Accessing God's Kingdom Through Prayer and Perspective
Summary
Prayer is a vital aspect of our lives as believers, serving as the gateway to accessing the influence and power of God's kingdom. When we accept Christ, we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, where we have the privilege of experiencing God's rule and influence in our daily lives. This transformation allows us to witness heaven invading history, as we are part of a kingdom that transcends time and space. Jesus taught us to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, emphasizing the importance of bringing the divine realities of heaven into our earthly existence.
Our citizenship in the kingdom of light empowers us to operate with a heavenly perspective, even as we navigate the challenges of the physical world. The enemy seeks to deceive us into believing that the material world is the ultimate reality, distracting us from utilizing the kingdom power available to us. Instead of relying on human wisdom and approaches, we are called to adopt God's perspective and approach, allowing His divine influence to permeate our lives.
By thinking heavenly while living on earth, we can access kingdom authority through prayer, enabling us to have a profound impact on the world around us. God's ultimate goal is to advance His kingdom, and as citizens of this kingdom, we are invited to approach His throne with confidence. We should not hesitate to make our requests known to God, trusting that His kingdom will come to our aid and defense.
Key Takeaways:
- Prayer is the means by which we access the influence and power of God's kingdom. As believers, we have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, where we can experience God's rule in our daily lives. This transformation allows us to witness heaven invading history. [00:24]
- Jesus taught us to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This prayer emphasizes the importance of bringing the divine realities of heaven into our earthly existence, allowing us to experience the power and privileges of God's kingdom in our lives. [00:54]
- Our citizenship in the kingdom of light empowers us to operate with a heavenly perspective, even as we navigate the challenges of the physical world. The enemy seeks to deceive us into relying on human wisdom, but we are called to adopt God's perspective and approach. [01:37]
- By thinking heavenly while living on earth, we can access kingdom authority through prayer, enabling us to have a profound impact on the world around us. God's ultimate goal is to advance His kingdom, and we are invited to participate in this mission. [02:03]
- As citizens of God's kingdom, we are encouraged to approach His throne with confidence, making our requests known to Him. We can trust that His kingdom will come to our aid and defense, empowering us to live out our faith with boldness and conviction. [02:31]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Prayer as Kingdom Access
[00:40] - Transferred to the Kingdom of Light
[00:54] - Thy Kingdom Come
[01:10] - Bringing Heaven to Earth
[01:24] - Operating in Two Kingdoms
[01:37] - The Enemy's Deception
[01:50] - Human Wisdom vs. Divine Perspective
[02:03] - Kingdom Authority Through Prayer
[02:18] - Advancing God's Kingdom
[02:31] - Approach the Throne with Confidence
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:9-10 - "This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'"
2. Colossians 1:13 - "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves."
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Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, according to the sermon? [00:24]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of prayer in accessing God's kingdom influence? [00:24]
3. What are some ways the enemy tries to deceive us into relying on human wisdom instead of God's perspective? [01:37]
4. How does the sermon explain the concept of bringing "up there down here" in terms of God's kingdom? [01:10]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that our citizenship in the kingdom of light empowers us to face challenges in the physical world? [01:24]
2. How might the idea of "thinking heavenly while living on earth" change a believer's approach to daily life and decision-making? [02:03]
3. What does it mean to approach God's throne with confidence, and how does this relate to our role as citizens of His kingdom? [02:31]
4. How does the sermon interpret Jesus' teaching on praying for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth? [00:54]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent challenge you faced. How might adopting a heavenly perspective have changed your approach or outcome? [01:24]
2. Identify an area in your life where you tend to rely on human wisdom. What steps can you take to seek God's perspective instead? [01:50]
3. Consider your current prayer life. How can you be more intentional about praying for God's kingdom to influence your daily decisions and interactions? [00:54]
4. Think of a situation where you felt hesitant to approach God with your requests. What can you do to build confidence in approaching His throne? [02:31]
5. How can you actively participate in advancing God's kingdom in your community or workplace this week? [02:18]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by the material world. How can you remind yourself of your citizenship in the kingdom of light during such times? [01:24]
7. What practical steps can you take to ensure that your life reflects the divine realities of heaven in your earthly existence? [00:54]
Devotional
Day 1: Prayer as a Gateway to Kingdom Power
Prayer is the means by which believers access the influence and power of God's kingdom. When individuals accept Christ, they are transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, where they can experience God's rule in their daily lives. This transformation allows them to witness heaven invading history, as they become part of a kingdom that transcends time and space. Through prayer, believers are invited to engage with the divine realities of heaven, bringing them into their earthly existence. This connection empowers them to live with the authority and privileges of God's kingdom, impacting the world around them. [00:24]
"For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally incorporate prayer into your daily routine to access the power and influence of God's kingdom in your life today?
Day 2: Bringing Heaven's Realities to Earth
Jesus taught believers to pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This prayer emphasizes the importance of bringing the divine realities of heaven into earthly existence, allowing individuals to experience the power and privileges of God's kingdom in their lives. By aligning their prayers with God's will, believers can participate in the advancement of His kingdom on earth. This alignment invites the transformative power of heaven to impact their circumstances, relationships, and communities, reflecting God's glory in tangible ways. [00:54]
"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific area of your life can you pray for God's kingdom to come and His will to be done today?
Day 3: Operating with a Heavenly Perspective
As citizens of the kingdom of light, believers are empowered to operate with a heavenly perspective, even as they navigate the challenges of the physical world. The enemy seeks to deceive them into relying on human wisdom and approaches, distracting them from utilizing the kingdom power available to them. Instead, believers are called to adopt God's perspective and approach, allowing His divine influence to permeate their lives. By thinking heavenly while living on earth, they can access kingdom authority through prayer, enabling them to have a profound impact on the world around them. [01:37]
"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are tempted to rely on human wisdom? How can you shift your perspective to align with God's heavenly perspective today?
Day 4: Participating in Advancing God's Kingdom
God's ultimate goal is to advance His kingdom, and as citizens of this kingdom, believers are invited to participate in this mission. By thinking heavenly while living on earth, they can access kingdom authority through prayer, enabling them to have a profound impact on the world around them. This participation involves approaching God's throne with confidence, making their requests known to Him, and trusting that His kingdom will come to their aid and defense. As they engage in this mission, believers are empowered to live out their faith with boldness and conviction, reflecting God's love and truth to the world. [02:03]
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively participate in advancing God's kingdom in your community or workplace today?
Day 5: Approaching God's Throne with Confidence
As citizens of God's kingdom, believers are encouraged to approach His throne with confidence, making their requests known to Him. They can trust that His kingdom will come to their aid and defense, empowering them to live out their faith with boldness and conviction. This confidence is rooted in the assurance of God's love and faithfulness, knowing that He desires to work through them to accomplish His purposes on earth. By approaching God with confidence, believers can experience the fullness of His kingdom power and influence in their lives, impacting the world around them for His glory. [02:31]
"Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16, ESV)
Reflection: What specific request or concern can you bring before God's throne with confidence today, trusting in His love and faithfulness?
Quotes
Prayer is a kingdom issue. It is the point of access that God has given all of the kingdom citizens to have kingdom influence in the kingdom that we are a part of. When a person gets saved, God transfers them out of the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light that is in the domain of the rule of God. [00:00:13]
And in that domain, we have access to God's influence in our lives in our day-to-day living, and we can see heaven invade history because we're part of a kingdom that has invaded history. You know the Lord's prayer: Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [00:00:40]
What the enemy wants us to do is think that the physical world is the ultimate reality. He wants to juke us, fake us, so that we don't use kingdom power. We live on human power or what the Bible calls human wisdom. We live on man's approach and man's perspective rather than divine approach and God's perspective. [00:01:33]
If you will now, if I will now, if we collectively will now think heavenly while we work and walk on earth, we will see infused in us kingdom authority through kingdom prayer to have a kingdom influence so that there is a kingdom impact. Why? Because God's goal is to advance His kingdom. [00:01:55]
If you know Jesus Christ, you're a citizen of that kingdom. So the citizenry has been given the opportunity to approach the throne. Don't delay, go to the throne right now, make your request known so that the kingdom can come to your defense. [00:02:22]
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