Kingdom Priorities
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Story:
Church member’s uncle:
Summary of story: Was an alcoholic and dying from liver failure. Prayed one day to the Lord and his liver was miraculously healed and he surrendered his life to Christ.
Fastforward…. He’s a new Christian sitting in church and is prompted by the Lord to give all the money he had (which was in his pocket). Amounted to $500. Refused and refused but before walking out, he relented and gave the money to the pastor to put in the plate. That same day, his wife lets him know that a man came by and dropped off a check for $1500 for lumber he never paid for a long time ago.
Point of story: We are called to listen to God’s voice in the big and small things. Follow His leading. His prompting. We need to have Kingdom priorities over worldly priorities.
Ephesians 6:18–24 (ESV)
18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. 22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
Today we pick up where we left off this last Sunday. With prayer.
verses 18-20 are all about the necessity for prayer.
Paul calls on all believers to pray “at all times.”
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
not just continue steadfastly. That’s a nice motivational speech about how to push through life. No we’re told to do this through prayer.
1. Kingdom priority: Praying at all times through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is the primary way we communicate with God. the way we get direction and clarity. The way we find peace. It’s our lifeline.
But unfortunately we don’t always treat it that way.
Prayer often times becomes a last resort. Don’t let it be that for you.
Instead of having the attitude of “all we can do is pray.”
It should be “We GET to pray.” We get to pray to our Heavenly Father who loves us so deeply. We are getting to pray to the Creator of all things. the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That’s who we’re communicated with! Do we get that!?
And by the way. The Lord knows you. He hears you. It doesn’t matter how eloquent your speech is. Whether you have the right words to say or not. God still hears you.
And you know what’s so amazing? The times we have no words. We can’t formulate the right sentence because we’re just torn up or maybe just in a dry season in our walk. The Spirit steps in for us....
26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
This is amazing! Not only does the Spirit give us the ability to pray and understand God’s truth. He intercedes for us. saying “hey I know you don’t have the words right now, but I’m praying for you. And the God knows your heart. He knows what you want to communicate even in the times we can’t seem to get our thoughts together.
Praying at all times. In the fruitful seasons and the dry ones. Even when we don’t know what to say, take time to pray.
Let’s go back to verse 19-20
and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
Paul’s asking for prayer. How often do we do that?
Some of us in this room allow our pride to get in the way. And we’re unwilling to share our burdens with other people.
I get it. No one wants to be the person with all the problems unloading on the people around us. Sure, there might be such a thing as over sharing.
But here’s some news: we all need prayer. All of us.
But man I think we’re missing out if we’re not leaNing on the trusted people in our life that can be praying for us.
But also notice WHAT he’s asking prayer for.
That the words would be given to him so he’s able to boldly proclaim the Gospel. What a request.
Can we pray other things burdening our hearts? Most definitely. A verse like Philippians 4:6 would say…
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
But I believe it’s worth highlighting this request from Paul.
He’s not only willing to preach the Gospel. He doesn’t just agree that we should be preaching the GosPeL. He’s proactive about seeking out the opportunities.
And he understands that the Holy Spirit empowering him is the only way he’s capable of doing so.
Are we proactive about it? I’m not asking if you agree with the call. We can nod our heads in agreement. But are we actively praying for opportunities to share the Gospel with those around us?
I’d venture to say some of us are unwilling because we know God is going to place us in an uncomfortable situation.
“God I know I should be praying for opportunities to share but I’d rather just go about my day.”
“I don’t wanna bother people.”
“I don’t want to be made uncomfortable.”
Let’s step into that same practice with Paul. Actively praying for opportunities and asking our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray for us too.
What would that look like if as a church we were all praying for each other. That the Spirit would empower and move in our lives, using us to expand the KingDom of God.
It’s exciting! I wonder if sometimes church seems boring to us because all it’s become is a place to gather around sing our favorite songs, listen to a good sermon, and go home. Yeah. that’s boring.
My hope and prayer is that this would become a place where your edified. Where you’re challenged to grow. A place where you come to be uplifted, not just for your own gain, but so that you’d be sent out into this community to proclaim the Good news. That’s exciting.
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.
At first glance there doesn’t seem to be anything profound about this section. Paul’s writing to the church of Ephesus about a dude named Tychicus who’s being sent to them.
provide background on Tychicus.
But notice what Paul’s doing here. He’s providing an opportunity for encouragement.
Much like what we were just talking about with prayer.
Can we encourage each other?
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
2. Kingdom Priority: Encouraging one another in our pursuit of Christ.
Encouraging doesn’t just look like saying, “Hey ___ I like your fit.”
That’s great to say. Some of ya’ll don’t know what to do with compliments. We get all awkward. We don’t know if even saying thank you is okay.
Just take in the compliment. Maybe give one back!
But encouraging goes deeper than basic compliments. This is about the edification of the church. Pushing each other toward love and good works like Hebrews 10:24 says.
It also looks like Galatians 6:2
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
Are we willing to bear one another’s burdens?
It’s commonplace for us to walk past someone and say “how’re you doing?”
or I guess people here say “What’d you know?” the first time RAndy said that to me I was like. Ummm what’d I know about what?
But when we ask how someone is doing we’re not realllyyy asking. It’s more like “Hey how are you doing?” We put on a smile and then move on. I’m guilty of it too. We wouldn’t know how to respond if when we greeted someone with that question they actually stopped and said “well ya know, I’m actually doing terrible right now.”
What would it look like for us to ACTUALLY care for each other. To the point that when we ask someone how they’re doing we really want to know. How they’re doing.
But you know it’s really difficult to bear one another’s burdens and encourage each other if we’re not present in the first place.
Let’s go back to hebrews 10:24…
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
The only reason Paul had the ability to speak into the lives of these people was because he was active and available. As were they.
Some of us can’t even get in church regularly enough to be encouraged. To be held accountable. To care for others and have others care for us. That’s all difficult to come by if we treat this gathering as optional for our faith.
Scripture never advocates for righteousness based on church attendance. Someone can attend church for years and years and still have a heart issue that needs to be dealt with. But the point is, we are called to live amongst believers. To have fellowship and community with brothers and sisters in Christ who we can worship, pray, eat, and simply do life with.
And here at the end of Paul’s letter to the church of Ephesus we get the heart behind the whole letter. This Is for the edification of the church. Paul’s teachings glorify God. The wisdom and knowledge He’s passing on to the believers edifies the church because it’s all centered on God’s glory.
So when we look to encourage, we encourage people toward God’s will and purpose for their life.
We see the heart of Paul at the end here especially. What does he want for the church?
Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
I want peace for you. Love with faith. Understanding that all of this comes from our God. Grace be with all. Just all people? No he says grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.
Is your life marked with peace? What about love? Do you have faith?
Even better question. Do you love Jesus?
3. Kingdom Priority: Loving Jesus.
Story about Caleb from Barnabas:
This past summer we went camp Camp Barnabas. A special needs camp in Missouri. Where our students come in as caretakers and buddies for the campers that week. We had the blessing of going twice this year, and the second time around we got to reconnect with campers from the previous Year. Trace got paired up with a camper named Caleb who had Down syndrome. This was someone our group had the first summer we went. Caleb didn’t say a whole lot usually. Very soft spoken. And when he did speak it was about food or girls. But one day, Trace and I were talking to him about Jesus and he just ran with the conversation. With tears streaming down his face, he started to tell us that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. That Jesus died for Him. That he loves Jesus. He said it in such a simple way. But it was pure and genuine.
This was just a casual conversation, where I honestly wasn’t expecting much to happen. But the moment Jesus was brought up, Caleb couldn’t help but express His love for him. Just like the rest of us, Caleb had his flaws. Flaws that made for an unpredictable week at camp but the conversation we got to have with him that day is worth grabbing a hold of.
This was just a moment. It was honestly a rare moment from a guy who usually didn’t express himself this way. But it’s a moment I believe is worth capturing because it encapsulates the heart we should have for Jesus. A heart positioned to loving Jesus so much that when we get an opportunity to talk about him we get so excited and emotional because we’re reminded each and ever time of who Jesus is and what He’s done for us.
What would it look like for us to express our love for Jesus when we’re given the opportunity?
We’ll quickly realize that every day we have those opportunities.
Paul cared so so deeply for Jesus and the Gospel. So much so that he asked for the church to pray for Him to specifically increase in boldness and ability to spread Jesus’s name. Paul was passionate. Emotional. Driven to proclaim the name of Jesus.
I believe the majority of us in this room believe the Bible to be true. these are real people with real stories, writing about a real God. But at times, we feel so removed from it we kind of treat the things happening in this book as great things that happened back in the day. Rather than great things that continue to happen today.
You know, Paul was an apostle and was given a very Specific role in Christian history that no one here is going to replicate. But, you wanna know something?
He served the same God. Same Jesus. Covered by the same blood. Empowered by the same Spirit that we have today.
The God we read about throughout the Bible is the God we know today. The Jesus who was crucified and resurrected. Who spoke to Paul on the road to Damascuss. is the same Jesus we’re surrendered to today. The Spirit who empowered the believers throughout the Bible, giving them the ability to do miraculous things impossible for man to do. Is the same Spirit who dwells within us today.
Paul was sold out for Christ. Who took up the call that Jesus makes In Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
Why not be sold out? The Jesus we claim to follow calls us to be.
Jesus instructs us to pray. Jesus tells us to uplift one another through encouragement. Through carrying each other’s burdens. Jesus calls us to die to ourself pick up our cross and follow Him.
Above all the priorities that this world tells us we have to have. We are called to have kingdom priorities.
In this passage, Paul is leading the church in learning how to function by prioritizing the right things.
You know this passage has nothing to Do with marriage, finances, addiction, work, etc. But there’s a truth here that can apply to all of that.
often times we find ourselves stuck. My marriage is Terrible so I’m just trying to find practical steps to get us out of this rut. I’m in terrible debt, let me take a Dave Ramsey course. I have an addiction, let me go get professional help.
all great steps to take. More often than not, necessary steps to take. But we completely skip out on God!!!
many times what we’re doing wrong is trying to seek the counsel of man or ourselves before we seek the counsel of God.
Where’s the faith? Where’s our prayer?
I don’t know about you, but my marriage looks a lot better when I’m abiding in Christ first. I stress less over my finances when I’m leaning on Him. Do we see the reworking of priorities here?
We can bring it all the way back to the top of the passage.
“Praying at all times in the Spirit.”
The goal is to be a light to this world. To speak boldly of the Gospel like Paul says. LIrving for the kingdom can’t be done apart from the one who rules that Kingdom.
Are your priorities determined by the kingdoms of this world or by the Kingdom of God Almighty?
Pray.
Response/Invitation