Join me if you would in the book
of Revelation, Revelation chapter 1, and I was talked a little
about getting to that word patience, and there's a word in the way.
I didn't get down as far as I thought
I might go because I ran into a word called kingdom, kingdom. And I would like to spend a little
time on that tonight. Revelation chapter one, just
a light to dispel darkness. That's what this word revelation
is, apocalypse, the unveiling of something hidden. His glory
shall be revealed and his righteousness made known and his children shall
see full glory. Now, I like that. That's just
whole gamut of what the Lord is to his people. His glory shall
be revealed. And if we see a God that's not
full of glory, we haven't seen the God of this Bible. And if
we see a God whose righteousness is not clean and pure and all
sufficient, we haven't seen the God of this Bible. And if we
see a God that cannot or will not have all his children present
throughout eternity, that's not the God of this Bible. That's
the revelation, the revealing. He is going to have all his children
present. Now here, beginning with verse
one, the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him
to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.
And he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant
John, who bear record of the word of God, and of the testimony
of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that
readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep
those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand.
John to the seven churches which are in Asia, grace be unto you
and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to
come. and from the seven spirits which
are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful
witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of
the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us, and washed
us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests
unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever
and ever. Amen. Behold, he cometh with
clouds. and every eye shall see him,
and they also which pierced him. And all kindreds of the earth
shall wail because of him, even so. Amen. I'm Alpha and Omega,
the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is and
which was and which is to come, the Almighty. I, John, who also
am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom
and patience of Jesus Christ was in the aisle that is called
Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the spirit on the Lord's
day and I heard behind me a great voice as of a trumpet saying,
I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. And what thou seest,
write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are
in Asia, unto Ephesus, and unto Samarna, and unto Pergamos, and
unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto
Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice
that spake with me, and being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. And in the midst of the seven
candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man, clothed with a golden
garment down to the foot, and gird about the paps with a golden
girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white
as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire, and his feet
like undefined brass, as if they burned in a furnace, and his
voice as the sound of many waters. He had on his right hand seven
stars, and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and
his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And
when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his
right hand upon me, saying unto me, fear not, I am the first
and the last. Now I realize there's a colon
there, and we should read the rest of it. You go on and read
that, but I'd like to go now back to verse nine and spend
a little more time in this verse nine. Last week, we noticed in
this verse, I, John, and there's so many relationships between
this John and John over in the book of John. And we noticed
those things. There was a man sent from God
whose name was John. And his ministry, his mission,
his whole life was centered around the person, Christ Jesus. And
given the opportunity, He appointed every disciple to the Lord Jesus. And in fact, we read an account
where two of his disciples were walking along with him. And he
said, behold, the Lamb of God. And his two disciples went and
followed Jesus. And John, thank God. He didn't feel like he was being
defeated, he just thanked God. That was his mission, that was
his goal. And that is the mission and the
goal of this John, is to be used to point people to the Lord Jesus. And we notice also that he's
our brother. Now, I like that it says there in John, or excuse
me, Revelation chapter one and verse nine, it doesn't say Reverend
John, it doesn't say right Reverend John. It doesn't give him any
title whatsoever. He didn't assume one and it wasn't
given to him. And I like people calling me
norm. They call Peter, Peter and Paul,
Paul, just call me norm. No, there's no title. And as
we looked at that last week, when he says, I'm your brother,
it was just, there's an equality in the church that we'll find
nowhere else in this world. We are not promoted and we're
not held back. There's no little people and
big people. Now, we are convinced and we
run into those people that have a gift about wisdom. And I love
being around those people. You know, and they're not boasting
about their wisdom, they've just been given that, and it's a gift,
and they share that wisdom. And I don't know how many times
I've depended, like maybe too much, on asking people about
things, and you know, by and large, those that have a gift
of wisdom, they share it, they don't go home and brag about
it, but it's just, It's just a gift that God gives them, but
we never call them anything else. Don't call them master, don't
call them reverend, don't call them doctor, don't call them.
That's it. Equality is in the church. We
have one master and that's the Lord Jesus. Now he is the chief
shepherd and we have under shepherds and we look to those people and
we're thankful for them. All right, now it says here,
He's a brother and he's a companion. Now, I'd like to reread that
verse over there in the book of Romans chapter 11, Romans chapter
11. If you turn there with me, Romans
chapter 11, we want to see this word translated a little bit
differently here. I trust as we look at this, we'll
see a little more of the meaning of what this word is, a companion. Let's see if there's a little
more that we can see about this word, more than just someone
we put our arms around or walk down the road with. Now, that's
good. Can two walk together except
they be agreed? That's the truth. Can we walk
with Christ unless we're agreed with him? You cannot walk. I like what Uncle Moe said. Uncle
Moe says, you can't walk with the devil and the Lord at the
same time because they're going in different directions. That's
what Uncle Moe say. And he said the truth. You just
can't. Is Christ divided? No. He's going in one direction.
Now, notice with me here in the Book of Romans chapter 11 and
verse 17. The scriptures share this, and
if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive
branch, or olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them
partakest, of the root and fatness of the olive tree. Now that word
partakes, that's the same word we find over there for companion.
And I like the way that those two words put together give us
some significance about what this word is. We're a companion,
but we're partaking of the same root. Now there's a fellowship
there that we find nowhere else in the world. There's a fellowship
in Christ partaking of that same root that we do not find anywhere
else. It is a fellowship that's eternal. There's a fellowship that is
permanent. There's a fellowship that is
blessed. There's a fellowship that we
look forward to. We can't choose our natural family,
but we can choose our friends. But thank God Almighty, it is
contrary in the spiritual family. We don't choose our spiritual
brothers and sisters. That's left up to God, but he
makes us all amiable to one another. He does. Now that's part of what
God Almighty does for us. There's a verse. It's something to the effect
of Paul didn't have to teach us to love one another. That's
something God does. He teaches us to love one another.
He gives good manners to his people. Now, this word also has
a root word, and I'd like to look at some of those. Would
you turn with me to the book of Luke, chapter five, so we can
get a little more grasp on this. Luke, chapter five, as we think
of this companionship, being a companion, John was a companion
with the readers of this book. several capacities. He was a
companion in Christ, but that also brought a companionship
in other areas. Tribulation. Kingdom. and patience of our
Christ. He brings out those three things
in that one verse of scripture. There is a companionship that
the Lord gives us. Now look with me in Luke chapter
five and there in verse 10. Luke chapter five, verse 10.
This is the root word for that word. And it says here, and so
was also James and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners. Now that word partner is the
root word for that word we found over there in the book of Revelation,
chapter one, verse nine, to be a partner. They were fishermen
partners. Now, they had things in common,
and they had things that they agreed upon, and it just goes
on from there. They were partners. They were
fishermen partners, and that's what this word means. I am a
partner with you. I'm a companion with you. I'm
a fellow laborer with you. We are joined together in the
root. Now, look with me, if you would,
to 2 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 23. 2 Corinthians chapter
8 and verse 23, as we think about this companionship. Now, this
companionship, this partnership that we read about here is this
way, but it's this way. We're in companionship
with Christ. We're in partnership with Christ
to be taken in as a full partner. Now, I've read stories and seen
movies about people who aspire to become a partner in a law
firm. They want to be full partners. Well, in the kingdom of God,
every child of God is a full partner in the kingdom of God.
Heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ and equality
there. God treats his children just
like he treats his only begotten son with the same amount of love
and the same partnership value and the same kingdom and everything
is equal. So as we look here, there's a
partnership as a fishing partnership, there's a relationship this way.
He is our partner and we are his partner. And we're partners
this way too. There is such a significant equality. Now, here in the book of 2 Corinthians
chapter eight, 2 Corinthians chapter eight, notice there with
me in verse 23. Verse eight, chapter eight, verse
23. Whether any do inquire of Titus,
He is my partner and fellow helper concerning you. Or our brethren,
be inquired of. They are the messengers of the
churches and the glory of Christ. Paul is saying, Titus is my partner. What's he a partner in? The gospel,
in the preaching of the gospel. He is my partner in the preaching
of the gospel. He is my partner in the concern
of the saints. And this partnership is what's mentioned over there
on the companionship. It is more than just walking
together. There is a relationship of equality. There is a blood relationship.
There's a family relationship. There's an interest relationship.
There is a righteous relationship. There is a kingdom relationship.
Everything has this relationship embodied in it. To have this
relationship with one another and then to realize that we're
partners. We have this relationship with
the Lord Jesus Christ. That means His kingdom is greater
than I thought. His relationship with me is greater
than I thought it was. It is more significant than I
thought it was. It is farther going than I thought
it was. I am in partnership with the
Lord Jesus Christ. Well, I'll tell you what, I'm
the silent partner. Boy, when it comes to His will,
I'm the silent partner. When it comes to His purpose,
I'm the silent, I'm in agreement. Yes, I'm in agreement. Lord,
help me to agree. I believe, help me to believe.
I love, help me to love. I'm a partner, but I am not the,
there's an equality, but he is Christ, he's king. Now there's
one other one I'd like to read, and that's in the book of Philemon.
The book of Philemon. Philemon is such an interesting
book because it's the story of a slave. And there's so much
significance here about we're all slaves, we're all trying
to get our own way, we're running away, just like Philemon did.
He left his master, just like we do. Here in the book of Philemon,
and Philemon gets to a place, you know who he runs into? Paul. Paths cross. Can you just imagine
him leaving his master and headed for Rome with the idea that he's
gonna hear the gospel? Not. It's not his goal. It's not his mission. He wants
to get somewhere where he's not known. Now, that just reminds
me of Oregon about 150 years ago, or Alaska. I'm going someplace where I'm
not known. He gets down there and he and
Paul's paths cross, and Paul preaches the gospel, and this
man is saved, and Paul says, I want you to go home. and make
things right with your master. And he gives the instructions
here. If he owes you anything, I'll take care of it. But just
remember, I brought you the gospel. So now notice here, Philemon. Philemon, and there in verse
17. If thou count me therefore a
partner, receive him as myself. Now, if we're equal in the gospel,
if we're equal in grace, if we're equal in hope, if we're equal
in peace, you'll count him as a brother. Now, I like that. Someone pleading my case. The
Lord Jesus pleads my case, and I'm thankful for other people
that plead my case, but I'm thankful for the Lord pleading my case.
He's my partner. He's gonna plead my case. Others
may, but he will. Now, so he's my companion. Paul, or excuse me, John said,
I'm your companion. companion. I'm your partner.
We have an agreement here. We're all blood-bought. We're
all family. We have the same love we have
for one another that we love God with. We have his joy, peace,
long-suffering, gentleness, goodness. We have the fruit of the Spirit.
We have the leadership of the Spirit. We are a companion. We're
partners. We're all grafted into the same
root. And as a result of that, as we
go over there to the book of Revelation chapter 1, he says,
I'm your brother and companion or partner. And last week we
looked at that word tribulation just a little bit, and we found
out that that means affliction or tribulation. And that is what
comes along. to a group of people that the
Lord Jesus Christ mentioned in the parable of the sower, he
shared with us, he shares with his disciples, he said now to
a certain group here that hear the gospel and they for joy receive
it and then along comes tribulation and they don't stick it out.
They just don't have the root. That's what the problem is. They
don't have the root. They don't have the root. Tribulation. Tribulation is going to work
its part. Now, notice with me in the book of Romans chapter
8 and verse 35. Romans chapter 8 and verse 35.
This verse of scripture shares with us what shall separate God's
people from God. Romans chapter 8. Now, tribulation
will separate the chaff. Tribulation will separate
the tares. Tribulation will separate the
goats. Tribulation will separate the lost. Tribulation will cause
them. It's going to happen. They're
going to come along and it's going to happen for a season,
but then tribulation. But notice here in Romans chapter
eight in verse 35, we read these words, who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, that's the
same word that we found in Revelation chapter one verse nine. Who shall
separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, now
to God's people, tribulation will not separate them from Christ. Tribulation will not separate
them from Christ. It will, now there's two effects
of tribulation. They'll leave, we'll leave, or
we'll be brought closer. That's it. There's no in-between. We'll leave, or we'll be brought
closer. Tribulation falls out because
of God. Tribulation falls out because
of God's purpose. And we'll be brought closer,
or we'll leave. And some will leave. Some will
leave. That's just the way it is. But
his people will endure to the end. Tribulation will not separate
them from the love of Christ. Goes on there in verse 35 and
says, who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril,
or sword? The answer is none of them. None
of them shall separate us from the love of God. Tribulation
won't. None of those other things will
either. Affliction will not. And so the Apostle John is sharing
with us that I am your partner. Now, there's a partnership between
me and God. There's a partnership between
me and all the saints. There's an equality here. And
I'm a partner with you in tribulation. Now, no one would ever deny that
the Apostle John did not go through tribulation. He's on the Isle
of Patmos for it. He's separated from all his spiritual
family as a result of it. He's Joseph down in Egypt, but
there's no Egyptians around him. It's a bare island, very few
people there, just a few to keep track of him. So he has tribulation,
but he's writing and sharing with us, I'm your companion in
tribulation. You're going through it, I'm
going through it. All of God's people will have tribulation.
Now, it goes on to share with us in this verse of scripture,
going back to the book of Revelation chapter one and verse nine. He
says, I'm a companion in tribulation and in the kingdom. Now, that
just overwhelmed me. I had to stop there and contemplate
on that. I had to cogitate. Yesterday, Mike and I went over
to look at a job. And I call it the dry rot house.
It's a dry rot house. It's a serious problem. Young
lady bought it, and her dad was working in that house, and he's
about ready to lay down the new flooring, and he's in the bathroom
and discovers a little dry rot, so he contacts me and I go over
and we look at it, and it's dry rot. So he tears it off, and
there's lots of dry rot in it. Just a lot of dry rot in there.
And yesterday we went and visited with him a little bit before
we started and I called him up and I said, we're going to go
and we're going to go cogitate on this problem. He says, I'm
glad to hear that. I'm glad you're going away and
think about what you're going to do. He was pleased that we're
going to cogitate on it. He knew what the word meant too.
We're going to cogitate on it. Well, as I cogitated about this
word, The first thing that I ask myself is, there's some things
about the kingdom I don't understand, but I want to find some things
I can understand. And that's what I want to share
tonight, this word kingdom. Now, one of the books I read,
and I think I'm going to tape it shut so I don't open it very
often. Down to the definition it said,
and then it got to the point of, Dispensationalism will cause
this interpretation. And I says, I don't want that
interpretation. I just want to know what the word meant. I don't
want it interpreted through the glasses of some system or some
idea. I just want to know what the
word means. And so when you have to have this as the eye of interpretation
of a word or the meaning of a word, that's the book I'm going to
close and put up there because he's already telling me I'm not
going to be honest with you. Now, let's look at a couple of
places where this word kingdom, my kingdom or his kingdom is
mentioned. And I think we can get some idea
of what the apostle John is mentioning here when he says, I am your
brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom. Now that
is a good. thing, good idea, good place
to be a companion in the kingdom. This is the Lord's kingdom. Now
read with me if you would over in the book of John chapter 18.
Now if ever we're going to get some real significant statements
out of people, it's close to their death. I've read books where people,
you know, they committed a crime or something and they're on their
deathbed and they start making a confession, confessing what
they did. They got to get it cleared up
before they die. Now, whatever that means. But the Lord Jesus is so close
to being suspended between heaven and earth. And he shares this
verse about his kingdom. And I love it. John chapter 18. John chapter 18 and verse 36. Now notice this. This cleared
up a lot. My kingdom. John chapter. 18 verse 36 Jesus answered. Now he's been posed a question
by pilot. My kingdom is not of this world. Now that answered a whole lot
for me. My kingdom is not of this world. Now what he's saying is, in part,
I never came to set up an earthly kingdom. My kingdom is not of
this world. It's not a physical kingdom. It is not a kingdom as most people
think. Now, in the scriptures, if we
think of Jesus Christ being a piece of physical bread, we're going
to miss a big point, aren't we? He said, I'm the bread that came
down from heaven, but he's not talking about a physical piece
of bread. And he says, I'm a door. But
if we think of him in our mind as a physical door, we've missed
the point. He says, I'm a temple. And if
we think of him as a earthly temple, we've missed the point.
These are spiritual pictures that God gives to his people
about himself. I am the water of life. The woman
at the well, when she heard that, she says, give me this water
so I don't ever have to come back down here. Now she had missed
the point. It wasn't long, she saw the point.
Now all of this is by revelation. The Lord Jesus Christ shares
with us all of his characteristic and attributes spiritually speaking. It doesn't apply physical. He's not a piece of bread. He's
not a literal door as we think of it. He is the door to heaven,
but he's not one that opens and closes on a hinge. He's not a
lamb, as we see in the pictures that have to do with the book
of Revelation. And so when he speaks to Pilate
on this great issue about his kingdom, he says, my kingdom
is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world,
then my servants would fight. You know what happened? Peter,
James, John, Philip, and all the rest of those guys would
have been there with swords. Jesus had to stop one of his
disciples from taking the head off of one of those guys. Got
his ear, Lord put it back on. If my kingdom was of this world,
my servants would fight. There'd be an army. What's he
going to say? That I should not be delivered
to the Jews. I'd never be here. If my kingdom
was of this world, I'd never be in your hands. I'd never be
given over to you. But my kingdom is not from hence. What he's saying is here, all
that's taking place right here is prescribed. determined, predestined. It's a spiritual kingdom and
I'm fulfilling a spiritual responsibility to my house, to my church, and
to my people, and to my children, and to my sheep, and to all that
I have. I am fulfilling a spiritual responsibility
to them. My kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. Turn with me, if you would, to
the book of Luke chapter one and verse 33. We read here as
the We keep going back to the incarnation
story, but Luke chapter 1 and verse 33, we find these words
about the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not a physical
kingdom again. He said, my kingdom is not of
this world. Now, if he said his kingdom is not of this world,
he's not going to have the prophets declaring that his kingdom is
of this world. His prophets are led by the Spirit
of God and they're gonna be talking about a kingdom, the same kingdom
that he's talking about. He told Pilate, my kingdom is
not of this world. If it was of this world, my servants
would be here fighting and you wouldn't even see me. I would
not have been delivered to the Jews. I did not come down here
to set up an earthly kingdom. Now notice with me in Luke chapter
one and verse 33, the same kingdom is mentioned here and it's not
a kingdom of national Israel because his kingdom is not of
this world. It's a spiritual kingdom. It's a kingdom that
he reigns, rules in hearts. Now he does reign over this world.
But this kingdom, he reigns in hearts. And it isn't, let Jesus
be your king. When he's king, he reigns where
he pleases to reign. And it's not by permission. Now
after we're converted, after we're born again, we find out
what a blessing it is that he would come and reign. And if
it wasn't for him coming and reigning in our hearts, we would
all go to hell. That's just as clear as we can
make it. Our whole spiritual life is dependent
upon this king reigning in his kingdom. Now, notice Luke chapter
one, verse 33. He shall be great and shall be
called the son of the highest. Excuse me, verse 33. And he shall
reign over the house of Jacob forever and his kingdom. There
shall be no end. It didn't start. What did we
read about the Lord? What do we read about the Lord? Omega.
Alpha and Omega. His kingdom is the same kind
of kingdom. It's a spiritual kingdom. He
rules and reigns in a spiritual kingdom. Now He is ruling over
the plant kingdom. He is ruling over the mineral
kingdom. He is ruling over the animal kingdom and he's ruling
over the human kingdom. All kingdoms, every king is under
his hand. But when it comes to his church,
he is absolute monarch just like there, but people don't notice
it that way. Pilate said, are you king of
the Jews? And Jesus says, did you hear
this or are you convinced of this? Someone tell you this or do you
know it? Now, this is by revelation. I'm
the king over a kingdom, and it's an everlasting kingdom.
Turn with me, if you would, to the book of 1 Thessalonians 2.
1 Thessalonians. Now, how do you get into the
kingdom? It's a kingdom that's not of this world, and it's an
eternal kingdom, and it's a kingdom that John's talking about. Now,
how in the world? It's so delightful. It's so wonderful.
It's so glorious. It's God ruling. It's the Lord
Jesus Christ ruling over his people. How in the world can
I get into that kingdom? Notice here in 1 Thessalonians
2, it shares with us exactly how we're placed into this kingdom,
how we get into this kingdom. 1 Thessalonians 2 and verse 11,
the scriptures share this. 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 11, this
is how I can't get you there. I can't get you in the kingdom.
You can't get anybody in the kingdom. Notice how we're placed
in this kingdom. 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 11,
as ye know how you were exhorted and comforted, excuse me, Twelve, thank you, that ye would
walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. How are we put in the kingdom?
We're called into his kingdom. It's not this call, it's his
call. How are we in the kingdom? He
said, we're partners, we're companions in tribulation and in the kingdom. How in the world? It's a kingdom
that's not of this world. It's an eternal kingdom. How
are we in the kingdom? We're called into the kingdom.
And if we go through the scriptures, we find that we're called to
salvation, we're called to repentance, we're called to faith, we're
called, God calls his people out of darkness into the kingdom
of his dear son. We're called out of the world
into this spiritual kingdom by spiritual blessing, by a spiritual
birth, by spiritual regeneration. He calls his people into an everlasting
kingdom, into a kingdom that's not of this world. It's not of
flesh and blood. It isn't an earthly king. It's
a heavenly king over spiritual people that have been regenerated
and given life. And it is an eternal kingdom.
His kingdom, he's had reference to his people before the foundation
of the world and this kingdom will be carried on throughout
eternity. He has always been king, he is
king, he will forever be king. He has always had an interest
in his subjects, he has an interest in his subjects, and he'll forever
have an interest in his subjects. He's an everlasting king over
an everlasting kingdom with an interest in his people that have
been for everlasting. Now, turn with me if you would
to the book of Luke chapter 23. The thief on the cross. Now I
paid attention to what he had to say, but not like I did this
afternoon when I was reading about this kingdom. What does
the thief on the cross say? Notice with me here in the book
of Luke chapter 23 and verse 42. This kingdom, a spiritual
kingdom, it's not of this world. It's an everlasting kingdom.
It's from eternity to eternity. And I know that those are poor
choice of words, but that's the only way I know how to explain
it. Eternity to eternity is just
poor words. We just don't have a way of describing
it But we're called into this kingdom. It's a spiritual kingdom. It's a spiritual birth that puts
us in it He has King over his people Now, he's king over all
things. Every kingdom is his. He's sovereign
over everything. But this spiritual kingdom, his
people bow presently. We look around us. Why do the
heathen rage? Why do they imagine a vain thing? Psalm 1, boy, upset with God,
shaking their fists. It doesn't look like he's getting
a job done, does it? But he is. Now, in his spiritual
kingdom, We live and move and have our being in him. He is king. He's the head, and
where the head turns, the body follows. It's no wonder he can
say, my sheep hear my voice and follow me. When he turns his
head and takes off, his body is going to follow him. It's
not going to stay behind. He's going to move his body.
His body is the church. He says that. I'm the head of
the body. And when that body moves, he is king over his church. Out in the world, we say, man,
everything's going bad, really bad. But in the kingdom. in the kingdom, God's people
say, my goodness, we're enjoying every spiritual blessing. He's
reigning and ruling, he's kind, he is a benevolent, benevolent
king, giving us every spiritual blessing, and besides that, we
inherit with him just, we're heirs of God and joint heirs
with Jesus Christ in the kingdom. Everything is equal. God loves
his people just like he loves his son. God has a delight in
his people just like he has a delight in his son. Everything. It's
beyond my imagination. I'm unable to comprehend what
I get to enjoy. The diamond's too big. I mean,
I can imagine and enjoy one of those Well, my daughter got a
watch for Christmas, wasn't it? Has a hundred diamonds around
it. Well, that means that they're kind of small. I can enjoy, I
can realize, but a hundred Hope diamonds? Couldn't carry it around. I got
more than I can carry. The kingdom, there's just more
than you can carry. Now, I was gonna read this verse, Luke 23.
Luke 23 and verse 42. This is a thief on the cross.
Now this thief on the cross, he's been a nasty guy. And he
comes to realize, by the spirit of God, he's a sinner. And he
confesses there, this man's done nothing wrong, but we're getting
what we deserve. Now to begin with, if you read this account,
you'll find out he was just like the other thief. If you be the
Christ, come down and take us down. But oh, as God's grace
began to work in his heart on that cross, he began to see he's
getting exactly what he deserves. Now, every believer realizes
we deserve this. Now, notice what he had to say.
Luke 23, verse 42. The thief on the cross said this,
and he said unto Jesus, And a valuable word in that verse is Lord. He's
never used this word like this word ever in his life. Now, if
he ever used Lord before, it's been in vain, but now it is serious. It's not
a cop out. This is how God revealed himself
to him. And that's how God reveals himself
to his people is Lord, Lord. He said there, Lord, remember
me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Now, what's he gonna
do? How's he gonna come into his
kingdom? In a few moments, he's gonna say it's finished. Great
testimony about his kingdom. All I set out to do, I have accomplished. There is no work for man to do. I am preparing to sit down which
no priest before me has ever done. I am preparing in a short
time to sit down at the right hand of the Father, accomplishing
all that I set out to do. My kingdom is an eternal kingdom.
It is not of this world. It is a kingdom of grace. It
is a kingdom of salvation. It is a kingdom of resurrection.
It is a kingdom sent out from God. And Jesus is spoken to here
by this thief on the cross, Lord, remember me when you enter into
your kingdom, when you fulfill all that you have determined
to do." God gave him a mouthful in those words, and he recognized
what it is to be called into the kingdom. This kingdom declares
His sovereignty of grace. This kingdom declares His sovereignty
of salvation. His kingdom declares His sovereignty
of repentance. His kingdom declares His sovereignty
of faith. His kingdom declares His sovereignty
of patience. every characteristic and attribute
that we're in desperate need of, he is absolute sovereign
in his kingdom over and he dispenses it according to his divine pleasure
and purpose. I will have patience on whom
I will have patience. I will have faith on whom I will
have faith. I will have repentance on whom
I grant repentance. I'll grant salvation to whom
I'll grant salvation to. I will grant grace to whom I'll
grant grace to, and beside all of that, I'll have mercy on whom
I'll have mercy on. I am king in this kingdom, and
nobody thwarts it. In this kingdom, nobody challenges
me. Now, the natural kingdom, the
worldly kingdom, the human kingdom challenge God all the time. We'll
not have this man rule over us, but in this kingdom, no one raises
a hand towards God. Because in this kingdom, they're
all his blood-bought, born, and adopted children. And they're
so glad to be there that they'll never raise their voice to God.
We just get to practice saying, Lord, King, King Jesus, you're my King. I don't want to do anything to
offend you. Now, in my whole world and my whole life, I offended
him. I raised my fist to him. I cursed
him. I cursed him. But in this kingdom, no curse
says, I love you, my Savior. Just as that thief on the cross,
knowing full well he deserved everybody he was getting, he
says, Lord, I bow. My tongue confesses, I love you,
Lord. Lord remember me when you enter
into your kingdom. Now John said we're companions
in the kingdom. You know what that means? When
we sit down we get to talk about it. It's our conversation is
in the kingdom. Conversations in the kingdom.
Now we don't have to share what we were like but we share I'm
a sinner saved by grace. I'm a sinner saved by grace.
Turn with me, if you would, finally, to the book of Hebrews, chapter
one. Hebrews, chapter one. Hebrews, chapter one. This verse
is scripture about the kingdom. No one raises their fist here,
because all heads are bowed. Boy, I don't know how many services
I heard that. Every head bowed. Well, in this kingdom, every
head is bowed. We don't have to be asked to. And we'll not
raise our hand towards him. Oh, our heart's in perfect prayer,
perfect love. We've perfectly repented. We've
perfectly exercised faith. We have perfect joy with Him.
We have perfect peace with him. That's the word, that peace that
passeth all understanding. It's not earthly, it is spiritual. Every one of God's children have
perfect peace with God. It's not that verse of scripture
we read there Sunday night. We're not given the spirit of
fear again to bondage, no. we have free intercourse with
him, coming in boldly to his throne of grace. Now notice here
in Hebrews chapter one, verse eight, it says, companionship and tribulation
and kingdom. Verse eight, but under the sun
he saith, thy throne, oh God. Now isn't that interesting, the
sun is called God, But under the sun, he saith,
thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter of righteousness
is the scepter of thy kingdom. Your kingdom is identified by
righteousness. Scepter. Rod. Rod. What you hold in your hand, what
you accept your people on, is righteousness. Not theirs, because
the Prophet said, led by the Holy Spirit, our righteousness
is as filthy rags, but His righteousness The rod that he holds, the acceptance
that we have, is the righteousness of Christ. That's the scepter
of his kingdom, is his righteousness. He holds his righteousness. He
extends his righteousness. I look at that, he's covered
us with his righteousness. He's become our righteousness.
He's overwhelmed us by his righteousness. And so as he says, unto the Son
he saith, thy throne, O God, is forever and ever. A scepter
of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom, is the rod, the
identifying mark. Boy, the king steps out and leaves
his scepter here. Someone walks up to him and says,
that belongs to the king. That belongs to the king. That
identifies the king. He's left it in the chair. And
his righteousness is how we identify the king. And that's our companion
in the kingdom. Righteousness of Christ, not
our own, but his righteousness. So as the Apostle John said,
I am your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdom,
kingdom. And if we just skip that couple
of words, it says the kingdom of Jesus Christ and Lord helping
us. We'll look at that. patience
of Jesus Christ, the endurance, the enduring, sustaining perseverance
of the King. We are also companions in that. I set out to do a work, I finish
it. I set out to kingdom, it's going
to be completed. I have a certain number given
to me by the Father, I'll find them all. That's the patience
of Christ. The long suffering of the Lord
means salvation. I'm glad, I'm thankful that he
did not determine in 1983 to come back to this earth. Because the long suffering of
the Lord meant my salvation. Now, I realize he wasn't going
to come back then, but I just think about that sometimes. Lord,
if you'd have come back. Oh, everybody's praying for him.
We want the Lord to come back. But in 1985, he found me. Now, when he finds the last sheep,
and he knows who they are, he knows where they are, he knows
how old they are, if they're born yet or not, when he finds
the last one with his gospel, Then we will see this all wrapped
up like a garment. But not until then.