Embracing the Kingdom: Surrender, Worship, and Mission

Devotional

Day 1: The Kingdom Within Us

The Kingdom of God is a spiritual dominion where Jesus is Lord, beginning within us and growing as we surrender more of our lives to His lordship. This growth is marked by obedience and alignment with God's will, leading to peace and order in our lives. As we allow Jesus to be both our Savior and Lord, we give Him the keys to our lives, experiencing the profound transformation that His Kingdom brings. This journey is not about a physical territory but about a spiritual reality that starts in our hearts and extends outward, impacting every aspect of our lives. [43:55]

"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: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Day 2: Worship as Surrender

Worship is the key to living a Kingdom life. It is an act of surrender that invites God's presence and power into our lives. Through worship, we find strength, identity, and purpose, becoming more like Christ and manifesting His Kingdom. Worship is not just about singing praises but is a profound act of acknowledging God's sovereignty and inviting His presence into every aspect of our lives. It is in worship that we find the strength to align ourselves with God's will and the identity that empowers us to live out our purpose as His children. [01:05:13]

"Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!" (Psalm 95:6, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate an act of worship into your daily routine that goes beyond singing, perhaps through prayer, meditation, or service?

Day 3: The Lord's Prayer as a Model

The Lord's Prayer is a model for Kingdom living, emphasizing intimacy with God and the desire for His Kingdom to be realized on earth. It calls us to prioritize worship, seek provision, maintain healthy relationships, and rely on God's power to overcome evil. This prayer is not just a set of words to recite but a guide for aligning our lives with God's purposes. By focusing on these priorities, we align ourselves with God's will and become effective ambassadors of His Kingdom, bringing His reality into our world. [56:37]

"Pray then like this: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.'" (Matthew 6:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: As you pray the Lord's Prayer today, which part resonates most with your current life situation, and how can you act on it?

Day 4: Our Mission as Citizens of Heaven

As citizens of heaven, we are on a mission to bring the reality of God's Kingdom into our world. This mission involves loving God, loving others, and making disciples of all nations. We are called to stand up as sons and daughters of God, embracing our identity as kings and priests, and partnering with God to see His Kingdom come in our lives and communities. This mission is not just a task but a calling that defines our identity and purpose, empowering us to live out our faith in tangible ways. [01:01:04]

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (1 Peter 2:9, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life can you reach out to today to share God's love, and what specific action can you take to demonstrate this love?

Day 5: Identity in Christ's Kingship

Our identity and purpose are found in Christ's kingship. As we surrender to His lordship, we step into our own kingship and authority, empowered to fulfill God's purposes in our lives and communities. This alignment with God's Kingdom brings transformation and impact, as we embrace our identity as His children and live out our calling with confidence and authority. By recognizing our role in God's Kingdom, we are empowered to make a difference in the world around us, bringing His light and love to those we encounter. [01:04:05]

"And he made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (Revelation 1:6, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you exercise your God-given authority and identity in Christ to bring about positive change in your community today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound nature of the Kingdom of God and its implications for our lives. The Kingdom is not a physical territory but a spiritual dominion where Jesus Christ is Lord. It begins within us when we accept Christ and grows as we surrender more of our lives to His lordship. This journey of growth is marked by obedience, as we allow Jesus to be both our Savior and Lord, giving Him the keys to our lives. As we align ourselves with His will, we experience the order and peace that His Kingdom brings.

We also discussed the importance of worship as the key to living a Kingdom life. Worship is not just about singing praises but is a profound act of surrender, where we acknowledge God's sovereignty and invite His presence into every aspect of our lives. It is in worship that we find strength, identity, and purpose, as we become more like Christ and His Kingdom is manifested through us.

Furthermore, we reflected on the Lord's Prayer as a model for Kingdom living. This prayer emphasizes intimacy with God and the desire for His Kingdom to be realized on earth as it is in heaven. It calls us to prioritize worship, seek provision, maintain healthy relationships, and rely on God's power to overcome evil. By focusing on these priorities, we align ourselves with God's purposes and become effective ambassadors of His Kingdom.

As citizens of heaven, we are on a mission to bring the reality of God's Kingdom into our world. This mission involves loving God, loving others, and making disciples of all nations. We are called to stand up as sons and daughters of God, embracing our identity as kings and priests, and partnering with God to see His Kingdom come in our lives and communities.

Key Takeaways

1. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual dominion where Jesus is Lord. It begins within us and grows as we surrender more of our lives to His lordship. Our growth in the Kingdom is marked by obedience and alignment with God's will, leading to peace and order in our lives. [43:55]
2. Worship is the key to living a Kingdom life. It is an act of surrender that invites God's presence and power into our lives. Through worship, we find strength, identity, and purpose, becoming more like Christ and manifesting His Kingdom. [65:13]
3. The Lord's Prayer is a model for Kingdom living, emphasizing intimacy with God and the desire for His Kingdom to be realized on earth. It calls us to prioritize worship, seek provision, maintain healthy relationships, and rely on God's power to overcome evil. [56:37]
4. As citizens of heaven, we are on a mission to bring the reality of God's Kingdom into our world. This mission involves loving God, loving others, and making disciples of all nations. We are called to stand up as sons and daughters of God, embracing our identity as kings and priests. [61:04]
5. Our identity and purpose are found in Christ's kingship. As we surrender to His lordship, we step into our own kingship and authority, empowered to fulfill God's purposes in our lives and communities. This alignment with God's Kingdom brings transformation and impact. [01:04:05]
** [64:05]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Invitation to Team Night
[02:30] - Celebrating Salvations
[04:15] - Upcoming Leadership Training
[06:00] - Kingdom Culture Seminar
[08:20] - Honoring ANZAC Day
[09:30] - Understanding the Kingdom of God
[12:00] - Surrender and Obedience
[15:00] - Jesus as Savior and Lord
[18:00] - The Power of Worship
[21:00] - The Lord's Prayer and Kingdom Living
[25:00] - Our Mission as Citizens of Heaven
[28:00] - Finding Identity in Christ's Kingship
[31:00] - The Role of Worship in Kingdom Life
[35:00] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Sermon Clips

"Seek first the kingdom and his righteousness and all the other things will be added to your life. And I tell you, that word all in both Hebrew and Greek is all. It's actually all. You can't change it to sometimes. All of our things are given to us when we put Jesus Christ first. When he is king in our lives." [00:50:48] (26 seconds)

"The more we understand his Lordship, the more we understand his kingdom. The more we understand his kingdom, the more we understand his Lordship. It's amazing how this works together. It's absolutely beautiful and you know what's the most beautiful thing of all is that we find our own kingship and our own sonship and daughtership in his kingship." [00:52:58] (27 seconds)

"The key to kingdom life is worship. It starts and ends with worship. If you look at this prayer, then the first part is, holy be your name, hallowed be your name. It's praise and worship. Then it talks in the middle about three things. It talks about your personal needs, provision. It talks about personal relationship, forgiveness and all this kind of stuff." [01:05:13] (20 seconds)

"We're aliens in this world. We don't really belong because we're part of a citizenship of heaven. We're going to be forever and ever and ever. But the time that we have on the earth. We have an assignment. Yes, to love one another. To love God. But absolutely also to have an assignment to go into the world. Come on. The last thing Jesus says." [01:01:39] (17 seconds)

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?