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