Luke 4: (Isaiah 61) “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners…

Luke 4: (Isaiah 61) “... and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor… “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Matthew 17: Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, 21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

Luke 13: Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches.”

Luke 13: Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.”

There are some basic, core Gospel practices that Jesus gave to the disciples; who then passed them on to the Church to implement on Earth until He returns again.

In this Series, notice 2 trends: 1.) The Kingdom is the Context. 2.) A noticeable presence of Jesus that is associated with each one. * “Sacramental”

“Sacrament”: A human action in which God is active. God is acting in, with, through, and under what mankind does. “Where these are happening, the people of God are real in the world.” - Yoder

These are also “Social Sacraments.” We don’t do them alone, but in community with other believers.

“Christus Prolongatus” The Presence and Authority of Jesus Christ becomes extended into the world as the Church does these practices in sincere faith and from right motives.

We Mustn’t Forget That Our King is a Lamb. We come humbly to this world to offer the Kingdom of Jesus, not to coerce or force someone to enter it.

Kingdom Key #1 Kingdom-Centered Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer (KJV) “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

The Kingdom is the Focus Out of acknowledging and submitting to the Kingdom of God; We can then rightly and honestly submit our petitions and concerns to the Lord.

Mark 9: After The Transfiguration; Jesus is confronted by a man with a son that the disciples couldn’t exorcise a demon from: “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

Mark 9: Jesus said, “This kind can only come out by prayer.” Translation: “Stop trying to do this by your own strength!”

The whole idea of prayer is that I can do nothing! I humbly submit my life and this request to the Kingdom of God.

Application Ideas 1.) Praying at and against “strongholds” in our community. 2.) Praying ALOUD with other believers. 3.) Pray BIGGER and beyond your own personal petitions.