Faith and the Kingdom

Text: Matthew 25:31-46

Believing is Seeing

The kingdom is not seen by physical sight.

We cannot see the kingdom by our natural ability

. Only a spiritual person can discern the Kingdom.

Footnotes:

Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped

for, the conviction of things not seen."

Faith is not natural. (It does NOT come from within ourselves)

Rather, God creates in us the will and understanding to trust Him.

Faith is the result of God’s work in us leading us to trust Himself.

2. 1 Cor 2:14 “But a natural person does not accept the things

of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he

cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

3. John 3:3 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again

he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Eph 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and

that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”

John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent

Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

One day the King will call out His citizens

There will be a time of SEPARATION

There will be a welcome for His citizens

There will be a Kingdom inheritance

God planned this from the beginning

Footnotes:

1. Matthew 25: 31-33 “But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne. And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, just as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

and He will put the sheep on His right, but the goats on the left.

2. Matt. 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, Come, you who are blessed of My Father,” He is welcoming His Kingdom citizens, His spiritual children

NOTE: 1 Cor 15:50 “Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;

3 inherit the kingdom

Romans 8:16-17 “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,…

4… prepared for you from the foundation of the world”

Eph 1:3-4: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus

Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the

heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before

the foundation of the world,”

Living in the Spiritual Kingdom

Trust that the Kingdom is a PRESENT REALITY.

Choose to live in that reality

Love God supremely (ALL your heart and soul)

Love others selflessly

Reject worldly values and wisdom

Seek first (exclusively) the Kingdom

Footnotes:

Living in a reality you cannot see is an act of faith

It is only with eyes of faith that we see the Kingdom

But even when you do not perceive it, believe it is real, and act accordingly

Examples of Kingdom Living

I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink.

I was a stranger, and you invited Me in.

I was naked, and you clothed Me.

I was sick, and you visited Me.

I was in prison, and you came to Me.

Footnotes:

Matt 25: 35-36 “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison,and you came to Me”.

The criteria for separation

The sheep were practicing Kingdom living:

They loved God with all their heart and soul

They met the needs of others less fortunate

They practiced hospitality

They sacrificially made ministry to others a priority

The Separation

The Sheep - The Righteous

They practiced Kingdom Living by the exercise of faith

They loved others in practical ways even at personal cost.

___________________________

Jesus acknowledged their faithfulness as acts done to Him.

The Goats – The Cursed

They did not see the Kingdom

They walked by sight, and not by faith.

__________________________

They justified their lack of ministry and kindness because they had not seen Jesus.

Are you exercising faith, believing in the present reality of the Kingdom, and living your life accordingly?

WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO LIVE IN THE KINGDOM:

LOVE GOD SUPREMELY WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND SOUL

LOVE OTHERS SELFLESSLY

REJECT WORLDLY VALUES AND WISDOM

SEEK FIRST (EXCLUSIVELY) THE KINGDOM