REPENT 4: Escaping The Kingdom Of This World
Matthew 4:17 (ESV) From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
The Kingdom Of Heaven (God) Was Jesus Primary Message
He began His ministry with this message - Matthew 4:17
It was the primary topic of His ministry - Matthew 4:23, 9:35, 24:14
He sent his disciples to preach the Kingdom - Matthew 10:7, Luke 9:2
All of His parables were Kingdom teachings
The Kingdom was central to His teach about salvation - John 3:3, 5
He taught followers to make the Kingdom first - Matthew 6:33
He made the Kingdom central in his teaching on prayer - Matthew 6:10
He connected the Kingdom with His authority - Matthew 28:18
He taught that the Kingdom was being delivered to us by Himself - Matthew 12:28
This was/is not a message about going to Heaven. This was/is a message about establishing the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.
When you were born, you had no idea that you were born into a physical kingdom and now awareness of how it would radically impact your life.
No idea how good or bad
No idea what you have or don’t have
No idea how it would impact EVERY aspect of life
Primary Components Of A Kingdom
KING — Who possesses supreme authority?
KINGDOM — What domain does he rule?
PEOPLE — Who belongs to the kingdom?
GOVERNMENT — Who administers the king’s authority?
LAW — What standards govern the kingdom?
ECONOMY — How are resources produced and managed?
MILITARY — How is the kingdom protected?
CULTURE — What values and way of life characterize the kingdom?
When you were born, you had no idea that you were born into a physical kingdom and now awareness of how it would radically impact your life.
No idea how good or bad
No idea what you have or don’t have
No idea how it would impact EVERY aspect of life
The Kingdom Of This World
KING
The Ruler Of This World — John 12:31, John 14:30, John 16:11
The God Of This Age — 2 Corinthians 4:4
Prince Of The Power Of The Air — Ephesians 2:2
The Dragon Who Gives Authority To The Beast — Revelation 13:2
KINGDOM
Luke 4:5–7 (ESV) And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.”
Colossians 1:13 (ESV) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Acts 26:18 (ESV) to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
PEOPLE
1 John 5:19 (ESV) We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
Psalm 51:5 (ESV) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Romans 3:10–11 (ESV) as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.
John 8:43–44 (ESV) Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
1 John 3:8–10 (ESV) Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
GOVERNMENT
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
LAW
Rejection Of God/God’s Word
1 John 3:4 (ESV) Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 (ESV) For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.
Ephesians 2:1–2 (ESV) And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—
ECONOMY
Matthew 4:8 (ESV) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
1 John 2:15–17 (ESV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
2 Chronicles 10:10–11 (ESV) And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, “Thus shall you speak to the people who said to you, ‘Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us’; thus shall you say to them, ‘My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. And now, whereas my father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.’ ”
MILITARY
Matthew 25:41 (ESV) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Revelation 12:7 (ESV) Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back,
Matthew 12:24 (ESV) But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.”
His weapons include:
deception — Revelation 12:9
temptation — Matthew 4:1–11
accusation — Revelation 12:10
persecution — Revelation 2:10
fear — Hebrews 2:14–15
spiritual deception — 1 Timothy 4:1
false teaching — 2 Corinthians 11:13–15
CULTURE
Deception - Revelation 12:9
Lies - John 8:44
Murder/Destruction - John 8:44
Sin - 1 John 3:8
Pride - 1 Timothy 3:6
Rebellion - Ephesians 2:2
Worldliness - 1 John 2:15–16
Darkness - Colossians 1:13
Colossians 1:13–14 (ESV) He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.