THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
MATTHEW 5:3
Introduction:
Those saints of God, who are “poor in spirit,” shall possess a kingdom according to this verse. “By the kingdom of heaven is meant that state of glory which the saints shall enjoy when they reign with God and the angels forever; sin, hell and death being fully subdued.” –Thomas Watson, 1660.
I. A KINGDOM OF GLORY IS PREPARED FOR THE SAINTS.
A. The saints shall reign in that kingdom as kings with the Lord Jesus Christ, Revelation 5:10, “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” Daniel 7:18, 27, “But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever. 27-And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”
B. The saints as kings will have their crowns:
1. Crown of life, James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”
2. A crown of glory, 1 Peter 5:4, “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
a. In my mind I see a crown of thorns that was placed upon the head of my Savior that I might live throughout eternity in God’s presence, Mark 15:17, “And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,”
b. My crown shall never fade away because He bore the crown of thorns.
3. A crown of pure gold, Psalm 21:3, “For thou preventest him with the blessings of goodness: thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.”
a. A crown of gold cannot be made without thorns, 1 Peter 1:7, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” 1 Peter 4:13, “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” Revelation 2:10, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
b. A crown of gold is made by bearing the cross of our Lord:
1) Not worthy, Matthew 10:38, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.” Luke 14:27, “Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
2) Must deny himself, Matthew 16:24, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
3) Glory in cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, Galatians 6:14, “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Jeremiah 9:24, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
II. THE KINDOM OF HEAVEN EXCELLS OTHER KINGDOMS.
A. The Kingdom of heaven excels in its FOUNDER AND MAKER.
1. God is its builder and maker, Hebrews 11:10, “For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
a. The builder of all things, Hebrews 3:4, “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
b. The founder of Zion, Isaiah 14:32, “What shall one then answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.”
2. It is made without hands, 2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
B. This kingdom excels in its RICHES:
1. The gates of heaven are made of pearl, Revelation 21:21, “And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
2. The streets are made of gold, “and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.”
3. The foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones, Revelation 21:19-20, “And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; 20The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.”
C. This kingdom excels in the PERFECTION of it.
1. There is the fountain of the water of life, Revelation 21:6, “And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”
2. There is the tree of life, Revelation 22:2, “In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.”
3. There is found no more death or sorrow, Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
D. This kingdom excels in SECURITY:
1. The gates thereof are always open, Revelation 21:25, “And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.”
2. This kingdom is eternal:
a. Other kingdoms have ceased. Where is the glory of Athens? What has become of the Assyrian, Grecian, and Persian kingdoms?
b. In the Kingdom of heaven the saints will reign forever with the Lord, Revelation 22:5, “And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.”
CONCLUSION
“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” That kingdom will be the most glorious experience because we will be in the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ.