Kingdom Value of Allegiance

Jesus revealed how the condition of the heart is what determines allegiance. Let us go back to that time and listen to what Jesus is revealing to the first hearers and us today about His kingdom value of allegiance. As you listen to Kingdom Value of Allegiance be blessed, empowered and transformed in Jesus name.

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Transcript

00:00 Intro music and voice over.

Welcome to jesus loves the world podcast. For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name! 

00:21 Speaker

When the Son of God became the Son of Man, He preached, taught and demonstrated the kingdom of God. He spoke of salvation and judgment, good and evil and integrity in relationships. The most significant aspect of Jesus’ teaching is His kingdom value of allegiance. That is a loyalty of heart.

Jesus revealed how the condition of the heart is what determines allegiance. Let us go back to that time and listen to what Jesus is revealing to the first hearers and us today about His kingdom value of allegiance. 

Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…”

In this moment in time Jesus contrasts this finite world with that of God’s eternal kingdom. If one’s heart is turned towards the things and successes of this life as determined by the world, then that heart is aligned with evil. For evil’s sole motive is to destroy and seize from another to get what it wants. Desiring to be worshipped, attempt to elevate itself above God and even attempt to be God. Evil is constantly trying to usurp God’s right to rule and reign. 

In this sermon as recorded in Matthew, Jesus contrasts the finite things of this world, with that of His kingdom. In this world damaged by evil, evil continues to be given power by humanity. The things of this world are finite. Empires of humanity come and go, yet God and His kingdom is eternal. 

When one’s heart is turned towards God, giving total allegiance to Him, the ways of this world and evil have no power. For in Jesus life, death and resurrection, He disarmed the powers of evil and self. God in His selfless love personally came down from heaven to earth to bring humanity salvation. He lived, died, rose and ascended on high. 

Jesus not only gifts us salvation and His eternal life, but also His intimate relationship with the Father in heaven. As all of this is a gift of God Himself, nothing or no one can take it away. 

God’s identity is given to everyone who turns their heart to Him. The living God, the creator of heaven and earth and all things good, personally and intimately dwells within everyone who has received Him. Having received Jesus, received God, God’s identity is sealed with His Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit’s transforming power God becomes the treasure of our heart.  

Jesus reveals that the treasures in heaven are for all those who choose to turn their heart to God. The turning of their heart to God their creator, is accepting His right to rule and reign. That is give total allegiance of heart to Him and worship only Him.

The eternal treasures in heaven are God and His kingdom. An eternity of relationship that is a heart-to-heart connection and oneness with God. Forever enjoined with the Eternal One who created the heavens and the earth and all things good. A perfect love relationship of faithfulness and loyalty, devotion and honour.

This beautiful love relationship God personally initiates and intimately sustains. For since the dawn of time itself, God pursues humanity in love. Revealing Himself to each individual and people group throughout the ages, in ways they would understand. 

Through His living creation and creation sequence, God revealed His character and sustaining power to the first peoples. To a people who claimed to have given there heart allegiance to Him yet had not, God sent His prophets to speak His truth to them. God in His selfless love pursued them with the sole motive of wanting them to be free. To a people who did not want to be close to God and chose the way of evil, God continued to pursue them. They continued to dull their hearts and minds and refused to listen to God’s prophets. Even though they were from their own people group. God’s prophets, unlike them had given their total allegiance of heart to God.

Through the power of His Spirit God made His character known. He shows humanity the condition of the heart and our need for a saviour. The Holy Spirit transforms and renews, empowers and reveals the truth about God, self and others. 

Through visions and dreams God reached into the subconscious depths of humanity’s heart and will. In transcending time itself, God enabled His audible voice to be heard. He chose scribes who were anointed by His Spirit to write down the oral traditions and revelations of Himself and His journey with humanity. 

Through God Himself becoming human in Jesus, we see the ultimate expression of God’s love and desire for us. Jesus the Son of God said, ‘come follow me.’ He takes us to the heart of God the Father. For it is from the depths of the Father’s heart that Jesus came and it is to the depths of the Father’s heart that He takes us. With the Spirit of God we are empowered to know and experience and live in the reality of being enjoined with the divine. Even in this world damaged by evil, we are empowered by God Himself to live in this reality. We simply turn our hearts to Him. In purity of heart and will, live in continual surrender to Him. Giving total allegiance to Him. Worshipping only Him. 

Jesus reveals that where the heart is, that is the emotions and will, there is their treasure. Simply put, whatever or whoever is valued the most in one’s life, is the driving force behind what is pursued. For out of the heart and will, that is the motive behind the thought or action is what defiles. 

Jesus reveals this in Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.”

God’s will and desire is that none should perish. That all would choose Him and live for ever with Him. In a perfect love relationship, enjoined with Him. For in God is light and life, allegiance and honour. 

When we choose to turn our heart to God, he gives us His identity, His heart and His character. But it is a daily journey of surrender to Him and receive from Him to live in this reality. Living in continual surrender of our self will and self focused desires, to that of God’s pure desires of selfless love toward us, is a work of God’s Spirit. 

God understands the temptations that are there for us. Therefore again in His selfless love, He personally and intimately has made a way for us to be truly free. Jesus in surrender of His human will, to that of the Father’s will, subjected Himself to the full human condition. Let us read Jesus’ response to the evil one’s attempt to tempt Jesus.

Matthew 4:8-11 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

Again Jesus reveals the kingdom value of allegiance. That is the choice deep within one’s heart for an eternal heart-to-heart connection with the divine. To give total allegiance to God and worship only Him is to live in the fullness of Jesus’ victory. 

For humanity is the treasure of God’s heart. The creator of heaven and earth and all things good, willingly serves His own creation. In His humbleness of divine heart and will, God continues to serve humanity. He defeated death, our selfish desires and all three temptations of humanity. God shares all of Himself with us, giving us His Spirit. Jesus shares all His victories and gives it all to us. 

For the treasure of one’s heart determines who or what one chooses to serve. To worship our creator and give total allegiance to Him, is to receive Him as the treasure of our heart. We serve Him in receiving His gift of Himself to us. For we are the treasure of His heart.

Having an undivided heart of loyalty is God’s identity and character. All of which He gives to all who receive Jesus as king. Jesus gives His allegiance of heart, mind, spirit and emotions through His total surrender of His human will, to that of the Father’s will. As we live in a continual heart, mind condition of surrender, we live in Jesus’ kingdom value of allegiance. We are a citizen of His eternal kingdom. 

Yet conversely in rejecting our creator and turning our heart away from Him, we serve the bondage of self and evil. Denying our only pathway to salvation and remaining trapped in the destructive forces of self and evil. 

The Apostle Paul, just like Jesus had much to say about allegiance of the heart and the destructive forces of self and evil. Together with Timothy, Paul wrote to those in Philippi who had received Jesus, received God. They urged all who had received Jesus, received God to remain faithful to Him. To live in the reality of God’s kingdom value of allegiance of the heart. To have the mind of Christ. That is the heart, mind condition of surrender.  

Philippians 2:1-11 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In this letter Paul and Timothy urge those who have received Jesus, received God to remain faithful. To live in Jesus’ victory and kingdom value of allegiance in continual surrender to the divine will of God. For living in continual heart mind condition of surrender to God is victory. Living in the reality of having a heart mind condition of surrender is a daily journey. 

A daily journey of surrender to Him and taking a moment to receive from Him. Receiving a greater revelation of who He is and what He has done, is doing and will do. Knowing and remembering our identity is in Him. Living in continual surrender to His will of having heart, mind, spirit and emotions in total alignment with Him. Journeying through this life together hand in hand with the divine. Having our minds set on Him. Knowing our citizenship is in heaven for all eternity. 

All this is a work of the Holy Spirit. Which He does in every surrendered heart and mind.

Philippians 3:17-21 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

As we journey hand in hand in this life, with our Lord and saviour Jesus, with His Holy Spirit dwelling within, one with the Father in heaven, let us continue to live in the heart mind condition of surrender. Waiting our final glory.

19:40 Outro music and voice over. 

For more information and free resources visit our website jesuslovestheworld.info Be blessed empowered and transformed in Jesus’ name!