Our name | Mission | Vision | Leaders Ministries | Schedule | Directions | Contact Home   Gateway Church gathers for worship Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Location: 6425 Jefferson Rd. (Hwy. 129) in Athens, Georgia. For directions, click here. Ministry of the Word: Recent sermons Our quarterly e-magazine Gateway Today For the Gateway family Pastor Jerry's Weekly E-Mail A GATEWAY SERMON SUMMARY AUDIO Kingdom living Jerry Varnado, pastor Gateway Church, Athens GA August 17, 2003 Main Scripture text: Luke 8:40-56. All that is required for a kingdom to exist is a king who has sovereign authority and people subject to that authority. In Luke 11, Jesus said the Kingdom of God was present to them at that moment. Indeed, the Kingdom was in Him, evidenced by the power to cast out the demons. In Luke 17, He makes it clear that His Kingdom is an inner realty. Anywhere the reign and rule of God is established in human life, there is the Kingdom. The Kingdom comes to us when we receive the Holy Spirit who gives us the power to live in obedience to God. What then is "Kingdom living"? What does life look like when we're living with the Kingdom in us? To be sure, it involves holiness -- a life of disciplined prayer, Bible study and worship. It involves our doing what is right, being kind, compassionate and loving towards others and bearing fruit in every good work. But Kingdom living is more than that; it is about being attuned to the Spirit of the Living God. Part of the reason Jesus came was to show us how to live in communion with God. Jesus models for us how to discern when God is at work, and how to respond to that activity. In our text today, Jesus is on the way to Jairus' house when he is "interrupted" by a woman with a serious need. He has the spiritual sensitivity and insight to know this isn't really an interruption but rather a "divine appointment." If I were more sensitive to the Lord's voice, I'm sure I would have more divine appointments. But I for for certain that I had one a few days ago. It was my day to preach at the Arbor Terrace Alzheimer's unit. My message was on assurance of salvation. After the short service, a man named Mr. Jones said he wanted to ask me some questions. Frankly, I "didn't have time." But God prompted me to sit and talk. When I left about an hour later, that man knew he was going to heaven. That's not the end of the story. The next morning I went to the YMCA Bible study and someone requested prayer for a friend -- a elderly man struggling with assurance of his salvation. His name? Mr. Jones. Yes, it was the same Mr. Jones! Divine appointments! They are key to Kingdom living, and they produce much fruit for the Kingdom of God. Every day this week, pray for divine appointments. Look for them. Expect them. Then take the time to live them out, so God can do the work of the Kingdom through us. This is true "Kingdom living." Supporting texts: Luke 11:14-20 | Luke 17:20-21 | John 8:29 | Jeremiah 31:31-34 | Ezekiel 36:24-27 A mp3 audio file of this sermon is here. (Download to a PC by right clicking on the link and choosing "Save Target As." Mac users: click, hold, and choose "Download Link to Disk." Depending on your connection speed, the file may take several minutes to download.) An audio tape of this sermon is available free of charge (U.S. requests only). Request a tape by calling or writing the Gateway Church office. Please specify tape number 030817a: Kingdom Living. © 2003 Gerald R. Varnado To the Gateway Church home page How to contact us