HF090 - A Kingdom Not of This World
To: Hebraic-Foundations@yahoogroups.com
From: "Pastor Buddy Martin" <Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org>
Date: Sat Jul 5, 2003 1:02 pm
Subject: Bible Study HF090 - A Kingdom Not of This World
Hebraics,
I completed our last study (HF089 - When Wisdom Walked the Earth) with James calling attention to a wisdom that comes from above verses a wisdom that is from below. This is another one of those 'above' and 'below' teachings that are at the heart of our salvation through Jesus Christ. We find these above/below sayings scattered through the New Testament. Here are some variations:
"He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all." (John 3:31)
"You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world." (John 8:23)
"You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." (John 19:11)
"But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother." (Gal4:26)
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." (Col3:1,2)
"The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly." (1Co15:47,48)
I've placed these Scriptures at the fore of this study as sort of a conditioner for where we are going. My subject comes from a statement the Jesus made to Pilate.
This is Bible Study HF090 - A Kingdom not of this World.
The conversation was not going as he expected. For one thing Pilate's wife warned him not to do harm to "this righteous man." She had had a dream about Jesus. So when Pilate asked Jesus if He was the king of the Jews, the Lord said, "Are you saying this on your own initiation, or did others tell you about Me?'
Of course Pilate was echoing one of the accusations being brought against Jesus. So in his confused state, he says, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?"
This is when Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be turned over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." (Cf. John 18:33-38)
Pilate responded, "So You are a king?" Then he heard, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice." Pilate is bewildered; "What is truth?"
So there you have it. The rest of the story is played out at the cross. In a short time Jesus will hang on a cross with a sign above His head, saying, "Jesus the Nazarene, the King of the Jews."
Isn't it interesting how wise men came from the east asking the question, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him." (Mat2:2) And when the story closes, there He is, the very One the sages from the east were seeking, hanging on a cross.
But of course the story doesn't end here. On the day of Pentecost we hear the apostle declare quite plainly, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ --- this Jesus whom you crucified." (Acts 2:36) Peter told them that Jesus was the promised Son of David, destined to David's throne. Now He was ascended into the highest heavens.
What is the significance of the Man hanging on a cross? If that is where he is left, there is little significance to be had. He would simply be another prophet of Israel, following the trail of the many prophets before Him. This was their lot. But of course Jesus was far from being a prophet. He was God manifest in the flesh. And so the cross points to His resurrection from the dead, to His ascension, and to His being seated at the right hand of God.
The significance of His ascension and glorification is that the kingdom of God has entered into its completed redemptive stage. All of eternity will rest its case on the finished work of Calvary. This brings us to the reality of the 'above' and 'below' truths.
When a person is actually born again, which, by the way, literally means 'to be born from above,' this person becomes a new creature. This new creature is not only a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem, but much of what is said of Jesus can be said of every child born from heaven. (With exception to His Divinity.)
Of course we aren't going to go around telling folk that we are from above and they are from below, but this is a truth nonetheless. (The comparison is to those who have not taken Jesus to themselves.)
The point is that once a person is born again, their spiritual center shifts. One moment they were earthy creatures, the next moment they have entered into the kingdom of the beloved Son. And this kingdom is "not of this world." And its center will not be found in this world.
When Jesus said, "I am not of this world," he later said the very same thing about all God's children. In His high priestly prayer, Jesus reached across time. He speaks of all who will come to Him. Jesus said, "I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world." (John 17:14)
If we were to take Scripture by Scripture concerning our being from above, it would simply thrill your heart. And this is the idea. Our hearts need to thrill over what it means to belong to Christ. The greatest problem facing true Christians is that of learning their true identity as heavenly citizens. We are right now heavenly citizens living in earthly bodies. We have to learn what this means to us spiritually. And this is where the 'transformations' of the mind come into play.
Each time a believer receives a fresh revelation of his or her relationship to Jesus and to heaven, it is almost like being born again, again. The effect is a spiritual 'upward' renewing. What is happening is that the child of God is simply learning to think with a heavenly centering. If there was ever a key to a true Biblical faith walk in the new covenant, this is it.
The point is that the child of God has a spiritual support base that is out of this world. But we cannot ignore the problem. The problem is that we have been trained from our youth to think like the world, reason like the world, and to depend on the world's resources, that to become heavenly-minded often means going through some shake up periods.
I want to share something by way of my personal venture. I began pastoring my first church at age 29. (I'll be 63 in August.) Although I was born again, my mind had been conditioned to thinking a certain religious pattern. Dissatisfied with pastoring, I jumped ship. Next I find myself evangelizing full time. But something was still amiss. I could not put my finger on it. (Its that 'net' thing you've heard me talk about.)
Leaving the evangelistic field I settled my family down for the next three years. (1971-1974) During those years my spiritual life underwent a complete renovation. I had my own business, still ministered out quite a bit, but the Lord was using various means to recondition me to thinking 'heavenly.' I had to be weaned from the worldly and religious way of thinking.
Then it happened ---- Without giving any more detail, the Lord opened a door for me that I often call 'the door to miracle land.' The Lord was teaching me to center my whole life and way of thinking 'upwardly.' When the time was right, He invited me to enter this new sphere of service. All I can say is that it is awesome. And even with the struggles, battles, disappointments, and mess ups, this new way of living and walking was like heaven to me. (I'm not talking about some 'instant' religious experience. I am talking about the walk of a disciple.)
All I can say is that from that day (August 28, 1974) to this day I have learned a walk of faith that I never knew existed. It became a heavenly walk. And in this walk the Scriptures became more alive than ever. It was then that I became able to invite my neighbor to come sit under my "fig tree." (Figure that one out that you get first prize.) : )
But there is one thing I need to point out --- This does not mean that I became what the heretics call a 'manifested son.' Dear Lord, deliver us from such evil teaching. It simply means that my thinking had been transformed from the 'below' thinking to the 'above' thinking. It is still be being transformed. I am not the finished product for anyone to look at.
However, this is exactly what Paul is talking about when he says, "Set your mind [be intent on] the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For [the old] you have died and you life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col3:2,3)
This also what Jesus meant when He said, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matt6:33) Have you ever sat down and digested exactly what Jesus is saying about seeking His kingdom? This is another way of saying, 'Seek His direct rule in your life.' There is no kingdom without a rule.
But what did Jesus say would happen if we learn to seek the direct rule of God? Notice he connected this with God's righteousness. Jesus is not speaking of positional righteousness which belongs to every child of God. He is speaking of our learning to walk in the ways of the Lord. The Lord said if we would learn to do that, then everything else in life, that is, all our needs, whatever they may be, will simply be added to us.
Anyone who knows anything about the history of Christian Challenge can attest to this truth. This ministry began with a stewardship from the Lord. He spoke. We listened. He directed. We walked. He provided. We received. But we learned to do it His way. And believe me, the Lord's ways are not the ways of the world. (Better learn that one as soon as possible.)
Forgive me --- I don't mean this study to be about Christian Challenge. The only One who is ever to be lifted up is Jesus. I mean this to be about is the spiritual 'art' of learning to live from a kingdom that is not of this world. If you are His sheep, then you know His voice. Its as simple as that.
Don't think that that it is easy making the transition into Biblical discipleship. There are going to be problems you will face where no one can (or will) extend a hand to help. (The Lord won't allow them.) Don't get angry. Its simply your turn to pass the test. When you can stop looking at everyone else, and at every other source, and are forced to fix our eyes on the true source for life, it is then that you will begin to discover your 'higher' life.
Now listen carefully --- Meat and milk of the Word is not about how smart you are. It is about the level of your spiritual walk. I've seen some of the most humble and little known of God's children, live a life of faith that would simply fly over the head of the most astute theologian. Why is that? This humble child has learned about the heavenly walk.
I'm going to close this part of our study for now. There is so much more to talk about, and if the right questions are asked, or if the right insights are given, this study will prove to go much further than the little I have shown.
Feel free to offer your thoughts and ask whatever question concerns you.
Blessings,
Buddy
Lawrence E. (Buddy) Martin, HF Host
email: Bro.Buddy@ChristianChallenge.org
Web: http://www.christianchallenge.org/
"See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled." (Heb12:15)