Living Confidently in Kingdom Power, Authority & Tone
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Living Confidently in Kingdom Power, Authority & Tone
Matthew 22:15-22
October 27th, 2024
Unbiblical policies have to be confronted boldly, clearly and with Biblical Truth and courage! Why? Because at their core unbiblical policies undermine and distort the character and message of Jesus, not because they mess with my sensitivities. Unbiblical policies leave people in bondage.
When we assign evilness to a person or a party we turn them and their “followers” into our enemies which takes our focus and energy off of our true enemy and our calling to expand the Kingdom of God.
1st century Rome was a much more a pervasive, influential and dominate force than 21st century United States.
A Kingdom Question
Matthew 22:15-22(NIV) 15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So, they left him and went away.
Jesus’ answer was far beyond a clever response, it gives great insight to Jesus’ confidence in His Kingdom.
Kingdom Insight #1
Earthly kingdoms pose zero threat to God’s power and objectives.
To be Christian isn’t to be born American it is to be Born Again! There have been, are and will be until the end of time, Christians from every tribe, nation, tongue and language!
Jesus’ message? “Connect your hope to the power of the Kingdom of God and not the kingdom you live under! This system requires taxes, pay them, but don’t lose focus on the authority, power and purpose of the Kingdom of God.”
Kingdom Insight #2
Daniel 5:21b (NIV) “… the Most High God is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and sets over them anyone he wishes.”
Daniel 7:17 (NIV) 17 ‘The four great beasts are four kings that will rise from the earth. 18 But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom and will possess it forever—yes, for ever and ever.’
In whatever political system you live under, you can have complete confidence in God’s Kingdom. Don’t lose heart on account of your governing system. God’s Kingdom is bigger than we perceive and “this” kingdom is smaller than we could imagine.
Matthew 6:33 (AMP) 33 But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
The key to a life is not to be enamored, fixated, or anxious about things pagans are enamored, fixated or anxious about (including power). Aim and strive after God’s Kingdom and God’s character.
When Kingdoms Collide
This kingdom collision is most defined by policy positions on Abortion, Human Sexuality and Israel. Why these 3? Energy, foreign policy, economics, border, trade etc... are real issues, however Abortion, Human Sexuality and Israel more overtly unveil a competing worldview.
Why is the abortion debate so inflammatory? Because the sanctity of life is grounded in a Giver of Life.
To see an unborn baby as less than a human and not created in the image of God is to be deceived.
To not act on behalf of unborn or abandoned children is to abdicate one of the earliest distinguishable actions of Christians. The image of God is a fundamental spiritual battleground for light and darkness.
Human Sexuality
God created man and woman (diversity) to be united as one flesh (unity), to join God in creating and in ruling (The Trinity). Marriage is a holy union in partnership with Christ. Human sexuality lived and expressed outside of heterosexual monogamy is not only antithetical to a Biblical Worldview it is a perversion of the image of God.
To take a stand against the LGBTQ “culture” is not to condemn people but to stand against distortion of the image of God, It is a refusal to abandon them to the bondage of a corrupt ideology.
Blessing Israel is a strategic decision because it is a theological position.
Genesis 12:2-3 (NIV) “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Numbers 24:8-9 (NIV) “God brought them out of Egypt; they have the strength of a wild ox. They devour hostile nations and break their bones in pieces; with their arrows they pierce them. 9 Like a lion they crouch and lie down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse them? “May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!”
Kingdom Tone
Kindness isn’t weakness, it is strength focused on a desired end. The desired end isn’t winning an argument it’s winning a person.
Jesus could have called a legion of angels to His rescue but He didn’t need rescuing, His Father was the one in control with all authority and power.
Jesus was born into a corrupt religious rule under a cruel Roman rule and despite both He established His Kingdom in power and authority. Church, the Kingdom of God isn’t losing even if we lose freedoms we have enjoyed for 250 years.
We aren’t party ambassadors or presidential ambassadors, we are Christ ambassadors. Our tone has to match our content if we expect it to carry the power and authority of Christ. The Kingdom of God is authoritative and powerful, it doesn’t need our power to work, it does require our partnership and participation.
Use a Biblical Worldview to review policy.
Prioritize policy over party and person.
Keep the big picture in mind. The Kingdom of God is generationally transformative.
Control your tone. Your tone reveals your heart. Your heart needs to reflect your Fathers.
Live with confidently in the prevailing power and absolute authority of God’s Kingdom with the God’s Kingdom Tone… regardless of an election outcome.