According to Luke: The Coming Kingdom

According to Luke: The Coming Kingdom

Opening Illustration:

Growing up, my family went on a few road trips. I can remember going to Dallas. I can remember driving to Oklahoma City. We even went with my Dad on a business trip to Washington D.C. In each case, we drove. My brother and I divided the back seat up and we were trapped in the car for the duration of the trip. My brother and I had developed quite a system to prevent fighting. There was a line of demarcation, a demilitarized zone if you will, in the middle of the back seat. That buffer zone was not to be violated. My stuff could not bleed over the line, neither could his. If for whatever reason the line was crossed, it was seen as an act of war. I can remember my Dad reaching around from the driver’s seat to pinch and hit my brother and I when we were fighting with one another. If my brother and I were warring countries, my father was the militarized version of the United Nations. He was a peace keeper who packed a punch. 

We heard from my father the familiar threats…

“I will turn this car around right now!”

“Do I need to pull over so that I can handle this?”

“You guys may have started it, but I’m going to finish it!?

“You hit him because he hit you? What if he jumped off a cliff, you going to do that too?”

Of course the thing that really drove my parents crazy during long trips was the question of questions. It is the thing that kids say instinctually. They do not have to be taught this quotation. I firmly believe that God firmly plants this question into the minds and hearts of kids everywhere. What is the question?

“Are we there yet?”

We always wanted to know when we would finally arrive. We wanted to know when the fun would begin. We were tied of riding. We were tired of listening to our walk-mans. We were tired of looking at each other. We just wanted to arrive. Mom, Dad, when are we going to get there?

Point:

Today, as we finish Luke 17, the Pharisees ask a similar question of Jesus. Jesus, when is the Kingdom of God coming. This might be the most important question that the Pharisees ever ask Jesus. This is a great question because it is a human question. The Pharisees knew that if the Kingdom of God came down, that their troubles would finally be over. If the Kingdom actually came, no more tears, no more fears, no more oppression and no more Caesar. 

Jesus, are we there yet? Have we arrived at the Kingdom? When will we finally arrive. We are tired of riding through all this sin, strife and turmoil. We are tired to trying to fill our time and lives with empty devices. We just want to be at peace. Jesus, when will we get there?

The Kingdom Has Not Arrived But It Is Anticipated!

Background and Context:

Today we are finishing up Luke 17. Today Jesus is moving through Galilee and Samaria. He is speaking, preaching, and healing along the way. In this instance, the Pharisees ask a question of Jesus, when would the Kingdom of God come? When would God come and set up an earthly kingdom? What they are really asking is why hasn’t God come and fixed the mess that we are in? Why is there still no peace? Why is Caesar still in control? Jesus, when is God going to finally make all of this wrong right?

A good question. Especially in light of the current situation of our culture. I would love it if God would come and make all this wrong right. Wouldn’t you? So, let’s read this morning from Luke’s Gospel and discover Jesus’ answer to the Pharisees.

Scripture 

Luke 17:20-37 ESV

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

22 And he said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23 And they will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them. 24 For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day. 25 But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, 29 but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all— 30 so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. 31 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. 32 Remember Lot's wife. 33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. 34 I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. 35 There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.” 37 And they said to him, “Where, Lord?” He said to them, “Where the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.”

3 Keys Concerning the Kingdom!

I. The Kingdom Is Spiritual vs. 20-21

Luke 17:20-21 ESV

20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Point:

The Pharisees are asking the right question but they were wanting the wrong answer. You see, they were wanting Jesus to come and set up a physical kingdom here on earth. They wanted him to overthrow Rome, kick out Caesar, and set up a new Jewish state. Jesus disappoints them with His rebuttal. 

The Kingdom of God is not going to be measured by land mass like we would measure a growing empire. The Kingdom of God would not find it’s value in military might. You have probably seen on YouTube or on the news stories about North Korea and Kim Jung Un. They place a great deal of value on the number of tanks, troops, missiles and bombs they have. They parade them about in the city streets for the residents to be awed. Jesus tells the Pharisees that no such demonstrations would take place in God’s Kingdom. God does not need horses, spears, chariots, and troops. 

You see, Jesus reveals to the Pharisees that they will not be able to perceive with physical human eyes God’s Kingdom because of two reasons. First, the Pharisees would not see the Kingdom because they were not of the Kingdom. They were not about the business of the Father and neither did they obey Him. In order to see the Kingdom, you have to be about the Kingdom. Secondly, the reason that the Pharisees would not see the Kingdom is because they never understood that God’s Kingdom was spiritual. It is supernatural. It cannot be seen by the human eye but only by the spiritual observer. 

John 18:36 ESV

Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.”

3 Keys Concerning the Kingdom!

I. The Kingdom Is Spiritual vs. 20-21

II. The Kingdom Is Sudden vs. 26-28

Luke 17:26-28 ESV

26 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. 27 They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building…

Point:

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom. The Kingdom of God is also a kingdom of suddenness. When it arrives, people will be unaware. They will not see it coming. It will be a surprise. This coming, or second coming, will model Jesus’ arrival. Jesus came in a time when not many people were thinking about Him. Jesus was born of a virgin, His hospital was a hay filled stable, and His nurses were replaced with animals and shepherds. Jesus’ arrival on planet earth ushered in the spiritual Kingdom, the physical presence of God among man. 

Jesus is very clear. There will be a second coming of God’s Kingdom. It will occur after Jesus’ life, His physical life is extinguished. Jesus compares His brevity on earth like a flash of lighting. He will be here one minute and gone the next. Jesus says that the Kingdom of God will come after His death. We know this to be true because of what happens in Acts 1 and 2. The Day of Pentecost arrives and the Holy Spirit arrives and rests on the disciples. 

Point:

Brothers and sisters, did you know that when you possess the Holy Spirit that you are a Kingdom representative. You are an extension of God’s Kingdom on earth. 

Illustration:

A few years ago, I had the chance to travel to France. My wife was with me. France allowed us into the country on a short term visa. When we arrived in France, we presented our passports, they were stamped and we were allowed into the country. This happens to millions of people every year when they travel. 

While we were traveling in France, we did not become French citizens. We did not learn the French language. We did not practice French culture nor did we adopt their polity or niceties. Why? We were in France, why were we not French? The reason is because we were American citizens, and the fact that we possessed an American passport meant that we were representatives of the United States in France. 

Friends, you all have a spiritual passport that declares that you have a heavenly, a spiritual citizenship. You are a representative of that Kingdom while here on earth. As a heavenly citizen, we are not to adopt their culture, speak their language, and embrace their polities and niceties. 

We represent the Kingdom. We change the culture around us. 

Point:

Friends, no one will see the Kingdom of God arriving until it is to late. The final moment when Jesus returns will be sudden. People will be eating and drinking like in the days of Noah. Then the flood came and people were unprepared. The same holds true with the coming Savior. People will be eating and drinking and suddenly, supernaturally, He will arrive. 

This means that we are to take seriously our Kingdom citizenship and let other know about the coming Kingdom. 

Mark 1:15 ESV

And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

3 Keys Concerning the Kingdom!

I. The Kingdom Is Spiritual vs. 20-21

II. The Kingdom Is Sudden vs. 26-28

III. The Kingdom Is Supreme vs. 32

Luke 17:32

32 Remember Lot's wife.

Point:

Jesus states pretty clear that the Kingdom of God is of supreme importance. For the believer, living for God, obeying His Word, and making disciples should be our top priority. But why? Why should the Kingdom deserve our full attention?

The reason this is important is plain from Matthew 24:14. Jesus said that "this gospel of the kingdom" will be preached until all the nations of the world have heard it as a testimony. This means that until all the unreached nations (=peoples, not countries) have a bona fide testimony called "the gospel of the kingdom," it is the duty of every generation of Christians to press on with proclaiming it to the world. That means us, because there are still today thousands of unreached nations (peoples).

Jesus knew first hand what many of us say that we believe but our actions may say otherwise. Jesus knew about hell, He created it for the demonic forces of this world and their chief, Satan. He knows just how terrible it is and He also knows that part of humanity is going there unless there is intervention. 

Friends, we are that rescue plan. God uses us, His Kingdom ambassadors to reach the nations and the neighborhoods. 

Again, how do I know this? Well, Jesus says that we are to remember Lot’s wife. Lot was nephew to Abraham. In Genesis 19, God punishes Sodom and Gomorrah will fire and brimstone for their deep sinfulness. When fleeing the two cities, Lot’s wife looks back and she herself becomes a pillar of salt. She could have escaped. She could have been free. She could have had a life that was productive and peaceful, but she held on to the fleeting vision of the world. 

Jesus warns believers that we cannot be like Lot’s wife. We cannot, we should not look at the world longingly when the Kingdom of God in all of it’s purity and splendor is set before us. We have to be Kingdom citizens, represent the King, and be about the business of the Kingdom at all times. 

If we don’t the world will swallow us up and rob us of our very lives. 

Conclusion:

So, are you representing God’s supernatural, spiritual Kingdom here on earth? Are you about the business of the King or are you giving consideration to the world and it’s temporary treasures? Remember, seek first God’s Kingdom and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Matthew 6:33 ESV

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seek First God’s Kingdom!