UNDESIRABLE KINGDOM

1. Last week we studied Mt. 13:44 in some detail.

2. Jesus compared the kingdom (church) to a treasure hidden in a field.

3. He also said a man found this treasure and sold everything to pay for it.

4. From the perspective in Mt. 13:44, God’s kingdom is the most valuable item in our world.

5. Tonight I want to look at the kingdom (church) from a totally opposite view.

6. This material has been entitled “The Undesirable Kingdom.”

GOD’S PERSPECTIVE OF THE KINGDOM/CHURCH GIVEN IN MATTHEW 13 AND ELSEWHERE IS THAT IT IS A LIKE AN IMPORTANT TREASURE. FROM THE WORLD’S PERSPECTIVE, THE KINGDOM/CHURCH IS SOMETIMES DEEMED UNATTRACTIVE.

a) Tonight I want to show why this is true by using verses which speak about the kingdom.

b) The citations for this material will be given in fairly rapid order, but I will observe one limitation.

c) Originally I planned to drawn from passages throughout the New Testament.

d) After seeing that would be way too much material, I back off to the four gospels.

e) Since that too would be a huge amount of information, I scaled back the study even more.

f) Matthew alone offers more than enough information so our study will be limited to that book.

g) You however might enjoy continuing with this study starting with Mark and going through Revelation.

2) The first time we see the word kingdom in the New Testament is Mt. 3:2.

3) Here the word kingdom is joined with repentance.

a) No person will ever be a member of God’s church (kingdom) without repentance.

b) A changed life is a non-negotiable requirement for citizens of the kingdom.

c) This prerequisite is a turn off to some in the world.

d) In a culture and time when people want to make their own rules, repentance is not the in thing to do.

e) The kingdom cannot be accessed without repentance.

4) A little later in Mt. 5:3 a similar thought is expressed.

5) Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God (Mt. 5:3).

6) In this verse Jesus spoke about mourning (sorrowing over) sin.

7) Today is a time when many enjoy sin.

8) A prevailing attitude is let sin increase and even abound; don’t decrease it.

9) We cannot condemn things because it will hurt someone’s feelings.

10) Right and wrong are often presented as subjective and personal.

11) Jesus said members of the kingdom must recognize that some acts are wrong.

12) We cannot be a kingdom citizen unless we are bothered by the breaking of God’s laws.

13) That kind of approach to life is a way of life that many openly reject.

14) A little later in Mt. 5 Jesus spoke about the kingdom and persecution (verse 10).

a) Members of the church (kingdom will be persecuted).

b) We will face periods of maltreatment and harassment.

c) Thus, we find one more reason the Kingdom of God is sometimes considered undesirable.

d) A high percentage of people now living think they have enough problems.

e) Those in the world want life to be easier, not harder.

f) Because Christianity can carry a heft price tag, many say, “no thanks.”

g) “You keep the kingdom/church; if it is anything but fun and pleasure it is not for me.”

h) Tonight there are people who are not here because the Kingdom of God comes with a cost.

15) Continuing through Mt. 5 we come to the 19^th verse.

16) Jesus spoke about being least in the kingdom of God.

17) I could not overlook this passage when thinking about people who find the church to be undesirable.

18) At the present time a lot of people want to be important. Status is important.

19) People want a name, fame, and frequent recognition.

20) In the kingdom (church) created by God, a leading role is being a servant.

21) No fancy title, no special parking space, no special clothing, no surge of power—just work.

22) Most of us know people who believe that a role like this is beneath them.

23) In our country being great means people serve us, not our serving others.

24) Because the kingdom is not like this, it is odious to many who hear about it.

25) Moving beyond Mt. 5 we come to Mt. 13.

a) This is the chapter we appealed to last Sunday night.

b) Tonight additional verses from this chapter are instructive.

c) Mt. 13:11 refers to the mysteries of the kingdom.

26) Just prior to this verse we find the word parable. The parables are “mysteries.”

27) That is, they can be understood, but grasping them takes some time and effort.

28) God’s word can be understood by all, but that understanding will involve work.

29) Verse 19 of this chapter takes this point a step further.

30) People can hear the word of the kingdom but “not understand it.”

31) Jesus believed and taught that effort must be expended to enter into the kingdom of God.

32) Here again is a reason that God’s kingdom is sometimes seen as unattractive.

a) If an activity means more work in our already busy lives, a common attitude is “let it go.”

b) We already have enough to do; why add one more thing to our list of activities?

c) Jesus surely knew this would be in the minds of some so He made a little comment in Mt. 6:33.

d) In speaking about the kingdom of God He said, “seek it, and seek it first.”

33) Certain people hear that passage and think, “That is more than I want to do.”

34) “Not me! Let someone else do that.”

35) Because the Kingdom of God requires effort many refuse to have any part of it.

36) Another kingdom truth is found in Mt. 13:31.

37) Jesus compared the kingdom (church) to a grain of mustard seed.

38) This small seed is very little, but it grows into a big tree (verse 32).

a) In many places is small the kingdom.

b) Instead of being 2,000 or 1,000 or even 500 members strong, a local congregation may be 75.

c) In this area I know of congregations on a good day that have about 40 people present.

d) One congregation in the area is down to 10-12.

e) Who would attend such a small congregation?

39) For many small numbers are a turn-off, especially if people are not familiar with NT Christianity.

40) Without a large assembly the kingdom of God is sometimes dismissed because of its size.

41) That’s true but so sad.

42) Mt. 13 says many things about the kingdom.

43) Consider another thought from verse 41.

44) In verse 41 Jesus said there are members of the kingdom (church) that “offend.”

45) That is, certain members of the church are not going to be saved.

46) Examples of unsaved Christians would be brethren who are rebellious and disobedient.

47) When Christians are not faithful, they set a bad example for others.

48) Such an example comes with consequences.

49) How many of us have heard a non-Christian say, “I live better than those who attend services”?

50) “I can name some hypocrites in that congregation.”

a) By our lives we can present the kingdom as an undesirable place.

b) We can make the church appear as if it is a place of deceit and hypocrisy.

c) For this reason and others, Jesus said those who live in this manner will be rejected.

51) Last week we used Mt. 13:44, the verse which talks about the kingdom as a treasure.

52) To gain this treasure a man sold all he had.

a) In order to enter into the kingdom God demands our complete allegiance.

b) This is yet another reason for saying the kingdom can be viewed with reproach.

c) Many are willing to give a little of what they have or some of what they have.

d) When it comes to total commitment, that is too much.

e) Jesus said we are not worthy of Him if our spouse is more important than Him.

f) We are not worthy of His kingdom if our children are put above Him.

g) Christ and complete commitment go together.

53) Mt. 13:47 compares the kingdom to a net which contains a wide variety of fish.

54) If we apply this to the church, we may say the church consists of many different people.

55) Paul later said all races are “one man in Christ Jesus.” Race and social distinctions are wrong.

56) God does not treat men any better than women or favor one race above another.

57) In fact, Jesus went even further than Paul by using an illustration in Mt. 21:31.

a) He said prostitutes would enter into the Kingdom of God before many religious people.

b) Clearly those involved in what Jesus spoke of had to change their ways.

c) Jesus knew that some kingdom citizens would have come from a rough background.

d) These citizens were certainly not going to be second class citizens.

58) For a certain element of our society, association with those of this background is unacceptable.

59) A race less and colorless God is not the kind of God some want to follow.

60) Only a few days ago I saw a man express his viewpoint via the printed page.

a) This man said his skin color was black and he was not going to the new movie about Jesus.

b) He said Jesus is not portrayed in the movie as a black man so he would not let his child see it.

c) Race keeps people away from spiritual things.

61) Rubbing elbows with those who were involved in hard core sin also turns off some people.

62) That is so disappointing but both points are true.

63) As we continue to look at the gospel of Matthew we come to Mt. 16:19.

a) Jesus told Peter he would receive “keys” to the kingdom.

b) This promise was fulfilled.

c) On the Day of Pentecost Peter was a leading spokesman.

d) People asked what they needed to do to be saved; they wanted to be right with God.

e) Verse 38 of Acts 2 says “Peter” offered a response.

f) He said “repent” (a key). He said “be baptized” (a key).

64) God’s kingdom (church) has keys associated with it.

65) Stated another way, there is a prescribed way of doing things.

66) If we want in heaven’s door, we cannot, so to speak, break the lock or knock down the door.

67) God has given us the information we need to please Him, and this is what we must use.

68) When this point is made to many in the world, it is not always well received.

69) Saying there are specific commands and obligations upsets some people.

70) Bible Christianity affirms that people must follow specific instructions.

71) A verse related to this is Mt. 19:23.

a) Jesus said the wealthy can have a hard time entering into the kingdom of God.

b) This is true for several reasons, but I will list only one.

c) We live in a time when many think everything can be bought for the right price.

d) If enough money is offered or paid, anything can be accomplished.

72) Jesus warned the world that we cannot buy our way into heaven; we must be obedient.

73) There are rules and restrictions which must be followed.

74) Once again, this has often made the kingdom of God undesirable.

75) In the kingdom of God there is worship.

76) Jesus spoke of this in Mt. 26:29; He said He would partake of the supper in the kingdom.

77) We now do that in the church.

78) Do we not know people who want to be on the “church roll” but not actively worship God?

79) Saying that we have a duty to regularly honor and worship God is unappealing to some.

80) The attitude seems to be, “The church is great, but I’ll not be at worship.”

81) We are thus again faced with a reason why the Kingdom of God is spurned.

82) We could continue to go through the New Testament and show reasons for rejecting the kingdom.

83) Suffice it to say that there are many, and not one of them is a good reason.

84) Rejecting the Kingdom of God boils down to making excuses.

85) In the New Testament we do not find that God has a favorable view of excuses.

86) He wants people to be a member of His kingdom and an active member of that body.