Living a Spirit-Filled Life: Seeking God's Kingdom
Summary
Life in the Spirit is a profound journey that begins with understanding the nature of spirit itself. Spirit is defined as unbodily personal power, and God is the ultimate embodiment of this spirit. God's actions manifest His kingdom, which is the realm where His will is effectively carried out. As followers of Christ, we are invited to live a spiritual life, one that is directed and empowered by the character and presence of Jesus Christ. This life is accessible to anyone who places their trust in Jesus, as He, along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, brings the kingdom of God into our lives.
The essence of living a spiritual life is captured in Matthew 6:33, where Jesus instructs us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. This seeking is not a passive endeavor but an active pursuit, akin to searching for lost keys. It requires us to look for God's action everywhere and make it our primary focus. The kingdom of God is not something we find on our own; rather, it finds us as we seek it earnestly. This pursuit aligns our lives with God's will, allowing us to experience His provision and care in all aspects of life.
The act of seeking reveals our true desires and priorities. It is a reflection of what we truly value and what shapes our lives. God grants us the freedom to choose what we seek, and this choice defines who we are. The kingdom of God is available to all, regardless of status or background, and it is through trusting in Jesus that we enter into this kingdom. This is the essence of the gospel message: the kingdom of God is now accessible to everyone who believes.
To live in the kingdom of God, we must immerse ourselves in His word, as seen in Joshua 1:8. The word of God is not just a set of rules but a living, active force that guides and empowers us. By meditating on and internalizing God's word, we align our actions with His kingdom, leading to prosperity and success in all we do. This spiritual nourishment is essential for living a life that reflects the kingdom of God.
Key Takeaways:
1. Understanding Spirit and God's Kingdom: Spirit is unbodily personal power, and God's kingdom is where His will is done. Living a spiritual life means aligning with God's will through Jesus Christ, who brings the kingdom into our lives. [01:42]
2. Seeking the Kingdom of God: Seeking the kingdom is an active pursuit, requiring us to look for God's action everywhere. This pursuit aligns our lives with God's will, allowing us to experience His provision. [06:32]
3. The Freedom to Choose Our Desires: Our desires reveal our true priorities. God gives us the freedom to choose what we seek, and this choice defines who we are. The kingdom of God is available to all who trust in Jesus. [10:22]
4. The Accessibility of God's Kingdom: The kingdom of God is now accessible to everyone, regardless of status. Trusting in Jesus allows us to enter this kingdom, which is the essence of the gospel message. [16:29]
5. The Power of God's Word: Immersing ourselves in God's word aligns our actions with His kingdom. The word of God is a living force that guides and empowers us, leading to prosperity and success. [19:58]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - Introduction to Life in the Spirit
[01:21] - Defining Spirit and God's Kingdom
[02:23] - Personal Application of God's Kingdom
[03:25] - Living a Spiritual Life
[04:08] - Matthew 6:33: Seeking the Kingdom
[05:27] - The Nature of Seeking
[06:32] - Seeking God in Action
[07:17] - The Lord as Our Shepherd
[08:06] - Facing Life's Demands
[09:11] - The Importance of Seeking
[10:22] - Our Desires and Identity
[11:14] - The Deepest Question of Life
[12:06] - God's Subtle Presence
[13:20] - Jeremiah 29:13: Seeking with All Heart
[14:11] - The Availability of God's Kingdom
[15:46] - Jesus's Gospel and the Kingdom
[17:05] - The Beatitudes and Accessibility
[18:14] - Joshua 1:8 and God's Word
[19:58] - The Power of God's Word
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide: Life in the Spirit
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 6:33 - "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
2. Joshua 1:8 - "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."
3. Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
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### Observation Questions
1. How does the sermon define "spirit," and what is its significance in understanding God's kingdom? [01:21]
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean to "seek" the kingdom of God, and how is this different from simply finding it? [05:27]
3. What role does the Word of God play in living a life aligned with the kingdom of God, as mentioned in the sermon? [19:58]
4. How does the sermon describe the accessibility of God's kingdom to everyone, regardless of their status? [16:29]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. What does it mean for God's kingdom to be "the range of His effective will," and how does this concept affect a believer's daily life? [02:06]
2. How does the act of seeking God's kingdom reveal a person's true desires and priorities, according to the sermon? [09:28]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that God's kingdom is available to everyone, and how does this relate to the essence of the gospel message? [16:29]
4. How does the sermon explain the relationship between meditating on God's Word and experiencing prosperity and success in life? [19:58]
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### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your daily routine. How can you actively seek God's kingdom in your everyday activities, similar to searching for lost keys? [06:03]
2. Consider your current priorities. What do they reveal about your true desires, and how might you realign them to seek God's kingdom first? [09:28]
3. Think about a recent decision you made. How did you involve God's Word in that decision, and how might you improve this practice in the future? [19:58]
4. Identify a situation where you felt God's kingdom was inaccessible to you. How can the sermon’s message about the kingdom's availability change your perspective? [16:29]
5. Choose one aspect of your life where you struggle to see God's action. What steps can you take to seek His presence more earnestly in that area? [06:47]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by life's demands. How can seeking God's kingdom provide peace and direction in such moments? [08:06]
7. How can you incorporate the practice of meditating on God's Word into your daily life to align your actions with His kingdom? [19:58]
Devotional
Day 1: The Nature of Spirit and God's Kingdom
Understanding the nature of spirit is foundational to living a life in alignment with God's kingdom. Spirit is described as unbodily personal power, and God is the ultimate embodiment of this spirit. His actions manifest His kingdom, which is the realm where His will is effectively carried out. As followers of Christ, we are invited to live a spiritual life, one that is directed and empowered by the character and presence of Jesus Christ. This life is accessible to anyone who places their trust in Jesus, as He, along with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, brings the kingdom of God into our lives. Living a spiritual life means aligning with God's will through Jesus Christ, who brings the kingdom into our lives. [01:42]
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17 ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you actively seek to align your daily actions with the will of God, allowing His spirit to guide you?
Day 2: Actively Seeking God's Kingdom
Seeking the kingdom of God is an active pursuit, requiring us to look for God's action everywhere. This pursuit is not passive but involves a deliberate and intentional effort, much like searching for something valuable that is lost. As we seek the kingdom, we align our lives with God's will, allowing us to experience His provision and care in all aspects of life. The kingdom of God is not something we find on our own; rather, it finds us as we seek it earnestly. This active pursuit is a reflection of our true desires and priorities, revealing what we truly value and what shapes our lives. [06:32]
"And you will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:13 ESV)
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to actively seek God's kingdom in your daily routine and interactions?
Day 3: The Freedom to Choose Our Desires
Our desires reveal our true priorities, and God grants us the freedom to choose what we seek. This choice defines who we are and what we value most in life. The kingdom of God is available to all, regardless of status or background, and it is through trusting in Jesus that we enter into this kingdom. This is the essence of the gospel message: the kingdom of God is now accessible to everyone who believes. Our choices and desires shape our identity and our relationship with God, highlighting the importance of seeking His kingdom above all else. [10:22]
"Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15 ESV)
Reflection: What desires currently shape your priorities, and how can you realign them to reflect a deeper commitment to seeking God's kingdom?
Day 4: The Accessibility of God's Kingdom
The kingdom of God is now accessible to everyone, regardless of status or background. Trusting in Jesus allows us to enter this kingdom, which is the essence of the gospel message. This accessibility is a profound truth that underscores the inclusivity of God's love and grace. The kingdom is not reserved for a select few but is open to all who place their trust in Jesus. This invitation to enter the kingdom is a call to experience the fullness of life that God offers, marked by His presence, guidance, and provision. [16:29]
"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Mark 10:15 ESV)
Reflection: How can you embrace the simplicity and openness of a child in your faith journey, fully trusting in the accessibility of God's kingdom?
Day 5: The Power of God's Word
Immersing ourselves in God's word aligns our actions with His kingdom. The word of God is not just a set of rules but a living, active force that guides and empowers us. By meditating on and internalizing God's word, we align our actions with His kingdom, leading to prosperity and success in all we do. This spiritual nourishment is essential for living a life that reflects the kingdom of God. The power of God's word is transformative, providing the wisdom and strength needed to navigate life's challenges and fulfill His purposes. [19:58]
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 ESV)
Reflection: How can you incorporate regular meditation on God's word into your daily routine to ensure it guides and empowers your actions?
Quotes
Spirit is unbodily personal power, unbodily personal power. Now, biblically, God is paradigmatically spirit, and that's what God is. He is unbodily personal power. He acts, God acts, and God's actions constitute his kingdom. God's kingdom is the range of his effective will. [00:01:28]
A spiritual life is basically, in the Christian understanding, it is a life lived from the direction and the power and the motivations and the character of Jesus Christ himself. It is Christ in you that gives you a spiritual life, and of course, with Christ comes his two best friends, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. [00:02:37]
His word is seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, the kind of righteousness characteristic of the kingdom of God, and everything else will be added. He's speaking into a context of people like us that have all kinds of concerns that get up and jump on us when we wake up in the morning. [00:04:35]
When you seek for something, you look for it everywhere. That's what seeking means, and you make that your main project to find it. You're not going anywhere until you find your keys. So that sort of puts it up on the front row, and now you're looking for your keys and you're seeking them everywhere. [00:06:05]
Seeking is fundamental because it is what we are seeking that shows who we are. Our wants constitute the most important thing about our lives. What you and I are seeking is what pulls our life together in whatever shape it may be and makes it what it is. [00:09:25]
The kingdom of heaven is something we have to seek. Do you know what? If you don't want to know it, you don't have to, at least for now, and now is what we're concerned about, and that's very important for God to preserve that. But now, on the other hand, he makes it available. [00:12:47]
If with all your heart you really do seek me, you will find me. See, that gets you back again to the question, what is it you really want? See, it's very tempting for us. We have our projects. There are things we want, and we'd like to have a little help from God. [00:13:20]
The greatest threat to the kingdom of God in my life is my kingdom, and God gives us space. He makes the kingdom available. He made it available in his son. He makes it available in the scriptures. He makes it available in human history, and above all, he makes it available right next to you. [00:14:37]
Jesus said seek first the kingdom of God. What's the kingdom of God? It's what God is doing. What is the law of God? It's what God is doing. It's God's way of acting, and of course, the law refers much more than to just the Ten Commandments, but it includes those as well. [00:19:12]
The law is a good thing to keep it, to fill your mind with. It brings a substance that will direct your life according to it. You don't just have to try to do it. You take it in, and then as you take the substance of the word of God into you, it directs and motivates and empowers you. [00:19:50]
The word is a primary dimension of the kingdom. It's a primary dimension of the kingdom. It's active, it's creative, it's redemptive, and when you take the word in, it is a substance to your soul, and that's why Jesus, you will remember, said man shall not live by bread alone. [00:21:13]
When we take the word of God into us, it is a substance to our soul, and that's why Jesus, you will remember, said man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. [00:21:45]
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