The Kingdom of Life

The Kingdom of Life (1)

June 5, 2016

It is already June 5, can you believe it? Let us go to the Kingdom of Life. Now this is not a cliché thing where we are going to talk about how to have just a kingdom psychology in life.  This is not a New Age self-help thing, but we want to look at the Kingdom in terms of the book of Mark.

We have been going through Matthew, and as you recall, we have been studying about the Kingdom of Heaven. Now when we talk about Mark and Luke, the Bible now refers to it as the Kingdom of God.  Same thing, same place, it's the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, and the Kingdom of God.  It is the same place, but now we are going to delve into it through Mark, and through Luke.  Therefore, we are now going to be going through that whole adventure through the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke as well.

Just to reframe and re-capitulate, everybody recalls why we are talking about the Kingdom.  Why are we talking about the Kingdom so much?  Well, many Christians are not reading their Bible.  They are listening to what their denomination is saying.  If you are from the Catholic Church, you are listening to what the Catholic Church is saying; you are listening to what the Episcopal Church, the Baptist Church. We are listening to what the churches are saying, or the denominations are saying.  However, the real task of the Christian is to actually interact and interface with the Word of God.  Therefore, it is actually to read and interact with the Bible. Therefore, when we look at the Bible, Jesus tells us very clearly, that every day you must pray for the Kingdom. A Christian is one who is in Christ.  Pray for this every day.  In addition, we know of course, let us look at the first line here, "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed by Thy name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done." We are supposed to pray about the Kingdom every day. Amen? We are supposed to be praying that His Kingdom comes to this earth.

So even when Christ instructed his disciples on how to pray, he instructed them to pray about the Kingdom. However, in Matthew 6, again, he says to his disciples, "But seek ye first …" What did he say?  Seek ye first the Kingdom. Two thousand years of Christian history has talked about the gospel and salvation as the cross. That is standard Christian gospel teaching. The gospel is the cross. Nevertheless, when you actually read the Bible, it becomes very clear what exactly Jesus is talking about when he is talking about the gospel.  He says here, in this passage, "Seek ye first the Kingdom." First seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

In Matthew 7, he talks about those who call him, "Lord, Lord," and profess faith in him, that those kinds of people will not enter the Kingdom. Not only people who just call, "Lord, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is Heaven."

Then, when we look at the Scriptures, we see that the will of the Father is to do what?  Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done.  Thy will be done.

Matthew 10, in verse 7, He says, "And as ye go, preach, saying the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Matthew 11, "Verily I say unto you among them that are born of women there has not risen a greater than John the Baptist, notwithstanding, he that is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he."

We have talked about most of these scriptures.   He talks about in 43, "And He said unto them, I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also, for therefore am I sent." This is Jesus saying, 'I am sent for the reason of preaching the Kingdom of God.'  Do you see that?  "I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities, for therefore am I sent." He did not say, 'I am sent to die on the cross.'  He said, 'I am sent to preach.  I must preach the Kingdom.

Therefore, for two thousand years of Christian history, in every generation we have thought that the gospel, or Jesus' reason for coming, was to die.  However, as you can see, right of out his own mouth, in Luke, in the recorded words of Christ himself, he says, "I am sent for the reason of preaching the Kingdom." It is very clear.  He is also telling his disciples to pray about the Kingdom every day.  Every day pray about it, that it comes.

Matthew 4:23, "And Jesus went about Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the [cross?  What does it say?  The Gospel of the Kingdom.] The Gospel is the word "Euangelion", which is "the good news of the Kingdom," kingdom, which is the word "Vasilia".  It comes from the word "vasilieus" which is the word for King.  It is the word "kingdom."  He went about Galilee teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel. What is the gospel?  The gospel of the Kingdom.

In addition, most Christians, who love Christ, who love Jesus, want to serve Him and follow Him, yet they do not interact with the Bible, and so they are not reading the word of God.  Instead maybe just listening. In addition, of course, faith comes through listening as well; we know our faith increases as we listen to the Word. At the same time, we are called to read the Word. To have a relationship with the Word. Moreover, the word is very clear, preaching the gospel of the Kingdom.

There, again, Mark 1:14, "Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God."  Again, how does Jesus define the gospel?  Well, he defines it as the Kingdom of God.  That's the reason why he is sent, that's what he said.

Again, "the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand." What does he say? "Repent ye, and believe the gospel." Which gospel?  The gospel of the Kingdom.

This is the kind of shocking if you grew up in the Christian faith and if you are hearing this for the first time, you are probably going to be shocked.  Because it is not, what our denominations tell us. Of course, nobody here in Sanctuary is denying the power of salvation through the cross, and the grace of God through the cross. However, when Jesus is talking about the gospel, "Euangelion", he is talking about the gospel of the Kingdom. He himself is saying "the gospel of the Kingdom."

"The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent ye, and believe the gospel." It is right there in the Scripture, in front of everybody's nose.

Matthew 9:35 "Jesus went about all the cities and villages teaching in the synagogues and preaching the gospel of the Kingdom." There is a similar verse in Mark that, we saw in the beginning. In healing every sickness, etc.  The gospel of the Kingdom. You see, we associate the gospel with the cross. However, the Bible does not, especially Jesus.  He associates gospel with Kingdom. That is a big problem. That is a problem.  If Jesus is associating gospel, the good news, to the Kingdom, then those who are in Christ have to be associating gospel with Kingdom. It is right there. Verse after verse after verse. In the verses that Jesus himself is speaking.

Matthew 24. "And this gospel of the [crucifixion?]…"  "And this gospel of the [resurrection?]" Ah, you see how challenging this is?  "And this gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached."  This is what he says.  "Shall be preached in the entire world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come."

The end comes when the gospel of Jesus Christ, the gospel of the Kingdom of God is once again, preached.   Think about it, how many pure-hearted good Christians, are praying for the Kingdom to come?  We say the Lord's Prayer, and here, even when we do martial arts training with the young people, after each training, we say the Lord's Prayer again, after we do all that fight training.  Normally, when you are thinking about all those things, you do not focus on that, we are praying that the Kingdom has to come, every day. That I am praying for the Kingdom to come every day. We are not even thinking about it, we are already lost, right after that verse, "Give us the day, our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses…."  Then, you know, we forgot it!  Nevertheless, we're supposed to be actually anticipating the Kingdom to come.  The Kingdom.

This gospel of the Kingdom. Now think about it, if you grew up in a Christian home, Catholic, Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Southern Baptist, Methodist, whatever it is, you've been told that the gospel is the birth, the death, the crucifixion, the death, the burial, the resurrection. Through that process, yes, through Christ's death and resurrection there is salvation.  Yes, we understand that.  However, how did Jesus look at the gospel, what was he saying was the gospel? What was it?

He said it, time after time after time again, "This gospel of the Kingdom."   Vasileus, Vasilia, Vasilia, Vasilia. In addition, you have seen, we worked our way through Matthew; remember how many times he talks about the Kingdom of God? Do you remember all those parables we did in the last couple of months or so?  Just parable after parable.  It is as a huge majority of Christ's teaching is about Kingdom.  Yet we are not hearing his gospel. Which is the reason, so many times, why the church is dying. Amen?

So then, getting back to the gospel, the gospel that Jesus was teaching, for which he was sent, the gospel of the Kingdom. When it is preached, then shall the end come.

So now, we move to Mark.  We move to Mark 4, and here we see a repeat of what we saw in Matthew 1, in two of the sections. Let us read this together, we are actually going to do a little Bible reading together, let us read it together.  Because as we work through these parables we are actually kind of reading the Bible together! Isn't that exciting? We are on an adventure where we are reading and working our way through the Bible. At least the gospels.

So let us read this together, and we will focus in on two of the parables. However, there are actually four here.  So let us read this chapter, or a big part of the chapter, together. Let us go to Mark 4.

"1 And he began again to teach by the seaside; and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine, 3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow; 4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up. 5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth; 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty and some sixty and some a hundred. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 When he was alone, the Twelves and the others that were with him asked him about the parable. 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;

12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear; and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. 13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? And how then will ye know all parables? 14 The sower soweth the word. 15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;

17 and have not root in themselves, and so endure but for a time; afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and I t becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred."

That is the first parable. Then he goes on to say

21 And he said unto them, is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? And not to be set on a candlestick? 22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad. 23 If any man has ears to hear, let him hear. 24 And he said unto them Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. 25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath."  

26 And he said, so is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; 27 and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.  28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. 29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." 30 And he said, whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what comparison shall we compare it? 

31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: 32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.  33 And with many such parables spake the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.  34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples."

Amen. So we saw the similar scriptures in Matthew, especially the one in which Jesus is explaining the word that is given, the seed that is sown, and some falls on stony ground, some falls on shallow earth, some has thorns, some on good soil, right?  We have seen this before. We have talked about this in the context of the Kingdom.  Remember, he says the Kingdom of God is like this.  He is using examples to explain a Kingdom, not an individual thing.  So, usually in Christian theology and in pastorship, most people will interpret these things as personal lessons.  Jesus talked about the mustard seed, okay, so you have to believe in yourself, or have faith in the mustard seed, something as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

They connect it to that scripture. However, Jesus is saying very clearly, in all these parables, he is describing the Kingdom of God. He is not talking about just individualized things. He is talking about an actual kingdom. At the time of this teaching, as you all know, Jesus lived in a satanic kingdom. He lived in the Roman kingdom, which was a satanic, pagan kingdom. Therefore, everybody in that community, in that society, only knew that type of satanic kingdom, where the king rules as a tyrant over all, and he owns all the land. All the vassals and all the public officials, the Roman public officials own little parts.  They are like little mini-fiefdoms for Rome. They are, all centralized back to Rome. Rome is the center of the world.

Therefore, this is the kingdom they live in, this is the reality they live in; this is the empire under which they live.  It is a satanic kingdom.  It is an anti-God kingdom. Therefore, even if Jesus explains the Kingdom, people cannot understand it. Their reality is so anathema to what he is explaining. It is like trying to explain freedom to a communist. A person who lived in a communist system, who has been brainwashed by communist propaganda all their life about communism, how centralized government serves them and it is their daddy, it is perfect for them, and they need it, and all that. Anybody who has grown up in a communist state, you know it is so hard to talk to them about freedom.  They think freedom is being under the rule of a centralized power.  Does that make sense?

Therefore, Jesus spoke in parables. Not that these are actual characters in the parable, or when he's talking about a sower, there's an actual farmer that's sowing seeds. He is saying, the Kingdom is like this. It is like this.  However, his point is that he is talking about a kingdom.

So, of course, we talked about this in the context of Matthew, when Jesus mentioned these things, he also described this particular parable, explaining the stony ground and the shallow earth, explaining the thorns, etc. In addition, remember at the end, where there is good fruit, where it is, planted in good soil, there are some that bring forth fruit thirty-fold, sixty-fold, an hundred-fold, why is it different?  Why don't they all just bring forth the same fruit?  Do you remember we talked about this, maybe a month ago?

Thirty, sixty, hundred fold.  Why?   In the Kingdom, which is centered and is rooted in God's love, the gift of which is freedom and responsibility, the gift is that the normal citizens are co-heirs with Christ. Which means that even the normal citizen is a king.    It is an upside down kingdom. Something we cannot imagine, because we have become slaves under the political ruling classes, in most of Western civilization now. Across the world we see, there is a ruling class and there is a populous class. So we cannot even imagine that there will be a kingdom where the people will be co-heirs with Christ, they will literally rule with Christ. They will be kings in that nation.

It is a nation of kings, and there is a King of King's kingship there.  It is an upside down kingdom. It is a kingdom that is anathema to the satanic world because Satan's world continually makes the same boring stuff. Tyranny, oligarchy, socialism, communism.  Same stupid stuff that is all they make.  Every single generation, that is all he makes. Boring, pitiful. Destroying human destiny, human life, and humanity.  We see this in every generation, it has never been different, and it’s always been the same. Always the same cycles of tyranny, always the same propaganda with socialism, communism, and oligarchy.  Same system.  Leads to the same place. A couple of families ruling over everything.  And we know those societies always collapse.

So we know that America came to the growth stage level of perfection, it came the closest to that of the Kingdom.  It came closest in giving the world freedom and responsibility. We know, because of the sin of slavery, and then, through the amendment process, the American constitution has been, destroyed and ravaged.  Which is why we do not now live in a free state or a republic, which we were supposed to be.

We have now degraded into a democracy, which of course, historically democracies always collapse into oligarchies.  The Roman republic was a republic, representative government, and then it changed to democracy, mob rule, which then changes to oligarchy. That is the pattern of history. Democracies, are only transitional political systems, they never last.  They always lead to oligarchy.

We see that here in America too. We are now, officially recognized as an oligarchy.  We are not even a democracy any more, and I think I have shown you some of the articles in which the BBC has reported on that. Officially, sociologists now see us as an oligarchy, where a few ruling families essentially rule over the legislation, the laws of the nation. Governed by a few huge mega-corporations. We have strayed so far from individual rights and from citizens being sovereigns. It has been lost in America. Nevertheless, in Cheon Il Guk there is no amendment process. When heaven's law comes to earth, humans do not have the power to change it. They do not have it.

Because when humans try to change it, they always mess it up, and they are, sucked into the trap of socialism, communism, and oligarchy. Boring tyranny. That is all they do. The upside down kingdom of the millennial reign of Christ is upside down. It is totally, opposite. It is anathema to what exists and has existed throughout fallen history. It is opposite. It is where the kings are the citizens. The political leaders are servants and they are accountable to the kings.

The citizens have the rights of kings. Remember, in history, only kings had the right to own territory, have their own kingdoms. Only kings had the right to not be taxed, on their territory. Only kings had the right to have arms and weapons to defend their kingdoms. Notice that in socialism, communism, oligarchy, any form of tyranny, they don't allow the citizens to have any of those kingly rights. Sorry, when God's kingdom comes, it's upside down.  The citizens have the kingly rights. They have the rights of kings to have their kingdom. To not be taxed on that kingdom, to not be forcibly taxed. In addition, to bear arms against those who will try to destroy that kingdom. The citizen is the king.  The servant is the politician and the political class must serve the people. Does that make sense?

In that kind of kingdom of freedom and responsibility, in Cheon Il Guk, with the Cheon Il Guk Constitution, the Environmental Protection Agency is illegal. A welfare state is illegal. Not allowed. A centralized government growing beyond ten percent of gross domestic product (GDP) --- illegal. Representatives are, elected from 2100 people. A very small group of people is voting for their representatives, which makes them immune, in terms of the whole nation from being bought off by huge corporate interests.

Big monopolies. We have talked about this many times. In that nation of freedom and responsibility, depending on how we serve others or how we serve each other, who loves others the most and who serves others the most, Jesus said, right?  He who will be greatest will be a servant in the Kingdom. He who serves others the most, if you own a business and you are an entrepreneur and you are serving your customers very well, you are serving them, you are producing things that are helping their lives, making them more efficient and happier.

You will be, rewarded in freedom, where the government is not intruding and interfering in that relationship. So if you serve them well, you may get thirty-fold, if you serve them, better than that person who is getting thirty-fold, you may get sixty-fold. If you serve them even better, you may get a hundred-fold.  Not everybody does the same in the Kingdom. Depending on how much and how well we serve others, we get blessed in the Kingdom. Does that make sense?  It is an upside down kingdom.   It's not on whose political line you ride on, or which politicians you know to get some success for your family.  No.  It is how well you serve others.  It is the upside down kingdom.

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