This is another teaching that I got to lead at the leadership development week in Peru. For people at home, this teaching was prepared for people in the field; however I believe that it is also applicable to Christians at home. As followers of Christ, our lives are a mission field. Ok here it is:
I would like to preface this by stating that the kingdom of God is one of the most talked about, and least understood subjects in the Bible. As I have studied about this I have come to realize that many passages in scripture can be interpreted by different experts, and the conclusions point in completely different directions. With this in mind, understand that I am teaching to the best of my ability, that open-mindedness, prayer and revelation, and diligent study of scripture are important to gaining a better understanding of the kingdom of God. I am not teaching that I have figured it all out and know the absolute truth. Quite the contrary, I would prefer to share what I’ve learned and provide tools for you to use to increase your understanding of the kingdom of God and what your role is in it. The vision statement of our squad this year is, “Knowing, Owning, and Bringing the Kingdom Message,” so this will also be the focus of my teaching today.
Knowing: There are 3 parts to knowing the Kingdom message: What the Scriptures tell us, what we observe currently, and what God will reveal in the future.
What Scripture tell us: The Bible is full of information about the kingdom. (There are 106 references to the kingdom of God in the gospels alone). Study the scriptures to see what God has already revealed about His kingdom. This has been a progressive revelation over time. God revealed his kingdom through creation, He continued to reveal more through His people Israel and the law, and ultimately, Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection which has given us all access to the kingdom of God through grace. Jesus’ life and teachings were all about the kingdom message.
A good place to start is Matthew 13, which includes 6 parables about the Kingdom. Here is one of them:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he has and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” –Matthew 13:44-46
We should be seeking the kingdom constantly with this same fervor, that we would give up everything to be a part of it.
What we observe currently: Take a few moments each day to look around. Observe God’s creation, His kingdom. This can be small things or very big things. We did an exercise before we left this August where we took some time to consider something, anything that we saw and relate it to the kingdom of God. Many things were considered. I chose to consider electricity. In Genesis 1:28 God tells Adam and Eve to, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it…” As I was considering electricity, I thought, “This is one way that man has subdued the powers of the earth. We have harnessed it and are now able to live and innovate in ways that were never before imaginable.” I also considered that these innovations that have come along with electricity are reflective of how God made man in His own image. God is creative and innovative. You can see His creativity in the mountains, desserts, oceans, jungles, and in every face that you see when you walk down the street.
You have the opportunity this year to see some pretty incredible parts of His kingdom, to meet some very diverse people, and to have some unique experiences. Take some time to consider what God is revealing to you about His kingdom each day. This can also be revealed through scripture. As we study, there is always something new that God can reveal to us daily through His Word.
“The heavens declare the Glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” –Psalm 19:1
Share with each other the things that have been revealed to you about the kingdom. Be open with each other about what you have experienced and be open-minded when people are sharing. We each experience the kingdom differently, and it benefits us greatly to hear how others experience the kingdom of God.
What will be revealed to us in the future:
“Now we see but a poor reflection in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” –1 Corinthians 13:12
It is important for us to understand that we do not know everything, and we are not supposed to. We can speculate and we can continue to learn and grow, but ultimately we understand that we are living in a very tiny spec of eternity. God’s ultimate Glory will be more than we could have ever imagined. The totality of the kingdom of God is incomprehensible for our current minds. This makes future revelation a little bit harder to teach about, but exciting to look forward to!
“Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom of God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power.” –1 Corinthians 15:24
Owning:
One description of the kingdom of God that I have heard is as follows:
People of God + Living in the Presence of God + Walking in the Spirit/Power of God = Kingdom of Heaven
What does this mean for you personally? Well…
- Own your identity as people of God, and your place in His kingdom. Own your story, the good parts and the bad. Do not be ashamed of your past, do not be ashamed of your sin, because the redemption of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ brings Glory to the name of God! Do not hold on to the lies that the enemy whispers. Go through inner healing, your identity is not based on what you’ve done or what you have been through. You are a child of God because Christ says you are, and because He saw you as worthy of coming and suffering and dying for. So you can see yourself as God sees you. Most of all do not be ashamed of the Gospel. Learn it, know it, repeat it, and say it out loud!
“Now brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this Gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…” –1 Corinthians 15:1-4
- Own living in the presence of God. We enter into the presence of God through worship. This gives us a glimpse into the kingdom of heaven, and is what we are commanded to do. This can look many different ways as well. It is not always singing worship songs and lifting our hands, although this is great. It may surprise you to know that the only act of worship that was given to us directly from Jesus himself is the act of communion. Partaking in the body and blood of Christ is a way to remember His sacrifice, it is an act obedience to His command to “do this in remembrance of me,” and some people believe that it creates a literal connection to the Spirit of God. Also, today is Sabbath, which is the day once a week with the sole purpose of entering into His presence. We can also worship by simply acknowledging the presence of God in our everyday lives. He is all around us. Just take it in…
- Own walking in the Spirit and the Power of God. If you came to my session on hearing the voice of the Lord the other day you may remember that I said the most important step in hearing God’s voice is obedience. Obedience to the voice of God is a staple of walking in the Spirit. Acknowledging God’s power and understanding ourselves and the gifts that we carry is paramount to knowing and owning our role in the kingdom. This also means recognizing that our role and place in the kingdom of God is of no merit of our own.
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” –Galatians 6:14
What an honor it is that we have to opportunity to be a part of His kingdom. That He cared enough to send His Son to die for us to give us this place, to create this new identity for us, and that we can take opportunities to share that with others. Yeah. We should own that.
Bringing:
Bringing the kingdom message is multifaceted as well. The first component is knowing what you have to offer, and the second is knowing the people you are bringing the message to and how specifically to bring it to them.
Alyssa led a leadership evaluation session yesterday that is a good start for knowing what you bring to the table. It will also be a great tool for building your arsenal in preparation to bring the message to more people. The assessment included rating your strength in the following categories:
- Intimacy with the Lord
- Quality self-care
- Humility and teachability
- Self-awareness and knowing your purpose in the kingdom
- Carrying influence
- Ability to disciple
- Spiritual authority and victory
- Conflict management and feedback
Knowing areas that you are strong in, and areas that you need growth will help you to be better leaders and more effective followers of Christ. There are many other self-awareness tools that we have talked about this week that help prepare you to be effective in sharing the kingdom message. I would recommend you keep all of your notes and review them often!
Knowing the people that you are bringing the message to can be a bit trickier. This can require an awareness of what someone needs in that moment in order to be impacted by the message. Some people simply need to hear that God loves them. Some people require a display of God’s power to open the door to conversation about the kingdom. (Remember that it is not your job to display the power, only to be obedient and willing to be the vessel) You may meet a hiker that will be impacted by you pointing out the wonders of God’s creation. The possibilities are endless. Something to keep in mind is that this is not solely referring to the people you are ministering to around the world. The conversations you have with each other can bring the kingdom message. Be open-minded and willing to learn from each other, but also be willing to pour into each other. Maybe your teammate is the person in need of hearing that God loves them and in need of reminding that they are a part of the kingdom of God. Remind them…bring the kingdom message!
So, in conclusion, study the word and look at the world around you. Get to know more about the kingdom of God each day. Never stop learning about it. Know it.
Get to know yourself and your place in the kingdom, enter into His presence, and walk in the Spirit. Know the simple Gospel. Own it.
Understand what you are bringing and what those around you need in order for you to bring the good news of the kingdom of God to them. Bring it.
Know it. Own it. Bring it.
