Hearts for the Kingdom
God’s Heart
Open your heart to the verses we read together from God’s Word. Opening your heart to God’s Word is a beautiful, life-altering experience. His Word reveals the very heart and character of God to us. God’s Word is His heart. As we read it and reflect upon it, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and guides us according to His perfect will for our lives.
We have spoken about finding hope in Christ in order to live with expectancy according the promises of His eternal Kingdom. A very important component of living with this Kingdom mindset comes with living out the great commission. We are each called to have a heart for His Kingdom. Kingdom lives fulfill Jesus’ commission to “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).
As members of the household of God, we share in Christ’s Sonship, which comes not only with partaking in the Son’s privileges, authority and power but with sharing in the responsibility of furthering His gospel - a responsibility that comes with the most abundant of blessings. In Luke 10: 8-9, Jesus teaches His disciples,
Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
As Christ-followers, we bring the Kingdom of God with us everywhere we go because His Kingdom is manifested in and through our lives. As we share the hope of Christ with others and give witness regarding what He has done for us, His Kingdom comes near to those to whom we witness. When we teach His Word to others, His Kingdom comes near to those we teach. When we pray with and over those who need healing in their bodies or hearts, His Kingdom comes near to those for whom we pray.
When Jesus enters lives, the threats and schemes of the enemy are canceled and those who let Him in are transferred into His Kingdom. May we remember our own redemption and share the hope of the cross with those He places in our paths.
Colossians 2:13-15:
13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.
Colossians 1:13-14:
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
As we bring the Kingdom of God into the midst of unbelievers, we give them a foretaste of the resurrected life to come. We bring them near to the glorious Kingdom of God - the Kingdom we are blessed to live and move in daily. We bring them near to the hope of glory, that is Christ in us (Colossians 1:27).
His Kingdom is in the midst of us - wherever we go - work, school, or around and about our neighborhoods.
Luke 17: 20-21:
Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he (Jesus) answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”
What a privilege! What a responsibility!
May we proclaim His Gospel to the ends of this earth, or at least to the ends of our neighborhood blocks. Let’s do it with our words as well as our lives. May our presence in the lives of those we encounter every day bring the Kingdom of God near to them.
Acts 1:8:
“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.”
Share Your Heart
Consider the following discussion starters as you share your hearts with one another:
The Lord says that the Kingdom of God is in our midst. Do you see the Kingdom of God in your midst? If so, how? in what, or in whom?
How do you think believers bring the Kingdom of God in the midst of those in their everyday lives?
Think about your daily life and all the people you encounter - at work and/or school, out in your community, within your own neighborhood and even within your family and extended family. Do you think those who come in contact with you sense your heart for His Kingdom?
Read Acts 1:8 again. How does this verse speak to bringing the Kingdom near wherever you go?
The Cries of Your Heart
At Hearts Together Women, we believe that the Lord hears the cries of our hearts.
We also believe in prayer partnership because God’s Word teaches us that partnering with one another in prayer is powerful.
James 5:16 says, “Therefore…pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
And Jesus encourages us, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there” (Matthew 18:19-20, The Message).
What amazing promises!
Here is how prayer partnership works at a Hearts Together Gathering:
After we share in the Word and discussion, your facilitator will ask each woman for her prayer requests. All you need to do is share your own requests - the cries of your heart - because we all have them.
We encourage you to request prayer for 1) your own needs; 2) the needs of your family and loved ones; and 3) the needs you see around you - in the workplace, the school, the neighborhood or even the nation.
After the requests are shared, your gathering facilitator will lead in a prayer for the needs that were put forth.
In the following days, we encourage you to pray for the requests of the other women in your gathering. They will do the same for you. That’s what prayer partnership is all about!
As we unite in prayer, we trust the Lord will meet with us, dwell among us and answer us in accordance with His perfect will.
Your Heart to His
Maybe you felt the Holy Spirit stirring something in your heart during this gathering. It doesn’t have to end here. Take it home. In the followings days, continue to pursue Him. Spend some time alone and quiet, away from the noise of life - just you and Jesus.
Tell Him the cries of your heart. He is listening; He cares, and He does answer. Praying is kind of like having a conversation with your best friend. He created you, so He already knows everything about you. He just wants to be with you.
After you pray, reread the Scriptures and thoughts under God’s Heart. Reflect upon the verses and how they speak to you and your life.
Here are some things you might contemplate and pray about:
Consider that as a Christ follower - a member of His household - you bring the Kingdom of God wherever you go. There is tremendous privilege, honor and responsibility that comes with the influence you can have on the world - on everyone you encounter really. It is a humbling thought, but one that should inspire you and spur you to action. As you reflect upon this, ask the Holy Spirit to go before you and to direct you as you bring His Kingdom to those in your midst.
This is just between you and Jesus - your heart to His. Make space in your busy days to spend some time with Him.
