Kingdom Part 2 Discovering God s Priority (A message to help us realize the true priority of God and what the church should be preaching and teaching). A SERMON DELIVERED AT THE HAENERTSBURG CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN HAENERTSBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 5 th November 2017 Dr. Ian F. Loughor-Clarke, Pastor admin@haenertsburgchristianchurch.co.za Main Scripture: Luke 4:43 (NIV) 43 But he said, I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. Introduction: Well good morning to you all and to all those viewers on YouTube and those that are listening on itunes or podcast. It is such an honour and privilege to have you connecting and sharing this time with us. Last week we learned about Kingdom Part 1 Thinking as a Kingdom Citizen. This last week I read where someone said, I am one of the few Christians that support Homosexual marriages. I responded that you cannot then be a Christian and support or promote or condone Homosexuality because that is an oxymoron. Would Jesus have judged the Homosexual person? NO. Would He have been loving to the Homosexual person? Yes. Would He have supported and promoted their Homosexual life style? No way. With God sin is sin period and there is no negotiating this point. Luke 4:43 (NIV) 43 But he said, I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent. Jesus came to establish the Kingdom of God here on earth! Matthew 24:14 (NIV) 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, 1
and then the end will come. For many people this will be one of the most difficult sermons you are going to have to work through, but I trust you will be blessed, if you will listen very carefully. Can I ask you a question? Who of you would love to immigrate to another country? Answer: Why and what are your reasons for wanting to go to that country? Answer: That was very interesting and very important so hope you all listened carefully because that is foundational to understanding what I am saying. I find that very, very interesting because not one of you mentioned that you want to go to any country because of the President or Prime minster of that country. The No. 1 Holiday tourist destination in the world today is the island of Bali in Indonesia. Why is this the case? Because the President of Bali is promoted???? Answer: No. Because they promote the white beaches, diving, massages, adventures, relaxation etc. promote that benefits and advantages of being in that country for a holiday. They The tourism industry brings in $5, 5 billion annually which is about R77 billion. The population is under 5 million people, and they have more people from other countries visiting them/year than those living in the country. Now why are they so successful? Why do we have more people excited about going to Bali than about coming to God? They spend fortunes of $ and give nothing to God? People want to go to Bali, but not to God and there is a major reason that the church has not understood! Do you know why this is the case? They do not advertise nor promote the President!!!! 2
If you want people to come to your country then you don t advertise the president, but rather the benefits of the country and what it has to offer. If you want people to come to your country you never ever advertise the government or the president or the prime minister for that matter. In order to get people to come to your country you do not preach about how great your president is or government officials, but you promote the benefits and advantages of being in that country. Most people don't even know who the president is of Bali or the country that they are visiting till they get to that country. You first end up in the country then you get to know who the President is and not before you get to that country. Matt 6:33 (NIV) 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. The priority of God is not things, but rather the Kingdom of God. Sadly Christianity has become a religion. It has become highly perverted by the Roman Catholic Church and most of the church has still not come out of this wrong thinking. Sadly this has been the case and still is for over 1500 years. I am praying and hoping the more and more people will start understanding the truth of the Kingdom of God and see themselves as Kingdom Citizen more so than a Christian because many people that don t serve God call themselves Christians. In the Bible is was the world or should I say the non-believers, or heathens that called Kingdom Citizens, Christians because they were Christ like. If you are not Christ like then the world will not call you a Christian and you should not call yourself one either. You see one of the benefits of being part of His Kingdom is that you don t have to ever worry. Jesus only preached about the Kingdom of God and not about Christianity. That is why my question too many people nowadays is not, Are you a Christian, but rather are you a Kingdom Citizen? Are you part of the Kingdom of God? Do you see that He never said seek me first, because he knows that would not attract anyone! Do you see the problem? The church and religious people continually promote the president and the prime minister and no one wants to come into the Kingdom? Islam promotes 72 virgins when you get to paradise. Now for most men that would be incredibly appealing, just by the way, and they would want this if it were true, but this is a fat lie. Do you see they promote the benefits? Balinese people advertise and promote Bali showcasing the beautiful white beaches with no pollution and awesome accommodation with staff that are willing to serve and give their visitors an awesome break. 3
People do not go into a country because of the leader, but they go into a country because of the benefits and what they can get from the country. You will never get people to become part of your country or to invest in your country if you promote the government. You need to show them the awesome potential of a great lifestyle and all the benefits and the environment that the country has to offer. This is why people are not coming to the Kingdom of God, because we are promoting or advertising the President and not His Kingdom. Sorry if I am upsetting some of you, but we need to get this understanding right. You know that Jesus never preached that He is the kingdom, but rather that He is the door to the Kingdom. Your family are not coming into the Kingdom, because you are promoting the president and not the benefits of the Kingdom. What should you be offering? 1. Stability My throne is forever so you can invest in God s Kingdom. Preach the store and not the door. Dr. Myles Munroe Open a shop and advertise the door you will go under very quickly. You need to advertise the merchandise. You need to advertise the dress because that is what they want to go through the door. If they see that merchandise they will find the door. Show them the merchandise and they will find the door. 2. Quality of life. 3. Benefits. 4. Secure investments. Luke 16:16 (NIV) 16 The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the good news of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. The problem with Christianity is that it is built on the door and not the Kingdom. A Muslim when talking to you will always talk to you about Mohammed and Jesus and compare the two and they are not interested. So you need to rather ask what the benefit of Islam is and then explain about the benefits of the Kingdom of God. The Koran hardly talks about life after death, but the Bible talks extensively. People are looking for things. Matt 6:33 (NIV) 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 4
Look at the United States of America. They have a major problem because everyone wants to go and live in that country because of the benefits not because of the president. Immigration is their number one problem. They advertise the lifestyle and benefits. If you are not enjoying the Kingdom then you will not preach the Kingdom and your other family members will not follow. So have you found a religion or the Kingdom of God? If you understand the Kingdom you will do anything to get into the Kingdom of God. If people are not forcing their way into Kingdom, then we are preaching the wrong thing to them. Matthew 13:44 47 (NIV) 44 The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. The Parable of the Net 47 Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Remember that Jesus never said He is the answer or the destination, but rather that He is way the truth and the life. If you go into a country then you have to live according to their life style and if you don t you will be chucked out of the country. Likewise you cannot be a part of the Kingdom of God and then think that you can just live however you like. You have to live according the decree of the King. Matthew 6:9 10 (NIV) 9 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. I never hear people praying about God s Kingdom being established here on earth as it is in heaven. I hear prayers of everything else, but not His Kingdom. Matthew 23:13 13 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven 5
in men s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. Some people are going to think you are crazy and religion people will want to shut you up. Religion will block Kingdom citizenship, but real believers will promote Kingdom thinking because that is what Jesus preached and what He came to establish. Romans 10:9 10 9 That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Matthew 18:3 (NIV) 3 And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Let us pray Amen. This sermon was preached by Dr. Ian Loughor-Clarke at Haenertsburg Christian Church on the 4 th November 2017. (c) Dr. Ian F. Loughor-Clarke, Haenertsburg Christian Church. For more sermons from Ian go to http://www.haenertsburgchristianchurch.co.za Except where otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the International Version Bible, Copyright 1985 by The Zondervan Corporation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Matthew 19:17 (NIV) 17 Why do you ask me about what is good? Jesus replied. There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments. If your concepts are wrong then your conclusion will be wrong, and if you conclusion is wrong then you theology will be wrong and if you theology is wrong then your life style will be wrong. The message of the Bible is about: a King, a Kingdom and a royal family. 6