Description

Podcast Summary:

Remember the game of hide and seek we played as kids? In this episode of As in Heaven, Matt Davis and Bryan Elliott explore a far more profound version of seeking - not just people but the kingdom of God. 

How do we seek God's kingdom and His righteousness in a world full of distractions and struggles? 

Bryan shares his transformational journey of dethroning self, embracing surrender, and discovering the powerful reality of God's kingdom through deep intimacy with Jesus. They discuss how we can lose our lives to gain true life, unpacking the idea that seeking the kingdom changes everything, from how we face anxiety to how we understand trials.

Key Takeaways:

1. Seeking the kingdom of God begins with surrendering our desires and making Jesus the King of our lives.
2. God often allows struggles and trials to bring us into deeper trust and intimacy with Him.
3. The process of "dying to self" brings resurrection life and freedom in every area of life, including relationships and purpose.
4. Faith is not passive - seeking God's kingdom is an active pursuit of His presence, principles, and power.
5. True freedom and joy come when we live for something bigger than ourselves, partnering with God to bring kingdom solutions to the world.

Pull Quotes:

• "The kingdom of God is all about freedom, and anxiety is the opposite. We’re given all authority, and anxiety stems from powerlessness."
• "If we have God, we have everything. We seek Him, and we get it all."
• "You don’t have to have earthly wealth to make eternal investments."

Chapter Markers:

• 00:00 – Story Hook: Hide and Seek – Matt shares a childhood game and transitions to seeking the kingdom of God.

• 01:34 – Seeking First the Kingdom – Bryan reflects on his journey of dethroning self and enthroning God.

• 02:59 – Losing Your Life to Find It – The discussion of surrendering personal desires to embrace God’s kingdom.

• 06:02 – Motivation for Seeking the Kingdom – Adjusting our motives to seek Jesus as the ultimate goal, not the rewards.

• 08:47 – Jesus as the Key to the Kingdom – How intimacy with Jesus opens the door to experiencing God’s kingdom.

• 10:14 – Exploring the Kingdom – Bryan explains why many Christians settle for less when a whole kingdom is available.

• 13:07 – Trusting God Through Trials – How to trust God’s process even when life is unpredictable.

• 17:25 – The Offensive Kingdom – Bryan emphasizes living from victory in Jesus and going on the offensive for the kingdom.

• 20:53 – Anxiety and Trusting God – Overcoming anxiety by trusting in God’s kingdom and refocusing on His promises.

• 23:26 – Living in Kingdom Freedom – How fear and anxiety stem from a lack of trust, and how seeking the kingdom is the antidote.

• 30:46 – Seeking First the Kingdom and Righteousness – Bryan’s transformation through seeking God and seeing life in a new light.

• 36:47 – Focusing on God, Not the Enemy – Avoiding the traps of either glorifying Satan or ignoring his presence entirely.
• 44:47 – The Power of Testimony – How sharing testimonies of God’s work strengthens faith and accelerates others' journeys.