Jesus

“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.

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.”

Isaiah 9:6-7

The Government will be on His Shoulders.

He will establish a Kingdom.

Matthew tells us some things about this Kingdom.

“The kingdom of God is like:

*a man sowing good seed and his enemy sows weeds among the good seed (Matt 13:24)

*a net let down in a lake and catches all kinds of fish--good ones and bad ones; brought to shore where good is separated from the bad (Matt 13:47)

Bad exists and even grows right up with the good. Don’t be surprised that bad exists too. The reckoning will come.

*a mustard seed , the smallest of your seeds becomes largest of garden plants (Matt 13:31)

*yeast—tiny morsels but when placed in large amount of flour can work through whole dough (Matt 13:33)

Kingdom is in the small things. But very powerful. Very thorough. Tallest and finest even when your eyes do not see. It can take time and lots of kneading. Do not be discouraged. Saturation and mighty results are coming.

*treasure in a field that is found and the man sells all he has and buys the field (Matt 13:44)

*a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one he sells all he has and buys it (Matt 13:45)

His Kingdom is worth more than anything you already have. His Kingdom requires sacrifice and offers priceless treasure.

*a king who settles his accounts, first demanding payment and then offering mercy to a servant who then goes out and demands his own payment from another (Matt 18:23)

Kingdom is ours by mercy. Remember this.

*not of this world (John 18:36)

*within you (Luke 17:21)

We are a kingdom in Christ’s love and freedom(Rev1:6)

A kingdom that cannot be shaken (Heb12:28)

God’s kingdom?

 "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.”

Luke 6:20-23

Blessed are you who are poor! Yours is the Kingdom!

“[Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor’

Then he rolled up the scroll gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them,

‘Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.’

Luke 4:16-21

We cannot get away from this message.

This isn’t an upside down message.

It is the Right Side Up one.

All who lack are the blessed ones. The ones who have the Kingdom.

Our Jesus came with this message.

A message specifically for the broken hearted.

And how did He arrive to deliver this news to us?

“There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke2:8-12

This is a Kingdom that approaches us.

Knows us.

Is just like us.

In every single barren, risky place.

His kingdom is now.

In you, as His.

Will you receive it?

A kingdom that is:

Difficult (good and bad together).

Small.

Worth more than anything you currently have.

Given by mercy and mercy likewise required.

Not of this world.

His kingdom come.

His will be done.

On earth as it is in heaven.

Let it be so.

“For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the Lord has blessed.”

 Isaiah 61:8-9

Come, Lord Jesus, Come!