And they're wonderful to be in the presence of
the Lord right now. What a great God. What a
great King. Praise the name of the Lord. The
Lord bless you. You may be seated for just a
moment. Forgive me for looking at my phone during
church. But I got some good news last night.
I saved money on my car inch. No, no, that's
not it. Most of our Bible quizzes are in the
noon service. but they just started a new season,
and the beginners, Joshua and Matthew, won two
of their three quizzes, and we thank the Lord
for that. If you're here, I see Isaac here, our
juniors, Ajani and Isaac. Is Ajani here? Isaac,
would you stand? All right. Isaac was first place
highest scoring in one of the three. Praise God.
That's awesome. That's awesome. And then Brother
Ben's on our old people team. And they were undefeated
in the first round, finished second out of nine
teams. And he placed on the all tournament team.
Let's give it up. Maybe use it to call people
you love, but that's good news. And there's Sister
Janice right there. We appreciate all the work
of you and your team leading that effort. And
in the noon service, we'll make some more noise
about that. Some of you are returning from the
holidays, which means we haven't seen you since
last year. We've missed you. We're glad you're
back. And we're thankful for everyone that's
here today. Enjoy seeing some of the choir up
here. Didn't they do it all? They are working
very hard to lead us into the presence of the
Lord, but you are part of that effort. Thank
you for your worship as well. And then of course,
we're wrapping up Christmas for Christ today.
Thank you each one of you that have already given
and perhaps if you're giving today or at the
very least. By Wednesday, we are wrapping that
up. Thank you for helping us start churches in
North America, revitalize, remodel churches in
North America. It does help North Carolina, but
it even reaches beyond. It's great to be a part
of the work of the Lord, amen. Thank you for
being such a generous people, for being such
a sacrificial people, and we thank God for each
one of you. Also, one week from this Wednesday
will be our annual church business meeting. This
is a little bit unusual to do it on Wednesday.
In fact, it's a change from the original printed
schedule, which usually runs about 90 days ahead,
so we can't always predict. But we want as many
people to come as can so we've moved it to Wednesday
and the Wednesday of communion and we'll have
communion and then somewhere around 740 or so
we'll go right into our business meeting. So
thank you for being a part of that. Why don't
we stand and let's get our Bibles and go to the
book of John chapter three. Thank you for joining
us. So many of you have probably added. A little
bit of prayer, a little bit of extra prayer,
a little bit of extra fasting in the month of
January. We still got a little bit left. Why
not just keep doing what you're doing? And if
you can add to it, even better. But thank you
for that. And if you can be at prayer tomorrow
night, church family prayer, that would help
us a great deal. John 3, Jesus is speaking to
a Pharisee by the name of Nicodemus. And he's
talking about something very, very important.
That is the kingdom of God. And we've been talking
about the kingdom of God around here. And we're
gonna hear a little bit about what Jesus says
about the kingdom of God throughout the message
this morning. And then in the 12 o 'clock message,
we'll see the kingdom of God from the perspective
of the great apostle Paul. Many of you won't
be here for that, but you're welcome to catch
it online, and I would encourage you to do so.
In fact, if you've missed any of the last few
Wednesday nights, it is important when you're
not able to be here, and none of us can be here
all the time, but if you can catch what you miss
online, it helps you stay in the groove of what
God is doing here. John 3, Nicodemus is talking
to him about the kingdom of God, and Jesus answered
and said to him, Most assuredly the King James
says barely barely Life is but a dream. It doesn't
say that part, but most assuredly I say to you
930 it's hard to get a joke like that across
most assuredly I say to you Unless one is born
again. Everybody say born again Y 'all did great
with that. You're just all theological in the
morning Unless one is born again or born from
above a heavenly birth, he cannot see the kingdom
of God. Nicodemus said to him, how can a man
be born when he is old? Can he enter a second
time into his mother's womb and be born? Jesus
answered, most assuredly, I say to you, unless
one is born of water, everybody say water. And
the spirit, could you say spirit? He cannot enter
into the kingdom of God. Nicodemus had a lot
of religious background and it just blew him
away, filled his heart with lots of questions
about the kingdom of God. But I want you to know
by the time you see the answer that Jesus gives
to the question and of course other ways that
Jesus answers the question in the New Testament,
even a child can understand. how to enter into
the kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not
limited to the elite, to the intelligent, to
the wealthy, to the popular. If you could just
accept the answer Jesus gives, you can be in
the kingdom of God. And so I wanna talk for a
little bit on kingdom questions, kingdom questions.
Would you ask the Lord to anoint me and ask the
Lord to anoint you? Let's ask the Lord to prepare
us for what he wants to speak to us today. Those
of you that can pray with passion and with the
spirit speaking through you, that would help
us right now. Let's pray together. In the name
of the Lord Jesus Christ, God, by the authority
of your word and by the power that is in your
great name, we want questions to be answered
today in the hearts of people, Lord. In the name
of Jesus Christ. In the name of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Oh we bless your name, we bless your
name. Oh in the name of the Lord Jesus. Have
your way Lord and help someone to make a decision
about the kingdom of God today. Help someone
to make a decision. about the kingdom of God
today in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Can
you say in Jesus' name? You may be seated. I
think to some degree, the church and pastors,
church leaders, we owe churches an apology because
sometimes we have left the impression, not on
purpose, but we have left the impression that
Calvary was all about, you know, church attendance,
church involvement. I believe that a response
to Calvary will lead to church attendance, church
involvement, church serving your church and being
a part of your church, serving with your, I think
all of that is important, but it would be a mistake
to think that Calvary was just about church.
In fact, it would be horrible to live as though
Calvary was just about this life right here.
as though, well, Jesus, I'm serving you, you
make my life real good and we're gonna have a
good deal. Jesus said, if in this life alone,
we have hope, we will be miserable. Because Jesus
doesn't promise us an easy life or a blessed
life. Some of the most godly people you will
ever get to hear about are people that have given
everything they have to do the work of the kingdom
and God doesn't pay them back in this life. but
they get an eternal reward that cannot be matched
by anything that this life can offer. So I'm
just saying that when you come to the cross and
you look at the blood that was shed, the crown
of thorns, the spear in his side, the nails in
his hand and in his feet, I want to just suggest
that it's all about seeing the kingdom of God.
It's all about entering into the kingdom of God.
And so if there is one kingdom question that
must be answered, it should simply be this. How
do we get into the kingdom of God? How do we
enter into the kingdom of God? Can I answer it
this way? I don't know if you need to write it
down, but I believe this is the answer. You must
be born again. You must be born of the water
and of the spirit. you must have a heavenly birth.
You must be born from above. In fact, I'm gonna
say this, the New Testament pattern is clear
that when you put your faith in Jesus Christ,
you repent of your sins, you are baptized in
Jesus' name, you are filled with the Holy Ghost,
you are entering into the kingdom of God. Acts
chapter two, then Peter said to them, repent.
and let every one of you be baptized in the name
of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is to you and to your children
and to all that are far off as many as the Lord
our God will call. Can I say this? And it will
mean a lot more to you when I get towards the
end of this message. If you can see the need
for repentance, repent. Don't wait for it. Don't
delay. If it makes sense to you that that's what
the Bible is calling you to do, repent. In fact,
I would say not just one and done, but repent
every day. Die daily to your sins and to your
flesh let the Lord know that you are living a
life of repentance Because you have entered into
the kingdom of God Can I say this? And we'll
look at a few scriptures that may seal the deal,
but if you can see baptism by immersion in the
name of Jesus Christ as part of your entrance
into the kingdom of God, as part of being born
of the water, if you will, do not delay if you're
even worshiping with us online. We got a service
at noon. We can baptize you any time today. If
you're not living in the area, but you live near
King or you live near Taylorsville, we can get
it done before the sun goes down. You just gotta
make a commitment. I wanna be in the kingdom
of God. I wanna see the kingdom of God. And if
it's about being born of the water and of the
spirit, do not delay. Do not delay. Praise God.
In Titus chapter three, we read verse four. when
the kindness and the love of God, our savior
toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy,
he saved us through the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured
out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ, our
savior. You might think I'm making a stretch
here, but when I see the word washing, I think
water. When I see the word spirit, I think Holy
Spirit. So what I'm saying is, and this is not
the only place, there is a trend in the New Testament
that you will see water baptism and spirit baptism
linked together in a way that is so simple to
see that even a child can understand that being
born of the water is being baptized in Jesus'
name and having your sins washed away. Being
born of the Spirit is being filled with the Holy
Spirit. even speaking with other tongues as the
Spirit gives the utterance and remember the scripture
said the promise is for you and for your children
and for all that are far off. Can I tell you
we have many people in this sanctuary that they
were a child when they were filled with the Holy
Ghost and they were speaking with other tongues
for the first time. You know why? Because entering
into the kingdom of God is critical but it's
not It's essential, but it's not beyond the grasp
of even a child. In fact, we all ought to come
into the kingdom as children and say, if I see
it, I'm going to obey it. If God said it, I'm
going to do it. Why? Because there are a lot
of questions about the kingdom of God, but there
are some answers. You must be born again of the
water and of the spirit if you want to enter
it. to the kingdom of God. Say amen. There's
a little story in Acts chapter 19. Some religious
people are talking to the apostle Paul about
their religious experience. He's a little bit
controversial, you know, he didn't just let it
lie there. Well, that's so great, y 'all are
religious. He wanted them to know about the kingdom
of God. So he preached to them about Jesus Christ.
And after he was done preaching, this is what
the Bible says, Acts 19 and verse five, when
they heard this, they were baptized in the name
of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul laid his hands
on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them and they
spoke with tongues and they prophesied. Can I
make a very controversial statement? I believe
at that moment they went past religion and they
entered into the kingdom of God. They went past
good intentions and they entered into the kingdom
of God. They went past even trying to be good
people and they entered into the kingdom of God
Why because they were born of the water and of
the spirit they were born again. They were born
from above They got a heavenly birth. I'm trying
to tell somebody just like Jesus did to Nicodemus
I'm begging somebody to hear me today unless
you are born of the water and of the spirit You
cannot enter into the kingdom of God some of
you are old enough to remember the little choir
song from many years ago. You must be. You gotta
be. Don't you see? You must be born again. I'm
trying to tell somebody today that Nicodemus
came to Jesus by night. He said, Master, I gotta
get it right. Please tell me what I must do to
live forever in the kingdom with you. And Jesus
didn't say just join a church. Jesus didn't say
just be religious. Jesus didn't say just call
yourself a Christian. No, he said you must be
born again Verily I say unto you you must be
gotta be born again Verily I say unto you you
must be gotta be born again I'm just telling
somebody today that it is still possible in 2026
to be born again of the water and of the spirit
and I'm telling you if you You will be born again.
You will be entering into the kingdom of God
and your life will never be the same in this
world and in the world to come. If you've ever
been born again, could you thank the Lord as
if to say, I'm so glad I've been born of the
water, born of the spirit. I'm so glad I've been
born again. Praise God. This is a kingdom question
with only one answer. And that is so important
for us to hold onto in a world where even among
Christians, there's this sort of feeling that
you know what's kind of held us back as we've
been so exclusive. We've kind of, you know, we
put the boundaries around the kingdom of God
as though, you know, us four know more. God forbid.
I'm not preaching about Pentecostal religion
today. I'm not preaching about Christianity today.
I'm preaching about the kingdom of God. I'm not
even telling you what you would find in the little
covenant we have for membership at Heavenview.
I'm talking about the kingdom of God. And I'm
telling you today, this kingdom question has
only one answer. And as much as we might kind
of cringe at the idea that only one answer might
exclude others that have a different answer,
let me just read from the words of Jesus. When
Thomas said to him in John 14, Lord, we don't
know where you're going. How can we know the
way? You're talking about us seeing you leave,
depart from us, and it's making us nervous because
we know beyond this life. There is the kingdom
of God. You've been teaching us about it, but
now you're leaving. We assume you're going to
the kingdom and we would like to go to, and Jesus
said, John 14 and six, I am the way, the truth
and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me. I'm telling you, there are some kingdom
questions that only have one answer. Whether
we like the answer or not, we've got to at least
acknowledge that even a child can figure out
if you're going to leave this earth and go to
that heaven, you've got to go through Jesus Christ.
You've got to be born again of the water and
of the spirit. In fact, in John 14, if you go
down a little bit further, he says, if you love
me, keep my... commandments and then he says
basically if you keep them I will pray the father
and he will give you another Helper the comforter
that he may abide with you forever the spirit
of truth whom the world cannot receive Because
it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know
him for he dwells with you and will be in you.
I will not leave you orphans. I will come to
you. Jesus is the way into the kingdom of God.
And not only that, Jesus reveals the way into
the kingdom of God. When we keep his commandments,
my brothers and sisters, we cannot enter into
the kingdom of God just because we feel a warm
fuzzy feeling. church. We've got to keep his
commandments. Yes, the example or the evidence
of our love for God is certainly our love for
one another and our love for a lost world. But
don't forget this critical part. Jesus said,
if you love me, you will keep my commandments.
In other words, you will do what I say. If I
say you need to repent, you'll repent. If I say
you need to be You'll be, I'm not talking me,
I'm talking Jesus. You don't wanna be in my kingdom,
you wanna be in his kingdom. And the only way
to get to his kingdom is to keep his commandments.
But if you keep his commandments, he will not
leave you orphaned. He will come to you. How
will he come to you? He will fill you with his
Holy Spirit. And when he fills you with his Holy
Spirit, not only have you entered in, to the
kingdom of God, but the kingdom of God is in
you because the king of kings has come to you.
Praise God, praise God. So just a quick journey
through the New Testament and we're gonna see
if Jesus gave any commandments that point us
towards the kingdom of God. Spoiler alert, there's
many more examples than what I will give, but
here they are. Matthew 4 and 17. From that time,
Jesus began to preach and say, repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand. The kingdom is
drawing near to you, so repent. Don't ever minimize
the need for repentance. Don't ever act like
it's just something they teach at that church.
Oh, God forbid. This is about the kingdom of
God. And I know sometimes we get nervous because,
well, if we preach repentance, people are gonna
think we're judging them as sinners. Can I tell
you what? All have sinned and come short of the
glory of God. That's part of the gospel message
of the kingdom of God. If I judge you, I'm judging
me because I have sinned as well. But when I
repent, he forgives me every time. That's the
joy. That's the good news of the kingdom of God.
I'm trying to tell somebody even a child can
figure out how to enter into the kingdom. There
may be a lot of questions that we don't have
answers to, but we do have an answer to this
question. Do I need to repent to be in the kingdom
of God? A thousand times yes. Do it today, do
it tomorrow, do it every day of your life because
you want to be a part of the kingdom of God.
Jesus said in Mark 16, go into all the world
and preach the gospel to every creature. The
New Testament makes it clear. It's the gospel
of the kingdom that's being preached. And Jesus
said, he who believes and is baptized will be
saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned.
My brothers and sisters, you must be born of
the water and of the spirit. You need to be baptized
by immersion in the name of Jesus. Why? To join
a church? Absolutely not. In fact, you don't
have to join this church to be baptized today
You just got to have a heart that believes that
Jesus died for your sins And he rose on the third
day and he has invited you to be a part of his
kingdom if you've got questions or concerns About
theology or about the Bible spend your whole
life Pursuing a greater knowledge of God and
we all should but there are some questions that
have already been answered and one of And those
answers is this, you must be born of the water.
You must be baptized in Jesus' name. If you wanna
be in the kingdom of God, why not be baptized
today? Can you say in Jesus' name? John chapter
seven, Jesus said, he who believes in me, as
the scripture has said, out of his heart will
flow rivers of living water. But this he spoke
concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in
him would receive, for the Holy Spirit was not
yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.
I want to just seal it in your soul today that
Jesus was talking about being born again. of
the water we've talked about, but here he talks
about being born of the Spirit. If you believe
in Jesus based on what the scriptures say, you
will be filled with the Holy Spirit. You will
literally speak with other tongues as the Spirit
gives you the utterance. What does that mean
in our language? When he fills you with his Spirit,
he will take control and he will give you a language
to speak that can... come from him that is evidence
the initial evidence there's so much more evidence
but that is the initial evidence that you have
entered into the kingdom of God I'm asking everybody
in this room if you've ever been filled with
the Holy Ghost if you've ever spoken with other
tongues would you just stand and clap your hands
as if to say thank you Jesus for helping me to
be born of the water Oh, glory! Glory! Glory!
You may be seated when we receive a little bit
of prayer at the altar in just a few moments.
If you have never been filled with the Holy Spirit,
I beg you to come. And when you come, start your
time at the altar like this. Jesus, forgive me
of anything in my life that keeps me from more
of you. Jesus, I'm not just trying to be religious.
I want to be in your kingdom. I'm asking you,
Jesus, to fill me with your Holy Spirit. And
then after you prayed that simple prayer, you
need to believe with all your heart that he has
forgiven you. instantly. That's the gospel. That's
the message of the kingdom. That's the good news
about Jesus Christ. And so after you've already
repented, just begin to worship Him as if to
invite Him to fill you with His Spirit. I love
you, Jesus. I praise you. You don't have to repeat
my words. Come up with your own words. But I
will tell you this, out of the abundance of your
heart, your mouth needs to speak. You don't get
filled with the Spirit of God. With your hands
in your pocket just thinking about oh, it'd be
nice to receive something supernatural from God
No from your heart. You've got to praise him.
You've got to worship him in fact I would encourage
you to even lift your hands as if to say I surrender
every doubt every fear every Misconception Oh
God, I'm gonna praise you and believe that you're
gonna fill me with your spirit today You might
say pastor you're taking a lot of time with that
and you know most of us have already experienced
that, but I beg you church family, if you see
someone in the altar today and you're not sure
if they've ever received the Holy Ghost, just
put a hand on a shoulder or if you feel a little
bit awkward, just stay near them and create an
atmosphere of worship and praise to God. Why?
Because it's so important that we give them every
opportunity to enter into the kingdom of God.
I want to charge this great church family for
the remainder of this. this new year, if the
Lord tarries, let's not waste what's happening
in the altar. That's not the time to talk to
your buddy. That's not the time to look at your
phone. That's the time to say, oh my goodness,
today could be the day that somebody could enter
into the kingdom of God. Let me help him pray.
Let me help him worship. I can't just stand around
and be distracted because this is about the kingdom
of God. You say, amen. Would you close your eyes
and in your own way, would you say, Jesus, give
me a special passion for the kingdom of God.
Give me a special awareness that it's all about
the kingdom of God. Jesus. I've got so many questions
about your kingdom, and I'm gonna search your
word for every answer, but until I find those
answers, let me live what I believe. Let me live
what I believe, and let me do what I see. You
have challenged me from the word of God, for
the kingdom of God to advance. In Jesus' name.
Can you say in Jesus' name? Praise God, praise
God. We will discover the more we talk about
kingdom, that everything we have learned and
come to believe in the Bible is not about being
a good member of Heaven View or not about attending
a nice church that's hopefully Christian. All
of that has its place, but this is all. about
the kingdom of God. Everything you have read
and come to believe, every conviction you have
made through the years that separates you from
the world, it's about the kingdom of God. Even
the way you give your time, your money, you sacrifice
and serve, it's about the kingdom of God. It's
not about just being in a church. It's not about
just being pastor's buddy, God forbid. We should
be motivated by the kingdom of God because not
everybody is going to enter into the kingdom
of God. Oh, no. We would like to change the Bible
sometimes because we have a lot of people that
we love, people we work with, friends and family.
And when we study the Bible every now and then,
we kind of cringe. because we have to acknowledge
if all of that in there is about the kingdom
of God, it's possible there's people I love that
are not in the kingdom of God. And sometimes
I wonder how passionate I am about the kingdom
of God. Oh Jesus, don't let me miss your kingdom.
But it begs the question that is worth answering,
another kingdom question that I want to just
touch on. as we prepare for prayer. Maybe you've
asked this question with different words, but
I think your heart will resonate when I share.
Why are so many people missing the kingdom? the
message of the kingdom. It was so simple. Pastor
gave us a little reminder. Nothing I said was
complicated. In fact, some of you are a little
bit discouraged because it wasn't some incredible
revelation. I understand that. I wish I was smarter.
But intelligence, God can use it, but it's not
a requirement to get into the kingdom of God.
So why are so many people missing the kingdom
of God. Here's one example. And Jesus shared
this story and I think it's very simple. That's
why I've chosen this story to end this message.
In Matthew chapter 13, he talks about the kingdom
of God. And he says, there's this sower and he
sows some seed. And some of it falls on this
kind of soil, this kind of ground. Some of it
falls on this kind of soil, this kind of ground.
Some of it falls on this kind of soil, this kind
of ground. Some of it falls on this kind of soil,
this kind of ground. He just sowing the seed.
And he says, I'm telling you this little parable,
because this is how the kingdom of God works.
And I'm gonna give you a little bit more detail,
but I wanna just say this to cut to the chase.
By the time you hear what Jesus is talking about,
one thing you've got to get a hold of that's
really important in terms of the kingdom of God,
the people that miss the kingdom of God, the
problem is not the sower. Well, if that sower
could have done a better job, then all those
people could have made the kingdom of God, no.
The sower wasn't the problem. The seed wasn't
the problem. The seed is the word of God. Well,
if it wasn't so exclusive, and my goodness, you
want people to put on a baptismal robe and get
soaking wet in front of a bunch of strangers,
don't you think that's a little bit odd? If we
could just adjust the seed, you know, they're
doing a lot of seed adjusting in our generation,
and it's not just physical seed, it's spiritual
seed. Because people that used to believe what
they used to believe when they first believed
they no longer believe Because they feel like
there's a problem with the seed But when Jesus
tells this story about people missing the kingdom
of God He said it's not the sower and it's not
the seed. It's the soil it's the soul of people
and Their response is what determines if they
enter in to the kingdom of God or if they miss
the kingdom of God. Can I say as a sower, I've
got to work so hard. I've got to understand this
generation. I've got to do better to sow the
seed. When I stand before God, I will be judged
for how I sowed. Please don't misunderstand.
I'm not saying we can be unkind. I'm not saying
we can be dismissive. I'm not saying we can be
judgmental, but we cannot ignore that the seed
is the seed. The word is the word. The entrance
into the kingdom of God doesn't change because
it's not popular. Because if we tweak a little
bit here and tweak a little bit there, we could
have all kinds of people in church. But see,
this is not about having a big church. This is
about the kingdom of God, not my kingdom, his
kingdom, and he makes the rules because he reigns
in his kingdom. So Jesus explains the parable
in his own words, Matthew 13, verse 19. Therefore,
hear the parable of the sower, when anyone hears
the word of the kingdom, when anyone hears the
word of the kingdom, and does not understand
it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away
what was sown in his heart. And this is he who
received the seed by the wayside. But he who
received the seed on stony places, this is he
who hears the word and immediately receives it
with joy, yet he has no root in himself. but
endures for a while, only for a while when tribulation
or persecution arises because of the word, immediately
he stumbles. Now he who received the seed among
the thorns is he who hears the word and the cares
of this world and the deceitfulness of riches
choke the word and he becomes unfruitful. Did
you recognize anybody in those words of Jesus.
Did you see yourself? And maybe with fear and
trembling, say, oh Jesus, when the seed falls
on my soil, my soul, oh, help me to receive it
with joy and help it to be planted deep. and
don't let the cares of life or riches or the
cares of the things of this world or even tribulation
and suffering, don't let any of that. God, even
if I come to a point where I don't understand
some parts of the word and the seed has been
sown, let me at least obey what I see, obey what
I know, do what I do understand. So when the
enemy comes to steal the seed, I've at least
done something with the seed I have. I haven't
become careless or casual because the promise
is when the seed is sown on good ground, this
one is someone who hears the word, understands
it, and bears fruit and produces some 100 -fold,
some 60, some 30. We're not all gonna be able
to produce to the same degree. as everybody else,
but we've got to be fruitful. We've got to be
fruitful because that's the only way that we
can grow forward in the kingdom of God. Some
people will miss the kingdom of God. Simultaneously,
some people would advance the kingdom of God.
Some people will not understand the kingdom.
Some people will produce fruit in the kingdom.
and the sower will not be the ultimate problem,
the seed will not be the ultimate problem, it
will be the soul. It will be the soul. And I
know I'm taking a little bit of time here, but
I wanna finish with this last little bit of the
parable, because it is so important today that
we respond. This is after he's explained, told
the parable, he's about to give him the explanation
I just gave you. But the disciples came and said
to him, why do you speak in parables? He answered
and said unto them, because it has been given
to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of
heaven, but to them it has not been given. But
God, I work with that guy. God, that sweet girl's
part of my family. Why can't you just make it
plain? Why can't you just make it easy? I don't
want them to miss the Kingdom of God. The disciples
were, they were frustrated the same way we get
frustrated. Why do we look so different as one
God, Apostolic Pentecostals? Why is the way we
have church seem so different than the way other
good people have church? And I'm not saying everybody
has to have church the way we have it, but I'm
telling you, we all know the frustration of saying,
Jesus, you seem to make it so complicated. And
if you change a little bit here, do a little
bit different there, then the kingdom of God,
it can be open to everybody. And Jesus said,
this ain't for everybody. How do you feel about
that? He said, this ain't for everybody. He said,
I've given this to you, but I haven't given it
to everybody because it's my kingdom. I can build
my kingdom the way I want to build my kingdom.
I'm not saying that gleefully, my brothers and
sisters. I'm trying to help us understand that
if you see something in the kingdom that you
can latch onto like a child, you can grab a hold
of a part of the kingdom of God that makes sense
to you. There may be a whole lot that doesn't
make sense, but at least do what he's called
you to do because it's about the kingdom. It's
about the kingdom. Because he says, for whoever
has, to him more will be given and he will have
abundance. But whoever does not have, even what
he has will be taken away from him. Therefore
I speak to them in parables, because seeing they
do not see and hearing they do not hear. They
do not understand. Can I say it this way? It's
if Jesus would say, I'm gonna give everybody
something that will lead them into deeper revelation
about my kingdom. But if they don't do something
with what they have, I will take from them. and
I will give it to somebody else that's saying,
oh God, thank you for letting me be in your kingdom.
I'll do whatever I can. Oh yeah, I face trouble
and sometimes I've been tempted with the deceitfulness
of the world, but oh God, I'm in the kingdom.
Oh God, I'm in the kingdom. I got a lot of questions,
but I've got this one answer and that is this.
I've been born again. I've been born of the water.
I've been born of the spirit and I see some things
in the word that make sense to me. I'm gonna
do it. Not everybody else sees it, but I'm gonna
do it. because I'm in the kingdom of God. Repentance,
baptism, Holy Ghost, if you see it, just do it,
because not everybody sees it. But you've been
welcomed to the kingdom of God. Love God with
all your heart. Love your neighbor as yourself.
If you see it, do it, because not everybody sees
it. Not everybody's going to do it. But if you
see it, do it. Welcome to the kingdom of God.
Separation from the world, separation unto God.
If you see it, just do it. We'll say a lot of
people don't see it. Even people in my family
think I'm crazy. Not everybody's gonna see it.
But if you see it, do it. Welcome to the kingdom
of God. and hold on to the revelation you've
received. Do something with the revelation you
have. Don't squander it. Don't let the wind blow
it away. Don't walk away from revelation you've
already had and now think it's not convenient
anymore. It's an inconvenient truth. Oh my God,
you've seen the kingdom of God. Praise the name
of the Lord. There are mysteries in the kingdom.
We all have questions. Don't let the questions
keep you from doing. What you know to do Be fruitful
I've watched people through the years They were
so on fire for God. They were so active in the
work of the Lord anything you need pastor I want
to be a part of that. You know what they were
seeing the kingdom of God But when they stopped
seeing the kingdom and they started seeing people
they started seeing flesh They started growing
cold and they lost the revelation of the kingdom
And now they're wandering out there as though
they've never seen some things that we've all
seen. My God, would you stand and raise your
hands and say, Jesus, I wanna be in the kingdom
of God. I wanna be a part of the kingdom of God.
I know, I know I preach a pastoral message and
I know sometimes we feel a little bit unsure
about how to respond. I may have preached something
you don't understand. I may have preached something
that was hard for you to just even swallow, but
if there's something in this message that draws
from your soul, something you can do to obey
the message of the kingdom, just say yes. Just
say yes. Just say yes. Just say yes. This is
about the kingdom of God. This is about the kingdom
of God. If we have a prayer list today, I want
you to bring it. Don't start praying for it,
but bring it to the front of the altar here.
And those of you that know how to help us pray
for that list, if you'll come in around. The
reason why we're starting with this prayer list
is because I know in a church like this, on a
Sunday like this, I know there's a lot of needs.
And I've just preached about the kingdom of God,
and you might be sitting here and saying, man,
I just need a healing in my body. You might be
sitting here and saying, my goodness, I just
lost my job, and you're talking about the kingdom
of God. It doesn't help me at all. Well, let
me tell you something. The kingdom of God is
everything. The kingdom of God is everything.
But I'm telling you, Jesus is merciful. And He
healed people, helped people. He did miracles
for people. Some of them... That was their entrance
into the kingdom of God. Some of them, they never
entered the kingdom of God, but he's just that
good of a God. And every miracle he does is just
a little snapshot of his kingdom. So in just
a moment when we all come, if you need a miracle,
I want you to come and just say, you know, I
heard a little something about the kingdom of
God. There's no tears, there's no sorrow. Can
I get a little bit of that Lord? I'm not even
sure I'm ready to join the kingdom of God, but
it's some of that splash over effect. I sure
would like to have it. I'm telling you, he's
that good of a God. Anybody ever found that to
be true? You know, even when he taught us to
pray, he said we could pray, give us this day
our daily bread, even before we pray, forgive
us our debts. How cool is that? I thought I had
to be all holy and spiritual to get a miracle.
No, you just gotta have faith. You gotta have
faith and the kingdom of God is here today. The
kingdom of God is in, Jesus in this atmosphere
is reaching for people to be sold out. to the
kingdom of God. I'll even go one step further.
He says, seek first the kingdom of God. Make
the kingdom of God your highest priority. That's
it. Praise God. But if you're here today, before
we invite people that need healing for their
body, before we invite people that need a miracle
on their job, a thousand things, if you've never
repented or you've never been baptized in Jesus'
name, you've never been filled with the Holy
Ghost. I want you to start coming now because
I'm about to invite everybody to come. And I
want anybody that wants to enter into the kingdom
of God to have the first choice. to have the
first chance to get as close to this altar where
I know I can pray for you and where others can
pray for you. Why? Because the kingdom of God.
If you're here and you can be honest and say,
Pastor, I have done this religious thing all
so long and I have totally forgot about the kingdom
of God. Could you pray for me? Because I feel
a million miles away from the kingdom of God.
Why don't you come now, too? Just come. There's
room at the altar for people that want to get
a little bit closer, want to get a little bit...
Now, everybody that wants to come, would you
come? Everybody that wants to come, would you
come? Please come, please come and respond to
this message of the kingdom. You men that are
praying for this list, as soon as you pray for
this list, would you pray for every person in
this altar that the kingdom of God would come
to each soul that is here today. We don't have
a lot of time, we got about nine or 10 minutes
before we gotta go to cross training, before
we gotta get ready for the next service. Come
on, we've gotta make the most of this little
moment. Come on everybody that can, everybody
that can, come close, come close. Now if you're
praying, could you pray with passion? Don't look
around, don't watch other people pray. Could
you pray with passion? I wanna be in the kingdom
of God. I wanna be fruitful for the kingdom of
God. I want my life to revolve around the kingdom
of God. I wanna see first the kingdom of God.
I may be sick in my body, but I want the kingdom
of God. I may have financial dilemmas, but I
want the kingdom of God. I may not have a lot
of answers, but give me the kingdom of God. Come
on if you've never repented. Come on if you've
walked away from holiness, if you've walked away
from separation, if you've made all kinds of
excuses away from what you used to believe, how
you used to live. I beg you to repent today.
This is about the kingdom of God.