S8E02 - King, Kingdom, Church

To find shelter we must find Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We can choose to believe this or not, but there is pretty compelling evidence it is true. His story through the Jews and the Church is so expansive. I read a quote once: "the Bible is not a book one would write if he could or could write if he would." It is a supernatural story about a 100% lost human race who need to find our way back to God. Totally unflattering to all of us. And yet in His Story we find the life-line which anyone can grasp in order to change our lost trajectory.

There is no getting around the fact that if there is no Jesus revolution we are lost in our "sin." Dead. Having drowned in the ocean with our heart eaten out by a shark - floating on the bottom for a thousand years. Dead dead. His coming, His story and teaching and miracles, and His clear display of power over death not only the things which inspire religion - they power the Kingdom heart as well.

So why King - then Kingdom - then Church? And how and why has this so often been turned into Church - then Kingdom - then the King? It is quite simple: when humans are involved opportunism and subjugation rule the day. It is the story of history: institutions, kings, nations, the few democracies which have existed, corporations, education, medicine, or religion itself - all are filled with people. And people take advantage of and oppress one another.

Not so with the King of the universe Who came near to "seek and save that which is lost." His heart, mind, and soul were perfect. His motives were free from the opportunism of mankind. I am not advocating a cynical worldview, just a realistic one built upon the truths so clearly spoken in the Word of God. If we bend before the Son, we also do so before our Creator Father. If we do not bend our wills, we die a forever spiritual death. Bending (humbling) comes naturally for NO ONE. It is an evidence of the presence of God and a gift from God. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and He will exalt you at the proper time."

So Jesus shows up and teaches us about the Kingdom. Not the church. The greek word church is "ekklesia." It means a "called out assembly." Jesus uses the word church twice in the Gospels but the word Kingdom over 100 times. "Turn away from your futile, lost path and toward the life path." The church may do Kingdom work (some do and some don't), but disciples of the Kingdom are dedicated to following our King. Understanding and living out His Kingdom. Being a blessing to His "called out ones" in every decade and year. The Kingdom is simply the work God is doing in the world.

So Jesus calls us to a heart life that is dedicated to the honor of our King. We set ourselves aside and place the desire of God for our lives as the focus of our aspirations. The Gospels explain the Kingdom implicitly. His disciples heard His words and, as we can see from a number of their letters (such as James, Peter, and John), spent their remaining time on this earth living out the Kingdom for the benefit of His "called out assembly" - the church! So how does one find this kind of focus? By searching the Word of God daily. By sifting through the differences and similarities of the Kingdom and the Church. Jesus' parables, miracles, and people encounters are God's final word on King and Kingdom. It is up to us to apply His words into our own stories of faith.

Some great questions as you consider each aspect of the Kingdom in the Gospels:
1) What is Jesus teaching us about Himself? 2) What is He teaching us about ourselves? 3) What picture is He constructing of what our destiny will look like? This is how we immerse ourselves in Kingdom teaching - and live it out in our lives!