SEEKERS

INTRO:Last week we talked about how when Jesus spoke the parables it was in code to the masses, but then He would teach in simple terms the meaning of the parables to His disciples. Why? Because they had given up everything to follow Him.

Matthew 13:44–46 ““The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.”

PRAY!

What are you seeking? because we are all looking/seeking something. Is it wealth? is it acceptance? Love? success?

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

If we will do that 1 thing, God will give “All These things.” What things? success, the right people in your life to love, finances, joy.

Psalm 105:3–4 “Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!”

Dear friends…It’s so simple, but not easy

Being a “Seeker” Is a choice. A Very Wise One!

The dictionary presents the word “seeker as a verb

Seeker= verb-a person who is trying to find or obtain something .seekers after the truth

2. Seeking, takes effort

You notice the man was in a field. Money can’t buy it, you have to get up and seek it out.

3. You have to seek in the right order

You are to seek 1 thing…That’s it just 1 thing..

Matthew 6:33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

God tells us very plainly how to live a victorious life, BUT, we have to have the right priority:

THIS THE KEY!!

PRIORITY #1

Seek God’s Kingdom Only!

4. Seeking, rewards you!

Seekers should be taught that the Spirit is willing to fill them as soon as they open their hearts, yield their lives, and exercise faith.

Guy Duffield; Nathaniel M. Van Cleave

Matthew 7:7 ““Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

That is a promise from Jesus Himself!

Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.”

Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

God rewards us based on the amount of effort we put in

Matthew 13:12 “For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

I love this beautiful verse..

Isaiah 61:3 “to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness

but you have to go thru the door and start seeking that 1 thing.. The Kingdom of God and His righteousness!!!

We have to change our perspective from “ A worldly view to a Kingdom perspective

Matthew 6:19–21 ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

But it sure seems like we live this upside down..

Paul nails it when he says “everything is trash compared to the treasure of knowing Jesus”

Philippians 3:8 “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ”

Mark 10:29–31 “Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Ezekiel 14:6 “Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations.”

5. Never Quit Seeking!

Colossians 3:1–4 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

The Kingdom Of Heaven

122x in the NT, 90x Jesus spoke of The Kingdom of Heaven

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Spiritual In Nature

The Jews were anticipating a physical kingdom, not a spiritual kingdom.

John 18:36 “Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.””

The Kingdom Of Heaven Was Ushered In With Jesus

Both the introduction to John the Baptist and the initiation of Jesus’ ministry are accompanied with the proclamation to “repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

Listen to what John The Baptist said:

Matthew 3:2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 4:17 “From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The Kingdom=Basileia (Reign)

Of Heaven=Ouranos (The Gospel)(Christianity)

The Kingdom Of Heaven = The Reign Of The Gospel Of Christ

Matthew 9:35 “And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.”

Matthew 10:7 “And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’”

When Jesus sends out His disciples, He also commissions them to proclaim, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matt. 10:7). It is significant that John the Baptist, Jesus, and the disciples all preach the same message and each follows with the command to repent.

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Inside You

Luke 17:21 “nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.””

Greek word Entos= Inside

It however, is not for unbelievers

Mark 4:11 “And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables,”

This tells me that the world at large will think were idiots, because they are blinded to the truth

We Are Citizens Of The Kingdom Of God

If you are a Christian, you are not a citizen of this world trying to get to heaven; you are a citizen of heaven making your way through this world.

Havner, Vance

The kingdom of heaven is simultaneously the kingdom of the Father and the kingdom of the Son of Man.

D. A. Carson

The Kingdom Of Heaven Is NOT To Be Hoarded

The kingdom of heaven has important applications for us today. First, the message of the kingdom of heaven is a genuine offer from God to rule in the hearts of those who believe in His name.

You Are A Citizen Of The Kingdom

Ephesians 2:18–19 “For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”

as citizens of the kingdom of heaven, believers should be motivated to build the kingdom through proclaiming the kingdom. This was the central message of Jesus and the disciples, and it should be our message too.

CALL UP WORSHIP!!!!

IN CLOSING:

PRAY!!!!!