Embracing Kingdom Authority: Transforming Chaos into Order

Devotional

Day 1: The Kingdom of God Is Within You

Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is not something to be observed outwardly or located in a specific place, but is a spiritual reality that dwells within every believer. This means that as a follower of Christ, you are not waiting for the kingdom to arrive from the outside; you are called to recognize and live from the reality that God’s authority, order, and blessing are already present within you. When you understand that the kingdom is within, you begin to operate from a place of confidence and spiritual authority, knowing that God’s power is available to bring order and transformation to every area of your life. [21:49]

Luke 17:20-21 (ESV)
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to stop waiting for external change and instead invite God’s kingdom to manifest from within you today?

Day 2: Seek First the Kingdom and Its Order

Jesus instructs us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, promising that all other needs will be met as a result. This means prioritizing God’s authority, order, and purpose above our own desires or anxieties, trusting that when we align our lives with His kingdom, everything else will fall into place. Instead of focusing on provision or protection, shift your prayers and your focus to asking for the kingdom to come into your life, bringing divine order and function that releases God’s blessing. [24:00]

Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to put God’s kingdom and His order first in your priorities, rather than your own needs or worries?

Day 3: Pray for the Kingdom to Come Before Anything Else

Jesus’ model prayer begins with acknowledging God as Father and then immediately asks for the kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This reveals that before we ask for healing, provision, or any personal request, our first and greatest need is for God’s authority, order, and blessing to be established in our lives. When you pray for the kingdom to come, you are inviting God to bring His rule and order into every area, which then allows everything else to function as it should and for His blessings to flow. [32:20]

Luke 11:2 (ESV)
And he said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’”

Reflection: Before you bring your usual requests to God, can you pause and sincerely ask for His kingdom—His authority and order—to come into a specific area of your life that feels chaotic right now?

Day 4: Walk in Your God-Given Authority

God has given every believer spiritual authority—both exousia (authority at rest) and dunamis (power in action)—to bring order and resist the enemy’s attempts to create chaos. Many Christians only use their dunamis in moments of crisis, but God calls you to grow in exousia, a settled understanding of who you are in Christ and the authority you carry. When you walk in this authority, you bring order to your life and environment, and the enemy loses his power to intimidate or harass you. [39:06]

Luke 10:19 (ESV)
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.

Reflection: Where have you been waiting for someone else to “light the dynamite” for you? What is one area where you need to step up and exercise your God-given authority today?

Day 5: A Little Kingdom Brings Big Change

Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed and to leaven—small things that, when sown or mixed in, transform everything around them. Even a small step of bringing God’s authority and order into one area of your life can have a profound, multiplying effect, eventually impacting your whole life and those around you. Don’t underestimate the power of inviting the kingdom into your daily routines, relationships, or even the smallest details; over time, this “little leaven” will bring about lasting change and blessing. [01:12:53]

Matthew 13:31-33 (ESV)
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable. “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.”

Reflection: What is one small, specific area of your life where you can intentionally invite God’s kingdom—His authority, order, and blessing—to take root today, trusting that it will grow and transform more than you can imagine?

Sermon Summary

Today, we gathered with a deep expectancy for God to move, not through the efforts of man, but by the transforming power of His glory. Our journey began with a reminder that we are not changed by human wisdom, but by encountering the presence of God. I shared stories from the mission field—Mongolia, where the church is only a generation old and growing rapidly despite persecution, and Ukraine, where war has forced ordinary believers into extraordinary leadership. These testimonies are not just updates; they are living examples of what it means to carry the kingdom of God into places of chaos and suffering.

Central to our time together was a call to understand and operate in the kingdom of God, not just as a theological concept, but as a living reality within us. Jesus taught that the kingdom is not something to be observed outwardly, but is within us, and it is the Father’s good pleasure to give us this kingdom. Yet, many of us struggle because we approach God with a democratic mindset, expecting to negotiate or vote, rather than submitting to the authority of a King.

We explored Jesus’ model of prayer, where the first request is not for provision or protection, but for the kingdom to come. This is a radical shift: before asking for anything else, we are to seek the manifestation of God’s authority, order, function, and blessing in our lives. The kingdom is not about religious activity or Christian labels, but about living under the rule of a good King who provides for His people and empowers them to bring order where there is chaos.

Authority in the kingdom comes in two forms: dunamis (explosive power) and exousia (authority at rest). Many believers are quick to use dunamis—praying fervently against the enemy—but neglect to walk in exousia, the quiet confidence of knowing who we are in Christ. When we operate in exousia, the enemy recognizes our authority and chaos is displaced by order, function, and blessing.

The practical outworking of the kingdom is seen in every area of life: our homes, relationships, workplaces, and ministries. When we bring things into order under God’s authority, blessing follows. The enemy’s strategy is to keep us dysfunctional, overwhelmed by chaos, so that we cannot function in our calling or bless others. But even a mustard seed of kingdom authority, sown into our lives, can transform everything. Our highest calling is to manifest the character and nature of God, becoming witnesses of His power in a chaotic world.

Key Takeaways

1. The Kingdom of God is Within You and Must Be Sought First Jesus taught that the kingdom is not an external system but an internal reality. Before we ask for provision, healing, or any other need, we are to seek the manifestation of God’s kingdom—His authority, order, function, and blessing—in our lives. This reorients our prayers and priorities, shifting us from a posture of lack to one of sonship and purpose. [24:00]
2. Authority Comes in Two Forms: Dunamis and Exousia God has given us both dunamis (explosive, active power) and exousia (authority at rest). Many believers are skilled at using dunamis—praying and rebuking the enemy—but neglect to cultivate exousia, the settled confidence of knowing and walking in our God-given authority. The more we grow in exousia, the less we are harassed by the enemy, and the more order and blessing we experience. [39:06]
3. Order Precedes Function and Blessing Chaos in our lives is often a sign that we have not brought things under the authority of the kingdom. Without order, nothing can function as God intends, and blessing is hindered. We are called to use our authority to bring order to our homes, relationships, and inner lives, so that God’s purposes can be fulfilled and His blessing can flow. [53:11]
4. The Enemy’s Goal is Dysfunction, Not Just Defeat Satan is content for us to be Christians as long as we remain dysfunctional—overwhelmed, easily offended, and unable to function in our calling. He wants us to normalize chaos and settle for survival rather than victory. But God’s desire is for us to walk in authority, bringing order and shalom (the power to disrupt chaos) into every area of life, so we can be a blessing to others. [70:20]
5. A Little Kingdom Authority Transforms Everything Jesus likened the kingdom to a mustard seed or a bit of leaven—just a small amount, when sown into our lives, can transform the whole. We don’t need to have everything together before we step into our authority; rather, as we begin to exercise kingdom authority in small ways, order and blessing will multiply, and our lives will become a testimony of God’s power and grace. [72:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[13:05] - Fellowship and Foundations
[14:46] - Mongolia: A New Church Movement
[16:55] - Ukraine: Church Under Fire
[19:25] - The Cost and Call of Leadership
[21:49] - Understanding the Kingdom vs. Christianity
[24:00] - The Kingdom Within and Seeking First
[26:11] - Cultural Barriers to Kingdom Thinking
[26:49] - Jesus’ Prayer System and Our Approach
[30:57] - Revelation of the Father Changes Prayer
[32:20] - Praying for the Kingdom to Come
[36:20] - The Nature and Provision of a King
[39:06] - Dunamis and Exousia: Two Types of Authority
[44:25] - Walking in Authority: Stories from the Field
[53:11] - Order, Function, and Blessing
[57:50] - Shalom: Disrupting Chaos
[64:17] - Prosperity, Order, and Family
[70:20] - The Enemy’s Strategy: Dysfunction
[72:53] - Mustard Seed and Leaven: Small Beginnings
[75:28] - Praying for Kingdom Manifestation
[78:42] - Lighting the Dynamite: Growing in Authority
[80:36] - Breaking the Cycle of Dysfunction
[81:47] - Prayer for Order and Blessing
[84:07] - Deliverance and Release
[86:55] - Missions Update and Call to Action

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 17:20-21 (ESV) — > Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Matthew 6:33 (ESV) — > But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Luke 11:2 (ESV) — > And he said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come.’”

Observation Questions

According to Luke 17:20-21, how did Jesus describe the coming of the kingdom of God? What does it mean that the kingdom is “in the midst of you” or “within you”?
In Matthew 6:33, what does Jesus say should be the first priority in our lives? What is promised if we do this?
In the sermon, what are the two types of authority Jesus gives believers, and how are they different? ([39:06])
What practical examples did the pastor give from Mongolia and Ukraine about believers living out the kingdom in difficult circumstances? ([14:46] / [16:55])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus emphasized that the kingdom is within us, rather than something to be observed outwardly? How does this challenge the way we usually think about God’s work in the world? ([21:49])
The sermon talked about “dunamis” (explosive power) and “exousia” (authority at rest). Why is it important for believers to walk in both, and what happens if we only focus on one? ([39:06])
The pastor said that order must come before function and blessing. Why is order so foundational in the kingdom of God? ([53:11])
According to the sermon, what is the enemy’s main strategy against believers, and how does this relate to dysfunction and chaos in our lives? ([01:10:20])

Application Questions

The sermon challenged us to seek the kingdom first, even before praying for our needs. What would it look like for you to start your prayers by asking for God’s authority, order, and blessing in your life, rather than jumping straight to your requests? ([32:20])
The pastor described “exousia” as a quiet confidence in who we are in Christ. Are there areas in your life where you tend to operate out of fear or striving, rather than resting in your God-given authority? What would it look like to shift your mindset in those areas? ([44:25])
Think about a specific area of your life (home, work, relationships) where you see chaos or dysfunction. What is one practical step you can take this week to bring that area under God’s authority and into order? ([53:11])
The enemy wants us to normalize chaos and settle for survival. Are there patterns of dysfunction or chaos in your life that you have accepted as “just the way things are”? What would it take to break that cycle and invite God’s shalom (peace that disrupts chaos) into that area? ([57:50])
The sermon said that even a mustard seed of kingdom authority can transform everything. What is one “small seed” of faith or obedience you can sow this week to invite God’s kingdom to grow in your life? ([01:12:53])
The pastor shared stories of believers in Mongolia and Ukraine stepping into leadership and faith in the midst of suffering. Is there a place where you feel unqualified or overwhelmed, but sense God calling you to step up? How can you respond in faith? ([16:55])
The highest calling is to manifest the character and nature of God in a chaotic world. What is one way you can intentionally be a witness of God’s order, peace, and blessing to someone around you this week? ([01:00:34])

Sermon Clips

And it's only when you have a revelation that you have a Father in heaven do your prayers change to, Lord, help me to build your kingdom.Oh, come on. Y 'all say amen in this church? Come on. I'm keeping a real grits and cornbread up in here now. Come on.This is a simple thing that many of us miss. And Jesus says, emphasize this, is in order to have a powerful prayer life, you must have a revelation of the Father.Or you will come begging.You will think that you are somehow lacking.You will think that somehow God has forgotten you and that you are left to your own devices. And so you got to do what you got to do. And you will come to prayer and only have emergency prayers. Amen. But a revelation of the Father is what gives you rest in your soul. Because you understand whose hands you are in. [00:31:27] (63 seconds) #RestInTheFather

All of us have the dynamite, but we don't want to light it. We want Pastor Mason to light his for you. We want Pastor Nanette to light theirs. We want to call the phone line and have someone on the other end of the phone light their dynamite. But the dynamite is in your hands and all you have to do is light it and use your authority. [00:42:06] (25 seconds) #WalkInYourAuthority

The shalom of God is what God, because he's a good king, has given to us.Jesus says, in this world you'll have trouble, but in me you will have peace, grace. Come on, amen.You will have shalom because I'm giving you with the authority, the ability to bring order where there is chaos.And when you do that, things in your life, in your calling will begin to function. [00:58:53] (31 seconds) #DysfunctionalChristianTrap

Just a little bit of this authority, order, function, and blessing into your life. It's like a grain of mustard seed that when you sow it into your home, into your marriage, into your life, this little seed of the kingdom begins to grow in such a way that your whole life is supported by it.Just a little bit, y 'all. Come on. Amen. [01:13:24] (27 seconds)

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