Daily Glimpsing of the Kingdom

Thank you, Mike, for that special music. Last week we covered a subject which I believe is so important for all of our spiritual lives about trying daily to pause in our busy lives and to glimpse that future kingdom of God. Whether it's a long prayer or not, just take time out and take a peek at that coming kingdom. Focus a bit about what it means for that kingdom of God to come. I don't think there can be anything more positive than to view momentarily on a daily basis that coming kingdom. And we see how Abraham, the patriarchs, the men and women of the Bible, were always looking toward that kingdom. They were focusing on it and constantly reminding themselves of that goal. What Christ said was the first category after addressing God the Father. He said, Die kingdom come. That's what we should focus on. And I see as people may be overwhelmed with different problems and difficulties, and they forget about that coming kingdom, about being part of that coming kingdom. And so last week we covered the first seven of twelve aspects of that coming kingdom of God. And I mentioned that you can divide it up into seven reasons for Christ to come.

We look forward to that coming kingdom. There are seven reasons for that kingdom. And then there are these seven qualities that we are going to experience in that coming kingdom. What it's going to be like. And so today we're going to cover those last five.

But I would like to just again rehearse, maybe some weren't here last week, those first seven purpose-driven reasons for that coming kingdom. Now first of all, it's looking at the goal. Looking at that goal, that our life is goal-driven.

It's based on Matthew 6, verses 32 and 33, which says, you know, seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be added. God will add what is needed, the physical conditions, the requirements. But He wants us to focus and voluntarily choose that as the goal of being part of that coming kingdom of God and also of the righteousness, which is going to rain at that time.

Here's a bit of insight that I learned. I like to write down when there are these little glimpses, insights into the biblical word. And this happened this week, and that is that this goal in Matthew 6, 32 and 33, about seeking the kingdom of God, is related to the mission of the church. What we have is called a mission statement, which says to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God and of Christ in all the world and care for those disciples.

Now, those are two purposes, the preaching and then the caring for those that God calls. Make sure they're spiritually fed, that they grow, that they develop in the church. But I've never seen that as basically related to seeking the kingdom of God. So basically, that's focusing on we ourselves looking for that, but also getting the message out. It's not just a personal message for us, but it's helping getting that message so others will have the same goal, of seeking first the kingdom of God. And then, righteousness has to do with caring for the flock, developing that righteousness in our lives. That's the second purpose.

So I never had connected the two. That mission statement has to do with Christ's also mission statement of seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And so the first is the goal in our lives. I had a chance to speak to a Chinese couple this week who are very interested, want to start attending church. And they come from another walk of life. And they, through the Bible, came finally to us.

And we had a talk. And it's amazing because they're seeking that kingdom of God and righteousness. And they said, this is what I found here. This is what we have found. This is the place where we can meet that goal. And so God draws people in this way. We're not chasing after them. We're not trying to soft sell and get people in. No, God is the one that calls them. But then it's our responsibility to help develop and feed them so they can grow in godly righteousness.

That's how it works. The second is that this is a hope-driven life. So you have the goal, but we know it's the hope. That's what we're going to be looking at in the future. That it's going to happen, but we have that hope. It's not just some distant goal. It is something that is constantly there in our view. The third one, it is a faith-driven life.

So you have hope, and you also need faith. Faith is trusting in God and His Word, and following God's Word. Applying it. Faith without works is dead. So we learn to apply these principles. Then the fourth is we have a meaning-driven life. We know why we were born. We have meaning in our lives.

Many people don't know why they were born, why they were placed on this earth. What's the purpose of all of this? Well, we know it is to seek after the kingdom of God and His righteousness. And so we know God is developing that godly character in us through trials.

Life is actually like an obstacle course that God set up with different tests, different challenges. How are we going to face those challenges? Are we going to overcome them or be overcome?

And so our life has meaning. We know why trials are there and tests. They have a purpose for us to be able to one day be in the kingdom.

Also, it is a satisfaction-driven life, which has to do with that we know justice is not being meted fairly in this life. But we know God has the last word. He is going to judge. He is going to straighten everything that is crooked. And He knows what's going on on this earth. But it's not the time now to punish the true evildoers that many times can get away with things.

And so we have satisfaction. God says, vengeance is mine. I will repay.

Just like in the sermonette, that it's not us who are going to just hit the person back. And if they hit us, we hit them back. And if they do something bad to us, we're going to do something bad to them. No, that's not the right way. We have to learn to pray for those that attack us. We are not going to pay evil for evil. And so we have this satisfaction-driven. There's going to be a time when all those people doing evil things, they're going to get their comeuppance. They're going to get their punishment. God knows how to do it, but he says, reserve the judgment to me.

It is a motivation-driven life. It's a life that we know the meaning of it. We know God's going to deal with things. So we wake up motivated to get closer to God, to seeking that kingdom and his righteousness, studying and trying to apply, learning lessons.

God doesn't intervene every time we go through a lesson. Sometimes he'll allow us to go through it for quite a long time. Sometimes it's because there's a lesson to be learned. If God was this father that spoiled everyone and the person was doing this wrong, but the father was spoiling the child and just giving him everything, no matter how he behaves, that's not the right type of character.

God is not a father that is indulgent in that way and looks the other way when his child does things that need to be corrected. And so there are all kinds of purposes behind trials. One day I'll have to talk about that, but one of the purposes is lessons to be learned.

And so he allows us before he lifts those lessons, those trials. Job is a good example. Job learned his lesson and God lifted the trial in that particular circumstance. He doesn't always do it that way, but he gives us examples in the Bible for the reasons behind trials.

So that's the sixth of the seven aspects of the kingdom, and it is a perseverance-driven life. It's a life that God gives us a purpose, and he says we have to fulfill it to the end of our days. Our way of life is not for five years or for ten years, and then we give up and we start with something else. No, it's a life purpose. It is a total lifetime that we have to be involved with. And so perseverance is one of the virtues in the Bible, not giving in and not giving up.

So I'd like to now cover the remaining five aspects of the kingdom of God that have to do with the qualities or virtues to look forward to in the kingdom. By the way, I don't know how many have ever read the booklet by Herbert Armstrong, The Wonderful World Tomorrow. How many have read that?

Okay, some haven't, but certainly I would recommend it. It's on the websites, it's on the internet, The Wonderful World Tomorrow, because there he wrote a booklet close to 50 years ago, which I will never forget reading, and how it fixed in my mind that coming kingdom and how wonderful it's going to be. It talks about all of these people that have already qualified. You know, Abraham is going to be the father of the faith. We have the apostles, each one, governing one of the tribes of Israel. And how when he comes back in his kingdom, he already has positions, just like he's preparing positions for all of us in his kingdom. He knows where we fit best.

The situation and the importance is to be there when Christ comes back, to be ready for that coming kingdom. And so I heartily recommend that booklet. We are also writing one to update that booklet. It's in review, but it's one of the booklets coming out in the future in the church.

So here are the five last qualities or virtues of the kingdom of God.

As we glimpse into the future, how will it be? What kind of kingdom are we talking about? First, it's going to be an agape love-filled kingdom. You have already covered hope, faith, and of course, love is the greatest. And that's going to describe that coming kingdom, where people are each going to be looking out for the other, serving, sharing, helping, and loving.

In Matthew chapter 20 verse 25, Matthew chapter 20 verse 25, Christ talked about that coming kingdom.

But Jesus called them to Himself and said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. This is the dog-eat-dog world. Yes, it's a type of Darwinian system where the strongest rule, but Jesus said, it shall not be so among you. That's not the way to rule in the church or in the coming kingdom. But whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. So you have to learn what humility is, because God cannot work with people that exalt themselves, that get filled with their own self-importance. He says, no, it's not going to work that way. We're going to have the humblest attitudes. The servants are going to be the ones that are not going to be lifted up and puffed up. They're going to have humility, and they walk daily before God and before man with humility, considering others superior to oneself. They don't give the attitude or opinion that they're more important, that they're the first ones. No, they're going to put others first. Others are more important. They're going to sacrifice their own time to help others, instead of wanting others to sacrifice themselves. I just mentioned a book that I've been reading about all of this problem in the Catholic Church and in the Vatican. Basically, it's a reporter that examined and investigated for four years. What he saw is that the great majority that are running this place, it's not that type of attitude. They project an attitude like that, but inside they have a lot of double lives. This is not hearsay. This is many times their own officials admitting how terrible the situation is. And so here Jesus said that his church would not lord it over people. There would be a spirit of service. Verse 27, he says, And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. A person is going to treat others better and serve and consider them superior to oneself.

Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many because Jesus Christ exemplified that attitude. He not only served people, he shed all of his blood for people that were cursing and crucifying him, and he still loved them.

So of course, that is a very high bar that he has set. And so God's kingdom is going to be based on Christ-like service, Christ-like attitudes. Those that have in this life developed humility to the point where they can serve others without getting lifted up and puffed up and be able to serve not because of position or name recognition or whatever, but because of the way they live their own lives serving and washing spiritually the feet of others. So this is the way the kingdom of God is going to be governed.

Notice in Luke chapter 22, Luke chapter 22, here's something new. I put this down as one of the insights in the Bible that I'd like to share with you. Luke chapter 22 verse 28.

Sometimes people just read Matthew, and there's a part there in Matthew 19-28 that talks about the disciples sitting on thrones and governing Israel. But here in the parallel account in Luke 22, there are a couple of new things that appear. Luke 22 in verse 28.

It says, but you are those who have continued with me in my trials. So these are the ones who have persevered into faith. They were there with Christ. They didn't give up. He says, and I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as my father bestowed one upon me. So Christ is the one who's choosing who is going to reign under him. It's not anybody can win it out. They can't bribe themselves or impress others or Christ. He says, as my father bestowed one upon me, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom. What a privilege to be able to eat and drink at Christ's table. See, it's a privilege for those who have Christ-like attitudes.

And sit on thrones. Remember how in Revelation 20 verses 4 and 6, where Revelation 20, when Christ comes back, he says, I saw thrones. And those who were given judgment. Okay, here we see that when it says there are thrones and that they're going to be judging, it's talking about governing, making decisions for those people under. It says, and sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel. So they're going to be the ones that are going to be having the Christ-like attitude and judge and develop those 12 tribes of Israel in the coming kingdom of God. God has a lot more positions to fill, and He's calling everyone to one of those positions. But we have to learn God-like humility first. In 1 John chapter 4 verse 8, what is God's kingdom going to be like?

It's going to be like God Himself. 1 John chapter 4 verse 8, it says, He who does not love God does not know God, for God is love, agape love, sacrificial love, thinking about the other more than oneself.

Verse 16, and we know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and He who abides in love abides in God and God in Him. So of course, as we develop godly love in this life, it means we're going to be more prepared and ready in that coming kingdom.

It's not going to be a doggy dog world. Unfortunately, some received positions, and they didn't have humility and service as their primary goal. But of course, the church has to grow, it has to develop, but this is the final test that God gives us, how we are serving each other. Secondly, it will be a kingdom filled with joy.

It'll be a kingdom of joy, happiness, and fun. You're going to see smiling faces.

You're not going to see dour and austere and all of these sanctimonious type attitudes that we see in religion today. It's going to be joyful and happy.

In John 15, in verse 11, let's go there, John 15 verse 11, it says, It says, These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. Christ was full of joy. And of course, his kingdom is going to be one of joy, of happiness. Notice in the easy reading version of this verse, it says, I have told you these things so that you can have the true happiness that I have. I want you to be completely happy. So in this life, there's all kinds of sadness, all sorts of frustrations, but in God's kingdom, there's going to be joy and happiness because there's nobody to make you miserable. They're going to be happy smiles and joy as Christ gave his disciples. In Isaiah 65 and verse 18, Isaiah 65 verse 18, in this section, it's talking about the kingdom of God. We're not sure whether it's describing the millennium or the period after the millennium, but in either case, the conditions are going to be very similar. In Isaiah 65 and verse 18, because we know there's going to be this second resurrection, but it's going to be like an Eden-like society and conditions, just like the millennium is going to be. Isaiah 65, starting in verse 18. It says, but be glad and rejoice forever in what I create. It says you're going to be so happy when God is going to be involved in running things. Behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing and her people a joy, whereas today they don't know when those missiles are going to fall. They had a couple of missiles just this week. They're trying to land in Tel Aviv. They're one of the main cities, but in this moment when God is in charge, He talks about the rejoicing. He says, verse 19, I will rejoice in Jerusalem. Enjoy in my people the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. So there's not going to be a period of misery and frustration like so many people today are living. In God's kingdom, things are going to be different. And of course, if we are spirit transformed at that time, spirit beings, we're going to be eternally joyous. We're not going to know what it is to have negative feelings and all kinds of sick depression. All those things will be gone. The tenth condition we're talking about in the kingdom, it will be a peace-filled kingdom.

It'll be a kingdom where there won't be any war, won't be any violence, there won't be any hate.

In Micah chapter 4, Micah chapter 4, starting in verse 1, it says, now it shall come to pass in the latter days. So anytime it talks about the latter days, it's before Christ comes that end time period.

It says that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways and we shall walk in his paths. They're not doing it today, but one day all the people, when Christ is ruling from Jerusalem, he says for out of Zion, which is the main mountain there where Jerusalem and the temple was established, the law shall go forth and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples and rebuke strong nations afar off. It's only going to be one government in that day. People are not going to do what they wish. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore. So here are physical people.

They still have carnal nature, but now they're going to learn the proper way of peace. We're not going to have billion and trillion dollar budgets. Instead of educating and helping people, we're building more and more massive machines of destruction.

And I tell you, this is not even the end of it. What they're trying to build are, it's called nanotechnology. Nanofactories, which is where you start coming down to the molecular level, and you're able to start combining and making machines that are tiny little machines that can do the work for you. And eventually you start with artificial intelligence being able to control the whole world. And that's what the world is headed to now. But here people will have peace.

He goes on to say, Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. Neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken. So it's going to be a peace-filled world.

Now in the Bible there are two types of peace. There's outer peace, which is what you have when you are not being threatened, where you don't have any dangers of any type. It's very nice to do that when you're able to go to sleep and not think some terrible bomb's going to be dropped on you, or some soldiers are going to break down the door. But there are many people that have to go to bed with those type of dangers. So there's what we call outer peace. It's a peace outside of yourself. But then there is inner peace. That's where you are at peace. Your mind is at peace. You are able to live in peace, first of all, with yourself and then with others, where you can be comfortable and in your own skin and pursuing the coming kingdom and His righteousness, that you are a person that has that inner peace. And so God's kingdom, it's not only going to be outer peace, it's going to be inner peace. People are going to find that peace of mind. They're not going to be all frustrated and agitated and all affected by churnings in their minds and hearts. There's going to be peace there. And then the 11th, next to the last quality, it will be an abundance-filled kingdom. Because it's going to be not only spiritual but physical. There's going to be plenty for everyone. It's not going to be a mad rush where people hoard money and hoard products and hoard territories. No, there's going to be an abundance. Everybody is going to be prosperous and they can share with others. Notice what Christ said in John chapter 10 verse 10. John chapter 10 verse 10.

And of course, He's talking of that inner and outer peace. In John chapter 10 verse 10, He says, the thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly. It's the abundant life, spiritually and physically.

And in God's kingdom, people are not going to be destitute. Everyone is going to have beautiful places with huge areas with all of these tame animals. And you're going to be able to invite hundreds of people. And people are going to invite you. And we're going to share. We're going to sit down and break bread together and have joy. Notice in the book of Amos chapter 9 and the Old Testament describing that coming kingdom.

Chapter 9 verse 13. It says, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes, him who sows seed, the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills will flow with it.

I will bring back the captives of my people Israel. They shall build the way cities and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and drink wine from them. They shall also make gardens and eat fruit from them. I will plant them in their land and no longer shall they be pulled up, for the land have given them, says the Lord your God. So it's going to be a time when there's going to, that curse of damage to the soil and lack of fertility, that curse is going to be lifted.

And so there's going to be an abundance. People are going to plant and that crop is going to be there just very few days and it's going to be ready to be harvested. It's not like now that you have these long seasons, a lot of work to just harvest a different type of grain or whatever it is. There it can be multiplied so people can share. And what is the main task that we're going to have? Notice Isaiah chapter 11. What are we going to do with all that extra time? Isaiah chapter 11.

It says about verse 6, the wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. So there's no dangers, no wild animals. All of them are going to be tame. And then it goes on to say in verse 9, They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Just education, learning about every aspect of creation. And God's going to teach us the way of righteousness, the way of creating new things. So we're not going to be out there with a plow and hoeing all day. No, the food is just going to be produced in abundance and people are going to learn, educate themselves spiritually and physically in the things of God.

And then finally, the last point, number 12, it will be a righteousness-filled kingdom. That sums it up what that kingdom is all about. Notice in 2 Peter 3 verse 11. 2 Peter 3 verse 11.

It says, therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, the present world going to be purified in the future, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of the Lord, glimpsing into the future because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire and the elements will melt with fervent heat. And this happens when everyone is judged and the wicked, the incorrigibly wicked are cast into the lake of fire and then that's the second death and then the whole earth is going to be purified. And the whole ocean in the world is going to evaporate and it says when John sees the new earth, it's going to be totally purified. None of man's evil deeds will ever be remembered. There won't be any trace of any of those. There won't be any crosses in those war fields where thousands died. There won't be anything like that. The earth is now purified. The new Jerusalem is coming down. And so it says that the elements will melt with fervent heat. He says, nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. God's way of life. We're all going to be sharing it. We're all going to be one big family of God. God is reproducing himself through human beings so he can have godly children, that he can one day share this whole universe that he's created with those that he made. And so this is just the first step in that whole plan of salvation. Human beings learning and preparing for that coming kingdom and his righteousness. So brethren, I'd like to ask how many that listened to the message last week were able during this week to just take a little time to pause in this very agitated and feverish space of life and were able to just look and glimpse at that coming kingdom. Could I see how many were able to do it? Wonderful. Let's try all to look forward to that. Let's go to one last scripture, Colossians chapter 3, verse 1. Colossians chapter 3, verse 1.

Paul is telling people, look above. Look at that coming kingdom.

Don't focus so much and don't become absorbed and obsessed with the things here on this earth. Verse 1. If then you were raised with Christ, you've been baptized, raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God.

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth that cause so much unhappiness.

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, appears talking about His return, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth, fornication and cleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all of these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. This is what the days of unleavened bread symbolize. Delevaning ourselves spiritually. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created him. Talking about Jesus Christ, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, nor free. But Christ is all and in all. We don't discriminate. We don't care where each one of us has come. We have been called. We're joined by the same spirit. We have that same goal. So, brethren, let's take a peek every day if possible. Let's glimpse that coming kingdom, for it is a key to persevering and having the right frame of mind to face all of life's challenges.