Sermon Tone Analysis

matt 16.1-

Let me start with v. 28 again.

The Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Heaven — the Kingdom of Jesus… whatever you want to call it, it was the crux of the ministry of Jesus!

The word Kingdom appears in the Gospels over 100 times!

Jesus using it about 106 times.

WHY - He came to earth to start His Kingdom in the HEARTS OF MANKIND and is still continuing to do so until He returns a second time to establish it PHYSICALLY on earth!

Being a part of the Kingdom of God and advancing the Kingdom of God is what Jesus calls anyone who will BELIEVE, FOLLOW, and OBEY!

In this passage - it is all about Kingdom teaching!

Kingdom principles, but i want to start at the end...

Some here will not die until they see the Son of Man (Christ) coming in His Kingdom.

Some have thought this refers to the Second Coming, but then there would be 2000 year old people wandering around the earth.

Some have thought this was a reference to His second coming - but then there would have to be some 2000 year old people wandering around the earth.

Some have thought it was about the Transifguration where Christ was shown in His eternal glory to three of His disciples, but that would be too limiting

Some have thought this was a reference to His second coming - but then there would have to be some 2000 year old people wandering around the earth.

Some have thought Jesus coming in HIs Kingdom referred to the cross and resurrection from the grave, but that event would happen in just a week from when he said these things — clearly they would all be alive

Scholars have indicated that this reference was to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple in 70 AD - not all would still be alive when this occurred, but those who were would understand its meaning.

It was at this time that the OLD TESTAMENT and its practices to worship God and atone for sin came to an end!!

And at this time where JESUS CHRIST THE MESSIAH and His Kingdom would become the worldwide means for approaching and worshipping God the FATHER!

The New Testament would become firmly established!

In the meantime, Jesus speaks very clearly to His disciples and those religious leaders present about what it means to be a part of HIS KINGDOM!

1. Kingdom of Heaven is About Faith

In verses 5-12

Jesus brings up the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

These two groups of religious and political rulers in Israel controlled temple worship and the religion of the Israelite.

They were prideful, arrogant and controlling, although this is not the yeast Jesus spoke of!

The yeast He spoke of was their RITUAL rather than their FAITH!

These arrogant and prideful men who KNEW the SCRIPTURE should have been the first to see that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.

How His life was fulfilling Scripture before their eyes - yet they were more concerned with holding onto traditions and rituals than receiving the PROMISE OF GOD into their lives.

They could not believe that Jesus was the one the prophets foretold!

Mostly because they did not want to lose their CONTROL to Him!

They would prefer to hold onto their own power and ways instead of following the example Jesus was making before them.

How many today are willing to embrace rituals and religions to attain their idea of heaven, but unwilling to come to faith in Christ and the WORD!?

Whether that be in the Muslim world, the Buddhist World, the world of Cults and even many Christian liturgical churches there is a confidence in ritual rather than a life of faith that has embraced a relationship with the living God!

In reality, you cannot be a part of the Kingdom of God if you do not have faith.

You can engage in ritual behavior and legalistic rules, but that will not bring you into the Kingdom!

Verse 7 Jesus says - you have so little faith!

It takes FAITH, it takes BELIEF in CHRIST - not just in information about Him, but in committing ourselves to what He taught, and relying on HIS death on the cross to wash away our sin!

The first and foremost teaching of the Kingdom --- is to believe!!! TO have faith, to TRUST IN GOD!

2. Kingdom of Heaven needs Only One Sign

How many times have you heard someone say - I will believe God if He grants me this request, or answers this prayer, or does this or that...

Jesus says an adulterous generation demands a miraculous sign ---

A miraculous sign could be as simple as an answered prayer ---

God does not answer prayer so we may have proof of WHO HE IS!!!

He answers prayer because we have already believed!!!!!

Jesus looks at these religious leaders and says you can discern the skies and weather, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times...

For them those times were the fulfillment of PROPHECY foretold hundreds and thousands of years before!

Today, we are scientific in our society - and nothing wrong with science, in fact TRUE SCIENCE PROVES THE WORD OF GOD ---

But if we use science to promote unbelief than we are missing the signs!

As Christians we need to wise up that some scientific thought out there is accurate --- i.e. - climate change -

You cannot say it is not occurring - even our recent polar vortex was a result of climate change and the warm air pressures that drove the cold fronts down to us...

The greater reality is that Jesus does not have to scientifically prove who He is to any of us!!!

While on earth He demonstrated His power over wind, wave, death, sickness, demons, the elements, etc.

BUT THE ONLY MIRACLE WE NEED TO BELIEVE IN IS THIS ---

We are celebrating it in just a couple of weeks.

THE SIGN OF JONAH...

THE DEATH, CONQUERING OF THE GRAVE and RESURRECTION OF CHRIST is ENOUGH!!!

There is no other sign you have to see or believe in other than to believe that Jesus conquered death and the grave and rose again to bring us salvation!!!

You can try and demand proof from God, but then you are demonstrating what generation you belong to..

An adulterous one...

A generation that wants to LOVE THIS WORLD AND ALL THAT IS IN IT and HAVE A LITTLE JESUS TOO!!!

Jesus wants you to be sold out and committed to HIM ALONE and not this world and the things and ways in it!

3. Kingdom of Heaven Offers Authority and Power

Jesus goes on to ask Peter who he says Jesus is — we here him say the Messiah, Son of the Living God and Jesus acknowledges He speaks the correct answer

in v. 19

Jesus speaks of the authority and power of the disciple of Christ.

Not just Peter, but any who follow.

matt 16.24

He speaks of those who will lose this life (not necessarily in death, but in dying to oneself and sacrificing our wills and desires to follow Him)

In doing this, we are LIVING OUT THAT FAITH THAT SAVES!!!!

Not just are we living out our faith, but we are going beyond the RITUAL OF RELIGION and in our RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST we are being empowered to WALK IN THE AUTHORITY OF THE KINGDOM!

What do KEYS do for anyone --- they give authority!!!

They give ACCESS!!! THEY empower us to let in and let out or keep in and keep out.

When Jesus speaks of building HIS CHURCH — His Kingdom - He talks about giving us the authority of that same Kingdom.

It is transferred to -

- those who believe,

-those who follow,

-those who obey

That authority gives us power over demonic power, power in the heavenly realm to intercede to the Father

(Interesting is that it is not about believing because you received a sign, but seeing the sign occur because you have been given authority!)

Not all will walk in this path!

Not all will lose their life for His sake — why??

An adulterous generation still wants to gain the whole world!

But God will judge us according to our deeds!

CONCLUSION

God is looking for a remnant of believers who will stand against the corruption and sinfulness of the world in which we live to honor God with our whole hearts!

He is looking not for an adulterous bride, but a spotless bride!

Wholly devoted to Him.

Look at v. 13!!!

A day of destruction is coming, but not for the remnant - for those who have remained on the vine!!!

God wants a remnant of people who want to stay attached to the VINE JESUS CHRIST, to DWELL IN HIM, to GAIN THEIR STRENGTH AND NOURISHMENT FROM HIM...

Will you be the adulterous generation he spoke of… those lacking faith, those unwilling to lose their lives, those unwilling to follow and obey...

or will you remain!