The Kingdom Perspective

 

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Knowledge precedes action. Daniel tells us that in confronting forces of evil “the people who KNOW their God will display strength and take action.” (Daniel 11:32) This is precisely what is played out in the book of Daniel. When Daniel’s friends were asked to bow down and worship a false god, they refused to give in. Why? The answer is simple: they knew the true God. Knowing the true God gave them the courage they needed to go against the culture of their day. It allowed them to do what was right and leave the consequences with God. The fact that they really knew God drove them to courageous action.

My, what a boost it would be to the church today if it were revived in its knowledge of God! What courage it would bring in our fight to see the gospel flourish in every part of our society. How it would motivate us to take the gospel to the ends of the earth! What the church needs today is what it needs in every era, and that is to truly know God.

Something to think about from the “Kingdom Perspective”.

“By smooth words he will turn to godlessness those who act wickedly toward the covenant, but the people who know their God will display strength and take action. Those who have insight among the people will give understanding to the many; yet they will fall by sword and by flame, by captivity and by plunder for many days.”

~Daniel 11:32-33

 

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Does it really matter whether we know God or not? As long as we sincerely try to be the best we can, it doesn’t really matter whether we truly know Him, right?

Don’t count on it. Jesus said that many will come to him on that final day and say Lord look at all these good and wonderful things that we did. But listen to Jesus’ reply to their false confidence: “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Is not the implication clear? Whether or not you really know God has eternal consequences.

2 Thessalonians 1:8 & 9 is likewise quite clear, “[Jesus] will punish those who do not KNOW God…with everlasting destruction.” Knowing God is a matter of heaven and hell. Nothing could be more important. Is there anything more important to you?

Something to think about from the “Kingdom Perspective”.

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

~Matthew 7:22-23

 

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“Life stinks and then you die,” so says a cynical bumper sticker.  Why is life in the modern world characterized by such hopelessness and meaninglessness?  Does life have a purpose and if so what is it?

A statement by some Christians from another era I think is helpful at this point.  When asked what the meaning or purpose of life was they said, “To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  Much could be said regarding the richness of this statement but at least one thing must be emphasized.  To them meaning or purpose in life is found in relation to God.  Our purpose as human beings is to maximize our relationship with the Supreme Being—to enjoy Him, to glorify Him, to KNOW Him.

We were made to enjoy God.  You can’t enjoy someone you don’t know.  Maybe the reason you don’t enjoy your relationship with God is because you don’t really know Him.

Now that’s worth thinking about from the “Kingdom Perspective”.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

~John 1:1-4

 

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Nobody likes someone who boasts.  Yet, if the truth were known we are all private boasters in some way.  It may be our good looks.  Maybe it’s our superior education or intellect.  It may be our money or social status.  Perhaps we feel that we have faired well in raising our kids the right way.  Then again, it may be that we have attained a higher standard of ethics than most.  Maybe it’s even our more diligent pursuit of spirituality.  Whatever it is, we all have a tendency to be closet-boasters.

But what does this boast gain us in our status before God?  Jeremiah records these penetrating words.  “This is what the LORD says: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD….” (Jeremiah 9) From God’s perspective nothing else really matters except knowing Him.

So what’s your private boast?  Do you have God’s perspective on what really matters?

Something to think about from the “Kingdom Perspective”.

“Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.  For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

~2 Corinthians 10:17-18

 

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“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.”  There is a mountain of spiritual truth in this pebble of worldly wisdom.  Nothing is more important in life than knowing the One who made you.  Of all the relationships in your life, your relationship with your Creator is most critical.

Jesus at the end of his life had this to say, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) The implication is clear.  If you want to have eternal life then you must KNOW God and therefore KNOW Jesus.  Indeed “eternal life” is made synonymous with knowing God.   KNOWING GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE.

Have you ever thought much about the state of your relationship with God?  Do you know whether or not you know God at all?  Nothing could be more critical if you desire the reality of eternal life.

Something to think about from the “Kingdom Perspective”.

“And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.  I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.  And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

~John 17:3-5

If a stranger were to come up to you and ask you to describe yourself, what would you say?  What is the most important thing about you?  What is your most defining characteristic?

A.W. Tozer said that the most important thing about a person is what they think about God.  Your view, your perception of your Creator is more critical than anything else.   How you answer the questions: “What do you think about God?  Who do think God is?  And What do you think God is like?” says more about you than anything else.

So have you thought lately about your understanding of God?  How well do you understand the One who made you and whom you claim to worship?  Do you really know God?

Something to think about from the “Kingdom Perspective”.

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.”

~Philippians 3:8

 

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Now that the voting is over and we know who will be our next president, the Scriptures make it clear what the church’s first responsibility is: Prayer.  In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he gives instruction to the church:

 1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling… (1 Timothy 2)

What does this mean for us in our contemporary situation? Yesterday, we saw what we are to do (i.e. pray and give thanks for those leaders that God has placed over us) and to what end we are to pray (i.e. we are to pray for our leaders, so that we might be able freely and peaceably proclaim and practice the gospel).  In today’s Kingdom Perspective, we want to explore why we are to do that. 

What is the justification for such an attitude of prayer? Why are we to pray in this way? At least three reasons are given to us in verses three and following. First, we are to pray this way because God desires all sorts of people to be saved; God is no respecter of persons. Now, the use of this word “saved” tells us something significant about the nature of our relationship to God. It tells us that our coming to know the truth of God is not a matter of our moral, cultural or spiritual status but a matter of God’s grace. We do not reach God’s kingdom by our resume, but by His rescue. In other words, to find “qualified candidates” for salvation, God doesn’t look at our moral, racial, spiritual, political pedigree or positions. He simply looks at our need. It is only our pride that would lead us to judge and exclude others from the reach of God’s mercy—a maneuver, by the way, that tacitly denies the grace we profess to possess.  God is an equal opportunity Savior.

So, we pray because God is no respecter of persons (He desires all sorts of people to be saved). But, secondly, we pray because there is, in truth, only one king. What do we mean by this? Notice that Paul in verse 5 refers to Jesus with His title in front of his name.  He says “Christ Jesus” and not “Jesus Christ”. This is really helpful, because it disabuses us of the notion that “Christ” is Jesus’ last name. It is not. It is a title. And what does that title mean? It means “anointed king”. So while Paul is calling us to pray for “kings and all who are in authority” he reminds us of the King of kings and His authority over the affairs of men.  In effect Paul is saying that there’s only one sovereign God, only one ruler on earth—and His name is King Jesus. All other “authority” is derived from Him—King Jesus gives it and King Jesus takes it away. Therefore when we call on the Caesar of Heaven and not merely complain to Caesar of Rome, we are actually petitioning the highest authority.

So, we are to pray this way because God is no respecter of persons, and because Jesus is the highest authority. Finally, we see that we are to do this because it is the way of Jesus. Notice that Paul just doesn’t say who Jesus is but also what Jesus did. Jesus gave himself as a ransom for all. We see here again that Jesus didn’t merely act for the sake of a particular ethnic, political, or cultural group. Rather, He did this for all kinds of people—a diverse group that no man can count.  Jesus “was slain, and by [His] blood…[He] ransomed a people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).  But how did He ransom this diverse group? Did He do so at a distance or with little cost to Himself? No. He did so up close and personal. He did so at the cost of His own blood, His own life. So we too are to sacrifice our comfort, our convenience, for the sake of our friends and neighbors, whomever they may be.  As the church, we are to engage our world as Jesus did, not seeking the place of prominence and privilege but service and sacrifice. 

And what is the first task in this sacrificial service?  Prayer!

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people…” (1 Timothy 2:1) 

Something to think about from “The Kingdom Perspective”.

 

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A few more thoughts on the elections…   

Now that the voting is over and we know who will be our next president, the Scriptures make it clear what the church’s first responsibility is: Prayer.  In Paul’s first letter to Timothy he gives instruction to the church:

 1First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling… (1 Timothy 2)

What does this mean to us today? Allow me to emphasize three main points: 1) What we are to do 2) To what end are we to do it, and 3) Why we are to do it.  I will address points one and two in today’s Kingdom Perspective, and then point three in the next.

First, Paul calls us to pray for all people, but particularly rulers (i.e. kings and all…in high positions). What is amazing is that Paul was writing this as one living under the rule of Rome, a government that would eventually behead him and had already crucified Jesus. By Christian standards, Rome was often oppressive and cruel. Yet, Paul calls the church to pray with “thankgivings”(v. 1) and not with “anger…or quarreling” (v. 8).  If this were true in that ancient context, how much more for ours! Regardless of what you may think of McCain or Obama and their policies, or Bush for that matter, they all look pretty good compared to Caesar.

So, we are to intercede for our rulers with thanksgiving, praying that we all “may lead a peaceful and quiet life”.  This is the second main point. What are we to pray for? To what end? We are to pray for peace and harmony in our world. Presumably in Paul’s mind this peace is not an end in and of itself, but rather a means to an end, for he adds “godly and dignified in every way”. In other words we pray in this way, so that we may be able to more fully proclaim the gospel and live out its implications in our world.

Are you thanking God and praying for our elected officials, “godly and dignified in every way”?

Something to think about from “The Kingdom Perspective”.