Welcome to the final part of Kingdom Life. It’s been an incredible series on the parables of Jesus and how they show us the many different facets of the Kingdom of God. We are in Part 16 of this series. If you’ve missed any of the previous parts, you can read them all on our blog page. Part One can be found here: https://www.upstreamministries.com/post/kingdom-life
This week, we are finishing up the last two points on our list of Eight Characteristics of the King’s True Subjects. The full list can be found here: https://www.upstreamministries.com/post/the-king-s-true-subjects
Point number 7 is ‘The King’s True Subjects are confident in prayer’. God’s children are confident that their Father in Heaven hears and answers their prayers. Let’s look at two parables to help us understand this better.
Luke 11:5-8
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
In this first parable, the friend might not be moved by compassion, but by his friend’s persistence. In the next parable, Jesus makes it clear that God has good gifts for His children.
Luke 11:9-13
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
These two parables are contrasting and comparing. God is not like a grumpy neighbour who might reluctantly help you out if you are particularly annoying! No, God is a good, good Father Who takes care of His children well. This idea that God is reluctant or hesitant is wrong. You can be confident when you approach your Heavenly Father in prayer.
The final point on the list is point 8: The King’s True Subjects watch and wait (or persevere) for the King’s Return. Remember, the King has gone away but He will return and claim His Kingdom. The question is; what will He find when He returns?
Again, there are two parables that help illustrate this point. First, let’s turn to what we call the Parable of the Faithful Steward.
Matthew 24: 42-51
Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delays his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
For those servants who watch and are being good stewards of the actions, their conduct etc., they will be rewarded. Psalm 23 says He prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies. During the time we are waiting on earth, we need to be diligent and persevere. I saw a social media picture once with the text ‘Jesus is coming! Look busy!’ I have to admit that I laughed out loud. But the point is not to look busy, the point is to be busy doing the work of the King for the furtherance of His Kingdom. That only truly comes as a result of seeking first the Kingdom of God.
Even though it seems like a long time, God’s true servants are those who persevere to the end of their lives and no matter what it takes, they’re going to be faithful and loyal. There’s another parable that helps us understand this. It’s found in Matthew 25: 1-13.
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
The oil represents the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our lives. 1 Cor. 17:17-20 teaches us that the Holy Spirit lives inside those who’ve been born again. Only those who have the Holy Spirit (been born again) will enter the kingdom of heaven. If you give your life to Christ, but don’t seek the Lord, don’t pursue the Lord and your relationship with Him, you can grow a hardened heart which makes you insensitive to God. This can, however unlikely, then lead to a rejection of Jesus and a turning away from the faith. We need to pay attention to our relationship to God and cherish it, keeping our lamps full of oil, by reading His Word, fellowshipping with Him and obeying His Word in our lives.
So, we’ve come to the end of our Kingdom Life series. We hope it’s been a huge blessing. Next week we are beginning a brand new series called End Time Prophecies Revealed. We know that many of you have been asking about this with all that’s going on in the world right now, so Pastor Richard is going to address as much as he can in this next series. We know it’s going to be awesome, revealing and powerful. Be sure to watch out for next week’s blog post and don’t forget to share it with someone you know.
Until next week,
Upstream Ministries
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