Building Kingdom #10

Building Kingdom Overview

In this tenth installment of the Building Kingdom series, the pastor draws a compelling connection between the Roman colonial model and the way Jesus declared He would build His Church at Caesarea Philippi. Opening with Philippians 1:27-30, the message establishes that believers are called to conduct themselves as worthy citizens of heaven, not independent agents pursuing their own agenda. The sermon walks through all seven baptisms identified in Scripture, including John’s baptism of repentance, the baptism of Moses in the cloud and sea from 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, the baptism into Christ, Christian water baptism, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. A key turning point is the examination of why Jesus Himself submitted to John’s baptism in Matthew 3, modeling submission to God-appointed authority even when one is greater than that authority. The story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 powerfully illustrates how pride and self-will block God’s healing, while humility and submission release it. Drawing from Philippians 3:17-20 and the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20, the message calls every believer to perform their duty as a citizen of the kingdom, building together in unity under heaven’s order until Christ returns.

Building Kingdom Outline

• 00:00 – Citizens of Heaven, Not Religion: The pastor opens with Philippians 1:27-30, establishing the foundation scripture of the church and defining what it means to conduct yourself as a worthy citizen of the gospel.
• 07:30 – The Roman Colony as a Kingdom Model: An exploration of how Rome used colonies to disciple newly acquired peoples, and how Jesus used this same model to describe how He builds His Church at Caesarea Philippi.
• 16:00 – The Seven Baptisms of Scripture: A concise overview of all seven baptisms found in the Bible, from John’s baptism of repentance to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and why the doctrine of baptisms is plural, not singular.
• 26:00 – Why Jesus Submitted to John’s Baptism: A deep look at Matthew 3:13-17 and the remarkable truth that Jesus, the only righteous man, submitted to a baptism of repentance to model kingdom submission to God-appointed authority.
• 36:30 – Baptized into Moses: Authority in Every Dispensation: From 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, the pastor shows how Israel was baptized into Moses in the cloud and the sea, demonstrating that submission to God’s appointed leader has always been the pattern of the kingdom.
• 46:00 – Dispensations, Covenant Heads, and the Grace Age: A survey of the seven dispensations from innocence through the millennial reign, showing how each era has a covenant head and how believers today live under the dispensation of grace.
• 55:00 – Naaman and the Pride That Nearly Cost Everything: The story of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 becomes a vivid illustration of how self-will and wounded pride can keep someone from the very healing God has already provided through His appointed messenger.
• 63:00 – The Great Commission and Building Together: Matthew 28:18-20 closes the message with a call to go, make disciples, baptize, and teach. The pastor exhorts the congregation to occupy, build, and trust God-appointed authority until Christ returns.

Scripture References

Philippians 1:27-30, Philippians 3:17-20, Hebrews 6:1-3, 1 Corinthians 10:1-2, 1 Corinthians 14, Matthew 3:1-17, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 16:12, 2 Kings 5:8-14

Key Takeaways

• Every born-again believer is called to live as a citizen of heaven, performing their duties under the kingdom’s order rather than pursuing self-will.
• Jesus modeled submission to God-appointed authority by walking sixty miles to be baptized by John, even though He had nothing to repent of.
• There are seven distinct baptisms in Scripture, each carrying a specific meaning and role in God’s redemptive plan for humanity.
• Self-will and the refusal to submit to God’s order is identified in Philippians 3 as acting as an enemy of the cross of Christ, not merely a personal choice.
• The story of Naaman reveals that healing, blessing, and restoration are often on the other side of humbling yourself under a word that feels beneath your dignity.
• Jesus builds His Church through kingdom order, and when it is built that way, the gates of hell, meaning everything hell possesses, cannot prevail against it.
• Occupying until Christ comes means actively building, making disciples, and increasing the kingdom, not retreating into isolation or self-serving groups.

Building Kingdom Notes

Citizenship as the Core Kingdom Call

The Greek word behind the phrase ‘let your conduct be worthy’ in Philippians 1:27 carries the meaning of living as a member of a citizen body. The pastor emphasizes this is not individualistic Christianity but a corporate, ordered life together. Just as Roman citizens in a colony were expected to live according to Roman law and receive its benefits accordingly, believers are called to align their entire lifestyle with the gospel of Christ, contributing to the whole rather than doing their own thing. Every joint supplies in the kingdom.

Why Jesus Walked Sixty Miles to Be Baptized

One of the most striking moments in the sermon is the observation that Jesus, who had nothing to repent of, walked approximately sixty miles from Nazareth to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. He did not override John’s authority simply because He was greater. Instead, He submitted to the order God had established for that moment, saying it was necessary to fulfill all righteousness. This act permanently models the kingdom principle that greatness does not exempt anyone from honoring God-appointed authority.

Naaman: Self-Will Versus Humble Obedience

The account of Naaman in 2 Kings 5 provides one of the most practically gripping illustrations in the sermon. This decorated Syrian general expected the prophet Elisha to come out personally, wave his hand, and perform a dramatic healing. Instead, a servant came with a simple instruction: dip seven times in the Jordan. Naaman’s fury nearly cost him his healing. It was the calm reasoning of his own servants that helped him swallow his pride, obey the simple word, and receive complete restoration. The lesson is clear: God’s methods often deliberately bypass our pride.

Seven Dispensations and Their Covenant Heads

The pastor places baptism within the broader framework of the seven dispensations, each of which had a covenant head through whom God administered His kingdom. From Adam in innocence, to Noah in human government, to Abraham in promise, to Moses in law, and now to Jesus ruling from heaven in grace, the pattern is consistent. Each dispensation required people to submit to the appointed head to receive the blessings of that covenant. This is not about control but about the faithful release of God’s blessings through proper kingdom alignment.

Building Against the Gates of Hell

The phrase ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail’ is unpacked as a reference to everything hell owns and can deploy, its full power, wealth, and resources. The promise is conditional on how the Church is built. When built according to kingdom order, with unity, submission, and the apostolic foundation, nothing hell has can overcome it. When built on self-will and shifting sand, the house comes down. This is why the pastor frames the entire series as urgent: believers are building something eternal and must build it right.

Occupy Until He Comes: A Kingdom Business Term

The command to occupy until Christ returns is drawn from a Greek term meaning to buy, sell, trade, and increase. The pastor makes clear this is a business and building mandate, not a passive waiting. With all nations converging toward the valley of Armageddon and the prophetic timeline accelerating, the urgency to build the kingdom, make disciples, water baptize, and teach obedience is greater than ever. Believers are kingdom builders with a commission that does not pause until the trumpet sounds.

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