Mysteries of the Kingdom Pt 2 I. Matthew 13:11 He (Jesus) answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but unto them it is not given Mark 4:11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. A. God desires to make known to you the mysteries of His Kingdom a. At the same time Jesus said that: (1) but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables (2) in Matt 13:11 Jesus said: but unto them it is not given 1.Jesus is speaking of people who have not been Born Again a. Jesus said: John 3:3 Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (1) their spiritual eyes & mind is blinded by the god of this world this world ( the devil) 2 Cor 4:4 (a) they may read the scriptures but they cannot see the kingdom they are spiritually blind and unable to see the truth written in the Word of God in regards to The Kingdom of God 2. once we are Born Again we have opportunity to discover the mysteries of the Kingdom of God that are written within the scriptures, But there is effort required on our part in discovering these mysteries a. Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (1) if you have been Born Again Jesus Christ has made you a Priest of God & a King:
(a) Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, [6] And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (2) it is the glory of God to conceal a thing (a) God has concealed the mysteries of His Kingdom (b) but unto you who have been Born Again it is given to you to know the mysteries revelation of the mysteries of the kingdom of God does not automatically happen in the life of the king Born Again Believer effort is required on our part: (1) Prv 25:2 but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (a) Def search: to penetrate, examine, intimately find out (2) 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (a) Def Search: to make effort, to labor, be diligent, to endeavor (3) You may be a king Born Again. But if you are lazy & negligent is searching / study of the scriptures (a) you will not have revelation of many mysteries of the Kingdom of God (b) causing you to fulfill the prophecy found in: (1) Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: instead of fulfilling the promise of: Rom 5:17 much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Hbb
II. In Part we looked at two mysteries of the K/G A. Luke 17:20 And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation: [21] Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you. 1. The Kingdom of God comets not with observation a. From the Jewish people in the days when Jesus walked the earth b. To believers today who do not believe in The Rapture they make the mistake of thinking: (1) they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. (2) They lost sight of the fact that God has a harvest of souls He first wants to bring into a His Kingdom (3) Lost sight of the fact that the Gospel must first be preached to all the nations of the world 2. Here is how the K/G is manifesting today: When Born Again the Kingdom of God takes up residence in our heart thru the person of the Holy Spirit a. This is further explained in: Col 1: [26] Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: [27] To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 3. When Born AgainThe nature of the kingdom of God dwells within the new heart That is given to the Born Again believer a. The nature & attributes of the Kingdom of God are revealed in: (1) Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Hbb
III. One of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God is revealed to us in Luke 12:31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. [32] Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. A. It is Our Father God good pleasure to give you the Kingdom 1. Def Pleasure: to be willing, to be pleased 2. Note: the Kingdom of God cannot be earned, rather it is freely given to us by God the Father a. God desires to give and see manifest every area of our lives The righteousness, peace and joy of His Kingdom B. We are instructed in Lk 12:31 to seek first the kingdom of God 1. In reality until we seek the Kingdom of God first in our life a. Until we make the Kingdom of God our first priority in our life It remains locked up within our heart and fails to fully manifest 2. So the question we must ask our self is: What Kingdom am I seeking first what Kingdom am I putting first in my life a. Is it the Kingdom of self (1) by putting self first failing to surrender our will to the (a) will of God (b) word of God (2) in order for Jesus to see the Kingdom of Hod & Promises of God fully manifest in His life, He had to pray a prayer of surrender: (a) Luke 22:42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. (b) then Jesus went to Calvary s Cross and Jesus instructs us: (1) Luke 9:23 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (a) No Cross - No Kingdom: do we understand that if there is no Cross in our life there will be no Kingdom of God manifesting in our life b. Secondly we must ask ourself: Are we seeking the Kingdom of this present world
(1) caught up in the cares and riches of this life: Mk 4:19 (2) putting the pleasures of this present world first in our life before the K/G.. things of God. House of God: (a) 2 Timothy 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; c. Third we must ask ourself am seeking the devil s Kingdom first / the Kingdom of darkness by living a life in sin according to: (1) Jn 3:19 John 3:19 men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. IV. If we are to seek the Kingdom of God first, that means we have been given the responsibility as Born Again believers to be Stewards of this mystery in regards to the K/G A. 1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1. Ministers of Christ is not just referring to the Five Fold Ministry Gifts of Eph 4:11: Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher a. Ministers of Christ is referring to every Born Again believer (1) Isaiah 61:6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord : men shall call you the Ministers of our God:. (a) Thru the New Birth you have been made Kings & Priests Rev 1:5 & 5:10 (b) as you become Stewards of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God people are going to call you Priests of the Lord. Ministers of our God 2. Def Stewards: to oversee, To distribute a. How are you doing in regards to your stewardship of the mysteries of the K/G (1) look at some ways we are to be Stewards B. A steward not only is responsible to watch over but to also distribute in this case the mysteries of the Kingdom of God 1. Do you remember the man with one talent and how he failed in his stewardship of that talent
a. Matthew 25:[24] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not: [25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth:, there thou hast that is thine. [26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: [27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. [28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. (1) are we making the same mistake us this individual who thought that being a good steward is just holding on what we God from Jesus until He returns? 2. Ephesians 6:19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, a. As Stewards we each are to do as the Apostle Paul: open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (1) it may be by preaching behind the pulpit or on the mission field (2) but we are all to witness as Stewards of the Mystery of the Gospel the good news of Jesus Christ 3. Colossians 4:3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: a. Just as Paul requested prayer & prayed himself for open door to speak the Mystery of Christ b. We should pray daily for open doors to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ to lost souls speak the Mystery of Christ 4. Do you know what this particular mystery; The Mystery of Christ is?
a. Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: [3] How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, [4] Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) [5] Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; [6] That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: (1) The Mystery of Christ: That the Gentiles should be Fellow heirs / Joint heirs (a) in this dispensation of grace thru the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the Cross salvation has been made available to people beyond the Jews: Gentiles all of mankind: (1) Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 5. We also read about this Mystery of Christ or Mystery of God in 1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: [8] Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. a. The Mystery of Christ: / God manifested in the flesh thru His a Son Jesus Christ / The Mystery of Christ when God left heaven and sent His only begotten Son:,Jesus Christ (1) to face sin & temptation. Yet never Helene to sin (2) to face the devil & powers of darkness & never defeated by them (3) to face death, grave, & hell only to be resurrected b. Vs 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Hbb
(1) the devil did not see the fullness of the Mystery of Christ that He would rise from the grave (2) if the devil had seen it / if he had revelation of it / if the devil knew in advance that the Cross would lead to his Latinate defeat & salvation for mankind,they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (3) this is the Mystery we have been made Stewards of & we are to open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, Eph 6:19 c. 1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1) God manifested in the flesh; thru His Son Jesus (2) Jesus was justified in the Spirit as we was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Ghost because His shed blood was without sin (2) Jesus was seen if angles when resurrected & in glory as a He sits at the right hand of God the Father (3) now we are to preach/ teach / witness Jesus to the Gentiles / unsaved / so the world may hear the Gospel / Good News and believe in Jesus (a) in our homes, on the job, to our neighbors, in market place where God opens a door (1) thru the godly life we live (2) and the Word of our testimony C. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new. [18] And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, 1. Now that we are a new creature in Christ. We each have been given a ministry Vs 18 and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; [19] To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. [20] Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. [21] For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. a. We are Ambassadors of the Mysteries of the Kingdom Of God We are Ambassadors of the Mystery of Christ We are Ambassadors of the Gospel of the Kingdom as it is called in Matt 24:14 & Mk 1:14 V. The Kingdom on the inside of you is not to remain locked up within You: A. Jesus teaches us how to release the Kingdom of God within us: 1. Matthew 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. a. As we go: witnessing, preaching say:, TheKingdom of heaven is at hand (1) in other words you brought it with you Remember the Kingdom of God is within you if Born Again Lk 17:21 b. As we get a revelation of that face Jesu then tells us that we we go (1). Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. B. There will come a day when the Kingdom of God will fully manifest on this earth thru the one thousand year millennial reign of Jesus Christ upon the earth
1. There will come a day when this world ends & eternity begins and we will be with God former in heaven 2. But now. We are to be Stewards of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God a. And God desires not just to give us His Kingdom th u the new birth b. But also to use us as Stewards, Ambassadors, witnesses, preachers & teachers of The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God c. But in order for that to happen we are going to have to: (1) get filled with Holy Ghost boldness like the early church (2) renew our first love for Jesus (3) Get filled with some zeal with Knowledge of the Word (4) and step dad ur by faith and tell somebody about Jesus (a) Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. [20] And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (1) as long as they stayed locked up in the upper room nothing happened (2) and as long as we just stay locked up in church holding in till Jesus comes nothing' will happen (3) And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. Hbb