Sunday, October 7, 2024

ESTABLISHING HIS KINGDOM (Part 5)

Key Texts: Nehemiah 4; Matthew 16:13-19

It can be easy for us to focus on the outward establishment of Gods Kingdom and neglect the inward work that He wants to do

Maybe because it’s a more difficult work. It’s one thing to pick up a stone, or many stones, and put them back in place. I can do that… But allowing the Holy Spirit to convict me and then change me and doing the work of conforming to that change – That is way more difficult.

We want to substitute the quantity of outside work for our lack of INTERNAL TRANSFORMATION, somehow hoping that it makes up for it. But no amount of giving or kingdom work will ever make up for our lack of being transformed into His image on the inside. You won’t obtain a better place in heaven or justify your belonging there because of what you have done, especially if the inside of the cup is still unclean.

Here are some of the INTERNAL TRANSFORMATIONS that need to take place…

DOING the things (THINKING and ACTING like) the world does

RELYING on our OWN STRENGTH

TRUSTING God for PROVISION

Not LORDING our POSITION over others

INTEGRITY

HONESTY

HUMILITY

COMPASSION

THE FRUIT of the Holy Spirit (Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Self-Control)