The King from Another World

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This message was given on Jan. 15, 2017 and is the second sermon in a series of messages on the kingdom of God. This message uses the words of Jesus in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world” to emphasize the differences between the values and way of functioning in the kingdoms of this world vs. the values and way of operating in the kingdom of God.

Written Excerpts:

 John 18:36 (NKJV) Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."

Introduction:

Last Sunday I told you that I had felt for a while that the Lord was leading me to do a series of messages on the Kingdom of God.

Last week we introduced the subject by trying to show how the idea of a “kingdom of God” had its roots in the Old Testament, especially in the prophecy of Daniel when he spoke of the time when the “God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed,” and “Then to [the One like the Son of Man] was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

These and other prophecies were the basis for the Jews looking forward to the coming of the Messiah who would usher in the Kingdom of God.

We talked about the fact that both John the Baptist and Jesus preached that the “kingdom of God was at hand.”

We emphasized the distinctions between some of the perceptions the people had and the realities that Jesus taught:

·     Political/Military vs. Spiritual

·     Present vs. Present & Future

·     Social Reconstruction vs. Spiritual/Moral Change

Today I would like to use the passage in John 18:36 as the basis for our thoughts.

Jesus is being questioned by Pontius Pilate and was asked if He was a king. Jesus replied by saying, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."

I want to focus our attention on this phrase, My kingdom is not of this world, and try to answer the question, “What are some of the differences in a kingdom that is ‘not of this world’?”

I.    Kingdoms of this world rely on military power; The kingdom of God relies on spiritual power.

In this verse, Jesus is emphasizing the fact that His kingdom will not presently utilize physical force.

According to the message of other texts in the Bible, we know that there is coming a time in the future when physical force will be exerted and the kingdoms of this world will be decisively and permanently defeated, but the timing is not now.

John 3:17 “God sent not His Son into the world to condemn (judge) the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

John 12:47 (NKJV) And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.

These words provide the reasoning for why Jesus said His servants would not fight – He hasn’t come to condemn, judge or destroy. He has come to save.

The Apostle Paul summarizes this same principle when he reminded the Ephesian Christians Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

You and I, as Christian believers and members of the Kingdom of God, must understand that we do not fight like those who belong to the kingdom of this world.

2 Corinthians 10: 3-4 (NKJV) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds.

This is a principle that isn’t always easy to follow and live by.

We are often inclined to “fight fire with fire.”

But when we do, we quickly learn that we’re not any better off, and many times we’re much worse off.

Even if we “win the fight” we often discover we’ve lost more than we’ve won.

II.  Values in God’s kingdom are opposite the values in the kingdoms of the world.

There are a number of ways in which the values or principles in the kingdom of God go completely contrary to the normal values and principles in the kingdom of this world.

The Sermon on the Mount highlights most of them. Here are a few of the more noticeable ones:

A. Love vs. Hate

World kingdom: Love your friends, hate your enemies…

·     Retaliate; ignore; subvert/undermine; gossip…

God’s Kingdom: Love everyone, even your enemies…

·     Bless those who curse; do good to those who despise you, practice the Golden Rule… 

B. Servant vs. Lord

World Kingdom: Love to “lord it over others”…

God’s Kingdom: Whoever wants to be greatest, let him be servant of all.

C. Material goods vs. Spiritual growth

World kingdom: Gain all the wealth and material comforts you possibly can. Material wealth is sign of God’s blessing or living good.

God’s Kingdom: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Spiritual growth more important than material goods. Give to those in need. 

Conclusion:

We live as dual citizens. We are citizens of this world and citizens of God’s kingdom.

That’s why Jesus said, “Render unto Caesar the things that belong to Caesar and unto God the things that are God’s.” But our ultimate allegiance must be to the kingdom of God.

When we choose to live by the values of God’s kingdom rather than the world’s kingdom, we are often viewed as “aliens from another planet.” Well, they’re close in their assessment – we’re not from another planet, but we are from another kingdom, and it’s a kingdom that is not “of this world.”

Many times each day we are confronted with opportunities to choose which values we will follow – God’s kingdom or the world’s kingdom. May God help each one of us to purposely choose His values.

Let’s conclude the message by singing the chorus, Jesus, Lord to Me