Last Sunday the message exposed the ugly attitude of a party spirit. It is evident in political, social and religious circles. Everyone must guard against having "a party spirit." One way to avoid that attitude is to understand the nature of the kingdom of God, to see the greatness of that kingdom, and the sovereignty of our King. We should see the weightier matters of the law and not little insignificant things. Seven traits of a party spirit were named.

We should use biblical language and not allow tradition to govern the words that we use. For example, we use the word, church, almost exclusively and seldom use the word, kingdom. In the gospels, the word church occurs only three times (Matt. 16:18, 18:17.) In comparison, the word, kingdom, is found 55 times in Matthew, 20 times in Mark, 44 times in Luke, and 5 times in John. Thus, the word, kingdom, is found 124 times in our four gospels. That is, the word kingdom is found 124 times to the word church only 3 times. The term, church, is not found at all in the prophecies of the Old Testament, but the term, kingdom is found often.

This is not to say that we should drop the use of the term, church, but rather we should use and understand both these terms. We should use biblical language without fear of what others might think. It shows a party spirit when we become narrow and selective in our use of biblical language. Two words never mean exactly the same thing. If so, then why did the other word ever began to be used? They may be similar in meaning or have some overlapping qualities, but they are not the same.

Note Jesus’ use of the word, kingdom, in his teachings. What did he mean by it? How did he use it?

Connects with Old Testament prophecies. Great prophecies foretelling the coming kingdom of God were known by Jews. There was a great expectation of their fulfillment. John the Baptist and Jesus preached, Repent ye for the kingdom of God is at hand. (Matt. 3:2, 4:17.) Here are some of those prophecies:

"And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms and it shall stand for ever." (Daniel 2:44.)

Nathan promised David, "I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever." (2 Samuel 7:13.)

"The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it. Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne." (Psalm 132:11.) "There-fore being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would rise up Christ to sit on his throne. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, neither his flesh did see corruption." (Acts 2:30.)

"Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and thy dominion endures throughout all generations." (Psalm 145:13.)

Just before Jesus ascended to heaven, some asked Jesus, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6.)

Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God addressed this expectation among the Jews about the Old Testament prophecies. His language was spiritual and symbolic. He was not an earthly king, neither was his kingdom political or bound by land or sea. When Herod asked Jesus if he were the king of the Jews, he replied, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews. But now is my kingdom not from here." (John 18:36.)

Kingdom of God and of Heaven. Jesus’ language about the kingdom makes clear the kingdom is from above. Two descriptions most often used are "of God and of heaven." This points both to its origin and its destiny.

Jesus preached, The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matt. 4:17.) He often described the kingdom of heaven in his parables. It is interesting that Matthew most often used the term, kingdom of heaven, but Mark, Luke and John most often used the term, kingdom of God. This signifies that the kingdom is from above; it is spiritual in nature; the King rules from on high; and our citizenship is in heaven. People of all nations can enter this kingdom by a new birth. (John 3:5.) "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption inherit incorruption." (1 Cor. 15:50.)

This was startling language for physical, political Jews. Their fleshy lineage from Abraham did not guarantee that they were citizens in God’s Kingdom. They had to be born again.

Feast, bounty, blessings as a gift. Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32.) The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field and a man finds it. He sells all that he has and buys that field. (Matt. 13:44.) It is like a merchant looking for special pearls. He finds one pearl of great price. He sells all the others in order to buy this one. (Matt. 13:45-46.) It is like a king who prepares a great feast and invites friends to come. (Luke 14:16.) The imagery was often that of a wedding banquet to which guests were invited. The guests were more than guests; they are in fact the bride of Christ.

It is interesting that the ones who refused the invitation of the King were Jews. He had prepared great blessings for them. They could eat at the King’s table, yet they refused the invitation. The Gospel was preached first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. Jesus said that harlots would enter the kingdom before the Jews. They felt that they had a special right before others. The kingdom belonged to them; Gentiles were not welcome. They were children of Abraham and circumcised. Yet, they missed out on the blessings.

Those under a king were provided for by his bounty. Kings had many servants who ate at the king’s table. God has provided a table for us in his Kingdom. At this table we receive the benefits of salvation, peace, joy, and fellowship with God.

The names of parables and messages. One way to understand the content of Jesus’ messages is to read the titles of his parables and sermons. Here is a brief list: the beatitudes which describe the spiritual condition of one who is blessed, the parable of the sower, the tares, the Good Samaritan, the two debtors, the friend at midnight, the rich fool, the watchful servant, the chief seats, the great supper, the rich man and Lazarus, the rash builder, the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, the laborers in the vineyard, the ten virgins, the talents, the leaven, the lost sheep, the lost coin, the lost son, the barren fig tree, the dragnet, and the seed growing in secret. The one and only teacher of parables in the New Testament is Jesus himself. He masterfully taught great lessons in a simple way that made people think.

Jesus did not always teach in parables. It is believed that he began to use them in the second year of his ministry when the Jewish nation began to show resistance to the Gospel of the Kingdom. The parables revealed God’s will to those who hearts were good soil, but they concealed it from those who hearts were not right. The Gospel according to Matthew records large blocks of messages from Jesus. Often he spake directly and powerfully to the enemies of the Gospel. Jesus spoke more about heaven and hell than anyone else in the New Testament. He presented scenes of the great judgement to come.

The lessons taught by Jesus were spiritual in nature. They emphasize the heart of man in relation to God, discipleship, serving others, treating others fairly and as you would like to be treated, seeking after the kingdom of God and not mammon, the folly of one man judging another, seeking the narrow way that leads to life, and the great value of the Kingdom. Jesus taught lessons that dealt with life’s ultimate issues---of sin, death, and salvation.

It is interesting and instructive to note what is not included in Jesus’ teachings. There is no indication that Jesus planned to overthrow Rome, to serve as a king on earth, to have a band of soldiers to protect him, to gain riches or earthly power, or to come back to earth to do any of those things at a future date. Jesus’ life was consumed with doing the Father’s will and after securing man’s salvation he returned to the Father. (John 16:28.)

It is interesting to read the parables and sermons of Jesus about the Kingdom and realize that he is the King of that Kingdom.

"These shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them; for he is Lord of lords and King of kings. They that are with him are called, chosen and faithful." (Rev. 17:14.)

"And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood and his name is called the Word of God. The armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. He hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King of Kings and Lord of Lords." (Rev. 19:13-16.)

Pilate asked Jesus, "Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born and for this cause came I unto the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth hears my voice." (John 18:37.)

The accusation over the head of Jesus on the cross in three languages read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." (Matt. 27:37.) This statement was both true and false. It was false in the sense which Pilate and the Jews had accused Jesus, but it was true in a spiritual sense. He does reign as King over the Kingdom of God.

"Then comes the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down (destroyed, NIV) all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Cor. 15:24-25.)

Everyone is invited to become a citizen of the Lord’s Kingdom. ". . . who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins." (Col. 1:13.)