Living as Ambassadors of the Kingdom of God

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace Your Kingdom Citizenship

Citizenship in the Kingdom of God is an invitation to live with a heavenly perspective in every aspect of life, especially in places where influence can be exerted, like the workplace. As citizens and ambassadors, there is a responsibility to carry the culture of the kingdom wherever one goes, transforming environments with the values of heaven. This is not a passive status but an active role in manifesting God's will on Earth as it is in heaven. [51:11]

Matthew 5:13-16 - "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."
Reflection: How can you be 'salt and light' in your workplace or community today, actively bringing kingdom values into those environments?

Day 2: Authority Beyond Earthly Titles

In the Kingdom of God, authority is not based on earthly titles or positions but on one's identity as a member of the king's delegation. This understanding empowers believers to live confidently, knowing that their value and authority come directly from the King, regardless of their societal status. This divine authority is meant to be exercised with humility and service, reflecting the character of the King in every interaction. [01:06:42]

1 Peter 2:9 - "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
Reflection: How does understanding your heavenly authority change the way you view your role in your family, job, or community?

Day 3: Cultivating Kingdom Culture

The culture of the Kingdom of God is characterized by worship, honor, forgiveness, grace, and mercy, with an emphasis on integrity and excellence. These values are not just spiritual ideals but practical expressions of the King's character in daily life. Believers are called to embody these values, thereby attracting others to the transformative culture of the kingdom. [54:34]

Colossians 3:12-14 - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Reflection: What is one way you can demonstrate kingdom culture, such as grace or forgiveness, in a challenging situation you're currently facing?

Day 4: Prayer as Kingdom Influence

Prayer is a powerful tool for kingdom ambassadors, allowing them to bring the reality of the kingdom into their workplaces and beyond. By praying for those around them, believers can address spiritual issues and demonstrate the kingdom's power to heal and transform lives. This spiritual discipline is a means of extending the kingdom's influence in the most practical areas of life. [01:03:10]

James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: Who in your workplace or community can you commit to praying for this week, asking God to work in their life in a specific way?

Day 5: Reflecting the King's Character

The true mark of a kingdom ambassador is the reflection of the King's character in their life. This goes beyond spiritual expressions to include practical integrity and excellence in all things. By living out the character of the King, believers validate the message of the kingdom and draw others to its reality. The authentic reflection of the King's character is what distinguishes kingdom ambassadors. [01:09:38]

Ephesians 4:1-3 - "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
Reflection: In what area of your life can you better reflect the character of the King, and how can you start making those changes today?

Sermon Summary

In the discourse on the concept of the Kingdom of God, the focus is on understanding the nature of this kingdom and the role of its citizens. The Kingdom of God is described as a domain that extends from heaven to Earth, with the divine intention that it be established on Earth as it is in heaven. This kingdom is not confined to a physical location but is as expansive and complex as the nature of God Himself. It is emphasized that a mere sermon or a series of teachings cannot fully encapsulate the vastness of this kingdom.

The central figure of this kingdom is Jesus Christ, who is portrayed as both the Lion and the Lamb, embodying the fullness of God and man during His time on Earth. This dual nature of Jesus as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, is a cornerstone of the kingdom's identity.

Citizenship in this kingdom comes with rights, privileges, and access. It is a call to adopt a kingdom mindset, seeing oneself as both a citizen and an ambassador of this kingdom. This mindset involves carrying the culture of the kingdom into every sphere of life, especially the workplace, where individuals spend a significant portion of their time. As ambassadors, individuals are messengers of the king, tasked with bringing the kingdom's culture to the "foreign territory" of the world.

The culture of the kingdom is defined by daily dependence on Jesus Christ, a lifestyle of worship, and practices such as honoring others, forgiveness, grace, and mercy. It is a culture that values integrity, excellence, and character, which are seen as more important than titles or positions. The kingdom culture is also characterized by the spiritual gifts given to each citizen, intended to be used in service of the king's mission.

A personal anecdote illustrates the importance of not separating one's faith from their professional life. The story recounts a moment when the individual was called upon to pray for a coworker's sick mother, despite initial hesitation due to concerns about workplace appropriateness. This act of prayer brought the kingdom's culture of healing into the workplace and demonstrated the power of God to those present.

The narrative also touches on the importance of praying for one's workplace, including bosses and coworkers, rather than complaining about them. This approach is seen as bringing a spiritual solution to potential spiritual problems within the work environment.

The concept of authority within the kingdom is further explored through an analogy of a state dinner with a head of state. It is explained that power and authority in the kingdom are derived from the king, and thus, all members of the delegation, regardless of their job titles, receive the same honor and privileges. This serves as a lesson that in the kingdom of God, one's value and authority are not based on their earthly title but on their identity as a member of the king's delegation.

In conclusion, the kingdom of God is presented as a spiritual reality that believers are called to manifest in their everyday lives, particularly in the workplace. By embodying the character of the king and utilizing the spiritual language of prayer, believers can bring the culture of the kingdom to Earth, fulfilling their role as ambassadors.

Key Takeaways

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Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does it mean for the Kingdom of God to extend from heaven to Earth? How is this reflected in Matthew 6:10? [48:33]
How does Jesus describe Himself in Revelation 22:13, and why is this significant for understanding His role in the Kingdom of God? [49:19]
What are some characteristics of the Kingdom culture as described in the sermon? [53:37]
How did Daniel's "extraordinary spirit" influence his position in the kingdom, according to Daniel 6:3? [01:08:00]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of being both a citizen and an ambassador of the Kingdom of God influence a believer's daily life, especially in the workplace? [50:19]
What does it mean to carry the culture of the Kingdom into every sphere of life, and why is this important? [51:11]
How can the spiritual gifts given to each citizen be used to serve the King's mission in practical ways? [56:51]
In what ways does the character of the King need to be evident in the lives of believers, and how does this validate the message they carry? [54:34]

Application Questions

Reflect on your current mindset. Do you see yourself more as a citizen or an ambassador of the Kingdom of God? How can you shift your perspective to embrace both roles more fully? [50:19]
Think about your workplace. How can you bring the culture of the Kingdom—values like integrity, excellence, and character—into your daily work environment? [51:11]
Have you ever hesitated to share your faith or pray for someone at work due to concerns about appropriateness? How can you overcome this hesitation and be a more effective ambassador? [58:56]
Identify one specific way you can honor others in your daily interactions this week. How can this act of honor reflect the culture of the Kingdom? [53:37]
Consider the spiritual gifts you have been given. How can you use these gifts to serve others and advance the King's mission in your community or workplace? [56:51]
How often do you pray for your workplace, including your bosses and coworkers? What specific prayers can you start incorporating into your daily routine to bring the Kingdom's culture into your work environment? [01:02:31]
Reflect on the story of Daniel. What steps can you take to cultivate an "extraordinary spirit" of excellence and integrity in your own life, regardless of your job title or position? [01:08:00]

Sermon Clips

1) "In this Kingdom culture, everybody gets a gift. Every citizen gets a spiritual gift that we are supposed to show and use while we are at work as ambassadors teaching the culture of the king." [56:51] (Download)

2) "Integrity folks. It's character that stands out more than your gifts and speaking in tongues and all that when we're at work. That character of the king needs to stand out." [01:09:38] (Download)

3) "You're the one that's supposed to bring the kingdom in, and it's not just them getting on your nerves; it could be a spiritual problem, and you have a spiritual solution to a spiritual problem." [01:03:10] (Download)

4) "When you're dealing with a kingdom, power and authority are based upon who the king is. You don't even have to be a prime anything, but when you're in the delegation, there are rights and privileges and honor that comes with it." [01:06:42] (Download)

5) "We are citizens of a God who has a kingdom that is unmatched, unlimited. He showed me that there is no way 30 minutes of a sermon can capture all of what this kingdom is." [49:19] (Download)

6) "We are in the world but we're not of this world. We are in a foreign territory and so he wants us to have this Ambassador mindset, this Kingdom way of life, this culture that he wants us to take to this foreign territory." [51:11] (Download)

7) "I was sent to this job for a reason, and even if it was that one reason, I needed to fulfill my role as an ambassador. I begin to pray and it's folks that I ain't even know they knew Jesus words." [01:00:30] (Download)

8) "The kingdom must be at work, at work. We're citizens, right? You're not being an ambassador when you're in the embassy. Monday through Saturday, that's when we're being ambassadors." [52:54] (Download)

9) "Here is what happens in our kingdom culture: daily dependence on the one true king, Jesus Christ, a lifestyle of worshiping this King and our heavenly father, a culture and lifestyle of honoring others." [53:37] (Download)

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What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?