Philippians 3:20-21 ESV (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.

What is the citizenship or members of the ekklesia? Where did the Romans, who in Biblical times were in Israel, hold their citizenship? In Rome!

It has been the intent of our enemy to convince us that the best way to influence our culture is to be a good citizen. Now stay with me. This is important in the natural realm. But we are not citizens of this culture if we have been TRULY BORN AGAIN, if we are living by a life that is not fallen Adam’s life, which is all the life that this world knows. We are citizens of no insignificant nation, empire, realm. Our citizenship is elsewhere, in the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 2:19 ESV So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

2 Corinthians 5:20 ESV Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

We are ambassadors for Christ. I want to ask you a question: Who has greater freedom and more rights in America, John Q. Citizen or the French Ambassador? The French Ambassador! The French Ambassador can come and go to places you and I cannot go as citizens of America. The French Ambassador has the audience of the President and everyone else in authority.

So why is it we think that we can influence these lesser realms more by being good citizens in the natural as opposed to being ambassadors in the spiritual realm? I’m suggesting to you that the enemy has confused us about our citizenship. I’m not in any way suggesting that we not take advantage of our opportunities to be a witness with our voice. I’m just saying that we need to know that we are doing it as an ambassador from a greater nation and kingdom.

I’m suggesting that to accept citizenship in a lesser nation, to give up our true citizenship, does not give us more influence – it mutes our influence, it undermines our influence.

I love the KINGDOM Scriptures. The ones which our Lord Jesus Christ said that the kingdom is like...and then He gave a parable. He did not speak in a parable so that all would understand. He spoke in a parable to hide the truth from all who did  not have ears to hear. Only those who had ears to hear were given the secrets of the kingdom.

Matthew 13:10-11 ESV Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" (11) And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

Before actually getting into any of the parables I would like to discuss the value of the kingdom. Lost people are seeking to gain the riches of the kingdom of the world and are trying to finds ways to get ahead. They place value on that which is temporal without a thought of seeking that which is eternal. Christians battle this temptation because we are in the world and struggling not to be of this world. We have to work to make income for food and housing. However some believers have placed more value on the temporal kingdom of this world than they place on the eternal kingdom of God. In other words, they sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the temporal.

What determines value? If I am supposed to place great value on the kingdom of Heaven and seek after it then how can I determine the value of that which I seek?

Romans 14:17 ESV For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 6:33 ESV But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

THE TEST OF VALUE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN:

There is a test that will determine the value of any and all products or knowledge. Those things which relate to the Gospel and the kingdom of God can sometimes be taken for granted.  Maybe the church of our Lord Jesus Christ would do well to step back and evaluate the value of the treasures that we have in our Lord.  Now we know that we can not put a price on the Gospel, the death of our Lord, nor the Scriptures. Realizing the value of an object in our minds helps us realize what we have or increases the desire to seek to have more of something.  

What makes something valuable?  What drove the people in these kingdom parables of Matthew 13 to forsake all that they had to gain something else?

Matthew 13:44 ESV "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Matthew 13:45-46 ESV "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, (46) who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

1.  RARITY:

Years ago a famous painter died leaving many paintings.  All but three of these paintings were destroyed, making these three very valuable.  Rarity increases value.  The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is valuable because there is no other way to the Kingdom of God.  There is no other Gospel, it stands alone. There is no other Savior of mankind. 

2.  AUTHORITY:

A boy was playing with a piece of glass he had found.  His mother looks at it marveling at the colors of the transparent glass.  She nonchalantly gives it back to the boy to play with. 

A man of authority on glass walks by and sees the colors gleaming from the glass.  With a keen, trained eye he inspects, judges, weighs and measures the glass.  He passes it to the mother and proclaims that the child is not playing with glass but a very valuable diamond. 

The word of authority of one with knowledge and experience greatly increased the value of what was believed to be an object of play.  The authority identifies the value to that which was never seen before.  

The preaching of the cross and of the kingdom is foolishness to those who perish. But it is power to those who have received the gospel message and the message of the kingdom.  The authority of a true witness who has experienced the kingdom is of greater value then one who has just played with the things of God.

3.  DURABILITY: 

We give our children money to go shopping and we tell them to buy something that will last. How long will it last? How long will it's beauty last?

The value of the Gospel and of the kingdom in light of durability is this.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word will be forever.

4.  ADAPTATION: 

How do I apply this to my life?  What is the use of a telescope that does not bring things nearer?

Can I adapt the Gospel message to my life?  Can I live kingdom life today? If so does this bring a greater quality of life?  The answer is YES! YES! YES!  And this is another reason for the value of that which drove the men in the parables.

The Kingdom of heaven as a treasure is not fully understood by many men. The Kingdom possesses great intrinsic value  The source from which it originates brings value. The blessings which it communicates brings value. The permanence with which it is invested brings value.

When digging for the value of the kingdom of Heaven, remember...
THE BEST THINGS ARE JUST BELOW THE SURFACE.

Matthew 6:33 ESV  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
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I don't have to say this because it seems evident but I will go ahead for those who are living in the clouds. There seems to be a large group of believers in the fast lane of seeking to be entertained over seeking the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Our churches are filled today with smoke and whistles, noise and lights. Some churches are like going to a pep rally, boarding on entertaining the masses like a three-ring circus. 

Picture life as a fast car. There are those who are ready to jump into the passenger seat for a ride not really caring about the destination. They only want the thrill of the ride.

I heard this story about a woman named Goldie who was known for her love of activity. Anyone who invites her out usually gets an enthusiastic "Yes!"

One day her husband, John, went outside and got in the car. "Wait!" Goldie yelled as she rounded up the kids. She quickly ran a brush through her daughter's hair and changed her son's shirt. Then, grabbing her purse, she raced through the door. As her husband waited wordlessly, she buckled the kids in the back seat and collapsed in the front. "Okay," she beamed at him. "Let's go!" John took the car out of park and drove into the garage.

You should always know where the driver is headed otherwise you might end up taking a ride to nowhere. Do you know where your life is headed with the Father? Do you know where the Father is desiring to take you? 

Do you join the "church of what's happening now" for the excitement of the ride? Are you so excited about taking a ride that you forget to judge who is driving and where you might end up? We should ask the Father daily for His leadership in our life lest we find ourselves the worldly passenger of a car going nowhere? 

​See the Father and His righteousness FIRST.

We can ​seek the rule and reign of God in our hearts first, because God is a MUCH MORE God:

Getting our priorities right seem to be an ongoing battle. During our day there are so many things that pull for our attention and time. What are we to do?

The Scriptures tell us not to worry. Our Lord Jesus Christ told us not to be anxious about where we would live, what we would wear or what we would eat. How could He be so calm about making statements like this when there were so many poor surrounding Him in His day and the world is filled with the homeless and hungry today? Easy, He knew how to make and keep the main thing the man thing.

He commanded us to seek after God and His kingdom first and then don't worry about the rest, such as food, clothing, and shelter. How could He make such a claim? Because He knew that our God is a MUCH MORE God.

Matthew 6:30-34 KJV Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not MUCH MORE clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.