Jubilee 2023 Pastor Jacob Sheriff
Victory Life Church — Monday, July 31, 2023
Tuning in to the Reality of the Kingdom of God
Mark 1:14-15 (ESV) Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
The gospel Jesus preached is the availability of living right now in the Kingdom of God to everyone through trusting and following Him as His disciple.
“Repent” — to change your mind, your worldview, the way you think
“Believe” — align your life to the Kingdom of God; put your trust and confidence in Jesus
Romans 8:5–8 (ESV) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NLT) For we live by believing and not by seeing.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Matthew 6:9-10 (ESV) “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’”
2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (ESV) For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds.
When we tune in to Kingdom Reality, we become instruments for that Reality to invade ours.
Increasing The Competency and Capacity of Our Faith
Increasing Competency: refers to the increase of knowledge of the truth, and the understanding of it. It is about what you know and what you believe concerning the truth.
Increasing Capacity: refers to the maturity and growth in a person’s thinking and believing capabilities. It is about how you think and how you live based on the truth you know and believe.
Increasing our competency of faith is about what you know,
Increasing the capacity of our faith is about how you think.
Increasing our competency of faith is about gaining knowledge and understanding,
Increasing the capacity of our faith is about gaining wisdom.
Increasing our competency of faith is about transferring knowledge to the believer,
Increasing the capacity of our faith is about transformation of the believer.
Romans 12:2 (NLT) “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (ESV) “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Increasing the competency of our faith is about carrying the light burden of Jesus,
Increasing the capacity of our faith is about learning how to take the easy yoke of Jesus.
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Increasing the competency of our faith is about the guarding our heart well,
Increasing the capacity of our faith is about the exercising our heart well.
Increasing the competency of our faith is about filling our cup with truth,
Increasing the capacity of our faith is about truth transforming our cup.
The Ground (Matthew 13:18-23, Mark 4:14-20, Luke 8:9-15)
Matthew 13:18-23 (ESV) “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Increasing the competency of our faith is about letting the truth grow deep roots,
Increasing the capacity of our faith is about cultivating the ground to reach it’s potential.
Increasing the competency and the capacity of our faith enables us to reach our full, God-given potential.
When we tune in to Kingdom Reality, we become instruments for that Reality to invade our reality. When we increase both the competency and capacity of our faith, we become greater instruments for that Reality to invade our reality in greater ways.
The measure of our impact for the Kingdom is directly connected with the competency and capacity of our faith. The more we mature in our faith, the greater our impact on this reality.
Jeremiah 12:5a (ESV) “If you have raced with men on foot, and they have wearied you, how will you compete with horses?”
Jeremiah 12:5-6 (MSG) “So, Jeremiah, if you’re worn out in this footrace with men, what makes you think you can race against horses? And if you can’t keep your wits during times of calm, what’s going to happen when troubles break loose like the Jordan in flood?”