July 7, 2025 • 32 mins
The Kingdom of God stands as a reality more profound than religious practice—it's an entirely new realm with its own culture, values, and priorities. This exploration of kingdom living cuts straight to the heart of spiritual maturity: what does it mean to "grow up before we grow old"?
Creation itself is groaning for the maturing of God's people. When we express our maturity in Christ, we don't just show the world who Jesus was historically, but who He is now—seated at the Father's right hand with eyes of flaming fire, preparing to unite heaven and earth. This maturity requires understanding that Jesus didn't come to establish a new religion or polish up our old nature. That old self was nailed to the cross. Instead, He made us entirely new creations and citizens of an eternal kingdom.
The difference between religion and kingdom is critical. Many places bearing Christian names function more like spiritual cemeteries than living sanctuaries. True kingdom living begins with prioritizing God's kingdom above everything else, seeking His righteousness (being absolutely good, absolutely true, and filled with love), and focusing on spiritual matters instead of problems. Kingdom priorities also include rejecting scarcity mindsets to embrace abundant living, fostering unity within authentic community, and becoming kingdom makers who embody these values in daily life.
This spiritual transformation happens progressively as we follow the Holy Spirit's guidance. Though the church appears divided today, God's presence will ultimately bring supernatural unity beyond human efforts. As we align ourselves with kingdom priorities, we fulfill our calling as "peacemakers"—atmosphere changers who advance God's kingdom not through religious activity but through genuine relationship with the King Himself. What would your life look like if you truly sought His kingdom first?
Loving Yeshua/Jesus, Loving people... Come as you are and you will be loved!
Feel free to check out our website by typing in lifearoundthefire.com or Life Around The Fire ... We think you'll find some beneficial stuff to look at and apply to your life.
Shalom to you and your home.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
It was a while back that we did a whole series on
growing up before we grow old,and it was on the whole concept
of us really becoming maturegrowing up individually, in our
identity in Christ, not just ourpolished up way of doing things
(00:25):
, but really the vision that Godhas in store for us concerning
who we look like as a matureperson in Christ and also
collectively, what we look likeas a group of people.
(00:49):
Collectively, what we look likeas a group of people, and we're
looking at it, I should say, andwhen we're looking at it in a
real clear, sober-minded andmature fashion.
Growing up before we grow old.
Because the Apostle Paul, inwriting to a group of people in
Rome, actually said thatcreation itself is groaning for
(01:15):
the body of Christ, or, as hecalled it, the sons of God, to
be mature.
That creation is groaning forthat.
Because when the body of Christ, or as the body of Christ,
expresses its maturity in Christ, we actually show the world
(01:41):
what Jesus not only looked likehistorically, but what he looks
like right now.
We have a picture of Jesushealing people in Galilee and
all throughout Israel, and it'sa powerful picture and that's
part of the view that God wantsus to convey concerning Jesus,
(02:10):
but also, he is right now seatednext to the Father, the right
hand of the Father, high aboveall other rule and authority.
He is seated and his eyes areflaming with fire.
He has a look about him that ismuch different than when he
(02:31):
walked on planet Earth, and heis returning to fulfill his word
concerning heaven and earthbeing joined together as one and
that we would be one, even ashe and the Father are one.
(02:51):
This whole notion of us growingup before we grow old, and part
of the process of that, is uslearning what his kingdom is all
about, because we have beenborn again not to experience a
(03:12):
new religion.
We don't need a new way ofdoing things with an old person,
our old self.
We don't need to try to polishthat up.
That thing needs to die andthat's why Jesus died.
(03:33):
He took that thing, that sinfulnature, and nailed it to the
cross.
He became sin so we couldreceive newness of life, freedom
from the judgment that wasplaced upon sin, which was death
.
And, by the way, another wordfor death is separation.
(03:55):
When you think of death, youthink of separation.
When one dies, their soul ortheir spirit is separated from
their body.
When we sin, we experience aseparation in relationship,
whether it's with another personor with God, but sin brings
(04:23):
about death.
Now, when we're born again, sinis an event.
It's no longer our nature, butpreviously it was our nature,
and religion is just trying topolish up that old nature, which
is impossible.
We can never polish it upenough to make things right.
And so Jesus did not come toestablish a new religion.
(04:43):
He came for us to become a newcreation.
And in being a new creation, weare now new citizens, citizens
of a kingdom that is the eternalkingdom.
But we're new to it and it'simportant for us to learn the
ways of God, because learningthe ways of God, we learn the
(05:05):
ways of God.
Because learning the ways ofGod, we learn the ways of the
kingdom.
Because the kingdom of God, theculture of God's kingdom, comes
from his heart.
And just like we were born intoa culture, whether it is in
Africa, asia, europe, australia,america, all throughout the
(05:31):
nations, a person born naturallyis born into a culture.
And the kingdom of God is akingdom, a true, real kingdom.
Just like Africa is a real,true nation, it's a real, true
(05:53):
continent.
So the kingdom of God is a real, true kingdom and within it it
has real culture, it has values,it has practices and it has
priorities, just like eachculture has.
And so for us to learn tofunction in the kingdom now, to
(06:16):
learn the ways of God now, isreally important for us, because
we are born into a kingdom whenwe're born again, not into a
religion, not into a churchgroup, we're born into a kingdom
(06:36):
.
Now the church functions withinthe kingdom, but it's not the
same.
The two are not the same, andalso not everything called the
church that has the name Jesusabove the door is a functioning
body.
It's alive.
Unfortunately, there are a lotof places that are dead.
(07:00):
They're more like cemeteriesthan they are sanctuaries,
temples of the Holy Spirit,gatherings where people are
alive.
Oftentimes it's just religionwith the name Christianity
involved.
Jesus did not come to establishChristianity.
He came to declare the kingdomand the fact that his kingdom
(07:38):
would advance and that the gatesof hell would not be able to
stop the church from advancingthe kingdom of God, because it's
a spiritual thing that isempowered by the Holy Spirit.
And so we've been looking at thevalues, practices and
priorities in the past fewepisodes and today we're going
to be wrapping up the priorities.
We've looked at the values andwe've looked at the practices
(08:00):
and if you want to look at themand you've not listened to any
of the podcasts previously, youcan just go back and review that
with the previous podcast andyou'll be up to speed.
For the sake of time, we're notgoing to be doing that today,
meaning we're not going to haveany review.
We'll be looking at the kingdompriorities today.
(08:21):
What are the priorities?
And a priority is somethingthat you can't shift out of the
way.
If you can move it, it's not apriority, right?
If it's a priority, it takesprecedent over anything else,
and Jesus, in his declarationconcerning the kingdom, declared
(08:43):
very clearly that we need tochange our mind and to change
our ways in order to function inthe kingdom, because it's not
something we can do.
Naturally, it takes asupernatural new birth as well
as the recipient of a new mind.
We need to have our mindsrenewed and we renew it in the
(09:07):
scriptures by entering in andliterally having the word of God
revealed in the scriptures.
In fact, the psalmist saysteach me your ways, o Lord.
(09:32):
I love that.
I mean.
We can ask God for a lot ofthings, but those are things.
Yes, I like to have things thatGod provides, but I want to
know his ways.
I just don't want things fromhis hand.
I want to know his ways, right,I just don't want to see his
(09:55):
hand.
I want to see his face.
I want to know him.
I want to know his ways.
I want him to be able toimpress things upon my heart
without having to say a word.
Well, I just know his heart,like Jesus knew the heart of the
Father.
That's my heart, that's what'sin me, that's what he planted
(10:16):
within me.
And now Holy Spirit isfaithfully doing that, not just
in me, he's doing it in yourlife.
If you're born again and forthose who are, praise God For
those who aren't.
And you're listening.
You're listening because you'rebeing drawn into a place of
relationship with God in whichyou will become born again.
(10:36):
And you become born again byfollowing the leading of the
Holy Spirit.
He will lead you into all truthand he will show you the way we
can help.
But we can't change anybody.
Nobody can change a person andmake them born again.
But Holy Spirit can revealJesus to you and you can become
(11:00):
born again.
It's a unique thing.
It's happened to those who are.
And if you don't know whether ornot you are or not, that means
you're not.
But you can know Because Godwants you to know.
He wants you to know him and tohave a relationship with him.
Not to walk around wonderingwhether or not you do or don't.
(11:21):
Same thing with being filledwith the Spirit.
If you've never been filledwith the Spirit and the power of
God, it comes along with that.
If you question that, then youhaven't, but you can.
The good news is you can befilled.
In fact, we are commanded to befilled, which means God
(11:41):
provides a way for it to takeplace.
How?
Once again, that's not my call.
I can be there as a person tohelp facilitate things that God
shows me, but I'm not the onewho can do it.
Only God can do certain thingsbecause they are supernatural,
(12:06):
hallelujah.
So we're looking at thepriorities of God's kingdom and
the priorities that we'relooking at today.
The first one is prioritizingGod's kingdom.
Right To have his kingdom betop priority in our life.
(12:26):
In Matthew 6, verse 33, matthew, of course, jesus is saying but
seek first his kingdom and hisrighteousness, and all these
things will be given to you aswell.
(12:46):
Jesus mandated his disciplesand his followers that were
listening to seek first thekingdom of God.
And that mandate is true forall of us today, that we would
prioritize God's kingdom in sucha way that it would be the
(13:08):
first thing that we look tounderstand, because it's
different in some ways than theculture that we live in, and we
need to be obedient first andloyal first to the kingdom of
God and where it is inconjunction with our culture,
(13:31):
we're in good shape.
But if it clashes, we are firstcommitted to the kingdom of God
.
I'm first committed to thekingdom of God and his
righteousness, which, secondlythe second point in kingdom
priorities is seeking God'srighteousness, seeking God's
righteousness.
(13:51):
Now, that word righteousness, itsounds familiar as soon as we
hear it.
But then, when asked what isrighteousness, you kind of say I
do anyway, like well, it'srighteousness, and we have had a
(14:11):
hard time explaining whatrighteousness is until recently
and part of what righteousnessis.
Some of you will be able toreceive more information because
Holy Spirit will reveal more toyou and praise God.
I love that when that happens.
But here's a runway for you toget started on concerning
(14:32):
righteousness.
Righteousness is to beabsolutely good, to be
absolutely true and to be filledwith love.
Those three things to beabsolutely good, to be
absolutely true and to be filledwith love make up a big part of
(14:55):
what righteousness is,according to God.
The Apostle Paul, again inRomans, chapter 12, verse 3,
says Do not offer the parts ofyour body to sin as instruments
of wickedness, but rather offeryourselves to God as those who
(15:19):
have been brought back to death,to life.
I should say, back from deathto life and offer the parts of
your body to him as instrumentsof righteousness.
So we give ourselves over torighteousness, we don't just
(15:41):
think about it.
We give ourselves over to thatwhich is good, that which is
true and that which fills uswith the love of God.
Fills us with the love of God.
In writing a letter to Titus,one of his disciples, the
Apostle Paul said For by thegrace of God that brings
(16:02):
salvation and the pure to allmen.
It teaches us to say no toungodliness and worldly passions
and to live self-controlled,upright and godly lives in this
present age, while we wait forthe blessed hope, the glorious
appearing of our great God andSavior, jesus Christ.
(16:23):
So we have been given theability to become righteous, not
by doing righteous, but bybecoming righteous, by following
the promptings of the HolySpirit.
It's a real good point ofinformation, because sometimes
(16:44):
we try real hard and we justdon't feel like we're trying
hard enough.
That's because we're doing toomuch.
We're doing too much andallowing God to do things to us
and, through us, teaching us tofollow him and to learn his ways
(17:05):
.
And, once again, it's good news.
This is a process.
This is not a one and donething Like oh man, I missed it,
so I guess I'm out of it.
No, you didn't miss it.
You're not a one and done thingLike oh man, I missed it, so I
guess I'm out of it.
No, you didn't miss it, you'renot out of it.
We're all growing and we're allat different stages, at
different points in our life andat different points in time.
So be encouraged, in fact, thatyou are hungry to know and grow
(17:30):
, versus just being content toreally stay in the same place
that you were before.
Another priority in the kingdomof God is focusing on spiritual
matters.
In writing to the church inPhilippi, the Apostle Paul said
(18:00):
Finally, brothers, whatever istrue, noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever islovely, whatever is admirable,
if anything is excellent orpraiseworthy.
Think about these things right,because we can get caught up in
thinking about so much negativestuff.
(18:21):
I can get caught up easily inthinking about things that are
problems because they are allaround us.
There's no shortage of thingsthat are difficult, problematic.
It doesn't really require anywisdom to point out a problem
(18:42):
Now.
It requires some wisdom topoint out a solution, how to get
beyond that problem.
But to point out a problem, man, we could do that all day and
still be just as frustrated andstuck as we were before.
But if we focus differentlyinteresting, our lives take on a
different direction.
(19:03):
We find our feet going indifferent places.
We find ourselves sayingdifferent things.
We find ourselves meetingdifferent people Doing different
things.
Because our ourselves meetingdifferent people doing different
things, because our focus hasshifted from those things that
are just natural.
Even good things that are justnatural.
(19:23):
They're fading away.
If we focus on things that areeternal, we become more
acquainted with the eternal.
Point.
Number four in kingdompriorities living abundantly.
Living abundantly is actually apriority.
(19:47):
Freedom from the fear ofscarcity, competition and having
a poverty mentality issomething that is absolutely not
allowed.
It is not something that ispart of the kingdom of God, the
(20:13):
fear of scarcity.
Now, there's no judgment beingplaced upon a person's life if
you have that, other than thefact that you're living in it.
That's judgment alone.
Always afraid of not havingenough.
There are people that aremillionaires who are afraid of
(20:35):
not having enough.
They live a life in fear.
They live a life of fear.
Fear is their life, the fear ofnot having enough, the fear of
having a poverty mentality, thefear or having a poverty
mentality.
Some people are poor becausethey can't see things any
(20:58):
differently than through thelens of being poor.
Poverty is a curse.
It's not a blessing, it's acurse.
And there are ways out of it,and that is by knowing that we
have been given abundant life.
Not a little skinny little bitof life, not a little sliver,
(21:20):
but we've been given abundantlife.
Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 20through 21,.
Paul said to the group ofpeople in Ephesus he goes now to
him, who is able to doimmeasurably more than all we
ask or imagine, according to thepower that is at work within us
(21:45):
.
To him be glory in all thechurch and in Christ Jesus,
throughout all generations,forever and ever.
Amen.
He's able to do immeasurablymore, far beyond what we can
even ask or imagine, accordingto the power that is at work
(22:06):
within you.
There's power that's at workwithin you to see these things
take place.
It behooves us to tap into thatpower.
We don't have to have a povertymentality or fear of not having
enough, that scarcity thing.
Or being in competition withsomeone who does have something.
Covetousness, being envious ofother people oh man, I wish I
(22:31):
had that or how did they getthat?
I'm the one.
I'm as good, even better thanthem.
Having competition, envy, pride, jealousy, bitterness, all that
stuff, that's part of scarcity,that's part of having a poverty
mentality.
(22:51):
It's the fear of not havingenough.
Someone else has more.
God's not given us a spirit offear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind.
Point number five in kingdompriorities is living in
community.
Priorities is living incommunity.
(23:12):
Kingdom living involvesfostering love and unity within
the community of believers.
Hebrews chapter 10, verses 24and 25, says and let us consider
how we may spur one another ontoward love and good deeds.
I like that.
(23:32):
Let's consider how we can spurone another on toward love and
good deeds.
I like that.
Let's consider how we can spurone another on Into what?
Toward love and good deeds.
How do you do that?
Well, let us not give upmeeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but let usencourage one another, and all
(23:55):
the more as you see the dayapproaching and the day
approaching is Jesus approaching?
Jesus coming again shouldmotivate us to want to spur one
another on toward love and gooddeeds so that we can become
mature, we can grow up before wegrow old.
It's going to happen.
(24:15):
I just want to be part of it.
John, chapter 17, verses 20through 23,.
Jesus was praying and Johnrecords him saying my prayer is
not for them alone, meaning thedisciples that were there.
I pray also for those whobelieve in me through their
(24:38):
message that all of them may beone Father.
Just as you and I are in me andI'm in you, may also they be in
us.
So the world may believe thatyou have sent me.
I have given them the glorythat you have given me, that
they may be one as we are one, Iin them and you in me.
(25:02):
May they be brought together,complete in unity, to let the
world know that you sent me andhave loved them, even as you've
loved me, powerful.
If there's any prayer that'sgoing to be answered and there
are many, many of yours havebeen and are being answered
(25:22):
right now Mine too, but let'sjust say they weren't.
If any prayer was going to beanswered, that's when it's going
to be answered.
Jesus prayed it.
Because Jesus prayed it, I knowthat prayer is going to get
answered.
And that is that we would beone.
We would experience truecommunity, healthy community,
(25:44):
healthy relationships togetherand I underscore healthy and
together.
Psalm 133, verse 1, the psalmistsaid how good and pleasant it
is when brothers live togetherin unity.
(26:05):
And when you look at the worldaround us, and you look even at
the church around us, it's sodivided.
Even the body of Christ isdivided.
Schisms, disagreements,dissensions, all the stuff that
(26:25):
divides, divides, createsdivision, and we see it.
So it's going to take somethingsupernatural for that to change
, and I believe with all myheart.
The supernatural thing is thepresence of God.
None other than the verypresence of God is going to
create the unity that isnecessary.
(26:46):
I'm not talking just a littletaste of the Lord's presence.
I'm talking about anall-consuming, international
move of God displaying his gloryin such a powerful way that we
are on our faces before him inan extended way and it brings
about repentance and a type ofunity that we've not yet
experienced.
(27:07):
But it's going to take placeand it's going to be his
presence that's going to bringit about.
It's not going to be ourconventions, not going to be our
efforts, even though they havebeen good and some of them have
been even great.
I look forward to more but it'sreally going to be the presence
of the Lord that's going to doit.
Last priority we're going tolist and there are more, but
(27:32):
these are the ones that we'regoing to list the last one we're
going to list is being akingdom maker.
Living a life that embodieskingdom priorities and actively
participates in its expansion iswhat I'm talking about.
Living a life that embodiesthat, not a casual Sunday
(27:54):
morning appearance or abi-monthly appearance or just an
infrequent get-together andshow up and consider that part
of your involvement.
It's more like part of achecklist.
Anything.
Being a kingdom maker involvesthe embodiment of that in one's
(28:17):
life.
Colossians, chapter 3, verses 22to 24, says Slaves and he's
talking about slaves, but it'spertinent to all of us, even to
those who are slaves.
He says Slaves, obey yourearthly masters in everything
and do it not only when the eyeis on you, which really that's
(28:41):
what integrity is.
Being an eye servant is not oneof integrity, because you're
doing it so that other peoplenotice, and you do it when the
cameras are rolling, when thelights are on.
He said when you do it, don'tdo it only when their eyes are
on you, but do it with sincerityof heart, because when you do
(29:07):
it when their eyes are on you,it's only to win their favor,
but when you do it withsincerity of heart and reverence
for the Lord, whatever you do,whatever you work at with all
your heart as working for theLord, not only for men, since
you know that you will receivean inheritance from the Lord as
a reward, that's it.
You'll receive a reward.
You'll receive a reward.
(29:32):
It is the Lord Christ you areserving.
That's the key right there.
It's not people you're serving,it's Jesus that you're serving.
Being a kingdom maker involvesserving Jesus, not people.
If you've been serving peoplein the church, you're burned out
and you're tired.
There's a reason behind it,because people do people things
and people always disappoint us,but Jesus will not.
(29:54):
Anyone who does wrong will bepaid for his wrong, and there is
no favoritism in God.
Matthew 5.8 Blessed are thepeacemakers, for they shall be
called the sons of God.
The atmosphere changers.
(30:15):
The kingdom makers, thepeacemakers, those who make
shalom, will be known as thesons of God.
Being a shalom maker, a kingdommaker, is our call.
It's part of our prioritypackage.
Hallelujah, let's pray, father.
I thank you once again, god,really I do.
(30:37):
How you're going about thingsis amazing.
What you're doing, why you'redoing it, the things that you
impart in the process.
Lord, I ask that you take thesewords, holy Spirit, and that
you would impart truths intopeople's lives and that you'd
bring about a motivation thatwould cause hearts and lives to
(31:02):
align with you, and that ouractions would follow and that we
would be kingdom makers, justlike Jesus is and was a kingdom
maker.
So we follow in your footsteps,jesus, and we look for your
empowerment.
I thank you for it, and westand here in your name and we
(31:22):
say amen.
So be it.
Amen.
Stand here in your name, we sayamen, so be it, amen, amen.
All right, folks, we love you,and if you have any thoughts,
questions, concerns, please feelfree to drop us a line at
lifearoundthefire at gmailcom ortype in lifearoundthefire and
look us up on the web.
We would love to hear from youIn the meantime.
(31:43):
God bless you.
Adios amigos.
It was a while back that we did a whole series on
growing up before we grow old,and it was on the whole concept
of us really becoming maturegrowing up individually, in our
identity in Christ, not just ourpolished up way of doing things
(00:25):
, but really the vision that Godhas in store for us concerning
who we look like as a matureperson in Christ and also
collectively, what we look likeas a group of people.
(00:49):
Collectively, what we look likeas a group of people, and we're
looking at it, I should say, andwhen we're looking at it in a
real clear, sober-minded andmature fashion.
Growing up before we grow old.
Because the Apostle Paul, inwriting to a group of people in
Rome, actually said thatcreation itself is groaning for
(01:15):
the body of Christ, or, as hecalled it, the sons of God, to
be mature.
That creation is groaning forthat.
Because when the body of Christ, or as the body of Christ,
expresses its maturity in Christ, we actually show the world
(01:41):
what Jesus not only looked likehistorically, but what he looks
like right now.
We have a picture of Jesushealing people in Galilee and
all throughout Israel, and it'sa powerful picture and that's
part of the view that God wantsus to convey concerning Jesus,
(02:10):
but also, he is right now seatednext to the Father, the right
hand of the Father, high aboveall other rule and authority.
He is seated and his eyes areflaming with fire.
He has a look about him that ismuch different than when he
(02:31):
walked on planet Earth, and heis returning to fulfill his word
concerning heaven and earthbeing joined together as one and
that we would be one, even ashe and the Father are one.
(02:51):
This whole notion of us growingup before we grow old, and part
of the process of that, is uslearning what his kingdom is all
about, because we have beenborn again not to experience a
(03:12):
new religion.
We don't need a new way ofdoing things with an old person,
our old self.
We don't need to try to polishthat up.
That thing needs to die andthat's why Jesus died.
(03:33):
He took that thing, that sinfulnature, and nailed it to the
cross.
He became sin so we couldreceive newness of life, freedom
from the judgment that wasplaced upon sin, which was death
.
And, by the way, another wordfor death is separation.
(03:55):
When you think of death, youthink of separation.
When one dies, their soul ortheir spirit is separated from
their body.
When we sin, we experience aseparation in relationship,
whether it's with another personor with God, but sin brings
(04:23):
about death.
Now, when we're born again, sinis an event.
It's no longer our nature, butpreviously it was our nature,
and religion is just trying topolish up that old nature, which
is impossible.
We can never polish it upenough to make things right.
And so Jesus did not come toestablish a new religion.
(04:43):
He came for us to become a newcreation.
And in being a new creation, weare now new citizens, citizens
of a kingdom that is the eternalkingdom.
But we're new to it and it'simportant for us to learn the
ways of God, because learningthe ways of God, we learn the
(05:05):
ways of God.
Because learning the ways ofGod, we learn the ways of the
kingdom.
Because the kingdom of God, theculture of God's kingdom, comes
from his heart.
And just like we were born intoa culture, whether it is in
Africa, asia, europe, australia,america, all throughout the
(05:31):
nations, a person born naturallyis born into a culture.
And the kingdom of God is akingdom, a true, real kingdom.
Just like Africa is a real,true nation, it's a real, true
(05:53):
continent.
So the kingdom of God is a real, true kingdom and within it it
has real culture, it has values,it has practices and it has
priorities, just like eachculture has.
And so for us to learn tofunction in the kingdom now, to
(06:16):
learn the ways of God now, isreally important for us, because
we are born into a kingdom whenwe're born again, not into a
religion, not into a churchgroup, we're born into a kingdom
(06:36):
.
Now the church functions withinthe kingdom, but it's not the
same.
The two are not the same, andalso not everything called the
church that has the name Jesusabove the door is a functioning
body.
It's alive.
Unfortunately, there are a lotof places that are dead.
(07:00):
They're more like cemeteriesthan they are sanctuaries,
temples of the Holy Spirit,gatherings where people are
alive.
Oftentimes it's just religionwith the name Christianity
involved.
Jesus did not come to establishChristianity.
He came to declare the kingdomand the fact that his kingdom
(07:38):
would advance and that the gatesof hell would not be able to
stop the church from advancingthe kingdom of God, because it's
a spiritual thing that isempowered by the Holy Spirit.
And so we've been looking at thevalues, practices and
priorities in the past fewepisodes and today we're going
to be wrapping up the priorities.
We've looked at the values andwe've looked at the practices
(08:00):
and if you want to look at themand you've not listened to any
of the podcasts previously, youcan just go back and review that
with the previous podcast andyou'll be up to speed.
For the sake of time, we're notgoing to be doing that today,
meaning we're not going to haveany review.
We'll be looking at the kingdompriorities today.
(08:21):
What are the priorities?
And a priority is somethingthat you can't shift out of the
way.
If you can move it, it's not apriority, right?
If it's a priority, it takesprecedent over anything else,
and Jesus, in his declarationconcerning the kingdom, declared
(08:43):
very clearly that we need tochange our mind and to change
our ways in order to function inthe kingdom, because it's not
something we can do.
Naturally, it takes asupernatural new birth as well
as the recipient of a new mind.
We need to have our mindsrenewed and we renew it in the
(09:07):
scriptures by entering in andliterally having the word of God
revealed in the scriptures.
In fact, the psalmist saysteach me your ways, o Lord.
(09:32):
I love that.
I mean.
We can ask God for a lot ofthings, but those are things.
Yes, I like to have things thatGod provides, but I want to
know his ways.
I just don't want things fromhis hand.
I want to know his ways, right,I just don't want to see his
(09:55):
hand.
I want to see his face.
I want to know him.
I want to know his ways.
I want him to be able toimpress things upon my heart
without having to say a word.
Well, I just know his heart,like Jesus knew the heart of the
Father.
That's my heart, that's what'sin me, that's what he planted
(10:16):
within me.
And now Holy Spirit isfaithfully doing that, not just
in me, he's doing it in yourlife.
If you're born again and forthose who are, praise God For
those who aren't.
And you're listening.
You're listening because you'rebeing drawn into a place of
relationship with God in whichyou will become born again.
(10:36):
And you become born again byfollowing the leading of the
Holy Spirit.
He will lead you into all truthand he will show you the way we
can help.
But we can't change anybody.
Nobody can change a person andmake them born again.
But Holy Spirit can revealJesus to you and you can become
(11:00):
born again.
It's a unique thing.
It's happened to those who are.
And if you don't know whether ornot you are or not, that means
you're not.
But you can know Because Godwants you to know.
He wants you to know him and tohave a relationship with him.
Not to walk around wonderingwhether or not you do or don't.
(11:21):
Same thing with being filledwith the Spirit.
If you've never been filledwith the Spirit and the power of
God, it comes along with that.
If you question that, then youhaven't, but you can.
The good news is you can befilled.
In fact, we are commanded to befilled, which means God
(11:41):
provides a way for it to takeplace.
How?
Once again, that's not my call.
I can be there as a person tohelp facilitate things that God
shows me, but I'm not the onewho can do it.
Only God can do certain thingsbecause they are supernatural,
(12:06):
hallelujah.
So we're looking at thepriorities of God's kingdom and
the priorities that we'relooking at today.
The first one is prioritizingGod's kingdom.
Right To have his kingdom betop priority in our life.
(12:26):
In Matthew 6, verse 33, matthew, of course, jesus is saying but
seek first his kingdom and hisrighteousness, and all these
things will be given to you aswell.
(12:46):
Jesus mandated his disciplesand his followers that were
listening to seek first thekingdom of God.
And that mandate is true forall of us today, that we would
prioritize God's kingdom in sucha way that it would be the
(13:08):
first thing that we look tounderstand, because it's
different in some ways than theculture that we live in, and we
need to be obedient first andloyal first to the kingdom of
God and where it is inconjunction with our culture,
(13:31):
we're in good shape.
But if it clashes, we are firstcommitted to the kingdom of God
.
I'm first committed to thekingdom of God and his
righteousness, which, secondlythe second point in kingdom
priorities is seeking God'srighteousness, seeking God's
righteousness.
(13:51):
Now, that word righteousness, itsounds familiar as soon as we
hear it.
But then, when asked what isrighteousness, you kind of say I
do anyway, like well, it'srighteousness, and we have had a
(14:11):
hard time explaining whatrighteousness is until recently
and part of what righteousnessis.
Some of you will be able toreceive more information because
Holy Spirit will reveal more toyou and praise God.
I love that when that happens.
But here's a runway for you toget started on concerning
(14:32):
righteousness.
Righteousness is to beabsolutely good, to be
absolutely true and to be filledwith love.
Those three things to beabsolutely good, to be
absolutely true and to be filledwith love make up a big part of
(14:55):
what righteousness is,according to God.
The Apostle Paul, again inRomans, chapter 12, verse 3,
says Do not offer the parts ofyour body to sin as instruments
of wickedness, but rather offeryourselves to God as those who
(15:19):
have been brought back to death,to life.
I should say, back from deathto life and offer the parts of
your body to him as instrumentsof righteousness.
So we give ourselves over torighteousness, we don't just
(15:41):
think about it.
We give ourselves over to thatwhich is good, that which is
true and that which fills uswith the love of God.
Fills us with the love of God.
In writing a letter to Titus,one of his disciples, the
Apostle Paul said For by thegrace of God that brings
(16:02):
salvation and the pure to allmen.
It teaches us to say no toungodliness and worldly passions
and to live self-controlled,upright and godly lives in this
present age, while we wait forthe blessed hope, the glorious
appearing of our great God andSavior, jesus Christ.
(16:23):
So we have been given theability to become righteous, not
by doing righteous, but bybecoming righteous, by following
the promptings of the HolySpirit.
It's a real good point ofinformation, because sometimes
(16:44):
we try real hard and we justdon't feel like we're trying
hard enough.
That's because we're doing toomuch.
We're doing too much andallowing God to do things to us
and, through us, teaching us tofollow him and to learn his ways
(17:05):
.
And, once again, it's good news.
This is a process.
This is not a one and donething Like oh man, I missed it,
so I guess I'm out of it.
No, you didn't miss it.
You're not a one and done thingLike oh man, I missed it, so I
guess I'm out of it.
No, you didn't miss it, you'renot out of it.
We're all growing and we're allat different stages, at
different points in our life andat different points in time.
So be encouraged, in fact, thatyou are hungry to know and grow
(17:30):
, versus just being content toreally stay in the same place
that you were before.
Another priority in the kingdomof God is focusing on spiritual
matters.
In writing to the church inPhilippi, the Apostle Paul said
(18:00):
Finally, brothers, whatever istrue, noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever islovely, whatever is admirable,
if anything is excellent orpraiseworthy.
Think about these things right,because we can get caught up in
thinking about so much negativestuff.
(18:21):
I can get caught up easily inthinking about things that are
problems because they are allaround us.
There's no shortage of thingsthat are difficult, problematic.
It doesn't really require anywisdom to point out a problem
(18:42):
Now.
It requires some wisdom topoint out a solution, how to get
beyond that problem.
But to point out a problem, man, we could do that all day and
still be just as frustrated andstuck as we were before.
But if we focus differentlyinteresting, our lives take on a
different direction.
(19:03):
We find our feet going indifferent places.
We find ourselves sayingdifferent things.
We find ourselves meetingdifferent people Doing different
things.
Because our ourselves meetingdifferent people doing different
things, because our focus hasshifted from those things that
are just natural.
Even good things that are justnatural.
(19:23):
They're fading away.
If we focus on things that areeternal, we become more
acquainted with the eternal.
Point.
Number four in kingdompriorities living abundantly.
Living abundantly is actually apriority.
(19:47):
Freedom from the fear ofscarcity, competition and having
a poverty mentality issomething that is absolutely not
allowed.
It is not something that ispart of the kingdom of God, the
(20:13):
fear of scarcity.
Now, there's no judgment beingplaced upon a person's life if
you have that, other than thefact that you're living in it.
That's judgment alone.
Always afraid of not havingenough.
There are people that aremillionaires who are afraid of
(20:35):
not having enough.
They live a life in fear.
They live a life of fear.
Fear is their life, the fear ofnot having enough, the fear of
having a poverty mentality, thefear or having a poverty
mentality.
Some people are poor becausethey can't see things any
(20:58):
differently than through thelens of being poor.
Poverty is a curse.
It's not a blessing, it's acurse.
And there are ways out of it,and that is by knowing that we
have been given abundant life.
Not a little skinny little bitof life, not a little sliver,
(21:20):
but we've been given abundantlife.
Ephesians, chapter 3, verses 20through 21,.
Paul said to the group ofpeople in Ephesus he goes now to
him, who is able to doimmeasurably more than all we
ask or imagine, according to thepower that is at work within us
(21:45):
.
To him be glory in all thechurch and in Christ Jesus,
throughout all generations,forever and ever.
Amen.
He's able to do immeasurablymore, far beyond what we can
even ask or imagine, accordingto the power that is at work
(22:06):
within you.
There's power that's at workwithin you to see these things
take place.
It behooves us to tap into thatpower.
We don't have to have a povertymentality or fear of not having
enough, that scarcity thing.
Or being in competition withsomeone who does have something.
Covetousness, being envious ofother people oh man, I wish I
(22:31):
had that or how did they getthat?
I'm the one.
I'm as good, even better thanthem.
Having competition, envy, pride, jealousy, bitterness, all that
stuff, that's part of scarcity,that's part of having a poverty
mentality.
(22:51):
It's the fear of not havingenough.
Someone else has more.
God's not given us a spirit offear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind.
Point number five in kingdompriorities is living in
community.
Priorities is living incommunity.
(23:12):
Kingdom living involvesfostering love and unity within
the community of believers.
Hebrews chapter 10, verses 24and 25, says and let us consider
how we may spur one another ontoward love and good deeds.
I like that.
(23:32):
Let's consider how we can spurone another on toward love and
good deeds.
I like that.
Let's consider how we can spurone another on Into what?
Toward love and good deeds.
How do you do that?
Well, let us not give upmeeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but let usencourage one another, and all
(23:55):
the more as you see the dayapproaching and the day
approaching is Jesus approaching?
Jesus coming again shouldmotivate us to want to spur one
another on toward love and gooddeeds so that we can become
mature, we can grow up before wegrow old.
It's going to happen.
(24:15):
I just want to be part of it.
John, chapter 17, verses 20through 23,.
Jesus was praying and Johnrecords him saying my prayer is
not for them alone, meaning thedisciples that were there.
I pray also for those whobelieve in me through their
(24:38):
message that all of them may beone Father.
Just as you and I are in me andI'm in you, may also they be in
us.
So the world may believe thatyou have sent me.
I have given them the glorythat you have given me, that
they may be one as we are one, Iin them and you in me.
(25:02):
May they be brought together,complete in unity, to let the
world know that you sent me andhave loved them, even as you've
loved me, powerful.
If there's any prayer that'sgoing to be answered and there
are many, many of yours havebeen and are being answered
(25:22):
right now Mine too, but let'sjust say they weren't.
If any prayer was going to beanswered, that's when it's going
to be answered.
Jesus prayed it.
Because Jesus prayed it, I knowthat prayer is going to get
answered.
And that is that we would beone.
We would experience truecommunity, healthy community,
(25:44):
healthy relationships togetherand I underscore healthy and
together.
Psalm 133, verse 1, the psalmistsaid how good and pleasant it
is when brothers live togetherin unity.
(26:05):
And when you look at the worldaround us, and you look even at
the church around us, it's sodivided.
Even the body of Christ isdivided.
Schisms, disagreements,dissensions, all the stuff that
(26:25):
divides, divides, createsdivision, and we see it.
So it's going to take somethingsupernatural for that to change
, and I believe with all myheart.
The supernatural thing is thepresence of God.
None other than the verypresence of God is going to
create the unity that isnecessary.
(26:46):
I'm not talking just a littletaste of the Lord's presence.
I'm talking about anall-consuming, international
move of God displaying his gloryin such a powerful way that we
are on our faces before him inan extended way and it brings
about repentance and a type ofunity that we've not yet
experienced.
(27:07):
But it's going to take placeand it's going to be his
presence that's going to bringit about.
It's not going to be ourconventions, not going to be our
efforts, even though they havebeen good and some of them have
been even great.
I look forward to more but it'sreally going to be the presence
of the Lord that's going to doit.
Last priority we're going tolist and there are more, but
(27:32):
these are the ones that we'regoing to list the last one we're
going to list is being akingdom maker.
Living a life that embodieskingdom priorities and actively
participates in its expansion iswhat I'm talking about.
Living a life that embodiesthat, not a casual Sunday
(27:54):
morning appearance or abi-monthly appearance or just an
infrequent get-together andshow up and consider that part
of your involvement.
It's more like part of achecklist.
Anything.
Being a kingdom maker involvesthe embodiment of that in one's
(28:17):
life.
Colossians, chapter 3, verses 22to 24, says Slaves and he's
talking about slaves, but it'spertinent to all of us, even to
those who are slaves.
He says Slaves, obey yourearthly masters in everything
and do it not only when the eyeis on you, which really that's
(28:41):
what integrity is.
Being an eye servant is not oneof integrity, because you're
doing it so that other peoplenotice, and you do it when the
cameras are rolling, when thelights are on.
He said when you do it, don'tdo it only when their eyes are
on you, but do it with sincerityof heart, because when you do
(29:07):
it when their eyes are on you,it's only to win their favor,
but when you do it withsincerity of heart and reverence
for the Lord, whatever you do,whatever you work at with all
your heart as working for theLord, not only for men, since
you know that you will receivean inheritance from the Lord as
a reward, that's it.
You'll receive a reward.
You'll receive a reward.
(29:32):
It is the Lord Christ you areserving.
That's the key right there.
It's not people you're serving,it's Jesus that you're serving.
Being a kingdom maker involvesserving Jesus, not people.
If you've been serving peoplein the church, you're burned out
and you're tired.
There's a reason behind it,because people do people things
and people always disappoint us,but Jesus will not.
(29:54):
Anyone who does wrong will bepaid for his wrong, and there is
no favoritism in God.
Matthew 5.8 Blessed are thepeacemakers, for they shall be
called the sons of God.
The atmosphere changers.
(30:15):
The kingdom makers, thepeacemakers, those who make
shalom, will be known as thesons of God.
Being a shalom maker, a kingdommaker, is our call.
It's part of our prioritypackage.
Hallelujah, let's pray, father.
I thank you once again, god,really I do.
(30:37):
How you're going about thingsis amazing.
What you're doing, why you'redoing it, the things that you
impart in the process.
Lord, I ask that you take thesewords, holy Spirit, and that
you would impart truths intopeople's lives and that you'd
bring about a motivation thatwould cause hearts and lives to
(31:02):
align with you, and that ouractions would follow and that we
would be kingdom makers, justlike Jesus is and was a kingdom
maker.
So we follow in your footsteps,jesus, and we look for your
empowerment.
I thank you for it, and westand here in your name and we
(31:22):
say amen.
So be it.
Amen.
Stand here in your name, we sayamen, so be it, amen, amen.
All right, folks, we love you,and if you have any thoughts,
questions, concerns, please feelfree to drop us a line at
lifearoundthefire at gmailcom ortype in lifearoundthefire and
look us up on the web.
We would love to hear from youIn the meantime.
(31:43):
God bless you.
Adios amigos.
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