AN INVITATION OF A LIFETIME: TRANSFORMATION THROUGH SEEKING FIRST THE KINGDOM

Sep 1

The design of Satan is to keep humanity ignorant. This ignorance is isolated and centered on one teaching, the Kingdom. Ignorance of the Kingdom of God is the only tool the enemy possesses that gives him influence to suppress the expression of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. This power has enabled him to maintain the systems of rulership erected under his guidance, enslaving humanity for millennia. To maintain his rule, he has worked hard to prevent the teaching of “The Kingdom of Heaven.”

This one teaching is clearly Jesus’ most important message. It’s the reason He came to earth (Luke 4:43). It’s the first thing He mentioned in public ministry (Mark 1:15). It’s the last thing He spoke of on earth (Acts 1:3). This one teaching consumed Jesus’ life and ministry and is what He claimed to be "the gospel.” The good news is the teaching about the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14). Each time we make a decision to receive information regarding the Kingdom we become a recipient of Jesus' gospel. As a result substance is added to our lives bringing about transformation into the likeness of Christ and His Kingdom.

The central issue facing the present church is found in 2 Corinthians 4:4: The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel …. Satan has kept us from seeing the knowledge of the Kingdom and Christ’s influence through it. The antidote to all the world’s problems is found in the knowledge and understanding of this glorious gospel, for in it contains the keys to the influence of Christ’s reign on the earth.

Seeking first the Kingdom grows and develops a lens through which we become aware of the Kingdom. The more vision of the Kingdom that comes into focus the more our sight becomes overtaken by Kingdom awareness. Seeking first the Kingdom translates us from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil to the tree of life and begins this glorious process. So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:31-33 As a follower of Christ do you ever worry? Do you ever fret about the things you need in life? Jesus referred to such a person as a “pagan” and offered a solution; seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness.

God’s Kingdom is so fulfilling it frees your mind from all thought and fixes your entire being in the Kingdom. I invite you to consider incorporating the antidote to worry and the pursuit of all things. Jesus identified the top priority for all who choose to follow him. The phrase “seek first” means “make it your top priority.” Jesus left no doubt where a follower of His ought to be devoting his time and energy. Those committed to making the pursuit of the Kingdom their supreme loyalty will discover a way of life that transcends anything conceived in the mind of man. This is no different than college students. When they decide on a major, once they have completed their core classes, they “seek first” their area of study. This ensures their capacity to fulfill future job responsibilities. The longer they engage in seeking first their area of study the greater awareness they receive. Graduate school makes this even more evident.

For students, all time, energy, and study are concentrated on their specific field of study. In order to become qualified, you must “seek first” your area of study. There are no followers in upper-level college courses, only devoted disciples actively seeking first their field of study. The steady accumulation of information relating to our priority ensures we will be empowered in a manner conformed with the information. Kingdom substance makes its way into our identity ultimately conforming us into the image of Christ. Bearing His nature and likeness, we become representatives of Heaven on earth much like Jesus and the early disciples.

A great challenge in life is the daily demand of establishing priorities. There are many things competing for our time. Life was not designed to be complicated. The key to simplifying our lives is prioritization. Prioritization protects us from doing things that misuse our time. We will devote ourselves to what we have chosen to be our top priorities. Jesus is telling us to make a decision to place pursuing His Kingdom at the top. In Matthew 6, Jesus promises that if we commit to this discipline, He will provide what we need. Built into the act of seeking first the Kingdom is provision from Heaven. A provision that goes beyond imagination and carries with it a particular kind of substance and nature only found in the Kingdom.

Jesus took everything we need and placed it in His Kingdom. He

took all of humanity’s God-ordained wants and desires and centrally

located them in His Kingdom. This beautiful Kingdom is so fulfilling

that when we find it, we lay down everything, and at any cost—give

ourselves over to it (Matthew 13:44-45). The irony is the more we

discover the Kingdom, the less “cost” there is to exchange what we have

for it. The only cost in pursuing the Kingdom is in our initial pursuit

because we think we have to give up things. Once we’ve been caught,

captured, and consumed by the Kingdom there is only gain! The richest

source of eternal treasure is found while seeking first the Kingdom.

Organization of our priorities is essential. Once we set and organize

them, it's important to discipline ourselves to maintain the order. “Self-

Discipline” means “self-imposed restrictions.” Identifying the correct

priorities in life is the key to a fruitful and fulfilled life. In addition

to establishing priorities, organizing them, and having self-discipline,

we must know we have the right priorities. As a follower of Jesus, it's

important to identify and keep in mind what He established as the top

priority.

A crucial principle to keep in mind is the initial testing phase. As we

pursue the Kingdom, Satan will attempt to derail our efforts. We need

to use this opportunity to examine our commitment level. If our resolve

is resolute we will persevere through it and God will add Kingdom

substance to us. If our resolve is wavy and unstable, we need to ask Holy

Spirit to rise up in us and empower us. Ask for revelation. This is a great

source of empowerment during times of weakness. Rest assured all who

hunger and thrust after Jesus' priority find themselves in position to

experience satisfaction. Don't be surprised by the trials and hardships

but rather in humility anticipate being satisfied!

Jesus set apart the right priority for all humans. It says in Matthew

6:33, “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness.” “First” means

“Top Priority.” Everything else is second. Jesus is telling us He wants

us to consume our energy and time in these two things, making them

preeminent. A “kingdom” is a “king’s government.” All disciples of Jesus

are commanded to seek His government like a political science major

seeks understanding their systems of government.

If we are to “seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness,” our top

priority, therefore, is pursuing information and education of Heaven's

government and its influence, our King’s domain, in all areas of our lives.

At home, at work, with our spouses and kids, in our relationships, in our

bodies, during our prayer time, in our churches, and all other areas of

life.

Everywhere, all the time, consuming ourselves with the pursuit of

understanding this idea of God’s governmental rulership. These are

God’s priorities for all mankind. Seek the governmental influence of

God and seek to be in right standing with His government, the Kingdom

of Heaven. When we do this, EVERYTHING else Jesus said will be

added to us. The more revelation we receive about the Kingdom and

righteousness the more natural it becomes to make it our top priority.The design of Satan is to keep humanity ignorant. This ignorance is

isolated and centered on one teaching, the Kingdom. Ignorance of the

Kingdom of God is the only tool the enemy possesses that gives him

influence to suppress the expression of the Kingdom of Heaven on

earth. This power has enabled him to maintain the systems of rulership

erected under his guidance, enslaving humanity for millennia. To

maintain his rule, he has worked hard to prevent the teaching of “The

Kingdom of Heaven.”

This one teaching is clearly Jesus’ most important message.

It’s the reason He came to earth (Luke 4:43).

It’s the first thing He mentioned in public ministry (Mark 1:15).

It’s the last thing He spoke of on earth (Acts 1:3).

This one teaching consumed Jesus’ life and ministry and is what

He claimed to be "the gospel.” The good news is the teaching about

the Kingdom (Matthew 24:14). Each time we make a decision to

receive information regarding the Kingdom we become a recipient of

Jesus' gospel. As a result substance is added to our lives bringing about

transformation into the likeness of Christ and His Kingdom.

The central issue facing the present church is found in 2 Corinthians

4:4:

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they

cannot see the light of the gospel ….

Satan has kept us from seeing the knowledge of the Kingdom and

Christ’s influence through it. The antidote to all the world’s problems is

found in the knowledge and understanding of this glorious gospel, for

in it contains the keys to the influence of Christ’s reign on the earth.

Seeking first the Kingdom grows and develops a lens through which we

become aware of the Kingdom. The more vision of the Kingdom that

comes into focus the more our sight becomes overtaken by Kingdom awareness.

Seeking first the Kingdom translates us from the tree of the knowledge of

good and evil to the tree of life and begins this glorious process.

So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we

drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these

things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. But

seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will

be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:31-33

As a follower of Christ do you ever worry? Do you ever fret about

the things you need in life? Jesus referred to such a person as a “pagan”

and offered a solution; seeking first His Kingdom and righteousness.

God’s Kingdom is so fulfilling it frees your mind from all thought and fixes

your entire being in the Kingdom. I invite you to consider incorporating

the antidote to worry and the pursuit of all things.

Jesus identified the top priority for all who choose to follow him.

The phrase “seek first” means “make it your top priority.” Jesus left no

doubt where a follower of His ought to be devoting his time and energy.

Those committed to making the pursuit of the Kingdom their supreme

loyalty will discover a way of life that transcends anything conceived in

the mind of man.

This is no different than college students. When they decide on a

major, once they have completed their core classes, they “seek first” their

area of study. This ensures their capacity to fulfill future job responsibilities.

The longer they engage in seeking first their area of study the greater

awareness they receive. Graduate school makes this even more evident.

For students, all time, energy, and study are concentrated on their specific

field of study. In order to become qualified, you must “seek first” your

area of study. There are no followers in upper-level college courses, only

devoted disciples actively seeking first their field of study.

The steady accumulation of information relating to our priority

ensures we will be empowered in a manner conformed with the

information. Kingdom substance makes its way into our identity

ultimately conforming us into the image of Christ. Bearing His nature

and likeness, we become representatives of Heaven on earth much like

Jesus and the early disciples.

A great challenge in life is the daily demand of establishing priorities.

There are many things competing for our time. Life was not designed

to be complicated. The key to simplifying our lives is prioritization.

Prioritization protects us from doing things that misuse our time. We

will devote ourselves to what we have chosen to be our top priorities.

Jesus is telling us to make a decision to place pursuing His Kingdom

at the top. In Matthew 6, Jesus promises that if we commit to this

discipline, He will provide what we need. Built into the act of seeking

first the Kingdom is provision from Heaven. A provision that goes

beyond imagination and carries with it a particular kind of substance

and nature only found in the Kingdom.