The Kingdom of God
Bryan Johnson
May 2007
Jesus came preaching
What is the Kingdom of God?Ten parables of the Kingdom?
IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
THE KING
INTERVENESTHE KING INVADES HISTORY
AS A SUFFERING SERVANT
Overview - THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ETERNAL, UNCHANGING (Psa 145:11-13)
IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
ADAM NOAH
ABRAHAM MOSES etc.
DAVID
IN EACH INTERVENTIONTHE KINGDOM PRINCIPLESARE MADE KNOWN: SPIRITUAL,ECONOMIC, SOCIALTHROUGH GOD'S DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL
IN THE LIVES OF:
COMMUNITIES OF THE KINGMANIFEST KINGDOMSPIRITUALITY, ECONOMICS, SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS
GOD instituted COVENANTS OF Mercy and Judgement
IN THE LAST DAYS WILL BE THE TRIUMPHAL COMING
AS THE KING OF KINGSAND AS JUDGE OF ALL
THE KINGDOM
WILL RULE THE
KINGDOMS OF
THIS EARTH
It is a Kingdom Present…. And Not Yet!
Covenants - Foundations of Trust What happens when a society
cannot trust each other? It divides and the sense of community breaks down.
In the slum Satan uses the common vices of human society to divide the community;
a) Gambling
b) Alcohol addiction
c) Selling Sex
d) Drug addiction
e) Criminal activity
God
Humanity Land
God made Covenants with His people to develop His relationship with His people! Covenants of the
scripture reflect the Kingdom – Noah (Gen 9:8-17), Abraham; Gen 17), Sinai (Ex 19-24), Phinehas (Num 25:10-13), David (2 Sam 7:5-16), New Covenant (Jer 31-34)
All covenants involve: God-Human Society Land
These Covenants are intended to bring healing and reconciliation in relationships between God and mankind.
Man’s remedy for a breakdown in relationships in communities are; Pass laws to regulate
human behaviour Laws are devised
according to the values and worldview of the dominant culture
Employ Police to enforce these laws
Fine and imprison the offenders and make criminals out of a section of society
Use weapons to gain power over the an inferior group in society the dominant group wants to control
This results in injury, death and maiming of people which destroys their creativity and productivity
God’s remedy for this unjust human government system was to….. Provide His own Son
Jesus to satisfy the righteous requirement that there be a penalty for the breaking of the Law.
His Son Jesus Christ was crucified to pay this penalty.
God is a just and merciful God, who made a way to His subjects to be free.
The Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of Jesus Christ in our lives setting us free from the injustice of the evil systems and powers of the unseen world.
Jubilee was the concept of forgiveness that set the debtor free from the bondage of debt.
New Testament period till today
The King Reigns from New Testament times until today thru’ His disciples actions in
making disciples. Eph 3
Proclamation of the “good news” of Kingdom by His servants. Eph 3 v 8
The Kingdom is manifest in redemptive “joy-filled” communities actions in reconciliation and healing the nations. Eph 3 v 15
Through the Church – the community of believers contesting the powers of darkness and their activity in the world. Eph 3 v 10
Turning the world’s power structures upside down through mission to the poor and lost. Eph 3 v 11
Read Ephesians 3 v 1-21
The Mission of the Kingdom
GOD
MANAGING THE CREATED ORDER
GODSOCIAL
DISCIPLESHIP
SPIRITUAL
DISCIPLESHIP
ECONOMIC
DISCIPLESHIP
RULES OVERHUMANITY
WHO ARE TO RULE AS HISVICE-RULERS
RULES OVER HUMANITY
WHO ARE TO BE THEIR NEIGHBOURS'
KEEPERSIN EQUALITY, BROTHERHOOD,SISTERHOOD AND JUSTICE
Discipleship: Responses to the Reign of the King
The Kingdom is God’s RuleBringing Redemption of Humanity
And Restoration of Creation
1.
2.
3.
Jesus provides a holistic answer to mankind’s need....... Human Needs Spiritual
Separation Death
Social Alienation Injustice
Economic Poverty Extravagance Exploitation
Political Oppression
Divine Resources
Spiritual Spiritual Life Eternal Life
Social Community Justice Brotherhood
Economic Food / Work /
Land Redistribution Management of
Resources Political
Servant-Leaders
Some Principles of the Kingdom Economic
Creativity Productivity Voluntary & periodic
redistribution Corporate and Private
property Communal economics
Social Equality Brotherhood, sisterhood Communal values
Spiritual Eternal life Answered prayer Power of Spirit
Political The Leader is a Servant Power is to be distributed The multiplication of
economic, political or spiritual communities to redistribute power
The Government seeks to serve the poor
Some New Testament Economic Principles of the Kingdom Redistribution (2 Cor 9:8;
Acts 2:42-44) Forsaking all (Luke 12:33) Live simply vs
consumerism (1 Tim 6:6-8) Identification with the poor
(John 1:14) The rich are humbled,
and the poor are uplifted (James 1:9)
Rich
Middle Class
• Level of Equality and Simplicity
Labouring Poor
Destitute Poor
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
1. Parable of the Sower Matt 13 v 3 – 23 The person with the good
heart will hear the word of the kingdom and it will produce much fruit in his/her life. To whom much is given even more will be given, and to whom who has little even that will be taken away.
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
2. Parable of the Tares Matt 13 v 24 – 30 The seed planted in the
field grows up with the tares. At harvest the tares are burned then the wheat is stored. We do the work of the kingdom in this sinful world and the judgement will come one-day.
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
3. The Mustard Seed Matt 31 v 31-32 The smallest will
become the greatest giving shelter and care for a multitude of people
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
4. Parable of the leaven Matt 31 v 33 Those who proclaim
the kingdom are like leaven, a small company of disciples who will gradually permeate all of society
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
5. The treasure in the field
Matt 13 v 44 – 46 The merchant sells all
he has to buy the field where the pearl of great price is hidden
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
6. The dragnet Matt 13 v 47 – 51 The dragnet gathers
all the fish of the sea but the fisherman sorts the fish and discards those not wanted
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
7. Old and new treasure Matt 13 v 52 The scribe who
becomes a disciple brings out all his treasure both old and new.
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
8. The faithful Steward Luke 12 v 42-48 He is put in charge of the
Masters servants and their rations until the Master returns.
Because of his faithfulness he is put in charge of all His Master’s possessions
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
9. The greedy rich man Luke 12 v 15-40 The foolish rich man
has his life taken while building bigger barns. Seek first the kingdom of God
Ten Parables of the Kingdom
10. The lost sheep Luke 15 v 3-11 The shepherd loses a
sheep and he leaves the 99 and goes to find the 1 missing sheep
There is great rejoicing over the sheep when it is found