THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD: Text: LUKE 17:20-37 Intro: Way back during the time of Samuel, Israelites asked for a king to judge them like all the nations-I Samuel 8:5 It displeased Samuel-V 6 The people rejected God to reign over them-v 7

But the Lord told Samuel to solemnly forwarn them the behaviour of the king who will reign over them-v 9-18 Nevertheless, the people refused the voice of Samuel-v 19 They still wanted a king to judge them and fight their battles-v 20 AIM: For us to have a broaden idea of what the kingdom of God is like. For us not to think like the Pharisees regarding the kingdom of God.

I.CONTEXT He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come-v 20 They were impatient for it. John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, "This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world." John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. Remember why do they wanted a king?

They wanted the king to fight their battles instead of reigning over them. Luke 19:11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. II. JESUS’ ANSWER TO THEIR QUESTION- V The kingdom of God does not come with observation It is a spiritual kingdom not a temporal or external

John 18:36 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. Nor will they say, “See here” or “See there”!. It may come but you may not be aware of it as it does not have an external show. It has spiritual influence-the kingdom of God is within you-v 21 Jesus was redirecting the conversation to the heart issue. Look for the revolutions of the heart not of the civil government.

They were curious of the time as of their question, “When”, unknowingly, it already begun. Deut 28:47 "Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart, for the abundance of everything, For those hearts who had been changed, who experiences the power of God they can testify about God’s authority within them. III. WHAT HE SAID TO HIS DISCIPLES-V 22 The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the son of Man, and you will not see it.

The setting up of this kingdom was a work that would meet with a great deal of opposition and interruption. Yes, when they first started Christianity there was one time only, 3000 men were saved-Acts 2:41 Act 4:4However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. We must not think that Christ’s church and cause are lost because not always alike visible and prevailing.

Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become [the kingdoms] of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!“ When they say to you, “Look here or look there” Do not go after them or follow them. Here is one that will deliver the Jews from oppressing Romans Christians delivered from oppressing Jews.

The kingdom of God was not designed to be the glory of one people only, but to give light to the Gentiles. For as the lightning that lightens out of one part under heaven, and shines all on a sudden irresistibly to the other part under heaven, so shall also the Son of man be in his day.’’ The judgments that are to destroy the Jewish nation, to lay them waste, and to deliver the Christians from them, shall fly like lightning through the land. Those that are marked for this destruction can no more avoid it, nor oppose it, than they can a flash of lightning.’’

IV. PROPHECIES REGARDING HIS KINGDOM-V 25 The Messiah must suffer before His reign But first He must suffer many things Pain, and shame, and death, are those many things. Be rejected by this generation He must be rejected by this generation of unbelieving Jews, before he be embraced by another generation of believing Gentiles. 2Th 2:3Let no one deceive you by any means; for [that Day will not come] unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition. They come from the east and the west, from the north and the south and sit in the kingdom of God They had passed through different climates Had broken through many difficulties and discouragements. This shows that they who would enter into that kingdom must strive, as the queen of Sheba, who came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon.

As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man-v 26 They were given warning or made aware of the flood but they did not believed. They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. They were so secure, untroubled, unconcerned, and they ignored Noah. And the flood came and destroyed them all-v 27 Likewise in the days of Lot-v 28 They ate, they drank, they planted, they built

When it rained fire and brimstone it destroyed them all-v 29 And so will it be in the days of the Son of Man is revealed. V. SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS-V 31 When the signal is given, we should run to the ark like Noah or Zoar like Lot. Gen 19:22"Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar Gen 19:23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.

"He that shall be on the house-top, when the alarm is given, let him not come down, to take his stuff away. Both because he cannot spare so much time, and because the carrying away of his effects will but slow him down and retard his flight.’’ Luke 21:20 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Luke 21:21 "Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her

Those in the field let him not turn back-v 31 Remember Lot’s wife-v 32 Luke 21:27 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:28 "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. VI. WHOEVER SEEKS TO SAVE HIS LIFE WILL LOSE IT, AND WHOEVER LOSES HIS LIFE WILL PRESERVE IT-V 33 In the end, it is our main duty to seek the kingdom of God.

In that night there will be 2 men in one bed- the one will be taken and the other will be left-v 34,35,36 VII. THE DISCIPLES QUERY-V 37 WHERE LORD? He said to them, wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered together. Those who will be left behind and destroyed, they eagles will have them as their prey Those who will be saved will be Him forever. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

CHALLENGE: What is your idea of God’s kingdom? What are your expectations for its coming? CONCLUSION: Rev 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become [the kingdoms] of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!