
ashamed for what they were saying but look this misunderstanding of what the
Sabbath day is let me go through this very quickly keep your finger there go
to Genesis chapter 2 Genesis chapter 2 verse 2 let's talk about this very
quickly I could preach a whole sermon on this but I just want to give you a quick
snapshot of what the Sabbath day is and what represents but Genesis chapter 2
verse 2 okay so obviously Genesis 1 we know God creates everything in six days
and on the sixth day he creates man and woman and then it says in Genesis 2 2
and on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made and he rested on
the seventh day from all his work which he had made and God blessed the seventh
day and sanctified it because that in it he had rested from all his work which
God created and made so let's understand this what's important about the seventh
day that it's a day of rest okay that even God himself now I don't think God
even needs to rest okay but you know God himself rested on the seventh day and
gave us a very good principle I mean there's a reason why we have weeks of
seven days you know there's been societies and cultures in the past that
have tried to change that but he messes everything up he messes up the calendars
it messes up the years it messes everything up and so even to this day
no one's thought of a better way you know to count how many days are in a
week and and so on then the seventh days and of course God created that way for a
reason okay but we see that God rested on the seventh day go to Hebrews chapter
4 Hebrews chapter 4 verse 3 Hebrews chapter 4 verse 3 because if you say to
me pastor Kevin do you keep the Sabbath day I will say to you yes I do okay I
will say to you yes I keep it okay because one thing you'll understand
about the Sabbath it was a type okay it was a type of what would ultimately come
you know just like the Old Testament sacrifices were a type of the Lord Jesus
Christ that would eventually come and fulfill all things okay but Hebrews
chapter 4 verse 3 Hebrews chapter 4 just very quickly here chapter 4 verse 3 for
we which have believed do enter into rest as he said as I have sworn in my
wrath if they shall enter into my rest although the works were finished from
the foundation of the world so there we have the parallel with the works that
were finished and this is God's rest and if we believe what's this about salvation
if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ we enter into that rest and then verse
number four says for he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this
wise and God did rest from the seventh day from all his works okay so very
simple to understand guys the Sabbath day represents the rest okay and that
rest represents salvation believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and us resting
from our works because salvation is without works it's without the works of
the Lord's without the deeds of the law salvation is by grace through faith and
not of works we know that already lonely okay and so that is what's the seventh
day is it represents it it was a type of the rest of salvation that we would
enter in we have rested from the works even God himself rested from his works
and Jesus Christ did all the works and so all we need to do is enter into that
rest okay by believing on him by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ that's
all the Sabbath day represents guys that's all okay as you read through the
Sabbath day in the Old Testament please pay close attention and understand this
would ultimately be fulfilled as a picture of salvation salvation by grace
through faith without works okay it's not more complicated than that and of
course there is that practical application you know that it is good for
a man to you know to work six days and to have a day of rest we charge their
batteries so they can be productive moving forward but ultimately it's a
picture of salvation okay let's look at verse go back to Luke 13 Luke 13 verse
18 Luke 13 verse 18 so you can already see there's a lot of things in this
chapter right there's a lot of things anyway Luke 13 verse 18 and I feel like
every one of these things could be its own sermon but anyway it says then said
he unto sorry then said he unto what is the kingdom of God like so Jesus Christ
is thinking okay well how can I describe the kingdom of God what is it like okay
and then he says and where unto shall I resemble it okay so I think you know
like I said to you earlier in my Christian life I used to wonder what is
the kingdom of God and I think there are probably a lot of people wondering what
is it exactly right and so it's just saying well how can I liken it you know
how can I can how can I resemble it and then look at verse 19 and this was the
key for me to understand everything about the kingdom of God he'd answered
every passage I could read about the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven
but look at verse 19 he says it is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took
and cast into his garden and it grew and waxed the great tree and the fowls of
the air lodged in the branches of it and he doesn't really explain it he goes
into another parable but let's let's break that down very quickly so the
kingdom of God is like a grain of mustard seed right which a man took and
cast into his garden so what's that a picture of him sowing that seed okay and
it grew and waxed the great tree that's the next step then and then says and the
fowls of the air fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it okay and it was
really the next parable that helped me understand the previous parable so let's
read it verse number 20 and he said and again he said where answer shall I
liken the kingdom of God it is like leaven which a woman took and hid in
three measures of meal till the whole was leavened and this got me thinking
when I look at these two parables it says that leaven is sorry that the king
of God is like this leaven which a woman took like you're like a yeast right
which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal or three measures of
flour if you want to look at it that way okay this woman who's making bread you
know she wants the whole to be leavened okay so she takes that that leaven which
represents the kingdom of God she puts it in that flour but what's important
about that flour that that meal is that is made up of free measures okay I don't
believe God puts these numbers in there for no reason they represent something
when I started to think about this free measures what is that about then I went
back to the previous parable okay the one of the mustard seed look at it it
is like a grain of mustard which a man took and cast into his garden first step
and it grew and waxed into a great tree next step and the fowls of the air
lodged in the branches of it they free fold process in that parable as well and
then it all started to make sense okay it all started to make sense so the
first thing I want you to do keep your finger there in Luke chapter 13 and turn
to Matthew 19 turn to Matthew 19 first of all okay let's just get one
misconception out of the way very quickly Matthew 19 verse 23 Matthew 19
verse 23 because as I said to you there are those that will say to you well no
no the kingdom of heaven is different to the kingdom of God there's many many
ways to prove that is exactly the same thing I mean just check parallel
passages about the kingdom of God in the kingdom of heaven you'll find the same
teaching over and over and over again and Jesus just interchangeably using the
kingdom of heaven or the kingdom of God but Luke 19 is the best one I believe
I'm sorry Matthew 19 Matthew 19 verse 23 then said Jesus unto his disciples
verily I sent you that a rich man can hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven
what is Jesus speaking about the kingdom of heaven right that a rich man can
hardly enter in okay because of his riches we won't go into all that story
right now but look at verse 24 and I again I say unto you is Jesus saying
something else no he's saying the same thing again right and again you know I
say unto you sorry yeah and again I sent to you it is easier for a camel to go
through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of
God right so what is the difference between the kingdom of heaven and the
kingdom of God I'll tell you what the difference is a few letters and that's a
different word heaven and God but it's the same thing okay
Jesus Christ is teaching the same thing you know verse 23 and 24 confirms that
there is no difference between these kingdoms okay the king of heaven is
where it's from the kingdom of God is who owns the kingdom it's the same
kingdom okay now go to Matthew chapter 3 please Matthew chapter 3 Matthew chapter
3 verse 1 Matthew chapter 3 verse 1
Matthew chapter 3 verse 1 the Bible reads in those days came John the
Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judea actually I need to turn it thanks
sorry guys I need to turn there very quickly
Matthew chapter 3 verse 1 in those days came John the Baptist preaching in the
wilderness of Judea and saying repent ye for the kingdom of heaven is at hand
what does that mean it's close by okay it's around the corner it's at hand and
we already when we read went through some previous chapters I can't remember
which one chapter it was we spoke about those that were going into the cities
and preaching the gospel of the kingdom though that was saying the same thing
that the king of God is right here you can access it right now should you
believe the gospel okay it's available right now it's around the corner as long
as you grab it now just quickly read to you from from Matthew 4 you can turn
there I guess because just one chapter over Matthew chapter 4 verse 17 Matthew
chapter 4 verse 17 from that time Jesus began to preach and to say repent for
the kingdom of heaven is at hand it's the same message from John the Baptist
to Jesus Christ and ultimately he would send out his disciples and they'll
preach in the same thing the king of God was available right there and then
should they believe the gospel all right now go back to Luke please Luke chapter
11 I know we went to Luke 11 not long ago but go back to Luke 11 and remember
the story where Jesus Christ had cast out a devil and the Pharisees had said
to him that he cast them out in the power of the devil he cast him out in
power of Beelzebub remember and that was that that's the the blasphemy of the
Holy Ghost but look at this in in Luke chapter 11 verse 20 Luke chapter 11 verse
20 Jesus answered to them he says but if I with the finger of God cast out devils
no doubt no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you hey was Jesus saying that
the kingdom of God had come absolutely no doubts okay the king of God was there
right now okay now go to Luke 17 Luke 17 verse 20 Luke 17 Luke 17 verse 20
Luke 17 verse 20 and when he was demanded of the Pharisees when the
kingdom of God should come hey when should it come he answered them and said
the king of God cometh not with observation neither shall I say lo here
or lo there for behold the kingdom of God is within you now I believe in the
millennial kingdom to come I believe that's the kingdom of God as well okay
so these are the kind of passages that I would read and go what is that isn't it
the Millennium Kingdom but now it's in me I mean what how does this make any
sense it's very simple it's very simple to understand actually okay I'm just
going to quickly read to you from John chapter 3 verse 5 John chapter 3 verse
5 this is Jesus speaking to Nicodemus Jesus answered verily verily I say unto
thee except a man be born of water that's been born of your mother born of
the flesh and of the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God how do we
enter that kingdom we've got to be born of water and of the Spirit and then in
verse 6 that which is born of the flesh is flesh and that which is born of the
spirits is spirits okay you have entered already into the kingdom of God the
moment you're saved the moment you were born of the Spirit you've entered into
the kingdom of God that's why Jesus can say for behold the kingdom of God is
within you say well where is it it's that new man if you haven't been paying
attention to the preaching of the last year in a bit okay we have the old man
and we have the new man okay the you know flesh and blood cannot inherit the
kingdom of God but you know what can inherit the kingdom of God the new man
being born of the spirits that new man as far as God is concerned is already
spiritually speaking in the kingdom of God that's why when we go out we preach
the gospel we can say you know the kingdom of God is at hand because we've
got it there for you right now believe the gospel and you can enter in that
kingdom yourself hey the kingdom exists today but it is a spiritual kingdom but
even though it's a spiritual kingdom it's still real it's still here okay and
you've already entered into that kingdom because it's within you the new man
within you has already stepped into that kingdom okay so how do we enter into the
kingdom of God now by being saved it's the only way it's the only way to be
entered into the kingdom of God okay so let's go to Luke chapter 21 now Luke
chapter 21 Luke chapter 21 verse 25 Luke chapter 21 verse 25 this are you saying
pastor Kevin there's no millennium there's no you know no future kingdom to
come no no no Luke 21 verse 25 actually let's read from verse 27 Luke 21 verse
27 and we know this is about the the rapture the resurrection the coming of
Christ it says and then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with
power and great glory and when these things begin to come to pass then look
up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh and he spake to
them a parable behold the fig tree and all the trees and when they now should
forth ye see and know for your of your own selves that summer is now night hand
so likewise ye when you shall see these things come to pass know ye that the
kingdom of God is nigh at hand say what in the world it's at night again in the
future at the you know when Christ comes and he returns in the clouds and any
any resurrects the dead and we're raptured and we're forever with Christ
yes the kingdom of God is nigh at hand it's near once again but how doesn't
it already come yeah because there's three phases to the kingdom of God okay
the kingdom is here now but it's still future as well okay until the whole is
leavened meaning that it's gonna it's gonna live it's gonna live in a little
bit okay as we add people to the kingdom and then when Christ comes back and
establishes his million Kingdom it's going to leaven a little bit more okay
the future kingdom of Christ is still coming it's still at hand and it's gonna
be available for us once we're resurrected and even better is that
we're gonna have those resurrected bodies so instead of it being a
spiritual Kingdom it's gonna be a physical Kingdom as well we're gonna be
able to walk in which is with Jesus Christ into Jerusalem whether he's
ruling reigning from we're gonna be a rule and reign with Jesus Christ for
that thousand years now that's not the end of it go to 1st Corinthians please
1st Corinthians chapter 15 1st Corinthians chapter 15 and you cannot
you can see why so many fundamental doctrines are important then understand
what the kingdom of God is okay understand that salvation is by grace
through faith and that you know there's still that millennial Kingdom to come
but look at this in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 23 this is about the resurrection
it says here in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 23 but every man in his own order
Christ the firstfruits afterward they that are Christ that is coming so this
is about the rapture but then verse 24 it says then cometh the end when he
shall have delivered up the kingdom to God even the Father okay when he have
put down all rule and all power sorry and all authority and power okay I don't
have time to go into all of this I've already preached on it but this is
basically the end of the millennium once everything has been subjected unto
Christ okay and and then we got the great white throne judgment and death and
hell are cast into the lake of fire you know what it says here at the end it
says there in verse 24 then cometh the end when he that being Jesus shall have
delivered up the kingdom to God okay even the Father you see that it changes
hands it's gone through Christ now it's been given to the Father okay and that
is that final stage of the kingdom when God creates that new heaven and that new
earth that's eternity that's the kingdom of God forever and we know Jesus Christ
and his kingdom is eternal the Bible says this to us over and over again it's
not a thousand year long period that phase is but we know the kingdom is
forever eternal because it's cut it ultimately ends up as that new heaven
and the new earth and that is the point when the whole is leavened when all
free measures of meal have been leavened okay so let's understand this the
mustard seed okay that's small mustard seed which is cast in the ground that's
like the king of God today you know it's small it can't really be seen by the
naked eye really okay but it exists it's there okay then that seed becomes that
tree it grows into that tree and I believe that's a representation of the
millennial kingdom of Christ but then you got the third stage where the birds
then lodge into the nest I believe that's when we come into the new heavens
and the new new earth and we you know in that new Jerusalem the new heavenly city
from God and that is eternal so it really was Luke 13 that finally made
sense to me and made me understand be able to put all these verses together
because by and large people don't want to preach this because it does sound
contradictory okay but once you understand the key behind it all and
it's very easy actually it's very easy to understand I think it's very easy to
understand anyway okay but there's something else that I wanted to notice
about the kingdom being in three parts please turn to Matthew chapter 12 math
Matthew chapter 12 and we already read this story in the book of Luke I
already covered it a little bit but Matthew chapter 12 verse 22 Matthew
chapter 12 verse 22
then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil blind and dumb and he
healed him in so much that the blind and dumb both spake and saw and all the
people were amazed and said is this not the Son of David but when the Pharisees
heard they said this fellow doth not cast out devils but by Beelzebub the
prince of the devil's and Jesus knew their thoughts and said unto them every
kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation and every city or
house divided against itself shall not stand and if Satan cast out Satan he is
divided against himself how shall then his kingdom stand and if by Beelzebub
cast out devils by whom do your children cast them out therefore they shall be
your judges but if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of
God is come unto you now sorry guys let me just turn there once again I need
let me turn that's my that was verse 28 Matthew Matthew 12 28
oh yeah verse 29 should read verse 29 or else how can one enter into a strong
man's house and spoil his goods except he first bind a strong man and then he
will spoil his house so ways to notice in conjunction with Jesus Christ saying
that the kingdom of God is come okay because he was able to cast out that
devil okay in conjunction with that he gives this story about the strong man
binding and how can one come in and bind the strong man in the house okay and we
already preached on this but this was covering how you know that Jesus Christ
said God is greater than any devil okay that's why I believe as a safe person we
cannot be possessed by devils because you know greater is he that is in you
than he that is in the world yeah but notice that Jesus Christ says you know
gives us analogy of taking the spoil okay so you know in warfare when to I
guess to two kingdoms are fighting two nations are fighting the victor generally
takes the spoils you know they take you know because of the warfare because you
know there's been a huge investment in fighting they then take the goods that
belongs to the loser okay and so what I want to show you there is that when
Jesus Christ Kingdom came here you know spiritually speaking he had taken the
spoils of the devil okay the kingdom of Satan had taken a blow okay and that's
one thing that I noticed as we go through this is that there is a three
part process not only in the kingdom of God as it increases as the leaven is made
whole but also a decrease of the kingdom of Satan okay so we know Jesus Christ
came casting out devils number one okay and then when we talk about the next
stage which is the millennium when Christ comes and rules for a thousand
years Satan Kingdom takes another huge blow what is that he's bound for a
thousand years okay he's bound for a thousand years that's Revelation chapter
20 verses 1 to 3 we won't read that now but you guys are familiar that right
Jesus Christ Satan being bound for a thousand years but at the end of that
thousand years guys he's he's let loose okay and he gets huge armies to fight
against Christ one more time and before that Kingdom is given to the father
before the whole is levered his kingdom Satan's Kingdom takes the final defeat
the final blow okay Christ comes and destroys his armies and Satan himself is
cast into the lake of fire for all eternity okay that's the end of his
kingdom completely and then we have the fullness of the kingdom of God come into
view of the new heavens and new earth okay there's a three-part process to the
destruction of Satan's Kingdom as well and the last thing that I wanted to
mention you know and I believe in the Trinity I feel like I have to say that
every time but look the Trinity is in view as well okay because again how do
we enter the kingdom of God right now we're born of the spirits we're born of
the Holy Spirit and when we're born of the Holy Spirit the Spirit of God dwells
in us okay that's the first part the spiritual kingdom you know we have the
Holy Spirit we can grieve the Holy Spirit if we live live selfish lives if
we live ungodly lives lives of sin we can grieve that Holy Spirit but then
when the millennium okay when Christ comes and establishes his kingdom we see
Christ come you know not as that lamb but as that line of Judah coming to rule
that rod of iron okay so we go from having the Holy Spirit in our lives to
then ruling and reigning with Christ forever that's that second stage of the
kingdom the thousand years okay but then as we already read then Christ gives
that kingdom once all the powers and authorities are put on the Christ that
is then given to God the Father okay and so we have you know it seems like each
stage of the of the of the of the kingdom of God you know reveals to us a
greater understanding of who God is you know to see Christ rule and reign and
then and then God the Father and the Bible tells us I'll just read it to you
very quickly in Revelation 22 this is after after God creates the new heavens
and the new earth it says and there shall be no more curse but the throne of
God and of the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they
shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads what an amazing
thing you know I mean some have seen Jesus Christ in his first coming we're
all going to see him in his second coming but no one yet has seen God the
Father it's not till we have those resurrected bodies not till God creates
a new heavens a new earth then we'll finally see God in his fullness God the
Father in his fullness so you can see how the kingdom of God in these three
portions these three parts also is associated with the Trinity you know the
Holy Spirit now today we have him ruling reign of Christ for a thousand years
then the new has a new earth we're gonna see the face of God the Father that's
gonna be a beautiful thing go back to Luke chapter 12 a 13 sorry Luke chapter
13 Luke chapter 13 verse 22 and he went through the cities and villages teaching
and journeying toward Jerusalem then said one at him Lord are there few that
be saved and he said unto them strive to enter in at the straight gate for many I
say unto you will seek to enter in and shall not be able and this is another
passage that people will use to teach a workspace gospel again why because verse
24 it says strive to enter in at the straight gates what does it mean to
strive it means to struggle okay to struggle to make a great effort okay as
I say see you've got to strive to keep the commands of God you can strive to
live a holy life and that's how you can enter into that straight gates but again
you know we need to stick to the foundations the fundamentals of the
faith okay we can't go to a passage like this and start changing the gospel you
can't do that right let me keep your finger there turn to Matthew 7 Matthew 7
why do we have to strive to enter in okay Matthew 7 verse 13 Matthew 7 verse
13 Jesus taught on this before as well in Matthew 7 13 but he explains it in a
little bit more detail here Matthew 7 13 it says enter ye in at the straight
gates hey what does straights mean s-t-r-a-i-t it means narrow okay it's
narrow and so yeah in at the narrow gate for wide is the gates and broad is the
way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in there at because
straights or narrow is the gates and so it's there and narrow is the way which
leadeth unto life and few there be that find us why do we have to strive now
look if you're born into a Christian home you don't tend you don't have to
strive so much okay because your parents God you know God willing will be giving
you the gospel you know you were able to enter in quite easily okay but for many
other people they have to strive okay because broad it said there right broad
broad is the way that leadeth to destruction wide is the gates you know
what there are so many false religions there are so many false gospels there
are so many false ways people teach you to make peace with God okay and for
those that I guess I don't grow up in a Christian home you know in a home that
has the right gospel they're gonna have to strive to find that narrow gates
they're gonna have to strive to find that straight gate because all they're
presented with in their life is the broad way okay and it's gonna seem like
well look at all these options look at all these ways to heaven it's the same
way it's the broad way so the striving is to find the right way okay the
striving is to find that narrow way okay because there's a lot of distractions in
the world today but we know once you find it once you know what the true
gospel is it's easy okay it's believing the Lord Jesus Christ it's just like
walking through a gate that's how easy it is okay you open the gate you walk in
okay believing on the Lord Jesus Christ but yes some people have to strive hard
you know maybe some of you have had to strive hard because all you were
presented with was a broad way you know that would have led you to destruction
so no this is not teaching a workspace gospel okay ridiculous but I mean the
question was you know are there few that be saved and that's a sad reality it's
true there are a few that are saved you know Jesus said many there be which go
in there at about the way that leads to destruction you know and then he said
um and few there be that find it speaking of the narrow way you know a
sad reality guys and I think sometimes I've come across people that have been
saved recently and they get excited about preaching the gospel or whatever
and they think they're gonna get all these people saved they think they're
just gonna knock on all these doors they're gonna be like yeah tell me how
do I get saved and receive it you guys know we literally have to knock on
dozens of doors you know you know sometimes a hundred doors just to see
somebody get saved because it is few it's a reality you know even though it's
easy it's still a narrow way okay it's a straight way because all they're
looking at is all the broader ways and they're going hold on you're telling me
it's this narrow way but everyone else you're telling me everyone else is wrong
and they're going through the broad way and they're all gonna be destroyed they
can't accept it it's very hard that's why you've got to strive into it okay it
takes a bit of effort to find the right way okay anyway verse number 25 Luke
chapter 13 verse 25 and once the master of the house is risen up and have
shut to the door and you begin to stand without and to knock at the door saying
Lord Lord open unto us and he shall answer and say unto you I know you not
whence ye are then shall you begin to say we have eaten and drunk in thy
presence and thou hast taught in our streets but he shall say I tell you I
know you not whence ye are depart from a ye sorry all ye workers of iniquity
this is a sad reality as well guys that there are gonna be many people that were
in the presence of Jesus Christ okay or maybe even in a good church where the
gospel was being preached you know and you know that look they say to him and
well there you taught in our streets Jesus how can you not know who we are
you know and the sad reality is there's gonna come a time when God shuts that
door as we saw in verse 25 you know once the master of the house has risen up and
have shut to the door you know and the door gets shut for everybody at some
stage okay if you don't receive Christ that door is definitely shut for you
when you pass away when you die okay when you go into eternity without Christ
that door is shut at that point in time but of course we know the doctrine of
reprobates there are some people walking the earth today the door is already shut
for them okay and they can't enter in you say that's not fair you know what
that's not fair for these people of course look what are they trusting in
are they are they saying let us in because we believed on the Lord Jesus
Christ let us in because of your grace of your free gift no they think they're
saved because they saw Jesus teaching okay they think they're saved because
Jesus walked by the streets think wow look Jesus walked by our streets we must
be saved no okay it doesn't matter what you know you know you've given your life
to Christ you're trying to keep the commandments you go into church you're
saying you love the Lord you know you're saying you've heard good preaching you
say you go to church the door can still be shut if that's what you believe in
for salvation okay these people are not trusting in Jesus Christ and you can see
that they've got the wrong gospel they've gone the broad way they've not
entered into the straight to the narrow way they should have strove they should
have made an effort to find the right way but instead they went to the way of
destruction verse 28 they never believed on Jesus Christ verse 28 they shall be
weeping a nation of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob who are
these guys the patriarchs another great men of faith you know often the bubble
of Abraham Isaac and Jacob not just them and all the prophets where in the
kingdom of God and you yourselves thrust out and they shall come from the east
and from the west and from the north and from the south and shall sit down in the
kingdom of God there are believers all over the world it's not just Abraham
Isaac Jacob and all the prophets yes there were Israelites or actually
Abraham and Isaac weren't but you know the Israelites the Jews count them as
their men right as their great prophets okay but he says these Pharisees he
says to these Jews that are not believing in him he says look you're
gonna be cast out of the kingdom of God and instead there's gonna be all these
people from the north south east and west coming hey these are the Gentiles
these are us these are you and me we're gonna it's a great privilege we're gonna
come into that kingdom we're gonna shake hands with Abraham Isaac and Jacob and
all the prophets and sit down with them and have a good meal and that what a
great privilege what a great honor okay not because you're a great person but
because you believed on Jesus Christ okay that's why okay so look salvation
look shouldn't this just prove to you you know the kingdom of God is for the
Gentiles and the kingdom of heaven is for the Jews look we're all there all
the prophets Abraham Isaac and Jacob and all from the north and the south and
east and west we're all together we're all one people of God okay your DNA your
blood does not make you special does not give you a free ticket into heaven all
right and then it says there in verse 30 and behold there are last which shall be
first and there are first which shall be last because you know the Bible says
that salvation the gospel is to the Jew first remember that okay and he was okay
Jesus Christ came to Israel hey these are children as it were of the kingdom
these are people that should have come and believed on the Messiah believed on
the king that had been promised to them you know they had first dibs at
salvation they had first dibs at the gospel okay they came first as far as
the gospel being preached you know we came later you know the Gentiles came
later and then we've come 2,000 years later right here in the gospel but he
says look it doesn't matter it doesn't matter you know there are a last which
shall be first hey there's gonna be great they're gonna be Gentiles that
will come first and there'll be the Jews which were meant to be first they're
gonna be last as far as God is concerned you know and you know you can relate
that to believers and non-believers you know you might even relate that to you
know there might be people there might be believers that that are quiet you
know it appears they don't do a lot for the Lord you know they might appear to
be last you know but they might just keep the good works secret you know and
these people you might be surprised as to who who comes first in the kingdom of
God you know and then you have others that you think man look at this great
good at man of God you know he's doing all these great works but maybe he was
doing it for the pride of you know bit to be seen of men maybe that you know
maybe maybe he's already got his reward on the earth and you know think this
person has great rewards in heaven only to find there they come last in a sense
in the kingdom of God so you know be mindful that whatever you do for the
Lord your service is not to be seen of men but to serve the Lord Jesus Christ
okay now uh let's keep reading verse 31 Luke 13 verse 31 the same day there came
certain of the Pharisees saying unto him get thee out and depart hence for Herod
will kill thee and he said unto them go ye and tell that Fox behold I cast out
devils and I do cures today and tomorrow and the third day I shall be perfected
so these Pharisees and I don't know I mean this Pharisees sometimes could they
be lying they could be lying I don't really trust what the Pharisees have to
say I mean are they really concerned that Jesus would lose his life I mean a
minute these guys would be the ones yelling out crucify him you know maybe
they just want him out of the land you know get it get out of here you know
Herod wants to kill you I'm trying to keep you safe I don't know I don't know
but here's the thing here's an interesting way that Jesus speaks in
verse 32 it says you know behold I cast out there was so in other words why
would he want to kill me like why I'm doing good works I cast out devils I do
cure today and tomorrow and the third day I shall be perfected so of course
that word perfected basically means you know whole or complete and I think what
Jesus saying here I think there might be a double meaning here but first of all
he's saying look nothing's gonna stop me you know I'm going to perfect the
work that God has given me I'm gonna accomplish everything that God has asked
me to do you know here it's not gonna stop me you know that's one way to look
at I believe that's that that is a good way to look at it but I think also
cryptically amongst this is Jesus Christ speaking of his resurrection just the
fact that he goes into it right today and tomorrow and on the third day I
shall be perfected because we know Jesus Christ was resurrected on the third day
so was that the perfection there the completion of his work ultimately you
know the climax of all things maybe maybe Jesus Christ is speaking
cryptically there as well just a couple of things for you to think about there
but then in verse 33 it says nevertheless I must walk today and
tomorrow and the day following so Jesus already knows Harry's not gonna kill him
just for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem he says look I
know where I'm gonna perish I know where the prophets perish that they perish in
Jerusalem Jesus Christ was already aware just historically and also aware you
know prophetically where he would perish okay and so I mean this proof but I do
want you to notice this was Jesus Christ in Jerusalem when he said these words no
he couldn't be okay because he knows he's not gonna perish out of Jerusalem
meaning that he wasn't in Jerusalem okay and that way he was gonna perish was in
Jerusalem that's important for later on let's keep reading verse 34
Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem which kill us the prophets and stone us them that are
sent unto thee how often would I have gathered thy children together as I
handoff gather her brood under her wings and ye would not so Christ hey he wants
to save Jerusalem don't they says but you would not behold your house is left
unto you desolate and verily I sound to you you shall not see me until the time
come when you shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord now
this is another passage that's intrigued me and I just want to explain
this a little bit to you I hope I give you a satisfactory a way of understanding
this but again Jesus was not in Jerusalem we said the verse of the words
there in verse 35 right he goes you shall not see me until the time come
when ye shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord all right
so we're in Luke 13 go to Luke 19 Luke 19 verse 37 Luke 19 verse 37 Luke 19
verse 37 so what we're fast-forwarding to is when Jesus Christ comes riding on
that donkey into Jerusalem okay he's making his way to Jerusalem and in that
week he would eventually be crucified but Luke 13 verse 37 and when he was
come nigh so when Jesus Christ is coming near to Jerusalem on that donkey even
now at the descent of the Mount of Olives the whole multitude of the
disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty
works that they had seen saying what are they saying blessed be the king that
cometh in the name of the Lord peace in heaven and glory in the highest and some
of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him master rebuke thy
disciples hey they're saying you're coming from God you're coming in the
name of God you're coming in his authority rebuke them verse 40 and he
answered and said unto them I tell you that if these should hold their peace
the stones would immediately cry out okay so the point I want to bring you
there guys I believe Luke 13 verse 35 I believe the fulfillment of that is when
Christ comes riding on that donkey into Jerusalem because what are the people
saying again in verse 38 blessed be the king that cometh in the name of the Lord
okay so let's understand this the multitudes were receiving Christ okay
those that were calling him come in the name of the Lord you know these were
believers in Jesus Christ right they would come they accepted him as their
Savior they accepted him as the king of Israel they accepted him as coming in the
name of the Lord and let's now go to the book of Matthew let's go to the book of
Matthew okay Matthew chapter 21 Matthew 21 verse 9 Matthew 21 verse 9 what I
want to point out to you guys is that saying blessed is he that cometh in the
name of the Lord is a saying that said when you receive Christ and I'm not
necessarily talking about salvation though I do believe these people were
saved as it was coming into Jerusalem okay let's look at this now in the book
of Matthew the book of Matthew chapter 21 verse 9 this is the same story of
Christ coming into Jerusalem look at it and the most truths that went before and
that followed cried saying Hosanna to the Son of David blessed is he that
cometh in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest and when he was come into
Jerusalem all the city was moved saying who is this so you see they're saying
that and then it comes into Jerusalem okay so now go to Matthew 23 so we know
he's coming to Jerusalem in Matthew 21 so in Matthew 23 where is he in
Jerusalem okay make sense have I'm not confusing anybody I know it's a
Wednesday night but a lot to take in but Matthew 23 okay and I might just turn
there my Bible as well Matthew 23 actually look at Matthew 24 very
quickly look at Matthew 24 verse 1 it says and Jesus went out and departed
from the temple so where is he not just in Jerusalem but he's in the temple okay
in verse 24 chapter 24 he parts of the temple meaning the things that he said
in Matthew 23 was said in the temple does it make sense okay make sense good
now look at Matthew 23 verse 39 for I say unto you you shall not see me
henceforth till you shall say blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord
that seems it seems a little bit contradictive because in Luke he said
that prior to going into Jerusalem all right and then I believe the fulfillment
of that was when the people were saying yep you know blessed is he that come in
the name of the Lord you know that's been fulfilled as it comes into Jerusalem
now he's teaching the same thing once again but now he's already in Jerusalem
now let me quickly explain to you how some dispensationalists teach this okay
so the first blessed be he that come in the name the Lord was as he was coming
into Jerusalem his first coming into Jerusalem right that's when it was said
so some dispensationalists take this in Matthew 23 and say well this is when he
comes into Jerusalem again at his second coming and then you're gonna have all
the unsaved Jews right that were being persecuted by the Antichrist or whatever
all these unsaved Jews at his second coming are going to be saying blessed be
is he that coming from the name of the Lord and that's how they'll interpret it
okay but there's no way else in the scripture to confirm that okay there's
nowhere else we have Luke you know we can confirm that was said as he was
coming into Jerusalem but Jesus Christ says it one more time after he's coming
to Jerusalem so how can we make sense of this you know is there going to be this
next group of people that receive Christ as it comes into the key you know to
rule and reign in Jerusalem that thousand years well let's back up a
little bit I believe the answer can be found very easily there in Matthew 23 so
you guys are in Matthew 23 let's back up a little bit Matthew 23 verse 33 now I
don't want to read the whole thing because the whole thing is awesome but
let's just start with verse 33 Matthew 23 verse 33 this is Jesus speaking ye
serpents ye generation of vipers how can ye escape the damnation of hell do
these sound like believers now these are people that cannot escape the damnation
of hell guess what the door has been shut on them already these are
reprobates some of these Pharisees some of these leaders had already been had
received the reprobate mind had rejected Christ they cannot escape the damnation
of hell verse 34 wherefore behold I sent sent unto you prophets and wise men and
scribes and some of them you shall kill and crucify and some of them you shall
scourge in your synagogues and persecute them from city to city look at this verse
35 we've covered this already in the book of Luke but this gets taught again
by Jesus later on it says that that upon you may come all the righteous blood
shed upon the earth from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of
Zacharias the son of Barakas whom ye slew between the temple and the altar
verily I say unto you all these things shall come upon this generation does
this sound like people that are going to receive Christ they're not it's going to
escape the damnation of hell and what's going to come in that generation they're
going to be accounted for all the bloodshed of all the prophets that have
come before Jesus Christ okay on that generation why we already cover this
because Jesus Christ was there confirming great works of God and they
still rejected him okay we've recovered that before in previous chapters we know
that okay verse 37 and you see the teachings very similar Oh Jerusalem
Jerusalem thou that kill us the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee
how often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gather
for chickens under her wings and you would not behold your left your house is
left unto you desolate for I say unto you who's he talking to the reprobates
for I say unto you you shall not see me henceforth till you shall say blessed is
he that cometh in the name of the Lord so what is this what is this about okay
we're all gonna at some point in our lives you know because Jesus you know
you shall not see me henceforth and if you're saved you have seen Christ okay
you know when Moses lifted up that serpent you knows look and live okay
we've all seen Christ in faith and when we received him we have seen him and and
and by calling upon him we've essentially said these same words
blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord okay and as he was coming into
Jerusalem you know the believers they're you know proclaiming that truth
you know wouldn't be surprised if people there at that point had believed on
Jesus Christ they were saying the same truth okay you say this when you receive
Christ but even the reprobates even the hell-bound sinners are gonna say the
same thing when they see Christ okay when is that generation you know this
it's gonna come upon that generation when are they gonna see Christ again we
know they're dead right now okay we know they're in hell when are they gonna
see Christ again at the great white throne judgment aren't they at that
point they're gonna see Christ again and let me just finish this with Philippians
chapter 2 verse 9 it says wherefore God also have highly exalted him and given
him a name which is above every name and that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow of things in heaven of things in earth and things under the earth and
that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God
the Father you know what every tongue every power every principality whether
in heaven on the earth or under the earth in hell every tongue will confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father look everyone is going
to receive Christ as the one that came you know in the name of the Lord
everyone okay but do it now this is the time to do it because this will give you
salvation and if you die without Christ you know you go into eternity in hell
without him and you're gonna see him one more time at that great white throne and
that's when you're gonna say blessed be the name of the Lord but it's gonna be
too late for you because that door is gonna be shut that door is gonna be shut
you know you might be say yeah but I came to church I came to New Life Baptist
Church I stayed in the pews you know but did you believe on him no you know
people of those days I saw Jesus Christ coming preaching teaching did they
believe on him no you know those are the ones that are gonna be cast out of the
kingdom you know so what is the kingdom of God let's just wrap that up very
quickly thanks for your patience there's a lot to cover today but what is the
kingdom of God number one it's here right now okay we don't have to you know
yes we eagerly wait for the kingdom to come the millennium we do you know but
it's here right now you know it's available right now and we can bring it
near to people as we go and preach the gospel family friends to the neighbors
we bring them into the kingdom you're already there you're already seated in
the kingdom you know and you already know you're going to sit with Abraham
Isaac and Jacob and participate of that kingdom in its entirety in the future
okay but it's here today spiritually through the Holy Spirit being born of
the Spirit it's still to come though there's a future to come but even that
future kingdom to come is not eternal it's only a thousand years long that's
when Christ will rule and reign and the works that we do today will determine
just how much we can rule and reign with Christ you know and then finally that
kingdom will be accomplished we fully leavened you know the birds will come
and lodge in that tree finally when God the Father creates that new heaven and
the new earth and we'll be able to see the face of God what an amazing truth
all right let's pray