Thine Is the Kingdom

Thine Is the Kingdom . . . Forever!

Constant Communion: The Lifestyle of Prayer

       The Kingdom belongs to God, but He shares it now and forever with His children who trust and follow Him -- those who love Him enough to walk with Him according to His plan and purpose. Will you walk with Him? Do you know His heart?

      We enter into the joys of Kingdom-life when our hearts stay tuned to His. We share the power and privileges of the Kingdom when, moment by moment, His life is joined to our lives.

      This wonderful fellowship of abiding in Christ, our King, springs from a lifestyle of constant communication. Whether silent, whispered, spoken or sung, this unceasing secret communion is the sweetest expression of love and oneness possible.

      Jesus lived every moment in conscious awareness of the mind and will of His Father. And since we have the mind and heart of Christ, we, too, may live in the intimacy of constant communion with God.

     Through the storms of life, our Shepherd whispers, "Be still and know that I am God." He goes before me, walks with me, and -- best of all -- lives in me. He is always near!

"Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth." (1 Chronicles 16:11-12)My Lord and my King, how lovely are Thy dwelling places! Teach me the truths that that will keep me ever close to your heart. Lead me into the most wonderful lifestyle of all: the intimacy of continual fellowship and communion with you in the peace of your Kingdom, even as we (You and I) carry on our work here on earth. Thank You, my beloved Shepherd and King!

My Lord and my King, how lovely are Thy dwelling places! Teach me the truths that that will keep me ever close to your heart. Lead me into the most wonderful lifestyle of all: the intimacy of continual fellowship and communion with you in the peace of your Kingdom, even as we (You and I) carry on our work here on earth. Thank You, my beloved Shepherd and King!

1. (Psalm 84:1-2, 11-12). Where do you see David's fellowship and communion with His King in verses 1 and 2? What can we learn from these Scriptures?

1     How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts!

2    My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord;

      My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.... "

11     For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory;

      No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

12  O Lord of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

2. Our joy in God's Kingdom comes through Jesus! We who belong to Him have been transferred from the world's domain of darkness into His Kingdom of heavenly life, love and light. The following scriptures lets us some glimpses the joys and sorrows that remain omnipresent in our earthly life. What is God showing you through the psalm below?

       (Psalm 16: 8-11)

8 "I have set the Lord always before me;

    Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.

9  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope.
10 Because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your holy one see decay.

11 You have made known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy;

Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

2. What's the main difference between Psalm 16:8-11 and Psalm 42:8-12? How are the differences reconciled in the psalms as well as in our own lives here on earth?

(Psalm 42:8-12)

"The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime,

And in the night His song shall be with me - A prayer to the God of my life.

9 I will say to God my Rock, 'Why have You forgotten me?

Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

10 As with a breaking of my bones, my enemies reproach me,

While they say to me all day long, 'Where is your God?'

11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me?

12 Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God."

3. The next set of Scriptures gives us another glimpse of the pathway into the intimacy of His presence. What kind of guidelines you see here? How can we guard against the kinds of temptations (bitterness, envy, pride, etc.) that block our intimacy with Jesus.

a. Psalm 5:3: "Give heed to the voice of my cry, My King and my God. For to You I will pray.
My voice You shall hear in the morning, Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, and I will look up."
b. Psalm 105:3-5: "Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!
c. Psalm 116:2: "Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live....
I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you."

4. In Psalm 27:1-4, David gives us glimpses both of the path to intimacy and the joys of God's presence. He also shows us that spiritual closeness springs from a basic attitude: the habitual drawing near to our God, which leads to an unceasing longing for the very best and highest that Kingdom-life offers. David had a vision and thirst for this spiritual lifestyle; therefore he sought it with all his heart.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? ...

3 Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;

Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple."

a. Describe some of the joys that David experienced in the presence of God.

b. "But," you might reply, "I don't have time to talk with God all the time. People and responsibilities demand my time and attention." How can you make sure that your oneness with Jesus becomes a joy rather than a hindrance as you attend to daily duties?

5. Psalm 18:1-3. Describe David's love for God -- including some of the words that deepened the intimacy between them.

1 I will love You, O Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;

2 My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3 I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised;

So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4     The pangs of death surrounded me,

And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.

5     The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;

The snares of death confronted me.

6     In my distress I called upon the Lord,

And cried out to my God;

      Psalm 25:1-5.

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2      O my God, I trust in You; Let me not be ashamed;

Let not my enemies triumph over me.

3     Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed;

Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause.

4     Show me Your ways, O Lord;

Teach me Your paths.

5     Lead me in Your truth and teach me,

For You are the God of my salvation;

On You I wait all the day.

6. During His last three years here on earth as a man, Jesus served, healed, taught, baptized and encouraged those who "had ears to hear." Though despised by most pharisees, He was loved by the poor and needy. His resting places were usually hard and rough, and in Gethsemane His disciples were simply too sleepy and fearful to recognize His torment and offer comfort. What do you learn from His example? How does He want us to live and pray today?

Matthew 14:23-26: "...when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear."

Mark 1:35-38: "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said, “Everyone is looking for You.” But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”
Luke 5:15-16: "However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed."

7. Numerous other Scriptures offer helpful exhortations to those who seek His constant presence and fellowship. Write His instruction to you, then consider what worlds you might speak to Him as you follow His guidelines

Romans 12:1-2. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Colossians 4:2: "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

8. While our Lord and Shepherd is omnipresent and knows all our struggles as well as our joys, He wants us to share our hearts with Him. What must we do to maintain unceasing communion with Him? How important is His nearness and fellowship to our daily existence here on earth?