Kingdom Living

Well, let's continue in our study of God's Word to help us in our journey as we look forward to the fulfillment of God's plan here on earth. The title of our sermon today is Kingdom Living. Kingdom Living. And if you have your Bibles, let's open them up together to Luke chapter 11. Luke chapter 11 as we continue in our focus on Christ's instruction regarding prayer. Prayer. We're going to begin in verse 1, Luke 11 verse 1, where we're breaking into the moment in which Jesus Christ is instructing his disciples on this very important topic of prayer. Now here it is, Luke 11 verse 1. Now it came to pass as he, Jesus, was praying himself in a certain place, that when he stopped, when he ceased, that one of his disciples said to him, Lord, well, teach us to pray as John also taught his disciples. Verse 2, so Jesus said to them, when you pray, say, our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. That was our focus last time. And now he instructs us to pray to the Father these words, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let's stop there. So there it is. This is the instruction next in Christ's answer to teach us to pray. You know, it's a remarkable answer here. Of all the things that Jesus Christ could have answered his disciple here. This is the second part of the instruction where he says, we are to pray, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. You know, when we open the pages of the Bible, we discover that the story of the Bible is essentially a tell of two, not one, kingdoms. Did you know that? Augustine, who was a early religious philosopher, he was one of the early religious philosophers to express this understanding. And in his study of the Bible, in Augustine's study, he explained how there were two cities, he put it. Two cities. He called one the city of God, and he called the other the city of man. And Augustine, in his writings, said that these two cities were growing alongside with one another. He defined the city of man really clearly, and I think helpfully, where he said the city of man is a city of man by man and for man. Okay? In other words, man is the creator of this city that he was referring to, and therefore man establishes its values. And, said Augustine, the city of man's whole purpose is to glorify themselves. Okay? So it is that this city was erected for the purpose that men and women would be glorified in it, and essentially deified by it. It is the city of man, and this is man's kingdom, if you will, here on earth. And while Augustine, of course, did not have the the fullness of understanding, his expressions, his observations were quite accurate in this matter, because we can find this whole notion of the city of man from the very beginning of the Bible. Did you know that? For example, if you have your Bibles, let's turn to Genesis 11 verse 4. Genesis 11 verse 4. This is one of the early recordings where we have this city, man's city, revealed to us.

Genesis 11, and if we begin in verse 4, we see that men and women got together for the tower of Babel to build it, and look at what they said to one another. Genesis 11 verse 4. And they said, come, let us build ourselves a city, a tower, whose top is in the heavens. Let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth. Let's stop there. Fascinating to hear those words. Come now, let's build a city for a city that we can make a name for ourselves, they said. Again, it's a city of man, by man, for man. And this city of man then continues all throughout the generations of mankind. For example, the endeavors of man's kingdom can be found in Daniel 4. Let's turn there next. Daniel 4 verse 30. Here in Daniel 4 verse 30, we find none other than King Nebuchadnezzar himself. You know, he was the king in his own opinion. And here in Daniel 4 verse 30, he's now looking out upon all of his possessions. It expanded as far as the eye could see. And he asks, look what the king spoke saying here. Daniel 4 verse 30. The king spoke saying, is not this the great Babylon which I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty. You see, let's stop there. So he was building a city of man here, his own kingdom. And today, in the unfolding pattern of humanity, we find men and women continuing in their deification, exaltation of themselves, determined to build their own kingdom, waiting, wanting it to be a place where they can make their own rules and establish their own values, their own kingdom. They can do as they please. But at the same time, the Bible also makes clear the truth of the city of God, as Augustine expressed it. And we could say, in contrast to man's kingdom stands God's kingdom. And the contrast couldn't be any more evident, of course. God's kingdom is, of course, established by God. It absolutely is in direct opposition to the city of man, differs in its standards, differs in its laws, differs in its purposes, and ultimately differs in its destiny. And we find God's city referenced in Hebrews 11, verses 8 through 10. Let's turn there, if you will. Hebrews 11, verses 8 through 10. A very familiar passage here, where it speaks of Abraham waiting for this city, the city of God.

Hebrews 11, and we're going to read verses 8 through 10. This city of God we're going to read, whose foundations and builder and maker is God, not man. Hebrews 11, beginning in verse 8, it says, By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob. He errs with them in the same promise, and here it is, for he waited for the city, which foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Let's stop there. Incredible. Abraham waited for the city of God. Of course, in his limited understanding, this is the the concepts that Augustine put together here.

It's fascinating. And not only Abraham, but all who have died and will die in faith will await this city. Allow your eyes to go down to verse 13. Let's read verses 13 through 16 here. Verses 13 through 16. It picks up this understanding again here. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were assured of them, embraced them, confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on this earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. Verse 15. And truly, if they called to mind the country from which they had come out, they would have had the opportunity to return. But now, they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Let's stop there. This is the city of God here. And then, we won't turn there, but of course, the book of Revelation picks up on this whole idea where John later would write, I saw a what? A holy city, New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God. That's for your notes Revelation 21 verse 2. Revelation 21 verse 2. So, before us in Scripture is two cities, two kingdoms, if you will, which for the moment are existing side by side with one another, but of course, again, they're in direct opposition to one another. And what we find in Scripture is another fact, it's a heavy fact, that the Bible says that we, man and woman, are in fact, by nature, part of the city of man. And we are born in such a way that our preoccupation is with that city.

We are born in such a way where our preoccupations are with ourselves, preoccupied with what, how, and what we might be exalted on this earth. That's what we saw in the Tower of Babel. It's no different today. Where we can be elevated, and we, by nature, long to be deified, to put ourselves in the place of God. And we continue in that way unless and until we are transported, if you will, to a new city, transported by the means of being redeemed by God's grace from the city of man to be made part of the city of God, being made part of citizens of that new kingdom. And then from that moment, we're to be ruled by that new kingdom. And from that moment, everything changes. We're no longer who we used to be. We no longer think like we used to be. We no longer act like we used to be. It's a whole new way of living for God's kingdom. And unless and until that transfer occurs in our hearts and our minds, we cannot ultimately see the kingdom of God when it is in its fullness of fulfillment at Christ's return. And that will usher in the beginning of God's fullness kingdom to come here on earth. We know that. That's the ultimate fulfillment. Christ's return will usher in that future kingdom of God to be established here on earth.

Where at that time at Christ's return, we will be made like God, God willing.

That future time, we will be converted from physical to spiritual to have that nature of God sealed in ourselves. And that, of course, at that time in Christ's establishment, that will, of course, truly be the future kingdom living. That's the ultimate fulfillment.

But for some, you and I, we are called to bring kingdom living into our reality today, aren't we? Into our physical lives today, called into this kingdom living. And Christ says then, with that, we should, we absolutely should pray these words, your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We must truly pray those words there and understand the fullness of it all. Of course, we, like those mentioned in Hebrews, we wait for that city to come and its ultimate fulfillment. But today, we are to bring this rulership into our lives.

And be subject to the great king, Jesus Christ himself, today. But again, until that ultimate transaction occurs through baptism, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, where the King Jesus comes and makes his home in us, until that day, we are not able to truly pray this part of the model prayer. We can't. We cannot have a full understanding of it.

But if you have had that divine transaction through baptism, then you can and you should say this part of the model prayer here. Father, your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Can I truly pray these words? Can you? I want you to really think about what we're praying when we take on this pattern, this model that Jesus Christ gave us in this part of the prayer. What are we praying? Well, we're expressing to the Father the fact that today we are living here on earth, but we want to acknowledge our devotion to your kingdom, Father. Today, we make this prayer together, I am submitting myself not to my own kingdom, rather I'm placing my full allegiance to you, your kingdom, and your Son, Jesus Christ, is my king. Father, I am leaving behind my will as part of my natural kingdom, the kingdom of man. I'm leaving that behind and I'm submitting to your heavenly rulership and your heavenly will, committing myself, all of myself, to your kingdom today. That's what Jesus says we ought to pray.

Isn't that remarkable? And again, you can pray this. If you've been redeemed by God the Father's Son, the King, well, we can now pledge our life as being part of the heavenly kingdom to come, but we can make this pledge today as a child of that kingdom, even while we live currently in this city of man. We can be in our hearts and minds part of the city of God and not make any compromises to that rulership. So, we raise our eyes upward from this earth to the heavens where God the Father and our soon-coming King, Jesus Christ, dwell.

I hope we can make this part of our prayer in a greater way than ever after today. So, with this understanding, with that foundation, let's ask, well, what does that look like? That's the next logical question, right? If you and I have been raised up with Jesus Christ today, what does it look like to dwell in the city of God, if you will? And of course, this is just imagery to help us, you know, and helping us remove ourselves from dwelling in anything of this world, this city of man.

So, what does it look like to live and seek those things which are above this city of man? Where we set our minds, we set our affections, not on the things of the earth, but the things above the earth. What does that look like? What does kingdom living look like? Well, I'm glad you asked, because we have in Scripture—we can turn to a number of places—but we have in Scripture one of the most direct conversations on this whole understanding.

When Paul picks up his pen to write to the Colossian church, God's people in Colossae, and I want to show you this, and we'll spend the balance of the rest of our time of this study, just revealing what it is to live today in God's kingdom, in our minds, in our thoughts, in our affections, and see the contrast between the city of man and the city of God.

So you might be ahead of me. Let's turn over to Colossians chapter 3, and we'll begin in verse 1. If you'll begin turning there. Paul's writings to God's people, the Colossian people. We're going to begin here in chapter 3 in verse 1, where we find Paul is going to instruct us to raise our eyes up to the heavenly city, if you will. We can think of that imagery, God's kingdom, which is above, and not put our affections or our eyes on things of this kingdom, man's kingdom, if you will.

Colossians 3, let's pick up the discussion here as Paul writes to God's people then and to us today. Colossians 3 verse 1, he says, if then you were raised with Christ, if that's true of you, then seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. You know, Christ our king. Verse 2, set your mind on the things above, not on the things of earth. So we're needing to dwell in the city of God, if you will, with our mind.

Verse 3, for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. So let's stop there. So Paul says, if this is true of you, if you've been raised with Christ, if you've been, you've then been, we could say, just thinking about this imagery and our minds and our affections and our thoughts, we've been transferred from the city of man to the city of God.

You can think about it that way. Perhaps that's helpful to you. If that's true, then you're going to seek those things which are above, where Christ is. Our king sits at the right hand of God, the Father. Verse 2, set your minds on the things above, not on the things on the earth.

For if you were raised in Christ, then you have been raised with your king, and you're no longer merely participating in the things of the city of man. You want nothing to do. You're no longer part of the kingdom of man. And all those examples in scripture. No, yes, even though you're still residing here on earth, you live as a representative today of God's kingdom.

So that, ultimately, verse 4, when he appears, when your king appears, verse 4, you will also appear with him in glory. That will be the ultimate ushering in, the beginning of the ushering in God's kingdom on earth. That'll begin that whole fulfillment. So again, while the fullness of this begins at Christ's return, we are today seeking and setting our minds on the kingdom, the new kingdom, with our new identity here. You have died, if you want to think about it this way, as Paul says, you've died to the old city, to the old kingdom, to man's kingdom.

You have died. You are released from any allegiance, from feeling like you're ruled by it. No, you've died to it, and now you're hidden with the new king. It's really interesting. So that imagery there. So yes, we're walking, and we're dwelling, and interacting in this city, the city of man, but we're actually, as we go, along the way, we're hidden.

I like that imagery with our true king, and our affections are only with him. And so, as you're preparing to truly pray these words, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth, I want you to think about that you're no longer part of this city, the city of man, and think about your identity, so that those words can truly come alive, and you can truly pray these. You have a new king.

And then in coming under this new rulership, again, it changes everything.

And this is where Paul now moves. So when we ask, what does this look like? What does it look like to physically dwell in the city of man, but not have it rule over us? Well, Paul's going to pick up some more imagery here, beginning in verse 5 with kind of a clothing imagery. So I want you to also, picking up on the same with this imagery, you have removed the old garments of the old city of man, and you've put on new heavenly garments. So this is where Paul picks up this notion. Verse 5 through 11. What does it look like? Well, one of the things is you're going to put off any garments of the old kingdom, this is the city of man. Therefore, he says, verse 5, put to death your members which are on earth. Okay, so you're going to put to death anything that is looking to rule you in the city of man. And what are we going to put to death? Well, first he says fornication. So zero illicit sexual immorality. Zero. You're no longer part of those ruled, that rulership in the city of man. Put it to death. You're going to put to death uncleanness. That's unclean morality. You're going to put to death passions. That's uncontrolled, illicit behavior. You're going to put to death evil desires, that longing for forbidden things. Not to be truly God's kingdom living. It's not just a matter of abstaining from these things. You want to remove, put to death, even the desire for the kingdom, the city, that you've come out of. You're no longer part of it. Even the desire. Perhaps some of you have had success in putting off physical, sinful activity, but it's still here. It's still here. So this is part of the instructions. God says, we need to go an extra step here. Put to death, he continues covetousness.

That is really related to coveting things of this world, which he says is idolatry. So this is where your affections come into play. You want to get to the point where you have no desires, no longings, no coveting anything of the city of man, if you will.

Because these things, verse 6, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourself once walked, when you lived in them. So it's so interesting. So he says, these are in which you yourself once walked. He doesn't say, in which when you did those things. No, he says, when you lived in them. So that's why this notion of having this imagery of the city of man and the city of God, it's really helpful. We don't want to live in these things. It's so much more than just not doing them. You don't want to dwell. You don't want to live anything of that which you've come out of. Verse 8, but now, that has this notion of immediacy. There's no time to waste. But now, you yourselves are to put off all these anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds. And you have put on a new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian or Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

So we are to put off these things. There's that garment imagery here. Put off these things. There's this list.

It's all relational, you'll see. It all has to do with how we deal with one another. So by putting off these things, it's one of the first ways that men and women, when we're being looked upon, that they'll be able to say, oh, there's something different about him or there's something different about her. It's almost as if they're not even living within our society. They're here. They're participating. They're engaged in every aspect of society. But I get the feeling they're not living here. They're not with us. So by putting off those garments, if you is one of the ways that we'll be able to introduce men and women to our king, our true king.

And we've come out of man's kingdom, which wrath is coming upon. But that is the kingdom where we once, verse 7, where we once walked and lived in them. We came out of that city. So we're going to put off anything that's offensive to the new kingdom in which we now have placed our affections. And when we're dwelling, if you will, in our hearts and our minds, when we're dwelling in the kingdom of God, the normal distinctions that are present in the city of man, those no longer, those normal city of man distinctions, no longer exist. So there's neither then, as verse 9 goes on to say, Greek or Jew, circumcised, uncircumcised, and on. Barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free. So those are the distinctions, the physical distinctions of the city of man. Well, when we are ruled by the kingdom of God, well, there is those kind of distinctions. Our distinctions are that we've been raised with Christ through His Spirit dwelling in us with the ultimate fulfillment to come. But these things, we won't have those kind of distinctions. It's new distinctions. Our distinctions are going to be with our behavior, with our character, and in living in such a way. Boy, and look at this list. But now we are to put off these things of the old way, the city of man. Verse 8, you can see them all there. Anger, that's settled hostility. The original language there for anger is settled hostility. Like you've just, it's become part of you. I won't have you raise hands. I might raise mine. Where some, you know, anger, it just is part of you. Wow, it's always there to rear its ugly head in a moment's notice. And often we can learn to control the external expression of anger, but the more difficult is the internal resentment. But if we're going to truly allow the symbolism, if we're going to truly live in the kingdom of God and allow that kingdom to rule over us today, we got to get rid of it. The internal, you see. Wrath is the next on the list there. Outburst, that's outburst of fury.

Again, sometimes this is, this can be stealth-like, where our wrath comes in hidden ways. Something to really be cautious of. Malice, that's a desire to hurt others. That can absolutely be stealth-like. You know, if we allow our affections for a moment to move over to the city of man, if we put on some of that old clothing for a moment, we can bring harm on others in a very stealth-like way, you know, with a word or an action that hurts someone and they don't actually know where the hurt came from, but it made us exalt ourselves in the city of man in those moments.

Blasphemy, that's slander. Do not live in the city of man by damaging reputations.

Don't do it. We cannot allow our words to be damaging to others. Filthy language. If you have that difficulty, often it's brought upon you because you're just surrounded by it and it's really difficult to stay out from that filthy language. Focus on that. Ask God to help you in that way, to be raised up with Christ, to be more like Christ in that way. It can also have this notion of degrading speech. So you might do well without just blatantly blaspheming someone, but what if you just kind of are degrading in your speech? You don't want to dwell in the city of man in that area. You don't want to put on... you've taken off those garments. Verse 9, do not lie to one another. Boy, that lying will undermine our community in an instant. We want to be truthful. So these are the things of the city of man, if you will, and there really a lot of them, so many of them, are relational, aren't they? That's how they're expressed. So this is what Paul was speaking about. You've been raised up, he says, it's no longer you put off these things, put on new garments. This is where he's going to move now, the new garments of the city of God, of the kingdom of God, and that begins in verse 12 here. The new garments. These are the new distinctions beginning in verse 12. Therefore, as the elect of God, there's our reminder, as the holy and beloved of God, if that's you, then put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, bearing with one another, forgiving one another. If anyone has a complaint against another, even as Christ forgave you, you also must do. But above all these things, put on, think of garments of the new kingdom, put on love, which is the bond of perfection, and let the peace of God rule. So there's that city of God, the kingdom, there's a nod to that. Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were also called in one body, and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing another in psalms and hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And here's the great summary statement, verse 17, And whatever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Let's stop there. Okay, city of God dwellers. This is you, you're the beloved, he says here. Citizens of a new kingdom, these things are to rule over you here. These are the garments you put on, the kingly garments, if you will. So, tender mercies, that's compassion. This original word here has a depth of understanding, deep empathy and mercy toward others. Tender mercies, deep empathy and mercy toward others. So important. If you're struggling to have deep empathy and mercy toward another, if you bring them to mind, one of the antidotes against that, and one of the ways to put on this garment, is to spend time with that person. If you're having trouble with empathy, or connection, and spend time with them, it is, it's such a grace. If you spend time with someone, you'll be able to connect with them, and then that empathy will follow. It's a guarantee. I guarantee that. Spend time with them. Find out about them. Find out where they came from, who they are today. That's the way you can put on this garment for the new kingdom. Kindness is the next one. Now that word in the original, it has this notion of usefulness. Kindness in being useful to another. So it's not just being nice. Being useful. Are you useful to each other? Humility there.

There's a huge depth of understanding there. You know, humility is not self-hatred. It is an accurate self-awareness in knowing your place before God. So it's not self-hatred. Humility is not. It's just an accurate understanding of where you are in your place with God. Of course, Jesus Christ made himself of no reputation for us. Great act of humility. Are you willing to serve without being seen?

The next is meekness or gentleness. Meekness or gentleness. Fascinating word. Meekness. It is power under control. Isn't that interesting? The ability to respond in grace without aggression.

Jesus Christ was so meek and gentle with sinners, with children, with those who were broken. Gentleness. Meekness.

Can you speak truth without crushing someone's spirit?

That's whenever you're able to successfully do that, speak truth without crushing them, then the garment of meekness is on full display.

You're, in those moments, truly setting your affections upon the kingdom of God, upon the city of God, in those moments.

Long suffering. Also, that means patience, we could say. Enduring. That means enduring without retaliation. Enduring without retaliation.

The ability to endure with one another without any kind of root of bitterness or difficulty with that, looking down upon that person. That's a really hard thing to do. Again, often we can display these garments outwardly, but it's the heart of the matter that's sometimes difficult to dwell in the kingdom in this way. Jesus was patient, was long suffering with his disciples' failures. Failure after failure after failure, we know. The apex of his patience was in how he viewed those who crucified him. And then in verse 16, Paul moves on with these qualities of kingdom living, God's kingdom, where he says, verse 16, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching, admonishing one another, psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. So when we're ruled by King Jesus, if you will, we will dwell richly in all wisdom, and we'll teach and admonish and we'll sing hymns. All of it's going to be out of thanksgiving here. That's there at the end of verse 15. Our gratitude is going to be expressed through these things. In verse 17, so that whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Whatever you do, everything you do in word or deed in his name, in our King's name. That's pretty comprehensive, isn't it? So, using this imagery, and we know imagery breaks down, it's not perfect, but it can be helpful. Using the imagery of being transferred, if you will, from the city of man to the city of God, from that point, all of our words, all of our deeds are to be brought under the rulership of Jesus Christ, our King.

And this is how it's worked out with all these garments, pieces of clothing there in verse 12. It's amazing to dwell on those things. And Paul concludes by saying that above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection, he says. Put on love.

Love connects all these things. Love is the joints of all these things, if you will. Love is the thread of our garments. Here, as we look to dwell in the city of God today, today.

And not go back and put on any of the clothing of the old city. That's the difficult part, isn't it? And that's when, when we go back and from time to time put on some of the old city dwelling clothing, that's when we need to come to this part of the prayer. And we need to pray. Your kingdom come. Yes, future fulfillment, ultimately, but Father, let it come today in my heart. In my heart. Your will be done. I want your will to be done, not mine. Help me to live in your city today. Help me be ruled by your kingdom. Would you pray this today? Let's all pray this today.

And as we begin to conclude here, I would like to ask from each of you a renewed commitment to the new city, which is ultimately coming, but should dwell in us today.

With our affections, we need to think deeply about this part of Christ's model prayer. Perhaps think more deeply than we ever have before.

Father, we must pray. Today, we are living in the city of man, here on this earth. Father, so much of our affections are pooling us to it, that we would be ruled under its laws. But I want to acknowledge today, Father, that my devotion is to your kingdom, not my own. And I want to leave behind my will as part of my natural kingdom. And I want to submit to your heavenly will. Father, we are coming ourselves, all of ourselves, into your kingdom today. So that one day, at your Son's return, we can have the ultimate fulfillment. The beginning of your kingdom being established here on earth. So today, brethren, may we all in a greater way pray to God, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.