Do you find it hard to look for God’s kingdom? Here’s some help

Matthew 6:33

ASV    But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

AMP   But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

DRA   Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

INTRO: In the context of necessity Jesus does not deny the reality of human needs but forbids making them the object of anxious care, and in effect, becoming their slave.

AIM: With our lives made uncertain with problems and needs, this verse aims to encourage followers of Christ not to take things into their hands and keep worrying but to humble under God’s mighty hand and learn to cast all anxiety to Him and find peace and power to stand victorious versus satan.

SEEKING FIRST

a.            The first thing to look for is our deep understanding of the gospel message for it saves everyone who believes in it. The righteousness of God is revealed in His very word and those accept it as true are to live it in faith (Romans 1:16F)

b.            The kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking as some think of (Romans 14:17) for food does not commend us to God, either we eat or not, we are no better or worse (1 Corinthians 8:8). Find righteousness instead through belief in Jesus (Romans 10:9) and find the Spirit’s fruit of joy and peace (Galatians 5:22)

FINDING NEXT

a.            A just man is never forsaken by God and go in want of food because the Lord spreads throughout His blessings of satisfaction (Psalms 37:25)

b.            No one can withstand or hold against a just man while he lives for God is with him. The Lord promised not to forsake or leave him. (Joshua 1:5)

CONCLUSION:

There is incompatibility in focus and trust in life of material things. We must recognize our radical dependence on God and again our primary detachment from material possessions, symbolic of our heavenly treasure. 

Will you persevere in persecution?

2 Timothy 3:12

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

“Ang tanan nga nagtinguha sa pagkinabuhi nga diosnon diha kang Kristo Hesus lutoson gayod.”

INTRO:

Christians are alerted to the difficulties we would necessarily face that will enable us to see our present experience in the light of the warning what will happen to those who follow Jesus. Disowning ourselves as the center of existence and in our readiness to follow Jesus even to giving up our life for Him is the condition of true discipleship. By this, we will be repaid at the final judgment.

FOLLOWING CHRIST AND PERSECUTED

a.    Jesus experienced opposition and unfriendliness and was scoffed at even persecuted to death. We, as followers of Christ, will experience the same. (John 15:20)

b.    It is written that we are to go many tribulations to enter God’s kingdom. This certainty must not dampen our spirits but rather intensify us to continue in faith. (Acts 14:22)

c.    We also read from God’s word that we would suffer pain, suffering, distress, ordeals, problems, trouble and misfortunes just as it happened and that we must not be stunned by these afflictions for we know that we are appointed to this. (1 Thessalonians 3:3F)

FOLLOWING CHRIST AND PERSEVERED

a.    We are to deny, that is to renounce ourselves, take each of our crosses and follow Jesus everyday (Matthew 16:24)

b.    He who doesn’t mind the word of the Lord and refuses to suffer for Christ, finding his life more valuable than his Christian duty, is not worthy of Jesus. (Matthew 10:38)

c.    If we share in the suffering of our Lord here on earth, we will also be glorified with Him. Our sufferings here is nothing compared to the glory to be revealed in us (Romans 8:17F)

CONCLUSION: The glory believers are destined to share with Christ far exceeds the sufferings in this present life. After patient endurance in steadfast expectation, the full harvest of the spirit’s presence will be realized. Peter also writes, “For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:17)

Once undeserving but now saved

Ephesians 2:8-9

“For by grace you have been saved through faith and that is not of yourselves; it is a gift from God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.

INTRO: In reality, we don’t show ourselves worthy of deliverance from sin since we are not in harmony with God’s unmerited favor but because of who He is, God being kind and loving, offered His forgiving treatment and attention to us—His creation. Divine kindness and mercy brought Jesus Christ, His only begotten son, to pay off our debts.

      through our faith in jesus we attain salvation

A. God promised to save His people through our faith in His son so that His loving gift will be surely given to all (RM 4:16)

B. God caused us who believed to come to Jesus by calling us first and by teaching us (JN 6:44) He put His law in our minds and wrote it in our hearts. We then upon God as our only God and we become the people of His fold. (JER 31:33)

through our faith in jesus we EXHIBIT VARIATION

A.          We show a big change from being forgiven and justified through our belief in Jesus. We no more strive to fulfill the deeds of the law in order to be found acceptable for the law if the knowledge of sin. (RM 3:20)

B.          Now having faith in Jesus, we bear fruits of our righteousness, the good works of every believer that completed our very faith in our Savior. (JAS 2:22)

     through our faith in jesus we obtain god’s adoption

A.          We will be led by the Spirit who will bear witness to us as God’s sons and daughters and joint heirs with Christ (RM 8:16)

B.          We become children not by natural generation but through God who is the source of a new spiritual life (JN 1:12)

CONCLUSION:

The greatest sign of God’s love is the gift of His son (JN 3:16) that has mad Christians true children of God. This relationship is a present reality and a part of what is to come. The true knowledge of God will ultimately be gained and we Christians must prepare themselves now by living virtuous lives in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

      

Newly created or newly furbished

2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new Creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.”

INTRO:

In our mixed-up confused world, there are more than 400 sects and denominations calling themselves “Christians.” They all have somewhat different beliefs and practices. Some of these Christians claim as “new creations” when in fact their lives are equally distant from what they mark out making themselves more as “newly furbished” than “newly created.”

I.                THE CHRISTIAN COMPREHENSION

a.     Stop living in sin but live with a new and changed life and character. (Rm 6:4)

b.     Following church rules to be considered a faithful church member avails nothing. A new and different life instinctively makes a distinction. (Gal 5:16)

II.                  THE CHRISTIAN TRANSFORMATION

a.                    a. Stop recalling your past mistakes in life or show thoughtfulness of old self (Is 43:18)

b.                        b. Leave your former conduct or behavior which corrupted your life then. (Eph 4:22)

CONCLUSION:

Christ’s death resulted to a new way of order and awareness, the worldly character is replaced by the spirit. The old criteria which is weakness, folly and death is also replaced to a new one which is wisdom, power and life. Similarly, the Christian must live in this paradox by moving on and putting on a fresh and new self that agrees to the holiness of God and uprightness.

God’s diagram for our lives

JEREMIAH 29: 11

“For I know the plans (thoughts) I have for you; plans to give you peace and not evil—to give you a future and a hope.”

INTRO:

God expressly said in plain words and tells us the certainty of His design and arrangements for our lives which is definite and without comparison.

I.                 GOD’S PLAN FOR US

a.  Includes all aspect of our lives even before we were born and also beyond our death. The “plans of His heart” is for all generations. It is forever (Ps 33:11)

b.  The plans of God is translated into wonderful works. He keeps thinking about us always and we cannot recount in order if we dare declare or speak of them for they are more than can be remembered. (Ps 40:5)

II.              GODS FUTURE FOR US

a.  The Lord took away His judgment against us and ‘cast out the enemy’. We shall see no disaster again for He is with us. (Zeph 3:15)

b. Whatever we hoped for, we are sure to get it for He said so and assures us of receiving  them. (Jer 31:17)

CONCLUSION:

        Give thanks to God for all things happening in your life for it is His will for you to achieve them all through Jesus his son. (1 Thess 5:18)