The Kingdom of God: The sovereign (self-determining) governing and reign of God over all creation, instituted on earth through the life. Death and resurrection of Christ!
1. We learned about the Big Picture; God’s intent and purpose for us!
The why to why we are here (To rule and Reign under the Kings direction)
Reign: To rule, to influence, to keep in order under kingly rule
We are Ambassadors for the King and His Kingdom!
Ambassador: the highest-ranking diplomat representing their country, acting as the personal representative of their head of state
2. We learned that a King must have a domain to have a Kingdom!
The kingdom of God is among us and in us
Matt 12:28 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. NLT (being manifested)
Luke 17:20-21 20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; 21 nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." NKJV
3. We learned about the constitution of a Kingdom and a Democracy
I Will and I Want and We the People
4. Lastly, we learned about the deception of religious leaders and the formation of our beliefs.
The need for “supernatural revelation” from the Holy Spirit of the Messiah, the Promised “Anointed One” the fulfillment of all things!
Keys to the Kingdom
Things that Amazed Christ (example of the Kingdom in action)
According to the Gospels, Jesus was explicitly recorded as being amazed (or marveled) by two opposite extremes
Mark 6:4-6 4 Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family." 5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn't do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief. NLT
Matt 8:5-13 5 When Jesus returned to Capernaum, a Roman officer came and pleaded with him, 6 "Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain." 7 Jesus said, "I will come and heal him." 8 But the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because (why?) I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it." 10 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, "I tell you the truth, I haven't seen faith like this in all Israel! 11 And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12 But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." 13 Then Jesus said to the Roman officer, "Go back home. Because you believed, it has happened." And the young servant was healed that same hour. NLT
What was it that amazed the Human side of Jesus?
8 But the officer said, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come into my home. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. 9 I know this because (why?) I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, 'Go,' and they go, or 'Come,' and they come. And if I say to my slaves, 'Do this,' they do it."
It was the officers understanding (belief) of authority!
A person under authority is responsible for submitting to, respecting and obeying the established rules and orders
The Officer understood that his authority was directly tied to his submission to higher power.
What’s the difference between Power & Authority?
Authority (Exousia): This is the legal, moral, or delegated right to rule, command, and make decisions. It is granted by a higher power or entity.
Power (Dunamis): This is the actual ability, strength, or force required to carry out that command.
We know that God has all Power, but does he have Authority?
If God does not have authority, can he delegate authority?
Did Jeus have All Power and Authority before the resurrection?
Mark 1:21-28 21 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law. 23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, 24 "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One sent from God!" 25 Jesus cut him short. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered. 26 At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him. 27 Amazement gripped the audience, and they began to discuss what had happened. "What sort of new teaching is this?" they asked excitedly. "It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!" 28 The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee. NLT John 5:30 30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will. NLT
Jesus submitted Himself to the Father
How could He do this if He was one with the Father?
Phil 2:5-8 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine (kenosis) privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. NLT
What can we learn from the Officer that amazed Christ?
Great faith is birthed out of a deep understanding of God's authority.
1. Who would the superior officers represent in this passage?
The Roman Centurion was a middle-ranking officer. His "superior officers," generals, and ultimately Caesar at the top of the Roman chain of command.
In the Kingdom of God, who is the highest-ranking commander?
Why is this important?
When the soldiers hear the command of the Officer, they hear the authority of Caesar!
The centurion did not have power; he was given authority and power comes from the authority
Police officer at a traffic stop
When Jesus gave a command, who did they hear?
John 5:17-19 17 But Jesus replied, "My Father is always working, and so am I." 18 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God. 19 So Jesus explained, "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. NLT
Matt 9:1-8 9 Jesus climbed into a boat and went back across the lake to his own town. 2 Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven." 3 But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, "That's blasphemy! Does he think he's God?"4 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up and walk'? 6 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!" 7 And the man jumped up and went home! 8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority. NLT
2. Who would the officer represent?
The officer was a Gentile and a Roman occupier. He represents those outside the traditional religious community of Israel who recognize the Authority of Jesus
He knew his commands were obeyed not because of his personal strength, but because he carried the authorized backing of the Roman Empire.
He realized Jesus carried the authorized backing of Almighty God.
His faith may not have been from a spiritual understanding, but it was faith!
He represents the ultimate model of faith and humble submission to divine authority, which caused Jesus to marvel.
Matt 10:1-2 10 Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority to cast out evil spirits and to heal every kind of disease and illness. NLT
Notice: He did not give them power; He gave them authority and power proceeds from the one backing them up!
Conclusion: We don’t need more power; we need more understanding of the delegated authority that has been given to us in His Kingdom and the power that backs that authority!
