Ger-18 the Kingdom of God — Art Katz

Guten Abend, Kinder. Good to be back with you. Es ist gut, wieder bei euch zu sein. I always have a very nice reception here, ich habe in dieser Gemeinde immer einen sehr netten Empfang bekommen, better than I deserve, besser als ich es verdient habe, and kinder than in other places, und freundlicher als an anderen Orten.

So this must be the Lord. So muss das vom Herrn kommen. Ich dachte, dass ich euch in der Vergangenheit schon alles gegeben hätte, was ich so habe, was kann ich denn jetzt noch hinzufügen, obwohl es wäre ja nicht falsch, wenn wir Dinge von der Vergangenheit leere wiederholen würden, denn ich glaube nicht, dass ihr alles verstanden habt oder vollkommen aufgenommen habt, so eine Wiederholung würde ja nicht schaden.

Aber etwas ist dabei, in meinem Geist zu wachsen, und wenn du dann die Thematik hören wirst, wirst du sagen, aber da ist doch nichts Besonderes dran, das kennen wir doch schon lange, damit sind wir doch schon lange vertraut, das ist doch nichts Neues, und wir wollen doch immer was Neues haben, eine Neuigkeit irgendwo.

The Kingdom of God as the Key to Faith

So möchte ich eine Frage stellen zu Anfang. Was ist der Schlüssel zum Reich Gottes? Welche Sache würdest du herauspicken von all den Dingen, die so erwähnt werden, um den Glauben mit einem Wort zu umreißen?

Wenn wir dann das eine auslassen würden, dann würde nichts wirklich an seinem richtigen Platz stehen. Könntest du vielleicht einen Vorschlag machen, was dieses eine wohl sein könnte? Nun, du denkst vielleicht sofort an Israel.

Barth is fishing for Israel, that's his special interest, and I have to say, no, well, then it must be the church, and you're getting warm, but that's not yet it. The key to the kingdom of God is the kingdom of God itself, rightly understood, rightly recognized.

Now, have you been in the faith long enough to realize certain tendencies?

Bist du lange genug schon im Glauben gewesen, um gewisse Richtungen, Tendenzen zu erkennen?

Guarding Sacred Words from Cliché

One is the tendency in the church to reduce to a cliché the most significant things of God.

Wir haben eine Tendenz in der Gemeinde Jesu, dass wir die allerkostbarsten Dinge Gottes zu einem Klischee herabsetzen. Simply by saying it so frequently, the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God, or bless you, brother, bless you, brother.

Do you want to ruin holy words?

Speak them frequently and mindlessly, and you will in time rob them of their entire content. Und in der Zeit wirst du sie ihres ganzen Inhalts entleeren.

Do you know what part of the prophetic task is?

Weißt du, was ein Teil der prophetischen Aufgabe ist?

Is to be jealous over the words of God.

Es ist eifersüchtig, über das Wort Gottes zu sein. To contend for their meaning, dass wir wirklich ihre Bedeutung aufrechterhalten.

Zum Beispiel, prophet.

Was bedeutet Prophet?

I'm so weary of hearing the word.

Oh, ich werde müde, das Wort immer und immer wieder zu hören. It's on everyone's lips. Jedermann hat es auf den Lippen.

Everyone's a prophet today. Jedermann ist heute ein Prophet. And prophet this and prophet that and prophetic conferences.

Und man prophezeit dieses und jenes und hat eine prophetische Konferenz.

We are in danger of losing one of the most significant words of God.

Wir stehen in Gefahr, einer der bedeutendsten Worte Gottes zu verlieren.

So if we're going to be a prophetic church,.

Wenn wir eine prophetische Gemeinde sein wollen,.

We need to be jealous over these words.

Dann müssen wir eifersüchtig über diese Worte wachen.

And not allow them to come into some kind of familiar, ordinary, cheap or convenient usage.

Und es nicht zulassen, dass sie in irgendeiner Weise billig angewandt werden und einfach so dahergeplappert werden. In fact, I'll even go further.

Ja, in der Tat gehe ich noch weiter. We ought to be jealous about words themselves.

Wir sollten vorsichtig sein mit Worten im Allgemeinen.

Even the volume of words.

Auch wenn wir an das Volumen von Worten denken.

Fewer Words and Prophetic Integrity

I've not recovered from the Berlin conference.

Ich habe mich noch nicht erholt von der Berliner Konferenz.

For the volume of words that were spoken.

Das ganze Volumen der Worte, die gemacht wurden.

How the speakers took their liberty.

Wie die Sprecher so ihre Freiheiten genommen haben.

Nothing to inundate us for an hour and a half or more.

Dass wir über eine Stunde oder anderthalb Stunden praktisch überflutet wurden.

With such a volume of words.

Mit solch einem Volumen an Worten.

Without any sense of economy.

Ohne dass man vielleicht ein Gespür gehabt hätte für Wirtschaftlichkeit. You want to be a godly people? Wollt ihr ein göttliches Volk sein? A priestly people? Ein priesterliches Volk. Which is your call?

Das ist ja eure Berufung. Fewer words. Dann weniger Worte. But more rightly spoken. Aber sie dann in der richtigen Weise geredet. More sensitively chosen. Mit mehr Gespür auserwählt.

I'm especially conscious of this.

Ich bin mir diesen Dingen sehr, sehr bewusst.

Because the prophetic integrity. And the quality of prophetic speaking.

Denn die prophetische Integrität und die Qualität des prophetischen Redens.

Can be diffused by just ordinary conversation.

Kann wirklich weggenommen werden. Kann heruntergesetzt werden. Indem wir immer wieder und immer wieder davon reden.

You would think this man must be wonderful company.

Ja, du magst vielleicht denken. Oh, es muss wunderbar sein mit diesem Mann in Gemeinschaft zu sein. Oh, to drive him to the service. Oder ihn vielleicht zum Gottesdienst zu fahren. Or pick him up at the airport.

Oder ihn vielleicht am Flughafen abzuholen. And engage him in conversation.

Und dann ein Gespräch mit ihm zu führen.

Of things you've always wanted to ask such a man.

Ja, du wolltest doch immer schon mal ihm, solch einem Mann, die Frage stellen, das und das.

I would profoundly disappoint you.

Dann würde ich dich sehr tief enttäuschen müssen.

I say little or nothing.

Ich sage wenig oder gar nicht.

Especially on the way to the meeting.

Besonders auf dem Weg zur Versammlung.

I want to hear God.

Ich möchte Gott hören.

And let him form his word in my inner man.

Und möchte, dass er sein Wort in meinem inwändigen Menschen formt.

So, please be careful. So, seid vorsichtig. I'm already observing you have this tendency.

Ich habe eben diese Tendenz viel zu...

To be voluminous with words. Voluminous. You are, no, you are.

They, you. Ja, sehr gut. They have this tendency. Oh, im Allgemeinen habt ihr diese Haltung, dass ihr ein Volumen, ein Wortschwall ergehen lasst. Make a vow. Macht ein Gelübde. Fewer words. Weniger Worte.

More fitly spoken. Aber dann doch in entsprechender Weise geredet. In season. Und zur richtigen Zeit.

And silence isn't a bad thing.

Und Schweigen ist nichts Schlechtes.

We're even going to have a half hour of it in heaven.

Wir werden sogar eine halbe Stunde davon im Himmel haben.

Silence can be profound.

Stille kann sehr tief gehen.

I've seen golden moments of God lost.

Ich habe es erlebt, wo goldene Augenblicke in Gott verloren gegangen sind. When someone had to break the silence. Wenn jemand unbedingt die Stille unterbrechen musste.

Because they could not bear it.

Denn sie konnten es nicht mehr aushalten. Something had to be said. Es musste einfach was geredet werden.

It had to be seen. Our eyes are so voluptuous. We're so sensual. We need to see. We need to hear. We need to feel. We need to touch. So is there a phrase that has become more frayed and more worn than the kingdom of God?

Gibt es irgendeinen anderen Ausdruck, der so abgenützt, abgedroschen ist, wie der Ausdruck Reich Gottes?

That we use so casually?

Mit dem wir so leichtfertig umgehen? As if everything is the kingdom? Als ob alles Reich Gottes sei?

And therefore nothing is the kingdom?

Und deshalb dann nichts mehr das Reich darstellt?

Recovering the Kingdom’s Urgency

So on this trip I had opportunity to have conversation with two East German pastors.

Auf dieser Reise hatte ich die Gelegenheit, ein Gespräch mit zwei Pastoren in den neuen Bundesländern zu führen.

Whom I've not seen since the wall came down.

Und diese beiden Männer habe ich nicht getroffen nach der Wende. Seit der Wende nicht mehr getroffen.

And I asked them both the same question.

Und ich habe ihnen beiden die gleiche Frage gestellt.

What has changed since you have come now into the full integration with the whole of Germany?

Was hat sich denn verändert, nachdem ihr also voll hier in Deutschland aufgenommen worden seid?

What I was really asking was? Was ich in Wirklichkeit fragte? Have you lost the sharp edge?

Habt ihr eure Schärfe verloren?

That I remember when we came during the communist regime?

An die ich mich noch erinnern kann, die ihr damals, als das kommunistische Regime noch intakt war, gehabt habt? When the meetings were dangerous? Als die Versammlungen gefährlich waren?

There might have been a spy in the audience? Vielleicht war ein Spion in der Mitte? And you had already been warned not to speak of Israel?

Und ihr wart schon gewarnt worden, nicht über Israel zu reden?

You lived under a continual tension?

Und ihr lebtet unter dieser ständigen Spannung?

With a justifiable fear?

Ja, und eure Ängste waren auch gerechtfertigt?

Of the prospect of imprisonment, persecution?

Und ihr hattet vor Augen, vielleicht im Gefängnis zu landen?

And there was a wonderful radical edge to your faith?

Und da war etwas Wunderbares, eine gewisse Schärfe an eurem Glauben?

When a man like me came, you were greatly appreciative?

Und wenn ein Mann wie ich gekommen ist, dann habt ihr das sehr geschätzt?

Now, of course, everybody comes.

Nun ja, jetzt kommen alle ins Land. And it's no special thing.

Und dann ist es nichts mehr Besonderes. So, how are you doing?

Nun, wie steht es bei euch? And what are you doing? Und was macht ihr? And what are you speaking?

Und worüber predigt ihr? Now that you're not under the urgency of the previous conditions.

Jetzt, wo ihr nicht mehr unter dieser Dringlichkeit, unter diesem Druck steht.

What dynamic has replaced it?

Welche Dynamik hat denn das ersetzt?

What has saved your church and your meetings from becoming a succession of mere services?

Und was ist es, dass eure Sonntage nicht nur eine Reihenfolge von ständig ablaufenden Gottesdiensten sind? You understand what I was asking? Versteht ihr, was ich da fragte? Significant question. Bedeutsame Fragen.

I said, have you ever considered the kingdom of God?

Ich hab ihnen dann auch diese Frage gestellt, Habt ihr jemals weiter über die weitere Bedeutung des Reiches Gottes nachgedacht?

Because the kingdom of God rightly apprehended.

Denn, wenn wir diesen Ausdruck, Reich Gottes, wirklich mal genauer fassen.

Brings its own dynamic.

Dann kommt es da zu einer Eigendynamik.

Conveys its own urgency.

Und da kommt es zu einer eigenen Dringlichkeit.

And it alone has the power to convert our conventional Christianity. And restore its apostolic character. Take my word for it. Take my word for that.

I can't prove it right now. And I don't have the time to develop it. Und ich hab auch nicht die Zeit, das zu entwickeln. Aber ich möchte diese Aussage einfach bei euch stehen lassen. Die Angelegenheit des apostolischen Glaubens.

Seid ihr eifersüchtig hinter diesem Wort her, apostolisch?

Or has it suffered equally with the word prophetic? What does it mean, Art, a cliché? That the word prophetic and apostolic is becoming a cliché? It means that they are words that were initially true.

Das bedeutet, dass solche Worte ganz am Anfang wahr waren. Aber weil sie zu oft gebraucht wurden. Und unvorsichtig gebraucht wurden. Dann haben diese Worte ihren wahren Inhalt verloren. Und die Bedeutung verloren.

Und die Kraft verloren. Was sage ich letzten Endes? Dass eine Gemeinde, die nicht apostolisch ist, keine Gemeinde ist.

Da können Programme, Konferenzen,.

Eine gewisse Ordnung innerhalb der Gottesdienste, interessante Gastredner, aber das alles wird der Berufung Gottes nicht entsprechen können. Und Gott kann nicht die Dinge letzten Endes einsetzen, die mit seinem Reich und seinem Kommen zu tun haben.

Israel, the Apostolic Church, and the Kingdom’s Mystery

Auch wenn man sich sogar mit Israel beschäftigt. Und dann eine gewisse Empfindung für dieses Volk empfindet. Das ist nicht unbedingt eine rettende Gnade.

Israel is conducted on the level of sentimentality. Or what is even worse, a relief for German guilt. Well, how then should we relate to Israel? Apostolically. Prophetically. In the context in which Paul has set forth the mystery.

Because that brings to the church a certain valence, a certain character, a certain dynamic. A certain expectancy. It makes the church eschatological. Eternally minded. Because to consider Israel rightly, is to consider Israel millennially.

It's more than the issue of the success of the present state. In fact, in my opinion, it might require the devastation and the dissolution of that state. Something that might offend you. And your understanding of God.

Unless you understood the mystery. In the context of Israel's millennial call. And the glory that will come to God. Through Israel's final restoration. Forever. So, let me take your pulse. Are you forever minded?

Are you eternally minded? In the way that Paul was?

Who saw so vividly the eternal weight of glory? That he counted his present sufferings as momentary and light. This is not some idle holding of a category, eternity. It's bringing the reality and the dynamic of it into the present life.

And that gives to the fellowship, the church, a texture. A certain knit. A certain weight of value. That even the powers of darkness are required to recognize. Who have said, Jesus we know and Paul we know.

But who are you? Let them see a people who are eternally minded. Who are eschatologically minded. Who know that we're moving toward an end. A conclusion and a climax. A consummation. That eventuates in the glory of God forever.

Powers of darkness will take note of such a people. They are a threat. To the kingdom of darkness. Because they are already exhibiting the kingdom of darkness. In the name of God. And it shows in their witness.

Their words have a greater power to penetrate. And also to invoke reaction against themselves. Scandalously. Reproach and anger. You're no longer a nice guy. That you're Christians and somehow acceptable in the world.

You've become a pilgrim. A sojourner. A stranger. In the world. The world is offensive to you. You hate its immorality. You cannot tolerate its entertainments. You despise its political systems. There's a cry that continually wells up in you.

Come, Lord Jesus. Thy kingdom come. Not as an escape. But as a fulfillment. In the earth. I'm speaking by faith tonight. I'm being Christ-full. I'm just talking. So I said to these East German pastors.

Have you ever considered the kingdom of God? And I thought to myself. The proper consideration of that kingdom. Will more than substitute. For any radical edge. That communist authority had brought.

Oh yes, they were quick to say. We've considered the kingdom. My son had earrings before. Smoking marijuana.

Going to the discotheque. But now he has straightened out. And the students at school recognize a difference in him. That's the kingdom. And you would say yes. And you're right. But not right enough. Now listen to this, children.

The Kingdom as Personal Redemption and Theocratic Rule

There's a way in which we can understand the kingdom. As the benefit that comes to us. Redemptively as believers. Yes, significant changes have come. Isn't that what Jesus meant when he said the kingdom of God is within you?

Something internal. Something personal. Individual. Spiritual. Yes, it's true. But it does not exhaust the truth. And doesn't even begin to touch the larger truth. So here's what I want to say to you.

And have driven all day long to come to tell you. Unless you understand the kingdom of God. Politically. As a theocratic government. As the rule of God over the nations. You have not understood the kingdom.

And the lack of that understanding seriously atrophies the church.

Even in its best charismatic forms. The understanding of the kingdom. As the coming rule of God. Theocratic. Not democratic.

Changes everything. Affects everything. Your understanding of Israel. The role and function of the church. The issue of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit. Everything is radicalized. And comes into its apostolic formation.

When the concept of the kingdom of God as the rule of God is restored. After all we were told to pray. Thy kingdom come. On earth as it is in heaven. Not an escape from the earth. But the coming of the king to the earth.

This is what the Greek word parousia means. When we meet him in the air. It's not our escape from the earth. It's the glorified bodies given us. By which we shall rule and reign with him. Ascending and descending upon the son of man.

Ascending and descending upon the son of man. The glorified saints. In his rule over his creation. Are you anticipating that? Are you preparing for that? Will you rule over five cities or over ten? Everything depends on your qualification.

That you have attained in this life. Do you remember 1 Corinthians chapter 6? Paul was outraged. He met two Christians who were going to the world's court of law to resolve a dispute between them. He said, why don't you allow yourself to be defrauded?

This is scandalous that you're going to the court of the law of the world. Don't you know you're going to rule over angels? Don't you know you're going to rule over nations? So what are you going to the world for?

Find someone from among you. Of the most ordinary kind. And let him resolve your dispute. I know that I know. You are not expecting this governmental participation. Because if we did. We would be chafed by the whole way in which the church is structured.

Elevated platforms. Theater seating. Which does not invite participation. But passive viewing. It's not a preparation for government. You know what one of the most profound moments in my life as a believer?

Church Discipline as Preparation for Eternal Rule

I've been a believer 35 years. 25 years in community. Where we presently are. And our words are few. But weighty. And there came a time when we had to judge a brother. His father was a distinguished Pentecostal preacher.

And the family was well known within the entire movement. But he was a rebel. And we gave him every opportunity. Over many weeks, three months. Working with this brother. Correcting this brother. And he was not receiving this correction.

And so one went before him directly. And then two. And he still refused correction. And we brought him before the entire church. To judge him. And it took three hours. Solemn time. I heard housewives speak profoundly.

Because the urgency of the situation. Of having to give a man over to the devil. For the destruction of his flesh. That his soul might be saved. Was no light question. Like, should we change the carpet of the church?

Or do some construction or paint work? With what questions are God's people confronted today? In which they have to seek God. Because the questions are consequential. And we need the wisdom of God. That is given in the counsel of the many.

Which is preparation for us. For eternal rule and reign. With Christ. As overcomers. God makes this the great reward. If any man overcome. I will give him a new name. And he will rule and reign with me.

From my throne. Forever. That's the ultimate reward of faith. For a life that is rightly lived in this lifetime. Significantly lived. In the context of the kingdom of God.

Psalm 2 and the Coming Rule of the Messiah

Of a kingdom coming. In the way that we see the kingdom of God as something coming.

Whose rule the world hates. Read Psalm 2. Why do the heathen rage? And imagine a vain thing. And the kings and the rulers take thought against the Lord and against his anointed. To break their cords asunder.

But God holds them in derision. He laughs. For he said, I have set my son, the king, on the hill of Zion. And I have given him the nations for his inheritance. Psalm 2 is classic.

It's not a piece of poetry. It's a radical glimpse of the end.

Of the son of God whom the father exalts. This day I have declared the decree.

Thou art my son. And I have set you on the throne of David. On the hill of Zion. And you shall rule over the nations. Let them rage. Let them foam at the mouth.

I hold them in derision. This is my king. And he will rule over the nations. And his overcoming saints with him. He will break the nations like a potter. With a rod of iron. The rebellious nations. Of which Germany today is an example.

Imperial Ambition and the Holy Hill of Zion

I was in Berlin. And I saw the new Reichstag building. Very impressive architecture. They spared no expense. In the dome. But then beyond that. In a hundred football fields. I've never seen more derricks.

These operating cranes. Hundreds of them. In one of the most massive construction undertakings I have ever seen. For which there is only one comparison. Babylon itself. You know what? When I saw that.

What that spoke to my prophetic heart. This is not a nation satisfied merely with governing itself. It has imperial intentions. Of ruling over nations. And is providing the physical structure for that possibility.

Evidently the church has not told them. That God's wrath will be upon them. Because he has his own program. For a righteousness in the earth. That can only issue out of one place. Not Berlin. Or Geneva or New York.

The holy hill of Zion. I have set my king on the holy hill of Zion. He's qualified to rule there. For he's the son of David. Who will rule from the throne of David. And the father will give him all nations as his inheritance.

That's why the nations rage. The kings and the rulers. Is God being redundant? Kings and rulers? Is that like saying kings and kings? You see how you need to wear the kingdom spectacles? The kings are the visible and earthly magistrates.

But the rulers are the principality and powers of the air. And their prince is soon to be cast out into the earth. Who knows that his time is short. And he will ventilate his fury. On anything that will permanently dispossess him from his rule.

As the false usurping God of this world. Who will be his two objects of hatred.

For destruction. And annihilation. Israel.

And the church. The people of God. Oh you dear saints. Can you take more? Be prepared. For something worse than the Nazi time. That will come again to Germany. And every nation. As Jews will be ruthlessly and relentlessly.

Hounded unto death in the last days. By these powers of darkness. Who know something that you don't know. That the king is contained in the heavens. Acts 3 .21. Waiting for the restoration of all things spoken by the prophets since the world began.

Israel’s Restoration and the Last-Days Crisis

That restoration is the restoration of Israel. The surviving remnant. Of the last days sifting of this people through all nations. The time of Jacob's trouble. Future. But near. You will say. Where is God?

To allow this a second time. Within the same century. And no longer confined to Europe or to Germany. A global hatred. That seeks their annihilation. And God is allowing it. You need to understand. The subject of Israel.

In the context of the kingdom. Or you don't understand at all. And you condemn yourself to the limitation of only a sentiment.

To a sentimental relationship. Rather than an apostolic one.

You say. Why are Jews going to be so persecuted and hated until the destruction? Because that is the wisdom of the powers of darkness. How to be saved from the loss of power and reigning over nations?

How to save yourself from that predicament? How to save yourself from the predicament of losing your rule? Annihilate those people. Whose restoration will bring their king and his rule. I've given you the full schema.

The full scenario. Of the most important event of the last days. Of which only a remnant of world Jewry will survive. And return to Zion. As the redeemed of the Lord. With everlasting joy upon their heads.

And with singing. When mourning and sighing flee away. They will not be one of them returning in that condition. Except by the mercy that you extend. Don't say no one ever told you. Don't say that no one ever told you.

Are you prepared for this?

Jews hated again and despised. As the Nazis used to say. The Jews are our misfortune. And they will be the world's misfortune. Look what they have done to the world economy. Look what their conflict in the Middle East has done to the oil situation.

The Lord will allow this anti-Christ hatred to pour out like a flood over the earth. Will you be able to resist it? If your own standard of living has fallen. And your own physical security is threatened.

They will not be so cute in that day. So charming and so sweet. So loving and so lovable. Despised and rejected of all men. Who will take them in? Who will hide them? And move them on? To those who are prepared to receive them.

As God sifts them through the nations. Who will be willing to take the risk? Of being caught. Helping a Jew. Why take the risk? What did they ever do for you? In that day. You will realize as you have never realized.

How gentile you are. How German you are. How human, only too human. Because crisis reveals. And absolute crisis reveals absolutely. You know what my idea of a church is? One that anticipates the soon coming realities.

And is in conscious, willful preparation for them. Not only physically. But spiritually. There is only one kind of people who will help Jews in that time. Those who do not hold their lives as dear unto themselves.

And if it should require their life. Which is a very reasonable possibility. Because that's what will move Jews to jealousy. German gentiles willing to risk their life for me. At a time when I'm hated everywhere.

This is beyond religion.

This is the evidence of another kingdom. That has already come. And it's the kingdom of the God of Jacob.

So I can see it's Hebraic character. And it's selfless priestliness. Exhibited through gentiles.

We are on a historic collision course. To this end.

Israel is already in preparation. Do you think Ehud Barak is going to save Israel? Silly kinder. Don't you understand? Why he had to be elected? Because he has a 180 IQ. He's smarter than me. Much smarter.

And much braver. He's the outstanding hero of Israel. And held the highest military position as general. He has a master's degree from Stanford University. And he's a classical pianist. This is a supreme man.

With supreme human endowments. And if he can't save Israel. Who can? There's a coming devastation children.

Haifa, Tel Aviv, Tiberias, Jerusalem.

Will be destroyed. They will be left without inhabitants. They will say the land has become our destruction. They will be cast out as captives. You will not be able to believe it. That God has allowed this death.

To this hope. For statehood. Don't Jews deserve it after all these years? Yeah, if you think humanly. But in terms of the kingdom. This is a preparation. For a nation of sons. Who are restored to the land.

With a new and everlasting covenant. In a divine character which is given. That Jerusalem is called the city of righteousness. How else shall the king rule from there? Unless it first becomes that.

The Church’s Preparation for the Kingdom

Well, there's so much more that can be said. But I don't know about your capacity. It has been diminished. By too much speaking.

A prophetic man is coming. And we can take all the time. Full opportunity for worship, for announcements. And if there's anything left over. In the ability of God's people to yet hear more. Then we'll try it.

When you take the kingdom of God seriously. As indeed we ought. Everything will come under reconsideration. What we are about. Why we are about it. What is God's intention for us. In this nation in particular.

If we can anticipate this dealing with Jews. What manner of people ought we to be. Seeing this kingdom and this glory. It will bring a new seriousness to the church. That even our children will recognize.

What tonight in front of the TV set. Or worse. Because what they are engaged in is much more compelling. Than what we are about. See them as the index. Of the truth of our condition. They're not impressed.

Let alone engaged. Because this is just another adult culture. But it is not the kingdom of God. That requires sacrificial living. That requires intensive relationship. That requires unsparing correction.

Even judging a brother. As we did that afternoon so many years ago. And I watched ordinary housewives. Rise to the occasion. With an intensity and a wisdom. That astonished me. And when the trial was over.

They did not go back to where they were before. Something qualitative had happened for them. That moves them from faith to faith. From glory to glory. When the conditions of our life are earnest. We gave that brother's flesh over to the devil.

And we were in our prayer. Morning prayer time when I watched him leave the property. With his clothes on a stick on his shoulder. And I rejoiced. There was a joy of the Lord. That everyone felt. Because we had judged with righteous judgment.

The Kingdom as the Answer to Human Government

We need to save the kingdom of God from becoming a cliché.

It's a government coming. Desperately needed.

Hasn't the Serbian, Croatian and what's the other country?

Kosovo crisis shown you?

How far men will go? In their arrogance and conceit? In their nationalistic and ethnic superiority? To kill indiscriminately? And rape helpless girls? In the face of their fathers and their sons and brothers?

As a policy of war? And we're going to live with that kind of government? I think that it can be improved. And I'm not crying out. Thy kingdom come. Thy kingdom come. Come Lord Jesus. Let there be righteousness in earth and heaven.