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Seeking First the Kingdom of God. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Mt. 6:33 ”For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17.
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Seeking First the Kingdom of God “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Mt. 6:33 ”For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17
Seeking First the Kingdom of God • There is a kingdom of God • “Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” are variations of same idea • Entrance to the kingdom of God is by • New birth (John 3:3- “ Except a man is born again, he can not see the kingdom of God”) • Repentance (Mat. 3:2- “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”) • Divine call (1 Thes. 2:12- “that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”
Seeking First Kingdom of God • “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness” • Many do not seek… • The righteousness of God.. righteousness where one performs his duties toward God, to ourselves and others • “All these things will be added unto you” • “All these things of verse 32 • One of the most popular verses on the provision of God. Praise God! • But a kingdom is mentioned here- the kingdom of God
Seeking First the Kingdom of God • The Kingdom of God • A new and different kingdom than that the people wanted Jesus to establish • Kingdom of God is the rule of God • Not an earthly kingdom, but spiritual (Rom. 14:17) • Spiritual truth can not be understood by those dominated by material thoughts or things • The disciples asked the Lord: “Why do you speak in parables?” Hear the answer-
Seeking First the Kingdom of God • “ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Mt.13:13 and “ For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” V.15 • The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers- “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened..” • May the eyes of our heart be opened to understand..
Seeking First the Kingdom of God • A kingdom has ENEMIES • As we live the “kingdom life” we have enemies to contend with- to fight against. • “For wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:12 • We are to SEEK it. We are to pursue it. • It is intentional. God does not force us to seek His kingdom. • “I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me.” Pr.8:17
Seeking First the Kingdom of God • Be SUBMISSIVE/OBEDIENT to the authority of this kingdom. • “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 • "I will tell you the secret. God has all of me there is of me. There have been men with better brains, greater talents, and greater opportunities. But, from the day I got a vision for what Jesus could do with the poor of London, I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was.“ William Booth • KPY