Adventures In Acts: Expanding the Kingdom
“Expanding the Kingdom”
Acts 1:1-3, 1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3 To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. ESV
Acts 1:6-7, 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ESV
As you read through Acts, you see a lot of miracles, healings, deliverances, Churches being planted all over Asia Minor and around the Mediterranean…not counting where the other disciples travel throughout the known world Expanding the Kingdom of God throughout the Earth!
Peter and Paul are central figures in the Book of Acts…So what did they give their lives to and for…
Acts 28:23-31, 23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved. 25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet: 26 “‘Go to this people, and say, You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive. 27 For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’ 28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.” 30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. ESV
Adventures Through Acts – Expanding the Kingdom
As a minister of the Gospel, you have themes that you continue to fall back on or revert to…They become your life messages. These themes and messages you see everywhere in the Bible when you read it and when you study it:
For me those messages are:
- The Kingdom Agenda
- Worship
- Healing
- Government and Order – 5-fold ministry
Those are my life messages and my life themes…Now that does not mean I don’t speak on other subjects…but those other subjects will have the slant of my life messages in them.
“You cannot understand the Gospel message or the Bible as Jesus intended it, unless you understand the Kingdom.” “The Jewish Commentary” by David H. Stern
Matt 6:33, 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. ESV
Here is the problem…we can’t seek what we don’t understand or even know about.
The Kingdom Agenda – is the visible demonstration of the comprehensive Rule of God over every area of Life.
- That is huge…because it is more than a concept, idea or pipedream.
- It begins by acknowledging there is a King and a Kingdom of which I am not king…Jesus is!
- This Kingdom is made up of God Rule and it is Comprehensive…meaning His Kingdom influences everything in my life and all my decision making.
- Lastly this Kingdom must be Demonstrated by our Lives….
When our lives and world is spinning out of control and is falling apart…it is an indication something is off target.
- Not of This World
John 18:36-37, 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” ESV
- God has a kingdom but only as we allow Him to Be King in and over our lives….
- See in the Book of Acts…Peter and Paul…Gave their lives for the Gospel, Yes…but for the Kingdom of God.
- They both lived for, preached and gave their lives for the Kingdom….
- Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this World…”
- Don’t misunderstand that….
- It is not saying my Kingdom is not IN this world…it is Not Of this World
- Of is
- Source
- Authority
- Derived From
2 Cor 4:3-5, if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ESV
- There is a god of this world or gods of worldliness…and that god is satan for the time being…
- And He blinds men and women to the Gospel…which is entrance into the Kingdom
- Lucifer was kicked out of Heaven and came to earth…
- Bible says He was more beautiful than any other Angel…he was also crafty because he led 1/3 of the Angels to follow Him…
- So, Isaiah 14 tells us…Satan attempts to set up his own Kingdom
- In Scripture He is called Satan…because God will change your name to fit your character…
- Bible tells us…God created mankind a little lower than the Angels…Psalm 8.
- Gave Man a free will to choose…
- God was demonstrating to Satan that a being with lesser strength and intellect would serve God and His Kingdom…even though Satan refused to…
- So Now we have two Kingdoms…
- The Kingdom of God and His dear Son, Christ Jesus
- Or the Kingdom of Darkness, Satan
Have you ever been on a Cruise ship?…I love Cruises. Here is the truth…I want the Cruise Ship in The water, but you don’t want the Water in the Ship.
- Likewise, God wants us in the World but He doesn’t Want the World in Us.
- The world is the system headed by Satan that wants to leave God out…
Rom 3:4, Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. NKJV
The reason why God’s Kingdom is not fixing what is wrong in our world if that the Folks who want God to fix it are simultaneously worldly.
- Influence
- Scuba Divers enter a foreign world but to survive they must take a supply of air from their world to enter the world where fish are…if they don’t take the bottle of air…they can’t survive…because they are not of the fishes world.
- There is no area of Life that we do not bring the Kingdom of God into if we desire it to work properly.
Acts 1:6, 6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” ESV
- Listen to the statement…they thought the Kingdom was simply for Israel and for their personal benefit.
- Honestly, Jesus speaks to 500 on this day in Acts 1…when Jesus challenged them to get on His Agenda and not their own…only 120 followed or obeyed to go to the Upper Room.
- What if the Kingdom was not for you, but you were for the Kingdom?
- Romans 8:28 “All things work together for those who love God and are the Called according to His purpose…”
- What is that Purpose…
- To be a nurse
- Doctor
- Preacher
- Plant Worker
- Business Owner
- No and Yes…
- Your Purpose is to Carry out the Agenda of the Kingdom in all those places and through all those carriers
- That’s why at the end of Acts…Paul is teaching the Kingdom.
- What is that Purpose…
How many fishermen do I have in the building?…ever caught a fish and when you get it on the boat, it twists, flops, jerks, jumps?…because it is no longer in its world and this world is choking it to death.
When you get saved and enter the Kingdom of God…you twist, flip, flop through life…and even choke because you are trying to live in this World without the Kingdom Agenda.
- Testify to the Truth
- 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose, I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
- God is truth
- The truth is the absolute standard by which reality is measured
- Truth transcends feeling and even facts
- Hear me now…Truth is not an accumulation of Facts…Truth is a Person. Jesus!
- If we want our lives and ultimately our world on target, then God must be recognized as the Comprehensive Ruler of this Kingdom…and His truth must guide our decisions.
- Until the King is regarded and treated as the King…. nothing broken can be fixed.
I’ve had the opportunity to go to England and walk through Buckingham Palace…this is where the Queen of England resides. The Queen of England is greatly regarded, when she travels she has a huge entourage, people pull over and allow here to pass by unhindered. The only Problem with the Queen of England is, though she is respected, honored, revered, celebrated occasionally, she has no power:
- She makes no decisions
- Writes no laws
- She just waves and is treated nice….
I’m afraid that is how we treat God
- We respect Him
- We wave
- Treat Him nicely
- But we Don’t give Him and His Kingdom pre-eminence in our lives.
As we continue to Walk through Acts…I want you to see the Kingdom
I want you to hear from Peter and Paul…and Hear the Message of the Kingdom…not just a good church person. We have a responsibility to Advance His Kingdom, but will we access it…
Olympics
- I love the Olympics…I so enjoy watching such incredibly talented and gifted athletes demonstrate their ability and years of preparation
- My favorite activity about the Olympics is the Medal ceremony
- Though the individual or team won the Medal through their talent and ability…they have never asked an athlete what song you would like played…what’s your favorite tune or beat.
- No…they play the National Anthem of the Kingdom they have Represented.
- Which kingdom are we representing…is the Kingdom Jesus, Peter and Paul gave their lives for…
- John 3:3 Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and says, “Truly I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again”
- Or born from above…
- Listen we usually just read this and think…it is telling us how to get to Heaven…yes, but that isn’t all…through the Born “from above” again encounter…we begin to see and Expand God’s kingdom, beginning in us.