Democracy or Kingdom

  1 July 2007

 

1.      Introduction:

·   The way we view or see something determines how we relate to it.

·   We are raised in a democracy but born again into the Kingdom.

·   Kingdom  -  The Massage of the Bible

·   Matthew 4:17  -  Jesus began to preach saying:  “Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”.

·   Luke 9:2  -  Jesus sent them to preach the Kingdom of God ant to heal the sick.

·   Acts 28:31  -  “Paul… preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord”.

·   Kingdom  -  Jesus priority for us.

·   Matthew 6:33  -  “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things….”

·   Kingdom  = Government or Rule of a King.

·   Righteousness  =  Right positioning and relationship with the King to qualify for privileges

·   The Core of the kingdom is the King who fills it with His presence, character and authority.

 

2.      Government is God’s Idea:

·   Definition:  -  To govern is to steer, pilot, act as a rudder (Greek)

                       - Authority and power to rule over and give direction to a territory and its people.

·   Kingdom = 1st form of Government.

-    Genesis 1:26  - “let us make man in our own image according to our likeness, let them have dominion”.

-    Psalm 8:5-6  -  “You have made him to have dominion over all the works of your hands”.

-    Man was created to extent the Government of God from the realm of heaven into the earth.

-    Heaven is filled with presence, character and authority of the God.

-    Man was called to extend the Kingdom of Heaven to earth by representing His character, nature of God.

·   The result of Independence  =  Chaos

-          Luke 4:5-6  -  “All this authority …. For this has delivered to me”.

-          When Adam and Eve declared independence from God:

i)  They Refused the Government of God.     ii) Established Self-Government

-          The result was that control of earth passed temporarily to demonic usurper.

-          Ephesians 2:1-2  -   The course of this world – the spirit that works. 

·   Consequences of the Fall:

i)   Demonic chaos

ii)   Loss of relationship entrance of religion

iii)     Loss of the Kingdom – entrance of other forms of government

          Example:  Human is by vote or by violence.

·   Feudalism – landlords – one who owns the land owns and governs all.

·   Dictatorship – one person –n superior by birth or force rules all.

·   Communism – Government controls land and people and governs for the people.

·   Socialism – King is replaced by State governing for the people.

·   Democracy – Government of the people by the peoples elected representative.

 

3.  Differences between a Democracy and The Kingdom of God:

·   We live in a Democracy that represents a Kingdom.

·   Philippians 3:20  -  “For our citizenship is in heaven”

·   Citizenship = “Native or Naturalized member of a State who owns his allegiance to its Government and is entitled to its protection and privileges”.

·   Contrast: