Embracing God's Kingdom: Surrendering Self for True Discipleship

 

Summary

In our journey of faith, we often grapple with the realities that shape our lives. The fundamental truth we must grasp is that God and His kingdom are the ultimate realities. Many people, including those who advocate for the New Atheism, choose to assert their own kingdoms, denying God's sovereignty. However, the teachings of Jesus, particularly about the cross, challenge us to relinquish our self-will. The cross signifies the end of our personal kingdoms, and embracing it is essential to true discipleship. Jesus calls us to take up our cross daily, which means surrendering our own agendas and trusting in His guidance.

The visible world often deceives us into believing it is the only reality. Yet, the Ten Commandments remind us that there is more beyond what we can see. The first two commandments, in particular, protect us from the illusion that the visible world is all there is. God seeks those who will worship Him in spirit and truth, emphasizing the importance of our inner selves. Our spiritual reality is what truly defines us, and it is in this realm that we encounter God's kingdom.

Elijah's experience serves as a reminder that if we were constantly aware of God's presence, it would overwhelm us. God, in His wisdom, remains hidden to allow us the freedom to choose Him. This hiddenness invites us to seek Him earnestly and to live by faith, trusting in His unseen kingdom. As we navigate our lives, we must decide how we will respond to this hidden God and His call to live in His kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

1. God's Kingdom as Ultimate Reality: Understanding that God and His kingdom are the ultimate realities is crucial for aligning our lives with His purpose. This perspective challenges us to relinquish our self-made kingdoms and embrace His sovereignty. [00:24]

2. The Cross and Discipleship: The cross represents the end of our self-will and personal agendas. True discipleship requires us to take up our cross daily, surrendering our desires to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. [01:24]

3. Beyond the Visible World: The visible world is not the only reality. The Ten Commandments remind us to look beyond what we can see and recognize the spiritual truths that govern our lives. [02:33]

4. Worship in Spirit and Truth: God seeks those who worship Him in spirit and truth, emphasizing the importance of our inner selves. Our spiritual reality is what truly defines us and connects us to God's kingdom. [02:54]

5. The Hiddenness of God: God's hiddenness allows us the freedom to choose Him. This invites us to seek Him earnestly and live by faith, trusting in His unseen kingdom. [03:31]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Understanding Ultimate Reality
[00:42] - The New Atheism and Self-Made Kingdoms
[01:00] - The Cross and Its Significance
[01:24] - Daily Discipleship and Surrender
[01:38] - Challenges of Self-Will
[01:58] - Misinterpretations of the Sermon on the Mount
[02:15] - Entering the Kingdom of God
[02:33] - The Ten Commandments and Reality
[02:54] - Worship in Spirit and Truth
[03:13] - Elijah's Experience and Spiritual Awareness
[03:31] - The Hiddenness of God
[03:58] - Conclusion and Reflection

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 16:24-25 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'"
2. Exodus 20:3-4 - "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below."
3. John 4:23-24 - "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."

#### Observation Questions
1. What does Jesus mean when He says to "take up your cross daily" in Matthew 16:24-25? How does this relate to the end of self-will? [01:24]
2. How do the first two commandments in Exodus 20:3-4 protect us from the illusion that the visible world is the only reality? [02:33]
3. According to John 4:23-24, what does it mean to worship God in spirit and truth? How does this connect to our inner selves? [02:54]
4. How does the sermon describe the hiddenness of God, and why is this significant for our faith journey? [03:31]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. In what ways does the concept of taking up one's cross challenge the idea of self-made kingdoms and personal agendas? [01:24]
2. How might the visible world deceive us into thinking it is the only reality, and how do the Ten Commandments help us see beyond this? [02:33]
3. What does it mean for our spiritual reality to define us, and how does this influence our connection to God's kingdom? [02:54]
4. How does God's hiddenness provide us with the freedom to choose Him, and what does this mean for living by faith? [03:31]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you prioritized your own kingdom over God's. What steps can you take to align your life more closely with God's ultimate reality? [00:24]
2. Consider the daily challenges you face in surrendering your self-will. What practical actions can you take to embrace the cross in your daily life? [01:24]
3. How can you remind yourself to look beyond the visible world and focus on spiritual truths in your everyday decisions? [02:33]
4. In what ways can you cultivate a practice of worshiping God in spirit and truth in your personal life? [02:54]
5. How do you respond to the hiddenness of God in your life? What practices can help you seek Him more earnestly and live by faith? [03:31]
6. Identify one area in your life where you struggle to trust in God's unseen kingdom. What is one step you can take this week to grow in faith in that area? [03:31]
7. How can Elijah's experience of God's presence inspire you to be more spiritually aware in your daily life? [03:13]

Devotional

Day 1: God's Kingdom as the True Reality
Understanding that God and His kingdom are the ultimate realities is crucial for aligning our lives with His purpose. This perspective challenges us to relinquish our self-made kingdoms and embrace His sovereignty. In a world where many assert their own control and deny God's authority, it is essential to recognize that the visible world is not the only reality. The teachings of Jesus, particularly about the cross, invite us to surrender our self-will and personal agendas. By doing so, we align ourselves with the true reality of God's kingdom, which transcends the temporary and visible aspects of our lives. [00:24]

"For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come." (Hebrews 13:14, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are trying to build your own kingdom? How can you begin to surrender this to God's ultimate reality today?


Day 2: The Cross as a Call to Surrender
The cross represents the end of our self-will and personal agendas. True discipleship requires us to take up our cross daily, surrendering our desires to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. This act of taking up the cross is not a one-time event but a daily commitment to let go of our own plans and trust in Jesus' guidance. It is a call to embrace the challenges and sacrifices that come with following Him, knowing that through this surrender, we find true freedom and purpose. The cross is a powerful symbol of the transformative journey of discipleship, where we learn to live not for ourselves but for the glory of God. [01:24]

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)

Reflection: What is one specific desire or agenda you need to surrender to Jesus today? How can you practically take up your cross in this area?


Day 3: Seeing Beyond the Visible World
The visible world often deceives us into believing it is the only reality. Yet, the Ten Commandments remind us that there is more beyond what we can see. The first two commandments, in particular, protect us from the illusion that the visible world is all there is. They call us to recognize the spiritual truths that govern our lives and to live in a way that honors God above all else. By looking beyond the visible, we open ourselves to the deeper spiritual realities that define our existence and guide our actions. This perspective helps us to live with a sense of purpose and direction that is rooted in God's eternal kingdom. [02:33]

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from the visible to the unseen realities of God's kingdom today? What practical steps can you take to live with an eternal perspective?


Day 4: Worship in Spirit and Truth
God seeks those who worship Him in spirit and truth, emphasizing the importance of our inner selves. Our spiritual reality is what truly defines us and connects us to God's kingdom. Worship is not merely an external act but a deep, heartfelt response to God's presence and truth. It involves aligning our hearts and minds with His will and living in a way that reflects His character. By worshiping in spirit and truth, we cultivate a genuine relationship with God that transforms our lives and impacts those around us. This kind of worship is a powerful expression of our faith and devotion to the One who is worthy of all praise. [02:54]

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him." (John 4:23, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your worship of God in spirit and truth today? How can you ensure that your worship is a true reflection of your inner self?


Day 5: Embracing the Hiddenness of God
Elijah's experience serves as a reminder that if we were constantly aware of God's presence, it would overwhelm us. God, in His wisdom, remains hidden to allow us the freedom to choose Him. This hiddenness invites us to seek Him earnestly and to live by faith, trusting in His unseen kingdom. As we navigate our lives, we must decide how we will respond to this hidden God and His call to live in His kingdom. By embracing the hiddenness of God, we learn to rely on His guidance and trust in His promises, even when we cannot see the full picture. This journey of faith strengthens our relationship with Him and deepens our understanding of His love and grace. [03:31]

"Truly, you are a God who hides himself, O God of Israel, the Savior." (Isaiah 45:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you seek God more earnestly in the midst of His hiddenness today? What steps can you take to live by faith and trust in His unseen kingdom?

Quotes

"Now then the two landscapes because the problem is always to determine what are the realities that you can count on and the major thing you have to understand to get your life straight is the fundamental reality in your life is God and his kingdom that's the fundamental reality now you don't have to accept that and you can insist on having your own Kingdom." [00:00:12]

"The cross is the end of your kingdom that's what the cross is that's why you have to take it to follow Jesus you cannot be my disciple unless you take your cross daily and follow me you can't do it it means you can't succeed with it because the demands of discipleship will overwhelm you if you're trying to run your own show." [00:01:16]

"So you have to give up on that and take up your cross and the cross means the end of self-will and if the only if the only landscape you see is the visible when you're going to think that's the worst thing that could happen to me and that's what many people Christians think when they read the Sermon on the Mount they think this would ruin my life and you know what it would." [00:01:41]

"But there's another life and that is the place where we began to see and to enter the kingdom of God and putting our faith in Jesus Christ means that we count on him to be totally reliable about what is real to go back to the first to the 10 commandments those are statements about reality the first two of the 10 commandments are designed to protect you from thinking that the only reality is the visible world." [00:02:10]

"And then you are visible yourself well in a sense you are of course but in a sense you aren't and on God's side that's where he comes looking for people who will worship Him in spirit and in truth and spirit it's what you really are on the inside because that's what gets that your kingdom that's what gets it your kingdom." [00:02:40]

"And for the most part you don't see that like Elijah's buckler because frankly if you had to live with that around you all the time that would be the end of your life you can't imagine what your life would be like if you could not not see the kingdom that's why God has made that possible he is so big that if he didn't hide you couldn't avoid him." [00:03:17]

"So here's a hidden God and now then what are you gonna do about that." [00:03:45]

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Transcript
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