CRCF\u201d\u201d1-24-10<\/p>\n
\n
The Kudzu Conspiracy:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Growth of God\u201d\u2122s Kingdom<\/em><\/p>\n in the Empires of Men<\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n We\u201d\u2122ve been talking about God\u201d\u2122s kingdom\u201d\u201dhow God is working in this world today through His people.\u00a0 And we\u201d\u2122ve found out that the Kingdom of God acts an awful lot like kudzu<\/span><\/strong>! (Slide 1)<\/p>\n Part 1: <\/strong>God\u201d\u2122s kingdom grows like a weed\u201d\u201dsubtly, yet wildly taking over people\u201d\u2122s hearts with Jesus\u201d\u2122 love. <\/em>(Slide 2)<\/p>\n Part 2:<\/strong> Enemy-love is the fertilizer for The Kudzu Conspiracy<\/em>. <\/em>Enemy-love is the secret for the growth of God\u201d\u2122s Kingdom in the empires of men.<\/p>\n \n We\u201d\u2122ve talked about how crazy kudzu grows and how hard it is to get rid of.\u00a0 Now, if you could ever truly get it pulled up by the root, it wouldn\u201d\u2122t grow anymore, right?\u00a0 But, that\u201d\u2122s a big \u201cIF\u201d, isn\u201d\u2122t it?<\/p>\n Part 3:\u00a0 \u201cThe Root of The The Kudzu Conspiracy. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n And Jesus is a Root that can\u201d\u2122t be pulled u<\/em>p!\u00a0 The Kudzu Conspiracy is God\u201d\u2122s unstoppable kingdom because of the victory of Jesus on the Cross and through the Resurrection. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/em><\/strong>Jesus builds His Kingdom without dependence on earthly powers<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Hebrews 4:15<\/strong><\/p>\n This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.<\/p>\n As we look at the temptation of Jesus, what we see is Jesus identifying with His people.\u00a0 And there are some interesting, and intentional, parallels to the experiences of the people of Israel, especially their 40 years of wandering in the desert, where they too were tested.<\/p>\n Matthew places Jesus\u201d\u2122 testing in chapter 4 of his Gospel\u201d\u201dright before the Sermon on the Mount, which is basically instructions on how to live in God\u201d\u2122s kingdom here on earth.\u00a0 The point is, Jesus\u201d\u2122 temptation\/testing was foundational for the beginning of the Kingdom of God<\/em>.\u00a0 So, clearly, Jesus\u201d\u2122 temptation is also key for our understanding of the Kingdom of God.<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Notice:\u00a0 Jesus\u201d\u2122 temptations could all 3 be summed up in one word\u201d\u201dpower<\/em>.\u00a0 All 3 were temptations to different forms of power in this world<\/span>.<\/p>\n Ronnie McBrayer:\u00a0 \u201cEconomics, religion, and politics, the major social structures upon which all empires are built . . . These were attempts to provide Jesus with an easier means at achieving his mission, to build an empire through systematic force and domination, rather than establishing the Kingdom of God through love, justice, and suffering sacrifice.\u201d<\/p>\n 1<\/sup><\/strong> Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. 2<\/sup><\/strong> For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.<\/p>\n 3<\/sup><\/strong> During that time the devil came and said to him, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.\u201d<\/p>\n 4<\/sup><\/strong> But Jesus told him, \u201cNo! The Scriptures say,<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dcPeople do not live by bread alone, 5<\/sup><\/strong> Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, 6<\/sup><\/strong> and said, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dcHe will order his angels to protect you. 7<\/sup><\/strong> Jesus responded, \u201cThe Scriptures also say, \u201d\u02dcYou must not test the Lord your God.\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/p>\n 8<\/sup><\/strong> Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cI will give it all to you,\u201d he said, \u201cif you will kneel down and worship me.\u201d<\/p>\n 10<\/sup><\/strong> \u201cGet out of here, Satan,\u201d Jesus told him. \u201cFor the Scriptures say,<\/p>\n \u201d\u02dcYou must worship the Lord your God 11<\/sup><\/strong> Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.<\/p>\n Jesus builds His Kingdom without dependence on earthly powers<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n (Slides 4-7)<\/p>\n The backdrop here was a society where over 75% of the people lived in poverty.\u00a0 Life was very much about survival\u201d\u201despecially under the Romans and all of the corruption of the authorities and tax collectors.\u00a0 The common people had no shot at a better life.<\/p>\n So, for Jesus to make bread and feed Himself and then extend that into a nationwide feeding program would have been a very effective way to rally support and start a \u201cpeasant rebellion\u201d and overthrow the Romans, setting up God\u201d\u2122s kingdom on earth!<\/p>\n But Jesus refuses this sort of economic power!\u00a0 He quotes from Deuteronomy where the Israelites are wandering in the desert, hungry and start to long for all of the prosperity and abundance of their slavery in Egypt!\u00a0 God gives them manna to show them their dependence on Him.<\/p>\n Here Jesus is saying that it more important to depend on God\u201d\u201dand to help others do the same\u201d\u201dthan to have a full belly!\u00a0 Because full bellies don\u201d\u2122t change hearts.<\/p>\n A little later in Jesus ministry, we see just that.<\/p>\n John 6:14-15, 26-33<\/strong><\/p>\n 14<\/sup> When the people saw him do this miraculous sign, they exclaimed, \u201cSurely, he is the Prophet we have been expecting!\u201d 15<\/sup> When Jesus saw that they were ready to force him to be their king<\/span>, he slipped away into the hills by himself . . . 26<\/sup> Jesus replied, \u201cI tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs<\/em><\/strong>. 27<\/sup> But don\u201d\u2122t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you<\/em>. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.\u201d \u00a028<\/sup> They replied, \u201cWe want to perform God\u201d\u2122s works, too. What should we do?\u201d \u00a029<\/sup> Jesus told them, \u201cThis is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.\u201d \u00a030<\/sup>They answered, \u201cShow us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do? 31<\/sup> After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, \u201d\u02dcMoses gave them bread from heaven to eat.\u201d\u2122\u201d 32<\/sup> Jesus said, \u201cI tell you the truth, Moses didn\u201d\u2122t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven. 33<\/sup> The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus builds His Kingdom without dependence on earthly powers<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n God\u201d\u2122s kingdom is being built on God\u201d\u2122s Word, the Bread of Heaven\u201d\u201dboth of which are Jesus Himself!<\/em><\/p>\n (Slides 8-10)<\/p>\n \u201cIf Jesus had staged this stunt at the temple . . . he could have used his might to mesmerize the powerful and the elite, winning religious legitimization.\u201d (Claiborne and Haw, 87)<\/p>\n But Jesus isn\u201d\u2122t into religion!\u00a0 Jesus was never impressed by the self-righteous religious folk.\u00a0 In fact, His harshest words were for the most religious of His day.<\/p>\n Jesus is building a kingdom where we relate to God as His children, in a real relationship that is possible because of God\u201d\u2122s grace and love given to us in Jesus!<\/p>\n Jesus builds His Kingdom without dependence on earthly powers<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n God\u201d\u2122s kingdom is being built, not on a religious \u201cdog and pony show\u201d, but on the bloody sacrifice of Jesus Christ that gives sinners a relationship with a holy God!<\/em><\/p>\n (Slides 11-12)<\/p>\n 3. <\/strong>Jesus refused Political Power<\/span><\/em><\/strong> (8-10)<\/strong><\/p>\n 8 Next the devil took him to the peak of a very This is what the nation of Israel was waiting for\u201d\u201da Messiah to overthrow the Romans!\u00a0 But not Jesus!<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u201d\u2122s extraordinary that when the Devil said all political power in the world belongs to him and he can give it to whoever he wishes, Jesus didn\u201d\u2122t dispute the claim; he just flat out refused the offer.\u00a0 He knew well the bitter fruits of this world\u201d\u2122s power.\u00a0 He saw governmental power not as a coveted position to run after but rather as the Devil\u201d\u2122s playground.\u00a0 Jesus\u201d\u2122 ancestors had suffered from the bloodshed and hunger and pain inflicted by kings and empires . . . Instead of ascending the throne of power to establish God\u201d\u2122s society, he would descend into the world as a slave<\/em><\/strong> . . . To serve God alone is to refuse to take the reigns of world power . . . Jesus would enter his people\u201d\u2122s story, tears, sweat, and hunger and show them a way out that doesn\u201d\u2122t require financial, military, and political power of kings and presidents and cabinets.<\/em><\/strong>\u201d (Claiborne & Haw, 85-86)<\/p>\n Jesus builds His Kingdom without dependence on earthly powers<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n There is only one King Who is the Son of God,\u00a0 Whose kingdom will never end\u201d\u201dHis name is Jesus! <\/em>His rule in this world came through the Cross.\u00a0 And He tells us that we are to \u201cdeny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Him.\u201d\u00a0 That means, as we saw last week, loving our enemies like Jesus loved His enemies\u201d\u201dUS!\u00a0 That means that we must interact with this world the way Jesus did! <\/strong>THAT is how the Kudzu Conspiracy works!\u00a0 THAT is how the Kingdom of God grows in the empires of men!<\/p>\n Ronnie McBrayer:\u00a0 \u201cJesus did not attempt to fight, tear down, or to reform these powers; that was neither his role, nor the role of his followers. Instead, Jesus rejected the necessity of dependence upon all earthly powers. He \u201copted out,\u201d refusing to conform, knowing that no human power can serve God\u201d\u2122s ultimate will. To believe otherwise, is to lose faith. It is to fail to resist power\u201d\u2122s temptation.\u201d<\/p>\n Jesus builds His Kingdom without dependence on earthly powers<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Will we, as Jesus\u201d\u2122 followers, live in this world the way HE did?\u00a0 We will resist economic, religious and political power?\u00a0 Will we show the world an alternative power that melts hearts and changes lives?\u00a0 Will we show the world the power of love\u201d\u201deven enemy-love, justice, grace, mercy and holiness? <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Celebration of the Lord\u201d\u2122s Supper<\/strong><\/p>\n This meal is a celebration<\/span> of God\u201d\u2122s alternative power in this world\u201d\u201dthe power of love in Jesus.\u00a0 Also, this meal is a commitment<\/span> to live out that alternative power in our world\u201d\u201dto be part of The Kudzu Conspiracy and see what God does in the hearts of men, women, boys and girls.<\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" CRCF\u201d\u201d1-24-10 The Kudzu Conspiracy: The Growth of God\u201d\u2122s Kingdom in the Empires of Men We\u201d\u2122ve been talking about God\u201d\u2122s kingdom\u201d\u201dhow God is working in this world today through His people.\u00a0 And we\u201d\u2122ve found out that the Kingdom of God acts … Continue reading
\nKudzu Conspiracy\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\nMatthew 4:1-11<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>(Slide 3)<\/p>\n
\nJesus is the Root of<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\nMatthew 4:1-11 (NLT)<\/h4>\n
\nbut by every word that comes from the mouth of God.\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/p>\n
\nAnd they will hold you up with their hands
\nso you won\u201d\u2122t even hurt your foot on a stone.\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/p>\n
\nand serve only him.\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/p>\n\n
\nhim, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, tell these stones
\nto become loaves of bread\u00a0 4 But Jesus told him,
\n\u201cNo! The Scriptures say, \u201d\u02dcPeople do not live by
\nbread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n
\nJerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple,
\n6 and said, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, jump off!\u00a0 For the Scriptures say,
\n\u201d\u02dcHe will order his angels to protect you.
\nAnd they will hold you up with their hands
\nso you won\u201d\u2122t even hurt your foot on a stone.\u201d\u2122\u201d <\/strong>7 Jesus responded, \u201cThe Scriptures also say, \u201d\u02dcYou must not test the Lord your God.\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
\nhigh mountain and showed him all the kingdoms
\nof the world and their glory.\u00a0\u00a0 9 \u201cI will give it all
\nto you,\u201d he said, \u201cif you will kneel down and
\nworship me.\u201d 10 \u201cGet out of here, Satan,\u201d Jesus told him. \u201cFor the Scriptures say, \u201d\u02dcYou must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.\u201d\u2122\u201d<\/p>\n