May 3, 2026 - The Son is Rising Living in light of His Kingdom - Practicing the Kingdom

Devotional

Day 1: From Ain’ts to Saints

Jesus stood on Jordan’s banks as John plunged repentant hearts beneath the waters. Tax collectors and soldiers asked, “What must we do?” John’s answer cut through pretense: “Produce fruit worthy of change.” The kingdom wasn’t about heritage or ritual—it demanded swapped jerseys. [28:39]

This moment exposed religious hypocrisy. Jesus later echoed John’s call, not to the immoral but to the self-righteous. Kingdom citizenship requires surrendering old loyalties—whether pride, comfort, or control—to wear Christ’s colors unashamed.

Many cling to inherited faith or cultural Christianity. What jersey hangs in your closet? Tear off the “Ain’t” of half-hearted allegiance. Write one loyalty competing with Christ’s reign. Burn it after dinner tonight.

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children.’”
(Acts 2:38-39, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal where you’ve worn team colors that clash with His kingdom.
Challenge: Write three “old team” loyalties on paper. Burn one after sunset.

Day 2: Paper Bags and Stadium Lights

Saints fans hid under sacks during losing seasons—present but anonymous. Jesus spotlights closet disciples: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” The kingdom thrives when followers ditch disguises. [30:20]

Light exposes darkness. Christ didn’t redeem us for secret discipleship but to illuminate workplaces, homes, and social circles. Your transformed life is God’s billboard.

What relationships still see your faith under wraps? Choose one coworker or neighbor. Share how Christ shifted your priorities this week. Will you risk being known as His?

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
(Matthew 5:14-15, NIV)

Prayer: Confess one area where fear silences your witness. Claim boldness.
Challenge: Wear a cross or faith symbol visibly today. Explain it if asked.

Day 3: Twelfth Man to First String

Seahawks fans roared as the “12th man,” but Jesus drafted disciples onto the field. He handed them loppers—authority to heal and cast out demons. Spectating wasn’t an option. The kingdom advances through active obedience. [32:28]

Christ’s authority flows to servants, not spectators. He still says, “Freely you have received; freely give.” Your hands hold kingdom tools—prayer, service, truth-speaking.

Where have you settled for cheering others’ ministry? Visit a nursing home this week. Pray aloud for one resident’s physical or emotional pain. What keeps you benched?

“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.”
(Matthew 10:7-8, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to assign you one “kingdom play” today. Listen for His call.
Challenge: Sign up for a church ministry team before sundown.

Day 4: Loppers in the Sunrise

Jesus handed pruners to twelve trainees—tools for cutting back disease and darkness. Arthritis fled when a pastor stood in sunlit surrender. Kingdom authority works through yielded hands. [41:15]

Your loppers might be a listening ear, medical skill, or intercessory grit. Wield them where shadows linger—addiction, despair, sickness. Christ’s power flows through ordinary obedience.

What overgrown problem needs pruning? Lay hands on your stiff knee or a friend’s broken heart. Command healing in Jesus’ name. Will you trust His “already” amid “not yet”?

“Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”
(Matthew 10:1, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for one specific tool He’s placed in your hands. Use it now.
Challenge: Anoint a sick friend’s forehead with oil while praying aloud.

Day 5: Already Light, Not Yet Full

Dawn crept through pines, painting Blake’s yard in patches. Two pain-free days proved the kingdom’s partial breakthrough. We live between sunrise and zenith—healing sometimes comes, always advances. [40:50]

Christ’s reign grows like morning light. Each prayer, act of justice, and healed body foreshadows the coming flood. Your faithfulness today thins the veil between heaven and earth.

Where do shadows still grip you? Stand in one sunlit patch—literal or metaphorical. Declare, “Your kingdom come here.” What darkness will you confront with today’s light?

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’”
(Revelation 21:3, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to make you a sunrise-bearer in one shadowed place.
Challenge: Journal three “not yet” areas. Pray kingdom breakthrough over one.

Sermon Summary

A clear biblical case unfolds for living under Jesus kingly rule, not as a ritual or label but as an active, present reality. The kingdom of God and the kingdom of heaven refer to the same reign: wherever Jesus rules, his kingdom exists. That reign has already broken into the world through Jesus, yet it has not reached full completion; like dawn, it creates patches of light that move across a dark landscape. Followers receive authority to enact that reign now, given to the twelve and passed to the church to heal, cast out darkness, and right injustice. Four pastoral images map faith’s journey: switching teams from self to Christ, removing a protective anonymity, shifting from spectator to participant, and using spiritual loppers to cut away what blocks kingdom advance. The loppers metaphor emphasizes that God equips people with authority to intervene—sometimes through direct miracles, sometimes through bodies designed to heal themselves, often through trained medical professionals, and finally through resurrection and eternal healing. Prayer posture matters; asking Jesus to heal according to his will invites God’s active goodness rather than hedging with uncertainty. The narrative balances hope for future consummation with invitation to risk involvement now: being on the team may look different for each life stage, but every believer can move from passive loyalty to courageous participation. The text calls for practical responses: choose allegiance, remove concealment, enter the field of ministry, and employ the authority granted to advance healing and justice. Communion and community prayer function as concrete means to renew covenant allegiance and to pray for those in healing professions. The whole argument presses for obedience that trusts both God’s present power and his future promise, urging steady, practical engagement rather than safe spectatorship.

Key Takeaways

1. Decide which team to join Choosing allegiance to Christ requires an intentional change of direction, not mere cultural inheritance or ritual familiarity. Repentance reorders loyalties so the king’s reign can take root in daily decisions, family life, and public witness. That shift opens believers to receive the authority and responsibilities of Christ’s kingdom. [28:11]
2. Remove the anonymity bag Anonymity preserves comfort but stifles discipleship; public commitment invites accountability and witness. Removing the bag means allowing faith to shape workplace ethics, friendships, and community presence rather than remaining a private devotion. Courage to be known amplifies kingdom influence and invites others into honest transformation. [29:53]
3. Take the loppers, exercise authority God equips followers with authority to confront spiritual oppression, sickness, and systemic injustice; those tools exist to be used. The loppers image insists that spiritual giftings and commissioned power are not ornamental but functional, meant to sever what hinders God's reign. Faithful use requires training, prayer, and willingness to enter costly places of service. [45:08]
4. Pray: Jesus, heal according to your will Framing prayer as a request for Jesus to heal in his wisdom aligns petition with God’s consistently good character. That posture rejects passive resignation and presumes God’s active desire to do good, while accepting methods or timing that may differ from expectations. It frees pray-ers to seek direct miracles, wise medical means, and sustaining grace without theological confusion. [55:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[11:08] - Presence of Jesus in Worship
[25:43] - Series Visuals and Baptism Shirt
[26:06] - Kingdom of God Defined
[28:11] - Choose Your Team
[29:53] - From Anonymity to Courage
[31:06] - From Fan to Player
[39:47] - Already and Not Yet
[42:25] - Loppers and Kingdom Authority
[45:08] - Commission to Heal and Cast Out
[52:45] - Four Ways God Heals
[72:50] - Communion and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Matthew 10:1, 7-8 (NIV)
1 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness… 7 As you go, proclaim this message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Observation Questions

In Matthew 10:8, what specific actions did Jesus link to proclaiming the message of the kingdom? How does this connect to the sermon’s emphasis on "loppers" as tools for advancing God’s reign? [45:08]
The sermon described the kingdom as "already but not yet fully." What imagery (like sun patches) was used to explain this tension? [39:47]
According to the sermon, what four ways did the speaker identify that God brings healing (e.g., direct miracles, medical professionals)? [52:45]
How did Jesus respond to John the Baptist’s doubt about His identity as the Messiah (Matthew 11:4-5)? What does this reveal about the relationship between healing and the kingdom?

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus gave His disciples authority to heal before sending them to proclaim the kingdom (Matthew 10:1,7-8)? How does this order challenge or affirm our understanding of ministry today?
The sermon compared anonymity to wearing a bag over one’s head. Why might choosing to "remove the bag" of anonymity be both necessary and difficult for living out kingdom allegiance? [29:53]
The phrase "heal according to your will" was contrasted with "if it’s your will." How does this subtle shift in prayer language reflect trust in God’s character versus uncertainty? [55:29]
The "loppers" metaphor emphasizes using spiritual authority to cut away obstacles. What might it look like to misuse or underuse this authority in daily life? [42:25]

Application Questions

Where in your life (workplace, family, friendships) have you been tempted to keep your faith "anonymous"? What practical step could you take this week to "remove the bag" and live more openly for Christ? [29:53]
The sermon mentioned four ways God heals: direct miracles, natural bodily healing, medical professionals, and resurrection. Which of these have you seen God use in your life or others’ lives? How might this shape how you pray for healing?
Identify one "branch" (injustice, spiritual oppression, relational brokenness) in your sphere of influence where God might be calling you to use your "loppers." What specific action or prayer could you take to engage? [46:27]
The "already but not yet" kingdom means we live with both hope and tension. How can you celebrate a recent "sun patch" (kingdom breakthrough) while still longing for God’s ultimate restoration?
The sermon urged moving from being a "fan" to a "player." What role (e.g., prayer, service, advocacy) might God be inviting you to step into—even if it feels small or unseen? [31:06]
Reflect on a time when you prayed, "If it’s your will, heal." How might reframing this to "Jesus, heal according to your will" change your posture in future prayers? [55:29]
For those in caregiving, medical, or justice-oriented roles: How could you view your work as an extension of Christ’s kingdom authority this week? [01:23:15]

Sermon Clips

Jesus called his 12 disciples to him, and he gave them authority. He calls the 12. He gives them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. And as you go, proclaim this message, the kingdom of heaven has come near. So this healing and driving out demons, it is it is an expression of the truth that Jesus is king. And so when you go out there and give that message, heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons, freely you have received, freely give. [00:45:20] (37 seconds) #AuthorityToHeal

It would be odd if he gave them this authority, and they didn't then do what he asked them to do. They were given loppers. And he didn't just say, good luck with those loppers. Have fun with them. Go do something. No. He said, I've given you the loppers. I've given you authority. I want you to utilize that authority. There's some branches. In some cases, there's some injustices that are inconsistent with my kingdom, and I want there to be breakthrough. I want you to cut off that branch. [00:45:58] (40 seconds) #CutOffInjustice

Now now listen. If you if you're gonna you can if you wanna explain to me how Jesus is saying something different than that, feel free to send me an email and explain it to me. Because it seems to me that what Jesus is saying is as great as John the Baptist was. It's a it's a new world order that I'm bringing. I'm inaugurating the kingdom. We're gonna talk about next week how the holy spirit empowers us for that, but he is saying that we are part of the kingdom of Jesus as king. There's a new day dawning, and we have more authority than John the Baptist. [00:49:03] (39 seconds) #KingdomInaugurated

Is that Luke is saying that all of that stuff is what Jesus began to do. And what I'm about to write to you is all that stuff that Jesus is still doing. And before the chapter's finished, Jesus is gonna be back in heaven. So what's he mean all that Jesus is gonna keep doing? If that's all that Jesus began to do, he means what Jesus is still going to be doing, but now through his church, through his people, through his followers. [00:51:18] (34 seconds) #JesusWorkContinues

Most modern translations use kingdom there, but to make us a kingdom and priest to serve our god and to reign on earth. That's what he saved you for. He didn't save you to be a fan and just wait for the Super Bowl celebration when the season's over. He saved you because he wanted you on the field. He wanted you to to serve him as a priest, to have a relationship with him, but to also be part of the kingdom and to be a part of his reigning on this Earth. [00:33:16] (39 seconds) #ReignAndServe

But he said he he stopped praying that way, and instead, he just changed the word slightly, and he prays this way. Jesus, heal according to your will. Now you may say that that that that seems to be the same thing. Well, it's not the same thing. Because what he would argue is that it's always Jesus' will to do good. And so Jesus, do good. Bring healing according to your will. Even if it's not the way we think it's going to happen, bring it according to your will. [00:55:26] (34 seconds) #HealAccordingToHisWill

Being down in the trenches can be unsung hard work. It can be painful. And guess what? It's not just on game day. Right? If you're gonna do what these guys do, you have to be thinking about that probably eleven months out of the twelve months of the year, maybe all twelve months. You have to be training, preparing, and being ready to be in the game when the moment is right. [00:33:56] (29 seconds) #TrenchesAndTraining

Come near does not mean, well, I see it. It's just right over there. No. Come near means it is touchable. It's at hand. We can see this from other places in which Matthew uses the same word. He talks about when the harvest had come, the owner wanted some of the crops. Well, the owner didn't want the crops when it was still a few weeks out. It had already come. [00:38:17] (28 seconds) #KingdomAtHand

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