Living Life From the Inside Out - Welcome to the Kingdom, June 1, 2008.doc

Welcome to the Kingdom!

Hillcrest Church, Dallas, Texas

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Text

" After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. 4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:" (Luke 8:1-4 NIV)

" 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 preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick." (Luke 9:1-2 NIV)

" After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field…8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’" (Luke 10:1-2, 8-9 NIV)

Introduction

1. God created the world “right-side up.”

2. God designed humans to live “inside-out.”

We are not material beings trying to have a spiritual experience or natural beings trying to have a supernatural experience, we are spirit beings who happen to be having a bodily experience …!

3. Sin turned the world “upside-down.”

God did not make the world the way it is…!

Satan sinned, then Adam and Eve, the first humans, sinned.

Everything bad in the world is the direct or indirect result of someone’s sin, whether Adam’s or ours.

4. Sin causes people to live “outside-in.”

Material over spiritual.

Outward talent more than inward integrity.

Reputation more than integrity.

Superficial relationships, casual sexuality.

Carnality is living life “outside-in,” controlled by our bodies and victims of our circumstances led by the Spirit and overcoming all things.

5. Jesus came to turn the world “right-side up!”

Ultimately, everything, even the material universe, will be redeemed through His person and work…!

“New heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness…!”

6. Jesus came to help us live “inside-out!”

By believing in Him, we experience the new birth and are made alive spiritually, capable of living in the kingdom of God.

This is the “Gospel of the kingdom…!”

1. The kingdom is spiritual.

" 20 Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”" (Luke 17:20-21 NIV)

"17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men." (Romans 14:17-18 NIV)

The kingdom is something that we live “inside-out.”

2. The kingdom is tangible and powerful.

" 14 Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebub. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you." (Luke 11:14-20 NIV)

" 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 the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached 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." (Acts 8:9-13 NIV)

3. The kingdom is beneficial.

It reflects the character of its king…!

" 22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23 Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 26 Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? 27 “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 28 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. 30 For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. 32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:22-32 NIV)

4. The kingdom is accessible (“at hand” – KJV).

" After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go…8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’" (Luke 10:1, 8-9 NIV)

"11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it." (Matthew 11:11-12 NIV)

" In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”" (Matthew 3:1-2 NIV)

"17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”" (Matthew 4:17 NIV)

" He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness…7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give." (Matthew 10:1, 7-8 NIV)

" 14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!”" (Mark 1:14-15 NIV)

"29 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near." (Luke 21:29-31 NIV)

5. The kingdom is valuable.

"59 He said to another man, “Follow me.” But the man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.” 62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” " (Luke 9:59-62 NIV)

"47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “ ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’" (Mark 9:47-48 NIV)

" 44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it." (Matthew 13:44-46 NIV)

"28 Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!” 29 “I tell you the truth,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”" (Luke 18:28-30 NIV)