The Citizens Kingdom - Emanuel Yoder 6-8-24

Good morning to each one, and greetings. And the one who has called

us out of darkness into his marvelous light. What is a light to be

a part of that kingdom. It's a wonderful blessing to be a part of

that kingdom. But it's not all roses either. For a few beginning scriptures,

tewod Peter one, verses two through four says, this grace and peace

be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life

and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and

virtue, whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises, that by

these he might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that

is in the world through lust. So Peter here is desiring that grace and

peace be multiplied to his recipients, and that is possible through the knowledge of

God and Jesus our Lord. And this I trust is the reason we're here

today to have that grace and peace upon our lives. By learning more of

our great God. In the Christian life in as citizens of that kingdom.

God knows that we have needs. But verse three tells us that He has

given us according as his divine power. Hath given us to us all things

that pertain to life and godliness. God has given to us what we need

for the Christian life as part of His kingdom. You know, I had

to wonder already what is wrong when some Christians fumble along in life and it

seems like church life is just a burden to them. What knowledge of God

do they have? Do they want to know God? Psalm one nineteen,

verse one sixty five says, great peace have they which love Thy law,

and nothing shall offend them. I believe it's referring to nothing in God's word.

To someone who loves God, who loves his law, we won't say,

well, Lord, I don't like this or that's in your word,

and we will gladly do and follow what God's word says. No wonder Jesus

said, for where your treasure is, there will your heart be? Also?

Where's our treasure this morning? Is it in the redemption that we have

found through Jesus Christ, citizens of the Kingdom. I appreciate very much the

message we already heard about the King's kingdom and how God where God has put

in place for his kingdom. And now you and I are citizens of that

kingdom. I hope that's important to us. So the title citizens of the

kingdom, it means that where there's a kingdom, then there's also a king

And where there's a kingdom, then there are those living under that kingdom.

Are you a citizen of that kingdom? Now? I don't know what you're

expecting today in this message. If you're expecting to learn something new about this

kingdom, you're probably going to be disappointed. But if you're here and desire

to hear again what the Word of God has has to say, you'll probably

be blessed. Because the principles for godly living applied to all times and places,

and God has given us directions for his citizens. Jesus preached much about

the Kingdom of Heaven, and when he came here, like Steve already brought

out, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Repent for the Kingdom of

Heaven is at hand. The Kingdom of Heaven is likened to this or to

that. All throughout the scriptures or the Gospels, I should say there's so

many examples parables of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like. So he was

introducing a completely new concept to the religious people of that day, and many

didn't take too well to what he was teaching. It didn't fit their lifestyle

or their way of thinking. And that seems all too true today as well.

Because it doesn't fit someone's way of thinking or they're the lifestyle they want

to live, then they don't appreciate what Jesus has to say and what Christ

expects of those in his kingdom. So the citizens of that kingdom are those

who have voluntarily chosen to enter that kingdom by God's call and by God's way,

and for God's glory. So are you a citizen of that kingdom?

If you have your Bibles, turn with me to one Peter chapter one.

We'll use that for Texas Morning. One Peter chapter one will read the first

twenty verses Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus,

Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Elect according to the foreknowledge

of God the Father, through sanctification of the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling

of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, which according

to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled,

And that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by

the power of God through faith, unto salvation ready to be revealed in the

last time, wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if

need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations, that the trial of

your faith, being much more precious than of gold, that perisheth, though

it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory

at the appearing of Jesus Christ, whom, having not seen, ye love,

in whom though now ye see him not yet believing, ye rejoice with

joy unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith, even

the salvation of your souls, of which salvation the prophets have inquired him,

searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you, searching

what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did

signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should

follow unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves, but unto us,

they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have

preached the gospel unto you. With the holy ghosts, send down from heaven

which things the angels desire to look into. Wherefore, gird up the loins

of your mind, be sober and hope to the end for the grace that

is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ, as obedient

children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lust in your ignorance, but

as he which hath called you is holy. So be ye holy in all

manner of conversation, because it is written, be ye holy, for I

am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who, without respect

of persons, judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your

sojourney here in fear, forasmuch as you know that you were not redeemed with

corruptible things as silver and gold from your vain conversation received by tradition from your

fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without

blemish and without spot, who verily was fordained before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times for you that will stop reading there.

The wonder of the kingdom is point number one, The wonder of this

kingdom verse twelve. Unto who is revealed to us that the things that this

is this kingdom, things that the Angel desire to look into because of what

Christ has done for us. As citizens of that kingdom, we can be

part of something that the angels themselves are interested in. Angels have never experienced

the saving grace that you and I have experienced Verse ten, of which salvation

the prophets have inquired and searched diligently. Who prophesied of the grace that should

come unto you? The prophets of old prophesied about the things that we are

now living in the day of Grace the New Testament Church, and we are

part of that kingdom. In Tewod Peter Chapter two, and I'm sorry it

is the one Peter Chapter two, verses nine and ten, The wonder of

the Kingdom. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and holy

nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of Him

who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, which in time

past we're not a people, but are now the people of God, which

had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy? Is it precious to

you to be part of that kingdom? And these verses here is the way

God views this kingdom. It's not something that we have come up with.

It's not terms that man has come up with. It is bribe God's kingdom.

But God speaking, he says, you are a chosen generation, a

royal priesthood. You know, if this is not meaningful to you to be

part of that kingdom, I fear for your future. He calls it a

royal priesthood and a holy nation. When I think of a royal a royal

priesthood, I have to think of kings maybe in Great Britain, a royal

family. And we are God's royal family. He's not afraid or shamed to

call them brethren, says a peculiar people. Now, this peculiar. Sometimes

the word peculiar we might think of as something that's a little odd or different,

something that really stands out. Maybe some of this we sometimes use a

phrase it stands out like a sore thumb. But that's not what this word

means here. Now, maybe you've already felt that felt the eyes of the

world upon you is in maybe in places of business, people watch you and

you feel like they're wondering about who in the world is that person? Why

do they dress like that? That's not the peculiar people that this is.

That's not the meaning of this peculiar people here. Now, I have a

few items at home. I didn't bring them with me to use an illustration

Simla because of the travel involved. But a couple of items that were given

to me some years ago by some of my students. And one of them

is a is a coffee mug. Well, we use the term coffee mug

whenever I use it as a ta mug. But it's a very a very

interesting cup, my favorite one. It has a nice on the outside of

the cup. It says prayer changes things. And it has a nice wide

lip at the top where it kind of curves out, and it has a

writing on their first Thessalonians five eighteen. I think it is I'm not sure,

but it says pray without ceasing. And then it has a nice lid

to go over the top, and so when you put your hot water in

there and your tea bag, you put the lid on and it'll help steep

that tea. And once it's ready, you can take the top the cap

off and turn it over. And it has a holder for the bottom of

the cup to set in as a coaster. And it's just it's the only

cup we have like it in the house. So it's kind of special because

of its features and also because of you know, it is given by a

student. The other one is also very special. It's a little piece of

what looks like elk antler that was made by a student, and it has

a little flat spark carved out on top of the antler and on the bottom

so it'll set the rest where I won't roll over. But a little tiny

pin about three or four inches long. I don't know how, but somehow

you got a little piece of a pen put into this small antler about maybe

the size of my little finger, but it'll actually write the pen does.

I don't use it much variety because I want to just save it because it's

special to me. And on the front of the larger antler, like the

base where the small pen rests upon, is carved out the word teacher.

And on the end of the antler is the name of the student carved out

at the end of the antler. Now, for if I would give that

to any of you, it probably wouldn't mean much to you because it's it

wasn't doesn't necessarily pertain to you. But for me it's special because it reminds

me of of good memories of you know, bygone days, and of that

student. Those items are special to me. And this word peculiar people simply

means the private, special, treasured possession of God. It's the way God

views the citizens of his kingdom. It's something special to him. Yes,

sure, to the world we look God, we've you know, we don't

mean much to them. We're in too many cases the world looks at us

as with disdain. But to God we're that special, treasured possession that Christ

was willing to give his life for shed his blood. And how a person

becomes a citizen of this kingdom is also a wonder. John chapter three.

We won't turn to it, but the new birth. Excepting man be born

again, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. You know, one is

one who is born in the United States is by nature a citizen, and

so one must be born into the Kingdom of God as well. I do

want to turn to Mark chapter ten, verse thirteen through sixteen. And they

brought young children to him, that he should touch them, and his disciples

rebuke those that brought them. But when Jesus saw it, he was much

displeased and said, unto them, suffer or allow the little children to come

unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the Kingdom of

God. Verily, I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom

of God as a little child, he cannot enter therein. And he took

them up in his arms and put his hands upon them and bless them.

The wonder of God's kingdom, those of his citizens, is that we must

become as little children to enter that kingdom. We must be born again,

be born into that kingdom. It can't be entered upon simply by doing more

good than bad, but it must be by the new birth. We enter

that kingdom through the precious blood of Christ. I've already read those verses there

in one Peter Wan verse eighteen through twenty. But with the precious blood of

Christ, and I trust his blood is precious to us. So that's the

wonder of the Kingdom, the entrance into that kingdom. And this subject citizens

of the Kingdom. There's so many the spectrum is so broad. I found

it difficult to know what specifically to bring into the message this morning. But

we'd like to just look at different points of citizens of the Kingdom, the

way God expects his citizens to live. So the next point is the talk

of the citizens. James Chapter one, verse twenty six says, if any

man among you see to be religious, and brideleth not his tongue, but

to see with his own heart, this man's religion is vain. How's your

talk this morning? Is your religion vain? Our talk can invalidate our religion.

Bridleth not his tongue. Bridled means to be under control. Behold,

we put bits in the horse's mouths, and that is to be in control

of the horse. Is my tongue in control? And then a few verses

in Matthew, chapter twelve, verse thirty four says, Oh, generation of

vipers, how can ye, being evil speak good things? For out of

the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh a good man out of the good

treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things, And an evil man, out

of the evil treasure, bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you

that every idle word that meant speak, they shall give a counter of in

the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and

by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Our words are important to our king.

What kind of words that we use, how we speak, what we

say in the workplace throughout the week? What do non Christian friends, those

we rubbed shoulders with, what do they know us as concerning our words?

I think it's important that we be careful and we don't use a worldly terms

and language in our speech. And just one thing that has bothered me already

I've heard at different times, but we live in a world where homosexuality is

becoming more and more prevalent than open And something that bothers me is when I

use people using the slur gay, which I understand that the homosexuals have appropriated

for themselves back in the forties or fifties. I've heard that word being used

as an insult against others or maybe something someone has done that we don't like.

We say, oh, that's so gay? Is that talk? Is

that kind of talk? Should that be part of the citizens talk? You

know, using this insult is not helping the cause of the Kingdom to use

insulting an inflammatory language like that, but instead we ought to have a burden

for the destiny of their souls who they are as a person. It's our

talk. The talk of the citizens needs to reflect the King that we serve

the life of the citizens, just general life in general holy living that's found

in verses thirteen through seventeen of our text. Gird up the loins of your

mind, be sober. How do we think even our thinking should be different

as part of that kingdom? Be holy for I am holy. They're in

verse sixteen as it is written, be holy for I am holy. You

know, the call to holy living was not something new only in the New

Testament. Although I do believe that the standard was raised. But this verse

sixteen is in reference to the scripture from out of Leviticus. We are sojourners.

As a citizen, this world is not our home. We're just passing

through. A sojournal is one who lives in a foreign place. Is this

world foreign to you? Do we think in those terms that we're just passing

through? It's not a permanent home. I know we all know that.

But do we make a conscious effort of thinking and living accordingly? What about

a love for the world? One John two, verse fifteen says love not

the world, neither of the things that are in the world. If any

man loved the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

Where's my love? Where your treasury is there, will your heart be also?

Non resistance? Whether Steve mentioned the verse there in John eighteen, verse

thirty six, where Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world.

If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight. But

his kingdom is not of this world. Non resistance. As citizens, we

cannot defend ourself with physical means. Matthew Chapter ten, verse sixteen and seventeen.

Jesus gives some words on this Matthew Chapter ten, verse sixteen, and

seventeen. Jesus talking to his disciples and how he's going to send them forth.

He says, behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst

of wolves. Be therefore wisest serpents, and harmless as does. But beware

of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they

will scourge you in their synagogues. Sheep among wolves. That's how Jesus sends

forth his citizens ass wolves. We could say we're dinner for the wolves.

How helpless is a sheep in the midst of wolves. There's no way a

sheep can outrun a wolf or outfight the wolf. How would we in America

do under severe persecution? I trust we're grateful to live in a land of

religious freedom. At least we have religious freedoms at this point in time,

at although I do believe it's being encroached upon. But I fear that we

subconsciously have the mentality that somehow we deserve this freedom. Because this is the

United States of America, you know, it was the land of the Free.

We have rights to worship how we want. We have a right to

a good life to enjoy life. But I think we do well to contemplate

these things we're on as citizens. We are citizens of a kingdom that's not

of this world. How do we live? What right do we have as

a citizen of God's kingdom which is not of this world? What rights do

we have in this world? Anyway? Revelations Chapter twenty two, verse fourteen

tells us what we have a right to. Blessed are they that do His

commandments? That they may have right to the Tree of life and may enter

in through the gates into the city. The citizen of Politics Romans, chapter

thirteen. I won't read the verses there, but we know that well.

We are citizens of God's kingdom living in this earthly kingdom, and we do

have certain obligations to meet as long as it doesn't conflict with God's higher law.

We pay our taxes, We live quiet, peaceable life. We pray

for our government those God has placed over us. But we don't get involved

in the governing of this world because we're not part of this earthly kingdom.

As citizens of God, we are ambassadors for Christ. Two Corinthians Chapter five

or seventeen through twenty one, An ambassador is one who is serving in a

foreign country, representing the country from which he is from. So like the

verse says, there now, then we are ambassadors for Christ. What do

people see? Do they see that this person, he truly is from another

country, He's representing a different king. I like to look a little bit,

yet, five citizens relating to citizens praise God for the Church in Ephesians

chapter four. Turn with me to that. If you have your bibles Ephesians

chapter four, maybe all read verse thirteen through chapter four, verse six,

thinking of Christ's kingdom here on this earth, known as the Church. Wherefore

I desire that ye faint not on my tribulation for you, which is your

glory. For this cause I bow my knees onto the Father of our Lord,

Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory,

to be strengthened with might by His spirit in the inner man, that Christ

may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye, being rooted and grounded

in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints. What is the

breadth and length, and depth and height and to know the Love of Christ,

which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of

God now unto Him that is able to do, exceeding abundantly above all that

we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto

Him, be glory in the Church by Christ Jesus, throughout all ages world

without end. Amen. I. Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord beseech

you that ye walk worthy of the vocation, wherewith ye are called, with

all lowliness and meekness, with long suffering, forbearing one another in love,

endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There

is one body, one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope

of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God

and Father of all, who is above all and through all, and in

you all Verse twelve and sixteen. Yet it is for the perfecting of the

Saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body

of Christ Verse sixteen, from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted

by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure

of every part maketh increase unto the body of the body, unto the edifying

of itself in love. Just a few comments on a few of these verses.

Being rooted and grounded in Chapter three, verse seventeen, it speaks of

being planted, speaks of life and growth and fruit bearing. The comprehension I

believe comes after we're rooted and grounded. And to know the love of Christ,

which passes knowledge. Now that to me sound like a paradox. How

can we know something that passes knowledge? The terminology uses here to know the

love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. But there's a purpose for that,

that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. So praise God.

He has given us everything that we need to live as citizens here in

this wicked world, exceeding abundantly that He can do, exceeding abundantly above all

that we ask or think. It says, according to the power that worketh

in us, I believe God's power in our life for godly living is limited

only to ourself and how much we extend ourself to His knowledge, to the

love of God within us. So it puts a responsibility upon us to have

that power. Now, think of the local church in any given area.

This power to live a godly life is multiplied by, let's say, a

congregation of fifty members, the powerful testimony of this citizen that's not of this

world, going out in this world, so those around us. There is

glory in the church, and it is for His glory, for God's glory

in the Church throughout all ages world without end. You know, One Strengthians

thirteen is written in the context of the workings of the church. If you

look at chapter twelve, First Corinthians and Chapter fourteen, it's referring to the

workings of the church, and First Strengthens thirteen is right in between those.

You know, how many church problems could be avoided if there was never envy

in the church. Bible says love envy is not What if there was never

selfishness in the church? Or how many problems begin by thinking evil? As

citizens of Christ, of God's kingdom, do we have the love of Christ

ruling in our hearts? John thirteen, verse thirty five. I think it

is says by this shall all men know that ye are might disciples? If

he have love one to another. And then I have to think of Romans

Chapter twelve, verse one and two. As citizens of God we ought to

live. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,

that He present your bodies a living sacrifice holy acceptable unto God, which

is your reasonable service. So, as citizens of God's Kingdom, we do

have a service for God. For our King present our bodies a living sacrifice.

In the Old Testament times, Zion often referred to God's people and the

future Church. There's a few verses that bless me that I want to use

in closing and thinking of citizens of the Kingdom the Church of God, Lamentations,

Chapter two, verse fifteen says and is referring to the daughter of Jerusalem

Zion. All that passed by clap their hands at the They hiss and wag

their head at the Daughter of Zion, saying is this the city that men

call the perfection of beauty? The joy of the whole earth? So it

seems that even back then there was this knowledge of the perfection of beauty,

which is the people of God. And because of the state that the children

of Israel were in, like it, says men pass by, the hiss,

wag their head and basically a mockery. Oh, is this the supposed

to be the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth. I

trust that's not what the world is saying about the Church of God today.

But Psalm fifty, verse two, may this be our desire and testimony in

our individual churches. It's just a simple verse out of Zion, the perfection

of beauty. God has shined. And that's God's desire for his kingdom,

that it shines forth in this dark world. Because God has called us out

of darkness into his marvelous light. Let's not disappoint our King, but live

according to the power that He's given to us. Live such a life that

testifies of His saving grace. Turn the time over. It's our moderator.