Seek First
The Kingdom of God
Matt 6:31-33 "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Seek first His kingdom”
What are you seeking first in your life? Entertainment? Clothing? Money? A house? A job? Health? Food? A blessed life? A better family? Etc.
I believe that one of the truths that Jesus expressed here, was that all of those things are in God’s kingdom.
If you want a blessed life, seek FIRST the kingdom of God, and all these things will be supplied to you.
If you were here last week I taught you that when you repent and believe, you are joined to the kingdom. You are in the kingdom and the kingdom is in you like leaven in bread.
That means that all that is in the kingdom is at your disposal [Spiritual DNA] and that you as a child of God are called of God to be an expression of the kingdom of God on this earth.
You are called to bring forth kingdom blessings. Miracles, signs and wonders are supposed to flow from you.
And any other expression of God’s nature are supposed to be seen in you.
His love, His joy, and peace, His compassion and the faith of God are supposed to be an every day expressions of your life.
God has a calling on you, and I believe He wants to renew your vision for kingdom purposes.
I believe God wants to energize you, to do His will in your life.
Phil 2:13 It is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for [do] His good pleasure. NAS
If you believe in Jesus and have made Him Lord of your life, then you have been joined to the kingdom of God.
With all your faults and failures; with all your gifts and abilities, you are part of God’s kingdom.
We all come as babes in Christ. We have no idea what this is all about, other that God loves us, and Jesus died on the cross for us.
How do we seek
His kingdom?
* FIRST!!!
* We seek after the knowledge, understanding and wisdom of God and His kingdom.
Prov 2:1-5 My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,
2 Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;
3 For if you cry out for discernment,
Lift your voice for understanding;
4 If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will discern the fear of the Lord And discover the knowledge of God. NAS
* We seek the kingdom of God, by seeking the will of the King.
Jesus taught us to pray -
Matt 6:9-10 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
10 'Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven....
Matt 6:13 [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.'] NAS
Our prayer needs to be the same prayer Jesus prayer in the garden “Not my will, but Your’s be done”.
Matt 7:21-23 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS. NAS
Only doing the will of God matters. Knowing Jesus intimately is the thing that He desires from us.
John 4:34-35 Jesus said..., "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.
35 "Do you not say, 'There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest. NAS
Ps 51:10-13 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast [fixed direction] spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. NAS
Can this truly be your prayer this morning?
That the creator of all things would take you and create something from you? Will you let Him form you into what He desires for His kingdom?
For God to create in you what He desires, He must have a willing vessel.
Are you truly seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness? Are you focused on the right thing? Are you headed in the right direction?
If not you must pray - “Renew a steadfast spirit within me”.
Ask the Holy Spirit to come and breath on you today. Ask Him to restore the JOY that comes from being saved.
God is calling you to teach sinners His ways, and to show the lost, the pathway to spiritual birth.
Pick up your cross and follow Jesus. Give up your life, that you may find new life, in doing Christ’s will, in the kingdom.
You have been joined to a kingdom. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.