Kingdom Values That Last Forever

Now, brethren, I know you heard some wonderful messages about various aspects of the Kingdom of God at the Feast. Undoubtedly, you heard many messages of varying subjects regarding the Kingdom of God. We have so much to rejoice in and to look forward to in God's Kingdom. So, again, the Feast of Tabernacles is a spiritual high for us. God's Kingdom really is like hidden treasure. It is like the Pearl of Great Price that is talked about in the Bible. In fact, let's go to Matthew 13, where it does talk about this in the Bible. And Christ Himself is the one that speaks of the Kingdom of God as hidden treasure and as a pearl of great price. Matthew 13 will read verses 44 through 46. Matthew 13 verse 44. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven, or the Kingdom of God, is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid. And for joy over it, he goes and sells all that he has, and he buys that field. Perhaps he found diamonds in the field. Acres of diamonds, you probably heard about that story, with millions, billions, perhaps priceless. Verse 45. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. And when he had found one, one pearl of great price, he went and sold all that he had and bought that pearl of great price. Brethren, this shows us a principle. It shows us that we must be willing to give up everything that is contrary to God's Kingdom.

We must learn to give up the carnal, fleshly values of this world, and we must learn to embrace a different set of values. Those carnal, fleshly values are temporary. We must embrace an eternal set of values. When we learn to value what God values, we will focus on developing those eternal values in our lives. There are certain Kingdom values that characterize God's eternal Kingdom. These values, again, will last for all eternity. They are not temporary. They are eternal. And in order to obtain this pearl of great price, the Kingdom values must become a part of who you are now. As Mr. Dennis pointed out, we are to be overcomers. We are to put sin out of our lives.

We are to become the image of Jesus Christ, as the Scripture clearly tells us. One day, when we look in the mirror, we should see Christ, for we have become like Him.

So, brethren, what are some Kingdom values that last forever? I thought it would be good to extend the message of the Feast of Tabernacles a little further. What can we be doing right now to instill the Kingdom values in our own lives? I'd like to share with you a number of Kingdom values. I've got actually seven points. There are really a few extra values that I slid in. There are more than seven, but we're going to call it seven. It's a good number. Okay, let's begin with point number one. Again, Kingdom values that last forever. That's the name of the sermon. Kingdom values that last forever.

Point number one. God's Kingdom will be a kingdom of true righteousness and obedience. So, Kingdom value number one is righteousness and obedience. They're very similar righteousness and obedience. To do the right thing is to be obedient to God and His laws and His ways. In Daniel chapter 7, it shows us very clearly that all dominions will learn to serve and obey God in His Kingdom. Let's read that together in Daniel chapter 7. Daniel chapter 7 verse 27. Daniel chapter 7 and verse 27. Of course, we know that this is a prophetic chapter. It speaks of a vision of four beasts. It speaks of things that would be happening in the last days.

Notice verse 27. Daniel chapter 7 verse 27. Then the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people, shall be given to the saints of the Most High. His kingdom, God's kingdom, is an everlasting kingdom and all dominions. In other words, all people, all nations, everyone, will come to serve and obey Him.

Everyone will come to obey God in His Kingdom. Obedience is a value that will last forever. We need to be learning that value today. In Hebrews chapter 1, it speaks of a scepter of righteousness that is your kingdom. God's kingdom will be ruled in righteousness. It will be a kingdom of righteousness, of obedience and faithfulness. Hebrews chapter 1 verse 8. In regard to His Son, Jesus Christ, the Father says in verse 8, Hebrews chapter 1, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever a scepter of righteousness, a scepter of rulership, of righteousness, is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and you have hated lawlessness. We too must come to hate lawlessness. We must come to hate sin, to abhor sin. Therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions. Christ is preeminent above all others. A scepter of righteousness is your kingdom. Now, I'm not going to take the time to go to Matthew chapter 5, where it speaks of the beatitudes we're familiar with. That is the Sermon on the Mount. In verse 10, it says, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake. We are to learn righteousness now, even if we're persecuted. We must learn to be righteous people, men and women of God. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Yours is the kingdom of God if you will learn to be righteous and obedient and faithful now. In Matthew chapter 13, we will go there. It speaks of the righteous and how they're going to shine forth as the Son in the kingdom of their Father. Matthew chapter 13, verse 43. And you see, this is at the end of the parable of the terrors and how it's explained. In verse 43, it says, Then the righteous will shine forth as the Son in the kingdom of their Father. In the very last days, Christ will return.

And the firstfruits will become like Christ. We will enter into God's kingdom. We will become spirit beings as Christ is spirit, as God is spirit. And we will shine forth as the Son, the brightness of the Son, so bright that we can't look into it.

We will become like Christ. We will see Him as He is, and we will be like Him.

The righteous will shine forth. We must learn to be righteous today. Brethren, surrender to God fully. That's the message of these parables that we've discussed already. The pearl of great price. Sell everything that you have and cling to that pearl of great price. Learn to become righteous and obedient. Learn to be faithful. Surrender to God fully. Keep His commandments. Do it now. Kingdom value number one is righteousness and obedience.

Secondly, the kingdom will be a kingdom of faith, peace, and joy. I told you I was going to throw a few extras in here. This is one point, but it's faith, peace, and joy. They go together well. The kingdom of God will be a kingdom of faith, peace, and joy, and these values will last forever. So kingdom value number two is faith, peace, and joy. In Isaiah 9, verse 7, and we will go to this scripture a few times today, and you probably heard it. No doubt you heard it during the Feast of Tabernacles, a time or two. Isaiah 9, verse 7.

Let's read verse 6 as well. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. Christ was given for us. That's why He became flesh, to die for us, to become like us. For unto us a son is a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end. It will be eternal. Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, God's kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice. From that time forward, even forever, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. God is zealous in regard to His kingdom. He wants us to learn these values now that we might spend forever with Him. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. So peace is certainly a value that God wants us to learn. He wants us to become peacemakers. He wants us to become like His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the Prince of Peace. Notice also in Romans chapter 14, Romans chapter 14 verse 17, where it speaks about the kingdom of God. It says, the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but it is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. As we learn to walk in the Spirit, we will become like Christ. We will learn to be more joyful, we will learn to be more peaceful, and we will learn to be more righteous. So the kingdom of God is a kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy. I know I mentioned our grandson Xander when he walked for the first time. He forgot everything. He was no longer fearful of walking because he was so excited, he was so joyful when he was playing with his cousin. And many of you saw the video that we played on Pentecost. He was squealing, he was happy, he just took off. And we can do that too if we will just put the self away. Stop thinking so much about ourselves and about the joy of God's kingdom.

We can become more joyful every day of our lives. And we need to learn how to treat people with love and respect at all times. We should never take away another's joy by our overly picky approach. I've seen people do that. Someone's very happy, and they're not doing anything wrong. They're not doing anything that's against God's law. But someone comes along to dampen their spirits because they think they have a better way. Be careful not to do that. Don't steal anyone's joy. There is a time to let live and let live. Now, as long as someone isn't breaking God's commandments, they may have a different style than you do. They don't have to be just like you.

Be a peacemaker. Keep the peace. Be careful how you approach people and don't steal their joy away.

In Matthew chapter 13, we spoke of the parable of hidden treasure. There it mentions the joy that he had over this priceless treasure. The joy that he had over this priceless treasure, he went and sold it all to buy that field. We should have true joy when we consider our calling and when we consider our destiny as a child of God forever in his kingdom.

So we should have tremendous joy, tremendous peace in our lives. And also, we need to have strong faith in God and what he is doing. Now, I may have shared this little story with you in the past. It's from a book entitled Life Before Death. It's written by a minister of some other faith. I'm not sure exactly what denomination or what the church was. But what he said was sound and is something that we should consider ourselves. It was written by Ian Leach, L-E-I-T-C-H, a book called Life Before Death. A Restored, Regenerated, and Renewed Life. It was written in 2007. In it, he says, a businessman asked me if I would speak to his staff, and I readily accepted. One of his staff asked me if we could talk privately. She said, Ian, when I was 22 years old, I was in a serious car accident, and my boyfriend was killed. I've gone through a lot of surgery, and I'm now doing well. But when that happened, when my boyfriend died, when I was broken up, I lost my faith.

I lost my faith. Leach writes, what do you say to someone like that? Well, I prayed and I said as kindly as I could, you know, when they built the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, and the QE2, or the Queen Elizabeth II, they did not test them in dry dock. They didn't leave them in dry dock and get big hoses on them to see if they would leak. They got those ships out into the open ocean to put them through sea trials. These trials were not intended to sink the ship. They didn't want to sink those ships. These trials were to prove that the ship was seaworthy. The only way you can know whether your faith is real or not is when the pressures of life come, when you go through trials. Then you know if you are seaworthy or not. Can I ask you honestly, did you lose your faith, or did you find you had none? Did you lose your faith, or did you find that you really had no faith?

She said, Ian, I guess you're right. I had none. What about you? How strong is your faith?

And how strong is your faith in your faith? How strong is your faith in what you believe? Now, we've been tested in the past, many of us. We've been tested in terms of what do we really believe. How strong is our faith in our faith? Many people passed the test, but many people did not pass that test, because they really had no faith in what they were doing. Otherwise, they could not have walked away from it so easily. Or they were certainly sidetracked, and God may bring them back. They were blinded.

But for us, we need to have strong faith in our faith.

So again, this is a good question to ask ourselves from time to time. How strong is our faith, and how strong is our faith in our faith, and what we really believe? Prove all things, brethren, and hold fast to that which is good. The Bible says we are to be workmen who need not be ashamed, but we are to rightly divide the word of truth, we're to understand God's truth. Therefore, we need to study it. We need to be students of the Bible. Strengthen your faith in your faith by studying God's Word, and writing God's laws in your heart and in your mind. Trust God, and be a peacemaker yourself. Don't stir up strife within your family, within your marriage, within your household, among your children, among your co-workers. Be a peacemaker, and always be thankful and full of joy, for you are called to be one of the first fruits of God's glorious kingdom. So, the second value, again, is faith, peace, and joy in God's Spirit, because God's Spirit will grant us these things as we yield to God's Spirit and as we learn to walk in the Spirit. So, the second point, again, faith, peace, and joy, they are kingdom values. Value them highly. 3. The kingdom will be a kingdom of justice and judgment.

It will be a kingdom of justice and judgment, but it will be balanced with forgiveness and compassion.

The kingdom of God will be a kingdom of justice and judgment, but it will be balanced with forgiveness and compassion. So, kingdom value number three is justice and judgment balanced with forgiveness and compassion.

Going back to Isaiah 9, verse 7, it says, again, to order and to establish it, that is, the kingdom of God, to order and to establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. Now, brother, we know that our judgment period is when? When is your judgment period? Are you going to be judged later on? Or are you in the process of being judged now? Our judgment period is primarily right now, for judgment has begun upon the house of God. It has begun upon the members of God's family. We are being judged now in the choices, the decisions that we make.

God's kingdom will be a kingdom of judgment and justice. In 2 Timothy 4, verse 1, it says, God will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Yes, that's when the sentence will be passed and His appearing. For the first fruits, however, the judgment is upon us now, and God will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom. Now, of course, we understand that there will be more than one resurrection. There will be a first resurrection when the church, the people of God who have the Spirit of God dwelling in them, who have yielded to God and accepted Christ as their Savior, have repented of their sins, and they will be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the return of Christ. Their judgment, their sentences, will be passed, but now is their time to show themselves worthy and to have themselves deemed worthy by Christ our Savior. In Matthew 18, if we go there for a moment, it gives the account of an unforgiving servant. I know you're familiar with this account, but let's consider it today. Matthew 18, verse 21, Then Peter came to him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me? And I forgive him up to seven times? Peter thought that was pretty generous. Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Now that's what, 490 times? Does it stop there? Actually, this is the principle, that whenever someone is repentant and is asking you to forgive them, of course, you know, the ultimate forgiveness is from God Himself. I mean, we can only do so much as human beings. We can choose to forgive someone and live in peace with them as best we possibly can.

Of course, true repentance is important. It's something, again, that we all must do. We must repent of our sins. Therefore, it says in verse 23, the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him 10,000 talents. That's a lot of money! Back then, it would be a lot of money today. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant, therefore, fell down before him, saying, Master, have patience with me and I will pay you all. Now, again, this is a parable that Christ is giving to teach a lesson. The master of the servant was moved with compassion, he released him, and he forgave him the debt. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, just a small pittance in comparison to 10 talents.

He owed him much more money, or 10,000 talents, I should say. He owed him a great deal more money, and he laid hands on him. This servant took him by the throat, saying, Pay me what you owe.

So his fellow servant fell down on his feet, and he begged him, just as this other servant had begged his master for forgiveness to forgive the debt, and the master forgave the debt. In this case, the servant does not forgive the debt. He is not patient. He says in verse 30, And he would not forgive the debt, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, because they saw the hypocrisy in this man. They saw that he was a hypocrite, that he would accept the forgiveness of his master, and he would go before his master, begging for forgiveness, but he was not willing to forgive another.

So his fellow servants saw what had been done. They were very grieved. They came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me, should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had passion or pity on you. So his master was angry, and he delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. So my heavenly Father also will do to you, if each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother, his trespasses his sins.

So again, God's kingdom is one of justice and judgment, but it is coupled with forgiveness and compassion. So, brethren, we must treat each other fairly and equitably. We should strive to be just in all of our dealings and remember that we will be forgiven in the same manner that we forgive others. Now, some time ago I shared a story with you about a certain cat, a very unrepentant cat, a cat that I was at the end of my patience with. Do you remember that story? This was a mother cat who belonged to the neighbor, but decided he wanted to live at our home. And I tried to starve her, I tried to run her off by throwing stones at her. She would not leave. She hung around and I was about ready to cast her into the lake of fire.

I mean, to me she was incorrigible. She was so corrupted, she was mean to all my other cats, she was trying to run. She ran off one of my favorite cats. I haven't seen him since. She was just a nasty cat. Well, being the forgiving man that I am, and the patient man, I gave her some more time. And you know, she has come around.

This is a success story because now that cat has been nice to the other cats. She has been nice to my favorite cat, a big male cat. She used to just really be nasty and mean to him, but he was strong, he wouldn't leave. One of my other cats left because she intimidated him so much. Anyway, she became much, much nicer. And we knew she was pregnant, and we knew she was going to have some babies. I was not happy at all about this situation, but she wouldn't leave. And after trying to starve her, I would bring the other cats in and feed them and not feed her, but she wouldn't leave. So finally I started feeding her again. And she was nice after that. It must have taught her a lesson. I thought she lost all of her kittens because she was obviously no longer pregnant, but the kittens were nowhere to be found. Well, like two days before the feast, I walked back toward the back porch and there were five little kittens just playing together and having a merry old time. She had five kittens.

So when we came back, we didn't know how many kittens we'd have. We still have five. None of them left. The mother's there. It's one big happy family, except they're as wild as Marchhares. Those kittens are really wild. Anyway, to me it was a success story because she really did repent of her old wicked ways. And now she's been accepted into the family. So I suppose she'll be around for as long as God wills.

But to me, it is a story of forgiveness, of compassion, of justice and judgment, because I was not happy with her and I took some measures against her to try to teach her certain... Actually, I thought she'd leave. I was trying to drive her off. But persistence also pays off. So God doesn't let up on you either. If you have problems with certain sins that you haven't completely overcome, continue to fight the good fight and trust that God will give you strength to overcome them and that God will forgive you and that God will be gracious and merciful toward you.

So the kingdom of God is again a kingdom that will be balanced with forgiveness and compassion. God is just. God is equitable. No sin will enter into God's kingdom. Only those who repent will be forgiven. James chapter 2 says, it says, mercy triumphs over judgment. Mercy triumphs over judgment. So be merciful. The idea is that we are to be merciful, so God will be merciful with us. We know that we will be forgiven in the same manner that we forgive others. So again, point number three. Kingdom value number three is justice and judgment coupled with forgiveness and compassion. Number four. The kingdom of God will be a kingdom based on humble, selfless service. Humble, selfless service. So humility and service. The kingdom of God is selfless, humble service. In Hebrews chapter 12 verse 28, it speaks of a kingdom that will never be shaken. No great earthquake will bother the kingdom of God.

Hebrews chapter 12 verse 28, therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, God's kingdom cannot be shaken, let us have grace. Let us be gracious toward others by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and with godly fear. We need to serve God acceptably and with godly fear, with reverence.

We are to be service-minded. God is looking for those who will serve Him in spirit and in truth, who will worship Him in that way. In Matthew chapter 20, remember there was a controversy that came up between the disciples over a certain incident. Let's go to Matthew 20. I'm sure we all remember this to some degree or another. Matthew chapter 20, Matthew chapter 20, let's read verse 21. Matthew chapter 20 verse 21. And he said to her, this was the mother of Zebedee's sons, she came to Christ and she was asking something from him. Verse 21, and he said to her, What do you wish?

She said to him, Grant that these two sons of mine may sit one on your right hand and the other on the left in your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am able to drink or about to drink and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They said to him, We are able. So he said to them, no doubt this was Zebedee's mother and the boys were right there as well, and he said to them, You will indeed drink my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with.

But to sit on my right hand and on my left is not mine to give, but it is for those whom it is prepared by my Father. Again, Christ is completely obedient to his Father's will. And when the Ten heard it, they were greatly displeased. The Ten heard about it, what had happened. They were displeased, the other disciples. They were displeased with the two brothers. And Jesus called them all to himself because Christ is a peacemaker. And he said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.

And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave. Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but Christ came to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. We are also called to service, brethren. We are to follow the example of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Christ laid his life down for us. We are to lay our lives down for one another.

We are to follow his example. We are to become living sacrifices, holy and acceptable unto God. It is our reasonable service that we are to be service-minded. Again, Christ was a peacemaker, and he brought peace to that situation. That was a difficult situation. The ten disciples were not happy with the other two. Christ brought them all together, and he showed them what was really important. It's not who is the greatest, it's who is the servant.

That is the point. We must become service-minded, humble. In Matthew 25, it also speaks of this eternal value of service. Matthew chapter 25, verse 14, For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them, to one who gave five talents, another two and another one. According to their abilities, in verse 21, his Lord said to him that is the one who had five talents and produced five more, he said, Well done, good and faithful servant.

You were faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord. He also would receive two talents came and said, Look, Lord, you delivered me two talents. I have gained two more talents besides these. His Lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things.

Enter into the joy of the Lord. Then he would receive the one talent came and he was afraid. He didn't have great faith. He didn't trust God. He didn't see God as God truly is. He went and hid the talent that was given him. He did not do anything with this. He did not go out and serve others with it. He was not a faithful servant. He was an unprofitable servant.

We are to go above and beyond the call of duty as God's people. This is the parable of talents in rulership or service. Well done, good and faithful servant, as opposed to cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. That's what happened to the one who did not serve, who was not a faithful servant, who did not use what God had given him to help and serve others. In Matthew 25, if we'll drop down to verse 34, and this is talking about the sheep and the goats, one on the right and one on the left, then the king will say to those on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you did take me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger or take you in naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you? See, they're very humble about this. You know, Lord, you're mistaken. You know, we didn't do all these things to you. And the king will answer and say to them, assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me. You served me.

So, brethren, that's the kind of servant we must become. We must consider ways to serve others. We must do it unselfishly, and then we will be in God's kingdom forever. There will be no need for tight control when we are all spirit and have God's mind and heart. Service is not about a controlling spirit. Some people only serve when they get it their way. You see, service will be at the foundation of God's kingdom. True, humble service will be at the foundation of God's kingdom.

And obviously, this will be because everyone is going to have self-control in God's kingdom. There will be no need for the government to be controlling at that time, because everyone's going to be obedient and self-control. As human beings, we try to control others oftentimes rather than serve others, truly serve others. So look for ways to serve others without being seen or noticed. But if the only way or the best way to help someone requires being known, then do it for their sake. Sometimes we have to humble ourselves, and people find out that we've done something for a better good. We should try not to be seen or noticed, but there may be times when we need to get involved to help someone. So, brethren, see a need and fill it without being asked to do so. That's what I look for as a pastor, a person who is willing to get involved and to serve without necessarily being asked. Again, there's a right balance in doing so. If it's done properly, then it's a wonderful thing. So, kingdom value number four is humble, selfless service. Value number five, the kingdom will be a kingdom that is always spiritually expanding and growing. So, kingdom value number five is spiritual growth. Spiritual growth. In Matthew 13, in the parable of the sower, it speaks about good seed that grows and yields abundantly year after year after year. The parable of the sower, there's a good seed that grows and yields abundantly year after year after year. And that's the way we are to be. We are to be like that. You know, we should be fertile hearts and minds that God can... He can plant His seeds in us and they will grow and they will produce the fruit of God's Holy Spirit within us. In Matthew 13, let's go ahead and look at Matthew 13 verse 31. This is the parable of the mustard seed. Now, the mustard seed is one of the very tiniest of all seeds. Matthew 13 verse 31. Another parable Christ put forth to them to His disciples, saying, the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds. But when it is grown, it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches. It has enough strength to have the birds make their nests, this mustard seed. But it becomes very small and it grows. And God is called the least of this world. He's called the foolish of this world, that we might confound the mighty. The only way we're going to really confound the mighty is to make some changes in our lives. And then God will change us in the Spirit. And that will truly confound the mighty at that point. In Matthew 13, verse 33, another parable, He spoke to them, the kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leaven. Now we know that a yeast spore is very, very, very, very tiny, and yet it grows. It leavens the whole lump. Now this is in a good sense, in this case, the parable of leaven which expands. We are to be like leaven in that sense, that we grow and expand. We grow spiritually.

In Isaiah chapter 9, verses 6 and 7, again, it says, of the increase of His government and peace, the increase of His government. His government and peace will continue to increase forever. God has wonderful plans ahead for all of us. I has not seen nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love Him. So there are great things to come in the future. Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end. So, brethren, let's again study God's Word to grow in grace and knowledge, and to be approved as one who rightly understands the truth of God and lives it.

Growing spiritually by seeking God's will and living His will each day should be a goal that we all have. It should be a priority to grow spiritually, to draw closer to God, to seek His will more fervently and faithfully. Kingdom value number five is spiritual growth. Value spiritual growth. Number six, the kingdom is a kingdom of godly love.

So, kingdom value number six is godly love. That's something that will last forever, will it not? God is love. God is going to last forever. His love is going to last forever. There are many aspects of godly love. Certainly, some aspects are faithfulness, loyalty, trustworthiness, outgoing concern for others. Love is listed first in the list of the fruits of God's Spirit in Galatians chapter 5. Love, joy, peace, long suffering, or patience. All the other fruits are summed up in that first fruit of love. Love is the first one that's listed, and all the others are summed up in that one word of love. God is love. We must worship Him in the Spirit and in truth.

1 John 4 verse 8 says, God is love. You're familiar with that verse. 1 John chapter 4 verse 8. Well, let's go ahead and read it. 1 John chapter 4. I think we have time to read this one. 1 John chapter 4 verse 8. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation of the mercy seat, to pay the penalty for our sins by giving His perfect life for us. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Godly love is a value that will last forever. It is a value that we need to embrace, and we need to love each other. What are the two great commandments? Love toward God, to love Him with all of our hearts, soul, all of our might, all of our strength, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

So the kingdom of God is one of godly love. In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, which we call the love chapter, it shows that love never fails. Everything else may fail, but love will not fail. Love is eternal. 1 Corinthians 13, verse 1, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and I understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but if I have not love, it profits me nothing. You see, love is the foundation. Love is the motivating force behind everything that's right and good. If it's not done in love, then it's not perfect. God is perfect. God is love. Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself. Love is not puffed up. It does not behave rudely. It does not seek its own. It is not provoked. It thinks no evil. Love does not rejoice in iniquity, but it rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never fails. Love never fails. Christ told us to love our enemies. He told us to become fully mature spiritually. Let's go to Matthew 5, the Sermon on the Mount, where Christ told us very clearly that we are to learn to love even our enemies.

Matthew 5, verse 43, Christ said, You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.

But I say to you, love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. And pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.

See, the way people lived essentially was, yeah, love your neighbor.

But if someone's your enemy, hate them. In fact, even kill them. Do whatever you need to do to your enemy. Christ is showing them a better way. He says, Love your enemies. Bless those who curse you. Do good to those who hate you. Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, that you might inherit His kingdom. For He makes His Son rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. When we look at the world today, it's confusing to many people because God doesn't stamp out all evil. It is not God's time to do that. He's allowing us to build character. He's developing a foundation for His kingdom that will last forever.

So it's confusing to people. They think, Why doesn't God do this? Why doesn't He do that? Much of it, all of it, has to do with His plan. God is love. God never fails. He makes His Son rise on the evil and on the good. He sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same. And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so. Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. It means to become fully mature, spiritually mature. That is our goal, to become perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect. Love your enemies, become fully mature spiritually. In James 2, verse 5, James says, Listen, my beloved brethren. In James 2, verse 5, Listen, my beloved brethren, has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom, which He promised to those who love Him? The kingdom is a kingdom of godly love. We could go on and on with many scriptures pointing this out. I think we can see that love is essential. One last scripture on this point, Colossians chapter 1, verse 13. Colossians chapter 1, the apostle Paul says in verse 13 of Colossians chapter 1, He has delivered us from the power of darkness and has conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of His love. Certainly, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

God loved His Son completely. For all eternity, He had loved the one who became His Son, the one that was there in the very beginning that it talks about in John 1, verse 1. They were one in spirit, in thought, in heart, in mind. They were so unified and together. They loved each other more than we could even imagine.

And God is conveying us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. For He is the image of the invisible God, He is the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have preeminence. Christ is the head of the church, the head of His church.

We will be in God's kingdom because of our Father's love. Again, He loved us enough to have His Son lay down His life. He loved us enough to sacrifice His only Son for us, that we might be given eternal life and also because of the love of His Son. Jesus Christ, for greater love has no man in this than to lay down His life. For His friends, Christ calls us friends. He calls us brothers and sisters. We are part of the God family. So, brethren, seek the love of God in your life and desire to be just like God right now.

Put on love and become love. That's what you are called to be. You are to become born. You are to be born in the God family. God is love. You are to be love.

So, that's kingdom value number six. Godly love, it will last forever. And that brings us to our last, our final point, and that is God's kingdom will be a unified, united kingdom that will last forever. So, kingdom value number seven is unity.

Kingdom value number seven is unity. Let's go to Matthew 12. You know, unity is it should be a high priority for you and me. We should want unity within the body of Christ. We should pray for unity. We should pray for forgiveness and repentance for those who need it, which is all of us, to some degree or another. We should pray for unity. The body of Christ is not divided. Christ is the head of his church. Let's look at a principle in Matthew 12, and let's consider this for a moment. Matthew chapter 12 verse 22, then one was brought to him, who was demon-possessed, blind and mute, and he healed him so that the blind and the mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitude were amazed and said, could this be the son of David? Now, when the Pharisees heard it, they said, this fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub.

Beelzebub. What does that mean? It's a Philistine deity. We know that. Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. That's basically what it means, the master, the Lord of the demons.

That's what they said about Jesus Christ, who had just healed a person, someone who was demon-possessed, who was blind and mute. Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods unless he first binds the strong man? Then he will plunder his house. He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad. We know that God's kingdom will be a kingdom that will stand forever. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Christ cast out demons. Satan and the demons are going to be restrained and imprisoned for a thousand years. At the inception of God's kingdom here on earth, they will only be released for a short time.

Then there will be division. When Satan is released, there will be division. Some will follow Satan. Some will not have learned the lesson of unity and of obedience and faithfulness and all the kingdom values that we've talked about today. They will be deceived by Satan the devil.

God's kingdom will be free of demonic, satanic influence. They will be loose for a short time, but then they will be cast into outer darkness.

There will be no division in the kingdom of God, or it would not last forever. It would fall. We are to become a church, brethren, without spot or wrinkle, without any such thing as the Scripture tells us. We are to become pure in thought, pure in deed, pure in our actions. We need to learn about God's love and His unity. So don't give up on each other so easily. I hope we never have a split within this congregation. I hope we don't. I hope that we can learn what it means to love each other and to keep these kingdom values, all of them. Unity is one of them.

Of course, all the other values have to be there, too.

If we're going to have true unity, we have to have the other values. So don't give up on each other easily. Strive to love and understand your brother and sister in Christ. Make allowances for differences while not compromising with sin.

Let us all learn to live up to this name that we've chosen for ourselves. We are to be the united Church of God. That's the name that was chosen for us. I long for the time when we will truly be united and we will stay united.

I know that the United Church of God is not the one and only true church organization. There are others who have God's Spirit in other groups. I count them my brothers and sisters in Christ. But I do long for a time when we can get along as brothers and sisters in the same room and fellowshiping together. Don't you? I think we all long for that. But let's be sure that we do our part not to cause any further riffs, divisions in the future. God is all about family, about learning to love each other as one big, happy family. He is the Heavenly Father. Christ is our brother. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. The kingdom of God will be composed of loving, loyal members of the family of God. The first fruits will marry Christ at His return. God is building a family.

Brethren, God's kingdom is one of great power, for God Himself is all-powerful. God is almighty. So how much are we tapping into that spirit of power now? How much are we using God's power to obey, to become righteous, to live peaceably and joyfully, to practice justice and judgment, righteous judgment, forgiveness, mercy, compassion? How powerfully are we utilizing God's Holy Spirit to serve selflessly, humbly, and to grow spiritually? And how powerful is God's love and unity in us? If we will be given power over the nations and power that will last forever, God will be looking at how we use the power we have been given today.

Do we abuse power, or do we use it to fulfill the purposes and values of God's kingdom? What about the kingdom values that we've discussed today? Are you actively rejecting the false values of this world? I could have spoken a lot about the false values of this world. We could have gone on and on and on about the false values. I chose not to do that. I wanted to focus on the kingdom values today, but we have to reject the false values of this world. If you produce and live by the kingdom values that we discussed today, if you live them now in this present life, you will be given great treasure. You will be given the pearl of great price, and you will certainly dwell in God's kingdom forever.