UPSIDE DOWN KINGDOM

Jesus’ kingdom is “not of this world,” and it contrasts with the kingdom of the world in every possible way.

John 18:36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

JESUS MADE A MASSIVE IMPACT ON EARTH.

In only three years, he raised people from the dead, healed, multiplied food to feed thousands, confounded the religious, and reconnected us to the father!

Jesus is saying that by the world’s standards being defamed by the Jewish leaders and dying like a criminal would/should completely undo a person's reputation and potential impact.

But Jesus lived in his father’s kingdom. Where being beaten and crucified would actually bring redemption to the world!

The more we learn to live by the rules of HIS kingdom, the more effective our walk on this earth becomes. Despite how backwards, ineffective and upside down it may seem!

LOOK AT 2 SPECIFIC WAYS GOD’S KINGDOM CONTRASTS THE WORLD.

NUMBER 1 - THE WORLD PRIORITIZES THE DESTINATION, GOD PRIORITIZES THE JOURNEY

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT THIS: ALTHOUGH THE CROSS WAS THE ULTIMATE GOAL, AND HIS LEAVING ALLOWED US TO DO GREATER WORKS: JESUS DIDN’T RUSH TO GET TO THE CROSS AND ASCEND TO HEAVEN.

DREAM: Walking with Jesus. Saw my destination. Jesus was distracted, looking at a bee on a flower. Jesus, your not really helping me get to the destination.

With tears, Jesus said “When we reach the destination, I will never see you again.”

Have you ever looked at your school pictures and thought… I don’t recognize that person.

As we grow, our past selves become unrecognizable to us today.

IN LIFE, WE FIND A WAY WE NEED TO GROW OR CHANGE, AND NOW SUDDENLY THATS OUR WHOLE FOCUS.

GOD WANTS US TO BE PRESENT FOR THE JOURNEY

Psalm 46:10 “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

The transformation is inevitable. So just be present for the journey.

IE Mourning my empty nest life with Angie, when she was pregnant with Em.

I KNEW MY LIFE WAS GOING TO BE BETTER, BUT I STILL MOURNED THE SEASON I WAS CURRENTLY IN WITH ANGIE.

I look back at that time with fondness, despite the LACK our relationship had.

God’s Kingdom is not fueled by your drive and determination to get to the finish line.

IN FACT YOU CAN SACRIFICE YOUR DAILY WALK WITH GOD, IN SERVICE OF THE PERCEIVED DESTINATION.

THE WORLD PRIORITIZES THE DESTINATION, GOD PRIORITIZES THE JOURNEY

IF YOUR NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO STAY PRESENT, GOD CAN WITHHOLD THE DESTINATION

Ecclesiastes 3:22 I have seen that nothing is better than that man should be happy in his activities, for that is his lot. For who will bring him to see what will occur after him?

IE - God not telling me what I was going to be until last year of highschool. It would have RUINED my learning! I was straight As, and dove into every topic and brought me joy.

SECOND SPECIFIC WAY GOD’S KINGDOM CONTRASTS THE WORLD -

THE WORLD PRIORITIZES YOUR SIZE OF INFLUENCE, GOD PRIORITIZES LOVE

Let’s say we get the best and brightest from this world (the kingdom of MAN) to plan a life for Jesus to save the world.

ITS SAFE TO SAY THAT EVERY SECOND OF JESUS’S LIFE WAS CAREFULLY PLANNED.

I don’t think some of the brainstorm white boards would have these things on it:

• Born out of wedlock

• Not that handsome

• No wealth

• No political position

• No voting power

• No mentors

• Friends: Liars, thieves, and betrayers

• Before his biggest challenge, lets starve him

• No TIkToc, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, YouTube…

• No Patreon support, Kickstarter, GoFundMe, IndiGoGo backers

Wouldn’t it have been BETTER, if God had made Jesus the emperor of Rome? IMAGINE THE REACH OF HIS DECREES AND THE AUTHORITY OF HIS WORDS?

ACCORDING TO THE KINGDOM OF MAN, NOT ONLY ARE ALL THE ELEMENTS FOR AN EFFECTIVE MINISTRY MISSING

THEY WERE ACTUALLY STIFLED DURING JESUS MINISTRY.

JESUS REFUSED TO BE MADE KING

John 6:15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

JESUS SAID NOT TO TELL OTHERS HE WAS MESSIAH

Matt 16:20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

JESUS SAID NOT TO TELL OTHERS OF HIS TRANSFIGURATION

Matt 17:9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

JESUS ‘WARNED’ PEOPLE NOT TO TELL WHO HE WAS

Matt 12:15-16 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. 16 He warned them not to tell others about him.

JESUS ONLY HAD 24 HOURS IN A DAY, JUST LIKE US… AND YET HE SPENT HOURS WITH PEOPLE THAT HAD NO POLITICAL POWER OR SOCIAL INFLUENCE, JUST TO BE WITH THEM.

CONSISTENTLY MISSING THE OPPORTUNITIES (ACCORDING TO OUR KINGDOM) TO PROPEL HIS IMPACT!

Imagine watching a YouTube video, “if you liked this video, please unsubscribe, clear your browser history, and NEVER talk about this to anyone.”

IN THE UPSIDE DOWN KINGDOM OF GOD it wasn’t a handicap, it was on purpose!

HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE???

Fractal - a mathematical equation that when plotted the shape is infinitely complex.

Self symmetry - appears similar at various scales

Zoom out, this is looking at all the complexities of the world. This is how the president and other world leaders make change. They control from this MACRO view.

Zoom into the detail, this is looking at your life and family and kids.

There are some who are so consumed by world issues and macro change, and in the name of effective Christian ideologies, they ignore the relationships that need their attention at a micro level.

If you want to affect the look and design of the world at a MACRO level, be a good husband. Be a present parent. Be a good friend. This will impact the WORLD because GOD has literally designed into the fabric of our earth through self symmetry (quantum physics)

Matt 20:16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

We are a society of influence. We consider ourselves handycapped when we don’t have the tools to broadcast our work for others to confront it. INFACT, we mis prioritize macro scale influence over micro scale relationship and family.

People are getting married later, having fewer children, focusing on their careers to establish their impact. I believe people spend their energy trying to change policy, because they are too scared to take responsibility for their own lives and relationships.

THE WORLD PRIORITIZES YOUR SIZE OF INFLUENCE, GOD PRIORITIZES LOVE

LETS ALL STAND. IF EITHER OF THOSE CONNECTED WITH YOU

PRIORITIZING THE DESTINATION VS THE JOURNEY

PRIORITIZING OR BEING DISTRACTED BY YOUR SIZE OF INFLUENCE VS INFLUENCE ON YOUR SPHERE

PRAY:

Lord, we want to live our lives by the rules in your kingdom.

We repent for OVER PRIORITIZING THE DESTINATION

We ask you would help us to be PRESENT AND PRIORITIZE OUR DAILY WALK WITH YOU

We repent for FOCUSING ON THE SIZE OF OUR INFLUENCE

When you are calling us to be present for our wife, children, and friends.