The Nature of the Kingdom of God'

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The burden for our church this morning had to do with not getting caught up in material concerns. Throughout the nations of the world there always is some aspect of the culture that makes it difficult to enter the Kingdom of God. In some countries it is persecution. In other countries there may be pressure to follow a particular religion or denomination. In America the problem is material wealth. Jesus told us it is difficult for rich people to enter the Kingdom. Paul warned us about wanting to be rich.

(12/18/2005) There was little doubt about what the Lord wanted preached this morning. The burden was strong and clear

When thinking about the material concerns the believers often have at Christmastime, the parable of the sower came to mind. We American believers need to give careful thought to the parable of the sower.

Jesus asked us, "Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable?" We see from this question that the parable of the sower may be the most important of the parables of the Kingdom of God.

The Evangelical message of today is, "Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will escape Hell and go to Heaven when you die." This is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is another gospel, perhaps derived from Eastern religions that refer to torment or Paradise after death.

It is the parable of the sower that is the Christian Gospel. This tells us the salvation that is in Christ is not a place we go to but a change in what we ourselves are as a person. The difference here is total!

The parable of the sower informs us that a Seed that comes from God has been planted in us. It is supposed to bear fruit. The fruit is the image of God, and finally the bodily likeness of God.

The parable of the sower informs us that the truth is given in the form of a parable so it can be understood only by those to whom the understanding is given by the Lord.

The parable of the sower advises us that the hearts of some people are so hard the seed does not germinate. Other hearts do not permit the forming of deep roots. Still others have so many concerns and anxieties that the germinating plant is choked out.

The parable of the sower reveals that of four kinds of hearts, only one kind, the honest and good heart (Luke) bears lasting fruit. Remember, if we do not bear the fruit of God’s image we shall be removed from the Vine, from Christ.

Finally, and particularly relevant to the Christian season in America, some of the honest and good hearts bring forth God’s image thirty fold. Some bring forth God’s image sixtyfold. Some bring forth God’s image a hundredfold. How these three levels will differ throughout eternity I do not know. But I believe the differences among these three levels will be incredibly, spectacularly tremendous!

How can we account for the three levels of fruit bearing?

Does God decree that some shall be thirty; some sixty; some a hundred? I do not believe so. I think the difference arises according to the diligence we apply to following the Lord Jesus.

The Bible says God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The more diligence, the greater the reward. Some people regard the Divine rewards with more seriousness than is true of others.

It is written of Moses that he considered disgrace for the sake of Christ to be worth more than all the treasures of Egypt because he was looking ahead to his reward

Here it is! If we have faith we will seek God diligently knowing there is a reward for doing this. If we have great faith we will go all out for Christ. If we have lesser faith we will give some attention to Christ and some to the things of the American culture.

How many today will go all out for Christ? Will you seek first the Kingdom of "God and His righteousness?

While I was preaching today I was reminded of the parable of the unrighteous steward. This story is describing some of today’s preachers of the Gospel. They are telling their congregations to change to a lesser amount what they owe Christ. This tricky action of the steward did not actually change what the debtors owed the rich man, they just thought it did—until the day of accounting came.

The rich man commended the steward for making friends with the debtors. When they die they will have some friends to be with.

So it is true of all of us that for eternity we will be with people to whom we have ministered. All of us are deciding today the people with whom we will be for eternity.

If we fail to attain to the hundredfold image of God, it may be that a million years from now we will be unaware of the glory we lost. Perhaps God in His love will remove from our memory the opportunity we had to attain to His best. Otherwise we would be remorseful for a very long time.

But the truth is, had we persevered diligently, making certain we redeemed the time, looking to Jesus Christ for every decision of life, we would have attained to the fullness of God’s image, and also have brought many people with us. We would be seated on the highest throne with the Lord Jesus, living in a state of Divine Glory so astounding that the mightiest of the angels would need to shield their eyes at times. We would shine as the stars forever and ever, ages without end.

Some a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold, some with no lasting fruit, some saved by fire. There shall be greatest and least in the Kingdom of God—not in Heaven, but in the Kingdom.

Now is our only time to attain to God’s highest and best. If we do, God will profit; other people will profit; our loved ones will profit, and we ourselves will profit.

If, on the other hand, we permit ourselves to be occupied with the endless fascinations and opportunities of the American culture, we will lose part or all of what God has promised.

You and I must choose today. Today is the day of salvation. Tomorrow may be too late, and we will have lost for eternity a state of glory not remotely capable of description in the present hour.

At night I stressed again the value of going all out to attain to bearing the image of God a hundredfold. Attaining to this supreme state will require total diligence on our part. God rewards those who seek Him diligently.

You can hear the morning sermon at listen. http://www.wor.org/audio/audio.htm

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