Aligning with God's Kingdom Over Political Divisions
Summary
In today's message, I emphasized the importance of aligning ourselves with the Kingdom of God rather than earthly political affiliations. Drawing from 2 Chronicles 7:14, I highlighted that healing in our land begins with God's people humbling themselves, praying, and turning from their wicked ways. As Christians, we are called by His name, and this identity should transcend any political labels or divisions. Too often, believers contribute to societal disunity by prioritizing political allegiance over their commitment to Christ.
I shared my personal stance as a "kingdom independent," meaning that while I participate in voting, my ultimate allegiance is to Jesus Christ, not to any political party or candidate. This perspective is rooted in the understanding that Jesus holds all authority in heaven and on earth, as stated in Matthew 16. Therefore, our primary commitment should be to Him and His teachings, rather than to any earthly government or political figure.
Reflecting on John 17, where Jesus prays for unity among His followers, I urged us to consider how we can be one as the body of Christ. This unity is crucial for the church to stand as the true opponent of hell, as Jesus intended. I also referenced Joshua 5, where the angel of the Lord declares that he is not on any side but has come to take over. This serves as a reminder that our role is not to take sides but to align with God's overarching plan.
Ultimately, our identity as Christians should be evident in our actions and interactions, reflecting the fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, and kindness. By doing so, we can fulfill Jesus's prayer for unity and demonstrate the transformative power of the Kingdom of God in our world.
Key Takeaways:
1. Kingdom Identity Over Political Affiliation: As Christians, our primary identity is in Christ, not in political parties. We are called to be "kingdom independents," aligning ourselves with God's will rather than earthly divisions. This means our allegiance is to Jesus, who holds all authority, and not to any political figure. [00:57]
2. Unity in the Body of Christ: Jesus prayed for unity among His followers, and this unity is essential for the church to stand against the forces of hell. Our commitment to Christ should transcend political differences, allowing us to be one as He and the Father are one. [01:15]
3. Authority of Christ: Jesus declared that all authority in heaven and on earth is His. As believers, we must recognize this authority and prioritize our allegiance to Him above any earthly government or leader. [01:27]
4. Role of Christians in Society: Like the angel of the Lord in Joshua 5, we are not called to take sides but to align with God's plan. Our role is to influence society with the values of the Kingdom of God, rather than conforming to political divisions. [02:40]
5. Reflecting Christ in Our Actions: Our identity as Christians should be evident in our actions, reflecting the fruits of the Spirit. By doing so, we can demonstrate the transformative power of the Kingdom of God and fulfill Jesus's prayer for unity. [03:10]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:08] - The Call for Healing
- [00:17] - Identity in Christ
- [00:27] - Kingdom Independence
- [00:48] - Allegiance to the King
- [01:05] - Serving the Lord
- [01:15] - Unity in Christ
- [01:27] - Authority of Jesus
- [01:38] - The Church vs. Hell
- [01:49] - Aligning with the Kingdom
- [02:12] - Shared Beliefs
- [02:20] - Joshua's Encounter
- [02:40] - God's Plan Over Politics
- [03:01] - Christians as Referees
- [03:20] - Christ Above Politics
- [03:40] - Conclusion and Approval
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Chronicles 7:14
2. John 17:20-23
3. Joshua 5:13-15
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Observation Questions:
1. According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, what are the conditions God sets for healing the land? How does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on the role of God's people in societal healing? [00:08]
2. In John 17, Jesus prays for unity among His followers. How does the sermon suggest this unity should manifest in the church today? [01:15]
3. What was the response of the angel of the Lord in Joshua 5 when asked whose side he was on, and how does this relate to the sermon's message about not taking sides? [02:31]
4. How does the sermon describe the role of Christians in society, particularly in relation to political affiliations? [02:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. What does it mean to be a "kingdom independent," and how does this concept challenge traditional political affiliations among Christians? [00:38]
2. How does the authority of Christ, as mentioned in Matthew 16, influence a believer's allegiance to earthly governments or leaders? [01:27]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christians can contribute to societal disunity, and how can this be avoided? [00:17]
4. How does the sermon interpret the role of the church as the opponent of hell, and what implications does this have for Christian unity? [01:49]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own political affiliations. How can you ensure that your primary identity remains in Christ rather than in a political party? [00:27]
2. Jesus prayed for unity among His followers. What practical steps can you take to promote unity within your church community, especially among those with differing political views? [01:15]
3. Consider the concept of being a "kingdom independent." How might this perspective change the way you engage in political discussions or activities? [00:38]
4. The sermon emphasizes the fruits of the Spirit as evidence of our Christian identity. Choose one fruit of the Spirit to focus on this week. What specific action can you take to cultivate it in your interactions with others? [02:12]
5. How can you align your actions and decisions with God's overarching plan, rather than conforming to political divisions? [02:40]
6. Reflect on a recent interaction where political differences caused tension. How could you have approached the situation differently to reflect your allegiance to Christ? [03:10]
7. Identify a way you can demonstrate the transformative power of the Kingdom of God in your community this month. What steps will you take to make this happen? [03:20]
Devotional
Day 1: Kingdom Identity Over Political Affiliation
As Christians, our primary identity is in Christ, not in political parties. We are called to be "kingdom independents," aligning ourselves with God's will rather than earthly divisions. This means our allegiance is to Jesus, who holds all authority, and not to any political figure. Our identity in Christ should guide our actions and decisions, transcending any political labels or affiliations. By focusing on our spiritual identity, we can contribute to healing and unity in our communities, as we prioritize our commitment to Christ above all else. [00:57]
"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." (Hebrews 13:14, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways have you allowed political affiliations to overshadow your identity in Christ? How can you realign your focus to prioritize your spiritual identity today?
Day 2: Unity in the Body of Christ
Jesus prayed for unity among His followers, and this unity is essential for the church to stand against the forces of hell. Our commitment to Christ should transcend political differences, allowing us to be one as He and the Father are one. Unity in the body of Christ is not just a goal but a necessity for the church to fulfill its mission. By embracing our shared identity in Christ, we can overcome divisions and work together to advance God's kingdom on earth. [01:15]
"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus." (Romans 15:5, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively promote unity within your church community, especially among those with differing political views?
Day 3: Authority of Christ
Jesus declared that all authority in heaven and on earth is His. As believers, we must recognize this authority and prioritize our allegiance to Him above any earthly government or leader. Understanding Christ's authority helps us navigate the complexities of the world with confidence and peace, knowing that our ultimate allegiance is to a higher power. This perspective empowers us to live out our faith boldly, regardless of the political climate or societal pressures. [01:27]
"And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent." (Colossians 1:18, ESV)
Reflection: What steps can you take to ensure that your allegiance to Christ remains above any earthly authority in your daily life?
Day 4: Role of Christians in Society
Like the angel of the Lord in Joshua 5, we are not called to take sides but to align with God's plan. Our role is to influence society with the values of the Kingdom of God, rather than conforming to political divisions. By focusing on God's overarching plan, we can be agents of change and reconciliation in a divided world. Our actions and attitudes should reflect the love and truth of Christ, drawing others to Him and His kingdom. [02:40]
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively influence your community with the values of the Kingdom of God, rather than conforming to societal divisions?
Day 5: Reflecting Christ in Our Actions
Our identity as Christians should be evident in our actions, reflecting the fruits of the Spirit. By doing so, we can demonstrate the transformative power of the Kingdom of God and fulfill Jesus's prayer for unity. Our daily interactions should be marked by love, joy, peace, and kindness, serving as a testament to the world of the change Christ has made in our lives. This reflection of Christ in our actions is a powerful witness to those around us, drawing them to the hope and truth found in Him. [03:10]
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
Reflection: In what specific ways can you reflect the fruits of the Spirit in your interactions today, demonstrating the transformative power of the Kingdom of God?
Quotes
listen i wanted to sound the alarm right now in second chronicles 7 14 it says if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves pray and turn from their wicked ways then i will heal from heaven and i'll be able to forgive their sins and heal their land so if we want a healing to come to our land it's all about god's people who are called by his name [00:00:00]
we have too many christians right now who are adding to the disunity they're adding to the dysfunction in our culture because they're choosing size they're saying i'm a republican i'm a democrat and they always want to know hey who is the evans family endorsing who is the evans family voting for and we're not giving anybody the satisfaction of knowing that we're on their team or a dissatisfaction of people thinking we're not on their team we're not joining anybody's team [00:22:64]
we're kingdom independents we represent the kingdom of god so when i go into the voting booth i vote as a kingdom independent when i leave the voting booth i just voted as a kingdom independent and i know you're thinking jonathan you have to vote for somebody i do have to vote for somebody but i don't have to give my allegiance to any one person i give my allegiance to the king [00:42:71]
and every christian should be giving their allegiance to the king so you'll never see me i'm sorry with a trump or pin sign in my yard you'll never see me with the biden or cumberland hair sign in my yard i'm not hating on what you're doing but as for me and my house the only sign you'll see in my yard is that we will serve the lord [00:59:68]
because jesus prayed in john chapter 17 i pray that they will be one as we are one and how can we ever be one as the church of jesus christ if we're more committed to our political party than we are our heavenly king jesus says all authority has been given to me both in heaven and on earth [01:15:68]
so why in the world if he has all authority would i give my allegiance to something that doesn't have the authority of my father we must not know who our daddy is he said in matthew 16 i will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it he did not say i will build my government and the gates of hell will not prevail against it [01:33:68]
that means the opponent of hell is the church and until we decide to only align with jesus christ even if our vote goes in different directions we come out of the booth thinking about the kingdom of god we all believe that we're pro-life we all believe that we believe in family we all believe in justice we all believe in equality we all believe in in dignity [01:50:88]
we all believe in love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness gentleness self-control so why do i have to worry about and everybody thinking about what size we're choosing instead of just aligning with the kingdom of god and uniting with that it reminds me of joshua chapter five when the angel of the lord came and joshua he said whose side are you on [02:09:36]
joshua wanted to know whose side are you on you would have thought he would have said joshua you're the man of god i'm on your side that's not what he said he said i'm not on your side neither am i on their side i'm the captain of the lord's army in other words he came not to take sides he came to take over [02:28:16]
and until christians realized government is supposed to have to deal with us it's not us waiting to figure out how we're gonna deal with the government i know you have to vote one way or the other i know i have to vote one way or the other but when are we gonna answer jesus's prayer let them be one as we are one [02:44:40]
and i know many christians have taken sides on the field instead of being the referees that god has put in histories to govern the entire game all you have to do is look at the comments all you have to do is look at the hate and then when you go look at their profile you see immediately that they're a christian who loves jesus christ [02:59:60]
we have that contradiction because they've joined teams on the field instead of aligning themselves with one king i want to make sure you know god does not ride the back of donkeys or elephants he is the king of all kings lord of all lord president of all presidents governor of our governor mayors of all mayors [03:16:48]
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