Building God's Kingdom (9/17/2017)

Building God’s Kingdom Requires Action

1st Corinthians 4:20 (NLT)

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

Romans 14:17-18 (NLT)

For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.

Matthew 7:21 (NLT)

“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Right Off the Bat We Have Several Verses That Tell Us We Must “DO” Something:

Live a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit; and serve Christ with this same attitude.

Live by God’s power, and not just talk.

Doing the will of God the Father.

Seeking the Kingdom of God above all else and living righteously.

Matthew 6:10 (NLT – Part of the Lord’s Prayer)

May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

The phrase “your kingdom come” is a reference to God’s spiritual reign. God’s Kingdom was announced in the covenant with Abraham, is present in Christ’s reign in the hearts of believers, and will be complete when all evil is destroyed and God establishes the new heaven and the new earth.

When we pray “your will be done,” we are praying that God’s perfect purpose will be accomplished in this world as well as in the next. And how does God accomplish his will on earth? He does it largely through people willing to obey him. This part of the prayer allows us to offer ourselves as doers of God’s will, asking him to guide, lead, and give us the means to accomplish his purposes.

Since we now know that we are going to have to actually do things in order to build’s God’s Kingdom, what are some of the things that we will have to do to accomplish this? We will have to study; as well as take care of the physical and spiritual needs of others.

Task #1 – Study the Bible

Joshua 1:8

Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.

2nd Timothy 2:15 (NLT – An Approved Worker) and 2nd Timothy 3:16-17

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth … All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Because God will examine what kind of worker we have been for him, we should build our lives on his Word and build his Word into our lives. It alone tells us how to live for him and serve him. Believers who ignore the Bible will certainly be ashamed at the judgment. Consistent and diligent study of God’s Word is vital; otherwise we will be lulled into neglecting God and our true purpose for living.

For Timothy, the “holy Scriptures” were the books of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is important because it points to Jesus Christ. At the same time, faith in Christ makes the whole Bible intelligible.

The Bible is not a collection of stories, fables, myths, or merely human ideas about God. It is not a human book. Through the Holy Spirit, God revealed his person and plan to certain believers, who wrote down his message for his people. This process is known as inspiration. The writers wrote from their own personal, historical, and cultural contexts. Although they used their own minds, talents, language, and style, they wrote what God wanted them to write. Scripture is completely trustworthy because God was in control of its writing. Its words are entirely authoritative for our faith and life. The Bible is “God-breathed.” Read it, and use its teachings to guide your conduct.

1st Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

Some believe that faith is a personal matter that should be kept to oneself. It is true that we shouldn’t be boisterous or obnoxious in sharing our faith, but we should always be ready to give an answer, gently and respectfully, when asked about faith, our life-style, or our Christian perspective. Can others see your hope in Christ? Are you prepared to tell them what Christ has done in your life?