Kingdom People Know God’s Agenda

Kingdom people know God’s agenda, and God’s agenda can be very different from what fills the news. The difference between football being treated as big news and God’s kingdom being barely mentioned shows that the world does not always value what God values. Revelation 6:2 presents Jesus on the white horse, going out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 19 confirms that this rider is Jesus, faithful and true, building his kingdom and reigning in righteousness.

The kingdom of God is always growing, even when that growth is not being reported. Baptisms in the sea, a young person strengthening a Christian group at school, a welcoming face at church, outreach on Normandon Road, or a coffee morning for neighbours can all become ways God builds his kingdom. The kingdom calls each person to ask whether King Jesus truly reigns over every area of life. A kingdom has a King, and no part of life can rightly be held back from him.

Revelation 7 gives the end point: a great multitude that no one can number from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue standing before the throne. God’s agenda includes gathering that multitude, and kingdom people should care about what helps bring people to Jesus. None can do everything, but all can do something to help build the kingdom.

Revelation 6:9-11 also brings the cry of the martyrs before God. The persecuted church may hardly appear in the news, but the suffering of believers is very important to God. The souls under the altar show that God sees their faithfulness, hears their cry, and knows the full number of those who will suffer for the word of God and their testimony. The church should learn about persecuted Christians, pray for them, and help children understand both the freedoms they enjoy and the cost others pay.

Revelation 6:12-17 shows changes in the environment and fear spreading through every level of society. Kings, rich men, commanders, slaves, and free people all hide from the wrath of the Lamb. God has told his people these things in advance, not so that they will live in fear, but so that they will trust him. God can use Christians who are steady in him to help frightened neighbours, friends, and colleagues.

Proverbs 31:8 places the speechless on God’s agenda. The unborn, children, people with disabilities, people with dementia, and those near the end of life need others to speak up for them. God’s mercy in the assisted dying vote gives cause for thankfulness, prayer, and continued care for those who cannot easily speak for themselves. Jesus remains King, his kingdom continues to advance, and his people are called to know what matters to him.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. King Jesus reigns over every area Jesus does not merely ask for a place within a person’s life. A king reigns, and his reign reaches every area that might otherwise be held back. Submission to Christ is not loss for its own sake, but coming under the good rule of the One who is faithful and true. [37:15]
• 2. God’s kingdom keeps moving forward The white horse gives a picture of Jesus going out conquering and to conquer. Kingdom building can look ordinary, such as welcoming a visitor, joining a school Christian group, praying with someone, or building friendship with neighbours. Small acts of faithful service matter because God uses them to gather people into his kingdom. [38:35]
• 3. The persecuted church matters deeply to God The cry of the martyrs rises before God’s altar, showing that their suffering is neither hidden nor forgotten. Their witness exposes the cost of holding fast to the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. Prayer for persecuted believers joins concern for God’s agenda with confidence that he sees every faithful life. [41:20]
• 4. Fear must give way to trust The shaking described in Revelation produces fear among every kind of person, regardless of status or power. God gives advance warning so that his people can place their confidence in him rather than in circumstances. Steady trust in God can become a place of help for people frightened by the future. [45:11]
• 5. God hears those without a voice Proverbs calls God’s people to open their mouths for those who cannot speak for themselves. The unborn, the disabled, those with dementia, and those near death are not burdens outside God’s concern. God’s mercy calls for gratitude, but also for continued courage to defend the dignity of vulnerable lives.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:05] - Kingdom People Know God’s Agenda
• [34:43] - Jesus on the White Horse
• [36:41] - Is the Kingdom Important to Life?
• [37:38] - Building the Kingdom in Everyday Places
• [40:54] - The Cry of the Martyrs
• [43:39] - Environmental Change and Fear
• [45:57] - Speaking for the Speechless
• [47:37] - Coming Under King Jesus
• [48:36] - Prayer for the Persecuted Church

Bible Reading

Revelation 6:2
“And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.” [34:49]

Revelation 6:9-11
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, ‘O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.” [41:15]

Proverbs 31:8
“Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.” [46:18]

Observation questions

1. What is given to the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6:2, and what is he shown doing?
2. In Revelation 6:9-11, why had the souls under the altar been killed, and what question do they cry out to God?
3. What two responses does God give to the martyrs: what does he give them, and what does he tell them to do?
4. What everyday examples of kingdom-building were given, from school Christian groups to welcoming people at church, outreach, and friendship with neighbours? [37:56]

Interpretation questions

1. If Jesus is the King who goes out “conquering, and to conquer,” what does it mean for his kingdom to keep advancing even when it receives little attention in the news? [35:37]
2. Revelation 6 shows that the martyrs’ suffering is seen by God and their cry is heard by him. How does this help Christians understand persecution that may otherwise feel distant or forgotten? [42:02]
3. Why might God tell his people beforehand about frightening events and widespread fear, rather than leaving them unaware? How can this lead to trust rather than panic? [45:17]
4. Proverbs 31:8 calls God’s people to speak for those who cannot easily speak for themselves. What does this reveal about God’s concern for the unborn, children, disabled people, those with dementia, and people near the end of life? [46:25]

Application questions

1. Jesus is King, not merely an addition to life. Is there an area of life—such as relationships, work, money, habits, ambitions, or private choices—that is difficult to place under his rule? What would trusting his good rule look like there? [37:15]
2. None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something to help build God’s kingdom. What is one realistic way each person could strengthen Christian witness this month—through serving, hospitality, prayer, friendship, or speaking about Jesus? [40:43]
3. Think of a person who may be new to church, isolated, or uncertain about faith. How could a simple welcome, invitation, coffee, or conversation help create a space where they can encounter Jesus? [39:01]
4. How regularly does the persecuted church feature in personal or group prayer? What practical step could help the group learn about and pray more specifically for believers who suffer for the word of God and their testimony? [42:31]
5. When troubling news, environmental change, or uncertainty about the future causes fear, what helps a person move from anxiety to confidence in God? How could the group become a steady and reassuring presence for frightened friends, neighbours, or colleagues? [45:28]
6. Who are the people in the local community whose voices may be overlooked or unheard? What thoughtful, compassionate ways could group members speak up for their dignity and offer practical care? [46:33]