Living a Kingdom-Focused Life Through the Holy Spirit
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded of the importance of living a kingdom-focused life, as Jesus intended for us. The kingdom of God is described as the infrastructure that governs our world, both now and forever. It is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and when we operate within this infrastructure, we are operating within the kingdom of God. This kingdom is not a rules-based activity, but a spiritual reality. It is a path that Jesus has cut for us, from where we are to where the Father is, and we are given permission to walk it.
The sermon also emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding us towards the kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our righteous nature and directs us away from the world for the sake of the kingdom. It is through the Holy Spirit that God reveals His characteristics to us personally, and our kingdom expression is to express these characteristics to the rest of the world. The Holy Spirit shapes us into the unique shape that we need to be to fit into the puzzle of God's kingdom.
Key Takeaways:
- The kingdom of God is a spiritual reality, not a rules-based activity. It is the infrastructure that governs our world, both now and forever. (#!!32:43!!#)
- The Holy Spirit convicts us of our righteous nature and directs us away from the world for the sake of the kingdom. (#!!33:47!!#)
- Our kingdom expression is to express God's characteristics, which have been revealed to us personally by the Holy Spirit, to the rest of the world. (#!!27:06!!#)
- We must allow the Holy Spirit to shape us into the unique shape that we need to be to fit into the puzzle of God's kingdom. (#!!30:23!!#)
- We must resist the temptation to make our own way and instead follow the path that Jesus has cut for us, from where we are to where the Father is. (#!!22:01!!#)
Study Guide
Main Points from the Sermon:
1. The Kingdom of God is the infrastructure that governs our world, both now and forever. When we operate within this infrastructure, we are operating within the Kingdom of God. This infrastructure runs from our salvation to our eternity, and while we are in it, Satan is defeated. We don't have to attack him; we just have to obey the Father and we are defeating Satan. ( [[00:56]])
2. The Kingdom of God is a spiritual reality, not a rules-based activity. It's about understanding and living in the righteousness and holiness that Jesus has given us. We need to develop practices that help us hear God's voice and allow us to be real. ( [[31:18]])
3. We need to have real, heart-to-heart conversations with God. These conversations can turn our weaknesses into victories. We should not impose our plans on God, but rather seek His will. ( [[35:57]])
4. We should not only surrender to God when we are desperate. We should find time to worship God when we are not desperate for anything. This is part of living in the Kingdom of God. ( [[40:09]])
5. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus is crucial in navigating the Kingdom of God. Even if we veer off course, as long as our eyes are fixed on Jesus, we are never truly off course. ( [[09:38]])
Bible Chapters for the Group to Read:
1. Matthew 6:33-34
2. Hebrews 12:1-2
3. Romans 12:1-2
4. John 15:1-17
Discussion Guide:
Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean to operate within the Kingdom of God according to the sermon? (Point 1)
2. How does the speaker describe the Kingdom of God in relation to our spiritual reality? (Point 2)
3. What does the speaker suggest about our relationship with God and how we should communicate with Him? (Point 3)
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Matthew 6:33-34 relate to the main points of the sermon?
2. How does the concept of keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus (Point 5) relate to Hebrews 12:1-2?
3. How can we apply the idea of not only surrendering to God when we are desperate (Point 4) in our daily lives?
Application Questions:
1. How can you develop practices that help you hear God's voice in your life? (Point 2)
2. How can you have more real, heart-to-heart conversations with God? (Point 3)
3. How can you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus in your daily life? (Point 5)
Devotional
Day 1: The Kingdom is a Spiritual Reality
The Kingdom of God is not a rules-based activity but a spiritual reality. It is the infrastructure that governs our world, both now and forever. When we operate within this infrastructure, we are operating within the Kingdom of God. This infrastructure runs from our salvation to our eternity, and while we are in it, Satan is defeated. [31:18]
Bible passage: 1 Corinthians 4:20 - "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
Reflection: Reflect on how you can better align your daily actions and decisions with the spiritual reality of God's Kingdom.
Day 2: Silence the Voices
In our journey towards righteousness and holiness, we must learn to silence the voices in our heads that go against the characteristics of God. These voices often lead us astray and away from the path of righteousness. We must learn to shut them up and listen to God's voice instead. [33:47]
Bible passage: 1 Kings 19:12 - "After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."
Reflection: What voices in your head are leading you away from God's path? How can you silence them and listen more to God's voice?
Day 3: Have Real Conversations with God
Having real, heart-to-heart conversations with God is crucial in our spiritual journey. These conversations allow us to be real with God, to express our fears, insecurities, and weaknesses, and to hear His guidance and reassurances. [35:57]
Bible passage: Jeremiah 29:12 - "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."
Reflection: When was the last time you had a real, heart-to-heart conversation with God? What did you learn from it?
Day 4: Seek Righteousness and Holiness
Our ultimate goal should be to seek righteousness and holiness, to step into the personal space of the Father. This is why Jesus made us holy and righteous. We should not be distracted by worldly worries or desires, but keep our eyes on this ultimate goal. [15:08]
Bible passage: Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: How are you seeking righteousness and holiness in your daily life? What distractions are you facing and how can you overcome them?
Day 5: Worship God in Good Times and Bad
We often turn to God in times of desperation, but we should also find time to worship Him when we are not desperate for anything. This act of worship, regardless of our circumstances, is a testament to our faith and trust in God. [40:09]
Bible passage: Psalm 34:1 - "I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Reflection: How can you incorporate worship into your daily routine, regardless of your circumstances?
Quotes
1. "Whatever I have got, I would rather give away, I would even give it away if it promotes the kingdom. Whatever I must do, I must do to promote the kingdom." - David Livingston, 0:00
2. "The infrastructure of God runs ahead of us and behind us. The infrastructure of God doesn't crack, it doesn't blow away, blow up, it cannot be mis-shaven, it cannot be changed, it's the infrastructure of God. It's running from your salvation to your eternity." - 31:02
3. "The highest expression of selflessness is whatever values someone else. Whatever you can do to make somebody else feel valued is the highest expression of selflessness." - 40:32
4. "Refuse to worry about tomorrow. Why would I worry about tomorrow if I'm in the presence of the all providing king and his kingdom?" - 14:19
5. "God has not given you a spurred of fear but of love, power and a sound mind, a course of righteousness and a destination of eternity in the presence of the most high God who conquered Satan before we were even born." - 14:19
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