WHAT IS IT?

What is it?

1) The Sovereign Reign of God - all other authority is beneath his

2) The Total Realm of God - The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof - etc.

3) The Quality of the Life of Heaven - An environment of Virtue and Power (Grace)

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Born 356 B.C. - Died 323 B.C.

CIVILIZATION

The Polis – The City Alexander, it is said, showed conquered

rulers his model of the city – reeducationConfident his was better than earlier / other

Embodiment of Ideal societyControversial Term

○ Differentiates between peoplesCIVILIZED vs civilizedBarbarian

THE MODEL OF THE CITY - Order

Methods are Important

The way of Alexander is not the way of Jesus.

The Kingdom of God cannot be promoted or established by human weapons like swords, guns and tanks.

New Methods for a New POLIS

NEW KINDS OF WEAPONS DIVINE POWER – SPIRIT 3For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging

war according to the flesh. 4For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.

Those who have not the Spirit resort to carnal methods Before and after Constantine / Spiritual vs. Imperial

How Should We Be Active? YES, we should all be good citizens and

participate in our civic duties, but we must never think that our actions in the flesh will achieve God’s work in the Spirit.

YES, we should work to make the world a better place, but trust only to God to bring about his kingdom in his way and in his own time.

PRAYER, WORD, ACTION Jesus told Pilate, “My kingdom is not of this

realm, if it were, then would my followers fight.” MEANING: Jesus’ followers are not trying to

promote his kingdom through force & violence, but by OTHER more unconventional methods

Some have tried violence in history. Some are trying violence today, but the Kingdom cannot be won or promoted like that – such methods only cause harm. We must be wise and reject them all. “The wrath of man does not promote the righteousness of God.” – James 1:20

How Then Should We Live? REPENTANCE

We must change our minds – “we” not just “they”○ We must see that a better POLIS is possible

MIRACLE The transformation of our hearts

EXAMPLE The COLONY OF HEAVEN – Quality of our love

MANIFESTO The teaching of The Sermon on the Mount

THE STORY OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS THE GREATEST DRAMA OF ALL, AND WITHOUT IT, THE STORY OF JESUS IS BOTH INCOMPREHENSIBLE AND MEANINGLESS. THE KINGDOM IS THE REASON HE CAME TO US. THIS IS THE CENTRAL THEME OF THE BIBLE.

UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult

   and every garment rolled in blood   will be burned as fuel for the fire.6 For to us a child is born,   to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,   and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.7Of the increase of his government and of peace    there will be no end,on the throne of David and over his kingdom,   to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness   from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:5-7 (English Standard Version)

THE ZEAL OF THE LORD . . . Jesus doesn’t need us to fight for him,

because his own zeal with perform this, not ours.

However, he would like us to work with him by demonstrating the kind of society we are likely to see in heaven.

JESUS IS AT WORK TODAY? WHERE?

In justice issues – e.g.○ INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE MISSION

In evangelism, yes, but also in peace initiatives, feeding the hungry, helping the poor, comforting the needy, stewarding earth’s resources, and in so many other areas.○ John Perkins – Author / John Yoder – Author ○ WORLD VISION and so many other services

In establishing COMMUNITY in the One Holy and Apostolic Church – THE COLONY OF HEAVEN

REPENTANCE IS CENTRAL TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is drawing near!”

– JESUS – Matthew 14:17

10And he said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay

there until you depart from there. 11And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them." 12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them Mark 6:10-13 (ESV)

CENTRAL TO APOSTLES WORD  29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to

think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.“

Acts 17:29-33 ESV

WHAT DOES REPENT MEAN? THREE FEATURES

1. Change of Mind – changing one’s thinking, opinions, views, values

2. Remorse – Sorrow for one’s wrong doing3. Restitution – Mending the wrongs

committed and adding a blessing. ○ WHY? – in order to change one’s practices

and so that one can not only interrupt the evil done, but so one can create a blessing where once all there was only pain and distortion.

CLARIFICATION

Let us stay very clear on one point:

If God is commanding people everywhere to repent, and if Jesus himself is commanding people to repent, it not very likely that God is interested in affirming us before we repent from our sins. Let’s keep things in their proper order. Repentance first, then affirmations.

Why So Little Power Today? Note that the miracles in Mark 6:10-13

happened when the disciples preached that people should repent.

When people repent, miracles follow. No one is exempt from the need to repent. No one is acceptable before God There is none righteous, NO, NOT ONE.

When they said, “REPENT. . . “ Leonard Cohen sang, in his song, The

Future, “When they said repent, I wondered what they meant . . .”

He was speaking for the modern person, not just for himself.

Moderns and Postmoderns do not know what the word means because of disuse and abuse. WHAT DO YOU THINK IT MEANS?

It is time for us to explain it, if you dare . . .

HERE ARE SOME THOUGHTS Repentance means to assume the

humble position i.e. Yield to a New powerAcquiesce to a New SituationAdopt New Ideas, Values, WorldviewLearn New Ways of Living - new conventions Support New Authorities Promote New MethodologiesPerpetuate New Culture (The New POLIS)

THE KINGDOM IS:

Power Righteousness Peace Joy in the Holy Spirit Grace Justice Mercy External & Internal

Visible & Invisible Pervasive & Expansive Ever increasing = world without end, but

also continually expanding. Future & Present Now & Not Yet Not of this Realm – systems, values . . . Must be sought – to enter & to expand It is of infinite value The means of salvation & sustenance –

i.e. “ALL THESE THINGS will be added

Starts small like a mustard seed Grows quietly, like wheat Ends suddenly, like a harvest Works invisibly, like yeast Permeates everything Is sown by human beings, not angels Is resisted by satan Is ignored by humans Is undermined by enemies Is falsely imitated by Charlatans

Its growth cannot be stopped Begins with the Resurrection of the

dead, and their judgment, in front of God’s throne in the heavenlies.

Rewards and punishments are assigned People are separated – good from bad,

like fish after being caught in a draw-net It displaces this world completely – this

world is being crowded out by the new This world will be done away with

A new heaven and new earth will replace it. A place of eternal righteousness and joy An enduring POLIS with unshakable

foundations A gift given by Jesus, back to the Father

The Sermon on the Mount Next week we begin to unpack the

meaning of the Manifesto of the Great King.

Fine’