Interlude: Jesus, Lessons of the Kingdom•
A Sermon by Dr. Bob Griffin, Teaching Elder at Sovereign Grace Church
I. THE KINGDOM AT HAND
A. KINGDOM POWER
1. WORK
Luke 17:11-14 On the way to Jerusalem He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
When He saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.
Plight of the Men v Power of the Lord
2. WORSHIP
Luke 17:15-16 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
Attitude of Gratitude
3. WONDER
Luke 17:17-19 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Three Questions, One Truth
B. KINGDOM PRESENCE
1. WHEN
Luke 17:20 Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them,
2. WISDOM
Luke 17:21 “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will one say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
II. THE KINGDOM AHEAD
A. KINGDOM PICTURE
1. WISTFUL
Luke 17:22-23 And He said to the disciples, “The days are coming when you will desire to see such a day of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. And some will say to you, ‘Look, there!’ or ‘Look, here!’ Do not go out or follow them.”
Longing for the King!
2. WATCH
Luke 17:24 “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in that day.”
Every Eye will See
B. KINGDOM PROPHECY
1. WAIT
Luke 17:25 But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation
Jesus’ kingdom cannot come until He finishes His work on earth
2. WARNING
Luke 17:26-30 Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark and the flood came and destroyed them all.
28 Likewise, just as it was in the days of Lot – they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building, but on the day when Lot went out from Sodom, fire and sulfur rained from heaven and destroyed them all – so will it be on the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Example of Noah
Example of Lot
C. KINGDOM PRIORITIES
1. WEEP
Luke 17:31-36 On that day, let the one who is on the housetop, with his goods in the house, not come down to take them away, and likewise let the one who is in the field not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.
33 Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. I tell you, in that night there will be two in one bed. One will be taken and the other left. There will be two women grinding together. One will be taken and the other left.”
2. WHERE
Luke 17:37 And they said to Him, “Where, Lord?”
He said to them, “Wherever there is a corpse the vultures gather.”