The Kingdom is Waiting

This sermon, “The Kingdom is Waiting,” challenges us to move beyond simply believing in Jesus as Savior to actively submitting to Him as King. It explores what it truly means to enter and live within God’s everlasting kingdom, emphasizing the active effort and surrender required.

Key Takeaways

• Know Him: True discipleship means genuinely knowing Jesus, not just claiming to.
• More Than Savior: Entering His kingdom requires submitting to Jesus as Lord and King, beyond acknowledging Him as Savior.
• Press In: The Kingdom of God is not passively received; we must “press into it” and “take it by force” through spiritual diligence.
• Obey the King: Submission to Jesus’ authority is essential for those who wish to dwell in His kingdom.
• Surrender All: Entering the kingdom means surrendering our will, desires, and possessions to God’s sovereign rule.

Fighting Your Way into the Kingdom

The sermon highlights that entering God’s kingdom is an energetic, “violent” pursuit, not physically, but spiritually. It’s a fight against our flesh, carnal desires, and life’s distractions. We must be determined, like a fighter, to overcome excuses and prioritize God’s will. This involves fighting in prayer and living with intentional focus on Him, trusting our King to provide as we seek His kingdom first.

Submission to the King of Kings

Jesus is the King of Kings, and His kingdom operates under His absolute authority. Just as ancient kings commanded unwavering obedience, so too does our Lord. We are called to submit our entire lives to Him, allowing Him to rule over our desires and ambitions. This submission leads to abundant blessings and the right to fully experience His everlasting kingdom, but it requires a daily choice to serve Him and live by His holy standards.

Scriptures Referenced

• Daniel: Describes Nebuchadnezzar’s dream of kingdoms falling and an everlasting kingdom rising.
• Luke 16:16: The kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it.
• Matthew 11:12: The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
• John 3:5: Jesus states one must be born of water and Spirit to enter God’s kingdom.
• 2 Peter 1: Exhorts believers to make their calling and election sure for an abundant entrance into the kingdom.
• Acts 14:22: Paul and Barnabas confirm we must enter the kingdom through much tribulation.
• Joshua 24:15: Joshua challenges Israel to choose whom they will serve.
• Luke 14:16-18: Jesus’ parable of the great supper, where guests made excuses.
• Matthew 19:24: Easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter the kingdom.
• Matthew 6:24: Jesus teaches no one can serve two masters.
• Matthew 13:44: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, for which a man sells all.
• Matthew 6:33: Instructs us to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
• Isaiah 6:1: Mentions seeing the Lord high and lifted up in the year King Uzziah died.