Embracing the Present Kingdom of God
Summary
Summary:
Today, we explored the profound truth that the kingdom of God is not a distant reality but is already among us. This kingdom is not defined by physical boundaries or political power but by the submission of our hearts to God. As we journey through life, we often get distracted by worldly pursuits and miss the true value of the path we are on, much like the path lined with gold that we fail to notice. Jesus' message to the Pharisees and His disciples was clear: the kingdom of God is here, and it begins when we repent and submit to His lordship.
The story of the rich man and the poor man in Luke 16 serves as a reminder of the eternal consequences of our choices. Jesus challenges us to live with kingdom priorities, to be ready for His return, and to actively participate in His kingdom through acts of faith and service. The kingdom of God calls us to daily readiness, urging us to live each day as if Jesus could return at any moment. This readiness involves examining our lives for evidence of the Holy Spirit's work and ensuring that our actions reflect the values of the kingdom.
We are reminded of the suddenness of Christ's return, likened to lightning that flashes across the sky. This calls for vigilance and a heart prepared to meet the King. The separation between those who belong to the kingdom and those who do not will be evident, and we are urged to ensure our lives are in order, reflecting the language and hope of the King. As we anticipate His return, we are called to surrender to His rule, live with kingdom priorities, and share His love with the world.
Key Takeaways:
1. The Kingdom of God is Here: The kingdom of God is not a future event but a present reality that begins when we submit our hearts to God. It is not defined by physical signs or political power but by our repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord. This submission requires a genuine turning away from our own paths and embracing God's direction for our lives. [43:45]
2. Daily Readiness for Christ's Return: We are called to live each day with the awareness that Jesus could return at any moment. This readiness involves examining our lives for evidence of the Holy Spirit's work and ensuring that our actions reflect the values of the kingdom. It is a call to be spiritually vigilant and not complacent, always prepared for the King's return. [01:03:19]
3. Living with Kingdom Priorities: Our lives should be marked by kingdom priorities, using our resources, time, and talents to advance the gospel. This involves actively participating in acts of faith and service, sharing the good news with others, and living in a way that reflects our identity as children of the King. [01:15:30]
4. The Suddenness of Christ's Return: Jesus' return will be sudden and unexpected, like lightning flashing across the sky. This emphasizes the need for vigilance and readiness, ensuring that our lives are in order and that we are not overly attached to worldly possessions or pursuits. [01:09:10]
5. Surrender and Transformation: Entering the kingdom of God requires surrendering to Jesus' rule and being transformed by His grace. This transformation is evidenced by a life that reflects righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. It is a call to be born again, to repent, and to live as citizens of God's kingdom. [56:40]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[15:10] - Importance of Hearing God's Voice
[16:02] - The Rich Man and the Poor Man
[38:56] - The Path Lined with Gold
[42:01] - Pharisees and the Kingdom of God
[43:45] - The Kingdom is Among You
[51:18] - Conflict and Kingdom Principles
[53:33] - Who Will Enter the Kingdom?
[56:40] - Evidence of the Kingdom in Your Life
[58:58] - Responding to the Holy Spirit
[01:00:35] - Daily Readiness for the Kingdom
[01:02:03] - The Unannounced Guest
[01:03:19] - Spiritual Complacency
[01:06:24] - Lessons from Noah and Lot
[01:09:10] - The Suddenness of Christ's Return
[01:13:28] - Separation at Christ's Return
[01:15:30] - Living with Kingdom Priorities
[01:17:36] - Sharing the Kingdom with Others
[01:19:04] - Prayer and Closing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Luke 16:19-31
- Luke 17:20-37
- Romans 14:17
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Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 17:20-21, Jesus tells the Pharisees that the kingdom of God is not coming with observable signs. What does He mean when He says, "the kingdom of God is in your midst"? [43:45]
2. How does the story of the rich man and the poor man in Luke 16 illustrate the eternal consequences of our choices? [16:02]
3. What examples did the pastor give of distractions that can cause us to miss the true value of the path we are on? [38:56]
4. According to Romans 14:17, what are the characteristics of the kingdom of God, and how do they differ from worldly values? [56:40]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of the kingdom of God being "already among us" challenge the Pharisees' expectations of a political or physical kingdom? [42:01]
2. What does it mean to live with "kingdom priorities," and how might this look different from living with worldly priorities? [01:15:30]
3. The pastor mentioned the suddenness of Christ's return, likening it to lightning. How does this imagery emphasize the need for vigilance and readiness? [01:09:10]
4. In what ways does the story of Noah and Lot serve as a warning for spiritual complacency and the importance of readiness for Christ's return? [01:06:24]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your daily life. Are there specific distractions that prevent you from recognizing the kingdom of God in your midst? How can you minimize these distractions this week? [38:56]
2. Consider your current priorities. How can you align them more closely with kingdom priorities, using your resources, time, and talents to advance the gospel? [01:15:30]
3. The pastor spoke about the importance of daily readiness for Christ's return. What practical steps can you take to ensure you are spiritually vigilant and prepared? [01:03:19]
4. Think about a recent decision or action. Did it reflect the values of the kingdom of God, such as righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit? How can you ensure your future actions align with these values? [56:40]
5. The sermon emphasized the need for repentance and transformation. Is there an area in your life where you need to surrender to Jesus' rule and seek transformation? What steps will you take to address this? [56:40]
6. How can you actively participate in the kingdom of God through acts of faith and service this week? Identify one specific action you can take. [01:00:35]
7. Reflect on your interactions with others. Is there someone you can share the love and hope of the kingdom of God with this week? How will you approach this conversation? [01:17:36]
Devotional
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Quotes
"And Jesus responded, the kingdom of God cannot be detected by physical signs. In other words, it's not going to be these walls. It's not going to be this person ruling, this political ruler right here. You won't be able to say, there it is. Look, that's where the kingdom of God is. You won't be able to say, it's over there. That's where the kingdom of God is. For the kingdom of God is already among you." [00:43:58] (24 seconds)
"Submission begins with repentance. Submission begins when you put your face, I love this picture we have of this man with his face covered. Submission begins when you acknowledge the ways that you have been going, the path that you have been taking, the journey that you have been on has not been God's journey for you. It has been yourself, it has been all the ways that you've done it and look at where that got you." [00:49:00] (25 seconds)
"See, to enter the kingdom of God, Jesus uses the word, you must be born again. You must have accepted Jesus. You must have acknowledged him. You must have said, God, I am sorry. Forgive me. God, I am sorry. I accept you as my Savior. God, please. Please, enter my life. Forgive me of my sins. Lord, I need to be born again." [00:50:30] (26 seconds)
"There's a kingdom principle, and Paul points it out. The kingdom principle is when there's conflict. He says the kingdom principle is would you not rather be wrong than to try to make a point, than to try to have the proud of, I was right. I knew I was right. And Paul says the kingdom principle is submission to God, trusting God. Would you rather not? Be wrong." [00:52:10] (28 seconds)
"How do you have access to the kingdom of God? Repent, for the kingdom of God is here. If you have never, ever accepted Jesus, if you have never, ever accepted his forgiveness, then you won't enter the kingdom of God. The corollary to that is also true. If you have accepted Jesus, if you have been made clean, if you have been forgiven, and that forgiveness is forever." [00:55:17] (24 seconds)
"Those who receive the spirit of God have access to the kingdom of God. Why? Because the moment you believe, the moment you have trusted Jesus, the moment you're forgiven, the moment that you recognize his grace to you and you're washed clean, the spirit of God comes upon you, and now you have the spirit of God. Therefore, the kingdom of God is here in your midst, church." [00:56:40] (23 seconds)
"The kingdom of God calls us for daily readiness. Daily readiness. In other words, it isn't something that you prepare for tomorrow. It is something that you look at your calendar and say, what am I going to do today? I'm a king's kid. The kingdom of God is here. I get to express the kingdom of God to others." [01:00:29] (20 seconds)
"They show up when you're least expecting it. They got there soon. And that's what we think sometimes when we think about the return of Jesus. We think that he's this unannounced guest. We instead need to always be prepared. We need to always be ready. Because there is a danger being spiritually complacent. What I mean by that is by just thinking, well, God's going to return eventually." [01:02:43] (26 seconds)
"His return will be sudden. It will be unexpected. It emphasizes the need for villaging and readiness. This is my class. I give this illustration a lot. And I ask the students to describe with visual imagery what is going on in here. What is going on? Is it simply a cat kicking onto a tree in the wind? Is that what's going on? Or maybe it is Super Cat." [01:08:58] (30 seconds)
"Are you anticipating Christ's return? Or are you walking down that golden pathway? Distracted. Oh, look, there's a task I have to do. Oh, look, there's a treasure I have to go after. Oh, look, look, there's a title that I need to pursue. And I know that takes me off of the path, but I'm going to do it anyways because, you know, Jesus, he'll make his time." [01:10:38] (27 seconds)
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