Invoking God's Kingdom: A Call to Spiritual Warfare
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound significance of the prayer Jesus taught us, focusing on the phrases "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." This prayer is not merely a request but a powerful declaration and proclamation of God's authority over all realms of life. We delved into the understanding that when we pray for God's kingdom to come, we are invoking His power to overthrow the spiritual forces of evil that exist in our world. This is a call to spiritual warfare, a battle against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world, as described in Ephesians 6.
We acknowledged that while Jesus is the ultimate ruler, there are still areas in our world and lives where the enemy holds sway. Our prayer is a declaration of war against these forces, inviting God's kingdom to invade and transform these spaces. This is not a passive request but an active stance, drawing a line in the sand and proclaiming, "Come, kingdom of God."
Furthermore, we discussed the importance of aligning our will with God's will. This involves a daily surrender and consecration, a willingness to lay down our desires and align our lives with His divine purpose. It is a call to personal transformation, inviting God's righteousness, peace, and joy into our lives and the lives of those around us.
We also touched on the reality of spiritual warfare in our everyday lives, recognizing that the enemy seeks to deceive and lead us away from God's truth. However, we are reminded that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. By invoking the kingdom of God, we push back the darkness and invite His light and truth to reign.
As we continue to pray "Your kingdom come, Your will be done," let us do so with the authority and confidence that comes from being children of God, knowing that our prayers have the power to transform our hearts, homes, and communities.
Key Takeaways:
1. Proclaiming God's Kingdom: Praying "Your kingdom come" is a powerful declaration of God's authority over all realms of life. It is a call to spiritual warfare, inviting God's power to overthrow the spiritual forces of evil that exist in our world. This prayer is not passive but an active stance against darkness. [08:33]
2. Aligning with God's Will: "Your will be done" is a call to personal surrender and consecration. It involves laying down our desires and aligning our lives with God's divine purpose. This daily surrender invites transformation and aligns us with His righteousness, peace, and joy. [28:53]
3. Understanding Spiritual Warfare: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. Recognizing this reality helps us engage in prayer with authority, knowing that our prayers have the power to push back darkness and invite God's light and truth to reign. [16:55]
4. Invoking God's Righteousness, Peace, and Joy: When we pray for God's kingdom to come, we are inviting His righteousness, peace, and joy into our lives and the lives of those around us. This prayer transforms our hearts and communities, bringing divine order and wholeness. [19:28]
5. The Power of Surrender: Surrendering to God's will is a powerful posture that the enemy hates. It involves trusting God with every aspect of our lives and inviting His rule and reign over our circumstances. This surrender leads to spiritual victory and alignment with His purposes. [30:58]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[01:56] - Invitation to GCU Chapel
[03:57] - Series on One Name
[07:12] - The Significance of "Your Kingdom Come"
[08:33] - Proclaiming God's Kingdom
[10:09] - Understanding Kingdoms and Authority
[11:28] - Jesus' Temptation and Kingdoms of the World
[12:16] - Spiritual Warfare and Authority
[13:29] - Discernment in Prayer
[14:20] - The Enemy's Deception
[16:55] - Engaging in Spiritual Warfare
[17:57] - Invoking God's Righteousness, Peace, and Joy
[19:28] - The Kingdom of God in Our Lives
[25:45] - Declaring God's Rule Over Our Lives
[28:53] - Aligning with God's Will
[30:58] - The Power of Surrender
[32:39] - Jesus' Prayer in Gethsemane
[33:23] - Offering Ourselves as Living Sacrifices
[35:48] - Awakening and Spiritual Hunger
[40:33] - Prayer and Proclamation
[44:09] - Invoking the Kingdom in Prayer
[45:42] - Aligning Our Will with God's
[46:51] - Closing and Invitation to Baptism
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
2. Romans 14:17 - "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."
3. Luke 4:5-7 - "The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, 'I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.'"
Observation Questions:
1. What does Ephesians 6:12 reveal about the nature of our spiritual struggle? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on spiritual warfare? [16:55]
2. According to Romans 14:17, what are the key components of the kingdom of God? How were these components discussed in the sermon? [19:28]
3. In Luke 4:5-7, what does the devil offer Jesus, and what does this reveal about the nature of worldly kingdoms? How does this relate to the sermon’s discussion on authority and kingdoms? [11:28]
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the understanding of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:12 change the way believers should approach prayer, as discussed in the sermon? [16:55]
2. Romans 14:17 describes the kingdom of God as righteousness, peace, and joy. How can these attributes be seen as transformative in a believer’s life and community? [19:28]
3. In the context of Luke 4:5-7, what does the devil’s offer to Jesus teach us about the nature of temptation and authority? How does this relate to the sermon’s call to proclaim God’s kingdom? [11:28]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a specific area in your life where you feel the presence of spiritual warfare. How can you actively proclaim God’s kingdom in that area this week? [08:33]
2. Consider a personal desire or goal that may not align with God’s will. What steps can you take to surrender this to God and seek His will instead? [28:53]
3. Identify a situation in your community where you can invite God’s righteousness, peace, and joy. What practical actions can you take to be a vessel of these attributes? [19:28]
4. How can you cultivate a daily practice of aligning your will with God’s will? What specific habits or routines can support this alignment? [30:58]
5. Think of a time when you felt deceived or led away from God’s truth. How can you use prayer to combat deception and invite God’s light into your life? [14:20]
6. In what ways can you involve others in your spiritual journey to help discern God’s will and proclaim His kingdom? Consider reaching out to a trusted friend or mentor for support. [35:48]
7. Reflect on a recent challenge or conflict. How can you apply the principles of spiritual warfare and kingdom proclamation to address this issue with faith and confidence? [16:55]
Devotional
Day 1: Declaring God's Authority Over All Realms
Praying "Your kingdom come" is a profound declaration of God's authority over every aspect of life. This prayer is not a passive request but an active stance against the darkness that pervades our world. By invoking God's kingdom, we are calling upon His power to overthrow the spiritual forces of evil that exist around us. This is a call to spiritual warfare, a battle against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world, as described in Ephesians 6. It is a bold proclamation that invites God's kingdom to invade and transform the spaces where the enemy holds sway. [08:33]
Psalm 103:19-20 (ESV): "The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!"
Reflection: In what specific area of your life do you need to declare God's authority today? How can you actively invite His kingdom to transform that space?
Day 2: Surrendering to God's Divine Purpose
"Your will be done" is a call to personal surrender and consecration. It involves laying down our desires and aligning our lives with God's divine purpose. This daily surrender invites transformation and aligns us with His righteousness, peace, and joy. By choosing to align our will with God's, we open ourselves to personal transformation and the fulfillment of His divine purpose in our lives. This act of surrender is not a one-time event but a daily commitment to live in accordance with His will. [28:53]
Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV): "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."
Reflection: What is one desire or plan you need to surrender to God today? How can you practically align your actions with His divine purpose?
Day 3: Engaging in Spiritual Warfare with Authority
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against spiritual forces of evil. Recognizing this reality helps us engage in prayer with authority, knowing that our prayers have the power to push back darkness and invite God's light and truth to reign. By understanding the nature of spiritual warfare, we can approach prayer with confidence, knowing that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. This awareness empowers us to stand firm against the enemy's deception and to proclaim God's truth in every situation. [16:55]
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV): "For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds."
Reflection: Identify a specific area where you feel spiritual opposition. How can you use prayer as a weapon to push back the darkness in that area today?
Day 4: Inviting God's Righteousness, Peace, and Joy
When we pray for God's kingdom to come, we are inviting His righteousness, peace, and joy into our lives and the lives of those around us. This prayer transforms our hearts and communities, bringing divine order and wholeness. By seeking God's kingdom, we invite His presence to reign in our lives, bringing about a transformation that reflects His character and values. This invitation is not just for personal benefit but for the collective well-being of our communities, as we become conduits of His righteousness, peace, and joy. [19:28]
Romans 14:17 (ESV): "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit."
Reflection: How can you actively invite God's righteousness, peace, and joy into a specific relationship or situation today?
Day 5: The Power of Surrender in Spiritual Victory
Surrendering to God's will is a powerful posture that the enemy hates. It involves trusting God with every aspect of our lives and inviting His rule and reign over our circumstances. This surrender leads to spiritual victory and alignment with His purposes. By choosing to trust God completely, we position ourselves to experience His power and presence in our lives. This act of surrender is not a sign of weakness but a demonstration of faith in His sovereignty and goodness. [30:58]
James 4:7-8 (ESV): "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."
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?
Quotes
This is a proclamation, declaration, you are invoking the kingdom of heaven in. This is war language. This is not polite. It is war. And so as a result of this, it does unlock and open up a bunch of stuff, which I think for many of us, we go, oh yeah, you know, your kingdom come, your will be done, God, that's it. You can't just say it one liner. You've got to declare it, proclaim it, and there's things you may have to specifically invoke the kingdom of God into. [00:08:21] (37 seconds)
When we pray your kingdom come, we're asking for your kingdom God to come and to overthrow these rulers and powers and authorities, the spiritual forces of evil. That's what we are asking for. Now, this doesn't just break down to something kind of out there. It's very real in your everyday lives, in your homes, in your markets, in your market places. It's real. [00:17:26] (30 seconds)
And we can have a spiritual discernment to pray. We don't have to get scared because he that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. But there are spiritual forces that we need to invoke the kingdom of heaven over into and push back that darkness. Really important. So when we're invoking the kingdom of heaven, what are we asking for? Like your kingdom come. What does that mean? [00:17:57] (28 seconds)
It is really important that you pray this way really important you approach him as father you Hallow his name and you invoke the kingdom of heaven and all of its beauty over that. And you make a declaration, a proclamation, an announcement to darkness that the kingdom of heaven has rule and authority over my life. Be gone, Satan. The kingdom of heaven has rule and reign over this home that I live in right now. [00:24:56] (42 seconds)
And if any other power or spiritual force is having dominion over this area, I declare in the name of Jesus, come kingdom of God, be done will of God in this specific area. And you keep praying. And as you pray, you lift up your eyes. Listen, and you may need to fight because there'll be some spiritual forces that have had a hold of it for a long time and won't just let go easily. [00:30:58] (27 seconds)
So when we're praying that way, your will be done, this is about the kingdom and eternity situations. And so we have that, wow, and talk about a war going on at that time. Let's pray. Romans 12, therefore, in view of God's mercy, offer yourselves as living sacrifices. Even though some scriptures offer your bodies as living sacrifices, that sounds comfortable, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. [00:33:43] (37 seconds)
Alignment, your will be done, proclaiming, come kingdom of God. Aligning and proclaiming. So when we pray, our Father in heaven, intimacy, I'm a child of God. He is good and perfect and all loving and all gracious and all forgiving and full of compassion. No condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Hallowed be your name. You respond to that and then align the areas of your life to his rule and reign. [00:34:50] (29 seconds)
And then from that, just to remind, you are bringing everything under the rule and reign of King Jesus and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. That's what you're doing, okay? That's the posture here we're going towards. And then when I'm done and I say amen, in the final song, one song today, prayer partners will come out. Some of you, oh, there is something not right. Chaos, dysfunction, disorder, something's just not right. [00:40:19] (32 seconds)
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