Call to Worship: 1 Chronicles 29:10 “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.”
Songs: Alive Forever, Amen -Passionate Praise 2
Sing to the King (Live) - Umobile Worship
Yours Is the Kingdom - Hillsong
Everlasting- Brian Doerksen
Scripture: Acts 13:16-52
Song: Let Your Kingdom Come -The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
The Lord’s Prayer: Matthew 9:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Sermon: The Kingdom is Near
Closing Song: Build Your Kingdom Here -Rend Collective Experiment
Benediction: Jude 24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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Sermon: The Kingdom is Near
Today we continue learning to follow the true way. This is the gospel of Jesus Christ and we are commanded to follow it. Jesus said He was the way, the truth and the life so that means we follow his words. He also made it clear that there is no other way to God. 1 John 2:24 “As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.” Paul then taught the same gospel and said 1 Corinthians 15:1 “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
If we want to be part of the Kingdom of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, eternally and presently, we must do as Jesus said to do. We cannot go our own way and expect to be blessed when we stubbornly refuse to repent of our wicked ways. Judges 2:10 said “another generation grew up who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.” Judges 17:6 “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.” Just before that in chapter 16 Samson “did not know that the Lord had left him.” This is where the church is at but we were warned already. We read earlier Acts 13. Acts 13:40 “Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 “‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.” Acts 13:27 “The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.” What is being taught today is not the gospel of Jesus Christ and as Paul said Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” When we go our own way we then loose sight of the kingdom and it doesn’t come near. God turns his face and we loose the power. Jesus showed us the power of the gospel, the earlier church started in that power but as Paul said we have turned to a different gospel. The true gospel has power no matter what man says or doesn’t see.
First of all John prepared the way. Matthew 3:1 “In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” Jesus started his ministry by saying Matthew 4:17 “From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” So in order for this kingdom to come near we must repent and follow the correct way. The kingdom is within our grasp but we must believe otherwise we miss it. The King came to this earth and showed us what his kingdom looks like and he gave us the authority to do the same as he did. The disciples show us this and we are to do what they did. Yes there is another eternal kingdom but until then every generation is responsible to spread the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Just like in the Promised Land we have been given authority to take the land and tear down, destroy, and demolish the enemy. As we know though, the enemy is only destroyed when we obey. If we do not obey we are destroyed and we loose the land.
The kingdom starts with repentance but is built with the power of the Holy Spirit. I want you to listen carefully to what I read and then I am going to show you a video. Your job is to make a distinction in voices. First you have God’s word and then man’s distorted word. Sadly many think man’s word is God’s word and are deceived. So this is this kingdom of God. Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. 3 He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 5 If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.” Luke 10:8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.” Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” That seems clear but if it is not then Luke 24:45 says “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Disciples of Christ are to be clothed with power of high. Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”
1 Corinthians 12:7 “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” Jesus said Matthew 12:28 “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” So this is the word of God. Now let me show you again what is not God’s word. I am going to repeat a video just for emphasis.
The other day I was driving and turned on UCB and there was talking. I prefer the music but the place I tuned in at was this. Now don’t forget the verses I just read you when you listen to this
PLAY VIDEO:
The title of his message series was “Essential Fuel for Fulfilling the Mission” yet at the same time he is telling you that scripture does not apply to modern day disciples. As you listen closely you will not hear the voice of God’s word I read to you before the video. What you will hear is a pathetic effort to affirm ones own doctrines. You can see those when you go to his website. After I listened to that part of the sermon about twenty minutes later there was another speaker talking about Jesus returning to set up his millennial kingdom, so in a span of twenty minutes false teaching was proclaimed and I can say false because what I read before the video does not line up with what man is saying. So you get rid of man’s saying. This simply put is not the gospel of Jesus Christ but another gospel. Paul would be more than astonished, he would be furious. As I was looking for the information that I heard on the radio, I saw this quote concerning Chuck Swindoll. Someone asked what they thought of him and this person said, “I can say this, regardless of his theology being good or bad, my friend enjoys Swindoll, which makes me happy because prior to attending Swindoll he refused to go to church or talk about Christ.” This is how many people think which is deadly in the end. So they hear caveats of deception. It would have been better off not have heard. So now they go to church to hear what. These are people who are supposed to be leading but instead they lead the church astray.
Back when Samuel ruled the people decided they wanted a king. 1 Samuel 8:6 “But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. 7 And the Lord told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. 9 Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” Amazingly enough God let them have a king. King Jesus still wants everything you have but he has been rejected and as Judges 17 said they have no king and go their own way. What was supposed to happen has not. Numbers 27:15 “Moses said to the Lord, 16 “May the Lord, the God who gives breath to all living things, appoint someone over this community 17 to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord’s people will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” 18 So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring of the Urim before the Lord. At his command he and the entire community of the Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in.” 22 Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the Lord instructed through Moses.” Deuteronomy 34:9 “Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit[b] of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.”
This is part of the promise to David. This is also how we know that God has not completely forsaken us, even though we are surrounded by false prophets and false teachers and we follow other gospels a remnant will once again rise up and take root below and bear fruit above. The power of the Holy Spirit will once again prevail and the Kingdom will come near. John 3:3 “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” 4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” Without the Spirit we cannot enter the kingdom. Acts 8:9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is rightly called the Great Power of God.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his sorcery. 12 But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw. 14 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Acts 28:30 “For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” 1 Corinthians 4:20 “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” We are missing that power.
The problem is the church has settled for another kingdom and the kingdom does not come near. What we have is a 2 Timothy 3:5 “form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” That then means there is no power. I show these videos because as Lamentations 2:14 states “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.” Because men and woman are teaching other gospels, many are being led astray and we are not seeing the kingdom as it should be. As Swindoll showed you this can happen very subtly and millions of people are none the wiser. He said it well when he said he messed up their lives. Obviously satan is very smart to get the church to lay down their power. Without power we loose and satan is not defeated. That is not how it is supposed to be. Revelation 11:15 “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.” If we want the kingdom to come near we must obey and live by God’s word. We cannot go our own way.
So we are war and the only way to win this war is to obey God;s word so we can be part of his Kingdom. There is no other way. Satan is battling hard and at this point is wining but we have power available to defeat him if we would just believe. Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him. 10 Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Messiah. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. 11 They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. 12 Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.” If we are going to win this war, we must be clothed with power. Yes false teachers are saying that was then this is now and the power of Holy Spirit is not for us but these are lies and don’t have anything to do with them.
The kingdom of God is a matter of power. John 1:50 “Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”
John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Acts 1:4 “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
