Living a Spirit-Led Life: Prioritizing God's Kingdom

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound truth of living a life led by the Holy Spirit and the importance of prioritizing God's kingdom above all else. We began by discussing the concept of being led by the Holy Spirit, emphasizing that when God speaks, whether through a word of knowledge or a gentle nudge, our response should be one of obedience and faith. This obedience often requires stepping out in faith, even when the path seems unclear or unconventional.

We then delved into the significance of seeking God's kingdom first, as outlined in Matthew 6:24-33. The passage reminds us that we cannot serve both God and money, highlighting the importance of trusting God to provide for our needs. Through personal testimonies, we saw how God can miraculously provide when we prioritize His kingdom and righteousness. This trust in God’s provision allows us to focus on His purposes rather than being consumed by material concerns.

Furthermore, we explored the concept of being kings and priests in God's kingdom, as described in Revelation 5:8-10. This identity calls us to exercise authority and influence in our spheres of life, whether in our families, workplaces, or communities. As kings, we are called to lead with humility, wisdom, and justice, following the example of Jesus, who sacrificed His glory for our sake.

Finally, we touched on the characteristics of a good king, which include being sacrificial, humble, wise, protective, and forgiving. These traits are essential for anyone who desires to lead effectively in God's kingdom. As we move forward into the new year, let us embrace our identity as kings and priests, seeking first His kingdom and trusting in His provision and guidance.

Key Takeaways:

1. Obedience to the Holy Spirit: Being led by the Holy Spirit requires a willingness to obey, even when it seems unconventional. This obedience is an act of faith, trusting that God’s ways are higher than ours and that He will reveal His purposes in due time. [42:01]

2. Trust in God's Provision: Prioritizing God's kingdom means trusting Him to meet our needs. When we seek His righteousness first, He promises to provide for us, often in miraculous ways that go beyond our understanding. [01:05:15]

3. Identity as Kings and Priests: As believers, we are called to be kings and priests, exercising authority and influence in our lives. This identity empowers us to represent God's kingdom on earth, bringing His love and justice to those around us. [01:13:42]

4. Characteristics of a Good King: A good king is sacrificial, humble, wise, protective, and forgiving. These traits reflect the heart of Jesus and are essential for leading effectively in any sphere of influence. [01:22:03]

5. Living with Purpose: Our purpose in God's kingdom is not just to be blessed but to be a blessing to others. By seeking His kingdom first, we align our lives with His purposes, allowing us to impact the world for His glory. [01:10:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [35:19] - Prayer for Andrew
- [42:01] - Being Led by the Holy Spirit
- [01:01:28] - Trusting God's Provision
- [01:05:15] - Seek First the Kingdom
- [01:06:07] - Putting God First in Work
- [01:09:15] - Purpose of Blessings
- [01:10:48] - Offering and Giving
- [01:12:00] - Revelation and Our Identity
- [01:13:42] - Kings and Priests
- [01:14:37] - Authority and Dominion
- [01:15:55] - Characteristics of a Good King
- [01:22:03] - Sacrificial Leadership
- [01:26:00] - Humility and Wisdom
- [01:27:04] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 6:24-33
2. Revelation 5:8-10

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Observation Questions:

1. What does Matthew 6:24-33 say about serving two masters, and how does this relate to the sermon’s emphasis on prioritizing God's kingdom? [01:05:15]

2. In the sermon, how did the pastor describe the experience of being led by the Holy Spirit? What example was given to illustrate this? [42:01]

3. According to Revelation 5:8-10, what roles are believers called to fulfill in God's kingdom, and how was this explained in the sermon? [01:13:42]

4. What characteristics of a good king were highlighted in the sermon, and how do they reflect the heart of Jesus? [01:22:03]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of being led by the Holy Spirit challenge conventional decision-making processes in a believer's life? [42:01]

2. What does it mean to seek God's kingdom first, and how might this affect a person's daily priorities and decisions? [01:05:15]

3. How does the identity of being kings and priests empower believers to influence their communities, according to the sermon? [01:13:42]

4. In what ways do the characteristics of a good king, as described in the sermon, align with the teachings of Jesus? [01:22:03]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent decision you made. How might being led by the Holy Spirit have changed your approach or outcome? [42:01]

2. Consider your current priorities. What steps can you take to ensure that seeking God's kingdom is at the forefront of your life? [01:05:15]

3. Identify a sphere of influence in your life (family, workplace, community). How can you exercise your role as a king or priest to bring about positive change? [01:13:42]

4. Think of a situation where you can demonstrate the characteristics of a good king, such as humility or forgiveness. How can you apply these traits in your interactions this week? [01:22:03]

5. What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust in God's provision? How can you actively work on building that trust? [01:05:15]

6. How can you use your resources or talents to be a blessing to others, aligning with the purpose of advancing God's kingdom? [01:10:48]

7. Reflect on a time when you felt called to step out in faith. What did you learn from that experience, and how can it guide your future actions? [42:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience in Uncertainty
When we are led by the Holy Spirit, it often requires us to step out in faith, even when the path is unclear or unconventional. This obedience is an act of trust, acknowledging that God's ways are higher than ours and that He will reveal His purposes in due time. The Holy Spirit may speak to us through a word of knowledge, a gentle nudge, or a conviction in our hearts. Our response should be one of faith and willingness to follow, even when it challenges our understanding or comfort. This kind of obedience is not passive but active, requiring us to take steps forward, trusting that God is guiding us and will provide what we need along the way. [42:01]

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV): "And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit. How can you take a step of faith in response to that nudge today?


Day 2: Trusting in Divine Provision
Prioritizing God's kingdom means trusting Him to meet our needs, as outlined in Matthew 6:24-33. This trust is not passive but involves actively seeking His righteousness and aligning our lives with His purposes. When we do this, God promises to provide for us, often in miraculous ways that go beyond our understanding. This provision allows us to focus on His purposes rather than being consumed by material concerns. By sharing personal testimonies, we see how God can miraculously provide when we prioritize His kingdom and righteousness. This trust in God’s provision is a testament to His faithfulness and love for us. [01:05:15]

2 Corinthians 9:8 (ESV): "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to trust God for provision? How can you actively seek His kingdom in that area today?


Day 3: Embracing Our Identity as Kings and Priests
As believers, we are called to be kings and priests, exercising authority and influence in our lives. This identity empowers us to represent God's kingdom on earth, bringing His love and justice to those around us. Being a king and priest means leading with humility, wisdom, and justice, following the example of Jesus, who sacrificed His glory for our sake. It is a call to influence our families, workplaces, and communities with the values of God's kingdom. This identity is not about power or control but about serving others and reflecting God's character in all we do. [01:13:42]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: In what ways can you exercise your identity as a king and priest in your community this week? How can you bring God's love and justice to those around you?


Day 4: The Heart of a Good King
A good king is characterized by being sacrificial, humble, wise, protective, and forgiving. These traits reflect the heart of Jesus and are essential for leading effectively in any sphere of influence. As we embrace our identity as kings and priests, we are called to lead with these characteristics, prioritizing the well-being of others and seeking justice and righteousness. This kind of leadership is not about asserting power but about serving others and reflecting the heart of God in all we do. It requires us to be intentional in our actions and attitudes, seeking to embody the values of God's kingdom in every aspect of our lives. [01:22:03]

Proverbs 16:12-13 (ESV): "It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right."

Reflection: Which characteristic of a good king do you find most challenging to embody? How can you intentionally cultivate that trait in your life this week?


Day 5: Living with Purpose
Our purpose in God's kingdom is not just to be blessed but to be a blessing to others. By seeking His kingdom first, we align our lives with His purposes, allowing us to impact the world for His glory. This involves living with intentionality, focusing on God's purposes rather than being consumed by material concerns. It is about using our gifts, resources, and influence to serve others and advance God's kingdom on earth. As we embrace this purpose, we find fulfillment and joy in being part of something greater than ourselves, knowing that our lives have eternal significance. [01:10:48]

Ephesians 2:10 (ESV): "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

Reflection: What is one way you can be a blessing to someone in your life today? How can you use your gifts and resources to serve others and advance God's kingdom?

Quotes



so in case you're wondering why why do we pray for Andrew well because the Holy Spirit during worship I was just worshiping the Lord paying attention not paying attention to myself or just listening to him and all of a sudden I kept thinking about Andrew and I was like why in the world I don't want to think about Andrew but I just had Andrew in my heart so I began to pray for him and the Lord just began to speak to me about him and I was like that's kind of cool and I wasn't even thinking about and then he says call him up after worship and pray for him so that's why we did it the Bible would call that a word of knowledge or just you know being led by the Holy Spirit you just we want to be led by the Holy Spirit when the Holy Spirit tells us to do something we should do it it's just that simple and you know we make it hard we make it complicated when we don't want to and when we disagree and when we you know like Paul said in the opening this morning you know we argue with God and we go I don't want to do that that's just weird [00:52:05] (69 seconds)


when you're led by the Holy Spirit you can only be led by the Holy Spirit if you're concerned about the finances about the finances about the money and God says to do something crazy that costs a lot of money and you're going I can't because I don't have enough money well then you're telling him that he's not able to do what he said he would do [00:52:25] (22 seconds)


therefore I tell you do not be anxious about your life what you will eat or what you will drink nor about your money but money your body I got money on the brain about your life about your body what you will put on is not your life more than food and the body more than clothing look at the birds of the air they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly Father feeds them are you not more value of more value than they and which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life and why are you anxious about clothing consider this the lilies of the field how they grow they neither toil nor spin yet I tell you even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these but if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven will he not much more clothe you oh you of little faith [01:02:45] (63 seconds)


you get real spiritual when you have to you get real spiritual so we decided to fast so we go and we go to church we're sitting through church and I'm thinking God you know lunch is coming up I you know and I like to eat but Lord I know you're going to take care of us we get all done we're shaking hands we're all saying goodbye to everybody and somebody came up and said oh I heard you went on the mission trip we said yeah they said we'd love to hear about it I said yeah we'd love to tell you about it hey why don't we take you out for lunch hallelujah they took us out for lunch we all went out and we ate they paid for it huh that's pretty cool but supper's coming [01:00:44] (43 seconds)


about five o 'clock that afternoon somebody called up and said hey how was the mission trip we said it was awesome they said hey we'd really like to hear about the mission trip can we take you out for supper yes you can it's pretty hard to be humble when you're hungry sure we'd love to tell you went to a nice restaurant we told them they fed us there were leftovers hallelujah had those for breakfast the next morning at noon right before noon somebody called and said hey guess what happened can we take you out for lunch that went on for a whole week day after day after day people called us and said hey we'd love to hear about the trip can we take you out for lunch sure we didn't tell anybody we had no food in the house not one I didn't tell anybody we didn't tell anybody Sunday morning Sunday morning we go to church again we still it was two weeks before we got the paycheck Sunday morning we go to church there's no food in the house we had eaten we had eaten every day we go to church that morning we get done nobody walked up to us and asked us if we had any if we had any plans for lunch I'm thinking oh no here we go I'm thinking you know nobody's going to take us out for lunch we still got a week to go okay Lord we can go you know I'd hate to admit I waited as long as I could you know just in case somebody was not being obedient [01:01:24] (89 seconds)


But seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you. When you put God's kingdom first, when you put His kingdom as your highest priority, when you put, now you're going to say, what are you saying, isn't God my highest priority? Yes. [01:05:15] (22 seconds)


If you allow Him to be the king of your life, if you allow Him, if you put Him first in whatever you're doing, everything, even working, whatever job you're doing. When I worked in the factory, in the hot dog factory, I thanked God for my job. And I said, God, how do you want me to represent the kingdom today? [01:06:40] (19 seconds)


I'm convinced, I'm fully convinced that I'm doing what I'm doing today, and I'm able to do the things that I'm doing. Because I put Him first in what seemed to be absolutely meaningless. God, what do you want me to do today? Who do you want me to speak to today? I'm available. [01:06:47] (20 seconds)


When Jesus died on the cross, by being obedient unto death, his blood shed, he made us kings and priests. Now that's still, it still feels like a road bump. It still feels like, every time I say that, and I don't say it because I'm thinking it myself, I can feel it in the Spirit. Every time I say, you're kings, and priests, it feels like, for some people, it's like, I just can't get there. And that's a problem. [01:13:42] (37 seconds)


That's a problem because that's who you were called to be. That's who you are called to be. And if you can't accept it, man, you're a long way from operating in it. Well, you think, well, I don't want to think of myself more highly than I ought. Isn't that a Bible scripture? Well, yes. [01:14:37] (17 seconds)


What does a good king look like? What is a good king? And I'm only going to hit very quickly the highlights. I'm not going to go into any depth because I just don't have the time. Number one. I found this on the internets and I thought it was awesome. So I stole it. But it's absolutely biblical. What are the characteristics? What are the characteristics of a king in the Bible? Number one. They're sacrificial. A king is sacrificial. What's our example in his kingdom? Jesus. He sacrificed his time. He came to this earth. Lived 33 years. He sacrificed his glory. He sacrificed his position on the throne. [01:22:03] (48 seconds)


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Transcript
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