Embodying the Kingdom: Surrender, Transformation, and Presence
Summary
The focus today is on the Kingdom of God, a central theme in Jesus' teachings. The Kingdom of God is not a physical realm but the reign of God, His royal authority over the world. Jesus' first coming marked the arrival of this Kingdom, not to establish an earthly dominion but to conquer sin and death. The Kingdom is both present and future; it has begun with Jesus' work but will be fully realized upon His return. This dual nature of the Kingdom calls us to live in the tension of the "already" and the "not yet."
We are called to pray for God's Kingdom to come, not just in the world but in our own lives. This involves a daily surrender to God's rule, allowing Him to transform us. The disciplines we've been learning, such as Sabbath, silent prayer, and interior examination, help us align our lives with God's desires. These practices foster a deeply formed life, enabling us to be a powerful witness to those around us.
Evangelism is not just about what we do but who we are becoming. Our missional presence is more about embodying Christ's love and less about the activities we undertake. This was evident in past mission trips where relationships and presence, rather than structured programs, led to spiritual breakthroughs. As we prepare for future missions, the focus should be on who we are in Christ and how we can reflect His love to others.
God doesn't need us to accomplish His purposes, but He chooses to use us. This is a privilege and a blessing. Our role is to submit to His authority and allow Him to work through us. By doing so, we become instruments of His Kingdom, bringing His love and presence to those who do not yet know Him.
In conclusion, the call is to daily surrender to God's rule, allowing His Kingdom to come in our lives and through us to the world. This is how His will is done on earth as it is in heaven.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Kingdom of God is Present and Future: Jesus' first coming marked the arrival of God's Kingdom, which is both present and yet to be fully realized. We live in the tension of the "already" and the "not yet," called to embody the Kingdom now while anticipating its future fulfillment. [31:21]
2. Daily Surrender to God's Rule: Praying for God's Kingdom to come involves a daily surrender to His authority in our lives. This means allowing God to transform us through spiritual disciplines, aligning our desires with His will. [42:55]
3. Evangelism Through Presence: Our missional presence is more about who we are becoming in Christ than the activities we undertake. Relationships and presence can lead to spiritual breakthroughs, as seen in past mission trips. [50:21]
4. God Chooses to Use Us: While God doesn't need us to accomplish His purposes, He chooses to use us as instruments of His Kingdom. This is a privilege and a blessing, calling us to submit to His authority and allow Him to work through us. [42:55]
5. Transformation as a Witness: A deeply formed life, characterized by spiritual disciplines, becomes a powerful witness to those around us. By allowing God to rule and reign in our lives, we can have a greater impact on the world. [50:21]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [18:50] - Introduction to the Kingdom of God
- [23:36] - Prayer Requests and Community Engagement
- [31:21] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
- [42:55] - Daily Surrender and Spiritual Disciplines
- [50:21] - Evangelism Through Presence
- [01:12:26] - Closing Prayer and Announcements
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Kingdom of God
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 4:43 - "But he said to them, 'I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.'"
2. Zechariah 9:9-10 - "Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the war horses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth."
3. Matthew 6:10 - "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
Observation Questions:
1. According to Luke 4:43, what was the primary mission of Jesus as stated in this passage?
2. How does Zechariah 9:9-10 describe the coming of the king, and what expectations did this create among the Jewish people? [31:21]
3. In Matthew 6:10, what are we instructed to pray for regarding God's kingdom and will?
4. What examples from the sermon illustrate the present and future aspects of the Kingdom of God? [31:21]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the dual nature of the Kingdom of God ("already" and "not yet") affect the way believers live their daily lives? [31:21]
2. What does it mean to daily surrender to God's rule, and how do spiritual disciplines play a role in this process? [42:55]
3. How can the concept of evangelism through presence, as described in the sermon, change the way believers approach sharing their faith? [50:21]
4. Why is it significant that God chooses to use us as instruments of His Kingdom, even though He doesn't need us? [42:55]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: In what ways are you living in the tension of the "already" and the "not yet" of God's Kingdom? How does this impact your daily decisions? [31:21]
2. Identify one spiritual discipline (e.g., Sabbath, silent prayer) that you can incorporate more intentionally into your routine. How might this practice help you align your desires with God's will? [42:55]
3. Think of a relationship or situation where you can embody Christ's love more fully. What specific actions can you take to be a missional presence in that context? [50:21]
4. Consider a time when you felt God using you in a way that was beyond your own abilities. How did this experience shape your understanding of being an instrument of His Kingdom? [42:55]
5. What are some practical ways you can surrender control and allow God's rule to transform an area of your life where you struggle to submit? [42:55]
6. How can you be more intentional about praying for God's Kingdom to come in the lives of those around you who do not yet know Him? [31:21]
7. Reflect on a recent mission or outreach experience. How did focusing on who you are becoming in Christ, rather than just the activities, impact the outcome? [50:21]
Devotional
Day 1: Living in the Tension of the Kingdom
The Kingdom of God is a profound mystery, existing both in the present and the future. Jesus' first coming marked the arrival of this Kingdom, not as a physical dominion but as a spiritual reign over sin and death. This Kingdom is "already" here through Jesus' work, yet "not yet" fully realized until His return. As believers, we are called to live in this tension, embodying the values of the Kingdom now while eagerly anticipating its complete fulfillment. This dual nature challenges us to be active participants in God's work on earth, reflecting His love and justice in our daily lives. [31:21]
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)
Reflection: How can you actively embody the values of God's Kingdom in your daily interactions this week?
Day 2: Surrendering to God's Transformative Rule
Praying for God's Kingdom to come is an invitation to daily surrender to His authority. This surrender is not passive but involves actively allowing God to transform us through spiritual disciplines. Practices like Sabbath, silent prayer, and interior examination help align our desires with God's will, fostering a life deeply rooted in His presence. As we submit to His rule, we open ourselves to be transformed, becoming more like Christ in our thoughts, actions, and desires. This transformation is a lifelong journey, requiring intentionality and commitment. [42:55]
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7, ESV)
Reflection: What specific spiritual discipline can you commit to this week to help align your life more closely with God's desires?
Day 3: Evangelism Through Authentic Presence
Evangelism is not merely about activities or programs but about who we are becoming in Christ. Our missional presence is most powerful when it is rooted in authentic relationships and genuine love. Past mission trips have shown that spiritual breakthroughs often occur through simple acts of presence and love, rather than structured programs. As we prepare for future missions, the focus should be on embodying Christ's love and reflecting His character to those around us. This approach to evangelism calls us to be intentional in our relationships, seeking to be a living testimony of God's love. [50:21]
"So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us." (1 Thessalonians 2:8, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life can you intentionally invest in this week, showing them Christ's love through your presence and actions?
Day 4: Embracing the Privilege of Being Used by God
God, in His sovereignty, does not need us to accomplish His purposes, yet He chooses to use us as instruments of His Kingdom. This is both a privilege and a blessing, calling us to submit to His authority and allow Him to work through us. By embracing this role, we become conduits of His love and presence to those who do not yet know Him. Our willingness to be used by God requires humility and a readiness to follow His leading, trusting that He will equip us for the tasks He sets before us. [42:55]
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us." (2 Corinthians 4:7, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you make yourself more available for God to use you in His Kingdom work this week?
Day 5: Transformation as a Witness to the World
A life deeply formed by spiritual disciplines becomes a powerful witness to those around us. As we allow God to rule and reign in our lives, we are transformed into His likeness, impacting the world with His love and truth. This transformation is not just for our benefit but serves as a testimony to others of God's power and grace. By living a life that reflects God's Kingdom, we invite others to experience His love and join in His redemptive work. [50:21]
"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)
Reflection: How can your personal transformation in Christ serve as a witness to those around you this week?
Quotes
"But the kingdom that Jesus was talking about was much more different than they expected, right? When Jesus spoke of the kingdom of God, he was not talking about this localized place of power, this little physical kingdom on earth, right? He was talking about the reign of God, God's royal authority and rule over the world, right?" [00:33:28] (19 seconds)
"God's kingly rule whose purpose was not limited to just setting up this earthly kingdom and delivering the Jews from Roman authority, right? God's purpose in this kingdom was saving and redeeming mankind through Jesus, right? And so now when Jesus speaks to the kingdom, there are times where Jesus is speaking of the kingdom in the present, right?" [00:34:27] (20 seconds)
"Jesus is saying the kingdom is right here in the midst of you. In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus says, if I drive out demons by the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. And so the reason that Jesus is able to say the kingdom is present right there is namely because Jesus was there, that Jesus was present, right?" [00:35:56] (17 seconds)
"We pray for their salvation that they would come to know him as king and so we pray not only that those who don't know him would submit their life to him but that we too would continually submit our life to him because if we're honest there are times when we too don't fully submit to God's rule and reign in our life, right?" [00:41:47] (18 seconds)
"If we are going to be used by God to reach the lost, the most impactful thing that we can do is to allow God to rule and reign in our life, right? To submit to his authority. So not only are we praying for God's kingdom to come in the lives of those who don't know him, but we're praying for God's kingdom to come and reign in our own life." [00:46:56] (18 seconds)
"When we practice things like Sabbath and silent prayer, we don't get so caught up in the busyness and stress of life. We're able to develop that deeper connection and communion with the Lord, right? We know his presence in our life and we're connected with him. And others will see the peace that we're able to have in the midst of our busy, hectic, everyday lives, right?" [00:50:04] (24 seconds)
"When we experience deep pain and longing, instead of turning to other things to find satisfaction and healing, we turn to Jesus, the living water, right? To flow through every single aspect of our lives. And when we do this, we allow him to make us complete and we're not turning to things or people or relationships or other things to bring us satisfaction, to make us whole again, right?" [00:52:31] (23 seconds)
"But we also can't miss out on the fact that we need to also be focused on who we are becoming and not just what we are doing, right? That we must be living deeply formed lives, experiencing growth and transformation in Christ in order to effectively reach the lost, right?" [00:54:49] (18 seconds)
"And I neglected the fact that you know missional presence is first and foremost about who we are becoming more and not just what we are doing, right? And that that retreat I saw how important it was for us to have a missional presence in the lives of non-Christians more than just doing all I thought I needed to do to evangelize to those students, right?" [00:58:52] (22 seconds)
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