Bro. F.D. Peralta I 25 March 2018
KEY TEXT
I Samuel 18:17-18, 22-23
17Saul said to David, “Here is my older daughter Merah. I will give her to you in marriage; only serve me bravely and fight the battles of the Lord.”
18But David said to Saul, “Who am I, and what is my family or my clan in Israel, that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
22Then Saul ordered his attendants: “Speak to David privately and say, ‘Look, the king likes you, and his attendants all love you; now become his son-in-law.’”
23The repeated these words to David. But David said, “Do you think it is a small matter to become the king’s son-in-law? I am only a poor man and little known.”
Are you on to the Kingdom call that Jesus saved you for?
Are you living up to God’s potential for your life?
Are you living in God’s reality?
Many of us Christians of this age easily fall into the virtual trap of living in our physical reality instead of God’s reality; we easily succumb to our circumstances, give in to limitations and restrictions without putting up a fight, and suffer the debilitating effect of normalcy and status quo in our spiritual journey and relationship with God.
So much of the things of this world (family condition, personal relationship, professions, life goals, urgent needs, and surprisingly at times even our ministry, etc) serve up an illusion of life instead of life in God that is real, solid, and life-changing. For so long a time, we have lived this illusion of life the world would like us to see that it has become our very own reality—yet one that veers us away from the original design our new life in Christ is intended for.
However, this morning I believe God would want to awaken many of us from this illusion to the light of his truth. God would want to stir us to take another leap of faith to see God’s reality operate in our lives.
Today I’d like to share with you something that God revealed to me at the Kingdom Invasion Conference about the necessity of living in God’s reality. When we strive to make God’s reality our reality, we activate God’s purpose, power, and promises in our lives.
EXPOSITION.
I. GOD’S REALITY & OUR PHYSICAL REALITY
How do we differentiate God’s Reality from our Physical Reality?
In his time of weakness, when David was asked to marry Saul’s daughter, David looked at his present state and said,
I Samuel 18:23
Does it seem to you a little thing to become the king’s son-in-law, since I am a poor man and have no reputation?
Although this was his physical state and present reality, the actual truth was that David was anointed king of Israel and this should have encouraged him that he was worthy of marrying the king’s daughter.
Sometimes in spite of God’s truth and promises that should change our perception, we unfortunately yield to our physical or present reality.
What is God’s Reality?
It is God’s truth concerning your life.
What does God specifically say about your life? Be inspired of God’s truth regardless of what reality looks like. Hold on to whatever prophecy, promise, or quickened word you have received. Exercise whatever gifts you are entrusted with.
It is the reality of who we are in Christ.
By faith it is one that is not determined, limited by our circumstances.
Our faith in God’s truth provides a doorway and an opportunity for us to step into the reality of being a “child of God” (Gal. 3:26), “co-heir with Christ” (Rom. 8:17), and “salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13) & “light of the world” (Matt. 5:14).”
It is the reality of God’s Word.
It is when the reality of God’s word becomes more significant to us than the reality of the situation we are facing [and this makes the situation temporal].
More often, we use our human speech to construct our situation and, thus, declares our physical reality; however, we need to choose to see our situation through the eyes of faith and declare a much greater reality which is the reality of God’s Word.
Physical Reality vs Reality of God’s Word
Luke 18:28
“It’s impossible.”
What is possible with men is possible with God.
John 3:16
“No one cares.” For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Philippians 4:16
“I can’t do it.”
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
2 Timothy 1:7
“I’m afraid.”
For God did not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.
1 Peter 5:7
“I’m worried.”
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Hebrews 13:5
“I feel alone.”
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
John 1:9
“I won’t be forgiven.”
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
The reality of God’s word can change our temporal physical reality.
II. LIVING IN GOD’S REALITY
What’s it like to live in God’s reality?
We should all strive to live in God’s reality. There are three P’s that God will
activate in our lives when we strive to see through the eyes of God and live by faith in God’s reality: PURPOSE, POWER, and PROMISE.
A. Activates God’s Purpose in Your Life
kingdom call
burden for the lost
Our physical reality can make us lose our focus in life, but God’s reality directs us back to our original call, our God-given purpose, our true finish line…[what’s is your part in advancing the kingdom of God?]
Often we search for significance and value, but when we begin to see the lost, we desire for what is significant to God—souls saved, lives transformed, the gospel spread throughout the nations.
Our human mind would argue caring for others is [needless to say] tiresome, draining, and utterly messy. However, when we get the right perspective regarding our purpose, we regain the burden for others.
According to Ben Fitzgerald,
“When burden comes to you, that burden makes you feel alive.”
“To fee alive”—isn’t this all that we truly want? The reason why we work, aspire, achieve, travel, engage in human relations, etc. But there is something in all these “cares and affairs of this world” that make something snap inside us.
Matthew 16:25
For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
Illustration: At the KI God recalled the purpose and vision He birthed in my heart for the Youth Church. God reignited my desire to pray for God’s design for YC.
The true essence of living is in Christ.
B. Activates God’s Power in Your Life
gain boldness for Jesus
study and speak the word
engage in fasting and intercession
exercise gifts for service of the body of Christ
crucify the flesh & fight sin
see dreams and visions
respond to God’s presence and the move of the Holy Spirit
bring the Kingdom of God upon our nation, city, church, family, and the lives of countless many.
Acts 1:5
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to you and you will be my witnesses….
When we strive to live in God’s reality, the Holy Spirit becomes our source of power and enablement. Moreover, in God’s reality we enter the realm of the Spirit, tap on to the power and resources of heaven, and operate in our functions and ministries under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Illustration: Conscious awareness of engaging with God in responding to his word, worship, prayer, and presence
C. Activates God’s Promise in Your Life
fulfillment of promise
realization of dreams
The promises of God in our lives are at work only when we walk by faith and see
through the eyes of our heart.
When we strive to live in God’s reality, we will see the fulfillment of God’s promises in our lives.
Illustration: A dream about Pastors giving me gifts
CONCLUSION.
Are you on to the Kingdom call that Jesus saved you for?
Are you living up to God’s potential for your life?
Are you living in God’s reality?
We should all strive to live in God’s reality.
When we strive to make God’s reality our reality, we activate God’s purpose, power, and promises in our lives.
