Seven Kingdom Values

The United Church of God presents Mark Welch with a sermon titled, Seven Kingdom Values. It was recorded in Anchorage, Alaska. Now, brethren, we have heard some very wonderful messages so far here at the feast about various aspects of the Kingdom of God, and we still have many more inspiring messages to hear, so this is a good thing. We have so much to rejoice in and to look forward to in God's Kingdom. God's Kingdom really is the pearl of great price that is talked about in the Bible. In fact, let's go to Matthew 13, where it talks about hidden treasure, and it also talks about the pearl of great price in Matthew 13. Beginning in verse 44, Matthew 13, verse 45. Verse 44, Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which a man found in hid, and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who when he found one pearl of great price went and sold all that he had and bought that pearl. Well thankfully, we have been given an opportunity to know what that pearl is. God's Kingdom is indeed the pearl of great price. God's truth and God's Kingdom is the pearl of great price. We must be willing to give up everything that is contrary to God's Kingdom in order to enter his Kingdom. We must learn to give up the carnal values, the fleshly, temporary values of this world, and we must embrace a different set of values. When we learn to value what God values, we will focus on developing those values in our lives.

There are certain Kingdom values that characterize God's eternal Kingdom. These values will last for all eternity, and in order to obtain this pearl of great price, this wonderful treasure, the Kingdom values must become a part of who we are right now. So the sermon is entitled, Kingdom Values That Last Forever. What are some of the Kingdom values that last forever? And what can we be doing right now to instill those Kingdom values in our own lives?

Today I'd like to share with you seven Kingdom values. Actually, I'm going to squeeze a few other values in there, but we'll just call it seven. The first one, the first Kingdom value, is righteousness and obedience.

Righteousness and obedience. Of course, they're very similar, righteousness and obedience. God's Kingdom will be a Kingdom of true righteousness and obedience. In Daniel 7, it talks about how all dominions shall learn to serve God and to obey Him. Let's go to Daniel 7 and briefly take a look at this Scripture. Daniel 7. Daniel 7. And we'll read verse 27. And prior to this, it talks about the beast power that's going to rise up.

It speaks of Satan, who will influence the world greatly at this time. He will attempt to change times and seasons. And he's going to be very, very active in these last days. Verse 27, however, shows that Satan's Kingdom will be put down. Verse 27, Then the kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.

His kingdom, that is God's kingdom, Most High's kingdom, is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey Him. So the Kingdom of God will be full of obedient people. Now, as was mentioned earlier, not right at the beginning. There's going to be some problems to work through, and for a thousand years there'll be some problems, of course.

And Satan's going to be loosed, and people are going to follow Satan. But once the New Jerusalem is established and God's kingdom is an eternal, spiritual kingdom, then certainly everyone will obey God. Everyone will serve Him. Everyone will be righteous and obedient. In Hebrews 1, it speaks of a scepter of righteousness. In Hebrews 1, verses 8 and 9. Hebrews 1, verses 8 and 9. His speaking of rulership here in the book of Hebrews, and it's saying that Christ will rule in righteousness.

Hebrews 1, verses 8 and 9. Hebrews 1, verses 8 and 9. But to the Son, He says, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter, or rulership of righteousness, is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness, and you have hated lawlessness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness more than your companions, and Christ has been exalted above all others. And Christ was perfectly righteous, as we well know.

When He was on this earth, He never sinned. He set the most perfect example for us. You don't need to turn to Matthew 5, where it gives the Beatitudes, but you will no doubt remember where it says, Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Theirs is the kingdom of God. So in Matthew 13, verse 43, at the conclusion of the parable of the Tares, the weak and the terrors, it says, Then the righteous will shine forth as the Son in the kingdom of their Father.

We will shine forth as the Son, as we are changed to spirit, and we will be righteous. I'm looking forward to that day to shed this flesh, this weak human flesh, and truly be righteous completely and fully. I know we're all looking forward to that time. So brethren, we must surrender to God fully if we're going to come out of this world. We must learn to obey God. We must make His values our values. We must determine to keep His commandments. All of them, we must learn not to compromise. We do need to learn to just say no. And we need to keep God's law.

And then we will be pleasing and His sight. So the first value, again, is righteousness and obedience. A second kingdom value, and this is where I'm cheating a little bit because I'm putting faith, peace, and joy together. They kind of go together very well. Faith, peace, and joy. The kingdom is going to be a kingdom of faith, of peace, and of joy. Eventually, there will be no fear in God's kingdom.

So kingdom value number two is faith, peace, and joy. Then in Matthew 13, 44, where we already went about the parable of hidden treasure, it mentions the joy that He had over this priceless treasure. We should all be very, very joyful that we are here today, that we are a part of the called out ones, a part of the firstfruits. Obviously, we aren't so special ourselves, only special in that God has for some reason called us.

And given us this wonderful opportunity. So there is great joy over this priceless treasure that we've been given. And if we have true joy and appreciation for the kingdom, it will see us through any trial and into God's kingdom. If we're truly joyful and appreciative and thankful for what we've been given, it will see us through any trial. Now this reminds me of a short story I read in a book entitled, Life Before Death, written by Ian Leach, L-E-I-T-C-H. And before I read it, I would like to just ask you this. How strong is your faith in your faith? How strong is your faith in your faith? A businessman asked me, asked Ian Leach if I would speak to his staff and I readily accepted. One of his staff asked me if he could talk privately, or asked me if she 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 had gone through a lot of surgery. I am now feeling much, much better. I'm doing a lot better. But when that happened, when my boyfriend was killed and when I was seriously injured, I lost my faith. 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, which is 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 in the open ocean to put them through sea trials. These trials were not intended to sink the ships. These trials were to prove that the sea, or 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? She said, Ian, I guess you're right, I had none. So again, I ask you, how strong is your faith in your faith? We've been tested, many of us, a number of times regarding our faith.

What do you believe in? Have you proven what you say you believe and what you stick with it? How much faith do you have in your faith? So brother, we need to strengthen our faith in our faith. We need to prove all things. We need to hold fast to that which is good. We need to put our trust in God, and we need to be a peacemaker ourselves. We've already talked quite a bit about peace, another part of this point that I'm talking about now.

In Isaiah 9, I think we will turn there. Mr. Arnold mentioned this, but did not actually go to it and read it, so I believe we will read it, because I'm going to refer to it again a time or two. So in Isaiah 9, verse 6, For unto us a child is given, I'm sorry, unto us 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. Upon the throne of David and over his 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. This is truly going to happen, because God is very zealous. It's going to happen. We can count on it. Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.

In Romans chapter 14 verse 17, it says, For the kingdom of God is not of meat and drink, but it is of righteousness, of peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. I remember when my grandson first walked. We happened to have it on videotape, because his other grandmother, that is our son-in-law's mother, was actually videotaping our grandson, Xander, and his cousin. They were having a big time, and his cousin is a little bit older than Xander is.

Xander was about, I don't know, a year old, maybe? I forget, 11 months. Ask my wife. She'll tell you. Anyway, they were together, and the older one was jumping off the couch onto some cushions. There was classical music, was playing in the background. My little grandson got so excited that he just took off walking. He had never walked before that. He had gotten up and tried to walk a number of times. But he was so joyful. He was laughing, and so excited.

So he forgot himself. He was not afraid any longer, because he was full of joy. When we're full of joy, we will walk forward in faith as well. So this point, again, is faith, peace, and joy. These are values that we need to value, and that we need to develop and build into our lives. We need to learn how to treat one another with love and respect, never take another person's joy away from them by being overly picky about things.

Perhaps you've been guilty of that. I think we all have. If someone is content in their approach, and it's not contrary to God's law, don't feel compelled to interfere and make it better. Live and let live. There is a time to do that. Of course, again, when it's not contrary to God's ways. So let's be peacemakers. Let's learn to make peace with one another. Let's encourage each other. Let's be joyful.

And let's develop these kingdom values in our lives. Don't stir up strife. Always be thankful. Be full of joy. For you are called to be one of the firstfruits of God's glorious kingdom. You have so much to be thankful about and to focus upon. You have so much to be joyful about.

A third kingdom value is that of... This is kind of long. It's justice and judgment balanced with forgiveness and compassion. Think about that for a moment. This is a value that we all need to develop. Justice and judgment coupled or balanced with forgiveness and compassion. Because God's kingdom will be a kingdom of justice and judgment. But it will be balanced with forgiveness and compassion. Referring back to Isaiah 9, verse 7, which I read a bit ago, it says, "...to order and to establish it the kingdom of God with judgment and justice, from that time forward even forever." Now, brethren, when is your judgment period?

When does judgment begin upon the house of God? Don't the Scripture say that judgment has begun now at the house of God? We are now in the process of being judged. Our judgment period is now. God is judging us. God is considering our lives. How we walk, how we talk, how we treat one another, and how we obey, or don't obey.

In 2 Timothy 4, verse 1, it says, "...God will judge the living and the dead at his appearing." And at the beginning, or the establishment of his kingdom, God will judge the living and the dead at his appearing. Those who are the firstfruits, who have been faithful, of course, who have the Spirit of God dwelling in them, will rise to meet Christ in the air. So, in a very real sense, that is our judgment day, when we rise to meet Christ in the air.

But we're being judged presently at this time. God is merciful, and he expects us to be merciful as well. He's been very gracious toward us to give us his kingdom. In Matthew chapter 18, it gives an account of an unforgiving servant. Let's go to Matthew chapter 18. And again, let's consider our own behavior, and let's be sure that we are forgiving servants. Matthew chapter 18, verse 21. Matthew chapter 18, verse 21. Then Peter came to him to Christ and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

That's a lot of times. That's 490 times. And I suspect he actually meant a lot more than that if it ever became necessary. Therefore 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 ten thousand talents. That's a lot of money. Ode him lots and lots of money. As he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold with his wife and his 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.

Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion. He released him and he forgave him the debt. He was very, very forgiving. But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, much lesser value. And he laid hands on him and he took him by the throat. He wasn't very nice to him, was he? He grabbed him by the throat and brought him, saying, Pay me what you owe.

So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, Have patience with me and I will pay you all. And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. Now, how are you going to pay the debt if you're in prison? So when his fellow servant saw what had been done, they were very grieved and they came and told their master all that he had 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 pity on you. And his master was angry and he delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due him. So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you from his heart does not forgive his brother his trespasses. We must be willing to forgive one another. God set that example for us because he has forgiven us.

He has forgiven our many sins. He's been very gracious to us. He is merciful and he expects us to be merciful as well. So, brethren, treat each other fairly and equitably. Be just in all of your dealings. And remember that you will be forgiven in the same manner that you forgive others. Now, this reminds me of a cat story. How many cat lovers do we have here in the building today? We probably have some cat haters, I'll bet, too.

Well, I'm a bit of a cat lover. I don't like them in the house, but I like them outside. And I live on a 10-acre farm or ranch, mini-ranch. Very many in Oklahoma. And I've had cats. In fact, I've had as many as 18 cats at one time. Now, a lot of them were kittens, so it's not as bad as it sounds. But it was still bad. Thankfully, there is normal attrition where I live. In other words, there's coyotes. And, you know, coyotes have to eat. I mean, come on, they have to eat, too. So, you know, it's the way it goes. But anyway, those 18 went down to about three. I only had three. And they were all male cats. And I was in tall cotton. I only had three male cats.

But then, a mother showed up at my doorstep with two babies. Now, I knew it was the neighbor's cat. But it, for some reason, wanted to stay at my house. And this was the meanest cat I've ever seen. I mean, this cat was incorrigible. This cat was what I consider a wicked cat. It even ran one of my male cats off. He disappeared. I've never seen him since. And she wanted to... She had to have the food first. She was the one that had to have the food first. She would run off my other cats until she had her food. And she was always nasty. Now, she wasn't really that nasty to me, but she was really nasty to my other cats, and I didn't appreciate it. So, I was trying to figure out how to get rid of her. So, I threw stones at her.

That didn't work. I mean, I didn't try to hurt her, but I tried to just scare her off, let her know I really didn't want her. So, I threw stones at her, and then I decided to stop feeding her. So, for a couple of weeks, I wouldn't feed her. I'd feed the other cats. I'd even bring them in the house and feed them and then let them go. But I wanted her to hit the road. I didn't want her around, and I really did feel she was incorrigible and unrepentant.

I mean, if she would have just shown me a little bit of repentance, and I'd talk to her about it, we'd discuss the issues. But she just, she would not cooperate. So, finally, after two weeks of starving her, I'm sure she found grasshoppers or things to eat, but anyway, and stoning her and doing everything I could to run her off, I started feeling sorry for her again. And you know what? She did repent. She, for some reason, started to be nice, even to my other cats. And I was really ready to get rid of her. And now she's turned out to be a pretty decent cat, and she got pregnant. And just the other day, I thought these cats had died because I knew she was pregnant. I knew she had them about six weeks ago. I thought, oh, the coyotes must have got them. But I walked out just a few days before the feast, and there's five little kittens on my back porch. So now I've got eight cats and probably several females. So anyway, I'll have to consider how I'll have to minimize the herd someday. Anyway, but I wanted to share that with you because I was ready to really get rid of her. I was ready to cast her in the lake of fire.

But she repented, and you never know when someone's going to repent. So if you can be patient and wade it through, perhaps they will repent. You know, God is very merciful, and we need to learn to be merciful as well. In James 2, verses 12 and 13, it says, mercy triumphs over judgment. So let's be merciful. I'm not going to take the time to turn there, but mercy triumphs over judgment. God is equitable, God is just, but He's also merciful if we are repentant. So let's always seek repentance. Let's learn forgiveness and compassion. These are kingdom values that will last forever. Now, a fourth kingdom value is that of humble, selfless service.

Humble, selfless service. The kingdom will be a kingdom based on humility and service. In Hebrews 12, verse 28, let's go there, it speaks of how we are going to receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, which cannot be removed, or it can't be moved or removed either. Hebrews 12, verse 28. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, it cannot be moved, it is steadfast, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Surely we are learning to serve God now and to serve each other. And here at the feast we have some wonderful servants, much of what is being done behind the scenes. We don't see it, but we appreciate it, all of it, don't we? We appreciate those who serve, those who have served for months to get ready for this, those who are serving now, and those of you who serve back in your local areas every Sabbath and throughout the week.

So we need to learn to serve God acceptably with reverence and also with godly fear. In Matthew chapter 20, Christ spoke about service. Matthew chapter 20. Verse 21 of Matthew 20. And of course we're familiar with this story, many of us, where it speaks of the mother of Zebedee's sons came to him, to Christ, as she came with her two sons, kneeling down and asking something from him, and he said, 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 your left in your kingdom.

Now if we drop down to verse 24, when the other ten heard what she had done with her two sons, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. They didn't appreciate that. But Jesus called them to himself, and he said, You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lorded over them, that is, lorded over their subjects, 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 to serve and to give his life a ransom for many. Christ served us greatly by laying his life down for us, by sacrificing himself, setting us an example. We are to be living sacrifices, aren't we? We are to humble ourselves and learn to serve humbly and faithfully. Jesus was indeed a peacemaker, and he was making peace with Zebedee's sons and with the mother, and with all the disciples. He was trying to make peace here, as he was telling them.

There's something far more important than rulership. It's called service. And when you have a ruler that is a servant, then you've got something that really works. And that's why God's kingdom is going to really work, because God is a wonderful servant. His Son is a wonderful servant. In Matthew 25, Matthew chapter 25, a wonderful story here of service, Matthew 25, verse 14, where it gives the parable of talents. The kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And then if we go to verse 21, it says, His Lord said to him, 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. You were a good and a faithful servant. We all want to hear that one day, that we are profitable servants. Verse 23, that was the servant that had five talents, the servant who had two talents, and gained two more.

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. Again, enter into the joy of your Lord. Come into my kingdom. It is my pleasure to give you the kingdom. God wants us in his kingdom, but he's only going to allow servants in his kingdom. And then if we go to Matthew 25 down in verse 34, where Christ is speaking about the sheep and the goats, some on the right and some on the left, he says in verse 34, 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 took 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, see how humble the righteous are? Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? Or when did we see you sick or in prison and come 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. So when we serve one another, just bringing them a cup of water— thank you for the water— when we serve in such a manner that is certainly pleasing to God, we need to learn to serve each other and serve each other faithfully, because God's kingdom will be a kingdom of humble, selfless service. Let's try to put the self out of the way and learn to serve someone else.

There will be no need for tight control when we are all spirit beings, and we have God's mind and heart. Service and not a controlling spirit will be at the foundation of the kingdom of God. Everyone is going to be service-minded. We're not going to worry about who's in charge. We're going to know who's in charge, for one thing, and we're not going to challenge that at all. So service is at the foundation of God's kingdom. In God's kingdom, of course, everyone will have self-control, and there will be no need for a government to be controlling.

So rather look for ways to serve others without being seen or noticed. But if the only way to help someone is to be seen, then by all means help them. See a need and fill it without being asked to do so. That is humble, selfless service. Don't strive to be seen, but strive to serve. So kingdom value number four is humble, selfless service. Kingdom value number five is spiritual growth. The kingdom will be a kingdom that is always spiritually expanding and growing. God is growing, God is expanding, God is omnipotent. He's all-powerful.

In Matthew 13, verse 23, where it gives the parable of the sower, it speaks of good seed that's going to grow and yield abundantly year after year. Matthew 13, verse 23, But he who receives seed on the good ground, as he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty, but always producing. And God wants us to grow spiritually. Now is our time to be growing spiritually as we await God's kingdom.

In Matthew 13, it shows clearly that God's kingdom will also continue to expand. Matthew 13, verse 31, It's not going to be a boring kingdom. It's going to be a kingdom that will expand forever. Another parable he put forth to them, 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.

And then if we read the next verse, another parable he spoke to them, saying, The kingdom of heaven, or the kingdom of God, is like eleven, which a man took and hid in three measures of meal, till it was all eleven. It was expanding and growing. And then again, I will refer back to Isaiah 9, verse 6 and 7, where it says, Of the increase of his government and peace, there will be no end.

Of the increase of his government, there will be no end. It will continue to expand and to grow. So, brethren, let's study God's Word to grow in grace and knowledge, and to be approved as one who rightly divides and understands the Word of Truth. We are called to rightly divide God's truth, to understand it, to apply it properly and rightly in various situations, to apply it in our everyday lives.

Growing spiritually by seeking God's will and living it each day is something that God wants us to be doing. He wants us to be growing and producing the fruit of his Spirit. So, the kingdom value number five is spiritual growth. Again, we have to study God's Word if we want to grow. We have to learn more and more and more. And we also need to pray and draw close to God so that we will have his strength, we'll have his power, and we will grow spiritually, we'll become stronger spiritually.

Fasting is also a wonderful, powerful tool, spiritual growth. When we fast, we grow spiritually. We all know that. It isn't always easy to fast. But when we do it, we sense, we feel, we have God's strength in us in greater ways than ever before. So fasting, praying, and studying the Word of God will help us grow spiritually. The sixth kingdom value is that of godly love. Godly love. The kingdom is a kingdom of godly love.

Now, there are many aspects of godly love. Of course, faithfulness is a part of God's love. Soil, loyalty, trustworthiness, outgoing concern for others. Love is listed first in the list of the fruits of God's Spirit in Galatians 5. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, neatness, self-control, faithfulness. Those are the fruits of God's Spirit. Love is listed first because all the other fruits are summed up in true love. They're all an aspect of God's love because God is love. As it says in 1 John, let's go there where it says God is love.

1 John 4, verse 8. 1 John 4, verse 8. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. And of course, we know that the two great commandments are love toward each other and love toward God. Loving God with all of our heart, with all of our soul, with all of our strength, with all of our might. God is love, and we need to become like God. In 1 Corinthians 13, of course, we know this as the love chapter. 1 Corinthians 13. 1 Corinthians 13, verse 1. Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I can 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 have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind. Love does not envy. Love does not parade itself. It is not puffed up. It is not vain. Love 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. God never fails. God will never leave you. God will never forsake you. And, brethren, love never fails. There is great power in love. Let's learn to love each other more. Let's learn to love God more. Christ said in Matthew 5 in the Sermon on the Mount that we are to learn to love our enemies.

Matthew 5, that isn't easy to do. But Christ said in verse 43 of Matthew, 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. That you may be sons of your Father in heaven, for he makes his Son rise on the evil and all the good. And 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, you shall be fully mature spiritually, as your Father in heaven is perfect or fully mature. We are to become like Christ, we are to become like our Father in heaven.

So we have to learn to love even our enemies and even pray for them. In James 2, verse 5. Here it tells us that we are to listen to these words. James 2, verse 5. Listen, my beloved brethren, it says in James 2, verse 5. Listen, my beloved brethren, has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, in heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

If we're going to be in God's kingdom, we will learn to love God, we will learn to love His ways, we will learn to love His values. And we will turn away from this world's values. We'll have to turn away from this world's entertainment when it's contrary to God's. We'll need to learn that. Some of us need to practice that more, don't we? It's easy to get caught up in the world's entertainment. We are to be heirs of the kingdom.

It is promised to us because we love God. We are called according to His purpose, as the Scripture says. All things work together for good to those who love God, and are called according to His purpose. We are to be heirs of His kingdom. In Colossians chapter 1 and verse 13, Paul says here that God has delivered us, or Christ has delivered us, now this is speaking of the Father here, the Father has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

Certainly God loves His Son, doesn't He? For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. He loves us just the same. God loves His Son. He loves all of us. He considers us His sons and daughters. So He conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Rather, we will be in God's kingdom because of the Father's love. That's why we will be there. For God, again, loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but should have everlasting life.

And also, we will be in God's kingdom because of the Son's love for us, because of Christ's love for us. For greater love has no man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends. So, brethren, let's seek the love of God in our lives. Let's desire to be just like God the Father and just like His Son. Let's put on love. Let's become love. That is kingdom value number six, Godly love. And the last value that we'll go through, and there are many others, but this is kingdom value number seven, and that is unity. Unity. The kingdom will be a unified, united kingdom. In Matthew 12, let's go to Matthew 12 together. Let's read it together. Let's consider what God is telling us here. I think God wants us to learn this lesson. I think God's church has a lot to learn when it comes to unity. Matthew 12, verse 22. Matthew 12, verse 22. Then one was brought to Him, to Christ, 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 multitudes were amazed, and they 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, the ruler of the demons. But Jesus knew their thoughts, and He 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 be 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?

He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad.

A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Christ cast out demons, Satan and the demons will be restrained and imprisoned for a thousand years, and then they will be released for a short time. The kingdom will be free of demonic, satanic influence for a thousand years.

There will be no division in the kingdom of God during that time. But what happens when Satan is loosed? Then there's great division again, isn't there?

People will follow Satan. They will follow his ways.

The kingdom of God would not last forever if it was divided. It would fall. Every kingdom falls, so God's kingdom will be unified.

Now, we are to become a church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing. We are to become the bride of Christ, as we heard about earlier. We are to become pure in thought and pure in deed.

We need to learn about God's love and his unity. Christ said, I and my Father are one.

We are to become one with God and with Christ.

So, again, don't give up on each other so easily. I think we've done that too often in God's church. We've given up on each other when we shouldn't have. We should have all stuck together, hung together, and learned the lessons that God wants us to learn. We became divided, and then we had to part to get some peace.

But it isn't better if we all repent and learn to stay together and obey God's commands and learn to love each other.

And put God first in our life. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

So don't give up on each other so easily. Strive to love and understand your brother and sister in Christ. Make allowances for differences while not compromising with sin. Obviously, we believe in keeping God's commandments. We must observe God's commandments. But there is a time to forgive. There's a time to forget. There's a time to go on. And certainly, there's a time to repent if we are the cause of the trouble.

Let's all live up to our name. We are to be the United Church of God. I long for the time when we will live up to our name.

God is all about family. All about learning to love each other as one big, happy family. He is our Heavenly Father. Christ is our brother. We are brothers and sisters in Christ. The Kingdom of God will be composed of loyal, loving members of the God family. Of the family of God. The firstfruits will marry Christ at His return. Anyone who has the Spirit of God dwelling in them, of course, will be a part of the firstfruits, or those who have died with Christ with the Spirit of God in them. They will be a part of the firstfruits. God is building a family.

We know in Romans it tells us that we are created to be heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.

We also know that God tells us to come out from among them and be separate. To come out of the world in 2 Corinthians 6. Come out of the world and be separate. And I will be a father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters.

God's Kingdom is a kingdom of power. It is a kingdom of power because God Himself is all-powerful.

God is almighty and God is love, which is the most powerful force ever.

How much are we tapping into the Spirit of power right now?

How much are we using God's power to obey?

To live peaceably with one another? To live joyfully? To practice justice and righteous judgment?

To be forgiving and compassionate to one another?

How powerfully are we utilizing God's Holy Spirit to humbly serve one another and to grow spiritually?

How powerful is God's love and His unity in each and every one of us?

Brethren, if we're going to be given power over the nations and power that will last forever, God is certainly looking at how we use that power today. How are you using God's Spirit? Are you stirring up the Spirit of God?

Are you using the Spirit of God to fulfill the purposes and values of God's Kingdom?

Again, what about the Kingdom values? Are you actively rejecting the false values of this world and putting into your lives God's Kingdom values? If you produce and live by God's values now in this present life, indeed you will be given great treasure. You will be given the pearl of great price. And you will indeed dwell in God's Kingdom forever.

Thank you.