Sermon

The Purpose of God’s Kingdom | Luke 17:20-21

March 1, 2026 Ontario Community Church - Sermons

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Okay, thank you, Patrick, for allowing me to speak today.
I know that you were busy in travels,
!
This place has been good to us,
and I'm sure it'll be good to all of you that are here today.
Amen?
Amen.
So today I wanted to talk a little bit about,
kind of like fundamentals, if you will,
the purpose of his kingdom.
And that's something that's important,
because the purpose of God in creating this world,
you and me,
is to establish his reign over all the earth.
But that reign was marred and spoiled
by the disobedience in the Garden of Eden.
So now God has to find another way,
that being Christ.
Before we jump in, let's go ahead and bow our heads
and pray that the Lord may bring his word to us today.
Heavenly Father, Lord,
thank you, Lord, for all that you have brought to us, Lord.
Your Son, who you brought to this earth,
died on the cross for our sins.
Let us always remember that that is the purpose
of you creating us, creating the world,
is that your kingdom may reign on this earth
as it does in heaven.
And we just pray, Lord, that our ears be open,
our hearts be ready to receive,
as we go through these scriptures
that have been prepared.
And I thank you, Lord, again,
for the opportunity to serve you.
And I say this in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Amen.
So, yes,
God created the earth
to establish his reign,
his kingdom.
But as we saw,
and we know that in the
beginning chapters of the scriptures
of the Genesis,
that was
spoiled because of the disobedience
in that Garden of Eden.
But Christ has come to reclaim
that which is his own
and to proclaim
God's rule
and reign
over the earth.
If you go with me
to the book of Luke,

Luke 8 chapter mention
chapter 8,
and your Bible's there
in front of you.
It's on page 1027.
Luke,

Luke 8:1
chapter 8,
verse 1.
Talks about how
when Jesus began his ministry
and how the concept
of the kingdom
is central
to his teachings.
and by way
that he did it.
So,
in Luke 8,

Luke 8:1
verse 1,
it reads,
So,
afterwards,
he went on
through the cities
and the villages
proclaiming
and bringing
the good news
of the kingdom
of God
and the twelve
were with him.
It's right there.
He came to proclaim
and bring
the good news
of the kingdom
of God.
God.
That was
his purpose.
That was
his message
throughout the villages
and towns
that he visited.
And he sought
those twelve men
with him
as he knew
the task
was greater
than it could be.
So,
he came
to reclaim
that which was
his own,
proclaiming God's
rule
and reign
over the earth.
and he
proclaimed this
when he completed
the victory
when it came
time
for him
to lay
his life
for
all of us.
But he came,
he died
on the cross,
but his ministry
is still not done.
His work
is still not done
on this earth.
Because now,
along with the
Holy Spirit,
the work
continues.
And that work
continues
through you
and me
in spreading
the gospel
and bringing
the earth
and all
its inhabitants
back.
to proclaim
in the kingdom.
We can see
that
if you go
to Philippians
2,
10,
and 11.
And you can
find it
in your Bibles
on
1165,
1165.
We'll go there
to 1165.
I think
that's what
it was
in here.
Yes.
Philippians

Philippians 2:10–11
chapter 2,
verses
10
through
11.
And this
is
when we
know
God
has
proclaimed
or
reclaimed
his earth
and his
people.
So that
the name
of Jesus
at the
sound of
the name
of Jesus
every knee
should bow
in heaven
and on
earth
right
under the
earth
and everything
under the
earth
and every
tongue
confessing
that Jesus
Christ
is the
Lord
to the
glory
of God
the Father.
When
every
tongue
proclaims
it
and every
knee
shall bow
down to
him.
how do
we do
that?
In our
walk.
A walk
that we
interact
with each
and every
person that
we come
across
through
work,
play,
family,
friends,
proclaiming
his name.
and it
says here
every knee
shall bow
down.
And I'll
admit
that
that one
doesn't
always come
to me.
Sometimes
I'm in
prayer.
I don't
either
not in a
place where
I can't
actually kneel
down or
do so.
But it
is a
reverence.
It is a
show of
reverence
to him.
but
proclaiming
his name
and confessing
that Christ
is the
Lord.
That's
how the
kingdom
continues
to grow
from one
person to
the other.
Amen?
So the
kingdoms of
this world
go blindly
on,
believing
that their
power and
their glory
is the
only thing
that comes
to this
world.
they don't
see that
there is
an eternal
hand
working
behind the
scenes
which
determines
the destiny
and the
fate of
every
individual
and nation.
Can't say
that much
louder than
today.
Yes,
we're all,
as Jody
was saying,
have all
those individuals
that are
involved in
the conflict
in our
prayers.
and we
know
that,
as it
says,
the eternal
hand is
working behind
the scenes.
We may
not understand
it,
we may not
be able to
accept it,
but we
need to
understand and
believe and
know that
the world is
in his
hands.
Amen?
Amen?
So,
the Bible
also talks
to us
about
how
his
kingdom
is to
be.
And
I like
the way
it says
it in
Luke 17
20-21
because
we'll see
that that
kingdom is
definitely
in us.
we have
that
power
to
continue
to add
to his
kingdom.
So,
if you'll
go to
Luke 17
20-21
and it's
on your
Bibles
in 10-42
it's
Luke 17
20-21
the
coming of
the kingdom.
Okay?
And this
is when
Jesus is
going out
throughout
proclaiming
the kingdom
of God
and there
are those
that are
challenging
him
the Pharisees.
They're
trying to
get him
to
basically
they're
looking
to trap
him in
a way
or to
to be
able to
arrest
him.
And in
Luke 17
20-21
the coming
of the
kingdom
reads
being
asked
by the
Pharisees
when the
kingdom
of God
would
come
he
answered
them
the
kingdom
of God
is not
coming
in the
ways
that
can
be
observed
nor
will
they
say
look
here
it
is
or
there
says
for
behold
the
kingdom
of God
is in
the
midst
of
you
he's
granted
that
to
you
the
kingdom
of
God
is
within
you
but
first
we
also
understand
as
many
of us
there
was a
period
in time
in our
lives
that
we
were
void
of
the
kingdom
we
didn't
understand
or
didn't
want to
understand
it
was
just
how
we
were
as
individuals
on
this
earth
and
we
didn't
understand
his
word
why
because
we
weren't
taking
time
to
spend
time
in
his
word
maybe
it's
because
we
didn't
understand
it
we
didn't
seek
it
out
but
in
this
we
see
that
he
says
it
plainly
the
kingdom
of
God
is
in
the
midst
of
you
that
being
Christ
and
the
Holy
Spirit
and
if
we
have
Christ
with
us
Holy
Spirit
with
us
he
is
within
us
as
is
the
kingdom
amen
so
he
says
with
you
and
me
basically
is
what
God
is
telling
us
there
it
is
within
you
it's
not
sadly
it's
not
within
the
powers
of
this
earth
it's
within
us
the
believers
within
you
resides
the
power
of
the
universe
and
you
have
the
kingdom
within
we
ask
ourselves
well how
can that
be
how
can
I
be
a
person
where
his
kingdom
reigns
that's
the
question
we
have
to
ask
ourselves
does
his
kingdom
reign
in
us
is
Christ
within
me
is
the
Holy
Spirit
within
me
am
I
doing
my
part
to
help
proclaim
this
kingdom
of
God
so
how
does
that
happen
how
do
we
get
put
in
that
position
to
say
I
don't
want
to
call
it
as
my
responsibility
but
in
a way
it
is
it's
my
calling
he's
called
all
of
us
that
are
here
for
a
purpose
same
as
he
was
doing
so
when
he
was
speaking
with
Nicodemus
a
wise
man
that
wanted
to
know
more
about
he
was
intrigued
by
this
person
named
Christ
Jesus
Christ
when
he
came
to
him
basically
asking
those
questions
of
how
is
it
that
what
you're
saying
how
can
it
be
true
so
this
happens
because
when
we
accept
that
invitation
God's
invitation
to be
part
of
the
kingdom
then
we
understand
so
in
John
3
3
which
is
found
in
your
Bibles
on
page
1055
tells
us
how
that
invitation
goes
about
as
he
was
talking
to
Nicodemus
John
3
3
on
your
Bibles
it's
page
1055
John
3
3
it
reads
Jesus
answered
him
truly
truly
I
say
to
you
unless
one
is
born
again
he
cannot
see
the
kingdom
of
God
must
be
born
again
and
of
course
we
can
see
in
those
scriptures
Nicodemus
responds
how
can
a man
be
born
when
he
is
old
well
yes
we
can
because
in
John
we
see
a
strong
correlation
between
the
kingdom
of
God
and
eternal
life
nowhere
do we
see
more
clearly
that
Jesus
in
his
encounter
with
Nicodemus
basically
saying
just
as
you
have
had
a
physical
birth
so
you
must
have
a
spiritual
birth
then
we
become
subjects
of the
kingdom
within
a
kingdom
we
are
part
of
the
kingdom
of
this
world
but
our
allegiance
is to
another
kingdom
we're
asking
for that
change
to come
about
us
in that
spiritual
growth
as
we were
singing
today
lead me
to the
cross
said
rid
me
of
myself
when we
accept
that
invitation
we're
accepting
that
rid me
of
myself
put
all
that
is
not
of
you
Lord
put
it
away
because
why
because
I
belong
to
you
now
because
I've
accepted
that
invitation
it
says
lead
me
to
the
cross
because
that's
where we
find the
forgiveness
of sins
at the
cross
and I
think
that's
one of
the
areas
where
many
individuals
struggle
I
know
it
was
one
of
my
struggles
how
I
could
be
forgiven
for
what
I
had
done
how
could
that
be
obviously
I
don't
doesn't
leave
my
mind
because
it's
still
there
but
as
that
thought
comes
to
my
mind
of
who
I
was
so
does
his
calling
knowing
that
I
am
with
him
I
am
part
of
him
he
is
with
me
and
I
can
accept
that
forgiveness
that he
has
brought
forth
there
was
another
talking
about
being
within
one
kingdom
into
another
kingdom
or
being
in
the
situation
where
we
are
now
on
this
earth
but
yet
we
are
of
God
mother
Teresa
once
said
my
blood
and
my
origin
in
other
words
birth
I
am
Albanian
kingdom
my
citizenship
is
in
India
Indian
her
practice
of
faith
at
the
time
she
said
I
am
a
Catholic
nun
servant
of
the
Lord
as
to
my
calling
I
belong
to
the
whole
world
she
said
same
as
yours
your
calling
belongs
to
the
whole
world
but
she
closed
it
off
by
saying
as
my
heart
I
belong
entirely
to
Jesus
so
how
we
can
see
yes
we're
on
this
earth
we're
bound
by
the
laws
that
of
this
earth
but
we
also
must
recognize
that
yes
we
are
citizens
of
Ontario
Oregon
of
the
United
States
and
your
ethnic
origin
but
you
belong
to
Jesus
you
belong
to
his
kingdom
you
are
his
kingdom
and
it's
available
to
all
men
New
Testament
that's
what it
is
it's
God
calling
his
people
back
but
in
the
Gospel
of
John
we
see
that
Jesus
is
developing
the
concept
of
the
kingdom
further
and
further
and
further
I
say
that
because
John
the
book
of
John
is
one
of
my
favorite
books
it was
one
that I
spent a
lot of
time
with
when I
first
came to
Christ
because
he's
speaking
to the
new
believer
so
it
meant
a lot
to
me
it
does
mean
a
lot
to
me
and
his
kingdom
was
achieved
by
the
way
of
the
cross
another
scripture
there
that's
in
John
12
32
and
it's
in
1066
68
of
your
of
your
Bibles
1068
excuse
me
so
we
know
that
the
kingdom
was
achieved
by
the
way
of
the
cross
and
there
in
John

John 12:32
12
verse
32
he
says
and
when
I
am
lifted
up
from
the
earth
will
draw
all
people
to
myself
that
is
when
he
proclaimed
the
forgiveness
of
sins
and
now
he
ascends
into
heaven
to
sit
on
the
right
hand
of
God
and
sends
his
Holy
Spirit
to
dwell
with
us
to
complete
the
work
and
I
was
thinking
this
when
I
was
reading
through
this
and
kind
of
preparing
it
I
was
reading
the
scriptures
where
he
was
crucified
placed
on
the
cross
and
it
came
to
me
in
an
interesting
way
that
the
cross
had
to
be
laid
down
horizontally
so
they
could
nail
him
to
the
cross
but
then
what
happened
it
was
lifted
up
that's
where
he's
saying
you're
coming
with
me
I'm
lifting
up
I'm
going
to
be
with
my
father
and
we
will
send
the
Holy
Spirit
to
continue
the
work
of
building
the
kingdom
so
Jesus
in the
verses
that we
read
here
he's
looking
of course
at his
death
on the
cross
when he
reads
when he
says
and I
will be
lifted up
from the
earth
and will
draw all
people
to
myself
the
death
that was
necessary
to
herald
the
coming
of the
kingdom
just as
he told
Nicodemus
I tell
you the
truth
no one
can see
the kingdom
of God
unless they
are born
again
so he
establishes
the church
the new
birth
is a gift
from God
that we
respond
to God's
gift by
giving of
ourselves
back to
him
and responding
to that
call of
discipleship
once you
proclaim
yes
I accept
that invitation
to be
born again
your work
now begins
as a
disciple
and that's
where we
have to
look at it
and say
okay
that's
the call
am I
ready
because
if we
were to
continue
reading in
the scriptures
when the
church was
born in
the book
of Acts
it starts
out beautifully
because we
see so
many people
coming to
Christ
but then
about
midway
we find
that the
Romans
the kingdom
or the
nation of
that time
did not
want that
word to
spread
so what
happened
we see the
persecution
of the
church
so if you
go with me
to Acts

Acts 8:1
chapter 8
verse 1
and it's on
1088 in
your Bibles
I believe
yeah
yeah
1088
there in
Acts

Acts 8:1
chapter 8
verse 1
it's called
Saul's
rabbit
the church
right
you all know
who Saul
was but
it's already
been
a change
has come
about
and Saul
approved
the execution
and those
there arose
on that
day a
great
persecution
against the
church of
Jerusalem
and they
were all
scattered
throughout the
region of
Judea and
Samaria
except the
apostles
so a
persecution
took on
you were
found to be
known as a
Christian
you were
probably going
to be put
to death
or imprisoned
so as we
read those
scriptures
and you
say yes
I accept
the invitation
I accept
to be a
disciple
because if we
look the
early church
was mercifully
persecuted by
the Roman
state in
the first two
centuries of
the first
millennium
indeed
they had
not paid
the price
if they
had not
paid the
price I
should say
we would
not be
here
possibly not
reading of
Christ in
his Bible
so God
used the
persecution
yes to
accomplish his
purpose
but the
only thing
that could
have prevented
the gospel
from expanding
and his
kingdom
continuing to
grow
would have
been found
in the
word
apathy
apathy
is a
state of
indifference
characterized
by a
profound
lack
of
motivation
or
emotion
or
interest
and is
not
goal
directed
behavior
so let me
read that
again
apathy is a
state of
indifference
not fully
accepting
possibly
characterized
by the
lack of
motivation
taking on
the work
as a
disciple
that emotion
that love
not just for
Christ but
for one
another
in the
interest to
spend time
in his
word
in its
goal directed
behavior
and I
applaud
both
Patrick and
Amber for
the efforts
that they're
doing in
this church
in trying to
reach the
community
and I
have battled
within me
because
sometimes
yes I
hate to
say I'm
busy
but
thank
goodness
that is
just an
excuse
for not
coming
alongside
them
as the
church
so today
it's a
call
basically
of
repentance
in one
that we
accept the
invitation
we're born
again
we become
disciples
and we
turn from
our own
selfishness
in ways
so that we
can follow
Christ
so the
purpose
in closing
here and
talking about
the purpose
of God's
kingdom
is found
through
repentance
I must
repent
must accept
that I am
a sinner
and I
accept
Christ's
forgiveness
obedience
obedience
in reading
the word
spending
time
in the
word
speaking
to others
discipleship
I must
say that
God
knows
what we
want to
do
and what
we desire
to do
and since
I would
say
the early
2000s
I feel
that God
had placed
that calling
on me
to
proclaim
his word
first
as a
youth
ministry
and
then in
other
types
of
ministries
and I
appreciate
the opportunity
that
Patrick
gives me
here as
well
but
God
do
and
he placed
a calling
on me
and
I can
see
repentance
and I
can see
growth
in the
church
when I
go out
to
the
Snake
River
Correctional
Institution
and I
speak with
those men
many of
them have
expressed
to me
yes
I was
lost
in the
world
a sinner
but
in those
walls
they say
they have
found the
most freedom
they've
ever had
why
because
they came
to Christ
accepted
those
forgiveness
of sins
and have
made a
pledge
to proclaim
his word
in and
where they
are
sometimes
they tell
me
I spend
my time
on the
word
because
that's
all I
have
is
time
and it
fills my
heart
to see
that
and I
can see
that
when I'm
speaking
with them
when I'm
when we're
basically doing
ministry
together
and I
pray for
them
that if
they do
at one
point
get to
again
be with
their
friends
and family
on the
outside
that that
work
continues
to grow
and that's
how it
works
folks
I talk
to one
another
one
talks
to
another
one
next
thing
you
know
we'll
have to
make an
addition
to this
church
is that
okay
Patrick
so yes
that is
the purpose
of the
kingdom
repentance
obedience
and
discipleship
if you
bow your
heads
with me
and we'll
ask our
Lord to
guide us
in that
heavenly
father
lord
lord
i thank
you again
for this
opportunity
to share
your word
be a part
of that
growth
that is
happening
in this
church
and within
us
and lord
i just
ask that
you just
bless
each and
every
person
in here
that these
words that
were spoken
have
penetrated
their hearts
their minds
and that
we not
live in a
state of
apathy
that we
have that
motivation
that goal
directed
purpose
of growing
your kingdom
and we
ask this
in the name
of your
precious
son
Jesus
amen
thank you