Expanding God's Kingdom: Encountering Jesus in Our Struggles
Summary
Today, I explored the profound theme of "This is the Kingdom," focusing on the method and ministry of Jesus as a model for implementing "on earth as it is in heaven." We began by reflecting on the Genesis narrative where God established a garden with boundaries amidst chaos, tasking humanity to expand these borders and bring order. This model, however, faced disruption with the fall of man, leading God to initiate a new covenant with Abraham, promising him descendants as numerous as the stars and a land that would bless all nations.
As we moved through the sermon, I emphasized that the true essence of Jesus' ministry was not about gathering within the walls of a church but about going out into the world. Jesus, fully God yet fully man, demonstrated how to rely on the Holy Spirit, showing us that the kingdom of God operates through us when we engage with the world around us. This is vividly illustrated in Mark 5, where Jesus encounters a man possessed by demons in the region of the Gerasenes.
This man, tormented and bound by chains, represents the dual nature of struggle within all of us—the battle between our sinful desires and our longing for God. Despite the community's efforts to restrain him and his own attempts at self-liberation, true freedom only came when he encountered Jesus. This encounter is a powerful reminder that our efforts alone are insufficient without the transformative presence of Christ.
In our discussion, I drew parallels between the man's condition and our own internal battles. Like him, we often find ourselves living among tombs, places of death, while striving for life. Our personal tombs could be habits, fears, or environments that stifle our spiritual vitality. Yet, the story of the Gerasene demoniac is less about the man himself and more about each of us. It challenges us to confront our own tombs and recognize that deliverance is found in surrender to Jesus.
The sermon concluded with a call to action, urging us to embody the hands and feet of Jesus in our daily environments. Whether at work, home, or in the community, we are called to manifest the kingdom of God through acts of love, mercy, and the power of the Holy Spirit. This is how we expand the borders of God's garden today, pushing back against the chaos and disorder of the world.
### Key Takeaways:
1. The Genesis Model of Expansion - The initial command to expand the garden's borders in Genesis is a prototype for our mission on earth. Just as Adam and Eve were tasked to cultivate and guard the garden, we are called to extend the boundaries of God's kingdom through our lives. This expansion is not merely territorial but spiritual, influencing societies through the gospel. [01:34]
2. Jesus: Fully God and Fully Man - Jesus did not operate solely on divine power but relied deeply on the Holy Spirit. This reliance is a model for us, showing that the supernatural works we are called to do will be through the Spirit's power, not our own. Understanding this helps us grasp the true nature of Christian ministry as a partnership with the divine. [03:13]
3. Encountering Jesus in the Tombs - The story of the demoniac in Mark 5 is a vivid illustration of the transformative power of an encounter with Jesus. It teaches us that no situation is beyond the reach of Jesus' redemption, and our darkest tombs can become places of miraculous deliverance when we allow Christ to enter them. [06:04]
4. The Battle Within - The internal conflict described in Romans 7, where Paul discusses the war between the flesh and the spirit, mirrors the struggle of the Gerasene demoniac. This passage reassures us that the presence of conflict does not disqualify us from God's grace; rather, it is precisely where His power is made perfect. [24:49]
5. Grace Overcomes Duality - The grace of God is sufficient to overcome any dual nature within us. Our longing for freedom, no matter how feeble, opens the door for God's grace to work in our lives. This takeaway encourages us to maintain hope and continue seeking God, knowing that our desire for change is itself a catalyst for divine intervention. [27:38]
### Chapters:
0:00 - Welcome
01:34 - The Genesis Model of Expansion
03:13 - Jesus: Fully God and Fully Man
06:04 - Encountering Jesus in the Tombs
24:49 - The Battle Within
27:38 - Grace Overcomes Duality
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 2:8-15 - The Genesis Model of Expansion
2. Mark 5:1-13 - Encountering Jesus in the Tombs
3. Romans 7:15-25 - The Battle Within
### Observation Questions
1. What task did God give to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden according to Genesis 2:8-15?
2. In Mark 5:1-13, what was the condition of the man Jesus encountered in the region of the Gerasenes?
3. According to Romans 7:15-25, how does Paul describe his internal struggle between doing good and evil?
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the Genesis model of expanding the garden's borders relate to our mission as Christians today? ([01:34])
2. What does the story of the Gerasene demoniac in Mark 5 teach us about the power of Jesus to transform lives? ([06:04])
3. How does Paul's description of the internal battle in Romans 7 reflect our own struggles with sin and righteousness? ([24:49])
### Application Questions
1. Reflecting on the Genesis model, what are some practical ways you can expand the "borders of God's kingdom" in your daily life? ([01:34])
2. Identify a "tomb" in your life—an area where you feel spiritually dead or bound. How can you invite Jesus into that area for transformation? ([06:04])
3. Paul talks about the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. What are some specific steps you can take to walk more in the Spirit and less in the flesh? ([24:49])
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of being the hands and feet of Jesus in our communities. What is one specific action you can take this week to show love and mercy to someone in your community? ([03:13])
5. How can you rely more on the Holy Spirit in your daily tasks and decisions, following Jesus' example of dependence on the Spirit? ([03:13])
6. The sermon mentioned that our dual nature does not disqualify us from God's grace. How can you remind yourself of this truth when you feel overwhelmed by your struggles? ([27:38])
7. What are some ways you can stop being a "professional pretender" and be more authentic in your faith and interactions with others? ([32:31])
Devotional
Day 1: Expanding God's Kingdom Through Our Lives
The Genesis model of expansion is a call to action for every believer to extend the boundaries of God's kingdom, not just geographically but spiritually and socially. This expansion involves cultivating and guarding our environments, much like Adam and Eve were tasked in the garden. It's about influencing our societies with the gospel, bringing the order of heaven into the chaos of the world. This is not a passive but an active engagement, where each action and decision reflects our mission to manifest God's kingdom on earth. [01:34](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti9AtpoLKo&t=79s)
Isaiah 54:2-3 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities."
Reflection: What are practical ways you can extend the boundaries of God's kingdom in your daily environment this week?
Day 2: Emulating Christ's Reliance on the Spirit
Jesus, fully God and fully man, demonstrated a profound reliance on the Holy Spirit, setting an example for us to follow. This reliance is crucial as it shows that the supernatural works we are called to do will be through the Spirit's power, not our own. Understanding this helps us grasp the true nature of Christian ministry as a partnership with the divine, where we are conduits of His power and love in the world. [03:13](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti9AtpoLKo&t=178s)
Zechariah 4:6 "Then he said to me, 'This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.'"
Reflection: How can you more consciously rely on the Holy Spirit in your decisions and actions today?
Day 3: Encountering the Transformative Power of Jesus
The story of the demoniac in Mark 5 is a vivid illustration of the transformative power of an encounter with Jesus. It teaches us that no situation is beyond the reach of Jesus' redemption, and our darkest tombs can become places of miraculous deliverance when we allow Christ to enter them. This story encourages us to confront our personal tombs—be it habits, fears, or environments—and recognize that deliverance is found in surrender to Jesus. [06:04](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti9AtpoLKo&t=349s)
Hosea 6:1-3 "Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him."
Reflection: What 'tombs' in your life do you need Jesus to transform, and how can you invite Him into those areas today?
Day 4: Embracing Conflict as a Space for Grace
The internal conflict described in Romans 7, where Paul discusses the war between the flesh and the spirit, mirrors our own struggles. This passage reassures us that the presence of conflict does not disqualify us from God's grace; rather, it is precisely where His power is made perfect. Understanding this can help us to see our spiritual battles as opportunities for God's grace to manifest in our weaknesses. [24:49](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti9AtpoLKo&t=1474s)
Lamentations 3:22-23 "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Identify a personal struggle where you need to experience God's grace today. How can you actively seek His strength in this battle?
Day 5: Hope and Change Through Divine Intervention
The grace of God is sufficient to overcome any dual nature within us. Our longing for freedom, no matter how feeble, opens the door for God's grace to work in our lives. This takeaway encourages us to maintain hope and continue seeking God, knowing that our desire for change is itself a catalyst for divine intervention. [27:38](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti9AtpoLKo&t=1643s)
Micah 7:7-8 "But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me."
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you feel a dual nature? How can you invite God's grace to transform this area starting today?
Quotes
1) "you've shown up today, but something is at war on the inside of you. Something is unsettled on the inside of you. Something is disrupted on the inside of you. And you can't even put your finger on it. And you can't adequately, adequately explain what's going on. You just know it feels off." [19:35]
2) "There's one side of me that wants to be in control. There's one side of me that wants to keep the right to be right. There's one side of me that wants to have my will and wants to have my way and wants to force things into position so that I can be in the driver's seat." [20:19]
3) "Maybe it's not malice in your life, though. Maybe it's not so harsh. Maybe this side of you is being overwhelmed with anxiety, being overcome with depression and worry having its way with you." [22:09]
4) "There's two natures at war. Not in a man of Gadara. In me. And you." [24:49]
5) "Grace negates the authority of duality in this man's life. Watch for the want of freedom. Grace has an opportunity to operate. I'm not saying that you even have to get it right. I'm just saying for the mere desire to get it right, Grace has access to come running in." [26:43]
6) "Your duality doesn't disqualify you. Your struggle, your habitual sin, getting it over and getting it wrong over and over and over. It doesn't disqualify you from his mercy." [29:01]
7) "He's finding he's going through the function of living he's going through the process of trying to be alive but doing it in a place that is contrary to the life that he says he has like some of us it's everything we can do to wake up and get out of bed in the morning." [11:41]
8) "It's when we leave the confines of this room that we go find them along the way and the hurting and the broken and we become the hands and feet of Jesus in that moment not that we can do anything for them but leaning on the person of the Holy Spirit he moves and operates through us." [03:13]
9) "The first example given for the implementation of on earth as it is in heaven we see in genesis when god planted a garden but the garden had boundaries and was inside the chaos and the unruliness of the earth so he established man and woman he established humanity and gave them instructions to guard and grow the garden expand the borders push into the frontier." [01:34]
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