Title: Seeking the Kingdom of God
Contents
Seek the Kingdom of God
What is the Christian life of faith?
It is actually living with Jesus Christ.
A Christian is a person in whom Christ lives.
Living by faith - knowing that Jesus saved me
It's not just an intellectual acknowledgment, it's actually living with the Lord every day.
Living as God's people is -
Open your spiritual eyes and always look to God,
It delights in God and lives in the presence of God.
Through the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his beloved disciples clearly how to live as God's people.
☞ Then, what is life like as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven?
1. Always looking to God and rejoicing
Jesus told his followers not to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear.
But when he said that these concerns are for life (verse 25),
He told us not to worry for our lives, and to look at the birds of the air and the lilies of the field.
God takes care of everything that God has made, so don't worry at all.
Therefore, the life of faith means rejoicing at God and rejoicing at the hand of God at work.
2. To live as heavenly people/ to live by believing in God
Jesus rebuked his disciples for being anxious. See verse 30.
And verse 32 says, "All these are what the Gentiles seek, and your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."
God knows, prepares, and provides for all the needs of His children.
Therefore, the life of the people of heaven is a life of thorough trust in God.
Jesus said:
Matthew 7:11 If you, being evil, know how to give to your children good things, how much more
Will not your Father give good things to those who ask?
Instead of worrying, fill your heart with faith.
3. Living as Heavenly People/ Seeking God
In today's words, Jesus said that the life of the people of the kingdom of heaven is to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
The kingdom of God - where God is, and where God reigns.
☞ Then, who will gain the kingdom of God?
First, the humble get it.
Matthew 5:3/ Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Second, those who strive for heaven gain it.
Matthew 11:12/The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.
Third, heaven starts with small things.
Matthew 13:31-32/ The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field;
It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it is grown, it is larger than the herbs, and the tree
and the birds of the air come and make nests in their branches.
Fourth, the perfection of heaven is in the future.
The kingdom of heaven will be completed with the second coming of Jesus. But the kingdom of God has already begun on this earth.
Matthew 6:10/Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Therefore, to be baptized and become a Christian means to become a soldier and a worker in the kingdom of heaven, to be called, set up, and sent to the world to accomplish the kingdom of God.
Therefore, seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness is -
It is to seek eternal things in heaven without being bound by earthly material desires and real desires. In that case, even material needs are filled by God.
When Solomon became king and offered a thousand burnt offerings before God- God appeared to him in a dream and said, "Ask from me today, what I will give you."
At this time Solomon said, "Give me a wise heart to judge Your people, so that they may know good and evil."
To this answer, God did not seek for himself nor wealth, nor did he seek the destruction of the life of his enemies, but the wisdom of hearing and discerning.
saved; I will do your word and give you a wise and understanding heart.
There was no one like you before, and there is no one like you after you.
there will be no rise; I will also give you the wealth and glory you did not ask for.
I give you, there will be none like you among kings in your lifetime (1 Kings 3:9-13)
Either you get both or you don't get both, depending on which one you seek first.
The text instructs us to entrust all material, worldly, and practical problems to God, seek the kingdom of God first, and devote ourselves to seeking righteousness according to His will.
I pray that you will live as people in the kingdom of heaven who preach the gospel and seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness regardless of time or season.