Being Kingdom Minded - Expecting the Benefits

Today is a day of thanksgiving.

I'm gonna try to be as quick as possible with my message, and if I'm not, too bad.

There's just a lot going on in the kingdom of God, and I can't help it.

And you can't help it.

But today is a day of thanksgiving.

This morning I'm gonna close out the series, being kingdom-minded.

Can you say that with me this morning?

Being kingdom-minded.

Today we close out the series, and along our journey, we've uncovered several aspects of what being kingdom-minded is all about.

If we look through scripture, you look and you see Christ's example.

And in Christ's example and those who follow Christ, if you're gonna be kingdom-minded, you need to have what?

The mind of Christ.

Say the mind of Christ.

You need to have the mind of Christ.

But realize this being kingdom-minded is a lifestyle.

Being kingdom-minded is a lifestyle.

Do you believe that this morning?

What do I mean?

How many know there are many diets out there?

Yeah.

You know the list of diets.

There's the no carbs, there's the no complex carbs, high protein, low protein, exercise, exercise three days a week, exercise seven days a week, exercise nine days a week.

Shakes, bars, juices, so many ways to lose weight or even gain weight, depending on what you're looking for.

Sometimes we can lose weight like nothing.

How many are like that?

We can if we want to lose weight or gain weight, we could do it like nothing.

Some of us have a difficult time.

Our weight goes up and down and side to side.

Amen?

Finally, you've reached your goal weight.

And now it's time to figure out how you're going to maintain this look that you've achieved.

And I think that's the most stressful part.

You've gone full force, you've put a lot of time, energy, even money, and now it's time to find a way to make this new healthy living a lifestyle.

A lifestyle.

You've reached your goal weight, and now you need to find a way to create a lifestyle that contributes to the things that you want for yourself.

If you want to maintain a certain feeling or a certain result or a certain look, you need to make it a lifestyle.

Can you say lifestyle?

Whenever I go on a diet, people will ask, what diet are you on?

And you know what I say?

It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle.

I'm not on a diet, it's a lifestyle.

And that's the way of telling myself that I'm not just doing this temporarily, even though sometimes it ends up that way.

But I'm trying to make a permanent change in my life that will maintain the outcomes that I want in my life.

A permanent change.

See, lifestyles can be difficult, and I'm not just talking about eating habits.

Lifestyles can be difficult.

You can make lifestyle changes in your sleep schedule, your television intake.

You can make lifestyle changes in the time that you spend with family, the time that you spend with the Lord and in prayer, balancing your home and work life, all lifestyle changes that we can make.

Lifestyles are the way in which you decide to live your life in order to get the outcomes that you desire for your life.

Being kingdom-minded is a lifestyle.

I want to tell you that.

What does it say?

Being kingdom-minded.

Being kingdom-minded.

Do you notice I use the term being?

Being, not just kingdom-minded.

I didn't write be kingdom-minded, but I said being kingdom-minded.

Why?

Because when you add that suffix ing to a verb, you make it a present participle.

Any English majors do I have out there?

And when you do that, it becomes an action or a process.

An action or a process.

So you'll see being kingdom-minded is an action.

Being kingdom-minded is a process.

It's not just a one-and-done thing, it's a lifestyle.

A lifestyle.

And if you want the results and the outcomes and the benefits of the kingdom of God, then guess what?

You need to tap into this lifestyle of being kingdom-minded.

Because being kingdom-minded, we said being kingdom-minded is what?

Having the mind of Christ.

Because Christ was kingdom-minded.

You notice Christ came to earth to usher in a whole new kingdom, the kingdom of God.

A place that is right here, a place that is right now, where you can live in the peace that passes all understanding.

Did you know that?

Jesus came to usher in a knowledge that right here, right now, we can move about our lives confidently with the power of the Almighty God and expect the miracles.

Christ introduced this kingdom of God.

We're right here, right now, we are forgiven of our sin, our past, the old man is long gone, and we can join together in one spirit, in one body with Christ as the head, and we can march into victory as we invite others to enjoy not only the right here and right now, but to enjoy the eternal benefits that God has for his people.

Do you believe that this morning?

The eternal benefits that are awaiting us in the kingdom of heaven.

You see, 1 Corinthians 2.16 says, For who has known the mind of the Lord that he will instruct him?

But we have what?

The mind of Christ.

We have the mind of Christ.

The mind of Christ is all about the kingdom of God.

So, yes, we are called also to be kingdom-minded.

And just like Christ, when you're being kingdom-minded, you're gonna do things out of the ordinary.

Can you say out of the ordinary?

Why?

Because Jesus loved to do things out of the ordinary.

When you're kingdom-minded, you're not concerned about the world's benefits any longer.

Those are temporary, the world's benefits.

But if you chase after the things that are found in the kingdom, out of the ordinary benefits will flow.

Guess what?

Benefits that this world cannot even explain to you.

They don't have answers why miracles happen.

But God does.

They can't figure it out.

Why?

Because the answers are only found in the kingdom of God.

See, Matthew 6 33, it says this.

Read this with me this morning.

But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.

Seek first what?

The kingdom of God.

As you do things out of the ordinary, you're gonna find yourself reflecting the supernatural.

You'll begin to see God's reflection through you.

You didn't know you could love like that.

You didn't know you were able to forgive like that.

It's the supernatural.

You didn't know that you were able to walk through even the strangest of circumstances and still be standing today.

That's the supernatural.

It's the supernatural love that you will reflect.

Supernatural forgiveness, supernatural peace, supernatural power and strength, supernatural perseverance, supernatural faith, supernatural joy.

That is being kingdom-minded.

I love what it is about being kingdom-minded because we have so much to look forward to.

Do you believe that this morning?

Because being kingdom-minded, you're constantly looking towards the future.

You might have had a tough day.

How many have tough days?

Oh, those days.

Those days.

But in the kingdom, better days are still ahead of you.

The world might be offering you no hope, no future, but in God's kingdom, not only do you have a hope and a future, but God's got plans for you.

And they're revealing their themselves, they're revealing themselves every single day.

Don't hang your head, don't get all bent out of shape over today.

You know what I say?

Go to sleep.

Just go to sleep and wake up because God's mercies are new every morning.

Amen.

There's so much more to look forward to when you're being kingdom-minded.

Now, when you step into this lifestyle of being kingdom-minded, just like any change, any lifestyle change, like we said, you're gonna need help.

How many need help this morning?

Yeah, you need help.

Because guess what?

You're gonna get tired.

You might start to lose focus, especially when the pressures and temptations constantly are trying to pull you in different directions.

And that's why it's so important to find your fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Fellowship of the Holy Spirit, Jesus acknowledges that the Holy Spirit is your helper.

What does Paul say?

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 13, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and what?

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

The fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

You need to find your fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

Why?

Because the Spirit of God is your helper.

The Spirit of God is your guide, your communicator to the things that God has for you.

One who brings revelation to you as you open God's word.

When you don't know what to pray for, guess what?

The Spirit jumps in.

The Spirit steps in.

In this lifestyle of being kingdom-minded, we need to take time for God.

Watch, I don't have time, then you make time for God.

Spending time in his presence, you spend time with the Spirit of God through reading his word and just closing your eyes and meditating on God's word.

Allowing God to speak to you and through you.

Thanking God for his provision, like we did.

Thank you, God, for your healing and your blessing, acknowledging that he is the giver of all good gifts.

That's spending time with the Spirit of God.

His goodness, his mercy.

The Holy Spirit is your helper.

Don't miss out on it.

The Holy Spirit will help you in being kingdom-minded as you deny the flesh and walk in the spirit.

Deny the flesh and walk in the spirit, putting away the things that the old man once took pleasure in.

Those things don't belong to you anymore.

You are in a new lifestyle, and you look pretty good in it.

You're a new creation, you're walking in the newness of life, denying the things that the enemy has put in your way to distract you from the greater things that God has for you.

See, according to God's word, the things of the flesh are not going to give you the benefits that come into the kingdom of God.

They're not going to get you into the kingdom of God.

That's what scripture tells us.

So why would you waste time on those temporary fills when you can chase after the things of the spirit that will lead you to an overflowing and an overflowing and an overflowing of eternity benefits that God has?

Last week we left off pointing out even though you make a change in your lifestyle, you're now being kingdom-minded, that does not exempt you from the trials and persecution of this world.

Scripture tells us that there is still trouble in the world.

Jesus even says that.

Why?

Because there is sin still in the world.

And although we are in the kingdom and you are no longer of this world, unfortunately you must still endure the unfortunate effects of man's sin, the fall and the garden, and this dying world that is taking place around us.

But Jesus says this in John 16.

Jesus says, These things I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace.

And what does he say?

In the world you have tribulation, but take courage.

Why?

I have overcome the world.

See, in being kingdom-minded, you realize that you have been given access to the resources through Christ and the Holy Spirit to be more than conquerors.

Do I have conquerors this morning?

When sickness, when bad reports, when persecution, when trial, when trouble comes, and guess what?

It does come.

You need to make sure that you are dressed in the full armor of God.

When trial or trouble comes, you need to make sure that you know who you are and your responsibility as a child of God.

And like we said last week, when trial comes, I had to say that to myself.

Stephen, it's time to tighten up your armor.

Tighten up your armor.

You've already put on the armor of God.

Now it's time to tighten up that armor.

Guess what?

Sharpen your sword.

You gotta be ready.

Tighten that helmet of salvation and know that you are a child of God and that you're more than a conqueror.

Double not the laces of those sandals of that peace that is on your feet.

Button up that breastplate of righteousness, making sure that you are doing things right in the sight of the Lord.

Because you're gonna need that tight when the persecution and the trial comes.

Do you know what I'm talking about this morning?

Because being kingdom-minded, you will withstand the persecution.

There's a spiritual battle going on, and the enemy is trying to make your life miserable, and you can get lost in the misery very easily.

You can get trapped in the misery, or you can stand up and say, Nope, I am a child of God, and I have been equipped to make it through this victoriously.

Praise the Lord.

I choose to walk in righteousness and withstand the ridicule.

I choose to do right in the world that is all wrong.

I choose to live as a light in the darkness, spreading the gospel at any opportunity, even if it means stepping out of my box, out of my comfort zone, and getting out of my own way, stop tripping up on my own two feet, and doing what God has created for me to do, what God has called me to do.

And guess what?

You do it God's way, you will prevail.

Because if God is for us, who can be against us?

Who can be against you?

See, in the Bible, Second Corinthians Paul says this we are afflicted in every way, and you know what I'm talking about, but not crushed, perplexed, but not despairing, persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, say it with me, but not destroyed.

You're not destroyed, you are not destroyed.

The final stop we make on the series, and you're gonna like this one.

It aligns itself with the Sunday of Thanksgiving.

And I'm sad for those who aren't here this morning.

I hope they're watching at home.

Because being kingdom-minded is expecting the benefits.

Expecting the benefits.

Being kingdom-minded is expecting the benefits.

It's funny.

We put our money into investment funds.

We watch the stock market to see if our investment will grow so we can enjoy the benefits of our investment.

We hope, we watch, we even cross our fingers so we can enjoy the benefits of our investment and hope that these firms or these institutions promise us the things that they promise us will actually come to fruition.

And if you watch the stock market, sometimes you gain and sometimes you lose.

And when we lose, what do they tell you?

When we lose, they tell us you should have read the fine print at the bottom.

When you lose, you should have read the fine print at the bottom.

Because the promises the world gives are never solid.

Because they're built on man.

Not only that, when we do gain benefits from the world, when we do gain benefits that the world has to offer us, we find that the benefits of the world have their limits.

And most people who receive the benefits are never satisfied with them anyway.

Doesn't matter how much money you have in the bank, people are still sad.

People are still searching and can never be satisfied.

So, what are the benefits of the kingdom of heaven?

Let me tell you.

What are these benefits that you are to expect in being kingdom-minded?

One of my favorite passages, Psalm 103, says this.

Read it with me.

Bless the Lord, all my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his yeah.

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies, who satisfy thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagles.

The Lord executeth righteousness and is judge and judgment for all that are oppressed.

Listen.

Keep it up there.

He forgives, he heals, he redeems, he crowneth thee with loving kindness and teneth mercies.

He satisfieth thy mouth with good things.

Listen, these are just some of the benefits of being in the kingdom of God.

Peace, joy, everlasting life, just to name a few.

Benefits that we can expect in the kingdom of God.

And I love this term, expect.

Can you say that?

Expect.

We use it all the time.

Expect.

We use it all the time because when we expect it, we imagine it happening.

When you expect something, you imagine it happening.

What do I mean by this?

How many like to online shop?

Anyone like to order things online?

I know you do.

Maybe you don't.

When you order something online, you look at the expected delivery date.

Ooh.

Then guess what?

You find out the date and you start making plans all around that delivery date.

Am I right?

Oh, it's gonna be here on Tuesday.

Okay, so if it comes here on Tuesday, I try it on, it doesn't fit, I'll reorder, it'll get here by Friday, and I can wear it on Sunday.

You've made all your plans around your expectation.

What you expect to happen.

Our expectations allow us to plan, watch, as if outcomes are already in place.

Our expectations allow us to walk comfortably throughout the day, knowing that tomorrow is taken care of.

I expect it and it will happen.

When we expect something, did you know?

That we are exercising our faith.

When we expect something, we are exercising our faith.

I believe that faith and expectation walk hand in hand.

Faith and expectation walk hand in hand.

Why?

Because it's believing without seeing.

You're believing that package is going to be delivered, and you don't even see it yet.

Not until they send you the picture on the phone.

Believing is so much.

Believing in something so much that your belief, your expectation, watch, your faith produces substance.

Your faith and your expectation produces evidence, even though it has not shown itself in the physical.

Being kingdom-minded is expecting the benefits of the kingdom of God to unfold in your life.

So much so that they don't even take you by surprise anymore.

Why?

Because you were expecting it.

You were expecting it.

Why?

Because Jesus says this in John 14, 14.

If you ask anything in my name, what?

I don't know if you believe that.

Say it with me.

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Do you believe that this morning?

What are you praying for?

What are you asking God for?

Do you believe?

Do you expect?

Do you know that when you ask in his name, he will do it?

Some of you look at me, uh.

Because unfortunately, sometimes we get discouraged.

Because our expectation or our faith did not produce the benefit that we wanted it to.

I believe I expected it, Pastor Stephen.

I get what you're talking about, but it did not produce the benefit that I expected it to produce.

How many have ever been there this morning?

You prayed for something, you even asked in Jesus' name, you marked it on the calendar, and it did not pan out the way that you wanted to.

And isn't that just like the world that lets us down on its promises as well?

Let's down on its benefits.

Here's the difference.

When you put your faith in God, when you put your expectation in God and you expect God to do something, you better know your scripture.

Watch this.

You better have read the fine print at the bottom of the page.

When you put your investment into the kingdom of God.

Did you read the fine print?

Because in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 9, it says, But add as it is written, I have not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for them that love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

What does that mean?

You offer up a prayer and you expected it to happen, but it didn't happen in the way that you asked it.

Because God has better plans for you.

God has so much more than you could ever ask for.

That you could ever make up in your mind that you think you'd be happy with, you're not gonna be happy with that.

I've learned it time and time and time again.

Because his benefits are much further than you could ever even ask for.

God's got plans for you, God's got a purpose for you.

I look around the sanctuary.

Not too long ago, Fred Sharp was in the hospital.

We prayed for healing.

But Fred was in the hospital.

We prayed for healing.

Fred was in the hospital.

But while Fred was in the hospital for a time, you know what he did while he was there?

He shared the love of God, he shared the gospel, he strengthened people in the word so much so that people, he told me the other day, people are texting him from the hospital, checking in on him.

He met different people.

God's got bigger plans.

And when you have read the fine print, when you know God's word, then you're going to realize that you can trust him and that he is working everything together for your good.

Pastor Stephen, I've been praying, I've been asking, I've even been expecting, where are my benefits?

They are there.

But you only see what you want to see.

You only see what you want to see.

God's benefits are so much bigger than that.

God's benefits for you are so much deeper than that.

And you didn't read the fine print.

You thought that Sundays were enough to have an understanding of who God is.

You didn't read the fine print.

You thought that just coming to Sunday school was enough.

You thought just a scripture verse a day will keep the devil away.

You thought the scripture verse of the day was enough for you to know who you are in Christ.

But if you were to really read the fine print, you would realize that God has more.

But you need to tap into being kingdom-minded and allow him to show you the miracles that he's been working on all around you.

He's been working on these miracles and you don't even want to acknowledge them.

You don't even want to offer up a prayer of thanksgiving.

Here's the thing.

Don't just say that you're kingdom-minded.

Don't just say you're kingdom-minded and expect the benefits when you're continuing to indulge in the desires of the flesh.

Don't just say you're kingdom-minded and expect the benefits when you don't have the mind of Christ.

When you want nothing to do with the Holy Spirit, when you don't want to love like Christ, you don't want to reflect the supernatural power of God.

See, when you live in the kingdom, when you live in the kingdom, you receive kingdom benefits.

When you live, move, and have your being in the kingdom, you receive kingdom benefits.

When you choose to make the kingdom of God your what?

Lifestyle.

This is my lifestyle.

This is my story.

This is my song.

Being being kingdom-minded.

When you choose to make the kingdom of God your lifestyle, you will expect the benefits with confidence.

And not only that, you'll be able to see those miracles upon miracles that have already been at work around you.

The signs and wonders that God is doing today.

God, you're so good to us.

What is man that you're mindful of us?

That you've given us such an opportunity.

But God, we're just mess.

Constantly slipping up, constantly messing up.

Oh, we try.

But God, I keep finding myself back in the same place.

Yet you continue to open up this availability.

You keep opening up your arms and saying, come on home.

Come and enjoy the benefits of my kingdom.

God, I thank you for your goodness.

I thank you for your mercy.

I thank you for your forgiveness.

I thank you for your love that you would even love a sinner like me.

So, God, I choose to give my life wholeheartedly to you.

I choose to step into your kingdom.

God, and as I make this step into your kingdom, God, I pray that you would fill me with the knowledge of how to be kingdom-minded.

Just like you were kingdom-minded.

God, I pray that I would have the strength to put on the mind of Christ and see things the way that you see.

God, that I would be able to step out of the box and do something out of the ordinary, reflecting the supernatural.

God, knowing that you have so much more in store for me as a child of God.

God, I pray that you fill me with your spirit.

God, that I can't get enough of knowing what you're all about.

And that the Spirit, as I make time for your presence, as I make time for you to move in my life, God, that your spirit would reveal new things to me.

God, that I could find fellowship with you.

Lord, I pray as I get strengthened in your kingdom, that I would begin to deny the old things of the flesh and chase after the things of the spirit.

That I would know your voice so well that it would be so easy to drop those things at the wayside and follow you.

Oh, I know there'll be trials.

I know there'll be temptations and people are gonna try to trip me up, but God, I'm gonna tighten my armor and I know I'll withstand it because you're on my side.

And Lord, just as your word says, I'm gonna start to expect the benefits of your kingdom.

To know that yes, I am healed, I am forgiven, I am redeemed from this life of destruction, I am more than a conqueror.

I am a king's kid in all the benefits of being one, and I'm gonna expect it just like I expect the sun to rise tomorrow.

I'm gonna expect your benefits to come this way.

Earlier we lifted our hands as an act of thanksgiving to God.

Now we're raising our hands as an act of surrender, God, that we would be kingdom-minded.

So much so, God, that we would expect the benefits of serving you.

When good things happen and they happen all the time, yep, that's my God, that's my God, that's what he does.

God, that I can make plans based on your benefits, I can make plans knowing that everything you say in your word is coming my way.

God, I pray that you would strengthen me in your word because in those times where the enemy tries to confuse me and to say, Hey, your prayer didn't get answered.

Who are you praying to anyway?

God, that I would be so built up in your word that I would know that you got bigger things on their way.

So I'm just gonna keep marching, I'm gonna keep lifting my prayer up to you, knowing that you have abundantly more than I could ever think or ask.

Immeasurably more.

Expecting the benefits, God.

We look forward to all that you have.

We lift our hands and surrender, God.

We give you all the praise and the glory.

In Jesus' name we pray.

Amen.