Living Worthy of the Kingdom pt. I

Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is

designed to uplift and strengthen you in your

walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until

the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive

right in. But I'll do my best to just read as

much as I can as we go. Philippians chapter 1.

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

Paul and Timothy, born servants of Jesus Christ,

all the saints, Christ Jesus, who are in Philippi,

with the bishops and deacons. Grace to you and

peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus

Christ. I thank my God upon every remembrance

of you, always in every prayer of mine, making

request of you. All we draw for your fellowship

in the gospel from the first day until now, being

confident of this very thing, that he who has

begun a good work in you will complete it until

the day of Jesus Christ. Just as it is right

for me to feel these of you all, because I have

been with my heart in as much as forth in my

chains and in the defense and the confirmation

of the gospel. you all are partakers in me of

grace for god is my witness how greatly i long

for you all with the affection of jesus christ

and this i pray and your love may abound still

more and more in knowledge and all the sad men

and this was our prayer hallelujah this was our

prayer this is still our prayer as pastors that

your love will abound in all knowledge and all

discernment, that you may approve the things

that are excellent in the result of abounding

in love, in knowledge and discernment. You will

be able to approve the things that are excellent,

that you may be sincere and without offense to

the day of Christ. Be filled with the fruit of

righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, to

the glory and praise of God. Hallelujah. We stop

here. for that later on so this year by the grace

of god we have been on the topic manifesting

the kingdom of god and today i'm just going to

speak about living worthy of the kingdom for

the short time that we have you know i'll encourage

you to to read the entire book of leakers because

for the rest of this month we'll be looking at

chapter by chapter each sunday so i just want

you to have a time to study and i pray that as

we open the scriptures who have our eyes open

to truth in jesus name so living worthy of the

kingdom now we've said here in church that the

kingdom of god here we're talking about Is not

something that is physical. You know. We thought.

Even in the foundation. In the cell meetings.

And even. In Sunday services here. Trying to

describe what. The kingdom of God is. We say

that the word kingdom. Is from the word in Greek.

The noun in Greek. Which means dominion. It means

royal power. Or rule. So our role, the kingdom

of heaven, refers to authority of heaven and

it's not a place. Amen? We're not referring to

something that is physical. We're not referring

to something that is tangible. Or rather, a reign

of God, the authority of heaven on the earth.

Now the kingdom of God is not a physical location.

From Jesus' response in the text, he takes for

the year. Luke chapter 17 verse 20. This is just

Luke 17:20

to give us a recap. And then we. We continue.

Luke chapter 17 verse 20. Now when he was asked

Luke 17:20

by the Pharisees. When the kingdom of God will

come. He answered them and said. The kingdom

of God does not come with what? With observation.

Which means that. These people were hoping for

a kingdom. They have an understanding there is

a kingdom that should manifest, that will come.

A kingdom that will come to earth, not that we

are going to the kingdom, but a kingdom that

will come on earth. So the idea of us going somewhere

is not the reality. So they ask the question,

when will this kingdom come? Which means that

through scriptures they have an understanding

that the kingdom of God will come to men. But

the wrong understanding they have is that they

have the wrong perspective of what this kingdom

is. Now, when he was asked by the Pharisees,

verse 20 again, when, which means that there

is a time, when the kingdom of God will come,

he answered them and said, the kingdom of God

does not come with observation. Nor will they

say, see here, or see there, for indeed the kingdom

of God is where? It's within you. Obviously he

is referring to himself. He is referring to Christ

manifesting in their midst. Hallelujah. And Acts

Acts 1:6

chapter 1 verse 6. We see that even after Jesus

has died and was risen from the dead. They still

had a problem. They still have a misunderstanding

of the kind of kingdom that was promised. Therefore

when they had come together they asked him saying

Lord. Will you at this time restore the kingdom

to Israel? Their attention was on what was an

earthly kingdom. You are looking for a political

movement, particularly to the people of Israel.

Some of you will see the conversation in Luke

Luke 24:21

chapter 24, verse 21. Luke 24, 21. I'm right,

that text. Yes, from verse 20 there, where he

appeared to some of the disciples. From verse

20. Go back, go back, go back to verse 18. Go

back to verse 14, I think, from there. 14. Yes,

and they talked together of all these things

which had happened as the disciples were walking

on their way to the mountain. So it was while

they were conversing and reading that Jesus himself

drew near and went with them. But their eyes

were restrained so that they did not know him.

And he said to them, what kind of conversation

is this that you have with one another as you

walk on our side? Then one whose name was Cleopas

answered and said to him, are you the only stranger

in Jerusalem? And have you not known the things

which happen there in these days? And he said

to them, what things? So they said to him, the

things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was

a prophet, mighty indeed, and worked before God

and all the people, and how the chief priests

and our rulers delivered him to be condemned

to death and crucified him. But we were hoping

that it was he. Now this is their misconception.

First of all, they didn't have a proper understanding

of who Jesus was. They saw him as a prophet.

They saw him probably as the matiluda of their

time. They saw him as, you know, the political

emancipator of their time. But we were hoping

that it was he who was going to redeem Israel.

So this made, we were looking for a redemption.

And this redemption was something physical. Indeed,

besides all this, today is the third day since

these things happened. Yes, and certain women

of our company who arrived at the tomb, they

astonished us. When they did not find his body,

they came seeing that they had also seen a vision

of Andrew who said he was alive. And certain

of those who were with us went to the tomb and

found just as the women had said but him they

did not see. And they said to them, O foolish

ones! And slow of heart to do what? To believe.

So, their problem is not only ignorance, but

it's unbelief. To believe in all that the prophets

have spoken. So, all the prophets have been speaking

was meant to be believed upon concerning what

Christ will bring. A spiritual reality and not

something physical. So, we see in Jesus. you

know, cautioning them, rebuking them concerning

their unbelief and their lack of comprehension

of what reason he was bringing to the world.

So we say that the kingdom of God is not like

the kingdom of men. John chapter 18, verse 33

John 18:33–37

to 37. John 18, 33 to 37. Then Pilate entered

the praetorium again and called Jesus and said

to him, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus answered

him, Are you speaking for yourself about this

or the others tell you this concerning me? Article

6. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this

world. So Jesus was not speaking about or was

not bringing a kingdom that is earthly. If my

kingdom were of this world, my servants would

fight so that I should not be delivered to the

Jews. But now my kingdom is what? Is not from

here. Hallelujah. The kingdom is not from here.

And we're also taught that the kingdom of God

is a spiritual reality accessed by what? By the

spirit. It is a demonstration and a walkings

of the spirit of God in the life of the believer.

We see Jesus speaking to Nicodemus in John chapter

John 3 · chapter mention

3. They explained to him how he will come into

this kingdom. When you read John chapter 3, verse

John 3:1–17

1 to 17, you see the conversation. It's a spiritual

reality. And we said also that the kingdom of

heaven or the kingdom of God which is ascended

is manifested through human activities here on

earth. It's manifested through human activities.

Through preaching of the gospel accompanied by

miraculous signs and wonders. And we also notify

clearly that we who are believers, who have received

the gospel, are members of God's kingdom. We

are not looking forward to a kingdom of God,

but we are already in the kingdom of God. So

if you are looking forward to a time where you

die, and then you will find yourself in the kingdom

of God. That you have a wrong understanding.

Because the moment you believe. There is a translation

that happens. There is a change of position that

you have. Colossians chapter 1 verse 13 speaks

Colossians 1:13

about this. Colossians chapter 1 verse 17. Verse

Colossians 1:17

13 rather. It says. He has delivered us. Who?

He is talking about Jesus. He has delivered us.

From the power of darkness. That is from the

kingdom of darkness. From the reign of darkness.

From the influence of darkness. And not only

delivered us. But he conveyed us into the kingdom.

Of his son. The son of his Lord. So a man and

a woman that believe the gospel. Has been transferred.

Has been delivered. Has been converted from the

kingdom of darkness. from the power and the dominion

the authority of godness into the power the authority

and the domain of god in whom we have redemption

through his blood even the forgiveness of our

sins we see similarly speaking about our citizenship

our identity He says, for our citizenship, who

are the hour, you and I who have believed the

gospel, our identity is in heaven. It's not utterly,

but it's in heaven. From which we also eagerly

wait for who? For a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who will recall? Hallelujah. So since the manifestation

of the kingdom of God is done through preaching

of the gospel of Christ, We see Paul calling

on believers in Philippians 1 verse 27 to live.

Philippians 1:27

Philippians 1 verse 27, it says, only let your

Philippians 1:27

conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Let

only that your conduct be worthy of what? Of

the gospel of Christ. so that when i come and

see you or absence i may hear of your of your

appears that you stand fast in one spirit with

one mind striving together for the faith of the

gospel hallelujah speaking to those who have

received and are part of god's kingdom to live

their life word worthy of the gospel through

which they have received The way by which we

receive the kingdom is through the preaching

of the gospel. It's called the gospel of the

kingdom. A message concerning the kingdom of

God. About what God intends to do in humanity.

And you and I have come into this reality when

we believe the gift will receive the gift. So

when we believe in Jesus Christ as a Messiah,

as the one that has come to die for our sins,

to forgive our sins, we receive the kingdom as

a gift. Every part of the kingdom is not by works.

There are some ugly kingdoms, some ugly nations.

You know, you have to stay there and work for

some years. You go through processes. And then

you become part of that kingdom. But the kingdom

we have is a gift without works. It's a gift

received through faith in the totality of what

God has done in Christ Jesus. And we say that

we are what? Our members of his kingdom. Therefore,

the challenge for us this day is to be worthy

of the kingdom we represent. It's for you and

I to live worthy of what? Of our citizens. So,

the book of Philippians, you know, let's look

at some historical backgrounds and concepts so

that we can move on. The book was, first of all,

is a letter written by Paul, right? While he

was in Rome. He wasn't on a holiday in Rome.

He wasn't just sitting on the beach. And he just

said, let me just send a WhatsApp message to

this church. In NACF. No. It was a book written

while he was in Rome. In prison. And he had been

in prison. It was not because he stole something

or he was accused of stealing something. But

the reason of his imprisonment was because of

what? It was because of the gospel. For the sake

of the gospel. And he was writing to the Christians.

The Christian church in Philippi. A Roman. Colony

in Macedonia. So Philippi is in northern Greece.

He was in prison in Italy. Rome. And he wrote

the letter to the Christians. In where? In Europe.

In northern Macedonia. In modern day northern

Greece. So Philippi. Was a major city in Macedonia.

It was a Roman colony. That means. an extension

of Rome, known for its patriotism and military

history. In fact, this was the first city in

Europe where Paul preached the gospel. We can

see that in Acts chapter 6, Acts chapter 16.

Acts 6 · chapter mention Acts 16 · chapter mention

Let's look at it. Acts chapter 16. Acts 16 from

Acts 16 · chapter mention

verse 6. Now when they had gone through Phrygia

and region of Galatia, they were forbidden by

the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After

they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into

Pythinia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

So passing by Mysia, they came down to Thrace,

and a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A

man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him,

saying, Come over to Macedonia and help us. This

was how we got the direction to go to Macedonia.

Now, after he had seen the bishop, immediately

we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that

the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to

them. Therefore, setting from trust, we ran a

straight course to Samothrace, right? And the

next day we came to Neapolis, and from there

to Philippi, which is a former city of the part

of Macedonia, a colony. And we were staying in

that city for some days. And on a Sabbath day,

we went out on the city to the riverside, where

prayer was customarily made, and we sat down

and spoke to the women who we met there. Presumably,

this was the first place they were. And here

you go. Now, a certain woman named Lydia, so

the first person in this context that received

the gospel, who was in Europe, was a woman. Lydia

had us. She was a sailor from the city of Tyre,

from the city of Tyre, who worshipped God. The

Lord opened her heart. The Lord opened her heart

to hear the things spoken by Paul. And when she,

at her house, was baptized, she begged or said,

if you have touched me to be faithful to the

Lord, come to my house and stay. So she persuaded

us. And we were seeing on and on and on where,

you know, they preached. There was an instance

where they preached to the castle of the devils

after they saved a slave. They came to prison.

They converted the prisoners. And they jailed

out the people. So this is the context of this

city. So Paul founded the church during his second

missionary journey. And of course, a notable

group of what you can see here is Lydia. There

was a delivered slave girl, a Roman jailer, written

father. So this church was very dear to Paul.

And this is very essential. Understanding context

is very important. It's very, very important.

So the church was very dear to Paul. Because

they supported his ministry financially. Not

only that, you know, they believed the message,

they received the message, and they also partnered

with him in ministry. So the purpose of Paul's

writing of this letter to them was not for doctrine,

just as other, you know, what do you call, other

epistles. He wasn't teaching them some doctrinal

issues. Unlike other episodes such as Romans,

letters to the Corinthians, and so on, where

he was teaching or answering doctrinal questions.

But in this, you know, it wasn't the same. His

purpose was to fund the Philippians for what?

For their partnership with him in the ministry.

To encourage them to remain joyful and united.

Because there were some people that were disagreeing.

We'll look at it later on. To exhort them to

imitate Christ's humility. In chapter 2 they

are about, chapter 2, yes. And to warn them,

you know, against false teachers, especially

those who are Judaizers, legalist people. And

so on. So similarly, the goal of this sermon

or this teaching, just as false letters were

for the Philippians, is to admonish us to walk

worthy of our identity. Are we together? It's

to admonish us to do or to work worthy of our

identity. Of our citizenship. The letter, just

as any part of scripture, was documented for

our own learning. Alright? It was documented

for our own learning that we may live worthy

of our calling as citizens of God's kingdom.

Just as any part of scripture, as Romans chapter

Romans 15:4

15 verse 4 would say, This is what we are reading

forward for our learning. In Romans 15 verse

Romans 15:4

4, it says, for whatever things we have written

before, we are reading forward for our learning.

That we through patience and comfort of the scripture

will have hope. So as we read the letter that

he wrote to the Philippians, as we delve into

understanding his message to them, we ourselves

will learn. Hallelujah. And what I want us to

learn specifically is how we can work worthy

of our identity, even as he has emphasized today.

So primarily there are four things. In the short

time I have, I will try to be as fast as possible.

Four things, important things that I want us

to know. There are many things we can say, but

just four for now, that are important for us.

As we learn in this episode, it is essential

for us to work worthy. First of all, it's a character

for us to embody. It's a character we need to

embody before we walk worthy. Secondly, there's

a perspective we need to have concerning life,

concerning the things that happen in our lives

that we need to have in order for us to walk

worthy. Thirdly, there's a sense of focus we

need to have. I said first a character to embody.

A perspective to have about life. A focus to

have. And also a lifestyle to live. So from verse

3 to 11. From verse 3 to 11 again. Forgiving?

No. Philippians 3. 1 verse 3 to 11. Philippians

1. left this man in Rome. Alright. It says, I

thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Always

in every prayer of mine, making requests of you,

all with joy. For your fellowship in the gospel

from the first day until now. Be confident of

this very thing, that he who has begun a good

work in you. Will complete it until the day of

Jesus Christ. Just as it is right for me. To

think this of you all. Because I have. Because

I have you in my heart. In as much as. In as

much as work in my chains. And in the defense.

And confirmation of the gospel. You all are partakers

with me. Of. Of grace. For God is my witness.

How greatly I long for you. All with the affection

of Jesus Christ. And this I pray that your love

may abound still more and more in knowledge and

all discernment. That you may approve the things

that are excellent. That you may be sincere and

without offense till the day of Christ. Being

filled with the spirit of righteousness which

are by Jesus Christ to the glory. and the praise

of God. Hallelujah. It's a character in Paul

here, from Paul's perspective that we need to

learn. A character of prayer and gratitude. Especially

in this situation. When you read through this,

the book, you will not see an idea of someone

who is in pain. It doesn't look like someone

who is in chains. From Paul's perspective, regardless

of his imprisonment, he was full of praise given.

He was full of rejoicing. I think in the entire

Philippians, I counted, there were about 15 times

Paul kept emphasizing joy and rejoicing. In respect

of his experience being in prison, he was full

of joy. And the reason for his joy is not something

that is happening. It's not a function of his

circumstance. His joy, his rejoicing, is not

the influence of his immediate environment. He

was full of thanksgiving to God and his prayers

were more for spiritual development of the people

rather than his freedom from prison. Now imagine

if you were the one in prison. Maybe they arrested

you for residence permit issues. And maybe Pastor

Cousman goes to visit you. And then he asks,

what should we be praying for you? I doubt if

your prayer will be for the church to keep expanding.

Oh, when will I have, you know, myself out of

this place? Or maybe our concern will be about

our freedom. But we see here in the life of Paul's

life, it's very important for us to understand

this. His heart, Was where? Was in a way it's

supposed to be. His prayer. Was not for his own

freedom. Regardless of his experience. God begins

with thanks and prayers. Not for money or such.

Not for them to send him aid. To release him.

Not for them to look for a lawyer for him. But

for God's people. For God's people. His prayer

is not self -centered around his issue, his problem.

But his prayer is spiritually focused. Look at

verse 9. What was the content of his prayer?

The content of his prayer was the spiritual development

of the people of God. And this I pray that your

love may abound. Still more and more. In knowledge.

And all discernment. That you may approve. The

things that are excellent. That you may be sincere.

And without offense to the day of Christ. Be

free with fruits. Of righteousness. Which are

by Jesus Christ. The glory and the praise of

God. And some of us today. Little. What do you

call it? Discomfort. Changes the dynamics of

our spirituality. Little discomfort affects the

way we apportion things of God. Some of us, the

moment the semester begins, that's how we lost

focus. Our prayer life changes. Our commitment

to the fellowship changes. Our commitment to

the brethren changes. And what betides you if

your school fees is delayed? Then the focus of

your prayer shifts from praying for souls to

praying for money. Now we are not saying that

praying for needs is wrong. Hallelujah. We are

not saying that praying for needs is wrong. We

always teach you to pray for needs. We also pray

for needs. Are we together? For what consumes.

Your life. What is the most dominant prayer you

pray? What dominates your prayer life? Is it

your circumstance that dominates your prayer

life? Or the kingdom of God is what dominates

your prayer life? If you must live in this kingdom,

we must emulate the character of Paul. You see,

we have to learn from his experience, right?

The things that happen to them or their own experience

for us to learn from, especially Paul. Do we,

in the center of our life, experience these difficulties?

Listen, each and every one of us can be in one

thing or the other, one trial or the other. Amen?

Is it that you are in one right now or you will

soon enter one? Hallelujah. It's constant. In

fact, it was plain in scriptures, isn't it? It's

plain in scriptures. It's plain in scriptures

that we're going to face trials, we're going

to face challenges. So, what dominates your prayer

life? What do you pray for in the midst of the

experiences you have? Do we pray? If we do pray,

what is the focus of our prayers? Do we pray

for the advancement of God's kingdom, to see

the will of God, the kingdom of God expand, especially

in the heart of men, where our focus is based

on what? On our circumstance. So if we would

walk toward it, right? You see? What informs

Paul's disposition is in where is in his identity.

Understanding where he is from. The second point,

kingdom perspective. Philippians from verse 12,

you see, and even in the piece of trial, let's

look at his perspective concerning trial. Philippians

Philippians 1:12

1, verse 12. It says, but I want you to know,

brethren, that the things which happened to me

have actually, look at his perspective concerning

his trials, have actually happened to me, happened

to me, have actually taught us for the forbearance

of the gospel, so that it has become evident

to all palace guards and to all the rest that

my chains are what? and in Christ, and most of

the brethren in the Lord, having become confident

by my chains, I am much more bold to speak the

word after. Some indeed preach Christ even from

the envy and strife and some also from goodwill.

The former preached Christ from selfish ambition,

not sincerely supposed to add affliction to my

days. By the latter, out of love, knowing that

I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

Verse 18. What then? Only that in every way,

whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached.

Meaning that his ambition is to see the expansion

of the kingdom of God on earth. And in this,

I what? That is what you. Rejoicing. That is

what informs him. You see, you keep telling them

rejoice. He says, in this I rejoice. And I will

rejoice. In chapter 3 verse 1. You see him emphasizing.

Finally my brain rejoices in the Lord. Intermediate.

Keep telling them to rejoice. And what informs

his rejoicing is what? It is perception about

the kingdom of God. It's full of joy because

of what? Because of his identity. Because of

his human, you know, experiencing the reign of

Christ in his life. Just expect that as believers,

our life should be full of rejoicing. See, rejoicing

is something you do. Hallelujah. Always. Joy

should be what? The status of the believer at

all times. It's not a function of external experience.

That is how we live worthy of the kingdom that

we are in. Our kingdom is full of joy. Hallelujah.

So our experiences do not influence our perception

of our identity. Do not influence what? The way

we live our lives. So we must have kingdom perspective

prior. that Paul had the kingdom perspective

for his imprisonment. He saw it as an opportunity

for what? For the advancement of God's kingdom.

He sees himself imprisoned as an opportunity

to do what? To expand the kingdom of God. So

we see him menstruating even to the jailers at

all times whenever he's imprisoned. It's time

you receive a prophecy that, you know, prison

awaits him somewhere. And for our context, we

have said, ah, the Lord has shown him something

to avoid what will happen, but in his prayer,

he saw the necessity for him to be in prison.

So sometimes, you know, the trials, listen, as

a believer, nothing happens to you. Anyhow without

a purpose. Amen. Nothing happened to the believer

without a purpose. Nothing happened to the believer

without a purpose. The outcome of his imprisonment

in verse 14. For this is boldness in order to

preach the gospel. Verse 14. And most of the

brethren in the Lord haven't become confident

by my change. And most of all, Paul to speak

without fear. When people look at your experience,

what did they? What did they believe in? Because

your story edifies people. Or your actions affect

others. So regardless of others' intentions towards

Paul, he had one perspective. The advancement

of the kingdom of God was 1782. How do we view

trials? How do you and I view trials? As I said

earlier on, if you're not presently in one, then

you're just coming out of one. Or you will soon

be in one. Or does that change your perspective?

Does that change your identity? How do you view

trials? Has God forsaken you? Some of us in the

midst of our trials, we are crying, Eli, Eli,

the master, I tell you. Instead of seeing an

opportunity for the advancement of God's kingdom.

Instead of seeing it as an opportunity for all

to be glorified. Trials can come in any form,

in any shape. Now, we're not talking about the

thing you've called yourself. It's a different

thing. In fact, the one you have created will

not give glory to God. But trials have a purpose

in the life of the believer. And they can come

in any form. In every shame, it could be even

in lack. It could be in the hardship of any form.

It could be in imprisonment. It could be in rejection.

The believer is not immune from a trial. So Paul

had this understanding that there's a coming

of what is happening in his life. If manifesting

the kingdom doesn't depend on perfect conditions,

It does not have to be all right. Your life doesn't

have to be all smooth and sweet before you now

have all. Now it's time for us to do the work

of ministry. It's time for us to preach the gospel.

You don't need to have your school is paid. All

you need to make before you have the opportunity

to do it. Expand all people. Propagate the gospel.

can happen in suffering. There's no perfect condition.

It can happen in your workplace. There's no perfect

condition. It happens in our homes, even in prisons,

in our classrooms, wherever we find ourselves.

It's an opportunity for the gospel, for the kingdom,

gospel of the kingdom to be preached. And for

you to live worthy of the kingdom, you must understand

this reality. You must have this perspective

to every experience that you pass through. Every

trial that you pass through. Because your experience.

Your prison experience. Can be a platform. By

which God will be glorified. When you allowed

it to be. A platform by which God will be glorified.

And the God set up. For someone's salvation.

And we see. If Paul didn't go to prison. but

can i show you that there are some people that

will not have the opportunity to hear the gospel

if you don't suffer that rejection there wouldn't

be an opportunity for someone to see talking

about to hear the hope that you have a crisis

Now you are deported. It's an opportunity to

do what? To share the gospel. They gave me a

free ticket to go and preach the gospel. I was

telling somebody, I said, see, they told us to

come right after, that we have 10 days. They

gave me a choice, a student. I either choose

between paying his ticket or departing back to

Nigeria in 10 days. I said, ah, ah, ah, to give

you free food for 10 days, accommodation, free

transport, right? I'm not going to give you the

money to keep in your pocket and to buy the ticket.

Sometimes our trials, our vehicles drive us towards

the will and the purpose of God. So you must

have a kingdom perspective to every experience

that happens in your life. Paul was not sitting

in that prison lamenting about his situation.

Paul was not sitting in that prison calling on

all heaven to deliver him from prison. He's a

man full of understanding of where he is from.

What is expected of the living, worthy of what?

Of the kingdom. His eyes are fixated on what

is appropriate and what is right. His pride is

right in the midst of his tire. He counted what

all joy. Will that be your experience? Will that

be our experience? And in all situations. See.

James chapter 1 verse 2. Let's look at James

James 1:2 James 1:2

chapter 1 verse 2. As we close. Because of time.

James chapter 1 verse 2. To forgive me. Amplified.

James 1:2

Amplified. Translation. I said earlier on. Every

trial has a purpose. In the life of the believer.

Nothing does happen to you without. Without a

purpose. It can serve a purpose. On the line

of the word, it can. You can make it not serve

a purpose, but it can serve a purpose. And that

purpose could be a purpose that will glorify

God. Just consider it nothing but what? But joy,

my brothers and my sisters. Whenever means what?

It means it's a constant factor. It will happen.

Whether you like it or not, it will happen. Hallelujah.

So when it happens, what do we do? We counted

all the joy. Not because we won a lottery. Not

because everything in your life is moving smoothly.

We counted all joy, brothers and sisters, whenever

I wish I can have the MPs in president of the

world, right? When you encounter trials, of any

thought of falling into various temptations.

May I show and understand that the trial and

the proving of your faith. So the target of the

trial is what? It's to test your faith. Now,

we've said this over and over and over again

that God does not try people. Amen. God is not

the author of trials. Because God does not tempt

and he himself is not tempted and he cannot tempt.

Amen? So we're not a source of trial, right?

Nevertheless, we are shown and understood that

the trial and the proving of your faith brings

outward endurance and steadfastness and patience.

Let endurance and steadfastness and patience

have full play and do a thorough work so that

you may be perfectly How fully developed. Lacking

in love. Paul himself counted it all joy. In

the midst of his experience. He counted it all

joy. In the midst of his difficulty. You know.

We see joy exuded from his letter. When you look

through the book you see. You know where his

heart lies. He shall see the people of God do

well. His prayer is full of goodwill for the

people to cross spiritually. That the Lord will

abound more and more. Later on, we'll see that

he has one focus. That focus is what? He said,

for me to live this world is Christ. And to die

is what? Some of us, what we're living for is

not Christ. Christ is secondary. We're living

for the next check. We're living for the next

grade. We're living for the next job. We're living

for the next visa. We're living for the next

and the next and the next. And God becomes what?

God becomes secondary. As a believer who is a

member of the kingdom, let the kingdom of God

dominate our mind and our thinking. And we're

going to see how later on as we go on in this

story. How we can arrive at a point where we

are kingdom minded. Regardless of all situations

and all experiences we face, we are kingdom minded.

And of course, cause them to live worthy the

kingdom lifestyle. Verse 27 to 30. admonishing

them to do what to exude the life of the kingdom

their conduct the way they conduct themselves

they don't conduct themselves worthy of the gospel

the gospel of the kingdom with which they have

received which means that the gospel or the kingdom

has a lifestyle that needs to be allowed to function

because where they are living they are living

in a gentle environment a place where there are

unbelievers around them So their conduct must

be worthy of the gospel of Christ which they

perceive. Where we are living, we live in an

environment of ungodliness. Let there be a distinction

between us and what are the people that are around

us. They will see something unique about us.

And of course, they will see Christ who I am

not. Why don't you just pray for yourself? And

say, Lord, help me to have this kind of character.

That in the midst of all my experiences, that

I will not lose focus. Because you see, the goal

that the devil wants to achieve is to distract

you from what is measured in your life. That

is the goal of Satan. But God is able to translate

that into a vehicle that will build your faith.

And not only build your faith, but you will build

others. With a comfort with which you are comforted.

You'll be a source of comfort to others. You'll

be a source of encouragement to others. As you

walk through the things that you are walking

through, it's a journey, it's a process. But

God will bring you out. In fact, when people

look at your experience, they will see God glorify

all around you. I want you to pray for yourself

and say, Lord, let this be my testimony. Let

this be my testimony. But no matter the trial,

I don't rely on my strength. Later on we will

see Paul talks about the grace of God. Paul talks

about the ability of God. Paul was not focusing

on his works to save you, to keep you, but he

was emphasizing the grace of God. Only the grace

of God can keep you, not your tactics, but your

skills to keep yourself. Listen, this admonition

is to every believer. None of us is immune to

trials. None of us is immune to temptation. But

even when it comes, we are ready. And the readiness,

Is to have an understanding of where we are from.

We are heavenly. And we are full of joy. And

we triumph amidst triumph. We triumph amidst

persecution. We triumph amidst any form of triumph

on the enemy. We rise above our circumstances.

Oh, I want to hear somebody. saying I choose

to rejoice in the midst of this challenge. Even

though it seems as though there's no salvation,

I choose to rejoice because I'm a saved man.

Even though the joy, you know, even though it

perishes, but I'm full of joy. Because I have

a heavenly mentality. My perspective is kingdom

perspective. My character is thankfulness. It's

prayerfulness. My faith is not conditioned to

my circumstances. My walk with God is not conditioned

to my external experience. Even if I have fallen,

I rise up by the grace of God. And I continue

to walk between us with Jesus. The one who has

called me. The one who has put me. The one who

has transferred me from the kingdom of darkness

into the kingdom of his answer in life. See yourself

thriving above your challenges. See yourself

victorious. The Bible says we are more than victorious.

We are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.

Paul would say, for me to live is Christ and

to die is a gain. That this becomes my mantra

for life. That my living is to glorify God. And

even death is a gain. Whenever I found myself,

whenever I found myself in all situations, in

all conditions, that I'm kingdom minded. Living

worthy of my identity as a kingdom citizen. Thank

God for His grace being made manifest to you.

I pray in this house that we have multiplication

of grace. Grace upon grace leads unto us. In

all our experiences, we receive grace that stands

firm. In all our experiences, we receive the

ability to stand firm and strong. That we abound

in love. That we abound in love. In knowledge.

In the name of Jesus. In all wisdom. In the name

of Jesus. None of us will be defeated. In our

trying moments, we stand strong and tall in Christ.

And we manifest the kingdom regardless. We preach

the gospel regardless. We manifest Christ regardless.

Regardless of our luck. Regardless of our antecedents.

Regardless of our history. Father, we thank you.

Because what you've started in us, you're able

to bring it to completion. Thank you, Lord, that

only you can keep us and strengthen us. Be exalted,

Lord, and be glorified. In Jesus' gracious name

we pray. We appreciate you being here today.

We hope you carry this word with you throughout

your week. Don't forget to check the show notes

for additional insights. Stay connected with

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with someone you care about. Until next time,

stay blessed.