368 - The Lord's Prayer Series 9 - The Kingdom of God#
368 - The Lord's Prayer Series 9 - The Kingdom of God
(JP Text Group - shalom organized)
Dear family, peace in the Lord, welcome to your arrival, and let's continue sharing the Lord's Prayer series.
What we are going to discuss is the ninth lecture of the Lord's Prayer: The Kingdom of God
Matthew 6:9-13
9 Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored. 10 May your kingdom come; may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever.
Let us pray together.
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for preparing such a wonderful time for us to come before you. As we gather here, you are among us. The Holy Spirit is omnipresent, and you know the needs of our hearts. So through this time, supply the needs of every brother and sister, through your truth, let us understand more of your revelation, and learn to pray about everything in our lives. We commit the following time to the Holy Spirit; renew each one of us. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.
The ninth lecture of the Lord's Prayer: The Kingdom of God
After we believe in the Lord, we are no longer drifting; our souls have a home. The Kingdom of God tells us that once you accept Jesus, your soul and body will have a destination in the future, and it is not a lonely place but an infinite kingdom, referred to in the Bible as the new heaven and new earth, and we are citizens of God's kingdom. Since the kingdom is mentioned, it must involve protection, provision, and so on. Jesus tells us to pray to Him, to pray to the Father, to give us a picture in our hearts: it is not just one person supplying you, but a kingdom where all resources are supplying you. Therefore, when we live on earth, we no longer fear any problems; we can call upon our Heavenly Father. This is the true reason Jesus teaches us to pray.
Let’s look at a passage from Ephesians 2:18-19:
18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household.
When you reflect on this passage, you should think deeply about it. Through Jesus, we have reconciled with the Father and can enter the Father's kingdom. You are no longer a foreigner or a stranger; you are a fellow citizen with the saints. What does it mean to be a fellow citizen with the saints? In the future, in the kingdom of heaven, you will see Adam and Eve, you will see Abraham, you will see Moses and Paul. This is something that cannot be realized in any kingdom in the world, and the place we are going to in the future is a permanent existence.
You see many things in the Bible that people think are history or stories, but when we truly enter the Kingdom of God, we will find that all of this becomes real. Now we live with such hope; our Jesus is praying for you in heaven, cheering you on, Hallelujah! So you are a fellow citizen with the saints; you are a member of God's household, and our ultimate home is the kingdom in heaven.
Therefore, looking at the world again, whether it is gain or loss, winning or losing, it is no longer that important. We come to this world just as travelers; one day we will return to our kingdom. This is like going abroad to travel; the place you stay and eat is temporary. You are just a foreigner, just a traveler, and ultimately you will return to your own country, Amen. When you return, there will be relaxation, rest, and beautiful memories. Our time on earth is a journey, and when we return to the new heaven and new earth one day, we will have many beautiful memories.
Share the first point: The Kingdom of God does not belong to this world.
John 18:33-36
33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” 34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?” 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?” 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
Jesus knew why He came to the world and where He would return in the future. He is the king of that heavenly kingdom, and He came to this world for us because we have sin that must be resolved. Jesus became the Son of Man and came to the world, abolishing enmity with His body, dying for our sins. When He shed His precious blood, all our sins were forgiven, and He rose from the dead three days later, and we were justified.
This sounds simple; it is Jesus who changed our lives with His life and changed our destination, allowing all who believe in Jesus Christ and the work done on the cross to enter the kingdom of heaven. The Kingdom of God is not on earth, so Jesus did not come to compete for territory with any king on earth. Pilate thought at that time that Jesus was going to do this; the Pharisees and chief priests thought Jesus came to take their positions.
In this situation, Jesus answered Pilate, saying: My kingdom is not of this world, Hallelujah! This is something all who believe in Jesus should understand. We need to obey the rulers and authorities while living on earth, but we do not belong to this world; you are a citizen of God's kingdom, Amen!
If Jesus came to fight for kingship on earth, He would not need to be so humble as to go to the cross. The power in His words is immense. Jesus said: If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. Jesus clearly knew what His mission was; He willingly suffered for us, was beaten for us, and died for us, with the purpose of allowing us to enter His eternal kingdom, Amen.
Brothers and sisters, we should store up treasures and provisions for the heavenly kingdom, not for these perishable things on earth. The Kingdom of God truly exists. In the beginning of Genesis, the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and in that situation, our Creator said, "Let there be light," and there was light. The light and darkness were separated.
God created this beautiful world with the words from His mouth. The place we are going to in the future is the real kingdom where God is with us, an imperishable kingdom, which is our greatest hope, Amen! And in that kingdom, there is eternal rest and peace. God has prepared everything; you do not need to work anymore. Before we go back, we must diligently work on earth; this point should be clear to everyone.
Let’s look at another passage, John 17:13-17:
13 I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.
In John 17, Jesus, along with His disciples, is going to the Garden of Gethsemane. He offers a prayer to the Father for us, which is also a prayer for all who believe in Jesus. Jesus knows He will soon return and prays to the Father, saying, "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world." The words that Jesus says next are for us, to give us hope and faith, to fill our hearts with the joy of the Lord. Jesus says, "I am still in the world, saying these things to fill their hearts with my joy."
Verses 14 to 17 are what Jesus says to us: "I have given them your word."
Brothers and sisters, although Jesus has returned, He has given us the Father's word, the way of the kingdom, so that all who believe in Jesus can pass it down from generation to generation, knowing how to enter the kingdom of heaven, knowing how to live in this world by relying on God's word, allowing us to live each day with hope and faith through God's word.
Therefore, Jesus said, "I have given them your word, and the world has hated them; for they are not of the world." This is why throughout history, many Christians have faced persecution from the world, because they are not of the world. What does it mean to be not of the world? It does not mean they do not need to live in this world, but their homeland is not in this world but in the future kingdom of heaven, Amen.
We can live on earth, but we do not belong to this world, just like Jesus, who does not belong to the world, Amen! But did Jesus live a victorious life on earth? Yes. We can also overcome in this world through the words of Christ! Many Christians have failed, become weak, and discouraged, saying: "Lord, I do not want to live in this world; I want to go back." In fact, God has given us the word to help us overcome when we face persecution and attacks from the world. Jesus knows the world hates us and that many people cannot accept us because our homeland is not here.
Verse 15 says, "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."
This sentence is very important. Many Christians see the corruption in the world and feel helpless and discouraged, wanting to leave the city for a place without people. In church history, we find that some people, after believing in Jesus, indeed retreated to the mountains, but this is not the method Jesus gave us. Jesus prayed to the Father, saying: "I do not ask that you take them out of the world." So everyone should not ask, "Lord, please take me back quickly; I do not want to live in this world." What should you ask for? Ask God to give you the strength to be delivered from the evil one, to rely on Jesus' word to escape sin.
Many times it is because we see too many negative things that we become discouraged and despair, but God tells us that you can overcome through His word, Amen. God created this world; He knows how to overcome. Jesus is our example; He truly overcame in everything while on earth, and He also knows why He came and where He is going back to. So far, there are many mysteries in the world that cannot be solved, such as where do people come from? Why are we here? Where are we going back to? If not in Christ, these questions are hard to answer.
But in Jesus Christ, everything becomes extremely simple. We are created by the Father; we are temporarily on this earth, and one day we will return to the Kingdom of God. During this time on earth, we are to experience God's grace, relying on the words of Christ to store up eternal rewards for that future kingdom. Amen.
Verses 16 to 17, "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it."
Brothers and sisters, when you travel to any country, you do not belong to that country; you can appreciate the beauty of that place, enjoy the local food, but you do not belong to that kingdom, and you will ultimately return to your own country. We should view the Kingdom of God in this way. If you go traveling, would you spend your entire life savings to decorate the hotel you are staying in? The answer is no; you absolutely would not do that. Why? Because you know that is not your place. Even though you paid for it, that place belongs to you for that one night, but your home is not there. Jesus wants to tell all who believe in Him to have a correct worldview so that you can detach from the conflicts in this world and see everything more lightly.
It is precisely because people do not understand all of this that they fight for power and profit in this world, exhausting their lives to grasp the world. They do not realize that all of this is just vanity; whether it is money, power, or other glory, it is all vanity. Only the Kingdom of God truly exists. Although we cannot see it now, it exists, Amen. Our permanent dwelling place in the future is where Jesus is.
Verse 17 says, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth."
Jesus knows that it is difficult for us to detach from this world. Our eyes and thoughts are often influenced by the environment and people. He has given us a way to overcome: by being sanctified by the truth! Sanctification is not a distant, unattainable goal; holiness means being set apart. To be holy means to have a mindset that can distinguish between right and wrong in everything we see and do. Just as God treated the Israelites, He had already set them apart as holy before bringing them out of Egypt. Although there were ten plagues in Egypt, these plagues did not affect the Israelites because they were set apart. In the hearts of the Israelites, they also knew they had been set apart by God; they were citizens of God's kingdom.
We need to view people and things with this mindset, and we can detach ourselves from many situations. God uses His truth to make us holy, primarily by setting apart our thoughts. We should see the world through Christ's perspective and see people through Christ's perspective. God's word is truth, which is why I always encourage everyone to read the Bible more. By reading the Bible, we understand that it is the place we are going to, who our God is, and what blessings He has prepared for us. The Bible describes this in great detail. God hopes that through these truths, our thinking will be different from that of the world, that our vision will be different from that of the world, and that our actions will naturally change!
When people strive for power and money, desperately trying to grasp everything, we can come out of this with a heart of contentment, a heart of selflessness, and a heart to help others. If we are always focused on ourselves, we will naturally be unwilling to give. The reason Jesus is willing to give is that He knows all of this is temporary and insignificant. Even if Jesus gives His life, the Father will still give Him life. Even if He gives away everything He has, the Father will still give Him more, so He does not regret it.
But people's perspectives are different from ours. They think that if they give away money, they will lose out; the more they give, the less they have. Many of the principles of the kingdom are exactly the opposite of those in the world. What is the principle of the kingdom? The more you give to others, the more successful you become; the more people you help, the more joy you have; the more love you have, the more rewards you receive. This is the truth. This truth can make us holy and give us a perspective that is different from that of the world. You will often find joy and peace. God hopes that His joy will fill our hearts. Therefore, Jesus prayed to the Father, and that is for everyone who believes in Jesus. We do not belong to this world; we are a holy nation, a kingdom of priests.
Exodus 19:3-6:
3 Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, 6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.”
God spoke these words directly to Moses; they are a promise we can hold onto through Christ. What did the Lord say to Moses? You go and tell the Israelites, "You have seen what I did to the Egyptians," which refers to God's great power to protect us, to save us, and to provide for us. You must believe that God is a powerful God and very merciful, and you have seen how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself. God has prepared all these beautiful blessings and then brought us over to enjoy His blessings with Him.
This is just like in Genesis when God created the heavens and the earth and everything was good, then created Adam and placed them in this blessing. Now God is doing the same thing for the Israelites. He brought them out of Egypt to lead them into the promised land of Canaan, which is the land promised by God, and He wants to carry them on eagle’s wings to that promised land. God only hopes that the Israelites do one thing.
In verse 5, the latter part and verse 6, "Then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation."
This is God's intention. God brought them out of Egypt to enter Canaan with a beautiful plan. God hopes that the Israelites will all come under His name, obey His words, and among all nations, prove that there were already many citizens at that time. However, this small group of Israelites was not many, totaling just over two million. With such a small number of citizens, God said, "You will be my people; the whole earth is mine." This is God's intention.
What is God's plan? He first chose the Israelites to be a kingdom of priests, simply put, to make the Israelites a kingdom of priests among all nations, to first receive God's word and then spread God's word to the ends of the earth. This was God's original intention. When it comes to the kingdom of priests, reading Leviticus reveals what priests do. They are mediators between God and man. When a person sins, they bring an offering to the priest, and the priest, through the offering, redeems the person's sin, allowing them to return in peace and receive God's blessing.
After God chose the Israelites, He hoped that each Israelite would first live out God's likeness. Each person would become part of this kingdom of priests, embodying the priestly role, and then spread the goodness of the Father to the ends of the earth. They would live differently to show the world, making the world envious of them, and then they would spread God's goodness, ultimately allowing all people to receive this gospel. This is God's intention.
Unfortunately, the Israelites failed. They were unwilling to act according to God's words and insisted on relying on their own actions to obtain God's blessings, leading to the emergence of the law. For 1500 years, the Israelites suffered greatly; they did not live out God's likeness until Jesus Christ came, restoring the covenant made with Abraham, accomplishing what humanity could not do. What Jesus did is very similar to the passage we are reading now. Jesus obeyed our Father's words and kept this covenant, allowing us to become God's people among all nations, making everyone a kingdom of priests.
Every person who spreads the gospel is doing the work of a priest. In God's eyes, you are a holy nation. You do not become holy by your actions but through the blood of Christ; you have already been set apart. Therefore, God recognizes what you do for the Lord in this world. You go and spread the gospel, help others; this is all recognized by God. Hallelujah! We spread the gospel to the ends of the earth; this is what pleases God. God hopes that more people can receive His gospel and enter this Kingdom of God. What happens if people do not enter this Kingdom of God?
Let’s look at Mark 6:34: When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
When Jesus came to preach, He saw the Israelites and had compassion on them. Why did He have compassion on them? Because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Without a shepherd, sheep have no direction, do not know where to go, and do not know why they live. To this day, too many people are confused about this issue, not knowing why they live. Many people live for their children, only to find one day that their children do not listen to them and become discouraged. Some live for their partners, only to find that their partners are not as good as they imagined and become discouraged. Some live for beauty, and when they are seventy or eighty years old, they find that no matter what they do, they are no longer beautiful. Many people do not know what the ultimate meaning of their existence is. This is like sheep without a shepherd, lacking a home and sense of existence. Now, too many people seek a sense of existence and use various methods to express themselves. If there were a shepherd, there would be no need for this.
Jesus knew they lacked a shepherd, so He began teaching them many truths about the kingdom, letting the Israelites know that they have hope and a destination. Even if people do not respect them in this world, the Father loves them and is willing to provide for them. This is our greatest hope on earth; we are people with a home, Hallelujah! We are a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.
1 Peter 2:24-25:
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
In the past, there was a barrier between us and God, a blockage that made it impossible to recognize the Father as our Father because the issue of sin had not been resolved. Jesus came; He bore our sins on the cross and died for our sins. When you believe in Jesus, you no longer represent yourself; you live for Christ, living in this world for Christ. You are a kingdom of priests, a holy nation, Amen. The truth you proclaim is heavenly truth. In the past, we lived for ourselves; now we live for Christ.
In the past, we were like sheep going astray. I have mentioned before that sheep have a characteristic of being nearsighted; they can only see very close in front of them and cannot see far, so they need a shepherd. But now we have a shepherd; we are no longer lost or helpless. Even when we encounter problems, we are no longer discouraged or despairing; we can pray to the Father. This is the hope of all Christians. Therefore, no matter how great the storms and problems you encounter, you can raise your hands and pray at any time, and our Heavenly Father will hear your prayers and answer you. Because the shepherd leads the sheep, not only taking them out to eat but also protecting the flock and guiding them.
Jesus has shown us the way to the kingdom of heaven; He is the truth, the life, and the way. No one comes to the Father except through Him. Through Jesus, you can return to your heavenly home. Therefore, we are people with a home; you do not belong to a particular pastor or denomination but to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls—Jesus Christ, Hallelujah! You have received your residency permit for the kingdom of heaven; however, the mission on earth has not yet been completed. This matter is not finished yet; we are temporarily still working and doing things on earth. Once the mission on earth is completed, we will return, Amen! What a beautiful journey this is! On earth, we can enjoy the abundance of the kingdom of heaven; God's kingdom is full of glory.
Psalm 145:8-13:
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, Lord; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations.
The kingdom we are going to in the future is an everlasting kingdom. The kingdoms of this world may have some time limits, but the kingdom of heaven exists forever. Moreover, this kingdom is different; our God is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love, and He is good to all. Hallelujah! Everyone who sees God's works will praise Him and thank Him because it relates to each of us. When we see God's glory and abundance, we are particularly willing to proclaim His glory and speak of His might.
If you have problems or illnesses, and God heals you, you will have indescribable joy and must tell others what God has done in your life. This is called spreading the gospel. We are particularly willing to do this because we have experienced God's abundance and glory and hope that others can enjoy this glory with us, sharing the goodness of Christ and the glory of our Father, telling more people about His kingdom, which possesses majestic glory, Amen. And in that kingdom, God reigns forever, Hallelujah!
Share the second point: In God's kingdom, the great serve the small, and His dominion lasts forever.
The kingdoms of this earth may differ in some ways from the kingdom of heaven. In God's kingdom, the great serve the small, and such a kingdom can last forever.
Let’s look at Matthew 20:25-28:
25 Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus' way of managing His disciples on earth is completely different from the management style of the world; it seems to be the opposite. The Gentiles have rulers who govern them; how do they govern? The king sits here, sending people to do things, and high officials exercise authority with strategies to manage the people, using both rewards and punishments. But Jesus' kingdom is not like this; He says, "Not so with you." Why can this kingdom last forever? Because the management style within this kingdom is special. Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. Do you want to be first? You must become a slave. If you want to be great, you must serve more people. This is Jesus' management style.
Think about it; if this method were truly used to manage, which person being served would be willing to leave? Therefore, this kingdom can truly last forever, Amen. During the more than three years that Jesus served the people, they were very willing to follow Him. Why? Because Jesus wholeheartedly cared for these people, providing for the daily needs of the twelve disciples and telling them that the future kingdom is better than this one. Everything you enjoy now is temporary. If you think what you have now is already good, the future kingdom is even better. You should go and tell more people this good news. After Jesus healed the sick, He taught the disciples to serve others, so that they could help others better. This is Jesus' management style, and He tells us that the future kingdom will also be managed in this way.
Whoever wants to be great must become a servant. It is absolutely not like the world, where someone sits in a position and commands others to do things. The Pharisees of that time managed the church this way. It is not like that now; it is about how much love and ability you have. God will give you as many people as you can serve well. If you can serve ten people well, God will give you ten people. God remembers what you have done for those ten people, Amen. This is the great reward we will receive in the future. Jesus became a ransom for all people by giving His life. Therefore, today, no matter who calls on Jesus, He hears their prayers. This is the power of Jesus, and it is only right that He sits on the throne in the future because He has this heart to give everything for all people. He truly laid down His life for us, Hallelujah!
I also want to tell those who have entered into service not to care about how others evaluate you. You are truly serving for the betterment of others, which pleases Jesus. Moreover, in the future kingdom, God will continue to place you in this position, Amen. Serving in the kingdom of heaven will be even more meaningful and joyful than serving on earth. This is the future kingdom, where the great serve the small, and the first become the servants. At the beginning of Revelation, you will find that Jesus has a golden sash around His waist. Why is that? It is a symbol of a servant! Even in the future kingdom, Jesus still thinks of us! Amen.
The church on earth is a model of the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, Jesus teaches us how to live out the style of the kingdom of heaven on earth. We can see the shadow of the future kingdom in the church. If we act according to the truth, manage the church, and serve people, God's power and glory will naturally be manifested in the church. If we manage the church according to the ways of the Gentiles or the ways of enterprises, there will be no glory in the church, and no miracles will happen, unless you are truly willing to serve others for their betterment, just like Jesus, who did not come to be served but to serve and has a heart to lay down His life for others. This church will surely be harmonious and full of God's glory. This is the kingdom we are going to, Amen. This kingdom will never perish.
Daniel 7:13-14:
13 In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory, and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
If we encounter a good king who is willing to give for us, we hope that this king will remain on the throne to provide for us. We have found that Jesus is that king! The Bible records how Jesus served His disciples and the Israelites. In the future, when we go to the new heaven and new earth, Jesus will serve us forever. In this kingdom, we are all blessed; this is our greatest hope, Hallelujah!
He has been given authority, glory, and a kingdom, and He uses all of this for the holy nation. Therefore, His kingdom will never perish; in this kingdom, authority, righteousness, and glory are not lacking. Although Jesus serves us, He will not lose fairness. Amen.
Isaiah 9:6-7:
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
This child refers to our Lord Jesus Christ. In Jesus Christ, you will see government, wonder, and power. He has many names, and no matter which name it is, it is all for the betterment of His people, for the betterment of the citizens of this kingdom. His government and peace will increase without end. The greater Jesus' authority, the more blessed we are; the more love Jesus has, the more blessed we are; the more abundance Jesus has, the more blessed we are. Why? Because He does not keep anything for Himself; He gives everything to us. Therefore, when the Father places all these blessings on Jesus, it is actually the Father wanting us to receive all His blessings through Jesus.
He will reign on David’s throne. How does God govern His kingdom? With justice and righteousness. Therefore, any kingdom cannot lose fairness and justice because fairness and justice are the foundation of a kingdom's stability. In God, in Jesus Christ, there is absolute justice. Some people have always misunderstood that we are always talking about God's grace; does that mean God's justice is overlooked? No. God has not lowered His standard of justice. If Jesus were removed, all the sins of humanity would be exposed before God, and God cannot accept us because we come from Adam, the descendants of Adam, filled with sin. Our actions are not worthy of God's acceptance.
But why does the Father accept us? It is because of Jesus. He is sinless, and He died on the cross for our sins. This fulfills God's justice, satisfying God's fairness. God cannot regard the innocent as guilty, nor can He regard the guilty as innocent. When God calls you righteous, it is because you are righteous. All your sins have been placed on Jesus, and Jesus died for your sins. The price for those sins has been paid. God says, "Now your sins are forgiven; I can bless you because of Jesus."
In the future, when we enter the kingdom of heaven, it is all because of Jesus. We receive all the blessings of the Father. The foundation of this kingdom is Jesus Christ, and within Jesus Christ is filled with fairness and justice, Amen. He Himself is sinless; God's blessings should be upon Him, but He has given His identity to us. Therefore, we are called Christians. We have given our sins to Jesus, and He died for us; thus, our sins are forgiven. Do you all understand? God's fairness and justice are fulfilled in Jesus, so when we enter the kingdom of heaven, do not feel unworthy.
Some people are unwilling to give for the Lord, saying: "I do not even think about being an official in the kingdom of heaven; just being able to enter the kingdom of heaven is enough for me. I can just sweep the garbage at the gate of heaven..." This is actually the thinking of people. They think that by doing more on earth, they can become officials in heaven. It is not like that! Brothers and sisters, first, we need to correct some people's misconceptions. In the future kingdom we are going to, you will not need to work hard anymore. Secondly, there is really no garbage to sweep in the kingdom of heaven; you are overthinking!
In the kingdom we are going to, everything is beautiful; it is a glorious kingdom, Amen! It is a place where God reigns, and fairness and justice are its solid foundation. Therefore, brothers and sisters, as we do more for the Lord in this world, the rewards God gives you will be great. In heaven, you can lead more people to enjoy the goodness of Christ and discover God's glory. It will be like treasure hunting; every day will be different, filled with hope. In the future, the kingdom of heaven is not a boring existence; it is not just singing Hallelujah every day with nothing to do. It is much more attractive than this world, Amen. Therefore, brothers and sisters, let us place our hope above.
Finally, let’s look at 1 Peter 2:9-10:
9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Please remember this last passage: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood." What does it mean to be a chosen people? God gives you the opportunity, inviting you to enter the kingdom of heaven. You accepted it; therefore, you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood. You are different; you represent the priesthood living in this world. Reading Leviticus reveals that what priests say and do in this world is different from that of the world. Therefore, you are also different. You convey the good news of God's forgiveness! You convey the good news of the Father's love! You convey the good news of beautiful hope!
No matter how great the problems people encounter, you bring them to Jesus and tell them that Jesus loves them, that Jesus is willing to give for them, and that Jesus is willing to lift them up. This is the work of a priest, Amen. A priest does not condemn or criticize; a priest helps people solve their sins and prays for them before God. Therefore, you are different; you can not only pray for yourself but also pray for your family and those around you, helping them using the authority of Jesus. Hallelujah!
God has already given you this blessing; these blessings are upon you. Therefore, in this world, you can help those around you because you are a royal priest, a priest like a king, Amen. You are a holy nation; you are a heavenly person, Hallelujah! Although you are temporarily in this world, you are a heavenly citizen, a holy nation, and God's people, Amen!
Do not say that God will not take care of you or that He will not hear your prayers. No! You are His people; you belong to His kingdom. How could He not help you? Brothers and sisters, just like we belong to a certain country in this world, when there is a problem, we can seek help from our country, and they will help you. We are living on this earth now; when spiritual matters arise, seek our Heavenly Father. He can help you, Amen!
What are we doing in this world? Before we go back, what should we do? We are to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light, telling the world what Jesus has done in your life. This is spreading the gospel and bearing witness. Some say spreading the gospel is too difficult and do not know what to say. In fact, it is very simple: tell the world what Jesus has done in your life. Some say they have not experienced it; then first receive the truth! Once you receive it and experience it, you will have something to say.
Just like many people around you now, some have had their work changed by Jesus, some have had their families changed, some have had their careers changed, and some have had their bodies healed. When they share their experiences of Jesus, they say: "You believe, and there will be no problem! Because I believe in the Lord, and He has helped me!" We have so many beautiful testimonies because of what Jesus has done in our lives. If you believe in this Lord, you can also! Hallelujah! God is the one who brings us out of darkness and into light.
Verse 10 says, "Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God."
This is our identity now. While you are living on this earth, you represent not only yourself but also represent Jesus, representing the people of God. Just as when we travel around the world, we no longer represent ourselves; we represent our country. Your words and actions actually represent that country. Do you know that? For example, when traveling abroad, if someone spits on the street in a country, people will say, "This person has poor quality!" They will not say who you are; they will say, "Look at that person." Because you represent that country, are we not the same? Yes, we represent Christ living on earth. Therefore, I encourage brothers and sisters to receive the words of Christ more and live in this world like Jesus.
Jesus received the love of the Father and gave the love of the Father. He wholeheartedly thought about serving more people, helping more people, and laying down His life for others. I do not ask everyone to lay down their lives for those around them; this is not something that can be demanded or imposed on everyone. Instead, we should have this heart: "Lord, I am willing to bear witness for you. Please help me; give me strength and faith to love those around me and help those around me so that through me, they can see the goodness of Christ." Hallelujah! This is how we have been shown mercy by God and saved by God. Therefore, we are willing to give, and God will remember your sacrifices. Thank you and praise the Lord.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you for helping us with these words. We are people with a home, citizens of God's kingdom, and citizens of the heavenly kingdom. You are our protector and the one who still serves us today. No matter what problems we encounter, when we raise our hands to pray to you, Father, you will surely hear our prayers and fulfill our prayers.
You may send people around me; you may send angels. You will definitely help me; you will not leave me behind because I am a citizen of God. Your words are true. As we begin this new week, I wish to experience your presence. Please help me to live by your words. No matter how people live, I am willing to be sanctified by your truth and make your truth the standard in my life.
Please help me experience your power this week and know you more in my life, Hallelujah! Also, give me faith and strength to be a help to those around me. I am a channel of blessing, allowing those around me to give glory to Christ. Thank you and praise the Lord; all glory belongs to you. In the name of the Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen.