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00:00:00Last week we began to see that the living of Noah and his family after the flood and outside the
00:00:12ark on a new earth signifies a life in resurrection.
00:00:22Remember the ark as a type of Christ signifies Christ in resurrection passing through death.
00:00:38So in Christ, who is the resurrection life and power, we pass through the death waters and are conveyed into
00:00:53a realm of resurrection.
00:00:57And we begin to have, after our baptism into Christ and into his death and into the body of Christ,
00:01:08we begin to have a life in resurrection.
00:01:17On the one hand, this life in resurrection enables us and even motivates us to live the church life.
00:01:29So last week, we considered life in resurrection part one, a seed of the church life.
00:01:42And we consider the type and the New Testament reality, emphasizing the testimony of the gospel of John to Christ
00:01:53as resurrection, applying himself as resurrection, changing water into wine, changing death into life for the building up of the
00:02:08mystical body of Christ.
00:02:12Now we look at the living of Noah and his family as a life in resurrection from a slightly different
00:02:23perspective.
00:02:25And we call this a shadow of the kingdom.
00:02:30We will see that with Noah, God established human government.
00:02:40The government of man over man now exists for the first time.
00:02:49This is not yet the kingdom of God.
00:02:53It is actually a human kingdom, but it is a shadow of what is to come, the eternal kingdom of
00:03:06God.
00:03:09God, I would appeal to you, if you have a recollection of last week's meeting, of our enjoyment, of singing.
00:03:21What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus changed water to wine.
00:03:28That we not try to repeat, we never have to repeat in a routine way.
00:03:39Rather, tonight we need to be calm.
00:03:44We need to be exercised in spirit and heart and mind.
00:03:51And we need to present and to receive some clear, even in outline, comprehensive teaching from the scriptures regarding the
00:04:06kingdom of God.
00:04:11That is why, in addition to the outline, we provided excerpts taken from Brother Watchman Nee's important book, Authority and
00:04:23Submission.
00:04:25We will not read these during the meeting.
00:04:29We will do well to finish the outline and to allow the spirit, the liberty, to respond to our praying
00:04:40and our prophesying.
00:04:42So I have no burden to try to bring in an element of excitement, not even an element of inspiration
00:04:52into the meeting.
00:04:54If the spirit flows out in that way, who are we to resist him or to quench him?
00:05:04But we should be like the disciples, in a positive sense, like the disciples, in Luke 24.
00:05:15And experience the three openings mentioned in that chapter of the Gospel of Luke.
00:05:26First, the Lord opened the scriptures.
00:05:34So eventually, the two could testify, were not our hearts burning within us, while he opened to us the scriptures.
00:05:47We need the scriptures opened.
00:05:52We should not presume that we, with our natural intelligence, can understand, much less open, the word of God.
00:06:02We need the resurrected Christ, right here, right now, to open the scriptures.
00:06:14Then, as you recall, those two disciples, invited the Lord to stay with them in some kind of inn.
00:06:27And they sat down at the table, and he took the bread and broke it, and their eyes were opened.
00:06:37And they saw him.
00:06:40So first, the scriptures were opened.
00:06:44Then their eyes were opened to see the Lord.
00:06:50Then they returned to where the others were gathering.
00:06:56And suddenly, unexpectedly, the Lord manifested himself.
00:07:03And he addressed them.
00:07:06He demonstrated that he was not a specter, or ghost, or phantom.
00:07:12But had a body of flesh and bones.
00:07:15Although he was also life-giving spirit.
00:07:20And then he opened their minds.
00:07:24That they would understand the scriptures.
00:07:28He opened their minds.
00:07:32According to Matthew chapter 11.
00:07:37In principle.
00:07:40The Lord.
00:07:43Hides.
00:07:44The revelation.
00:07:46Of the father and his economy.
00:07:48And the father conceals the revelation concerning his son.
00:07:53From those who are wise and intelligent in themselves.
00:07:59But it is revealed to babes.
00:08:03To those who will be simple.
00:08:06Who can take in a new thought.
00:08:09Please remember that regarding the kingdom of God.
00:08:14The Lord Jesus himself said.
00:08:17Unless you become like little children.
00:08:23There will be no way you will enter into the kingdom.
00:08:28So it's our responsibility to determine whether we will exercise confidence.
00:08:34In ourselves.
00:08:36In ourselves.
00:08:36In our minds.
00:08:37In our knowledge.
00:08:38In our intellect.
00:08:39In our view.
00:08:40I frankly find such confidence.
00:08:46Among brothers.
00:08:49Frightening.
00:08:52Because the Lord as the spirit has no way.
00:08:58The Lord tonight.
00:09:01Wants to teach us concerning the kingdom.
00:09:06He wants to open the scriptures.
00:09:09To open our eyes.
00:09:11And to open our minds.
00:09:17And he has provided us.
00:09:20An outline in three sections.
00:09:23And we need.
00:09:25Carefully.
00:09:28Patiently.
00:09:30Quietly.
00:09:33But with more exercise.
00:09:36Than if we were really high and excited.
00:09:41To go through all the points.
00:09:43To read a number of verses.
00:09:47Hopefully with a seeking heart.
00:09:50And a praying spirit.
00:09:54The Lord instructed us.
00:09:57To seek first.
00:10:00The kingdom.
00:10:02Seek first.
00:10:04The father's kingdom.
00:10:07And his righteousness.
00:10:10And by the Lord's mercy and grace tonight.
00:10:13As your brother.
00:10:14And the Lord's slave.
00:10:17Serving.
00:10:18My being is set.
00:10:22On the father's kingdom.
00:10:26For the remaining time in this message.
00:10:31Nothing else matters.
00:10:33And no one else matters.
00:10:35But the kingdom of God.
00:10:38And the Christ of God.
00:10:41For the economy of God.
00:10:46So as those who are willing to receive mercy.
00:10:51To humble themselves.
00:10:53Or if necessary.
00:10:54To be humbled.
00:10:56And become like little children.
00:10:58Let's admit.
00:10:59Let's admit.
00:11:00That we need the pictures.
00:11:03We need the pictures.
00:11:05In the Old Testament.
00:11:09And we may say the New Testament.
00:11:12Which gives the definitions.
00:11:14Places the captions.
00:11:17Or explanations.
00:11:19Under the pictures.
00:11:22And when we see the pictures.
00:11:24And when we see the picture.
00:11:25With the explanation.
00:11:27We have the possibility.
00:11:30Of having the scriptures opened.
00:11:32Our eyes opened.
00:11:34And our minds opened.
00:11:35To see.
00:11:37The kingdom.
00:11:38Of God.
00:11:40The Lord said in John.
00:11:42Chapter 3.
00:11:43That unless a person.
00:11:46Is born again.
00:11:49Or born from above.
00:11:52He cannot see.
00:11:55The kingdom of God.
00:11:57It may be all around him.
00:12:00But by the natural human life.
00:12:04We cannot see.
00:12:08We need to receive.
00:12:11The life of the kingdom.
00:12:12By being born of God.
00:12:15Then we may see.
00:12:18Behold.
00:12:20Recognize.
00:12:21Appreciate.
00:12:23And understand.
00:12:25The kingdom.
00:12:26The Lord went on to say.
00:12:28That unless one is born of water.
00:12:31And of the spirit.
00:12:32He cannot enter into the kingdom.
00:12:36We must have the negative aspect.
00:12:38Of being terminated.
00:12:40In baptism.
00:12:42Rejecting everything.
00:12:43Of the old realm.
00:12:46And dispensation.
00:12:47And be born of the spirit.
00:12:50To have the life of God.
00:12:52Which life.
00:12:53Is the life of the kingdom of God.
00:12:56And then we will see.
00:12:58We will desire.
00:13:00We will live in.
00:13:03And we will fight for the kingdom of God.
00:13:10So let's go to the first section of the outline.
00:13:14Which is all based on the type.
00:13:17Or the picture.
00:13:19Or the shadow.
00:13:20Roman 1 says.
00:13:23Noah and his family.
00:13:25Lived a life.
00:13:28In resurrection.
00:13:30And this life.
00:13:33In resurrection.
00:13:34Was a shadow.
00:13:37Of the kingdom.
00:13:39The verses.
00:13:41From chapter 8.
00:13:44Point to.
00:13:46Resurrection.
00:13:47The ark rested.
00:13:49On a mountain.
00:13:53Signifying resurrection.
00:13:55Eight.
00:13:56A number of resurrection.
00:13:58Came forth from the ark.
00:14:00Signifying.
00:14:02The people in resurrection.
00:14:04In a realm of resurrection.
00:14:07Living a life.
00:14:09In resurrection.
00:14:11This brings us.
00:14:13To chapter 9.
00:14:16And verse 1 says.
00:14:18And God blessed Noah.
00:14:20And his sons.
00:14:22And said to them.
00:14:24Be fruitful.
00:14:26And multiply.
00:14:28And fill the earth.
00:14:30This brings us back.
00:14:31To Genesis chapter 1.
00:14:34Humankind made in the image of God.
00:14:37Given dominion.
00:14:38To represent God.
00:14:40And then God.
00:14:41Blessed them.
00:14:43So the first thing we need.
00:14:46Right here.
00:14:47Right now.
00:14:48Is God's blessing.
00:14:50Oh Lord.
00:14:52Bless your recovery.
00:14:53Bless the seeking saints.
00:14:59And then.
00:15:01In verse 6.
00:15:03God established.
00:15:05Human government.
00:15:06In the following way.
00:15:09Whoever sheds man's blood.
00:15:13By man.
00:15:15Shall his blood be shed.
00:15:18For in the image of God.
00:15:20He made man.
00:15:23Prior to this.
00:15:25There had been no.
00:15:28Human.
00:15:30Whatever.
00:15:31On earth.
00:15:33In the garden.
00:15:35Before the fall.
00:15:36The man and the woman.
00:15:38Lived.
00:15:39By their intuition.
00:15:41In fellowship with God.
00:15:43They fell.
00:15:44The conscience was activated.
00:15:47And functioned according to the knowledge of good and evil.
00:15:50And then for a long period of time.
00:15:54Humankind.
00:15:55Supposedly.
00:15:56Was to live according to the conscience.
00:15:59No one.
00:16:01No one.
00:16:01No one.
00:16:02Had just.
00:16:03Or righteous authority.
00:16:05Over anyone else.
00:16:07There was the exercise of.
00:16:10Brute.
00:16:10Power.
00:16:12Force.
00:16:12And violence.
00:16:14But that is not government.
00:16:16That is bestiality.
00:16:19But the result of that.
00:16:21Was lawlessness.
00:16:22And chaos.
00:16:23And man's becoming flesh.
00:16:27So when God had another beginning.
00:16:30With Noah and his family.
00:16:33In resurrection.
00:16:35He instituted.
00:16:37Government.
00:16:38And designated.
00:16:41Noah.
00:16:42As the deputy authority.
00:16:44Of God.
00:16:46And if necessary.
00:16:48This deputy authority.
00:16:50Could inflict.
00:16:52The death penalty.
00:16:53You shed.
00:16:55Man's blood.
00:16:57By man.
00:16:59Human blood.
00:17:01Will be shed.
00:17:03Perhaps not as a preventative.
00:17:07But as an act.
00:17:09Of justice.
00:17:11Just a little aside.
00:17:12I am not getting into anything political.
00:17:16You just imagine.
00:17:18What the people would feel.
00:17:20And fear.
00:17:23If after a murderer.
00:17:26Was caught.
00:17:27And apprehended.
00:17:29He was tried.
00:17:31And convicted.
00:17:32And executed.
00:17:33The next day.
00:17:36People would fear God.
00:17:39And fear the government of God.
00:17:41There is a verse.
00:17:42In Ecclesiastes.
00:17:44That says.
00:17:45Because a sentence.
00:17:47Against an evil work.
00:17:48Is not executed speedily.
00:17:52The hearts of the sons of men.
00:17:54Are fully set in them.
00:17:56To do evil.
00:17:58But because of the injustice.
00:18:01And unrighteousness.
00:18:03In the criminal justice system.
00:18:05And in human government.
00:18:06We don't have that.
00:18:10One of our young brothers.
00:18:14Entering junior high school.
00:18:16Was killed.
00:18:18Twenty four years ago.
00:18:21His murderer.
00:18:22Still lives.
00:18:24In San Quentin.
00:18:26And so God's government.
00:18:29Is mocked.
00:18:31But a kingdom.
00:18:32Is coming.
00:18:34A kingdom.
00:18:35Of righteousness.
00:18:36Will.
00:18:37Eventually.
00:18:38Be brought.
00:18:39Through the church.
00:18:41To the earth.
00:18:43And that kingdom.
00:18:44Is foreshadowed.
00:18:47With Noah.
00:18:49K.A.
00:18:51As the head of a new race.
00:18:52After the flood.
00:18:54Noah was the deputy authority.
00:18:57Under God.
00:18:59This was a shadow.
00:19:01Of the kingdom of God.
00:19:03The reality of which.
00:19:05Is in the church life.
00:19:07And the manifestation of which.
00:19:09Will be the kingdom.
00:19:11In the millennium.
00:19:13We'll survey.
00:19:14This matter.
00:19:15In the next section.
00:19:16Of the outline.
00:19:18Be the ruling.
00:19:20With God given authority.
00:19:22Among men.
00:19:24On the new earth.
00:19:27Signifies the reigning.
00:19:29Of God's kingdom.
00:19:31In resurrection life.
00:19:34We need to realize.
00:19:36That the problem.
00:19:38That God is facing.
00:19:40In the universe.
00:19:41Due to the rebellion.
00:19:43Of Satan.
00:19:44And the fall.
00:19:45Of man.
00:19:46Is not mainly.
00:19:48A matter of time.
00:19:50That is of when.
00:19:53Rather.
00:19:54It is mainly.
00:19:55A matter of space.
00:19:57That is where.
00:19:59For this reason.
00:20:01The Lord charged us.
00:20:03To pray.
00:20:04That the will of God.
00:20:06Would be done.
00:20:07On earth.
00:20:09Even as it is done.
00:20:11In heaven.
00:20:12That's a matter.
00:20:13Of dimension.
00:20:14Or space.
00:20:16Right now.
00:20:17The will of God.
00:20:18Is done.
00:20:20Absolutely.
00:20:21Without reservation.
00:20:22In the heavens.
00:20:24But there is.
00:20:25Tremendous resistance.
00:20:28To the doing.
00:20:30Of the father's will.
00:20:31On the earth.
00:20:34So to be.
00:20:35For the kingdom.
00:20:38Is to be.
00:20:39For.
00:20:40The exercise.
00:20:42Of God given authority.
00:20:44On the earth.
00:20:46So that God's will.
00:20:49Will be done.
00:20:50Without frustration.
00:20:53See in God's government.
00:20:57Noah was a good example.
00:21:00Okay.
00:21:00We need to see why.
00:21:02Here are.
00:21:03The scriptures need to be opened.
00:21:06Our eyes need to be opened.
00:21:09And our minds need to be opened.
00:21:13We're still in chapter 9.
00:21:17At verse 18.
00:21:21And following.
00:21:23We see that the deputy authority.
00:21:26Made a mistake.
00:21:29And had a failure.
00:21:37Verse 20.
00:21:39Noah began to be a farmer.
00:21:41And he planted a vineyard.
00:21:44And he drank of the wine.
00:21:47And became drunk.
00:21:48And he uncovered himself.
00:21:51Inside his tent.
00:21:54He made a mistake.
00:21:57And he had a failure.
00:22:00But he did not cease to be.
00:22:03The deputy authority.
00:22:07And this mistake.
00:22:09And this failure.
00:22:11Became a test.
00:22:14To the people.
00:22:16On the earth.
00:22:16Even though.
00:22:18It was a small number.
00:22:21And one of the sons.
00:22:23Ham.
00:22:25Went into the tent.
00:22:28And saw.
00:22:30His father's situation.
00:22:33And then he went.
00:22:35And told his other brothers.
00:22:38That talking.
00:22:40Was a manifestation.
00:22:42Was a manifestation.
00:22:43Of rebellion.
00:22:47He saw.
00:22:49He did nothing to cover.
00:22:52But he taught.
00:22:55I don't even want to.
00:22:58Speculate on what he might have said.
00:23:01But the other two sons.
00:23:04Having received the report.
00:23:07Took a garment.
00:23:10One held this side.
00:23:12The other held that side.
00:23:14And they walked backwards.
00:23:16And covered their father.
00:23:25That is in verse 23.
00:23:28See verse 22.
00:23:30And Ham the father of Canaan.
00:23:32Saw the nakedness of his father.
00:23:34And told.
00:23:36His two brothers outside.
00:23:40Tonight.
00:23:42Ham has many websites.
00:23:46With lawless.
00:23:48Rebellious talk.
00:23:52Talking about this place.
00:23:54Talking about this person.
00:23:57Shameless.
00:23:59Lawless.
00:24:02But we have no headquarters.
00:24:04We have no control.
00:24:07Who can police the internet?
00:24:11Who can stop Ham.
00:24:13From posting all of his comments.
00:24:18Verse 23.
00:24:20And Shem and Japheth.
00:24:21Took a garment.
00:24:23And laid it upon both their shoulders.
00:24:25And they walked backward.
00:24:27And covered the nakedness of their father.
00:24:30And their faces were turned backwards.
00:24:33So that they did not see.
00:24:35Their father's nakedness.
00:24:37But rebellious human beings.
00:24:43They love to see and talk.
00:24:48See and tell.
00:24:53Especially.
00:24:54The weaknesses.
00:24:56The failures.
00:24:58The mistakes.
00:25:00Real or imagined.
00:25:04Of the ones who represent God.
00:25:08Then verse 24.
00:25:10Noah awoke from his wine.
00:25:13And learned what his youngest son had done to him.
00:25:17Now we come to the crucial point.
00:25:19Let me read all of C.
00:25:21And try to open this up.
00:25:24In God's government.
00:25:25Noah was a good example.
00:25:27Although he made a mistake.
00:25:30And had a failure.
00:25:32He nevertheless was strong.
00:25:34To represent God.
00:25:36In speaking.
00:25:37Governmentally.
00:25:39When Noah.
00:25:40Woke up.
00:25:42And realized his situation.
00:25:46Surely.
00:25:47He felt.
00:25:49Embarrassed.
00:25:51Shameful.
00:25:53Exposed.
00:25:57And according to our natural psychology.
00:26:01The easiest thing to do is.
00:26:04To call the sons.
00:26:05And say.
00:26:06Look.
00:26:07I'm no better than you.
00:26:08I'm just like you.
00:26:10I had this failure.
00:26:12I can't be the father anymore.
00:26:14I can't be the deputy anymore.
00:26:17I feel so bad.
00:26:20But Noah.
00:26:22Noah did not have that option.
00:26:23He had a responsibility to God.
00:26:26He had a responsibility.
00:26:29To God's government.
00:26:31He was required.
00:26:33By the government of God.
00:26:35To address that situation.
00:26:37And no matter.
00:26:39How he felt.
00:26:40About himself.
00:26:43And how easy it would have been.
00:26:46To lower himself.
00:26:49He spoke.
00:26:52Governmentally.
00:26:54And one party.
00:26:56The descendants.
00:26:58Of Ham.
00:27:00Received the curse.
00:27:02And the other parties.
00:27:05His other two sons.
00:27:07Received the blessing.
00:27:10The matter of God's government.
00:27:15Is a decisive matter.
00:27:17It will either be curse.
00:27:21Or blessing.
00:27:23Depending on your attitude.
00:27:26Depending on your response.
00:27:28To a mistake.
00:27:31Although some suppose mistakes are not.
00:27:35Or a failure.
00:27:37Real or imagined.
00:27:39The rebellion.
00:27:41The rebellion.
00:27:41In our flesh.
00:27:44Will come out the strongest.
00:27:46When a representative of God.
00:27:49Has made a mistake.
00:27:51Or has had a failure.
00:27:53But Noah.
00:27:55Is a good example.
00:27:57Of a man representing God.
00:28:00Who did not stand with his feelings.
00:28:03I'm still the father.
00:28:06I'm still the deputy.
00:28:09I am not exercising authority.
00:28:12In abusive way.
00:28:14But God has deputized me.
00:28:17And I must.
00:28:19And I will.
00:28:20Speak.
00:28:21Speak.
00:28:21To this situation.
00:28:23And he did.
00:28:27We do not know.
00:28:29Of course.
00:28:31How long is the road.
00:28:33For you.
00:28:34Trainees.
00:28:35Before you meet the Lord.
00:28:36Or before the Lord comes back.
00:28:41But may you receive mercy.
00:28:44Never to be a ham.
00:28:47But always to be one of the other sons.
00:28:51But it may be.
00:28:52An even heavier requirement.
00:28:54May be placed upon you.
00:28:57Not due to your self will.
00:28:59But to God's arrangement.
00:29:01And his economy.
00:29:02You have no choice.
00:29:04You must speak.
00:29:06You must minister.
00:29:09You must present the word.
00:29:11You must teach the truth.
00:29:14You must represent the Lord.
00:29:24God's government needs you.
00:29:27And requires you.
00:29:29To be faithful.
00:29:30And to be strong.
00:29:34This is on the positive side.
00:29:37Noah on the positive side.
00:29:40But D shows us.
00:29:41The negative side.
00:29:43Satan usurped man.
00:29:46To misuse God.
00:29:49Man's God given authority.
00:29:52Over others.
00:29:53To form nations.
00:29:56You see the institution of government.
00:29:59Has been established.
00:30:01Man rules over man.
00:30:05So a powerful person.
00:30:07A capable person.
00:30:08Such as Nimrod.
00:30:10A mighty hunter.
00:30:14Able to subdue you.
00:30:17Stronger in soul than you.
00:30:21Able to conquer you.
00:30:23Hunt you down.
00:30:25Talk you down.
00:30:27Subjugate you.
00:30:30So Nimrod.
00:30:32Is the first type of antichrist.
00:30:35In the Bible.
00:30:37Chapter 10.
00:30:38Verses 8 and 10.
00:30:40Cush begot Nimrod.
00:30:42He began to be a mighty one on the earth.
00:30:46He was a mighty hunter before Jehovah.
00:30:49Therefore it is said like Nimrod.
00:30:51A mighty hunter before Jehovah.
00:30:54And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erek and Akkad and Telna.
00:31:00And the land of Shinar.
00:31:02And from that land he went into Assyria.
00:31:05And built Nineveh.
00:31:08But none of this was for God.
00:31:13Satan usurped man.
00:31:15To misuse the God given authority.
00:31:19And this is the pathetic and pitiful situation on the earth today.
00:31:25In the political sphere.
00:31:27In the religious sphere.
00:31:29There are systems of authority established by God.
00:31:33But Satan instigates men.
00:31:37To misuse this God given authority.
00:31:40To build up a kingdom for themselves.
00:31:44That is why I have given you these excerpts.
00:31:47From Brother Nee's book.
00:31:49And that is why we will see in due time.
00:31:52Believe me.
00:31:53We will get there with time to dwell on it.
00:31:56We will consider.
00:31:58Not just.
00:32:00And not mainly.
00:32:01The question of rebellion.
00:32:04But we will consider.
00:32:05Who can represent God.
00:32:09Who can be a deputy authority.
00:32:11What kind of person.
00:32:13In resurrection.
00:32:14Can be trusted by God.
00:32:17To exercise authority on God's behalf.
00:32:22There must be such persons.
00:32:25Not just apostles.
00:32:27Co-workers.
00:32:28Elders.
00:32:29Will only males.
00:32:32Be co-kings with Christ.
00:32:36Did not God create the human race.
00:32:39Male and female.
00:32:40Male.
00:32:41And give them authority.
00:32:46Or you may not have the position.
00:32:48Sisters of an elder.
00:32:50Or of some other office.
00:32:54But in the reality of the kingdom.
00:32:57You are being trained for kingship.
00:33:01The overcomers.
00:33:02The overcomers.
00:33:03Who will all be sons of God.
00:33:05And not given in marriage.
00:33:06In the kingdom.
00:33:07Will come from those who are brothers and sisters today.
00:33:12Then in the new Jerusalem.
00:33:14In the new heaven.
00:33:15And the new earth.
00:33:16We will reign forever.
00:33:19Forever and ever.
00:33:19Forever.
00:33:20So this is something for all of us.
00:33:26To learn a fundamental lesson.
00:33:29Regarding the kingdom of God.
00:33:32Now we come to the second section.
00:33:35And it begins this way.
00:33:37Roman 2.
00:33:39The New Testament.
00:33:40Is a book of the kingdom of God.
00:33:44The entire New Testament.
00:33:48Is on the kingdom.
00:33:54So in Matthew 1.
00:33:58The chronology is reversed.
00:34:01The book of the generation of Jesus Christ.
00:34:03Son of David.
00:34:05Son of Abraham.
00:34:08Why son of David?
00:34:10King.
00:34:12He is the king.
00:34:15And all the way through the New Testament.
00:34:18We have this.
00:34:22Marvelous line of the kingdom.
00:34:25Until it is harvested.
00:34:28With the city of God.
00:34:30The kingdom of God.
00:34:33The new Jerusalem.
00:34:36But before we go through the points.
00:34:39I would like to give you a generic.
00:34:44Definition.
00:34:46Of a kingdom.
00:34:49I was helped to see this.
00:34:52Through the life study of Mark.
00:34:56And it's quite enlightening.
00:34:59So I'm giving a general definition.
00:35:04A generic definition of a kingdom.
00:35:08Listen to this.
00:35:09A kingdom is a realm.
00:35:12Where a person does.
00:35:16Whatever he wants to do.
00:35:19That's a kingdom.
00:35:23So one's personal kingdom.
00:35:26It could be.
00:35:27In his car.
00:35:29When he's driving.
00:35:31In his room.
00:35:33In his house.
00:35:35Is a realm.
00:35:37Where he does.
00:35:39What he wants.
00:35:42And the impulse.
00:35:43To have a kingdom.
00:35:45Is in everyone.
00:35:48The motive is there.
00:35:50Because we're created by God.
00:35:51To reign.
00:35:53And the impulse is there.
00:35:55Because we have been.
00:35:56Corrupted by Satan.
00:35:58And utilized by him.
00:36:00So for a person.
00:36:03To have his own kingdom.
00:36:05Means that he has a realm.
00:36:08Where he can work.
00:36:10To achieve his goal.
00:36:13Or fulfill.
00:36:15His plan.
00:36:17That's a kingdom.
00:36:23Do you think there's never been.
00:36:25A co-worker.
00:36:26In the Lord's recovery.
00:36:29Who didn't desire.
00:36:31A realm.
00:36:32Where he could do.
00:36:33Whatever he wanted.
00:36:38Do you think this struggle.
00:36:40Has bypassed us.
00:36:42Or is bypassing us tonight.
00:36:44Surely not.
00:36:48A personal kingdom.
00:36:51Is a sphere.
00:36:52Where one works.
00:36:54To reach his goal.
00:36:57Or to fulfill his plan.
00:37:00Man.
00:37:04So a kingdom is a realm.
00:37:06Where a person.
00:37:08Accomplishes.
00:37:09Something.
00:37:12So in some kind of way.
00:37:14Everybody on the earth.
00:37:16Wants a kingdom.
00:37:18I want space.
00:37:20I want territory.
00:37:22Where I am in charge.
00:37:23And I do whatever I want.
00:37:25Where I accomplish.
00:37:28My goal.
00:37:29I fulfill.
00:37:30My plan.
00:37:33And behind it all.
00:37:35Is Satan.
00:37:36Who has a kingdom.
00:37:37Where he can do.
00:37:38Whatever he wants.
00:37:40And he is working.
00:37:41Very actively.
00:37:42And aggressively.
00:37:43To reach his goal.
00:37:45And fulfill his plan.
00:37:47And over against that.
00:37:49We have God.
00:37:51Who desires a realm.
00:37:54A sphere.
00:37:56Where his will.
00:37:58Is done.
00:38:00Without any.
00:38:02Hindrance.
00:38:04The kingdom of God.
00:38:05Is where the will of God.
00:38:08Is accomplished.
00:38:10In an unhindered way.
00:38:12That's one reason we sang.
00:38:15942.
00:38:18How much of the kingdom.
00:38:19Is in our being.
00:38:23How much can God accomplish his will.
00:38:26In an unhindered way.
00:38:28In our own mind.
00:38:33Sometimes we are flooded with emails.
00:38:37Out of the minds.
00:38:38The natural minds of men.
00:38:43Unruly minds.
00:38:47Unruly thoughts.
00:38:50Some at least.
00:38:52Will say.
00:38:53Maybe outwardly.
00:38:55I can't have a sphere.
00:38:56But my inner being.
00:38:58My heart.
00:38:59My mind.
00:39:00That's mine.
00:39:01This is where I rule.
00:39:06So the kingdom.
00:39:07Must come inside of us.
00:39:09We must be born of God.
00:39:11In our spirit.
00:39:13And this life needs to spread in us.
00:39:15So that there is a kingdom.
00:39:17In our being.
00:39:19Where God can do.
00:39:20Whatever he wills.
00:39:27Eventually you must all grow up.
00:39:30It's not what you will.
00:39:32It's not what your parents will.
00:39:34It's not what others will.
00:39:37It's what God wills.
00:39:41That's the kingdom.
00:39:45Now with this in mind.
00:39:46We can come back to the outline.
00:39:49And see a development.
00:39:52From A all the way through L.
00:39:56And I realize it is not possible.
00:39:59We would need two terms of Wednesday night ministry.
00:40:02To develop all the points in detail.
00:40:06It is not possible to do that.
00:40:08But sometimes it's a benefit.
00:40:11To get a view of the whole.
00:40:15So if you have a detailed mind.
00:40:19That is very good at details.
00:40:24Exercise your being renewed mind.
00:40:27To be broadened.
00:40:29To have a panoramic view.
00:40:31To see a big picture.
00:40:34The details matter.
00:40:36God is a detailed God.
00:40:41And what we will see.
00:40:42As we go through this section of the outline.
00:40:45Is the kingdom.
00:40:47Being established.
00:40:51In three stages.
00:40:55First.
00:40:56It was established.
00:40:58In the person.
00:40:59Of the Lord Jesus.
00:41:02When he came to the earth.
00:41:05He brought the kingdom to earth.
00:41:07He was obedient.
00:41:10Unto death.
00:41:12He learned obedience.
00:41:14By the things that he suffered.
00:41:16He did not speak his own word.
00:41:19He did not do his own work.
00:41:21He did not teach his own doctrine.
00:41:24He did not come in his own name.
00:41:26He did not seek his own will.
00:41:29He did not pursue his own glory.
00:41:33He obeyed unto death.
00:41:36And that the death of the cross.
00:41:40So where he was.
00:41:42The kingdom of God was.
00:41:45For this reason.
00:41:47In Luke 17.
00:41:49He could tell the Pharisees.
00:41:51Do not expect the kingdom to come.
00:41:54With observable signs.
00:41:57The kingdom of God is in your midst.
00:42:02This is a marvelous beginning.
00:42:05But the goal.
00:42:07Is for the kingdom.
00:42:10That is in Jesus.
00:42:13To become the kingdom.
00:42:15Over the whole earth.
00:42:18I mean the actual.
00:42:20Literal.
00:42:21Physical.
00:42:22Earth.
00:42:22Earth.
00:42:24Earth.
00:42:25But there is.
00:42:26An intermediate step.
00:42:28The kingdom.
00:42:30That is in Jesus.
00:42:33Must become the kingdom.
00:42:35In the church.
00:42:39And this is where the battle is.
00:42:46We will see.
00:42:49That the church life.
00:42:51Is the kingdom life.
00:42:54To practice the church life.
00:42:56Is to practice the kingdom life.
00:43:00It is by the gospel of the kingdom.
00:43:03That we are.
00:43:04Brought to repentance.
00:43:06And faith.
00:43:07And born of God.
00:43:08And to enter into the kingdom.
00:43:10And then.
00:43:11Live the church life.
00:43:14This is the battle tonight.
00:43:17The battle is joined.
00:43:18Precisely.
00:43:19At this point.
00:43:21And only the sovereign Lord knows.
00:43:25How many.
00:43:27Of his local churches.
00:43:28On the earth.
00:43:30Are his kingdom.
00:43:32In reality.
00:43:34And practicality.
00:43:37I am speaking in principle.
00:43:41So do not dare.
00:43:42To judge my mind.
00:43:44And heart.
00:43:44And motives.
00:43:45And intent.
00:43:48Does.
00:43:50The sovereign Lord.
00:43:52Have his kingdom.
00:43:53With all the co-workers today.
00:43:56No one is a Jeroboam.
00:43:58Fearing that the kingdom.
00:44:00Will return.
00:44:02To the line of David.
00:44:04So he sets up his own system.
00:44:06And his own priests.
00:44:08And his own feasts.
00:44:11Motivated by his desire.
00:44:12To have his own kingdom.
00:44:15Is it the case.
00:44:17That every single elder.
00:44:18And leading one.
00:44:19In all the churches.
00:44:22Has been discipled.
00:44:23To the kingdom of God.
00:44:25Who never abuses authority.
00:44:28Who never presumes.
00:44:29To have authority.
00:44:30Who never controls.
00:44:36Our problem.
00:44:38Dear saints.
00:44:39Is not primarily.
00:44:41With the enemy.
00:44:42Out there.
00:44:43It is with the adversary.
00:44:45With the adversary.
00:44:46With the adversary.
00:44:48The one who will not be subdued.
00:44:51Who will not.
00:44:52Submit.
00:44:56And until the kingdom comes.
00:44:58In the church.
00:45:00It cannot come.
00:45:01To the earth.
00:45:04Watchman Nee.
00:45:05Saw this.
00:45:07As a relatively young man.
00:45:09He wrote about it.
00:45:10In his early ministry.
00:45:14And he stood for this.
00:45:16And he prayed for this.
00:45:17And he fought for this.
00:45:19Until the end.
00:45:23He didn't live.
00:45:25An easy church life.
00:45:27A laid back church life.
00:45:30Where we enjoy selectively.
00:45:33Certain aspects of the church.
00:45:35He knew God's eyes are on the kingdom.
00:45:39His heart is on the kingdom.
00:45:41He taught us to pray.
00:45:43For the kingdom to come.
00:45:45On the earth.
00:45:48He needs overcomers in the churches.
00:45:51Who will bring the kingdom.
00:45:53To the earth.
00:45:56This is the battle.
00:45:59The enemy.
00:46:02Destroyed the body of Jesus.
00:46:03On the third day.
00:46:05God resurrected.
00:46:07The mystical body of Christ.
00:46:09To be the enlargement of God's dwelling place.
00:46:13So the church.
00:46:15Is the enlargement of Christ.
00:46:17As life.
00:46:18And in life.
00:46:20The kingdom.
00:46:22And note this.
00:46:24The kingdom.
00:46:25Is the enlargement of Christ.
00:46:28In administration.
00:46:31There is a point on this.
00:46:33That stone.
00:46:34Became a great mountain.
00:46:37That is the enlargement of Christ.
00:46:40So what we will have.
00:46:41In this section two.
00:46:43As we tour through it.
00:46:47Is a panoramic view.
00:46:49With a development.
00:46:51From what the kingdom is to God.
00:46:53To what the kingdom is in Jesus.
00:46:56To what the kingdom is in the church.
00:46:58To what the kingdom will be in the millennium.
00:47:01And to what the kingdom will be in the new Jerusalem.
00:47:05In the new heaven.
00:47:06And the new earth.
00:47:10And some ones of us must see this.
00:47:15And pray the prayer of the kingdom.
00:47:20Lord.
00:47:21Your kingdom.
00:47:22Come.
00:47:24I am not here.
00:47:26To have a sphere.
00:47:28A realm.
00:47:29Where I can do whatever I want.
00:47:30In the Lord's recovery.
00:47:32I am not here to do a work.
00:47:33Within the work of the Lord's recovery.
00:47:37Save me from being a Jeroboam.
00:47:40I am here in the church life.
00:47:42In resurrection.
00:47:44With my whole being.
00:47:46Focused on the kingdom of God.
00:47:50And I would like.
00:47:53My living and my serving.
00:47:55In my church life.
00:47:56To be a contribution.
00:47:59To tip the scale.
00:48:02To bring the kingdom to earth.
00:48:05In glorious manifestation.
00:48:10Young people.
00:48:12Who is radical enough.
00:48:13For this.
00:48:16Not radical.
00:48:18In a kind of political sense.
00:48:20But radical in the sense of touching.
00:48:22The root issue.
00:48:24It's the battle of kingdoms.
00:48:28Wherever there is any kind of war.
00:48:31Politically.
00:48:32Militarily.
00:48:34In the church.
00:48:36Among husband and wife.
00:48:38In the family.
00:48:39Or within you.
00:48:41That is a sign.
00:48:42The two kingdoms are struggling.
00:48:46When the kingdom of God is established.
00:48:49There is peace.
00:48:51Righteousness.
00:48:52Peace.
00:48:52And joy.
00:48:54Even many of us.
00:48:56Do not have that much joy.
00:48:59Because too much of our being.
00:49:01Is still controlled by the self.
00:49:05And self.
00:49:06And self is a joyless thing.
00:49:09A hellish thing.
00:49:12So now let's go through.
00:49:15A to what?
00:49:17To L.
00:49:18The kingdom of God.
00:49:20Is a divine sphere.
00:49:23For God.
00:49:25To work out.
00:49:27His plan.
00:49:30It is a realm where God.
00:49:33Can exercise.
00:49:35His authority.
00:49:37To accomplish.
00:49:38What he intends.
00:49:40I mentioned.
00:49:43Being radical enough for this.
00:49:45It is implied here.
00:49:47You turn this into a prayer.
00:49:49Lord.
00:49:50Make my being.
00:49:52A divine sphere.
00:49:55For you to work out.
00:49:57Your plan.
00:50:00Here I am.
00:50:01A fourth termer.
00:50:03Reaching the midpoint.
00:50:04Of my fourth term.
00:50:07So many options.
00:50:08Should I do this?
00:50:09Should I do that?
00:50:12I don't know what you should do.
00:50:14But what the Lord desires.
00:50:16As you would present your being.
00:50:19To be an inner sphere.
00:50:21For him to do.
00:50:22To work out his plan.
00:50:25Pray Lord.
00:50:27What is in your heart.
00:50:29Concerning me.
00:50:31Do you not have an intention.
00:50:33Regarding me as a member of your body.
00:50:36Where I should live.
00:50:38What I should do.
00:50:39Whom I should marry.
00:50:42Lord.
00:50:43Whatever is in your heart.
00:50:44Concerning me.
00:50:45Do that.
00:50:46For the church.
00:50:47As the kingdom of God.
00:50:50Whatever it is.
00:50:52Do it Lord.
00:50:56And it's a realm where God can exercise.
00:50:58His authority.
00:51:01To accomplish.
00:51:02What he intends.
00:51:05God has an intention.
00:51:08Concerning all the churches.
00:51:12Concerning the ministry in his recovery.
00:51:14Concerning the work in his recovery.
00:51:16Concerning the ministry.
00:51:17I assure you.
00:51:18God has an intention.
00:51:20Regarding the elders training.
00:51:23Next week.
00:51:25This training.
00:51:27Needs desperate prayer.
00:51:29Fighting prayer.
00:51:31Kingdom prayer.
00:51:33It's not what the speaking brothers intend.
00:51:36It's not what any man intends.
00:51:39It's what God intends to do.
00:51:43May that training be a realm.
00:51:46For God to do whatever he wants.
00:51:49May those two and a half days.
00:51:52With brothers who are regarded as elders and responsible ones.
00:51:57May those be two and a half days in the kingdom.
00:52:00The brothers are responsible to do what?
00:52:06To make decisions out of themselves.
00:52:09To exercise their natural strength.
00:52:12God forbid.
00:52:14They are responsible to give God away in all the churches.
00:52:19And woe be to the elder who does not.
00:52:25That is not a threat from this brother.
00:52:28That is a warning from God himself.
00:52:32We are touching God's government.
00:52:36And I assure you.
00:52:38There is a Noah today.
00:52:41And he's corporate.
00:52:44And he has the vision.
00:52:47And the burden.
00:52:48And the word.
00:52:52Be the kingdom of God is the ruling.
00:52:56The reigning of God.
00:52:59With all its blessing and enjoyment.
00:53:05Luke 12.32.
00:53:07A comforting verse.
00:53:09Do not fear little children.
00:53:12It's the father's good pleasure.
00:53:15To give you the kingdom.
00:53:19It's pleasant.
00:53:20It's a pleasure.
00:53:22Satan lies.
00:53:23Oh it's terrible.
00:53:25To be under authority.
00:53:27That's because he wants to keep you under his hand.
00:53:29So we have Colossians 1.13.
00:53:32It's the kingdom.
00:53:34Of the son.
00:53:35Of the father's love.
00:53:38God delights in his son.
00:53:40God delights in the enlargement of his son.
00:53:44In administration.
00:53:46To be the kingdom.
00:53:47It's a lovely place.
00:53:50See.
00:53:51As God incarnate.
00:53:53The Lord Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God.
00:53:57To establish a realm.
00:54:01In which God can carry out his purpose.
00:54:05Through the exercise of his authority.
00:54:09So the word who is God became flesh.
00:54:12John 1.
00:54:15This God man taught us.
00:54:18We must be born again.
00:54:21Born from above.
00:54:23Born anew.
00:54:24To see the kingdom.
00:54:25Born of water and of the spirit.
00:54:27To enter the kingdom.
00:54:29And then in chapter 18.
00:54:32He stood.
00:54:34Before.
00:54:35A human authority.
00:54:38He was submissive to that authority.
00:54:40He did not fight against it.
00:54:43And listen to what he said.
00:54:45In John 18.36.
00:54:50Jesus answered.
00:54:52My kingdom.
00:54:53Is not of this world.
00:54:56If my kingdom were of this world.
00:54:59My attendants would be struggling.
00:55:01So that I would not be delivered to the Jews.
00:55:05But as it is.
00:55:07My kingdom is not from here.
00:55:10Pilate said therefore to him.
00:55:12So then are you a king?
00:55:14Jesus answered.
00:55:15You say that I am a king.
00:55:18For this.
00:55:19I have been born.
00:55:21And for this.
00:55:22I have come into the world.
00:55:24That I would testify to the truth.
00:55:28Everyone who is of the truth.
00:55:31Hears my voice.
00:55:34It's not a kingdom.
00:55:36Like the Roman Empire.
00:55:37Is a kingdom.
00:55:39It's not a kingdom we struggle for.
00:55:43It's a kingdom brought in.
00:55:45Through the death and resurrection.
00:55:47Of the Son of God.
00:55:49It's a divine and mystical realm.
00:55:51The realm of the divine species.
00:55:53The realm of the God men.
00:55:55The realm where we are saved in life.
00:55:57And we reign in life.
00:55:59But it's real.
00:56:01It's inward in our being.
00:56:03And it's practical in the church.
00:56:08And may some of us be raptured.
00:56:11And never see death.
00:56:13To see the kingdom manifested in glory.
00:56:19But those who must finish their course.
00:56:23And go to the Lord as overcomers.
00:56:26May they rise up as the man child.
00:56:29And evict Satan from the heavens.
00:56:34And together the first fruits.
00:56:36And the man child.
00:56:38And the late overcomers.
00:56:41Will be the bridal army.
00:56:44The great smiting stone.
00:56:47To smash human government.
00:56:50And all forms of human government.
00:56:54Will be abolished.
00:56:56And the stone will become a mountain.
00:57:00Filling the whole earth.
00:57:04But if you trace backwards.
00:57:07You may get more light.
00:57:10In order for there to be this corporate stone.
00:57:14There has to be the army.
00:57:18In order for the Lord to have the army.
00:57:21He must have the bride.
00:57:25And in order for the Lord to have the bride.
00:57:29He must have the body of Christ.
00:57:32And the body.
00:57:34The body is an organism.
00:57:37Absolutely.
00:57:39Under the headship of Christ.
00:57:45So stated in other terms.
00:57:48The battle is for the body.
00:57:52Or if we say the battle is for the kingdom.
00:57:54The issue is the same.
00:57:57Are we living under divine rule?
00:58:00Or are we not?
00:58:03D.
00:58:04The New Testament preaches the gospel.
00:58:06In the way of the kingdom.
00:58:08The gospel is for the kingdom.
00:58:10And the gospel is proclaimed so that rebellious sinners might be saved, qualified, and equipped to enter into the kingdom.
00:58:21Mark 1.
00:58:22Mark 1.14 speaks of the gospel of God.
00:58:25Verse 15.
00:58:26Of the kingdom of God.
00:58:30Repent for the kingdom.
00:58:32Matthew 4.17.
00:58:34The Lord Jesus repeating the word of John the Baptist.
00:58:38Repent.
00:58:39Because there is a kingdom at hand requiring you to repent.
00:58:43Change your mind.
00:58:45Where is your mind?
00:58:47Where is your mind?
00:58:48In what realm is your mind?
00:58:51You must have a change.
00:58:53The gospel is for this.
00:58:56We respect.
00:58:57We honor the preaching of the gospel of grace.
00:59:01By the great evangelists.
00:59:04We honor.
00:59:05We respect.
00:59:06The gospel preaching.
00:59:07Of our brother in Christ Jesus.
00:59:09Billy Graham.
00:59:11But there is a big missing.
00:59:14All over the earth.
00:59:16In the gospel preaching.
00:59:17And that is the gospel of the kingdom.
00:59:21The Lord said in Matthew 24.14.
00:59:25This gospel of the kingdom.
00:59:27Must be preached throughout the inhabited earth.
00:59:31And then the end of the age will come.
00:59:34Only those who are the kingdom.
00:59:37Only those who are in the kingdom.
00:59:39Can preach the gospel of the kingdom.
00:59:42And if they are the kingdom.
00:59:44If they are in the kingdom.
00:59:45A number of them are going to get up.
00:59:48And fly out of Southern California.
00:59:50And go to who knows where on the earth.
00:59:54Because they have their church life.
00:59:57On God's terms.
00:59:58Not their own.
00:59:59It's not Christ and the church in California.
01:00:05It's Christ and the church.
01:00:07The cross.
01:00:07And the kingdom.
01:00:11And if the Lord can get through with you.
01:00:14He will raise up another class.
01:00:16Or another generation.
01:00:18But eventually he will get portable kingdom people.
01:00:22Who will follow the lamb wherever he may go.
01:00:27But if the Lord doesn't lead you to go anywhere.
01:00:30And he keeps you laboring right here.
01:00:33On this campus.
01:00:34You are just as much in the advancement of the kingdom.
01:00:37As someone who is in Tasmania.
01:00:40Iceland.
01:00:41Or Ireland.
01:00:42Because you are living under the rule of the divine life.
01:00:46And you are in the reality of the kingdom.
01:00:49Stop measuring yourself by others.
01:00:52The Lord said in John 21.
01:00:54He said to Peter.
01:00:56When Peter heard he was going to be martyred.
01:01:00And so he turned around and looked at John.
01:01:03What about him?
01:01:05If I am going to be martyred.
01:01:06Shouldn't he be martyred?
01:01:07Shouldn't everybody be martyred?
01:01:09Isn't your will for me?
01:01:10Your will for everybody?
01:01:13Peter don't be so subjective.
01:01:15I'm the Lord.
01:01:17I may want him to remain until I come.
01:01:21If so.
01:01:22What is that to you?
01:01:28Some will be martyred.
01:01:31Some will be martyred.
01:01:35And glorify God.
01:01:38And some will live with the if.
01:01:41If I will.
01:01:44With this kind of blessed uncertainty.
01:01:47I don't know how long.
01:01:51I don't know what until means.
01:01:55I only know to live in the reality of the kingdom.
01:01:58Moment by moment.
01:02:01And eventually John breathed his last.
01:02:06Now he is with Peter.
01:02:08As Dick would say.
01:02:10In the paradise prayer meeting.
01:02:13A lot of overcomers are there.
01:02:16According to Revelation 6.
01:02:19They are praying.
01:02:21Maybe they are praying for the kingdom.
01:02:23Maybe they are praying for us.
01:02:31They went to the Lord in victory.
01:02:35Look at it from that point of view.
01:02:38Glorious victory.
01:02:40We'll be in the man child.
01:02:43Our situation is pending.
01:02:49Okay.
01:02:50Where are we?
01:02:51E.
01:02:53We are in the kingdom of God.
01:02:56The eternal kingdom of God.
01:02:58Is the increase of Christ in administration.
01:03:01I believe we touch this.
01:03:05We see it with the seed.
01:03:07The Lord sows.
01:03:09It grows into the kingdom.
01:03:11We see it with the stone.
01:03:13F.
01:03:13The kingdom of God.
01:03:14Is the Lord Jesus.
01:03:15As the seed of life.
01:03:17Sown into his believers.
01:03:20And developing into a realm.
01:03:23Over which God can rule.
01:03:25As his kingdom.
01:03:26In his divine life.
01:03:28I'd like to appeal.
01:03:30To my generation in the recovery.
01:03:32Those who came in in the 60's.
01:03:34And in the 70's.
01:03:36And I don't want to lure you.
01:03:38Into subjectivity.
01:03:40But I do want to goad you.
01:03:42Into pursuing the Lord desperately.
01:03:45How much development.
01:03:49In the last five years.
01:03:51How much development.
01:03:53How much growth in your being.
01:03:56The seed can't remain a seed.
01:03:58It has to grow.
01:03:59And develop.
01:04:01And become a realm.
01:04:03Over which God can rule.
01:04:05As his kingdom.
01:04:06In the divine life.
01:04:08Then we'll see.
01:04:09The kingdom of God.
01:04:10Is the shining.
01:04:11Of the reality of the Lord Jesus.
01:04:14To be under his shining.
01:04:16Is to be in the kingdom.
01:04:17The Lord said.
01:04:18Some of you will not taste death.
01:04:20Until you see the kingdom of God.
01:04:22Coming in power.
01:04:24Then he took three of them with him.
01:04:26On the top of a mountain.
01:04:28And he was transfigured before them.
01:04:31His face was shining like the sun.
01:04:35He said.
01:04:36I'll show you the kingdom.
01:04:37You will see the kingdom.
01:04:38Now you want to see the kingdom.
01:04:40The kingdom is I.
01:04:42The son of man.
01:04:44Shining over you.
01:04:45That's the kingdom.
01:04:47Does anybody see it?
01:04:51The kingdom is Jesus shining over us.
01:04:55Jesus shining into us.
01:04:57That's the kingdom.
01:04:58To live in the kingdom.
01:05:00Is to live in this blessed light.
01:05:03Praise the Lord.
01:05:05For the kingdom of God.
01:05:08H.
01:05:08The kingdom of God is a realm.
01:05:11Not only of the divine dominion.
01:05:13But also of the divine species.
01:05:16In which are all the divine things.
01:05:19That's John 3.
01:05:21The divine and mystical gospel.
01:05:25God became man.
01:05:27To enter into the human species.
01:05:29And man becomes God.
01:05:31In life and nature.
01:05:32But not in the Godhead.
01:05:34To enter into the divine species.
01:05:37For the details.
01:05:38Consult the chapter on the kingdom.
01:05:41In the crystallization study.
01:05:43Of John.
01:05:46The thought will challenge your mind.
01:05:48Will challenge your whole being.
01:05:50To the uttermost.
01:05:51The kingdom of God.
01:05:52God is the realm.
01:05:53Of the divine species.
01:05:56It's the realm.
01:05:58Produced.
01:05:58By God becoming man.
01:06:00And man becoming God.
01:06:02In life and nature.
01:06:03But not in the Godhead.
01:06:05So God became man.
01:06:07To enter into the human species.
01:06:09And man becomes God.
01:06:10In life and nature.
01:06:12But not in the Godhead.
01:06:14To enter into the divine species.
01:06:16To enter into the divine realm.
01:06:18The realm of the divine species.
01:06:20We need to be born of God.
01:06:22To have the divine life and nature.
01:06:26The kingdom of.
01:06:28The kingdom is the church life today.
01:06:31Thus to practice the church life.
01:06:34Is to practice the kingdom.
01:06:37Don't be selective.
01:06:38Oh I like the family life.
01:06:40I like John 12.
01:06:42I like the house in Bethany.
01:06:44I like the fragrance of the ointment.
01:06:46I like to be Mary.
01:06:47Not doing anything.
01:06:49Disloving the Lord.
01:06:50And anointing him.
01:06:51I like this kind of church life.
01:06:53Oh don't talk to me about the kingdom.
01:06:55Oh that's hard.
01:06:56Oh that's severe.
01:06:57I don't like that.
01:06:58Can't I have the church life on my terms?
01:07:01No you can't.
01:07:03The church is the kingdom of God.
01:07:05It's not up to us.
01:07:07It's the house of God.
01:07:09We don't design it.
01:07:10We don't build it.
01:07:11All by ourselves.
01:07:13God is the architect.
01:07:14God is the builder.
01:07:15It's the house of God.
01:07:17It's the kingdom of God.
01:07:18It's the family of God.
01:07:20God rules in the divine life.
01:07:25J. The work of the church is to bring in the kingdom of God.
01:07:29That's the work.
01:07:32And also that's the warfare.
01:07:33All these verses demonstrate that.
01:07:37K. The kingdom produces the church.
01:07:40The church brings in the kingdom.
01:07:43And the ultimate issue is the new Jerusalem.
01:07:46The kingdom of God in eternity.
01:07:49In the new heaven.
01:07:50And the new earth.
01:07:55One of the great verses in the new testament.
01:07:58Looking back at J. for a moment.
01:08:00Is Revelation 11.15.
01:08:03The kingdom of the world.
01:08:06Has become the kingdom of our Lord.
01:08:09And of his Christ.
01:08:11No matter what human opinion says.
01:08:15No matter what the outward appearance is.
01:08:19The kingdom of God will in fact come to the nation of Iran.
01:08:26It will come to Iraq.
01:08:28It will come to Syria.
01:08:30It will come to Lebanon.
01:08:31It will come to Egypt.
01:08:33It will come to mainland China.
01:08:35It will come to North Korea.
01:08:37It's coming over the whole earth.
01:08:42Through the church.
01:08:46We will either be the way.
01:08:50Or we will be the wall.
01:08:53Hindering the Lord.
01:08:57Let's be the way.
01:08:59The way for the kingdom to come.
01:09:04Then El is indebted to Brother Watchman Nee's ministry.
01:09:08A testimony of what he saw.
01:09:10And how he lived.
01:09:12Those who always put God's kingdom before them.
01:09:16That which touches God's will.
01:09:19And his enemy.
01:09:21Are the most useful workers.
01:09:24In the hands of God.
01:09:27Matthew 6.33.
01:09:29Seek first his kingdom.
01:09:31Seek first his kingdom.
01:09:327.21.
01:09:33Not everyone who says Lord.
01:09:35Lord.
01:09:36Will enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
01:09:39But he who does the will of my father.
01:09:42Which is in the heavens.
01:09:45Then in chapter 25.
01:09:47Verses 21 and 23.
01:09:49For those who are faithful.
01:09:51To function according to the measure.
01:09:53Given to them.
01:09:54They will enter into the joy of the Lord.
01:09:57And the suffering in the soul.
01:10:00Will at last be over.
01:10:02And we will receive our soul life.
01:10:05Our enjoyment.
01:10:06With the Lord.
01:10:08He told us when he established the table.
01:10:10I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again.
01:10:14Until I drink it anew.
01:10:16With you.
01:10:17In my father's kingdom.
01:10:19I want to be.
01:10:21In that Lord's table meeting.
01:10:23When the Lord is no longer a Nazarite.
01:10:26Not drinking wine.
01:10:28And according to Luke 12.
01:10:30He will rise up.
01:10:32And gird himself.
01:10:33And serve his overcomers.
01:10:35We don't want to miss that feast.
01:10:39But the way to it.
01:10:41Is through the reality of the kingdom in life.
01:10:43And the practicality of the kingdom.
01:10:46In the church.
01:10:48And there are some workers.
01:10:50Like Paul and his company.
01:10:53According to Colossians 4.11.
01:10:55That were fellow workers.
01:10:57For the kingdom of God.
01:11:01We're not fellow workers.
01:11:03For anyone's kingdom.
01:11:04For anyone's empire.
01:11:06We're not fellow workers.
01:11:08Of any Jeroboam.
01:11:10In the sphere of the Lord's recovery.
01:11:12We are fellow workers of God.
01:11:14And we are fellow workers.
01:11:16With the minister of the age.
01:11:19Who set his whole being.
01:11:21On the father's kingdom.
01:11:23Unto the end.
01:11:25Join this band of co-workers.
01:11:28Fellow workers for the kingdom of God.
01:11:31How dare anyone say.
01:11:33I never heard there was one word.
01:11:35There's not such a thing in the word.
01:11:37I don't see it in the ministry.
01:11:40Humble yourself.
01:11:41Become like a little child.
01:11:43May your eyes be opened.
01:11:45May the scriptures be opened.
01:11:46May your mind be opened.
01:11:48There is one body.
01:11:50I have one body.
01:11:52My one body does the work.
01:11:54Of one Kangas the person.
01:11:57The different members.
01:11:58The different parts.
01:12:00Have their own function.
01:12:01But they're all doing one work.
01:12:03There is one work.
01:12:05Because there's one God.
01:12:06One Christ.
01:12:07One spirit.
01:12:09One redemption.
01:12:10One word of God.
01:12:11One divine revelation.
01:12:13One divine life.
01:12:14And one body of Christ.
01:12:17But there is not one work.
01:12:19In an organizational sense.
01:12:21With a Pope.
01:12:22Cardinals.
01:12:23Archbishops.
01:12:25Bishops.
01:12:26Priests.
01:12:27And friars.
01:12:28There is just us brothers.
01:12:31Amen.
01:12:31The Lord told us.
01:12:34In Matthew 20.
01:12:37The Gentiles lorded over others.
01:12:39They exercised authority over others.
01:12:42It shall not be so among you.
01:12:46He who would be the greatest.
01:12:48Let him be your slave.
01:12:50Now I can conclude.
01:12:52Mainly by reading.
01:12:55Because each point.
01:12:57Needs at least a message.
01:12:59To give us some impression.
01:13:03Of a proper person.
01:13:05Who represents God.
01:13:07With his authority.
01:13:09A deputy authority.
01:13:11And this.
01:13:12Is derived from.
01:13:14Brother Nee's book.
01:13:16Whence you have the excerpts.
01:13:19Authority and submission.
01:13:23And all the brothers.
01:13:25Need to know.
01:13:27That book has two parts.
01:13:30It's not only about.
01:13:32How rebellious.
01:13:33Everybody else is.
01:13:36And what makes them so rebellious.
01:13:40The first half.
01:13:41Does deal with.
01:13:43Rebellion.
01:13:44Exposes it to the uttermost.
01:13:46And with authority.
01:13:48And with submission.
01:13:49No doubt about it.
01:13:51But many use only the first half.
01:13:55To subdue others.
01:13:57But my burden tonight.
01:13:59Is on the second half.
01:14:00How to be a deputy authority.
01:14:03What kind of person.
01:14:04Is a Noah.
01:14:05What kind of person.
01:14:07Can represent God.
01:14:09Let me read the list.
01:14:11Then make a closing comment.
01:14:14To bring us full circle.
01:14:16Back to the title of the message.
01:14:17And to point us.
01:14:19And that the one direction.
01:14:21That can bring us into the reality of all this.
01:14:25He must submit.
01:14:27To authority.
01:14:30The centurion.
01:14:32Could say to the Lord.
01:14:33I also.
01:14:35Am a man.
01:14:36Under.
01:14:37Authority.
01:14:38Lord.
01:14:39We have to learn to submit to authority.
01:14:42B.
01:14:43He must realize.
01:14:45That in himself.
01:14:47He has.
01:14:48No.
01:14:49Authority.
01:14:51Only the Lord has authority.
01:14:53Matthew 28.
01:14:5418.
01:14:55The resurrected Christ.
01:14:57Declared.
01:14:58All authority.
01:15:00On.
01:15:01In heaven.
01:15:02And on earth.
01:15:04Is given to me.
01:15:06He didn't say to me.
01:15:07And you.
01:15:08Because you're so important.
01:15:10But to me.
01:15:12He has all the authority.
01:15:14I.
01:15:15Ron.
01:15:16Your brother.
01:15:17Have no.
01:15:18Authority.
01:15:22Only he has authority.
01:15:24Amen.
01:15:28And Paul.
01:15:28In 2nd Corinthians.
01:15:30Talked about.
01:15:31The authority.
01:15:32The Lord has given me.
01:15:35It's really a kind of loan.
01:15:37Paul.
01:15:38Represent me.
01:15:39Be the acting God.
01:15:42And Paul said.
01:15:43The Lord gave it to me.
01:15:45Not for tearing down.
01:15:47But for building up.
01:15:51See.
01:15:52He must know God.
01:15:53And God's will.
01:15:55And the verses are from Ephesians.
01:15:57In the highest sense.
01:16:02The will.
01:16:03In Revelation 4.11.
01:16:05That we explored in class.
01:16:07One day.
01:16:07I believe.
01:16:08To our prophet.
01:16:09The will.
01:16:10In Ephesians 9.
01:16:11The will.
01:16:11In Romans 12.
01:16:14The man who knows.
01:16:15God's will.
01:16:18May be able to represent God.
01:16:21D.
01:16:21He must be one.
01:16:23Who denies the self.
01:16:26That's a strong qualification.
01:16:29E.
01:16:30He must be one with the Lord.
01:16:32And live in constant.
01:16:34And intimate fellowship.
01:16:37With him.
01:16:38You have to know the person you're representing.
01:16:42You have to know how he thinks.
01:16:45What he desires.
01:16:47What he intends.
01:16:48How he feels.
01:16:51You need to live in fellowship with him.
01:16:53And be one with him.
01:16:55F.
01:16:55He must not be subjective.
01:16:58And act according to his own feeling.
01:17:00Paul said.
01:17:01We are not sufficient of ourselves.
01:17:04To consider anything as from ourselves.
01:17:08But some brothers measure everything.
01:17:10By their private feeling.
01:17:12By their own view.
01:17:13Their narrow view.
01:17:15I have my view.
01:17:16Which happens to be the correct one.
01:17:19And my feeling.
01:17:21I am the center of everything.
01:17:23My feeling is what counts.
01:17:26I react to things according to how they make me feel.
01:17:30Well.
01:17:31If you do.
01:17:32You are disqualified.
01:17:34From being Noah today.
01:17:37It's not how you feel.
01:17:38It's not how you think.
01:17:40It's not how you view things.
01:17:42It's God's feeling.
01:17:44God's thoughts.
01:17:45God's view.
01:17:46You represent him.
01:17:48Gee.
01:17:49He must be kind and gracious.
01:17:51In dealing with others.
01:17:53sinners.
01:17:54Luke 6.35.
01:17:56The Lord is kind.
01:17:59To all the people on the earth.
01:18:01But some think they are representing authority.
01:18:04They are touched.
01:18:05They are violated.
01:18:06I will deliver you to Satan.
01:18:08I will bind you.
01:18:10You touch my authority.
01:18:12You insult my dignity.
01:18:14I will deal with you in strict righteousness.
01:18:17But that's not God's deputy.
01:18:19He is gracious to others.
01:18:24And we will see why.
01:18:26He is able to bear offenses.
01:18:30I will tell you something quite eye opening.
01:18:32When we come to this point.
01:18:35I believe it's eye opening.
01:18:39He must be a person in resurrection.
01:18:42Living in the resurrection life of Christ.
01:18:45Paul said we had the sentence of death in ourselves.
01:18:48That we should have no confidence in ourselves.
01:18:52But in God who raises the dead.
01:18:57Brothers sitting in front of me.
01:18:59This will be your fundamental lesson.
01:19:04And when you learn it.
01:19:07You won't have to tell us anything.
01:19:11We'll look at you.
01:19:13We'll listen to you.
01:19:16And we'll just know.
01:19:19The Lord got through.
01:19:22And you don't trust yourself.
01:19:24Anymore.
01:19:27So your rod is budding.
01:19:29With almonds.
01:19:31And blossoms.
01:19:33You don't have a dead stick to beat others.
01:19:35You have a budding rod.
01:19:37To feed others.
01:19:40They're just buds and blossoms.
01:19:42And almonds.
01:19:43Exuding.
01:19:44Out of your whole being.
01:19:46You're not even aware of it.
01:19:48People don't sense the rod.
01:19:51They sense the fragrance of the blossoms.
01:19:54They taste the nourishment of almonds.
01:20:00Ah he must take a lowly place before God.
01:20:04I commend the verses to you.
01:20:05Moses was attacked.
01:20:07He fell on his face.
01:20:09He fell on his face literally.
01:20:11He didn't stand there and defy them.
01:20:14Moses and Aaron fell on their face.
01:20:17They took a lowly place.
01:20:19And we have other verses.
01:20:23Luke 14.
01:20:24You go to a wedding gathering.
01:20:26You choose the highest place.
01:20:28I've seen this happen in a church life.
01:20:30In a migration.
01:20:31A brother beloved to me.
01:20:33A brother who still is my heart.
01:20:36And in my heart.
01:20:37And will always be in my heart.
01:20:41But he moved to a certain place.
01:20:43And he just assumed.
01:20:44He will export his eldership.
01:20:47And he chose the highest place.
01:20:51And eventually it was clear.
01:20:53He might have been an elder where he came from.
01:20:55But he's not an elder in this locality.
01:20:57There is no manifestation.
01:20:59And brother Lee told him.
01:21:01Even if you are asked to be in the lead.
01:21:03You may not be in the lead.
01:21:07And he had to take a lower place.
01:21:09He couldn't bear it.
01:21:11So he's gone.
01:21:13But he's my brother.
01:21:17And I'll see him again.
01:21:19In that eternal kingdom.
01:21:23But learn of the sacrifices.
01:21:26Don't repeat history.
01:21:28Make history.
01:21:29Make history.
01:21:30By bringing in the kingdom.
01:21:32And living the kingdom life.
01:21:35Jay.
01:21:35He must be able to bear offenses.
01:21:39Not so quick to threaten people.
01:21:41To excommunicate them.
01:21:43To hand them over to Satan.
01:21:45To discipline them.
01:21:48We have here.
01:21:531 Corinthians 4.
01:21:56Paul said.
01:21:58God has made us.
01:21:58The apostles last.
01:22:01The off-scouring.
01:22:03The scum.
01:22:04Of all things.
01:22:05We're a spectacle.
01:22:07We're the last act.
01:22:09In the Colosseum.
01:22:11We're the criminals.
01:22:12Condemned to death.
01:22:16And please use.
01:22:18Please excuse.
01:22:19And understand.
01:22:21I'll try to be.
01:22:23Very discreet.
01:22:24And delicate.
01:22:24Brother Lee once told us.
01:22:28The world.
01:22:30Will take all of its waste.
01:22:35Its most defiling waste.
01:22:38And pour it on you.
01:22:42You are the ambassador.
01:22:44You represent God.
01:22:46This is our attitude.
01:22:50If you want to be honored.
01:22:52If you want to be glorified.
01:22:54If you want to have a following.
01:22:56You're in the wrong realm.
01:22:58The world defies and dishonors.
01:23:01The ambassadors.
01:23:04But they're clear.
01:23:08Forgive me to say.
01:23:09We are clear.
01:23:13We are scum.
01:23:15We are nothing.
01:23:17We are refuse.
01:23:18We're the dregs.
01:23:21We're criminals sentenced to death.
01:23:23Outwardly.
01:23:25But inwardly.
01:23:27We live.
01:23:28In the magnificent realm.
01:23:31Of the glorious kingdom of God.
01:23:34In life.
01:23:36And a great reversal.
01:23:38Is coming.
01:23:41Mao Zedong.
01:23:44And Zhou Enlai.
01:23:46Had their time to rule.
01:23:49A kingdom is coming to the earth.
01:23:52And the overcoming martyrs.
01:23:55From the mainland of China.
01:23:57I believe.
01:23:59Will be co-kings.
01:24:01For a thousand years.
01:24:03So you choose.
01:24:05When you want your glory.
01:24:07You want it now.
01:24:08In the world.
01:24:09You want it now.
01:24:10In the church.
01:24:12Do you think being up here.
01:24:13Is to have glory for yourself.
01:24:18Or will you take the way.
01:24:20Of the Lord Jesus.
01:24:23Of the ministers of the new covenant.
01:24:26Of the overcomers.
01:24:27In all the ages.
01:24:29To go to him.
01:24:30Outside the camp.
01:24:31Bearing his reproach.
01:24:35Kay.
01:24:35He must have a consciousness.
01:24:37Of his inability.
01:24:40And unsuitability.
01:24:43So Moses said.
01:24:45I can't speak.
01:24:45I can't do anything.
01:24:46I can't do this.
01:24:48Forty years ago.
01:24:49I had the strength.
01:24:52So I killed that Egyptian.
01:24:54Now I can't do it.
01:24:55I can't speak.
01:24:56The Lord got impatient already.
01:24:57He said.
01:24:58Enough already.
01:24:59Aaron will be your mouth.
01:25:00You will be God to him.
01:25:03Then Moses.
01:25:04You need to bear a sign.
01:25:07That you realize what you are.
01:25:09Put your hand in your bosom.
01:25:11Now pull it out.
01:25:13And it's leprous.
01:25:15You are a leper.
01:25:18I know you are a leper.
01:25:22There is no other kind of person.
01:25:24On the earth.
01:25:25In the flesh.
01:25:27But if you don't trust yourself.
01:25:30If you are conscious.
01:25:32Of your inability.
01:25:33And unsuitability.
01:25:34The paradox is.
01:25:36When you are weak.
01:25:37You are strong.
01:25:38When you can't.
01:25:41You can.
01:25:43Then he must be one who represents God properly.
01:25:47We can develop the point.
01:25:49Moses had this failure.
01:25:51He was angry.
01:25:52When God was not angry.
01:25:54He misrepresented God.
01:25:57Well who can be this kind of person.
01:26:00Not you.
01:26:01Not I.
01:26:03In the natural life.
01:26:04No matter how smart.
01:26:06No matter how gifted.
01:26:07No matter how trained.
01:26:10Only.
01:26:11The Christ of resurrection.
01:26:14Is this kind of qualified person.
01:26:18But in God's economy.
01:26:20God is.
01:26:22Enlarging.
01:26:22And reproducing.
01:26:24The kingly Christ.
01:26:26In all of us.
01:26:28And at the latest.
01:26:29In the new heaven.
01:26:30In the new earth.
01:26:31In the new Jerusalem.
01:26:33All of the redeemed.
01:26:35Regenerated.
01:26:38Sanctified.
01:26:39Renewed.
01:26:39Transformed.
01:26:40Glorified.
01:26:41Sons of God.
01:26:43Will be kings.
01:26:45Reigning forever and ever.
01:26:48In the new heaven.
01:26:49And the new earth.
01:26:50This is our destiny.
01:26:53All of us.
01:26:54Whether you are sister in the flesh.
01:26:56Or brother in the flesh.
01:26:58We are bound for resurrection.
01:27:00Resurrection life.
01:27:02Makes us.
01:27:04A new species.
01:27:05A God man person.
01:27:08A citizen.
01:27:09Of the divine.
01:27:10And mystical realm.
01:27:13This is the kingdom of God.
01:27:15Now it's 9.05.
01:27:18I don't know what to do.
01:27:20After we pray.
01:27:22I just trust the Lord will.
01:27:24Lead brother Dave Higgins.
01:27:27Whether we should speak.
01:27:29For 10 minutes.
01:27:30Or 15 minutes.
01:27:32Or whether we should go home.
01:27:33I don't know.
01:27:35Let's pray and let the Lord rule us.
01:27:38And we'll just follow the spirit.
01:27:40And live and enjoy the kingdom of God.
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