The Kingdom of God Is Relationships and Stewardship

Aug 23, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Kingdom Lives in Shared Moments, Not Buildings

The kingdom of God thrives in unseen connections between believers, not brick walls or bank accounts. It’s the handshake after service, the prayer whispered over coffee, the quiet encouragement that outlasts Sunday mornings. Jesus prioritized people over places, declaring His kingdom lives within hearts, not behind stained glass. This truth frees believers to carry His presence into backyards, workplaces, and even persecution-heavy nations where faith grows fastest. The kingdom expands through love made tangible, not budgets or blueprints. [46:15]

“The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (Luke 17:20-21, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you limited “kingdom work” to church activities? How might you nurture one intentional relationship this week to reflect God’s invisible kingdom?

Day 2: Your Lawnmower is a Testimony of Stewardship

God entrusts His children with resources not for hoarding but for faithful management. A 17-year-old tractor, a well-kept home, or even a smile become testimonies when treated as gifts from a generous Father. Stewardship isn’t about scarcity but recognizing everything belongs to God—cars, careers, even crises. When believers care for what they’ve been given, they prove trustworthy for greater kingdom assignments. Neglect breeds distrust; diligence invites abundance. [01:20:21]

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:21, ESV)

Reflection: What item, relationship, or responsibility have you treated as “yours” rather than God’s? How can you honor Him through it today?

Day 3: Principalities Fear United Prayer, Not Politics

Spiritual forces cling to geographic boundaries, but the kingdom advances through persistent prayer. Daniel’s 21-day fast moved heaven’s armies to break the prince of Persia’s grip. Today’s battles—whether in Ukraine, Sudan, or your neighborhood—require believers to pray until strongholds crack. Territorial spirits lose power when saints refuse to quit, trusting angelic reinforcements are already en route. Victory starts on knees, not newsfeeds. [57:39]

“Then he said to me, ‘Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me.’” (Daniel 10:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: What situation feels “stuck” in your life or community? How might persistent prayer shift the spiritual territory?

Day 4: Gold Streets Remind Us Souls Are Heaven’s Currency

Heaven’s pavement glows with gold men kill to own, proving earthly treasures lose value at death’s door. The rich man’s pockets full of gold became heaven’s sidewalk, while souls he ignored rejoiced in glory. Every conversation, every act of love, every shared truth stores eternal wealth. The kingdom grows when believers invest in people, not portfolios, knowing only redeemed souls cross into eternity. [01:31:11]

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21, ESV)

Reflection: What earthly treasure distracts you from eternal investments? Who needs your time or resources more than your comfort?

Day 5: “Mine” is a Battle Cry, Not a Kingdom Cry

Territorialism—clinging to pews, pride, or possessions—fuels hell’s agenda, not heaven’s. Jesus told the rich young ruler to release his “mine” mentality, but he chose sorrow over surrender. Believers combat this by dropping keys in offering plates, loaning tools freely, and celebrating others’ successes. True freedom comes when “mine” becomes “Thine,” trusting the King who owns all cattle on a thousand hills. [01:16:35]

“And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:21-22, ESV)

Reflection: What possession, title, or tradition do you grip too tightly? What step can you take to release it as an act of trust?

Sermon Summary

The call to maturity starts with Paul pressing toward the mark and refusing to act like he has already arrived. The church cannot sit back with an “I’ve been there, done that, got the t shirt” spirit, because doing good is not the same thing as being Jesus. The kingdom of God demands a fresh appetite to grow in grace and knowledge, because complacency keeps people stuck on the elementary level.

The kingdom of God is relationships. The kingdom cannot be measured by annual income, buildings, stained glass, or any kind of “edifice complex.” God is moving in places where there are no big buildings and no religious freedom, and Jesus is saving people in China, Iran, and other places where the body of Christ is oppressed but alive. The kingdom grows through invisible ties between people who gather in the name of the Lord.

Luke 17 says the kingdom does not come with observation, because “the kingdom of God is within you.” Matthew 16 says Christ builds His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. God builds through redemptive relationships, while the enemy obsesses over physical territory, boundaries, and control. Territorialism says, “my area, my pew, my microphone, my stuff,” but the kingdom says the earth is the Lord’s and everything belongs to Him.

The spirit of territorialism is exposed as demonic, because wars, religious control, racism, and strongholds all work by invisible lines and claims of ownership. Daniel’s twenty one days of prayer show that answers can be delayed by warfare in heavenly places, but God hears the first time. The world is conquered but still occupied, because Jesus has already taken the keys of death, hell, and the grave, yet the church still wrestles against principalities.

The kingdom shifts the focus from land to the heart. The old covenant had physical ground, but the new covenant fills people with the glory of God. The building deserves honor as a place of worship, but the building is not the church. The worship comes from hearts, not carpet, stairs, platforms, or microphones.

Stewardship replaces ownership. “Mine” is the spirit of this world, but maturity says everything belongs to God and each person is a manager. Faithfulness over a few things opens the way for God to trust a believer with more. Heaven does not value gold in the pocket, because heaven uses gold for pavement. Heaven values souls, and the kingdom is built as brothers and sisters love one another, reach the missing, welcome the stranger, and keep an up to date personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways

1. The kingdom lives between people The kingdom of God is not first seen in a building, a program, or a religious label. The kingdom shows up in the invisible bond between people who gather in Jesus’ name and love one another as brothers and sisters. A church can have no cathedral and still be full of heaven if Christ is alive in the relationships. [46:15]
2. Territorialism fights against the kingdom Territorialism draws lines and then defends them like they belong to man. The kingdom breaks that spirit because the earth is the Lord’s, and every soul is more important than somebody’s “area.” A believer who still says “mine” too easily may be carrying the very spirit Christ came to overthrow. [56:52]
3. Stewardship replaces the word mine The cry of “mine” sounds childish, but it also reveals the spirit of this world. The kingdom teaches that possessions are entrusted, not owned, and that carelessness with little things is not spiritual humility. Faithfulness looks like taking care of what God gave, holding it loosely, and releasing it when God asks. [76:14]
4. Prayer may outlast unseen warfare Daniel’s delay did not mean God was silent or absent. God heard the first prayer, but warfare in heavenly places had to be pressed through before the answer arrived. A mature believer does not quit praying just because the answer has not broken through yet. [59:31]
5. Heaven treasures souls, not gold Gold impresses earth, but heaven paves streets with it. The only treasure that can be sent ahead is a soul touched by the gospel and brought into the kingdom. Relationships become holy commerce when love, witness, and brotherhood become the way heaven gains what heaven values.

## [90:42]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[44:32] - Pressing Past Complacency
[46:15] - The Kingdom Is Relationships
[47:42] - Revival Without Buildings
[52:23] - The Kingdom Within You
[53:13] - God Builds Redemptive Ties
[56:52] - Binding Territorial Spirits
[59:31] - Praying Through Heavenly Warfare
[62:29] - Jesus Reclaimed The Keys
[65:02] - Citizens Of Heaven
[69:11] - The Church Is Not The Building
[76:14] - Mine Versus Stewardship
[83:37] - Faithful Over A Few Things
[90:42] - Heaven Values Souls
[97:08] - Born Again Into The Kingdom

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Luke 17:20-21
“Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, 'The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, "Look, here it is!" or "There!" for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.'” [52:23]

Matthew 16:18
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” [52:51]

Daniel 10:12-13
“Then he said to me, 'Fear not, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand and humbled yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words. The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days, but Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I was left there with the kings of Persia.'” [59:31]

Matthew 25:21
“His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'” [01:19:01]

Observation questions

In Luke 17, what does Jesus say about how the kingdom comes, and where does He say the kingdom of God is found? [52:23]
What contrast is made between God building His church and the enemy fixating on territories, boundaries, and control? [53:13]
In Daniel 10, what happened between Daniel’s first prayer and the arrival of the answer twenty-one days later?
What are some examples of “mine” thinking that show up in church life and everyday life? [01:16:14]

Interpretation questions

If the kingdom of God is “in the midst of” God’s people and not mainly something observable, what does that suggest about how a church should measure health and growth? [46:15]
Jesus says He will build His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. How does that shape the way believers should think about spiritual resistance, fear, and mission? [52:51]
Daniel was heard on the first day, even though the answer was delayed. What does that reveal about delayed answers to prayer, and how might that keep a believer from giving up too soon? [59:31]
If everything belongs to God and believers are stewards rather than owners, how should that change the way a person thinks about money, property, time, and even ministry roles? [01:20:21]

Application questions

Where has complacency started to creep into spiritual life? Has there been any area where the heart has quietly said, “I already know this,” instead of pressing forward in Christ? [44:32]
Territorial thinking can show up in small ways long before it shows up in big ways. Where might “my space,” “my preference,” “my people,” or “my role” be shaping attitudes right now? [56:52]
The kingdom grows through redemptive relationships. Who is one person inside the church and one person outside the church that could be loved more intentionally this week? [01:32:52]
Some prayers need to be prayed through because unseen warfare is real. Is there an area where prayer has grown weak because the answer did not come quickly? What would it look like to start praying steadily again? [59:42]
“Mine” is the spirit of this world, but stewardship is the language of the kingdom. What is one specific thing God has already placed in hand—home, vehicle, money, ability, time, or influence—that needs better care or more faithful use? [01:18:43]
If heaven values souls more than gold, how might that reorder this week’s priorities? What would change if eternal worth mattered more than comfort, appearance, or possessions? [01:30:42]
Everything in the kingdom begins with an up-to-date personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is that relationship fresh right now, or has it grown cold, distant, or routine? What would help bring it back into the center? [01:37:08]

Sermon Clips

58s

#KingdomBeyondBorders

“So in the meantime, we have certain rights and legal authorities that we can take as children of God. And so now the kingdom of God is not about boundaries, and it's not about we're a Christian country or we're a Muslim country. That's not where the battle's fought. The battle is fought in the individual heart of an individual. Anywhere on this planet right now, somebody can call out on the name of Jesus, and it doesn't matter if you're in Baghdad or Boston. The power of God can come in and save you and set you free from your sins, and you have now stepped into the kingdom of heaven. And so we're building something that is not made with hand. We're building something that's not brick or mortar. Ain't mortar. We're we're building something, amen, whose builder and maker is god.”

38s

#PrayItThrough

“Now I tell this to you because first of all, you need to realize that when you pray, don't give up when you pray. God said to Daniel, I heard you the first time you prayed. The problem is we give up before the warfare in the heavenly places has transpired so that the forces of heaven can come into enemy territory that is controlled by the prince of the power of the air and get a message through. So hold on till you break through. That's what we call praying it through.”

46s

#InvestInSouls

“When he said lay your treasures up in heaven, he wasn't talking about dimes and dollars. He's talking about souls. Lay those treasures up in heaven. The only thing you can send to heaven is a soul. Amen. That's what got that's the kingdom. Building those relationships, those invisible ties, that means that we don't just go to the same church. We're not just Pentecostal or Assembly of God or Trinity Life semer members. We are brothers and we are sisters and we are joint heirs with Jesus Christ.”

42s

#StewardNotOwner

“Mine. That is the spirit of this world. Mine. That's the spirit of this world. Mine. It's not yours. It's mine. And we spend our entire life trying to lay claims to things that once you come into the kingdom, you realize everything belongs to God. We're gonna inherit everything. I don't own anything the king does. I'm just a manager. I'm a steward. When you realize that, that I'm God's property, all that weight and all that burden lifts off of you. All that weight is gone.”

42s

#YouAreTheChurch

“see, here's the problem with an edifice complex. And listen. If you were to pull up this carpet, you'd find thousands of scriptures written on every part of this building. We did that. We prayed over this place. Amen. We sanctified this place. We declare this is holy ground because this is where we meet. This is where we worship. We should respect the house of God. Don't misunderstand what I'm saying, but this is not the church. You're the church. The worship doesn't come from the stairs or the platform or the podium. Amen. The worship comes from you. It comes out of your heart. Amen. That's what God seeks. That's what he desires.”

59s

#KingdomWithinYou

“I'm challenging you today to quit looking out here for the kingdom and look here. The kingdom of God is within you. It's within you. it's there every time you see your brother going through something and you go and encourage him. It's there every time you see somebody missing and you don't talk about wonder what their problem is, you go to them. And you try to be that good shepherd and you bring that one back in. Amen. You you build the kingdom not with natural hands. You build the kingdom by building relationships with people inside and outside the church.”

61s

#KeysRestoredInChrist

“But you see what happened is Jesus Christ broke the curse. And so the state of fallen man is in is in this current position where the keys to the kingdom of god have now been reclaimed. What man lost, the bible says what what was lost in the first Adam is gained in the second. The first Adam failed. He fell. He sinned. And all the dominion and authority that he had was lost. But then Jesus Christ came and lived a perfect life. And he died and yet did not deserve the punishment that he received. So now that punishment is held in reserve. And if I call upon the name of Jesus, now my debt can be paid, my punishment is voided. And because of this, he took the keys of death, hell, and the grave and made a show of the devil openly.”

72s

#KnowJesusPersonally

“Yeah. The kingdom of God is relationships, and every bit of it starts with the most important relationship in the world. I have one job as your pastor. One job. This is what me and Mark are here to do, to make sure everybody in this place has an up to date personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That that relationship doesn't get cold, doesn't get stagnant. Praise the Lord that nobody walks away. That's what we're here to do. Do whatever it takes to facilitate you having an up to date and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Because I'm just gonna tell you right now, if you don't know Jesus, you're not in the kingdom. I don't care how long you've been going to church, you're not in the kingdom. Amen. If you haven't asked Jesus to be the savior of your life, you are not in the kingdom. I don't care if you went to church your whole life. I don't care if you grew up Catholic and you've been to mass, and I don't care if you went to this religion or that. It doesn't matter if you don't know Jesus Christ personally. Not know about him, but to know him. You're not in the kingdom. Because there's only one way into this kingdom. You must be born again.”

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