This 2026‑04‑02 broadcast of 514 Grace Church, led by Pastor Keith and hosted by Harry Pitts, is the fourth installment of the sermon series “The Kingdom of Heaven: God’s Way of Living Freedom and Victory.” The message presents the Kingdom of Heaven as the source of good news that brings freedom, prosperity, health, and victory over systemic racism and cultural division. Using a series of biblical passages—Acts 11 (Peter’s vision and the inclusion of Gentiles), John 4 (the Samaritan woman), Galatians 1 (Paul’s break from Judaism), Romans 5‑6 (sin, slavery, and choice), 3 John 1‑2 (prosperity and health), Ephesians 1 (God’s mysterious will), and Philippians 2 (humility and Christ‑like attitude)—the speakers argue that the Kingdom’s teachings supersede traditional Jewish law and modern religious traditions. They repeatedly emphasize that the Kingdom calls believers to love across ethnic lines, reject self‑righteousness, and live in the freedom Christ provides. The sermon concludes with a direct invitation to accept Jesus, join 514 Grace Church, and financially support the ministry’s global outreach, citing the church’s 501(c)(3) status and various social‑media platforms.
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His Son doing the—
his perfect will, doing exactly obeying.
So don't just talk, race. Turn that fade all the way up. Let's go! I came here with the word on me. Whole squad in the church got the dirt of me. From the block to the birds to the light and the dark, we spark up the flame, let it burn. It's the mark. Enemy shook when the saints get to stepping. Flav got me flexing like I'm bitch fresh repping. Never been soft with the socks to the earth. Bloodball crossfade, that's his final word. Face mold on and it can't be stopped. From the east to the west, man, they wearing this black. Every chain fall off when the name get dropped. 514, we stay on top. The only year that came different. This ain't just a song, it's a statement. Crazy as I sound, the word is I say.
Um, we learn something when we keep repeating. Amen.
Amen.
You learn how to ride a bike because you keep at it. You don't jump on it one time when that's your first time trying to ride a bike and you fall down to the left or the right. You know, you get back up and you keep at it until you get it. Amen. Same with the messages. Praise God. God keeps hounding and honing in the message until, praise God, we get it.
Amen.
Because he loves us that much. Hallelujah. So with that thought, we still have the title for this message from God: The Kingdom of Heaven: God's Way of Living Freedom and Victory, Part 4.
Amen.
What are a couple of ways we're going to be discussing today? What is the good news? What good news does the kingdom of knowing about the kingdom of heaven— we've been talking about it left and right, uh, this month. So let's go over a couple of points that shows That the kingdom of heaven does produce good news. Something that you want to hear. Something that you love to hear. Something that will give you joy and take away the pain.
Something that will put a smile on your face.
That will turn the frown upside down. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
Praise God. We're going to see, uh, in these couple of examples here And using once again the Word of God to prove the point.
Amen.
One of the things that the Kingdom of Heaven, the teaching of the Kingdom of Heaven solves, it creates a building block to stop systemic racism. Amen. Praise God. I know that's a hot topic. Praise God, it's something that We've seen in the cultural time that Jesus was walking on the land, and we see it in the 21st century. And Jesus is that answer for stopping and bringing more and more to a calm, to a halt in the lives of many people, that systemic racism.
Amen.
Amen.
Praise God. And we're going to be going over some scriptures concerning that. Let's turn to Acts chapter 11, verses 1 through 18. Hallelujah. Excuse me one moment. Acts chapter 11, verses 1 through 18. This is a carryover, praise God, when we were discussing from last week Acts chapter 10. This is a follow-through, amen?
Amen.
For what the God— the man of God Peter, Simon Peter, God had to have Peter to repent of his way and his thinking to be used of God to help save the Gentiles. Amen. In this particular setting, because Peter said it was against the Jewish law for him to, uh, to associate and to fellowship with the Gentiles. And God used something that he was familiar with— to not eat unclean things, which was a Jewish tradition and a Jewish law to give insight to Peter to get his attention, to have him to repent.
That's right.
Meaning to change his mind.
He saw a vision of a sheet descending from heaven, and it had birds, reptiles, and unclean animals, untamed animals on that sheet.
And God told Peter to— Simon Peter to eat to, uh, to, to eat that what was on the sheet.
Yes.
And Simon Peter said, no, Lord, I will not eat anything, uh, unpure and unclean. And God repeated it 3 times, to eat. He was getting Peter's attention, something that he was familiar with, to deal with the prejudice that was inside of him. Amen. That, that Jewish law and that Jewish tradition had built up. Amen. Hallelujah.
So when Peter finally got to Cornelius of Caesarea, he began to see what those animals represented—
those birds, those reptiles, and those animals that he said were unclean and impure. And God told him, don't call anything impure or unclean that I have made clean. God was saying, "Hey, it's me. I'm giving you a new way." What way is that? The kingdom of heaven. A new way of thinking. Forget about what you learned with the Jewish tradition. Right now, you're learning the right way. That right way is that, hey, if I want the Gentiles to hear. The kingdom of heaven. I prepared them. I made them unclean. I made them clean. Excuse me. I made them clean. So speak to them what I will be putting on your heart, so that they will have the opportunity to receive Jesus Christ too. So when Simon Peter got to Cornelius's house in Caesarea. He saw when he got into the house, the main dwelling area, he saw the host of relatives and friends. And Simon Peter said, oh, I see now that God has no favoritism.
Hallelujah.
I see what those animals represented. They represented these people here in this room that I called impure and unclean. God is saying, "Hey, I want you to change your mind, Peter. Repent. I've called them clean. I want them to hear the good news of the kingdom of heaven." So those people receive their salvation. In Acts chapter eleven, verse one, it's just a carryover, and we're going to be not going to keep you long. Chapter eleven, verse one. Out of the King James Version. And the apostles and brethren that were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, that they that were of the circumcision contended with him, meaning that those who were still in the Jewish Jesus, Jesus, Jews tradition, I'm sorry, and Judaism, they had a problem with Peter for speaking to the Gentiles. They contended with him, saying, thou wentest into men uncircumcised and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa Praying.
Yes.
And in a trance I saw a vision, a certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet let down from heaven by 4 corners. And it came even to me, upon the which, when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered. Hallelujah. And saw 4-footed beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things. And fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter, slay and eat. But I said, No, not so, not so, Lord, for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath— what God hath cleaned, that call not thou common. And this was done 3 times, and all were drawn up again into heaven. Verse 11. And behold, immediately there were 3 men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover, these 6 brethren accompanied me. And we entered into the man's house, and he showed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send me into Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter, who shall tell thee words whereby thou and all thy household shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on the as at the beginning. Verse 16, then remember I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water, but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, what was I? that I could withstand them, withstand God. When they heard these things, they held their peace and glorified God, saying, then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. God had to change those people that were thinking like Peter, that said to have nothing to do with the Gentiles. God had to correct them too, and that's what Jesus did.
Amen.
What the Spirit did. Let's continue on in verse 19 to further prove this point. Verse 19: Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen traveled as far as, uh, Phoenix and Cyprus and Antioch. preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians, preaching the word, preaching the Lord Jesus. Those Grecians were the Gentiles.
Yes.
Some of the people were preaching to the Gentiles once again. And the hand of the Lord was with them, And a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
Then tidings of these things, meaning good news of these things, came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem. What is that saying? It means this news is spreading like wildfire. The people who have had that prejudice and racism, those things taught by the Jewish tradition to not have nothing to do with the Gentiles, It's spreading like wildfire now.
Amen.
A new thing is happening.
Yes.
The preaching of the teaching of the kingdom of heaven.
Come on, brother.
And they sent forth Barabbas, hallelujah, that he should go as far as Antioch.
Yes.
The church of Jerusalem said, this thing is so powerful and so unusual, we gotta send Barabbas to check it out. Verse 23. Who, when he came and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost, and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
Amen.
Amen. Praise God.
Amen. Thank you.
Praise his holy name.
Amen. Hallelujah.
Thank you, Lord Jesus. And let's go to, praise God, another good example of this here. John chapter 4. John chapter 4, verses 1 through 26. We're not going to be long. John chapter four, verses one through twenty-six. Very quickly. When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples did, he left Judea and departed again into Galilee. And he must needs go through Samaria.
Lord have mercy.
Lord have mercy. Verse 5, then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar. Near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore being wearied with his journey, meaning he was tired, he had been walking all day and he was tired, sat thus on the well.
And it was about the 6th hour.
Verse 7, there cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water.
Yes.
Jesus saith unto her, give me to drink.
For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat. It was just Jesus and the lady from Samaria that was there at the well. Then saith, verse 9, saith the woman of Samaria unto him, how is it that thou being a Jew askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? By tradition, you know, uh, the Jews don't speak to us, don't have nothing to do with us.
Right.
You're breaking the barrier.
Right.
For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. Jesus answered and said unto her, if thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him And he would have given thee living water, meaning that the people's eyes were blind on earth. They didn't know who Jesus was. It had to be given by divine revelation. Amen. You have the Son of God walking on earth among the people, and they didn't know who in the world it was. Verse 11: The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. From whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. Jesus saith unto her, Go call thy husband, and come hither. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband, for thou hast had 5 husbands, and he whom thou Thou hast is not thy husband, in that thou sayest thou truly.
Right.
The woman was living with a man, so she wasn't married to him. That's what Jesus was saying. The woman saith unto him, sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. That was the dividing line between the Samaritans and the Jews, that they had a mountain that they said was a place to go worship it, and the Jews said in Jerusalem you should be worshiping. That was the main dividing line that kept that bitterness between them. Amen. Verse 21, Jesus saith unto her, woman, believe me, the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this mountain nor yet in As Jews and worship the Father. Ye worship ye now, ye worship ye know not what. We know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that that Messiah cometh, that I know that Messiah cometh, which is called Christ. When he is come, he will tell us all things.
Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
I'm the Messiah. That's what she's telling him. Lord have mercy.
What startling revelation.
Amen.
Yes.
It's me that you're speaking to.
Amen. Amen.
Praise God. So, how do we relate that to the 21st century?
The prejudice and so forth, avoiding of the Gentiles, the Jews of the Gentiles back in the 2nd or 3rd century, how do we relate that to the 21st century? Very easily. We can relate this by— on the 21st century by stating that Sunday is still the most segregated day of the week. We go to work together— Hispano, Caucasian, Black, Japanese, Pan-American. We go to work together, we'd be at the lunch table at work together, but when it comes to Sunday, we go to our separate churches. Amen.
Amen.
Our Caucasian brothers and sisters prefer to attend predominantly white majority churches led by a white pastor. Likewise, many African Americans prefer to go to predominantly black majority churches led by a black pastor. This has been built into our culture, amen?
Amen.
God likes believers going to church with other believers and bringing unbelievers with us to hear the good news of the kingdom of heaven, irregardless of the race or ethnicity of the pastor. leading the church just as long as God placed him or her there. That's the main thing that God wants. Let it be him, God, who placed that shepherd there. Praise God. What color of your skin is, is immaterial. Hallelujah. That's a tradition that we have come up with that we follow through in the 21st century.
Yes.
Still the most segregated day of the week. Hallelujah.
In the kingdom of heaven, God is not against you prospering and having good health. This is the second example of good news of the kingdom of heaven.
He's not against you having prosperity and good health. Let's go to 3 John 1 and 2.
Amen.
3 John 1 and 2.
Excuse me.
Amen.
Amen.
Having a little trouble with my mouse and things. Praise God. The scripture says in 3 John 1 and 2, I wish above all that thou mayest prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers.
Amen.
Amen. So that's showing proof that God has no problem with you Prospering, amen, and being in good health, because that's what he says in his word. God's Way of Living in Freedom and Victory, Part 1.
Amen.
There was something that the Spirit brought to my attention as I was reading the Word several times over the past few weeks and whatnot. And in the Gospels, in Matthew, in Mark and Luke, they use another phrase, but it's pretty much meaning the same thing. when you go to do your background study on it. But Jesus was talking in Matthew several times the phrase, the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.
He said, I'm here to preach the good news of the kingdom of heaven, or of the kingdom, he would say in Matthew. And lo and behold, that just stood out so much because when God— and you all know that when God is repeatedly saying something that's different from what's in the rest of the text in the Bible and whatnot, we need to pay attention and see why does he have that distinction of saying the kingdom of heaven And not just preaching the word. There's a tremendous difference, and we're about to go over that.
Amen. Amen.
Through this series of messages this month.
Amen.
Matthew stated clearly in Matthew chapter 4, verse 23, in the New Living Translation, And it says, Jesus traveled throughout the region of Galilee, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the good news about the kingdom. Lord have mercy. That's specific, that's detailed. It's very simple. The good news. Now, you don't have to go to Harvard or Brown University to determine that the 2 words good news means something must be pleasing about it.
That's right.
If someone tells you that they made you a red velvet cake for your birthday, that's good news.
Yes, that's right.
When they tell you we're going to have to walk 10 miles a day to work it off, that may be bad news.
Hallelujah.
But that's good news when you hear something that's going to be good, given good to you. So there must be something good about the kingdom at that time that Jesus was announcing this compared— there it goes.
This is how we distinguish. We compare—
That's right.
What Jesus was saying about the kingdom Yes. With what was going on that time.
Yes.
And we can relate it to the 21st century.
That's right.
Amen.
Amen.
Very simple.
Very simple.
Nothing complicated.
Right.
We're comparing what Jesus said, hey, this is what I'm teaching.
Yes.
This is what I'm preaching.
Amen.
You guys have been preaching something wrong in the wrong way.
Yes.
There's a distinction.
I'm preaching the kingdom of heaven. I don't know what y'all preaching, but I'm preaching the right thing.
Amen.
Is this making any sense?
Yes.
I'm preaching something different from what y'all are preaching. I'm preaching about the kingdom. Y'all preaching about some foolishness.
Hallelujah.
The question now that presents itself is, what's so good about the kingdom?
Nothing complicated, nothing, uh, nothing off-kilter or whatever.
If Jesus said he's preaching the good news throughout Galilee in all the synagogues, announcing the good news about the kingdom, what's so good about the kingdom? Amen.
Yeah.
Let's look at the characteristics that make up the kingdom of heaven. These are some fundamental characteristics.
Hermeneutically, the kingdom of heaven means the reign, R-E-I-G-N, the reign and rule of God, not a physical place.
Come on.
Hallelujah.
So we can't go to Statesboro, we can't go to Carrollton, we can't go to Athens and say, here's the kingdom of God.
Amen.
Hallelujah. This is the reign and rule of God.
Amen. The second characteristic is God's kingship manifested through Jesus. God is like saying, hey, this is a new way than what y'all have been preaching, a new way than what y'all been hearing.
This is the right way. This is my intended will for way the preaching of the word should be preached and understood. Y'all been preaching it from a way of self-righteousness, self-indulgence, through greed, through hierarchy. You want people when they see you in the marketplace to say Rabbi, to say Master, Teacher. Y'all looking for their acclaim. Jesus said, I came to serve. Your crowd come to be served.
Amen.
There's a difference. God's kingship manifested through Jesus.
Man's traditions, a man's way. compared to the kingdom of heaven in the 21st century, what Jesus had to deal with then.
Amen.
Amen.
What was being taught in the land before Jesus walked on the Holy Land at that particular time was Judaism. And Judaism once again follows the Torah, the 5 books of Moses, and the rabbinic traditions or Jewish traditions.
Amen.
Amen.
And in our part 2, we're gonna give another example of the traditions that the Jewish people, and especially the scribes and the Pharisees, were holding onto that they counted so sacred. They expected everybody to observe this, even Jesus and his disciples. Amen? Once again, we're going to discuss a few more things concerning the good news of the kingdom of heaven this morning. In order to do this in a way that gets our point across, we're going to compare opposing characteristics between the 2 different ideals. Last week we shared about Judaism and we talked about one of the traditions And we're going to discuss another one now. Amen?
Amen.
We're going to use the Apostle Paul, amen, to express why he left Judaism, that he considered it not to be compared to Jesus Christ, to the kingdom of heaven. Amen?
Amen.
And we're going to go to that right now. We're not going to belay the time. Let's turn to Galatians chapter 1, verses 11 through 14. I'm coming from the English Standard Version, the ESV. Amen.
Amen.
It states in Galatians chapter 1, verses 11 through 14, for I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel, for I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard my former life in Judaism. There it is right there.
Wow.
He said, my former life, not my current life. Not my future life.
He said this is in the past. I was in Judaism.
I was teaching the, the, uh, the first 5 books of Moses.
I was in the rabbinic traditions, the Jewish traditions. I was doing that.
He said my former life was in Judaism. Amen.
Amen.
Hallelujah. How I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. Verse 14, and I was advancing in Judaism. Apostle Paul said, I was being elevated in this thing. Right.
I was so zealous. I was so forceful in my belief that this was right. I was advancing. I was passing other people my age. Being promoted in Judaism. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my peoples. So extremely zealous was I for the traditions— there it is, there's that word again—
for the traditions of my fathers.
That's right.
There it is right there in black and white.
Yes.
Apostle Paul even saying, I was in Judaism. I was.
I was wrong.
Amen.
I repented.
That's right.
Now I'm coming away from man's traditions, from teaching the law.
I'm going with the kingdom of God, which encompasses teaching about Jesus Christ.
See, under the kingdom of heaven, it doesn't take away from talking about Christ. It doesn't take away from talking about grace. This is under the kingdom of heaven. The law wasn't teaching about Christ. The law wasn't teaching about grace. But under the umbrella of the kingdom of heaven, this is talked about. This is taught— the grace of God, about Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!
Let's look at another tradition that was held by the scribes and Pharisees that Jesus corrected them about. Amen. In Matthew 15, verse 2, and then verses 10 through 11 in the ESV, English Standard Version.
Matthew chapter 15, verse 2.
Why do your disciples break the tradition? There we go again. They come to Jesus with what they've been taught for years.
Why do your disciples break the traditions?
This is where the Apostle Paul came from.
That's what he just said in Galatians. I was in Judaism. I was with the traditions.
Right.
But I'm not no more. Why do your disciples break the traditions of the elders?
For they do not wash their hands when they eat. Lord have mercy.
It's almost like Jesus looking at him said, "Really? You want to go that way?" Hallelujah.
Verse ten, and he called the people to him and said to them.
Hear and understand. Verse 11, it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person. Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
But what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a person.
That's right.
Amen.
It's like the Pharisees looking at one another.
He's talking about you now. He's talking about you.
Hallelujah.
We're going to see the, the how the good the kingdom of heaven's teaching is. Let's go to Ephesians chapter 1, verses 1 through 7 in the NLT. Verse 1. This letter is Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God's holy people in Ephesus who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Yes, amen.
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family. By bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
This is what he wanted to do, and I gave him great— and it gave him great pleasure.
So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
Amen.
Amen. Let's go to Romans chapter 5, verse 17. A more display of the good news about the kingdom. For if because of one man's trespass— Romans chapter 5, verse 17. I'm coming from the English Standard Version. For if because of one man's trespass death reigned through that one man—
meaning death came through every person on the earth because of this one man.
That's right.
For if because of one man's trespass death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
Hallelujah.
Now, the law wasn't teaching this. That's why it was so appealing to the people. You mean I can reign in life? I don't have to be a scribe? I don't have to be a Pharisee? I don't have to be of a certain class structure? I can be who I am and not be voted to be a scribe, a teacher of the law, or a Pharisee who interprets important issues concerning the law?
Yes. No.
Jesus said it's for you, the ordinary man.
That's right.
If you receive the grace, if you receive the gift of righteousness, you can reign in life.
Yes.
And we're going to talk about that. That's why it was so appealing to the general public.
That's why so many people followed Jesus by the multitudes.
Yes.
Amen.
They weren't being taught this thing by the Pharisees and the scribes. They were being taught things that kept them in bondage, that they were the pure example. The scribes and the Pharisees, they was the ones to be looked at too. They were the one to be emulated. They were the ones that were your perfect examples, and it wasn't working. They were the only ones getting the benefit of the, of, of being praised by the people and being given the high places and whatnot in the marketplaces, in the high seats and whatnot.
Amen.
Amen. It wasn't doing the people no good.
Praise God. Now we're going to compare what we just read to the horrible life choice of staying away from Christ intentionally. In Ephesians chapter 2, Going from verse 1 to verse 3, coming from the NLT, the New Living Translation. Ephesians chapter 2, starting at verse 1 through verse 3. Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. Verse 2, you used to live in sin Just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil, the commander of the powers of the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
That's right.
Hallelujah. All of us used to be to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. The Lord is just explicitly putting it out there.
Amen.
That for those who intentionally choose to stay away from Christ, you are allowing Satan to guide you, to push you towards things that you should not do.
He's putting a temptation before you and you're going for the bait.
You're going for the carrot.
There's no other choice. You don't have— you don't want Christ prodding you. You don't want Christ leading you. So Satan say, I'll take that part.
That's right.
I'll gladly handle Sam. I'll gladly handle Jan. I'll lead them in my direction.
Mm-hmm.
Which is down, uh, over a cliff, running 100 miles an hour into a brick wall.
This is what the scripture clearly says.
You used to live in sin just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil, the commander of the powers of the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
Hallelujah. I didn't write that, that was in there. Amen.
Hallelujah.
That's real right there.
Amen.
By our very nature, we were subject to God's anger just like everyone else. Now, scripture says it's a terrible thing to fall into the hands of Yes. Of a living and angry God.
That's right.
We see that in the world today.
High-level figures all over media, people who are single, people who are known around the world, thought that they had it planned, thought that everything was going to go their way, thought that they knew the direction that things were supposed to happen. and to occur. They just left out one thing.
What did they leave out?
The fear of God. They left out the consequences of God. They thought God was looking the other direction, that he went on the other side of heaven on vacation. Hallelujah. That he was taking command— taking communion on another side of heaven with some of the apostles and whatnot. He didn't see what they were doing. Hallelujah!
He saw everything.
The scripture says the eyes of the Lord go to and fro, beholding the good and the evil. So they kept doing their foolishness, kept being rebellious against God, kept doing things their way.
Yes.
Storing up wrath against the day of wrath.
In business, they have something called compound interest, and I know our pastor knows about that term.
Compound interest for investing in business purposes is a good thing, meaning your monies and investment are going to take an exponential curve after a few years. Well, think of the exact opposite when it says wrath against the day of wrath, that an exponential curve going for your good is going to go for your terrible demise. Wrath against the day of wrath.
Yes, it is.
It says it right here.
By our very nature, we were subject to God's anger. There's a part in the scriptures that says, be not fooled, God is not mocked.
Hallelujah!
I didn't write that, that was in the word.
God is not mocked.
Whatsoever you sow, you're gonna reap. That's in the word. I had nothing to do with it.
That's right.
We either choose to fear God, love God, be with him, Or foolishly try to go against him and suffer the consequences.
That's right.
It's up to us.
That's right.
God says he put before us life and death. That's right.
Choose ye the way. In our vernacular, we might say the ball is in our court. Hallelujah. Whichever way it's going, whichever way you choose. That's one thing the Lord showed me a long time ago. There's one power that God gave us that he refuses to take away.
That's the power of choice.
That's right.
Nobody is a robot.
That's right.
If that was so, that God had robots, Satan wouldn't have fell out of heaven.
That's right.
I mean, I can't make it more simpler than that.
That's right. That's right.
Satan was in an envious position in heaven. He knew music like the back of his hand. A highly appointed position. If he was a robot, he would still be doing that right now.
That's right. He had a choice.
He had a choice. He chose to go the foolish way. Yes.
And he convinced 1 out of 3 angels, 1/3, 1 out of 3.
Boys, we can handle this thing.
I've got it all planned out.
Just follow me.
The very next statement, he was hitting the ground. The Bible says he fell like lightning.
That's right.
When Satan and the boys, the angels that followed him, after they got themselves off the ground and dusted the dirt off their shoulders, the angels that followed Satan said, looked at Satan and said, you got any more bright ideas, General? You got me in this foolish position. I was in heaven enjoying life. To the fullest. Now I'm going to be casting this out of darkness where the worm never dies. It says— the Bible says the maggots— where the maggots never die and the flame does never quench. Do you have something to come back with that, Satan?
No, sir.
Not a thing.
Not a thing. My Lord.
My Lord.
We continue this point of view with Romans chapter 6, verse 16. Romans chapter 6. Romans chapter 6, verse 16, and it reads, hallelujah. Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, You are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness. Now, this slave terminology is not good if we want to obey sin.
Right.
Because what he's saying is you got to deal with the consequences of it.
Amen.
It's like the old slang in our vernacular, if you want to play, you got to pay.
That's right.
Hallelujah.
That's right. You go around robbing banks or telling lies on people, it may feel fun at the time telling those rumors and lies on your coworkers and best friends, but one day, my friend, one day, You're gonna have to reap what you sow, and it's not gonna come back at a good time. It's gonna come back at winter, means when you don't want it. Oh, did I say that? No, I didn't say that. Paul said that. Nah, it was you. Paul was in California at the time.
We were, we were in Atlanta, in Buckhead.
Nah, it was you.
That's right.
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
No way to escape. Everyone gonna know you're guilty.
That's right.
Then people wanna pull away from you 'cause they know you're a liar.
That's right.
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
How can I trust this idiot?
That's right.
This man just made a pure fool out of himself.
Exactly.
I'll say hey and goodbye to him, but we're not gonna have no conversation.
That's right.
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
I'm gonna check my wallet when I pass by you. Hallelujah.
Amen.
Say, is everything back there?
Hallelujah. Amen.
That's right.
Galatians. Let's go to Galatians chapter 5. Galatians chapter 5, verses 1 through 6.
Amen.
Amen. I'm reading that from the New Living Translation. So Christ has truly set us free. Now this is what Christ is saying. This comes under the teaching of the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus said, in me there's freedom.
So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free and don't get tied up again in slavery. What?
To law.
My Lord, Jesus said, I'm trying to bring you away from the wrong teaching. You've been taught wrong for so long, for years.
Amen.
I've been giving you freedom in the kingdom of heaven.
Yes.
The correct teaching, the way the Bible was meant to be interpreted, the way it was meant to be understood.
God's will be done.
God's will.
What's God's will?
The kingdom of heaven.
Kingdom of heaven.
That's right.
Hallelujah. Listen, verse 2. I, Paul, tell you this: if you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you.
Hallelujah. I'll say it again.
If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, You must obey every regulation in the whole Law of Moses.
That's over 600 laws and regulations. You can't even keep up with that.
No.
Apostle Paul said, if you want to be so big and bad, obey all of them.
That's right.
God is trying to give you freedom by saying, just believe, and it's counted to you as righteousness. Believe what? Believe in Christ, his finished works. That's under the kingdom of heaven. That's under the umbrella of the kingdom of heaven. Believing in Christ and his finished works. Christ is saying, I'm giving you what? Freedom. To be away from feeling guilt, staying in guilt. God says, I'm taking away the shame. It's under the kingdom of heaven. Under the law, there's shame. It'll make you feel guilty. That'll take you away from honoring your parents.
The law.
That's right. Jesus said, God didn't tell you, the kids, to disrespect their parents.
You did.
That wasn't none of God. You did that.
Hallelujah. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole Law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourself right with God by keeping the law, You have been cut off from Christ. You have fallen away from God's grace.
Oh.
Christ said, I came to fulfill the law. Every requirement has been taken care of in me. Christ said, I became a curse to hang on a tree.
Yes.
I did that.
I fulfilled all the requirements. So forget about the law in the wrong way.
Now look to me. Believe me. Let me be your leader. Don't let the Pharisees and the scribes be your leader.
You're going to look at them in pain and follow them in the morning.
You're going to go home in pain after you left them from serving them all day, the Pharisees and the scribes. But with me, you're going to find hope. You're going to find freedom. You're going to have freedom from guilt, freedom from shame. I'll take all that away from you.
Yes, thank you, Lord.
I'll give you a new life, a new start.
That's what we read last week about the woman caught in adultery. Jesus said, woman, where are your accusers? Neither do I accuse ye. What was the caveat? Go and what? Sin no more. It's not like Jesus said what you was doing was right. Jesus said, hey, I'm giving you a fresh start. It's over with. Just don't do it again. That's all that person, the lady, wanted. She wanted to be away from the shame. She wanted to forget about this. Jesus said, "I'm with you on that. I got your back. I'm giving you a new chance. I'm giving you a new start. It's under the kingdom of heaven. Under the law, there is no forgiveness.
They will kill you." Jesus says, "Love with me. There's compassion with me." In the kingdom of heaven, in the teachings of the kingdom of heaven.
Hallelujah.
The exact opposite with the law.
Yes.
There's no compassion.
No.
There's no mercy.
Amen.
There's only looking up to a certain sect of people.
Amen.
The scribes, the Pharisees, the chief priests.
Yes.
The ones who were petitioning the crowd to crucify Jesus.
Yes.
If you read the story correctly in the 4 Gospels, the crowds that were before Pontius Pilate, they weren't against Jesus initially.
The scripture says it was the scribes, the Pharisees, the chief priests who were wooing them on, telling the, the peoples, yell for the crucify Christ. Pontius Pilate was about to let Jesus go. Let me give him a few stripes on the back. And let the man go because I don't feel him guilty of nothing worthy to be crucified.
That's right.
It was the scribes and the Pharisees, the chief priests that were wooing the people. Nah, tell the people. They were telling the people to yell to Pontius Pilate, crucify him, crucify him. They got him stirred up.
That's right.
There's no love, there's no compassion. There's no forgiveness with the law.
Judaism.
What did Apostle Paul say? My what? Former life.
Former life.
Hallelujah. We even got Apostle Paul saying it was— that was something that he used to do. He does not do anymore. He does not recommend that for no one. He said that was what?
My former life.
Amen.
But in the kingdom of heaven, there's life, life eternal, life on this earth, and life with the King.
Hallelujah.
Lastly, we, we must pray To, uh, to the Father, to adapt the same attitude Christ had. Let's go to Philippians. Philippians chapter 2, 3 through 11. Philippians chapter 2, verses 3 through 11, from the NLT, New Living Translation. Don't be selfish. Don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Isn't that what we just said?
Amen.
Pray to the Father that we will adapt the same attitude that Jesus had.
Amen.
You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privilege.
Jesus said, in heaven I had royalty. I had the best of everything, but because of the love for us, I didn't think that that was something that I needed to hold on to and say, well, let Harry— let Pastor Harry, Pastor Tracy, Miss Sophia, and others, Paul, Greg, and Sam, let them die. Come on now. I'm gonna go down there because I love Sam, Harry, and Smith. I love Jan. I love Alicia. I want them to have a chance for freedom. Yes, thank you, Lord. He didn't count that as something to cling on to, that equality with God. God, I'll go down there. I fulfilled the assignment because what? I love them out of a pure heart.
That's why the kingdom of heaven's teaching is so much superior to Judaism, to the law. It's the love difference.
Hallelujah. Thank you, Jesus.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges Lord, I sit— I get off the throne.
I take off the robe. I take off the crown.
Oh my God.
Thank you, Jesus.
Gave up his divine privileges. He took the humble position of a slave. My Lord.
Ask some of the most wealthiest billionaires in the world if they'll give up the Rolls-Royce, if they'll give up the Tesla, if they'll give up the Aston Martin.
The the Bugatti. Ask them the Maybach.
Ask them will they come down to Bankhead and put on some blue jeans, holes in the pants, stay in one of the projects, the the unit project units.
Hallelujah!
I've got to have my caviar.
Hallelujah.
Hallelujah.
I gotta have my Chanel slippers.
Yes.
I don't want to step on a roach when I get out of bed. Hallelujah. I'm just keeping it real.
That's right.
Jesus said, I gave it up for us. I had royalty everywhere.
The best of everything.
I gave it up to come here to fulfill the assignment. He took the, the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being when he appeared in human form. Hallelujah. He humbled himself in obedience to God. and died a criminal's death on the cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor.
Amen.
It's like God said, son, you impressed me.
That's right.
You did this out of a willing and a good heart.
You died like a criminal, not like royalty.
That's right.
Criminals die on the cross.
That's right.
Hallelujah.
God elevated him to the highest, uh, place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth, under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. That's why it says in the scriptures there's no other way to heaven except by Jesus Christ.
Amen.
What other choice did God have?
His very Son doing his perfect will, doing exactly, obeying the Father's will.
Yes.
There's not a choice but God to promote them to that position.
Amen. Amen.
Lastly for today, we're going to observe the second characteristic we mentioned this week concerning the kingdom of heaven. God's kingship manifested through Jesus Christ, found in Ephesians. Ephesians chapter 1. Go on to verse 9. Ephesians chapter 1, verse 9, and we're about to close.
Amen.
Ephesians chapter 1, starting in verse 9. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will. Regarding Christ in the NLT, which is to fulfill his own good plan. Hallelujah. Verse 10, and this is the plan: at the right time he will bring everything together under— what? The authority of Christ. That's why we say the kingship manifested through Jesus Christ is one of the components of the kingdom of heaven. We can see that right there in black and white. At the right time, he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ.
How—
I understand it now. Man of God, thank you for that word. Many of you, if you're watching us today and you don't know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, this is your time to get to know Jesus. There are many things that's going on in the world, and I know that some of you have to feel that something is going on. Differently. The Bible says that there will be wars and rumors of wars. Talks about earthquakes in diverse places. The love of many waxing cold. The Word of God says that men will become lovers of themselves more than lovers of God. Scripture says that As Pastor Keith was saying eloquently, he talked about how the wealthy love things. They love their Maybachs, their Bugattis. Yes, they love their Ferraris. They love their Teslas, all of these things. But are you willing to give it all up for the kingdom? The Bible says that the creation the creature will love the created things more than the Creator himself. Don't you see it?
Yes.
Men love things. God is a byproduct. I'll talk to God when I have time. Matter of fact, some people go as far as to say God does not exist. God is whatever you believe him to be. We in fact are gods. I've heard that teaching. Be careful. Body of Christ, we're living in a time that you need to know Jesus. And I'm going to say this, and I'm not going to be labeled a point. If you don't know Jesus right now as your personal Lord and Savior, you are making one of the most gravest mistakes you can ever make. You need to know Jesus. Don't gamble with your life. There are wars taking place, and the picture, the backdrop behind what's taking place is more greater than you can even imagine. This is spiritual. God said that these things would take place. I know there's some pronosticators, some people that are intellectual or intelligent, they say, well, Pastor, wars have always been going God, not with this intensity. No, no. Make a decision today. Commit your life to Jesus. I want you to pray this prayer with me. Father, I thank you. I ask that you come into my heart, that you save me, redeem me. Father, forgive me for things I've done that have not been pleasing To you, I thank you for your word. I believe that Jesus died according to your word that is written in Romans chapter ten, verse nine and ten. I believe that Jesus died. He has he descended first and then ascended, and he's now seated on the right hand of the Father. And because of his death, burial, and resurrection, and ascension, and seating, I'm now able to say, Jesus, become my Savior. Lord, save me. Come into my heart, Jesus. Save me. Forgive me of anything that I've done that's been displeasing to you. And today I dedicate my life to you. I surrender my life to you solely, and I denounce the wickedness of sin and the devil himself. Jesus, I invite you into my heart. Become my Savior and my Lord, my Redeemer. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. If you prayed that prayer with me, you are now a member of the family and the body of Christ. And I want to say this, we don't want to leave you out there alone.
Alone.
You need to be fed. You need to, you need to have a place that will nurture you. Consider attending 514 Grace Church. The leadership here, the leadership team, along with my wife Tracy and I, we're the pastors here. We would love to be able to pastor both you and your family because we love people and God loves people and we're called to this. And we're living in a season where you've got to make a decision now. This is not time to try to play on the fringes. You've got to make a decision right now. Look us up. Look us up on social media. Look us up on our webpage. You can find us at www.514gracechurch.org. We're on Facebook, we're on Instagram, we're on YouTube, we're on Twitter. formerly, uh, X, which is Twitter, formerly known as X, excuse me. But we want you to be a part of what God is doing. Look us up on TikTok. You'll find a lot of the teaching material there, even from the lessons that Pastor Keith taught today. The kingdom, the kingdom. It is vitally important that you become a member in the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.
And thank you for watching. Thank you for supporting. And we ask this, we're asking that you help us continue to share the gospel globally in Canada and Africa, South Africa, China, Jamaica, the Bahamas, here in the United States, the West Coast, the East Coast. If God is placing it upon your heart to sow into this ministry, please do so. You can go to our webpage and our website, and then you can sow there and you can give whatever God lays on your heart to give. If it's $5, if it's $10, if it's $100, this will help us publish the message of the kingdom of God, the kingdom of heaven that needs to be perpetuated globally. Become a partner, become a 2020 partner with 514 Grace Church. We're 501, which means that you can write it off on your taxes, that we are legitimately stewarded. We don't do anything out of order. This money is being used for the right purpose. Give, and you can give with confidence knowing that God, through this ministry, is going to do the right thing. God bless you guys for giving, and God bless you for watching, and we look forward to seeing you next week. And just know that the grace of God And the kingdom of God is present right before you right now. In Jesus' name, we love you. God bless you.
Yeah.
Five fourteen.
