Embracing New Horizons: Prioritizing God's Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: Expanding Faith Beyond Comfort Zones

Embracing new horizons requires a willingness to step beyond the familiar and comfortable. This season is about expanding our faith and perception, allowing God to lead us into new dimensions. As we walk through the doors He opens, we are invited to experience internal growth that precedes external blessings. This journey challenges us to trust in God's plan and embrace the opportunities He presents, even when they stretch our faith. [00:45]

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone? How can you take a step of faith in that area today?

Day 2: Shining Light Globally Through Digital Ministry

Our vision extends beyond local boundaries as we expand our media reach. By broadcasting on multiple platforms, we aim to shine our light globally, fulfilling our calling as a local church with a worldwide impact. This digital expansion allows us to pastor people wherever they are, ensuring that the light of our ministry reaches those who need it most. This is a time to embrace the power of technology to spread the message of hope and love. [04:30]

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use your digital presence to share the message of hope and love with others today? What practical steps can you take to be a light in the digital world?

Day 3: Seeking First the Kingdom of God

Jesus teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God, promising that all other things will be added to us. This involves prioritizing heavenly treasure over earthly treasure and focusing on the sustainer rather than the sustenance. Our heart's attitude determines our experience of God's blessings. By making God preeminent in our lives, we align ourselves with His will and open the door for His provision and peace. [12:19]

"Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: What earthly treasures are you holding onto that might be hindering your focus on God's kingdom? How can you shift your priorities to seek His kingdom first?

Day 4: Aligning Our Hearts with God's Will

Keeping our hearts pure and aligned with God's will ensures His provision and guidance. When we prioritize God's kingdom, we open the door for His intervention and blessings in our lives. Our heart's alignment with God's priorities is key to experiencing His peace and provision. This alignment requires a conscious effort to seek God's will in all aspects of our lives. [16:51]

"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51:10, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you align your heart more closely with God's will today? What changes can you make to ensure your heart remains pure and focused on His priorities?

Day 5: Committing to Serve and Engage

We are invited to participate in this new season by committing our time and resources to God's kingdom. This involves serving and engaging with the ministry, reflecting our heart's alignment with God's priorities. As we do this, we trust that God will meet all our needs and demonstrate His power in our lives. This commitment is a reflection of our dedication to God's work and our desire to be part of His plan. [28:04]

"Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10, ESV)

Reflection: How can you use your gifts and resources to serve and engage with your community today? What specific actions can you take to demonstrate your commitment to God's kingdom?

Sermon Summary

In this season of "New Horizons," we are called to expand our perception and embrace the new dimensions God is leading us into. This year, God is opening doors that no one can shut and closing those that no one can open. As we walk through these doors, we enter into new horizons, where our faith is stretched, and our internal expansion precedes external growth. This is a time to challenge ourselves to move beyond comfort zones and embrace the new opportunities God is presenting.

We are also expanding our media reach to ensure that the light of our ministry shines not just locally but globally. With live broadcasts now available on multiple platforms, including YouTube and our app, we are poised to reach a wider audience. This aligns with our vision of being a local church with a worldwide calling. In two weeks, we will announce significant changes in how we operate, including the introduction of "light posts" to replace our small group vision, allowing us to pastor people digitally.

The heart of today's message is about prioritizing God's kingdom. In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, promising that all other things will be added to us. This means prioritizing heavenly treasure over earthly treasure, focusing on the sustainer rather than the sustenance. Our heart's attitude determines whether we experience God's blessings or curses. By making God preeminent in our lives, we align ourselves with His will and open the door for His provision and peace.

We are invited to participate in this new season by prioritizing our time and resources for God's kingdom. This involves a commitment to serve and engage with the ministry, reflecting our heart's alignment with God's priorities. As we do this, we trust that God will meet all our needs and demonstrate His power in our lives.

Key Takeaways

1. New Horizons and Faith Expansion: Embracing new horizons requires us to expand our faith and perception. As we walk through the doors God opens, we enter new dimensions where our internal growth precedes external blessings. This season challenges us to move beyond comfort zones and embrace the opportunities God presents. [00:45]
2. Global Reach and Digital Ministry: Our vision extends beyond local boundaries as we expand our media reach. By broadcasting on multiple platforms, we aim to shine our light globally, fulfilling our calling as a local church with a worldwide impact. This digital expansion allows us to pastor people wherever they are. [04:30]
3. Prioritizing God's Kingdom: Jesus teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God, promising that all other things will be added to us. This involves prioritizing heavenly treasure over earthly treasure and focusing on the sustainer rather than the sustenance. Our heart's attitude determines our experience of God's blessings. [12:19]
4. Heart Alignment and God's Provision: Keeping our hearts pure and aligned with God's will ensures His provision and guidance. When we prioritize God's kingdom, we open the door for His intervention and blessings in our lives. Our heart's alignment with God's priorities is key to experiencing His peace and provision. [16:51]
5. Commitment to Serve and Engage: We are invited to participate in this new season by committing our time and resources to God's kingdom. This involves serving and engaging with the ministry, reflecting our heart's alignment with God's priorities. As we do this, we trust that God will meet all our needs and demonstrate His power in our lives. [28:04]
** [28:04]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - New Horizons and Vision for the Year
[04:30] - Expanding Media Reach
[08:15] - Digital Ministry and Light Posts
[12:19] - Prioritizing God's Kingdom
[16:51] - Heart Alignment and God's Provision
[22:42] - Earthly and Heavenly Treasures
[28:04] - Commitment to Serve and Engage
[32:30] - The Importance of Time and Money
[36:45] - Breaking Mammon's Power
[40:00] - Seek First the Kingdom
[44:15] - The Rich Young Ruler's Lesson
[48:30] - Heart for the House
[52:00] - Prayer and Testimony Wall
[56:15] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Sermon Clips

"That's why you have to expand internally, come on, before God expands anything externally in your life. And that's the goal of Life's Church. Even this morning, I want to challenge you this morning to not be comfortable or stay where you are or just be stuck in a rut. But I want to stretch your faith a little bit so that we can embrace these new horizons this year." [00:01:15] (19 seconds)

"And this is a major deal that we're doing. God said media is part of the strategy of this season. And one of the things that we're really doing during the week is hearing God and getting wisdom on how to expand the reach so that the word of the ministry, so that the light that we shine is not just shining physically around the body here, Lights Church, but also worldwide. We are a local church with a worldwide vision or worldwide calling." [00:02:02] (28 seconds)

"Jesus kind of corrected him like this. He says, you like to clean the outside of the cup, but the inside of the cup was full of dead man's bones. It's, it's filthy. It's dead inside. What is he saying? He's saying you like to talk the talk, look a certain way, act a certain way, but there's no power of transformation on the inside. And so it's important that we don't just talk about the power of God, the goodness of God, the love of God, the faithfulness of God, but that we experience and see demonstration of the power of God, the goodness of God, the faithfulness of God." [00:07:14] (28 seconds)

"Jesus is saying, look, it's not just out here. There's a spiritual root to it. And also, what was he saying? He was saying, what I am now telling you, the standard of my kingdom is beyond your ability to keep. Come on, let's just, we're going to do this together. And I'm going to show you how worldly some of the people in Life's Church are. I want you to be honest. Don't hold back. How many of you have ever, maybe not now, but been in a season in your life where you actually felt hate for somebody?" [00:09:27] (27 seconds)

"So according to Jesus, you've already committed murder, right? And then he goes on to say, you shouldn't commit adultery. But even if you lust after, I don't know why I say lust after women, because women also can be tempted too. Let's just say this. Even if you have internal desire that is improper, lust inside for somebody, you've already committed adultery. What's he saying? Jesus is saying, you can't keep the level of the commandment of the law. You need a savior. You need a higher dimension to go to. You need grace that is power beyond your power." [00:09:48] (33 seconds)

"One of the most life changing things, I would say the most life altering thing God has ever spoken to me is after I first began to serve God, get serious about God. And I had some questions. I was nervous about some things. I was like, God, what if, what if, what if, what if I make a mistake? What if I missed your will? What if I too late or too early? And I had all these fears that I would be outside of the call and plan of God because I might mess it up. And the Lord told me something that changed me forever. You've heard me say it a million times. He said, Jason, if you keep your heart right or pure, I will get you to your destiny." [00:12:19] (31 seconds)

"I'll take care of the end result. You just be focused with keeping your heart pure towards me and right towards me. Why? Because when your heart is pure, you are surrendered to him and now he's responsible for your life. If your motives are impure, then you are prohibiting God's intervention in your life." [00:12:49] (19 seconds)

"Now, as we already know, Jesus showed us, we talked about there is treasure of earth and treasure of heaven. There's different types of treasure. He didn't say earthly treasure is evil or wrong. He didn't say don't have earthly treasure. He just said don't lay it up for yourself. In other words, don't value it so much that you can't use it as a tool and be a distribution center for the kingdom of God because you value it so much you are ambitious to pursue it and to procure it and to have it where it's more important to you than what really matters, which is heavenly treasure." [00:16:26] (33 seconds)

"So I would submit to you today, and you can think about this all week at a different time, but I've thought about it all week, that the two treasures of earth, the most important, there's all kinds of treasures, but the two top treasures is time and money. Time and money. I don't know about you, here's the way I know money is not the highest treasure, because I would rather give someone money than my time. Is anyone else like that?" [00:20:17] (22 seconds)

"Now I looked this up because today I'm going to break down some words for you to help you understand it. But the word bad in Greek is the derivative of that word or the base definition of that word, according to Strong's dictionary, Greek dictionary, is to toil for daily sustenance. So in Greek, paneros is the word bad, but pano, which is the base of that word, is to toil for your sustenance daily or livelihood." [00:24:34] (31 seconds)

"So this idol of mammon is a false source that we can be deceived into looking to. What's the Bible say? The worship of money or the worship of mammon. That idol of mammon is the root of all evil. Why? Because you open yourself up to all evil things when you disconnect from God and you embrace another source in your life. You're saying, God, I don't need what you have. I'll take whatever the enemy has." [00:27:28] (24 seconds)

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