Living in the Kingdom I

Posted on by

Kingdom_livingSunday 11/01/15

 

Series: Living in the Kingdom I

 

Message – The Economy of the Kingdom I

Click here for the Video

Today we are beginning a new series built upon our last series on the King and the Kingdom.

Now that we have a better understanding of God’s Kingdom, how He has manifested it throughout the ages – past, present and future – we are now in a position to examine ourselves in relation to Kingdom living which pleases Him.

We are beginning with the way money in handled in the Kingdom. Our lessons are not going to focus on giving to the local church very much, but mostly to our extra giving. It is not just that we should given, but how we are to give and to whom that matters and the Bible says a fair amount about this topic.

Before diving into the topic this week I began by creating an outline of “take-aways” for the message at large by illustrating then using another topic which those at our church are very familiar – the gifts.

Gifts….it’s a family thing

1 Cor. 12:1-11; 14-27,

These verses tell us that all gifts are for the edification or profit of the body. They tell us that gifts are given by the Holy Spirit to each person in the body as He desires. Not all members of Christ’s body have the same gift, nor do all similar gifts have the same intensity or focus.

For example, there are many people in the body of Christ who have a gift for teaching, but not all members have it in the same quantity. Some people’s gifts are greater than others, some are more powerful, some carry more authority, some have greater spheres of influence and they all be within the specific gifting of teaching.

No one is to look at another and compare. No one’s gift is inherently greater or lesser than your own. No one has any reason to boast or to feel inferior. We ALL need each other.

God is the giver. NO ONE has a gift that was not given them by the Creator, so to think of one’s gifts as one’s own is not true nor wise. God gives greater grace to those parts that seem to lack it so that in the end, everyone in the body has no advantage over anyone else – there is diversity WITH equality. Now there is a difference between equality and authority. Some DO IN FACT have greater authority and scope of influence than others, but they are NOT more important than those people who have less of the same. ALL the parts of the body are necessary or NO ONE could efficiently function within their gift.

1 Cor. 13,

This chapter tells us that regardless of your gifting, its intensity or authority, without love as its motivation it is meaningless and profits no one.

1 Cor. 14: 1-4, 12,

These verses primarily point out that all things are to be done in a manner which would work to the edification, exhortation and comfort of all those in the body of Christ and that such, should ALWAYS be our aim!

 

Giving….it’s a family thing

II Cor. 8:12-14,

“For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.  For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality.” 

Notice that in these verses, people are NOT being asked to give what they do not have, only from what they DO have. Also, it is NOT the goal that others be eased in their financial difficulties and YOU be burdened – but to edify others and cause equality across the board IS the aim!

Acts 2: 42-47,

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” 

Acts 4:32-37,

“Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus, having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”

Notice that in the two passages above, there was communal thinking in regards to money and possessions. NO ONE, thought of those things he possessed as being his own ONLY, but the common property of all. People sold possessions and brought the money to the Apostles so that out of that communal fund all people’s needs might be met.

 

Similar in nearly every way

Notice that when you compare the things we learned about the gifts God gives and the possessions we own – their purposes and functions within the Kingdom or nearly identical.

  1. Each has something different.
  2. Some seem to lack more than others.
  3. God gives to each as He desires. (more on that later)
  4. The point of unequal distribution is giving by love.
  5. End game is equality.

What does God have to say about possessions and money?

Many people do not know this, but God actually has MORE to say about money, possessions and giving than He does about heaven and hell combined! It is a very, very important topic. Let’s begin our journey of seeing what God has to say about these things with David….

Psa 62:1-12,

(1) To the Chief Musician. To Jeduthun. A Psalm of David. Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation.
(2) He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.
(3) How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence.
(4) They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah
(5) My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him.
(6) He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.
(7) In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
(8) Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
(9) Surely men of low degree are a vapor, Men of high degree are a lie; If they are weighed on the scales, They are altogether lighter than vapor.
(10) Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.
(11) God has spoken once, Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God.
(12) Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; For You render to each one according to his work.

 

Ps. 24:1,

“The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”

 

Deut. 8:18,

“And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”

 

Ps. 75:4-7,

“I said to the boastful, ‘Do not deal boastfully,’ And to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up the horn. Do not lift up your horn on high; Do not speak with a stiff neck.’ ” For exaltation comes neither from the east Nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another.”  (Promotion comes from the North – From God)”

That is all for today, but we will pick up here on Wednesday – studying to show ourselves as approved in regards to money, possessions and giving in the Kingdom.

Blessings! 

 

I hope this teaching will challenge you and encourage you to place your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

You have a special place in God’s family & kingdom. If you do not know Him, please use our ‘Contact Us‘ page and reach out so we may have the privilege of introducing you to the Lord. Attendance at our church will NOT even be mentioned nor will money.

If you have been spiritually fed by this ministry and wish to give, we truly appreciate that and you may do so here, but all outreaches of this ministry are FREE for you and anyone to enjoy at no cost.

 

Blessings!

 

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!