Kingdom Commitment (Sermon)

Where Did You See God?
Where Did You See God?
Kingdom Commitment (Sermon)
Loading
/

In episode 204, we come back from an unplanned hiatus with something different; for the next 3 episodes I’ll be sharing sermons that I was invited to give to East End Fellowship.

What has (or hasn’t) Kingdom Commitment looked like in your life?

Here is how you can connect with EEF:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

http://www.eastendfellowship.org

The “Year of Books”:

http://www.wheredidyouseeGod.com/year-of-books

~

Paul creates this as part of his full-time volunteer ministry. If you appreciate what God is doing through this podcast, you can help keep it going through financial support. Gifts can be processed at  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://worldoutreach.org/707 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

~

Have a story to share? Hard questions to process? A desire for authentic, accessible space? You can leave a brief message at (804) 372-3836, or schedule a conversation (with a twist!) at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.wheredidyouseegod.com/conversation-with-a-twist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

~

Check out our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠www.WhereDidYouSeeGod.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

~

One of these books will be relevant to your life right now:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠https://amazon.com/author/paulgranger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

~

Wear an amazing conversation-starter!

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.bonfire.com/store/where-did-you-see-god/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

~

The music in this episode is “You’ll walk, you’ll run” by Urban Doxology, from their amazing album “Bread for the Journey.”

~

Learn more about how God’s calling us:

Pray: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/GrangerPray⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠tinyurl.com/GrangerList⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Give: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠worldoutreach.org/707⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

~

#authenticspace #dialogue #Godstillspeaks #WDYSG #conversation #invitation #Riversidefm #PodMatch #faith #stories #smallbusiness #calling #invitation #itiswell #faithfulness #ministry

1
00:00:00,640 –> 00:00:04,640
Hey folks, it’s been a while.
You might be wondering where

2
00:00:04,640 –> 00:00:08,560
I’ve been and I’ve been pretty
busy now even though it’s been

3
00:00:08,560 –> 00:00:10,840
about 5 months since the last
episode.

4
00:00:10,880 –> 00:00:11,400
Was.
Released.

5
00:00:11,400 –> 00:00:15,440
I actually had some other
episodes in the works and they

6
00:00:15,440 –> 00:00:17,560
ended up not happening for
reasons outside me.

7
00:00:18,240 –> 00:00:22,440
Meanwhile, I was in the midst of
what became called the Year of

8
00:00:22,440 –> 00:00:24,720
Books.
Where I self published a book.

9
00:00:24,880 –> 00:00:28,200
Every month of 2020. 5 plus
self.

10
00:00:28,200 –> 00:00:31,440
Published 5 translations of my
devotionals into.

11
00:00:31,440 –> 00:00:33,360
Portuguese thanks to.
A friend of mine.

12
00:00:33,720 –> 00:00:36,160
So.
A lot was happening, and on top

13
00:00:36,160 –> 00:00:39,480
of that, transparently 2025 was
a very.

14
00:00:39,480 –> 00:00:42,200
Difficult year for SO.
Many reasons.

15
00:00:42,520 –> 00:00:45,560
It was not my plan to not.
Record episodes.

16
00:00:46,360 –> 00:00:50,840
But it turns out it just was not
the season for it.

17
00:00:51,240 –> 00:00:54,080
And in fact, right now, it’s
still not the season for it.

18
00:00:54,400 –> 00:00:56,640
I want to be honest with you, my
plan is not to.

19
00:00:56,640 –> 00:00:59,920
Stop this podcast but.
I do not know what is ahead.

20
00:01:00,520 –> 00:01:03,720
However, I have had.
This sense that I can’t.

21
00:01:03,720 –> 00:01:05,519
Just leave y’all with.
Nothing.

22
00:01:06,320 –> 00:01:09,200
So for the next three episodes,
I’m actually going to share

23
00:01:09,200 –> 00:01:12,640
something that was new and
unexpected for 2025, and that

24
00:01:12,640 –> 00:01:15,760
was preaching at my church.
God opened up an opportunity,

25
00:01:15,760 –> 00:01:18,600
and three times I was able to
share with my spiritual family

26
00:01:18,600 –> 00:01:21,280
things that I felt like God was
putting on my heart, things that

27
00:01:21,280 –> 00:01:24,480
I felt like God wanted to say
through me, not because of me,

28
00:01:24,480 –> 00:01:27,400
sometimes in spite of me.
And so for the next 3.

29
00:01:27,400 –> 00:01:29,240
Episodes, that’s what.
You’re going to get, so it’s

30
00:01:29,240 –> 00:01:34,680
going to be very different.
No conversation, no outro, just

31
00:01:34,880 –> 00:01:38,160
an introduction and the sermon.
And I do hope that you were

32
00:01:38,160 –> 00:01:40,760
encouraged because even though
this was a message for my

33
00:01:40,760 –> 00:01:43,600
specific spiritual family, I do
believe there are things that

34
00:01:43,600 –> 00:01:45,640
God is sharing that are beyond
us.

35
00:01:45,920 –> 00:01:49,560
That may even be for you.
This first sermon was given in

36
00:01:49,560 –> 00:01:52,600
the spring of 2025.
Those of us who identify as

37
00:01:52,600 –> 00:01:56,120
Christian would like to say that
we are committed to the Kingdom

38
00:01:56,120 –> 00:01:58,680
of God.
But what if we are not only less

39
00:01:58,680 –> 00:02:01,560
committed than we think, but
commitment is actually

40
00:02:01,560 –> 00:02:02,960
impossible?
For us.

41
00:02:03,520 –> 00:02:06,760
This sermon was a hard but
important word and it leads to

42
00:02:06,760 –> 00:02:10,479
some very good news.
What is impossible for man?

43
00:02:10,919 –> 00:02:15,880
Is possible for God?
You’re listening to episode 204

44
00:02:16,040 –> 00:02:18,000
of the Where.
Did you see God podcast?

45
00:02:32,000 –> 00:02:34,960
One thing I know is I need the
Spirit in this space, and I also

46
00:02:34,960 –> 00:02:38,040
want the Spirit in this space.
And I want to give you the words

47
00:02:38,040 –> 00:02:40,400
of another Paul, the apostle
Paul, that kind of.

48
00:02:40,400 –> 00:02:44,200
Captures well where I’m.
Positioning myself now, when I

49
00:02:44,200 –> 00:02:47,920
came to you, I did not come with
eloquence or human wisdom as I

50
00:02:47,920 –> 00:02:51,280
proclaimed to you the testimony
about God, for I resolved to

51
00:02:51,280 –> 00:02:54,440
know nothing while.
I was with you, except Jesus.

52
00:02:54,440 –> 00:02:58,080
Christ and Him crucified, I came
to you in weakness, with great

53
00:02:58,080 –> 00:03:00,480
fear and trembling.
My message and my preaching were

54
00:03:00,480 –> 00:03:03,200
not with wise and persuasive
words, but with a demonstration

55
00:03:03,200 –> 00:03:05,080
of the Spirit’s power.
And this is the important part.

56
00:03:05,400 –> 00:03:08,000
So that your.
Faith might not rest on human

57
00:03:08,000 –> 00:03:12,320
wisdom, but on God’s power.
So that’s my hope for this time,

58
00:03:12,320 –> 00:03:14,280
that it’s not a matter of what
I.

59
00:03:14,280 –> 00:03:17,040
Say, But I do believe the Spirit
is.

60
00:03:17,040 –> 00:03:18,640
Present and the Spirit can work
and move.

61
00:03:18,640 –> 00:03:21,120
And so I want to invite us to
pray in this space.

62
00:03:21,120 –> 00:03:23,920
I’m going to pray that the
Spirit works through my mouth,

63
00:03:24,560 –> 00:03:26,440
but also I want to invite you to
pray that the Spirit.

64
00:03:27,080 –> 00:03:29,240
Works through your ears.
For whatever the Spirit wants to

65
00:03:29,240 –> 00:03:31,560
say, even if it has nothing to
do with what I’ve got written

66
00:03:31,560 –> 00:03:37,360
here.
So, Father God, we thank you

67
00:03:37,360 –> 00:03:40,800
that you are God and you are
good, and we thank you that you

68
00:03:40,800 –> 00:03:47,560
did send an advocate, a helper,
the spirit, that human wisdom,

69
00:03:48,040 –> 00:03:51,080
human understanding.
Our logic seems really good most

70
00:03:51,080 –> 00:03:54,440
of the time.
But you know a lot more than we

71
00:03:54,440 –> 00:03:56,200
do.
You know more what we need.

72
00:03:56,200 –> 00:03:57,800
So, Holy Spirit, we invite you
to move.

73
00:03:57,960 –> 00:04:00,360
Holy Spirit, move through my
mouth.

74
00:04:00,720 –> 00:04:03,520
Holy Spirit, open our ears,
including mine.

75
00:04:05,120 –> 00:04:12,240
We want to hear you speak.
So Holy Spirit move, Holy Spirit

76
00:04:12,240 –> 00:04:13,960
move.
Amen.

77
00:04:16,160 –> 00:04:21,160
So 20 years ago I was in the old
tiny gym of Campbell University

78
00:04:21,160 –> 00:04:23,720
for some kind of sporting event.
Which is odd because my friends

79
00:04:23,720 –> 00:04:26,080
will tell you I am not a sports
guy.

80
00:04:27,520 –> 00:04:30,880
I have no idea why is there, but
I’m fairly confident I did not

81
00:04:30,880 –> 00:04:33,440
want to be there any longer than
I needed to.

82
00:04:34,200 –> 00:04:38,240
So you can imagine my reaction
when my friend Randy slides over

83
00:04:38,240 –> 00:04:39,960
and whispers.
Hey, Paul.

84
00:04:40,840 –> 00:04:44,040
Don’t go anywhere, stay here
after everyone leaves.

85
00:04:45,160 –> 00:04:47,120
When I asked why, he simply
looked at me.

86
00:04:47,120 –> 00:04:49,640
Coyly said.
I can’t tell you.

87
00:04:50,240 –> 00:04:53,120
And slipped away.
So here’s the thing.

88
00:04:53,200 –> 00:04:56,640
I knew Randy to be a guy who can
make unexpected things happen.

89
00:04:57,400 –> 00:05:01,000
Having enough faith in his vague
invitation to stay, I remained,

90
00:05:01,520 –> 00:05:04,240
even though there were a million
things that I’d rather be doing

91
00:05:04,240 –> 00:05:08,040
with my time.
Eventually the crowds cleared

92
00:05:08,800 –> 00:05:10,120
and though I was tired of
waiting.

93
00:05:10,800 –> 00:05:12,280
Randy still said to.
Trust him.

94
00:05:13,320 –> 00:05:16,440
The clock approached.
Midnight and I still had no

95
00:05:16,440 –> 00:05:17,560
idea.
Why I was there?

96
00:05:19,120 –> 00:05:22,080
Finally, when the gym was empty.
But for a scattered.

97
00:05:22,120 –> 00:05:24,960
View.
Randy glanced around and,

98
00:05:24,960 –> 00:05:28,480
confident there were no Rogue
gears, quietly announced.

99
00:05:29,040 –> 00:05:31,200
We’re going.
To play basketball with

100
00:05:31,200 –> 00:05:34,200
Lifehouse.
Now if you aren’t familiar.

101
00:05:34,240 –> 00:05:37,960
Lifehouse rose to.
Fame in 2000 with their hit

102
00:05:37,960 –> 00:05:40,680
Hanging by a Moment.
Desperate for.

103
00:05:40,680 –> 00:05:43,480
Changing anybody?
There you go.

104
00:05:43,760 –> 00:05:46,560
And Campbell University happened
to snag them for a concert on

105
00:05:46,560 –> 00:05:48,760
campus.
They arrived in town a night

106
00:05:48,760 –> 00:05:51,760
early and when the SGA officer,
Michelle picked them up, they

107
00:05:51,760 –> 00:05:54,560
said, hey, we know it’s getting
late, but we really want to play

108
00:05:54,560 –> 00:05:56,120
basketball.
Is there any way you can make

109
00:05:56,120 –> 00:06:00,040
that happen?
Michelle had to find a way to

110
00:06:00,040 –> 00:06:02,520
get enough guys for a game.
Without.

111
00:06:02,680 –> 00:06:06,320
Alerting the entire campus to
the presence of a rock band.

112
00:06:07,280 –> 00:06:09,360
And she knew Randy was the guy.
To do it.

113
00:06:10,280 –> 00:06:15,040
So as the entire campus went to
sleep, I joined a small crew of

114
00:06:15,040 –> 00:06:18,640
guys in losing to Billboard
Music award-winning Life House

115
00:06:18,640 –> 00:06:22,840
in a pickup game of basketball.
I even have a photo evidence of

116
00:06:22,840 –> 00:06:27,560
hanging by a moment with them.
Now I nearly missed this

117
00:06:27,560 –> 00:06:29,080
opportunity.
I was.

118
00:06:29,160 –> 00:06:31,840
Far from satisfied with Randy’s
explanation, and was.

119
00:06:31,840 –> 00:06:34,120
Sure, I had better.
Plans for my night.

120
00:06:35,280 –> 00:06:39,120
I believed Randy knew something
I didn’t, but since he wasn’t

121
00:06:39,120 –> 00:06:41,720
going to force me.
To stay I had.

122
00:06:41,720 –> 00:06:43,560
To commit to remaining in that
space.

123
00:06:44,160 –> 00:06:47,160
I had to choose to believe.
His plan was better than mine

124
00:06:47,560 –> 00:06:50,240
and stay at the table no matter
how long and confusing it

125
00:06:50,240 –> 00:06:53,480
became.
Now, over the last four months,

126
00:06:53,760 –> 00:06:57,520
we have spent time learning of
another strange invitation to

127
00:06:57,520 –> 00:07:01,840
commit to a Kingdom that often
makes no sense and presents

128
00:07:01,840 –> 00:07:05,600
significant unknowns.
We’ve explored scripture where

129
00:07:05,600 –> 00:07:07,680
Jesus.
Attempts to describe what this

130
00:07:07,680 –> 00:07:10,280
Kingdom is like while ultimately
knowing.

131
00:07:10,800 –> 00:07:14,760
We will struggle to grasp it.
Even to the point of rejection,

132
00:07:15,960 –> 00:07:18,280
his life and message make it.
Clear that to pursue.

133
00:07:18,280 –> 00:07:21,680
The Kingdom takes faith, even
the size of a mustard seed,

134
00:07:22,560 –> 00:07:24,440
though it requires something
more.

135
00:07:27,360 –> 00:07:31,440
Jesus says in Mark 12:30 that
our most important call is to.

136
00:07:31,440 –> 00:07:35,040
Love the Lord your God with all
your heart.

137
00:07:35,600 –> 00:07:37,120
And with.
All your soul.

138
00:07:37,440 –> 00:07:42,280
And with all your mind and with
all your strength, Jesus

139
00:07:42,280 –> 00:07:45,320
emphasizes that loving God with
only our understanding, our

140
00:07:45,320 –> 00:07:48,760
mind, or even also our.
Faith, our heart.

141
00:07:49,640 –> 00:07:52,920
Is incomplete.
We are called to love God with

142
00:07:53,040 –> 00:07:54,480
all.
Our mind and heart.

143
00:07:54,480 –> 00:07:56,880
As well as.
All our soul and all our

144
00:07:56,880 –> 00:07:59,680
strength, every aspect.
Of who we are.

145
00:08:00,800 –> 00:08:04,440
This requires a level.
Of commitment we rarely live

146
00:08:04,440 –> 00:08:09,640
into anywhere in life because it
demands everything we want it to

147
00:08:09,640 –> 00:08:11,000
be.
As easy as it was for me to

148
00:08:11,000 –> 00:08:15,320
commit to Randy’s mystery plan,
when God says trust me, we

149
00:08:15,320 –> 00:08:18,640
simply stick around.
The stakes were low.

150
00:08:18,640 –> 00:08:22,160
That night, it often seems the
opposite in Scripture.

151
00:08:23,040 –> 00:08:23,960
It’d.
Be like if Randy.

152
00:08:23,960 –> 00:08:26,880
Said trust me.
There will be something great if

153
00:08:26,880 –> 00:08:28,520
you wait.
But heads up.

154
00:08:28,920 –> 00:08:32,360
You may be insulted.
Persecuted or killed?

155
00:08:32,600 –> 00:08:34,120
There’s a chance you could
publicly.

156
00:08:34,120 –> 00:08:36,520
Be tried for heresy or have a
huge.

157
00:08:36,520 –> 00:08:38,240
Army.
Attack you or get.

158
00:08:38,240 –> 00:08:43,000
Thrown in a furnace.
But trust me though, when it

159
00:08:43,000 –> 00:08:47,000
comes to our willingness and
ability to commit to something,

160
00:08:47,800 –> 00:08:50,120
we all have lines drawn in the
sand.

161
00:08:51,880 –> 00:08:53,200
What?
Do we do?

162
00:08:53,720 –> 00:08:58,240
When Kingdom commitment is miles
beyond all our lines.

163
00:09:00,040 –> 00:09:02,560
Our text today comes from
Philippians 3, starting with

164
00:09:02,560 –> 00:09:04,680
verse 4.
So let’s stand together as you

165
00:09:04,680 –> 00:09:07,160
are able for the reading of
God’s Word.

166
00:09:11,880 –> 00:09:15,480
If someone else thinks they have
reasons to put confidence in the

167
00:09:15,480 –> 00:09:19,920
flesh, I have more circumcised
on the eighth day.

168
00:09:20,240 –> 00:09:22,960
Of the people of Israel.
Of the tribe of Benjamin.

169
00:09:23,160 –> 00:09:27,400
A Hebrew of Hebrews in regard to
the Law, A Pharisee.

170
00:09:27,880 –> 00:09:30,360
As for zeal.
Persecuting the Church.

171
00:09:31,080 –> 00:09:32,600
As for.
Righteousness based on the.

172
00:09:32,600 –> 00:09:39,320
Law thoughtless, but whatever.
Were gains to me I now.

173
00:09:39,320 –> 00:09:42,680
Consider loss for the sake of
Christ.

174
00:09:43,400 –> 00:09:47,840
What is more, I consider
everything a loss because of the

175
00:09:47,840 –> 00:09:50,880
surpassing worth of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord.

176
00:09:51,120 –> 00:09:56,240
For whose sake I have.
Lost all things I consider them.

177
00:09:56,360 –> 00:10:01,360
Garbage that.
I may gain Christ and be found

178
00:10:01,400 –> 00:10:04,600
in Him, not having a
righteousness of my own that

179
00:10:04,600 –> 00:10:06,600
comes from the law.
But that which is.

180
00:10:06,600 –> 00:10:09,800
Through faith in Christ.
The righteousness that comes

181
00:10:09,800 –> 00:10:14,240
from God on the basis of faith,
I want to know.

182
00:10:14,240 –> 00:10:17,320
Christ, yes.
To know the power of his

183
00:10:17,320 –> 00:10:22,720
resurrection and participation
in his sufferings, becoming like

184
00:10:22,720 –> 00:10:26,880
Him in his death, and so somehow
attaining to the resurrection

185
00:10:26,880 –> 00:10:30,560
from the dead not.
That I have already.

186
00:10:30,560 –> 00:10:33,040
Obtained all this or have
already arrived at my.

187
00:10:33,040 –> 00:10:36,840
Goal, but I pressed.
On to take hold of.

188
00:10:36,840 –> 00:10:41,680
That for which Christ Jesus?
Took hold of me, brothers and

189
00:10:41,680 –> 00:10:44,680
sisters I do not consider myself
to have taken.

190
00:10:44,680 –> 00:10:48,560
Hold of it, but.
One thing I do forgetting what

191
00:10:48,560 –> 00:10:51,400
is behind and straining toward.
What is ahead I.

192
00:10:51,400 –> 00:10:54,120
Press on toward to the goal to
win the prize.

193
00:10:54,320 –> 00:10:57,400
For which God?
Has called me heavenward in

194
00:10:57,400 –> 00:11:01,040
Christ Jesus.
All of us then, who are mature.

195
00:11:01,040 –> 00:11:04,600
Should take such a view.
Of things, and if on some point

196
00:11:04,600 –> 00:11:08,800
you think differently, that too
God will make clear to you only.

197
00:11:09,400 –> 00:11:12,800
Let us live up to what we have
already.

198
00:11:12,800 –> 00:11:17,160
Attained join together and
following my example brothers

199
00:11:17,160 –> 00:11:18,800
and sisters and just.
As you have.

200
00:11:18,800 –> 00:11:20,960
Us as a model.
Keep your eyes on those.

201
00:11:20,960 –> 00:11:23,280
Who live as we do, for as I
have.

202
00:11:23,280 –> 00:11:25,440
Often told you before and now
tell you again.

203
00:11:25,440 –> 00:11:29,280
Even with tears.
Many live as enemies.

204
00:11:29,440 –> 00:11:33,080
Of the cross of Christ their.
Destiny is destruction, their

205
00:11:33,080 –> 00:11:35,880
God is their stomach, and their
glory is in their shame.

206
00:11:37,040 –> 00:11:40,160
Their mind is set on earthly
things.

207
00:11:41,000 –> 00:11:46,920
But our.
Citizenship is in heaven and we.

208
00:11:46,920 –> 00:11:50,280
Eagerly await a savior.
From there the Lord.

209
00:11:50,520 –> 00:11:53,720
Jesus Christ who?
By the power that enables him to

210
00:11:53,720 –> 00:11:58,280
bring everything under his
control will transform our

211
00:11:58,280 –> 00:12:00,400
lowly.
Bodies so that they will be like

212
00:12:00,400 –> 00:12:04,440
his glorious body.
Thanks be to God may be seated.

213
00:12:07,320 –> 00:12:11,320
Our citizenship is in heaven
now.

214
00:12:11,320 –> 00:12:13,560
This is the promise of the
Kingdom comes sermon series.

215
00:12:13,760 –> 00:12:15,120
We do not have to.
Settle.

216
00:12:15,240 –> 00:12:18,680
For any of these fallible
earthly kingdoms, nor be under

217
00:12:18,680 –> 00:12:20,520
the control.
Of corrupt earthly.

218
00:12:20,520 –> 00:12:23,040
Leaders, we are invited to a
Kingdom whose.

219
00:12:23,040 –> 00:12:26,160
Savior has.
The power to bring everything

220
00:12:26,360 –> 00:12:29,200
under his control and transform
us into something.

221
00:12:29,200 –> 00:12:31,600
Glorious.
We’ve heard this.

222
00:12:32,480 –> 00:12:37,920
Perhaps we believe it.
Maybe we want to seek it, but if

223
00:12:37,920 –> 00:12:40,520
you’re like me.
It’s easy to stop.

224
00:12:40,520 –> 00:12:44,200
At the line in the sand, unable
to take another step toward

225
00:12:44,200 –> 00:12:47,160
Kingdom commitment.
It’s easy to choose.

226
00:12:47,160 –> 00:12:51,400
These earthly kingdoms and as a
result live as enemies of.

227
00:12:51,400 –> 00:12:54,440
The cross of Christ.
Following other gods as we set

228
00:12:54,440 –> 00:12:58,640
our minds on earthly things.
So I want to take us.

229
00:12:58,640 –> 00:13:02,680
To a hard place but before I do.
I want you to know that there is

230
00:13:02,680 –> 00:13:07,080
good news ahead.
If we feel the weight of the.

231
00:13:07,080 –> 00:13:09,640
Heart.
It might actually position us to

232
00:13:09,640 –> 00:13:12,560
embrace the good.
So here’s the hard place.

233
00:13:14,160 –> 00:13:19,760
Committing to God’s Kingdom may
be impossible for even the best

234
00:13:19,760 –> 00:13:22,320
of us now.
We see this throughout

235
00:13:22,320 –> 00:13:25,240
Scripture.
In Luke 9, we encounter several

236
00:13:25,240 –> 00:13:27,040
potential disciples invited to
follow.

237
00:13:27,120 –> 00:13:30,880
Jesus who say yes.
But first I need to do

238
00:13:30,880 –> 00:13:34,400
something.
And Jesus bluntly responds in

239
00:13:34,400 –> 00:13:37,640
verse 62.
No one who puts a hand to the

240
00:13:37,640 –> 00:13:39,520
plow and looks back.
Is fit.

241
00:13:39,520 –> 00:13:41,320
For service in the Kingdom of
God.

242
00:13:42,680 –> 00:13:46,080
They desired to seek.
The Kingdom, but their minds

243
00:13:46,080 –> 00:13:47,880
held other things as higher.
Priorities.

244
00:13:49,400 –> 00:13:52,720
In Matthew 19 we meet a man who
has kept all the commandments

245
00:13:52,720 –> 00:13:54,760
but can tell something is
missing and so.

246
00:13:54,760 –> 00:13:58,240
Asks Jesus.
Teacher, what good thing must.

247
00:13:58,240 –> 00:14:02,360
I do to inherit.
Internal life when Jesus tells

248
00:14:02,360 –> 00:14:05,440
him to sell everything.
He walks away sorrowful.

249
00:14:06,320 –> 00:14:10,960
He desired to seek the.
Kingdom, but the cost seemed too

250
00:14:10,960 –> 00:14:14,680
great in Isaiah. 58 God
describes.

251
00:14:14,680 –> 00:14:19,160
A body of people saying day
after day they seek me out, They

252
00:14:19,160 –> 00:14:23,800
seem eager to know my ways and
then reveals that their fasting

253
00:14:23,800 –> 00:14:26,120
is actually yielding the
oppression and harm of others.

254
00:14:27,120 –> 00:14:31,160
They desired to seek.
The Kingdom daily but continue

255
00:14:31,160 –> 00:14:33,120
to live in the.
Old self focused.

256
00:14:33,120 –> 00:14:38,000
Human Kingdom and John 6.
Jesus’s teachings get harder,

257
00:14:38,360 –> 00:14:41,600
and when a large group of
disciples grumble, Jesus makes

258
00:14:41,600 –> 00:14:43,840
it clear that flesh would never
be.

259
00:14:43,840 –> 00:14:46,720
Able to accept his words.
And they needed the Spirit from

260
00:14:46,720 –> 00:14:51,200
God in order to follow Him.
John 6. 66 follows.

261
00:14:51,640 –> 00:14:55,360
From this time, many of his
disciples turned back and no

262
00:14:55,360 –> 00:14:59,200
longer followed him.
They desired to seek.

263
00:14:59,280 –> 00:15:02,080
The Kingdom giving up their.
Livelihoods to do.

264
00:15:02,080 –> 00:15:05,200
So.
But it became far too confusing,

265
00:15:05,600 –> 00:15:08,840
foolish and difficult.
And we’ve already.

266
00:15:08,840 –> 00:15:12,160
Heard the Apostle Paul story.
He was convinced that he was

267
00:15:12,160 –> 00:15:13,720
seeking first the Kingdom of God
is.

268
00:15:13,720 –> 00:15:17,000
Righteousness as he faultlessly
followed every Jewish.

269
00:15:17,000 –> 00:15:20,640
Tradition from infancy,
religiously excelling to become

270
00:15:20,640 –> 00:15:21,720
a.
Hebrew of Hebrew.

271
00:15:22,040 –> 00:15:25,480
Hebrews and revered Pharisee
entrusted with rooting out and

272
00:15:25,480 –> 00:15:27,400
eliminating all threats to God’s
Kingdom.

273
00:15:28,000 –> 00:15:31,160
He was the best of the best.
And then Jesus knocked him off

274
00:15:31,160 –> 00:15:36,200
his feet.
Imagine the pain of that moment

275
00:15:36,600 –> 00:15:38,800
when all his.
Efforts to serve God.

276
00:15:38,800 –> 00:15:45,320
Seemed to be for nothing, all
his understanding flawed so much

277
00:15:45,320 –> 00:15:51,240
of his life.
Wasted all of these stories.

278
00:15:51,840 –> 00:15:56,280
Reveal the limitations of our
good intentions, our efforts,

279
00:15:56,640 –> 00:15:59,000
our knowledge.
Our expertise, our.

280
00:15:59,000 –> 00:16:03,040
Outcomes our confidence the.
Best of us.

281
00:16:03,480 –> 00:16:07,240
On our best day, can find
ourselves like any of these,

282
00:16:07,720 –> 00:16:12,080
invited to commit to the Kingdom
and falling short.

283
00:16:14,840 –> 00:16:18,240
This is.
Such hard news because we have

284
00:16:18,240 –> 00:16:20,640
all been there.
We know what.

285
00:16:20,640 –> 00:16:24,680
It is to desire to seek God.
To make efforts to pursue him

286
00:16:25,520 –> 00:16:28,000
only to misstep.
Or get distracted.

287
00:16:28,400 –> 00:16:32,560
Or outright reject him.
If you’re like me, you have a

288
00:16:32,560 –> 00:16:38,560
long list, a daily list, even an
hourly list of not committing to

289
00:16:38,560 –> 00:16:41,000
the Kingdom of God.
Paul captures it.

290
00:16:41,000 –> 00:16:45,400
Well, in Romans 7, beginning in
verse 14, we know.

291
00:16:46,080 –> 00:16:50,280
That the law is spiritual but.
I am unspiritual.

292
00:16:50,680 –> 00:16:55,080
Sold as a slave.
To sin I do not understand what

293
00:16:55,080 –> 00:16:59,200
I do.
For what I want to do, I do not

294
00:16:59,200 –> 00:17:03,080
do.
But what I hate, I do.

295
00:17:04,319 –> 00:17:06,359
And if I do what I do not want
to do.

296
00:17:06,520 –> 00:17:09,200
I agree that the law is good as
it is.

297
00:17:09,200 –> 00:17:11,119
It is no longer I myself.
Who do it?

298
00:17:11,160 –> 00:17:14,359
But it is sin living in me, for
I know.

299
00:17:14,359 –> 00:17:17,319
That good itself does.
Not dwell on me, that is in my

300
00:17:17,319 –> 00:17:22,119
sinful nature.
For I have the desire to do what

301
00:17:22,119 –> 00:17:24,440
is good.
But I cannot.

302
00:17:24,440 –> 00:17:27,800
Carry it out.
For I do not do the good that I

303
00:17:27,800 –> 00:17:29,160
want to do.
But the evil.

304
00:17:29,440 –> 00:17:32,520
I do not want to do this.
I keep on doing.

305
00:17:34,200 –> 00:17:37,760
Now if I do what I do not want
to do, it is no longer I who do

306
00:17:37,760 –> 00:17:39,920
it, but it is sin living in me
that does it.

307
00:17:40,440 –> 00:17:43,800
So I find this law at work,
although I want to do good.

308
00:17:44,000 –> 00:17:48,640
Evil is right there with me.
For in my inner being I delight

309
00:17:48,640 –> 00:17:52,320
in God’s law, but I see another
law at work in me, waging war

310
00:17:52,320 –> 00:17:55,360
against the law of my mind and
making me a prisoner of the law

311
00:17:55,360 –> 00:18:00,080
of sin at work within me.
What a wretched man I am.

312
00:18:01,240 –> 00:18:03,440
Who will?
Rescue me from this body that

313
00:18:03,440 –> 00:18:04,920
is.
Subject to death.

314
00:18:07,760 –> 00:18:10,440
More than many.
Others Paul explicitly.

315
00:18:10,440 –> 00:18:12,840
Knew how he was.
Called to live.

316
00:18:13,960 –> 00:18:18,240
And so when he with his own
heart, mind, soul and strength.

317
00:18:18,240 –> 00:18:22,400
Did the opposite.
He felt wretched, the chief of

318
00:18:22,400 –> 00:18:27,800
sinners, Jesus says.
No one who puts a hand to the

319
00:18:27,800 –> 00:18:30,040
plow and looks back is.
Fit for the service.

320
00:18:30,080 –> 00:18:32,960
To the Kingdom of God.
And if even the Apostle Paul

321
00:18:32,960 –> 00:18:36,440
can’t do it?
What hope is there for us to?

322
00:18:36,440 –> 00:18:40,640
Serve the Kingdom.
What a wretched.

323
00:18:40,640 –> 00:18:43,880
Man I am, who will rescue me
from this?

324
00:18:43,880 –> 00:18:49,240
Body that is subject to death.
Thanks be to God who delivers

325
00:18:49,240 –> 00:18:51,760
me.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

326
00:18:53,360 –> 00:18:56,240
Not that I have already obtained
all this or have already arrived

327
00:18:56,240 –> 00:18:58,720
at my goal, but I press on to
take hold of.

328
00:18:58,720 –> 00:19:04,720
That for which Christ Jesus?
Took hold of me our citizenship

329
00:19:04,720 –> 00:19:07,720
is in heaven and we.
Eagerly await a.

330
00:19:07,720 –> 00:19:12,080
Savior from there.
The Lord Jesus Christ who?

331
00:19:12,360 –> 00:19:15,280
By the power that enables him to
bring everything under his

332
00:19:15,280 –> 00:19:19,320
control will transform our
lowly.

333
00:19:19,320 –> 00:19:25,160
Bodies so that they will be like
His glorious body, Jesus.

334
00:19:25,400 –> 00:19:31,680
Is the good news.
It is impossible for us to fully

335
00:19:31,680 –> 00:19:34,960
commit to the Kingdom.
But what is?

336
00:19:34,960 –> 00:19:38,160
Impossible with man.
Is possible with God?

337
00:19:38,680 –> 00:19:44,720
Luke 1827 One of the reasons
it’s impossible is we don’t

338
00:19:44,720 –> 00:19:48,680
comprehend the Kingdom, one of
the ways God makes it.

339
00:19:48,680 –> 00:19:52,280
Possible.
Is he is revealing his mysteries

340
00:19:53,560 –> 00:19:55,280
for centuries his words?
Were studied.

341
00:19:55,600 –> 00:19:59,480
But the fullness missed, as
Isaiah 69 puts it, be ever

342
00:19:59,480 –> 00:20:03,680
hearing but never understanding,
be ever seeing but never

343
00:20:03,680 –> 00:20:08,000
perceiving, and a desire to
understand them, perhaps even

344
00:20:08,000 –> 00:20:10,760
control them.
God’s words were molded and

345
00:20:10,760 –> 00:20:14,000
contorted to fit into our
earthly kingdoms, creating

346
00:20:14,000 –> 00:20:16,800
fruitless, conflicting, often
destructive.

347
00:20:16,800 –> 00:20:19,480
Paths.
God sent prophets.

348
00:20:19,480 –> 00:20:22,600
To clarify his voice.
Though many didn’t want to hear

349
00:20:22,600 –> 00:20:27,560
it, Jesus came and spent years
revealing the truth.

350
00:20:27,560 –> 00:20:30,320
Of God’s Word.
Though people misunderstood the

351
00:20:30,320 –> 00:20:31,880
Kingdom so.
Thoroughly.

352
00:20:32,160 –> 00:20:36,120
They called him a heretic, he
replies in Matthew 517.

353
00:20:36,920 –> 00:20:38,960
I do not think I have come to
abolish.

354
00:20:38,960 –> 00:20:40,320
The law or the?
Prophets.

355
00:20:41,000 –> 00:20:44,560
I have not come to abolish them,
but to fulfill them.

356
00:20:45,800 –> 00:20:49,960
At one point Peter catches a
glimpse of the Kingdom and Jesus

357
00:20:49,960 –> 00:20:51,560
was quick to make it.
Clear how?

358
00:20:52,320 –> 00:20:56,360
This was not revealed to you by
flesh and blood, but by my

359
00:20:56,360 –> 00:20:59,240
Father in heaven.
Matthew 1617.

360
00:21:00,000 –> 00:21:02,800
In fact, Jesus knew it.
Would be so hard.

361
00:21:02,800 –> 00:21:06,120
For them to embrace the Kingdom.
That there was already.

362
00:21:06,200 –> 00:21:09,600
Another plan in place.
All this I have.

363
00:21:09,600 –> 00:21:13,080
Spoken while still.
With you but the Advocate, the

364
00:21:13,080 –> 00:21:15,840
Holy Spirit.
Whom the Father will send in my

365
00:21:15,840 –> 00:21:17,240
name.
Will.

366
00:21:17,480 –> 00:21:22,040
Teach you all things and will
remind you of everything I have

367
00:21:22,040 –> 00:21:26,280
said to you.
John, 1425 through 20. 6 this.

368
00:21:26,280 –> 00:21:29,240
Spirit then goes on to speak
through Peter and Steven and

369
00:21:29,240 –> 00:21:32,320
others and acts revealing
spiritual reality through

370
00:21:32,320 –> 00:21:35,400
uneducated mouths.
The Spirit even spoke through

371
00:21:35,400 –> 00:21:38,840
educated mouths, upending the
false understandings to make way

372
00:21:38,840 –> 00:21:42,760
for truth, as Paul says in
Colossians 125 through 27.

373
00:21:43,400 –> 00:21:47,280
I have become its servant by the
Commission God gave me to

374
00:21:47,280 –> 00:21:52,000
present to you the Word of God
in its fullness the mystery that

375
00:21:52,000 –> 00:21:55,520
has been kept hidden for ages
and generations, but is now

376
00:21:55,760 –> 00:21:56,760
disclosed.
To the Lord’s.

377
00:21:56,760 –> 00:22:00,400
People to them God has chosen to
make known among the gentiles

378
00:22:00,400 –> 00:22:01,760
the.
Glorious riches.

379
00:22:01,760 –> 00:22:06,640
Of this mystery, which.
Is Christ in you the hope of

380
00:22:06,640 –> 00:22:10,320
glory?
This brings us.

381
00:22:10,480 –> 00:22:13,600
To today.
The mysteries of God have been

382
00:22:13,600 –> 00:22:16,280
revealed.
While we are still wrapped up.

383
00:22:16,640 –> 00:22:20,040
In our earthly kingdoms, and he
invites us to commit in a way

384
00:22:20,360 –> 00:22:23,440
far beyond our capacities and
desires.

385
00:22:26,160 –> 00:22:31,240
Kingdom commitment comes not.
Through us, but the Spirit

386
00:22:31,800 –> 00:22:35,480
through us.
We need the spirit.

387
00:22:36,320 –> 00:22:38,040
We continue to live as though we
don’t.

388
00:22:40,040 –> 00:22:43,120
When we let earthly kingdoms
hold real estate in our hearts,

389
00:22:43,320 –> 00:22:47,040
minds, souls, and strength, we
can end up not just missing the

390
00:22:47,040 –> 00:22:51,880
Kingdom of God, but opposing it.
We just talked about the Spirit.

391
00:22:51,880 –> 00:22:54,080
Revealing the truth of.
Jesus to Peter.

392
00:22:54,840 –> 00:22:57,400
Do you know what happens near
verses later?

393
00:22:58,320 –> 00:23:01,160
His mind is so caught in his
human Kingdom understanding.

394
00:23:01,160 –> 00:23:06,720
That he rebukes Jesus.
For not avoiding death, Peter

395
00:23:06,720 –> 00:23:09,440
took him aside and began to
rebuke him.

396
00:23:09,640 –> 00:23:13,520
Never, Lord, he said, This shall
never happen to you.

397
00:23:15,040 –> 00:23:19,040
Jesus turned and said to Peter,
Get behind me, Satan.

398
00:23:19,880 –> 00:23:21,800
You are a.
Stumbling block to me.

399
00:23:22,960 –> 00:23:26,360
You do not have in mind the
concerns of God, but merely

400
00:23:26,360 –> 00:23:29,840
human concerns.
Matthew 1623.

401
00:23:31,840 –> 00:23:37,520
Let’s be honest, we often don’t
have in mind the concerns of God

402
00:23:37,520 –> 00:23:41,680
either.
Fortunately, Jesus immediately

403
00:23:41,680 –> 00:23:45,360
reveals the way then.
Jesus said to his disciples.

404
00:23:45,640 –> 00:23:49,920
Whoever wants to be my disciple
must deny themselves and take up

405
00:23:49,920 –> 00:23:52,840
their cross and follow me for
whoever wants to.

406
00:23:52,840 –> 00:23:57,760
Save their life will lose it,
but whoever loses.

407
00:23:57,760 –> 00:23:59,600
Their life for me.
Will.

408
00:23:59,760 –> 00:24:04,560
Find it Matthew 1624 through 20.
5 Paul.

409
00:24:04,560 –> 00:24:06,880
Affirms this in Philippians 3,
seven through 9.

410
00:24:07,960 –> 00:24:12,000
But whatever were gains to me, I
now consider loss.

411
00:24:12,360 –> 00:24:15,080
For the sake of Christ.
What is more, I consider

412
00:24:15,200 –> 00:24:20,240
everything a loss because of the
surpassing worth of knowing

413
00:24:20,240 –> 00:24:24,400
Christ Jesus my Lord.
For whose sake I have lost all?

414
00:24:24,400 –> 00:24:30,600
Things I consider them garbage
that I may gain Christ and be

415
00:24:30,600 –> 00:24:36,280
found in Him.
The way to Kingdom commitment is

416
00:24:36,280 –> 00:24:38,080
denying all else but the
Kingdom.

417
00:24:39,160 –> 00:24:42,160
Seek first His Kingdom and His
righteousness, not just first as

418
00:24:42,160 –> 00:24:47,760
in a priority, but foremost
fully all our heart, mind, soul,

419
00:24:47,840 –> 00:24:52,840
and strength.
This will be hard because our

420
00:24:52,840 –> 00:24:56,240
logic.
Understanding and desires are so

421
00:24:56,280 –> 00:24:59,600
convincing, Scripture does not
hesitate.

422
00:24:59,600 –> 00:25:02,560
To call this out the heart is
deceitful.

423
00:25:02,840 –> 00:25:05,600
Above all things and beyond
cure, who can understand it?

424
00:25:06,160 –> 00:25:10,160
Jeremiah 17 Nine do not deceive.
Yourselves.

425
00:25:10,360 –> 00:25:13,280
If any of you think you are wise
by the standards of this age,

426
00:25:13,720 –> 00:25:17,560
you should become fools so that
you may become wise, for the

427
00:25:17,560 –> 00:25:20,640
wisdom of this world is
foolishness in God’s sight, as

428
00:25:20,640 –> 00:25:22,600
it is written.
He catches the wise in their

429
00:25:22,600 –> 00:25:25,680
craftiness, and again the Lord
knows that the.

430
00:25:25,680 –> 00:25:28,320
Thoughts of the wise are futile
first.

431
00:25:28,320 –> 00:25:31,360
Corinthians 318 through 20 for
the Message.

432
00:25:31,360 –> 00:25:34,240
Of the cross.
Is foolishness to those who are

433
00:25:34,240 –> 00:25:37,120
perishing, but to us who are
being saved, it is the.

434
00:25:37,120 –> 00:25:39,240
Power of God.
For it is written.

435
00:25:39,360 –> 00:25:41,240
I would destroy the.
Wisdom of the wise, the

436
00:25:41,240 –> 00:25:43,600
intelligence of the intelligent.
I will frustrate.

437
00:25:44,360 –> 00:25:47,040
Where is the wise person?
Where is the teacher of the law?

438
00:25:47,240 –> 00:25:48,640
Where is the philosopher of this
age?

439
00:25:48,720 –> 00:25:50,960
Has not God made foolish the
wisdom of the world?

440
00:25:51,920 –> 00:25:53,840
But we preach Christ.
Crucified.

441
00:25:53,840 –> 00:25:56,560
A stumbling block to the Jews
and foolishness to the Gentiles.

442
00:25:56,560 –> 00:25:58,840
But to those.
Whom God has called.

443
00:25:58,840 –> 00:26:02,840
Both Jews and Greeks.
Christ, the power of God.

444
00:26:03,080 –> 00:26:05,760
And the wisdom of God for the
foolishness.

445
00:26:05,760 –> 00:26:09,000
Of God is wiser.
Than human wisdom and the

446
00:26:09,000 –> 00:26:11,680
weakness of God is stronger than
human strength.

447
00:26:13,600 –> 00:26:16,960
Trust in the Lord.
With all your heart.

448
00:26:17,440 –> 00:26:20,200
And lean not on your own
understanding.

449
00:26:21,120 –> 00:26:23,960
In all your ways, submit to Him
and He.

450
00:26:23,960 –> 00:26:29,160
Will.
Make your path stream the

451
00:26:29,160 –> 00:26:31,000
kingdoms of this world.
Say that your life.

452
00:26:31,000 –> 00:26:34,520
Is the most important thing the
Kingdom of heaven says.

453
00:26:34,520 –> 00:26:35,760
Whoever wants to save their life
will.

454
00:26:35,760 –> 00:26:38,240
Lose it.
The kingdoms of this world.

455
00:26:38,240 –> 00:26:40,360
Say the here.
And now matters.

456
00:26:41,200 –> 00:26:43,360
The Kingdom of Heaven says the
here and now will eventually

457
00:26:43,360 –> 00:26:48,080
become the there and then, and
only the eternal remains the

458
00:26:48,080 –> 00:26:50,440
kingdoms of this world.
Will say a lot.

459
00:26:50,440 –> 00:26:52,480
And will always miss.
Truth.

460
00:26:54,160 –> 00:26:58,640
Today you have a God who loves
you, a Savior.

461
00:26:58,640 –> 00:27:01,680
Who made a way for you and a?
Spirit that guides.

462
00:27:01,720 –> 00:27:07,600
And equips you.
It is impossible for you to live

463
00:27:07,600 –> 00:27:12,560
into Kingdom commitment.
It is possible for God to live

464
00:27:12,560 –> 00:27:18,040
it through you.
Today we can choose which

465
00:27:18,040 –> 00:27:21,840
Kingdom will hold our
citizenship and then live into

466
00:27:21,840 –> 00:27:24,720
that truth.
It is an invitation that spans

467
00:27:24,720 –> 00:27:28,320
Scripture like Joshua 2415.
But if?

468
00:27:28,320 –> 00:27:31,800
Serving the Lord seems
undesirable to you and then

469
00:27:31,800 –> 00:27:34,160
choose for yourselves this day
whom you will serve, whether the

470
00:27:34,160 –> 00:27:35,920
gods, your ancestors serve
beyond the.

471
00:27:35,920 –> 00:27:38,440
Euphrates or the Gods?
Of the Amorites, and whose land

472
00:27:38,440 –> 00:27:40,680
you are now living, or the gods
of comfort.

473
00:27:40,680 –> 00:27:42,120
Or the gods of wealth, Or the
gods of.

474
00:27:42,120 –> 00:27:47,400
Reputation or the gods of But As
for me and my household?

475
00:27:48,600 –> 00:27:53,760
We will serve the Lord.
I want to invite the band back

476
00:27:53,760 –> 00:27:57,040
up as we marinate in this
invitation.

477
00:27:59,040 –> 00:28:03,840
Today we.
Can choose citizenship in his

478
00:28:03,840 –> 00:28:08,160
Kingdom, and the King can
empower us to commit.

479
00:28:09,920 –> 00:28:14,000
This can all sound profoundly
lofty and spiritual, so let’s

480
00:28:14,000 –> 00:28:19,600
make it simple right now.
You can step toward Kingdom

481
00:28:19,600 –> 00:28:25,120
commitment in a simple way as
the band plays and fight.

482
00:28:25,360 –> 00:28:29,360
The Spirit to speak.
Feel free to use prompts like

483
00:28:29,360 –> 00:28:32,600
these.
Are there ways you are?

484
00:28:32,600 –> 00:28:36,840
Struggling with commitment to
the Kingdom, are there?

485
00:28:36,840 –> 00:28:39,440
Ways you are rejecting.
The Kingdom.

486
00:28:41,040 –> 00:28:43,640
Is there something you are
sensing God inviting you to do

487
00:28:43,640 –> 00:28:46,880
today as an act of choosing the
Kingdom?

488
00:28:48,480 –> 00:28:52,240
How has the Spirit?
Already enabled commitment that

489
00:28:52,240 –> 00:28:57,960
you can celebrate and continue
as you process.

490
00:28:57,960 –> 00:29:00,200
I invite you to engage.
Physically.

491
00:29:00,200 –> 00:29:03,280
By literally.
Taking a step, you can step

492
00:29:03,280 –> 00:29:07,320
towards someone on the wall.
For prayer toward the pillows.

493
00:29:07,320 –> 00:29:11,920
Along the stage or towards
someone nearby sharing what God

494
00:29:11,920 –> 00:29:14,600
has.
Revealed if it all feels.

495
00:29:15,000 –> 00:29:17,920
Too much.
You can even take a simple

496
00:29:18,000 –> 00:29:21,680
discreet to nudge.
Forward where you are to show

497
00:29:21,680 –> 00:29:22,800
God you are.
Trying.

498
00:29:24,920 –> 00:29:28,040
Ultimately, we are seeking to
love God with all our hearts,

499
00:29:28,520 –> 00:29:30,720
all our minds.
All our souls.

500
00:29:31,040 –> 00:29:34,680
All our strength and responding
with our body can bring that

501
00:29:34,680 –> 00:29:41,400
verse to life.
As Philippians 316 exhorts, Only

502
00:29:41,400 –> 00:29:43,120
let.
Us live up to.

503
00:29:43,280 –> 00:29:45,960
This Kingdom.
We have already attained.

504
00:29:47,360 –> 00:29:53,280
Let’s praise one in the spirit.
Father God, we do thank you

505
00:29:53,280 –> 00:29:54,360
that.
You are God.

506
00:29:54,600 –> 00:29:57,640
And you are good.
And we acknowledge that we don’t

507
00:29:57,640 –> 00:30:01,520
really understand that fully.
We acknowledge that we don’t

508
00:30:01,520 –> 00:30:04,360
trust that fully.
We acknowledge that we don’t

509
00:30:04,360 –> 00:30:06,480
pursue that fully.
But we also know that you.

510
00:30:06,480 –> 00:30:08,280
Pursue.
Us, you know.

511
00:30:08,280 –> 00:30:09,360
Us.
You love us.

512
00:30:10,880 –> 00:30:15,840
So, Holy Spirit, we invite you
to move today in this room, in

513
00:30:15,840 –> 00:30:19,000
each of us individually, but
also in each of us as one body

514
00:30:19,000 –> 00:30:20,920
in this room.
We are one in this room.

515
00:30:21,440 –> 00:30:23,000
Help us to learn what it means
to be one in.

516
00:30:23,000 –> 00:30:24,560
Spirit.
Holy Spirit.

517
00:30:24,560 –> 00:30:30,320
You know what it is we need
before we know it, before we

518
00:30:30,320 –> 00:30:33,680
understand it.
So open our eyes, ears, hearts,

519
00:30:33,680 –> 00:30:36,520
mind, soul strength to be
receptive to whatever it is you

520
00:30:36,520 –> 00:30:38,840
want to do today and let us come
alongside each other in that

521
00:30:38,840 –> 00:30:42,800
process.
We acknowledge this verse.

522
00:30:42,800 –> 00:30:46,440
That it is easy.
For our minds to be set on

523
00:30:46,440 –> 00:30:50,520
earthly things, but our
citizenship is in heaven and we.

524
00:30:50,520 –> 00:30:52,800
Eagerly await a.
Savior from there.

525
00:30:52,800 –> 00:30:55,400
The Lord Jesus Christ, who by
the.

526
00:30:55,400 –> 00:30:58,840
Power that enables him to bring
everything under his control

527
00:30:59,080 –> 00:31:03,440
will transform our.
Lowly bodies so that they will

528
00:31:03,440 –> 00:31:07,240
be like His glorious body.
So, Holy Spirit.

529
00:31:07,240 –> 00:31:09,280
Move, Holy Spirit, Move.