Resound Community Church Leah Ramirez

A Bestowed Kingdom

Last week, Larry became a United States citizen! After 9 years of getting things in order, being denied, getting things re-ordered again, on February 3, 2012, it finally became official. It was such an honor to watch Larry and 204 (I think) others from all over the world pledge their allegiance to our nation. It was incredibly weighty and sobering. Listening as these ones recited the oath of allegiance, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel to the citizenship we have been given in the Kingdom of God. It made the Kingdom of Heaven an even greater reality for me… and my prayer is that today, this sermon would do that for you!

The United States Oath of Allegiance (officially referred to as the "Oath of Allegiance," 8 C.F.R. Part 337 (2008)) is an oath that must be taken by all immigrants who wish to become United States citizens. The first officially recorded Oaths of Allegiance were made on May 30, 1778 at Valley Forge, during the Revolutionary War. The current oath is as follows:

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen; that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law; and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

We too, have become citizens of kingdom. We have do not have dual citizenship… but have renounced the former state of darkness and have come into the light. Or, if by chance we haven’t…if by some chance we have a divided loyalty, then today is the day to become a full-fledged citizen of the kingdom of heaven… pledging certain fidelity to Christ and Him alone. This is the good news, literally the day of salvation.

Colossians 1

[13]He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, [14]in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

1 Peter 2

[9]But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10]Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. [11]Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.

Philippians 3

[20]But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21]who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

Ephesians 2

[19]So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, [20]built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21]in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22]In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

As a citizen you are afforded the full rights of a citizen! And with full rights come full responsibility…

Rights of U.S. Citizens

  • Vote in federal elections
  • Serve on a jury
  • Bring family members to the United States
  • Obtain citizenship for children born abroad
  • Travel with a U.S. passport
  • Run for federal office
  • Become eligible for federal grants and scholarship

Responsibilities of U.S. Citizens

  • Support and defend the Constitution
  • Serve the country when required
  • Participate in the democratic process
  • Respect and obey federal, state, and local laws
  • Respect the rights, beliefs, and opinions of others
  • Participate in your local community

“Posterity! You will never know how much it cost the present Generation to preserve your Freedom! I hope you will make good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in Heaven, that I ever took half the Pains to preserve it.”

― John Adams, President of the United States of America

Luke 22

28 You are the ones who stood by Me in My trials. 29 I bestow on you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one on Me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom. And you will sit on thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

I. Renounce all former allegiances

I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen…

  1. Watching Larry and the other 203 potential citizens recite this line, was beyond powerful. You could feel the power. I watched as I imagined their stories, and tried to imagine what would have led them to deny their former citizenship. Some were young, and I wondered if they left everything for love. Some were much older, and the wear and tear of years and service elsewhere was etched in their faces. I wondered if they did it for freedom, the chance to work for themselves. It was awesome to be a witness.
  1. There is an invitation for us to become citizens of heaven… with new rights and also new responsibilities. And it begins with renouncing our former allegiance to sin and the darkness.

Matthew 4

[17]From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Romans 6

[17]But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, [18]and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

  1. I know it isn’t popular teaching today about sin… we may rather hear a “dual-citizenship gospel.” But there is no such thing. There is a choosing.
  1. Larry did not become a citizen by accident. He wasn’t carried away by the tide of national sentiment. He applied. He studied. It was costly. My point is… it was purposed. He became a citizen on purpose. I want to tell you something, you will not become a citizen of the kingdom of heaven on accident. You must make a choice. Now the Holy Spirit has brought you here, and convicts you here… but you must respond. You must decide.

II. Absolute Allegiance to a New Law OF LIFE

That I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same…

Romans 8

[2]For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. [3]For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, [4]in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. [5]For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

  1. Renouncing is one thing…but it’s only the first thing. We break all loyalty to sin and darkness, but that’s not enough! We must pledge loyalty to Jesus, and learn from Him and walk with Him. We aren’t preaching anarchy… no, rather we preach a new submission. Submission, and I mean complete submission to Jesus.
  1. I know many people who have been burned by sin, they are seeing the consequences in their lives and they want to renounce sin. But real question is whether we are willing to surrender to righteousness. We must do more than renounce sin as a dictator, we must bow our heart to the King of all Grace.

III. A willingness to fight for this New Allegiance

That I will bear arms on behalf of the United States when required by the law; that I will perform noncombatant service in the Armed Forces of the United States when required by the law…

  1. It’s getting serious now! We’re pledging loyalty even if it puts our lives on the line. This is real loyalty. From this day forward, this is my Nation. And I will act like a son.
  1. As a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, we are charged to put on the armor of war. Some of the armor is defensive in nature, and some is to aggressively take ground. We must be ready for both. Our loyalty is sure.

Ephesians 6

[10]Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. [11]Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. [12]For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. [13]Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. [14]Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, [15]and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. [16]In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; [17]and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, [18]praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…

IV. Willingness to perform work of Kingdom importance when required

That I will perform work of national importance under civilian direction when required by the law…

  1. What an awesome statement. What’s so astounding in the scriptures is the way in which God chooses His man or woman. They are almost always on the backside of nowhere, unknown and disregarded. He chooses what would not have been chosen… and today we read their accounts; they have become our very heroes in the faith! Because when the call came, they said yes.

Hebrews 5

[5:1]For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. [2]He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. [3]Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. [4]And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

[5]So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.”

  1. We too, as citizens of heaven don’t force our way into position. No! We do not exalt ourselves. But when the appointment comes, we too must be ready and willing to say yes.

V. WE ENTER INTO CITIZENSHIP BY OUR OWN FREE WILL

And that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

  1. America is in a crisis to be sure, but the fact that thousands are still flooding in, seeking asylum, is proof enough to bring hope to me. They come not because they are forced, but rather they come hoping for something better.
  1. God will not force you to enter into the invitation. He’s opened the door to you. He’s made a way. But you must choose to enter in. Renouncing sin is your first act of freedom. Yielding to the Lordship of Jesus makes you a slave of righteousness.

Deuteronomy 30

[15]“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. [16]If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it… [19]I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live.

  1. I have taken the liberty to write our oath of citizenship. Jesus has bestowed upon us a kingdom… today we will do more than talk about it, today we will enter in.

I hereby declare, that I absolutely and entirely renounce all allegiance and fidelity to any sin, power, principality, or sovereignty of whom or which I have been a subject or citizen; that I will surrender to Jesus and His lordship of my life, and defend the Law of love and grace against all enemies; that I will fight the good fight of faith and when I’ve done all, to stand, on behalf of the gospel; that I will perform work of kingdom importance when called upon by God, and that I take this obligation freely without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; so help me God.

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