The Kingdom of God

Pray

King Jesus, we come before you, humbled that we get to spend time in awe and wonder as we worship through song. Would you soften our hearts and incline our ears to you as we open your Word. Lord, would you remind us that your Word is a lamp at our feet and a light on our path. Conform us to your image, help us to live our your teaching we pray. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen

Preach

1. The Demonstration of God’s Kingdom

The Regular Attender

Just thinking about this woman causes my heart to hurt. There are so many people just like her that we pass by every day, even at church Sunday mornings.

Luke, Vol. 2—That You May Know the Truth The Kingdom of God

She was evidently a regular worshiper at the synagogue, for no one took special note of her. Due to her infirmity it would have been much easier to stay at home, but to her credit she sought the solace of worship and the Word.

I am so guilty of this, not noticing those who need to be noticed. Sometimes, its not even that I don’t notice, its that I choose not to do anything.

As we launch next week, may our eyes be open to see the value of every person and to seek to meet the spiritual needs of those who join us. My prayer is that we would be a community that sees those who walk in our gatherings like this woman, their faces towards the dust of the earth, Bent by life, as if the years have added burden after burden.

Would our actions demonstrate the Kingdom of God in power for all of us who are apart of this community

The Kingdom Manifested

In the Kingdom of God, all people are noticed, even those who don’t seem worthy of it. Jesus calls her to Himself.

He did for her what he does for all who hear his call and respond by coming to Him. He said Woman, you are freed from your sickness. He recognized that this woman was bound by satan for 18 years, unable to free herself, doomed to stare at the dust, But Jesus in His great mercy released her from the bondage.

This is the Manifestation of the Kingdom. People being freed from the bounds of satan. Our calling as Disciples of Jesus is to bring the call of Jesus to others. To call them to draw near to the one who can loose them from the bonds of satan. Jesus emulated what the Kingdom in its manifestation would look like, people freed to worship and glorify Him. The reality is that there are people who will walk into our gathering who are bound by satan, and we are called to Evidence the Kingdom of God here through laying hands on the sick, praying for restoration of marriages, and bringing the lost brought to Jesus.

As we learn to proclaim Jesus and live out His teachings, we will naturally see the increase of people being loosed from the bounds of satan.

The heart of the woman was revealed in the moment that she was healed. She did not take what Jesus did for granted. She stood upright and praised God, glorifying His name for what He had done for her.

Within the church, this kind of thanksgiving, results from a prayerful heart.

2. The Victorious Kingdom

Through this healing, and Jesus’ response to the leaders of the synagogue, Jesus shows us the ongoing Victory of the Kingdom.

He instructs us on the growth of the kingdom of God through two simple parables.

Unstoppable Growth

Parable 1: The Mustard Seed becomes a plant that provides refuge for the birds of the Air.

Parable 2: The Yeast added to 48lb of Flour. Once the Kingdom of God is introduced, its completion is inevitable. Just as the yeast will work its way through the entire batch of flour.

3. Who will be Saved?

Jesus is talking about the inevitable growth of the kingdom of God, a kingdom that lifts up the downtrotten. And then goes on to say that many will try to enter the kingdom but not many will be able to enter.

People will try to associate with the Kingdom because of mutuality with Jesus, being acquainted with who he is.

Those who make it through the narrow gate will be those who are know Jesus and are known by Him. Not those who know of Jesus.

But the beauty is that People from all over, north and south, east and west will come and recline at Jesus’ table. They will be saved.

Apply it

As disciples of Jesus

Keep your eyes open to those around you.

Seek to actively live out the Kingdom of God

Live to know Jesus more each day.