Go! And Live The Kingdom Way Series

Go! And Live the Kingdom Way

Introduction

Church, today we stand before the living Word of God, ready to be challenged and transformed. The command to "Go!" is not just a call to action; it is an invitation to live out the very essence of God’s Kingdom here on earth.

In Isaiah 1:17, we are called to "Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows." These words reflect the heartbeat of God’s Kingdom—a Kingdom where justice, mercy, and love reign supreme.

Jesus, in His ministry, demonstrated what it means to serve and love selflessly. He calls us to a different standard of greatness: “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.” (Mark 10:43-44, NLT)

Today, we will explore how we can go and live the Kingdom way by embracing justice, living with an eternal perspective, serving others selflessly, and praying with purpose.

1. Go! And Seek Justice (Isaiah 1:17)

Isaiah 1:17 (NLT): "Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows."

The prophet Isaiah was speaking to a people who had lost their way. They were still religious, still offering sacrifices, but their hearts were far from God. They had neglected justice, mercy, and compassion. The Hebrew word for "justice" here is mishpat, which signifies not just legal justice but righteousness and fairness in every aspect of life.

Israel’s worship had become hollow because it was disconnected from justice.

Mishpat means advocating for the vulnerable, ensuring fairness, and reflecting God’s righteousness in our dealings.

Micah 6:8 (NLT): "No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

James 1:27 (NLT): "Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

We are called to be the voice for the voiceless, standing for justice in a world that often ignores the vulnerable.

Justice begins in our daily lives—in our workplaces, schools, and communities.

Imagine a courtroom where a judge refuses to hear the case of the poor. That’s what happens when we neglect justice. God calls us to be different—to be His instruments of justice in an unjust world.

Tim Keller said, “A deep social conscience and a life poured out in deeds of service to the poor is the inevitable sign of real faith.”

2. Go! And Live with an Eternal Perspective (Revelation 21:4)

Revelation 21:4 (NLT): "He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever."

This verse is part of John’s vision of the new heaven and new earth, a promise of hope and restoration.

The Greek word for "wipe" (exaleipho) means to completely erase or blot out. God’s comfort will be total and eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NLT): "For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!"

Colossians 3:2 (NLT): "Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth."

Live today with eternity in mind—our trials are temporary, but God’s promises are eternal.

Hope in Christ allows us to endure hardship and remain faithful.

A missionary once said, "I have given up everything for Christ, but in light of eternity, I have given up nothing."

C.S. Lewis wrote, “Aim at Heaven and you will get Earth ‘thrown in’: aim at Earth and you will get neither.”

3. Go! And Serve with Humility (Mark 10:43-44)

Mark 10:43-44 (NLT): "But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else."

The disciples argued about greatness, but Jesus redefined leadership as servanthood.

The Greek word for "servant" (diakonos) means one who serves willingly, while "slave" (doulos) signifies total submission.

Philippians 2:5-7 (NLT): "You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to."

True leadership in God’s Kingdom is found in serving others.

We must follow Jesus’ example in humility.

A caretaker in a large church once said, "I don’t preach, but I keep God’s house clean. That’s my worship."

Rick Warren: “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”