Prince of Peace Part 2: Life and Teachings of Jesus
The CIA maintains the World Factbook as a quick resource to information for all the nations on this Earth. They are mainly interested in the worldly characteristics of a nation, military size, economy, borders, and government type. Another group, called the Joshua Project, maintains another fact book for the Kingdom of God. It details all the people groups of the world and their status of accepting the gospel. The people living without the Gospel is called an unreached people group. It is these groups that many mission agencies specifically target to complete the task of all nations coming into the Kingdom of God.
In the last session, Jesus gives instruction for those desiring to be in the Kingdom of God. He also lays the foundation that many will claim to be in the kingdom but are not. The way is narrow that leads into the kingdom, most do not find it or desire to enter it. The sermon on the mount lays the foundation for all the New Testament. As God is establishing His true Kingdom, the enemy will be establishing a counterfeit kingdom that also claims to be the Kingdom of God. According to the Joshua Project, only 1 in 3 of those that call themselves Christian are actually true followers of Jesus.
If Matthew 5-7 is considered the way of citizens for the Kingdom of God, Matthew 10 lays the foundation for how the kingdom expands. We can also say it is how the kingdom soldiers make war.
Discussion Questions
Review: Matthew 10:1-4
1. Over what kingdom did Jesus give His disciples authority over?
Review: Matthew 10:5-10, Deuteronomy 17:16-17
2. How are Jesus’ commands to His disciples similar to the commands to the king?
Review: Matthew 10:11-15, Deuteronomy 20:10-12
3. How does Jesus’ instruction on approaching a city compare with the instructions of war in Deuteronomy?
Review: Matthew 10:16-25, Matthew 24:9-14
4. How is Jesus sending out His disciples?
5. How is this similar to how He was sent?
6. How does Jesus remind them in Matthew 24 of the persecutions?
7. How does Matthew 24 continue to prepare them for the false kingdom?
Review: Matthew 10:26-36, Luke 21:10-19
8. How does Jesus prepare them to endure persecution?
9. According to Matthew 10:34, who does Jesus bring the sword against?
10. Who are the ones carrying the sword?
Review : Matthew 10:37-39, Deuteronomy 20:5-9
11. How does the principle for a voluntary soldier compare with the soldier in the Kingdom of God?
Summary
Like Moses giving the nation of Israel instructions for war, Jesus lays down the basics for being a soldier in the Kingdom of God. His kingdom is made of people who voluntarily forsake the things of the world to establish a better kingdom. As the nation of Israel was called to make war differently, the Kingdom of God is to advance differently. First, the Kingdom of God has authority of the current kingdom of darkness. Second, we are to have faith that God will provide for our needs as we preach the Gospel. Third, we are to plant in cities that are willing to house a messenger of God. Fourth, the soldiers of the kingdom will suffer persecution till the end of time. Fifth, we are to have faith that God will protect us even unto death. Finally, we are to count the cost and be willing if necessary to lay down our life.
Our current Biblical worldview can rule out 2 circles that will not exist at the return of Christ.
and 
In the end, Christians will be a member of all nations, but yet also hated by all nations. Does this and should this have an impact on how Christians engage in military conflict? If the majority of nations are made of non-believers and a false kingdom of god, how do we expect true Christians to live within those societies and advance to gospel?
Looking ahead: Matthew 20:20-28, Luke 22:35-38
Exercises
- Pray to be open to whatever the Lord may reveal through His scriptures no matter the social, political, or economic cost.
- Continue working out your worldview pertaining to the Kingdom of God and war.
- If God required Israel do be dependent on Him military, do you think a kingdom established by the Messiah would demand more or less of its subjects to show the glory of God?
References
The Joshua Project. https://joshuaproject.net
The World in Ten People. https://joshuaproject.net/assets/media/handouts/world-in-10-people.pdf
Thoughts of War 