This study was first taught on January 28, 2018

Topic: What Kingdom? Which Israel? What Timing?_6:The Natural v. The Spiritual_3.2_What Kingdom? (A More Specific Response)

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Background
Last week, we looked at the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ on ‘the kingdom’ which His disciples had inquired about in Acts 1:6. We noted that the word ‘kingdom’ could mean rule, reign, or realm; and in general, ‘kingdom’ refers to the realm—physical territory, group of individuals, or an individual—over which a ruler—Satan, Self, or the Son of God—reigns as sovereign.

We saw that the nature of the ruler characterizes each kingdom, and this nature manifests in the realm or the lives of the individuals over which the ruler reigns. For instance, we saw from Scripture that the kingdom of Satan, and the individuals who are under that rule, manifest a life that is filled with chaos, darkness, wickedness, evil, unbelief, unrighteousness, deception, and so on. We also saw that the means of governance in Satan’s kingdom is through oppression and terror.

We noted that in the kingdom of Self, the signature is the love for, and, desire of self, and manifests in nationalism, imposition of self upon others, democracy, desire for self-elevation, self-actualization, self-determination, and so on. We also noted that terms like greatness, fame, wealth, are freely bandied in this kingdom, and form the basis for everything that is done in the kingdom of Self. Hence, individuals who are under the government of Self, make career, vocation, worldly titles, fame, wealth, world acclaim, etc., their pursuit, and they prosecute these desires with vigour and determination. In the kingdom of Self, the form of rule is subterfuge, hypocrisy, politics, religion, and anything that will give self an advantage; and such rule manifests as “my way only” and dominion over others; hence, conquest and captivity, and, the conqueror and the conquered, is how this kingdom thrives. This is a kingdom of ‘anything goes’—a ‘do as you like’ kingdom!

The major feature of the kingdom of the Son of God is the deliverance of individuals from the shackles of sin (Satan’s instrument of oppression and captivity) and self; and, freedom to serve God out of love for God through voluntary submission to Him and His word. The kingdom of the Son is not necessarily a physical territory, but a heart or individual that is surrendered to the governance of God in all its ramifications. The kingdom of the Son is not about food and drink neither is it about the ‘good things of life’, rather, it is marked by righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and its citizens manifest the fruit of the Spirit in varying degrees. The kingdom of the Son is one of order and of divine laws; of obedience to the word of God and to every ordinance of man (which does not conflict with God’s ordinance); and, of divine service, not of pew-warming! The kingdom of the Son is not a kingdom of liberalism (freedom to do as you like without law or discipline); rather it is a kingdom of liberty (freedom from sin and self, thus enabling divine service out of a pure and willing heart).

So, when the Lord Jesus’ disciples were seeking the return of lost territories and of self-rule back to the nation of Israel, the Lord was saying to them, “The kingdom I have come to establish is not of this world. It is not anything you have seen or experienced before and cannot be learned by merely attending a series of classes. No! it is a kingdom that must be etched into the hearts or the inner man of everyone who submits himself to My rule. Such individuals must be prepared to give up everything for Me and be ready to do the Will of My Father only, at all times!”

Scripture Text(s)
Acts 1:6-8
Having taken a general view of the ‘kingdom’, we shall now take a closer look at the Lord’s response to the question of His disciples in more specific terms as it relates to the kingdom, Israel, and the times and seasons. We pray that the Holy Spirit will open our understanding and help us to grasp the mind of Christ on the matter, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Amplifying Acts 1:6, the Lord’s disciples asked, “Lord, will You at this time [in this present period] restore again [return; give back] the kingdom [reins of power; the regions of Galilee, Samaria, and Judea into one cohesive nation as before—during the reigns of David and Solomon; self-rule—leadership by Jews over Jews; or even You ruling over the realm] to Israel [our beloved nation]?” We shall now look at the Lord’s response (Acts 1:7-8) in the light of all that we have studied thus far on the matter, and see its implication for us, Christians.
Genesis 15:13-16; Exodus 12:41, 51; Matthew 24:1-33; 1 Samuel 8:1-9, 10-22; Deuteronomy 17:14-20; John 10:16-18, 1-9; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 2:1-5; Luke 24:45-49; Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-20.

Conclusion
Beloved, the Lord’s desire remains the making known of the gospel of deliverance and salvation to all and sundry. His desire is not necessarily to make you rich for its own sake, but where having money is concerned, it is for its use to prosecute the task of preaching the gospel, teaching those who have come into the kingdom as a result of the gospel message and thus, making them disciples (citizens of the Kingdom of the Son) and releasing them to the service of the Master.

Let us leave off our selfish desires for self-aggrandizement, wealth for its own sake, and for other personal pursuits; and let us come and surrender to Christ and the Father and seek to serve Him (Luke 1:73-75).

And this, brethren, is what the acts of the Apostles is all about—a people who have been saved to serve the Lord Jesus’ mission on the earth, and all that goes with it!

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