#467 The New Normal Series# 6, Kingdom and Church

The New Normal Series# 6, Kingdom and Church
By: D. Karl Thomas

The good news is not Jesus and it is not that you get to go to heaven. The good news (GOSPEL) is that God became a man to establish His kingdom on earth … Jesus came to become Lord and Christ  (KING MAKER)  and now He is building a redeemed community to partner in bringing heaven to earth!!! 

JESUS WHOLE MESSAGE WAS KINGDOM  …  Seek It … Pray It … Teach It … Express It 

Kingdom (King – Domain) Three Things:  1. Ruler –Jesus   2. Realm – Where He Is Lord  3. Rules    His Commandment   

I John 3:23 “And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.”
Two Core Aspects to His Commandment:
1. Believe on the Name of Jesus Christ.     2. Love one another as I have loved you.   

Be public without being political, testify without being tribal, serve outside the sectarian boundaries, love without limitations, confess without seeking conflict. 

Love is demonstrable and free.  It has practical application in all areas.
Love is the rule of the kingdom and it must be a full 360.  

We are here to support the heavenly invasion of earth by the Kingdom of God.
We are to introduce a new heavenly society rearranged under the Lordship of Jesus Christ!
LOVE trumps everything! Forgiveness healing and restoration are now within reach. 

The Kingdom is not the Church — The Church is not the Kingdom
The Church is The Body of Christ, Bride Of Christ, A Royal Priesthood a Holy Nation. 

Where the Kingdom is embraced there is a community being built (Church) for the advancing of His eternal purpose in the earth. 

Church:– EKKLEISIA two words – Called / Out – My called out ones.  (Gathering) His cabinet, His governing body, His partners in the global plan of reconciling all thing to Himself!!! 

Caesar Had a cabinet … people he chose to govern with and operate in his authority. 

Acts 2:1,4 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place … And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit”  The Church –  Body Of Christ – Royal Priesthood Holy Nation

Acts 2:47 “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”   

Ephesians 1:22 “He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],”
Ephesians 3:21 “… to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Jesus had spent his whole ministry teaching on and manifesting the Kingdom of God. Now he is about to turn toward Jerusalem for His final mission and he introduces His followers to His Church.

Matthew 16:15-19   He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. 

My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. 

And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.

There are benefits to the revelation of His Kingdom!
1. Blessing — “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah!”
Holy Spirit baptism is the blessing of the father. Birth of His Church! 

2. Identity  — “…tell you who you are, really are.”  1 John 3:2  “Beloved, now we are children of God;”  

3. Power — “…not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.”     You are powerful!
Daniel 11:32   “…the people who know there God shall be strong and do exploits.”   

 4. Authority  — “…access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door:”
You only give your keys to people you really know and trust.  

Genesis 22:17-18  blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice. 

Acts 3: 1-10  … the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, …  what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”  And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.

As an empowered  and authorized cabinet minister of The Kingdom of God I loose you from your affliction and command you to rise up and walk!!! 

Acts 12:5-17   “Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. … “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. …  they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out.”
When the kingdom of darkness tries to flex its muscle against the Purpose of God – the church must rise up and command that they be cast down and shattered.
IRON GATES CANNOT WITHHOLD GODS PURPOSE!!! 

Luke 7:12-17  “And when He came near the gate of the city, … large crowd from the city…  He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” … “Young man, I say to you, arise.”  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.”
Collision of two crowds … one a march of death and hopelessness … Is interrupted by a march of HOPE miraculous power and authority.
WHEN WEDDING MARCH COLLIDES WITH A FUNERAL … THE FUNERAL HAS TO PULL OVER!!!

The New Normal# 6, Kingdom And Church, Sermon Notes to print, PDF