Game of Thrones | As it is in Heaven

The pursuit of “more” is a universal human experience. Whether it’s career, comfort, control, or affirmation, we all have thrones in our hearts that we chase, believing that if we could just sit there, everything would fall into place. Yet, the true fulfillment we seek is not found in these pursuits, but in surrendering the throne of our lives to Jesus. The story of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4) reveals that even the Son of God was offered shortcuts to power, comfort, and validation, but he resisted by anchoring himself in the truth of God’s Word and the affirmation of his Father.

It’s easy to settle for a version of faith that looks good on the outside—attending church, knowing the right words, and feeling inspired—while still holding tightly to control over our own lives. But Jesus calls us to more than just belonging or believing; he calls us to become, to be transformed by daily surrender. The process Jesus modeled—belief, repentance, baptism, and submission—shows us how to experience heaven on earth, even when we’re walking through our own wilderness.

Belief is more than mental assent; it’s trusting God’s Word above our feelings and circumstances. Repentance is not just feeling bad about our actions, but realigning our lives with God’s will, letting our beliefs shape our behaviors. Baptism is the outward sign of an inward transformation, a declaration that our old life is buried and we are raised to new life in Christ. Submission is the daily, sometimes difficult, act of surrendering the throne of our hearts to Jesus, trusting that his plan is better than our own.

The enemy’s greatest tactic is to make us question our identity and God’s love, tempting us to settle for less than what God has for us. But before Jesus was tempted, he was affirmed: “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.” When we live from that place of affirmation, we can resist the lies that tell us we need to prove ourselves or chase after lesser thrones. True intimacy with God is found not in striving, but in surrender—allowing him to heal, affirm, and lead us into the fullness of life he promises.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The thrones we chase—whether power, comfort, or affirmation—often cost us more than they’re worth. True fulfillment is found not in gaining more, but in learning to lose: surrendering our desires and control to Jesus, who alone is worthy to reign in our hearts. [07:13]
• 2. Belief is the foundation of transformation. God is more interested in changing how we believe than simply modifying our behavior. When we anchor ourselves in the truth of Scripture, we are equipped to discern the enemy’s lies and stand firm in our identity as God’s beloved children. [30:28]
• 3. Repentance is not about guilt, but about realignment. It’s the ongoing process of turning from anything that hurts God’s heart—even things that feel natural or culturally acceptable—and choosing to let our beliefs, not our feelings, guide our actions. [31:49]
• 4. Baptism is a declaration of new identity, not a reward for good behavior. We don’t wait until we have it all together to be baptized; rather, we step into the waters as an act of faith, trusting that God’s grace is sufficient to make us new and empower us to live differently. [33:37]
• 5. Daily submission is essential for experiencing heaven on earth. Surrendering the throne of our lives is not a one-time event, but a continual choice to let Jesus lead. When we live from the affirmation of the Father, we are free from striving and able to resist the temptation to settle for less than God’s best. [36:43]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:31] - Christ Ambassadors: Our True Identity
• [01:11] - The Importance of God’s Word
• [03:08] - Experiencing God Beyond Sunday
• [05:16] - Game of Thrones: The Battle for Our Hearts
• [07:13] - The Secret to Winning: Learning to Lose
• [09:17] - Belong, Believe, Become
• [11:09] - Settling for Less: The Danger of Surface Faith
• [13:06] - What Are You Living Off Of?
• [15:42] - Testing God: The Subtlety of Compromise
• [17:36] - Purity and Proximity to the Father
• [20:43] - The Devil’s Real Temptation: Displacement of Worship
• [23:30] - Before the Wilderness: The Power of Affirmation
• [27:17] - Four Principles for Experiencing Heaven on Earth
• [29:50] - Belief, Repentance, Baptism, Submission
• [36:43] - Intimacy with the Father: Living from Affirmation
• [39:14] - Who Do You Depend On?
• [40:26] - Responding to God’s Invitation
• [41:36] - Next Steps and Closing

Bible Reading

Matthew 4:1-11 (ESV) — > Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
> Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
> Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’”
> Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.

Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV) — > Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

Observation Questions

1. In Matthew 4, what specific temptations did Jesus face in the wilderness, and how did he respond to each one?
2. According to the sermon, what are some modern “thrones” people chase after, and what do they hope to gain by sitting on them? [[06:35]]
3. Before Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, what significant event happened in Matthew 3, and what did the voice from heaven say? [[25:24]]
4. What process did Jesus model for us in his journey from baptism to temptation, as described in the sermon? [[29:50]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think the enemy targeted Jesus’ identity and relationship with the Father during the temptations? How does this relate to the way we are tempted today? [[25:24]]
2. The sermon says, “The secret to winning in the kingdom of heaven is learning how to love losing.” What does it mean to “lose” in this context, and why is it necessary for following Jesus? [[07:13]]
3. How does the affirmation Jesus received at his baptism prepare him for the challenges in the wilderness? What does this suggest about the importance of knowing our identity in Christ? [[25:24]]
4. The sermon describes repentance as “realignment” rather than just feeling guilty. How does this understanding of repentance change the way someone might approach their struggles or failures? [[31:49]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon asks, “What throne am I chasing?” Take a moment to honestly identify one area in your life where you are seeking control, comfort, or affirmation. How is this pursuit affecting your relationship with God and others? [[08:34]]
2. Jesus responded to temptation by quoting Scripture. What is one practical way you can anchor yourself in God’s Word this week when you face challenges or doubts? [[13:45]]
3. The process Jesus modeled was belief, repentance, baptism, and submission. Which of these steps do you find most challenging right now, and why? What would it look like to take a next step in that area? [[29:50]]
4. The sermon says, “It’s easy to settle for a version of faith that looks good on the outside… while still holding tightly to control over our own lives.” In what ways have you experienced or observed “surface faith”? What would it look like to move from surface faith to daily surrender? [[11:09]]
5. Repentance is described as “realigning our lives with God’s will.” Is there a specific area where you sense God inviting you to realign? What is one step you can take this week to let your beliefs shape your actions, rather than your feelings? [[31:49]]
6. Baptism is called a “declaration of new identity, not a reward for good behavior.” If you have been baptized, how does this truth encourage you? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about taking this step? [[33:37]]
7. The sermon emphasizes living from the affirmation of the Father rather than striving for approval. What is one way you can remind yourself of your identity as God’s beloved child when you feel pressure to prove yourself? [[36:43]]