Do you know the secrets of the Kingdom? Steve talks about how the Kingdom of God actually works and what it’s presence means for our lives.
What is the Good News? It is not that we will go to Heaven after we die. The Kingdom of God has come to us now, here on earth! We need to repent of everything that is crowding the Kingdom of God out of our lives—taking all of our time, energy, and interest. The Kingdom of God is active every time someone is “born again,” healed, delivered, blessed, etc. Believe it!
A New Lifestyle. God’s Kingdom is not here to change God’s enemies. God’s Kingdom is here to change us! Once we understand that the Kingdom of God breaks in and revives us, we have to learn new Kingdom principles for living. Many things the world treats as normal are illegal in the Kingdom. There’s a new way that we can live and be alive!
Self-help versus Kingdom Empowerment. Jesus offered rest to the covenant people of God, the Jewish people, who were exhausted from trying to be good. He offers us rest now, too, if we’ll only come to Him! We don’t have to wear ourselves out struggling to be righteous. The Kingdom of God breaks into your life; suddenly the things you should do are the things you want to do. Our yokes weigh heavily, but His yoke is light and easy.
All we need to do is turn from ourselves and turn to God. Let His Kingdom into your life, and be empowered with knowledge of the secrets of the Kingdom.
The Kingdom of God doesn’t come to change God’s enemies. [It] comes to change you.
Steve Gray
Further Bible Reading:
Mark 1:15 (NIV)
"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!"
Mark 4:11 (NIV)
"The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you."
Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
I Samuel 22:1-2 (NIV)
1 David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. So when his brothers and all his father’s house heard it, they went down there to him. 2 And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him.
Questions:
What is the Good News?
What and where is the Kingdom of God?
Do I have to wait until I die to be a part of God’s Kingdom?
Who are the weary and heavy burdened that Jesus is addressing?
0:53Revival is [when] the Kingdom of God has ramped up and broken into our lives.
2:46The Kingdom of God is not about us going someplace else. The Kingdom of God has come to us where we are.
3:07Repent of everything that’s crowding the Kingdom of God out of your life.
4:48The Kingdom of God doesn’t come to change God’s enemies. [It] comes to change you.
6:24Everybody today seems to want to find themselves and Jesus said that you need to lose yourself.
12:57The Kingdom of God breaks into your life. Suddenly the things you should do are the things you want to do.
17:00[The Kingdom] breaks into you life with a new power. It doesn’t change the whole world; it changes you. You get changed. You get empowered. Suddenly you’re not trying to do it in self-help, self-power, not even self-will.
