Discover practical steps to understand what pleases the Lord. Learn how to align your life with God’s will for deeper spiritual growth and fulfillment.
Are you searching for ways to discover what truly pleases the Lord? In this message, we’ll explore biblical principles and practical steps to help you align your life with God’s will. Whether you’re new in faith or seeking deeper spiritual growth, you’ll find helpful insights and encouragement. Listen now to learn how to walk more closely with God and live a life that honours Him!
Trevor Lund is an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur dedicated to helping people discover peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. He encourages others through his blog, podcast, and live casts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at livelight.ca.
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Today I thought it would be good for us to see what Jesus taught about the Kingdom of God. I think it’s the most important thing to understand if we are to align with the Kingdom.
You see there have both historical misunderstandings about the Kingdom and practical misunderstandings of the Kingdom that can still easily crop up today when we don’t have a clear understanding of the Kingdom.
How are we supposed to Align with the Kingdom if we don’t understand what the Kingdom is?
Don’t worry, there is so much Jesus taught about the Kingdom—and I’ll try to touch on it today. I will distill it to a single statement so you know what the Kingdom is and give you a tool to align with the Kingdom of God in the day to day of your everyday.
Let’s start with a portion of scripture that tells you everything I want to tell you today.
Colossians 1:9-14 (NLT) So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.Then the way you live will always honour and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
Before we go further, can I pray?
I’m going to start with a story. I wrote this story 26 years ago—at the beginning of this millennium—that is to say—some of the jokes haven’t aged well.
But I wrote story because I was studying about what Jesus taught on the Kingdom and noticed that Jesus mainly taught on the Kingdom through parables and practice. And I thought the best way to explain every parable would have to be in a story. I did up this video about 15 years later.
The Mystery of the Kingdom
I began by saying there have been both historical misunderstandings about the Kingdom and practical misunderstandings of the Kingdom that can still easily crop up today when we don’t have a clear understanding of the Kingdom. Let’s look at the historical misunderstandings first.
Historical Misunderstandings
1. Historically Misunderstood - Political/Military Expectations
Ancient Jews: Many expected the Messiah to establish a political kingdom, overthrowing Roman rule and restoring Israel’s national glory.
Result: When Jesus spoke of the Kingdom, some disciples imagined earthly power and conquest (see Acts 1:6).
Acts 1:3-8 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The Kingdom of God is not politically or militarily established.
2. Historically Misunderstood - Geographic/Physical Location
Early Christians & Later Movements: Some believed the Kingdom of God was a specific place on earth, such as Jerusalem, or would be established through physical territory.
But Jesus specifically said, “You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already within you.” Luke 17:21
The Kingdom of God is not a physical or geographical location.
3. Historically Misunderstood - Institutional Church as the Kingdom
- Medieval Christianity: The Catholic Church, especially during the Middle Ages, sometimes equated itself directly with the Kingdom of God, implying membership in the institution = citizenship in the Kingdom.
But Jesus said, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18
This is a poor translation. Gates are not something that come against us. Gates are what we come against and tear down. The gates of hell cannot stand against the church advancing the kingdom.
The Kingdom of God is not the church. The church is not the Kingdom.
4. Historically Misunderstood - End Times Only
Apocalyptic Movements: Some groups have taught that the Kingdom is entirely future—something that arrives only with the Second Coming, ignoring its present reality.
Jesus sent out his twelve and told them “As you go, proclaim this message: “The kingdom of heaven has come near.” Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. Matthew 10:7-8
The Kingdom of God is not only for the future. It’s for the here and now.
And it’s not just historical misunderstandings. There are practical misunderstandings of the kingdom today…
Practical Misunderstandings Today
1. Practical Misunderstandings The Kingdom = Moral or Social Program
Many view the Kingdom of God as simply living a good life, helping others, or supporting social justice causes—reducing it to ethical behaviour, not divine reign.
Is the Kingdom just doing good works?
No. We do good works so that people will see those good works and glorify our Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
2. Practical Misunderstandings The Kingdom = Personal Success/Prosperity
Some interpret the Kingdom as personal blessing or prosperity—assuming that following God guarantees material wealth or health.
Does the Kingdom assure personal success or prosperity?
No! Jesus has promised that in this world you will have trouble. But take heart because He’s overcome the world. Name that and claim that.
3. Practical Misunderstandings The Kingdom = Church Activities
People often think attending church or participating in religious rituals equates to advancing or entering the Kingdom.
Aren’t church activities automatically kingdom activities?
No! The church and its activities is NOT the Kingdom…the church should extend the Kingdom of God, but never replace the Kingdom of God.
4. Practical Misunderstandings The Kingdom = Private Spiritual Experience
Others see it only as an inward, private spiritual feeling rather than something with public, communal, and transformative aspects.
Is the Kingdom my personal experience?
No! Your personal experience should be part of the Kingdom, but please don’t think the kingdom is the sum of your experience.
What Does Scripture Actually Teach?
The Kingdom is God’s active reign—present wherever God’s will is done (Luke 17:21).
You won’t be able to say, ‘Here it is!’ or ‘It’s over there!’ For the Kingdom of God is already within you. Luke 17:21
The Kingdom is wherever the King’s will is done.
Isn’t God’s will always done?
IF God’s will is always done, why did Jesus teach us to pray your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10?
In Heaven His will is done perfectly. On Earth He works through His people, empowered by His Spirit.
The Kingdom is wherever the King’s will is done.
What to know how I know The Kingdom is NOT the Church…The Kingdom is wherever the King’s will is done.
Look at how Jesus sums up the Sermon on the mount…
Matthew 7:21-23 21 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” 23 Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
We need to know his will and do his will to align with His Kingdom. The Kingdom is wherever the King’s will is done.
What is His will?
That’s a great question, I’m so glad you asked.
I’ve found three places in the new testament that tell us explicitly what God’s will is for us.
1. God’s will is for you to be Holy…
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor— not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before. God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”
Your role: Be holy. 1 Thessalonians 4:3
God’s role: For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. Philippians 2:13
2. God’s will is for you to live honourable lives…
1 Peter 2:13-17 “For the Lord’s sake, submit to all human authority—whether the king as head of state, or the officials he has appointed. For the king has sent them to punish those who do wrong and to honour those who do right. It is God’s will that your honourable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king.”
Your role: Live honourable lives
God’s role: His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3
3. God’s will is for you to always be joyful, never stop praying and be thankful in all circumstances….
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Your role: always be joyful, never stop praying and always be thankful
God’s role: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
How do you trust in God? You never stop praying. You never stop thanking.
Now. These are big picture keys to how we live our lives in the will of God.
Be Holy.
Live Honourable.
Always be joyful, never stop praying and always be thankful.
When we do these things we are in the will of God.
Remember the Kingdom is wherever God’s will is done.
He helps us live in His will. He empowers us to live in His Kingdom.
But you were created to walk with God in the garden in the cool of the day. You were designed for intimate relationship with Him. It’s not that you have this list of things to check off that allows you to live in His Kingdom. It’s the result of you being the Kingdom that allows you to live this way.
We can find out what pleases the Lord.
Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
FIND Out What Pleases the Lord Tool
F - Follow Holy Spirit’s Leading
I - Imitate what Jesus did
N - Never forget to walk in wisdom
D - Don’t assume you’ve fully grasped the Kingdom
F- Follow Holy Spirt’s Leading
It seemed good to us and Holy Spirit Acts 15:28
I’ve given you the three places in Scripture we’re explicitly told what God’s will is. The rest you need Holy Spirit’s leading. This verse in Acts is from a letter the Elders of the Church in Jerusalem wrote to gentile converts. And it’s significant that James wrote “to us and Holy Spirit” and not “me and Holy Spirit”. We need to get back to communal discernment of what Holy Spirit is saying to us.
Remember: The Kingdom is within you.
Luke 17:20-21 Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Does it seem good to us and Holy Spirit?
I - Imitate What Jesus Did
Jesus only said what He heard the Father say (John 12:49-50; John 14:10). Jesus only did what He saw the Father do (John 5:19).
Do you have that intimacy with the Father?
The Father’s purpose is to make you more and more like the Son. Romans 8:29
Remember: The Kingdom is not a matter of talk but of power.
1 Corinthians 4:20 — For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.
Do I want that intimate relationship with the Father?
N - Never Forget to walk in wisdom
What wisdom looks like….
James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere.
Remember: The Kingdom is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:17 — “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Am I walking in wisdom as God defines it?
D - Don’t assume you’ve fully grasped the Kingdom
Every Kingdom Practice is counterintutive to this life.
What do I mean?
In this life, I eat and get filled. Makes sense right?
In the Kingdom more I eat this word, the more hungry I become for his word. The more I pray, the easier it is to always pray. The more I get encouraged by others, the more I can encourage others. The more I feel joy, the more joyful I become. The more I obey, the more I want to obey.
But the reverse is also true.
The less I practice the Kingdom, the less I feel like practicing the Kingdom. The less I read my Bible, the less I want to read my Bible. The less I pray, the harder it is to pray. The less I time I spent in real relationship, the less I want to work on real relationship. The less real joy I feel, the less I naturally feel happy. The less I obey, the less I want to obey.
If you think you’ve fully grasped the Kingdom you need to know you’ve missed it.
Remember: The Kingdom is like a mustard seed that grows a large tree or a little yeast that permeates the entire dough. (Matthew 13:31-33)
Am I am growing more hungry for God or less hungry for Him?
FIND out what pleases the Lord.
F - Follow Holy Spirit’s Leading
I - Imitate what Jesus did
N - Never forget to walk in wisdom
D - Don’t assume you’ve fully grasped the Kingdom
Conclusion
Jesus told another parable about entering His Kingdom.
Matthew 25:34-46 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
We’re part of the Kingdom when we obey the king.
You know God’s will by doing God’s will. The Kingdom is wherever God’s will is done.
I want you leave you with a blessing, with my most recent “most favourite new vere”
Closing prayer…
Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask
{May} God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
