Finding Peace in God's Present Kingdom
Summary
In our fast-paced world, the struggle for rest and peace is a common theme. Psalm 127 reminds us that unless the Lord builds the house, our labor is in vain. This scripture highlights the futility of striving without God’s guidance and the importance of trusting Him to guard our lives. The divine conspiracy, God's plan to overcome evil with good, is at work, and our connection to it is through the Kingdom of God, which is present and active in our lives. Many of us misunderstand the good news, thinking it’s about escaping this world rather than inviting God’s presence into our daily lives. The Kingdom of God is not a distant reality but a present one, where God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven.
Living in the Kingdom of God can be daunting if we feel we must make it work on our own. However, when we recognize God’s presence in nature and our lives, we find hope and purpose. Our spiritual journey involves seeking the Kingdom of God, which means looking for what God is doing around us. This requires a shift in perspective, understanding that God is always at work, even when we don’t see it. The Kingdom of God is characterized by righteousness, kindness, and love, and we are invited to participate in it.
The crucifixion of Jesus is not just about avoiding suffering but about being crucified with Him, leading to liberation and freedom from our own kingdoms. This transformation allows us to live a life of peace and relaxation, knowing that God is in control. Listening to God is a vital part of this journey, not just as a spiritual discipline but as a way of life. It involves a conversational relationship with God, where we are open to His guidance and direction.
In practicing spiritual disciplines, it’s essential to listen to God, allowing His voice to guide us. This communication is crucial for living in the Kingdom of God, as it helps us align our actions with His will. The divine conspiracy unfolds as we engage in this ongoing dialogue with God, allowing His presence to permeate every aspect of our lives.
Key Takeaways:
1. Trust in God's Sovereignty: Our efforts are in vain without God's guidance. Trusting Him to build and guard our lives brings peace and rest, as He is always at work, even when we are not. [06:03]
2. The Present Kingdom of God: The Kingdom of God is not a distant reality but a present one, inviting us to experience God's will on earth. This understanding transforms our daily lives, bringing hope and purpose. [07:18]
3. Seeking God's Kingdom: Seeking the Kingdom of God involves looking for His actions in our lives and the world around us. It requires a shift in perspective, recognizing that God is always at work. [11:38]
4. Transformation through Crucifixion: Being crucified with Christ leads to liberation and freedom from our own kingdoms. This transformation allows us to live a life of peace, knowing God is in control. [14:21]
5. Listening as a Way of Life: Listening to God is not just a discipline but a way of life, involving a conversational relationship with Him. This communication is crucial for living in the Kingdom of God. [19:59]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[05:29] - The Futility of Striving
[06:03] - Trusting God's Guidance
[06:58] - The Divine Conspiracy
[07:18] - The Present Kingdom of God
[08:42] - Hope in God's Kingdom
[09:30] - Spiritual and Natural Realms
[10:37] - Seeking the Kingdom of God
[11:38] - Finding God's Actions
[13:26] - Righteousness in the Kingdom
[14:21] - Transformation through Crucifixion
[15:22] - Listening to God's Voice
[19:02] - Spiritual Disciplines and Listening
[21:33] - Communication in the Kingdom
[22:30] - Discernment in Spiritual Practices
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Psalm 127:1-2 - "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat—for he grants sleep to those he loves."
2. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
3. Galatians 2:20 - "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Psalm 127:1-2 suggest about the relationship between human effort and divine guidance? [06:03]
2. How does the sermon describe the Kingdom of God as a present reality rather than a distant one? [07:18]
3. According to the sermon, what does it mean to seek the Kingdom of God in our daily lives? [11:38]
4. How is the concept of being "crucified with Christ" explained in the sermon, and what transformation does it lead to? [14:21]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What might it mean for someone to trust in God's sovereignty in their daily life, according to the sermon? [06:03]
2. How does the understanding of the Kingdom of God as a present reality change one's perspective on life and faith? [07:18]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that seeking God's Kingdom requires a shift in perspective? [11:38]
4. How does the sermon interpret the idea of being crucified with Christ as a path to liberation and peace? [14:21]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you relied solely on your own efforts without seeking God's guidance. How did that experience affect you, and what might you do differently now? [06:03]
2. How can you actively invite God's presence into your daily life, recognizing the Kingdom of God as a present reality? [07:18]
3. What are some practical ways you can shift your perspective to see God's work in your life and the world around you? [11:38]
4. Consider an area of your life where you feel you are trying to maintain control. How might embracing the idea of being "crucified with Christ" bring you peace and freedom? [14:21]
5. How can you cultivate a conversational relationship with God, making listening to Him a way of life rather than just a spiritual discipline? [19:59]
6. Identify one spiritual discipline you can focus on this week to better align your actions with God's will. How will you incorporate listening to God into this practice? [19:59]
7. Think of a situation where you need to trust in God's sovereignty. What steps can you take to surrender control and trust in His plan? [06:03]
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in God's Sovereignty
In a world where we often feel the need to control every aspect of our lives, Psalm 127 reminds us of the futility of our efforts without God's guidance. Trusting in God's sovereignty means recognizing that our labor is in vain unless He is the one building and guarding our lives. This trust brings peace and rest, knowing that God is always at work, even when we are not. It is an invitation to let go of our anxieties and to rest in the assurance that God is in control. [06:03]
"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain." (Psalm 127:1, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are striving without seeking God's guidance? How can you invite Him to take control today?
Day 2: Experiencing the Present Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is not a distant reality but a present one, inviting us to experience God's will on earth. This understanding transforms our daily lives, bringing hope and purpose. It challenges the misconception that the good news is about escaping this world, instead emphasizing the importance of inviting God's presence into our daily lives. By recognizing the Kingdom of God as active and present, we are encouraged to live with a sense of purpose and hope, knowing that God's will is being done on earth as it is in heaven. [07:18]
"And he said to them, 'The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.'" (Mark 4:26-27, ESV)
Reflection: How can you become more aware of God's Kingdom in your daily life? What small change can you make today to align your actions with His will?
Day 3: Seeking God's Kingdom
Seeking the Kingdom of God involves looking for His actions in our lives and the world around us. It requires a shift in perspective, recognizing that God is always at work, even when we don't see it. This pursuit is not about our efforts to make the Kingdom work but about being attentive to what God is already doing. By seeking His Kingdom, we open ourselves to the possibility of seeing His righteousness, kindness, and love manifest in our lives and the world around us. [11:38]
"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)
Reflection: What is one way you can actively seek God's Kingdom in your community today? How can you participate in what God is already doing around you?
Day 4: Transformation through Crucifixion
Being crucified with Christ leads to liberation and freedom from our own kingdoms. This transformation allows us to live a life of peace, knowing God is in control. It is not about avoiding suffering but about embracing the freedom that comes from surrendering our lives to Christ. This transformation invites us to let go of our own agendas and to trust in God's plan, leading to a life characterized by peace and relaxation. [14:21]
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to surrender control to God? How can embracing this surrender lead to greater peace and freedom?
Day 5: Listening as a Way of Life
Listening to God is not just a discipline but a way of life, involving a conversational relationship with Him. This communication is crucial for living in the Kingdom of God, as it helps us align our actions with His will. By cultivating a habit of listening, we open ourselves to God's guidance and direction, allowing His presence to permeate every aspect of our lives. This ongoing dialogue with God is essential for spiritual growth and for participating in the divine conspiracy of overcoming evil with good. [19:59]
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." (John 10:27, ESV)
Reflection: How can you create space in your daily routine to listen to God's voice? What steps can you take to cultivate a more conversational relationship with Him today?
Quotes
you know psalm 127 starts out unless the lord builds the house they labor in vain who build it unless the lord guards the city the watchmen keep awake in vain now that puts us right where you have referred us the larger scene yeah and uh the problem with uh with sleep in our society today is is just epidemic [00:06:05]
the divine conspiracy is god's plan to overcome evil with good in human history and he's going to do it and of course our immediate uh uh skin-to-skin connection is with the kingdom of god and the glorious message that the kingdom of the heavens is right here it's right here [00:07:05]
i think for a lot of us we think the good news is you know it's the beam me up prayer from star trek get me out of here up there that's right instead of god make up there come down here yes uh that's right and help me to know that you are nearer than my breath [00:07:49]
if you think you've got to make it work it is scary and you realize that there are a lot of other people that have ideas about how you should work that is scary and we as uh as paul says in ephesians about the gentiles how they were without hope and without god in the world [00:08:18]
the most obvious expression of the kingdom of god is nature and then when we uh think about that we realize that our bodies situate us in nature because our bodies are a part of nature and then of course there's the other side which isn't nature but is spirit [00:08:48]
in seeking the kingdom of god you have to understand that what you're seeking is what god is doing that's the kingdom of god say that again seeking the kingdom of god is your you are seeking what god is doing and uh and of course there are a lot of different places you can find that [00:11:34]
and jesus tells us seek above all the kingdom of god and i think a lot of people in church as long as we hear that we think i ought to be more regular in my quiet time you know we'll think of it in terms of a few isolated activities and if we feel guilty we may do that for a while [00:10:41]
his kind of righteousness is basically kindness tenderness love i was very struck earlier when you talked about we were jesus was crucified not so much so that we don't have to be crucified right but so that we can be crucified with him absolutely and it strikes me that to be relaxed like jesus [00:13:43]
i think as you come to understand it you welcome the crucifixion as the great door of liberation because it takes you off of your kingdom you see that's when when the cross is on you you're free you welcome the crucifixion as the great deal absolutely absolutely [00:14:13]
hearing god is such a whole life experience should we think of listening to god as a spiritual discipline it is is it a discipline what's the relationship between that conversational life with god and the disciplines that you write about the spirit of the disciplines [00:19:50]
hearing god i believe is an absolutely vital thing in practicing disciplines because it's the only thing that can give you the impression that you're here out you're out here on your own serving and praying and solituding and all of those sorts of things and you're going to make it happen [00:20:02]
listening to god is not so much a spiritual discipline as a way in which to do spiritual that's right yeah it is certainly you never want to do disciplines without listening to god yeah in the divine conspiracy one of the phrases that you write about that is a lot discussed in churches [00:21:36]
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