Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God pt 1

Seek Ye First The Kingdom of God Part 1 – Lesson 1

We are told in this verse to seek after to pursue, to understand the Kingdom of Heaven. Not only to seek it but to seek it first. Make it a priority to apprehend the Kingdom. I hope with the Lord’s help to give us a greater understanding of the Kingdom of God, what it is, how to obtain it, and what to do with it. The Bible talks a lot about the Kingdom of God but only recently has some of its aspects and authority been made clear to me. I hope again by God’s help to share this information with you, as we together seek the Kingdom First. Romans 14:17for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

The Kingdom Belongs To – A kingdom has to have a king. In this instance the Kingdom of God, or Heaven (they are the same thing, you find Matthew is almost the exclusive user of the term Kingdom of Heaven, while the other writers use the term ‘Kingdom of God’.) Has a sovereign ruler, a monarch who rules the kingdom from His throne in Heaven, hence the name Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom of Heaven also refers to a system or government that is not earthly or governed by earthly rules, regulation, or red tape.

The Father – Monarch

i. Jesus in his pattern for prayer prays in Matthew 6 , “Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, THY KINGDOM COME….Jesus is acknowledging in His prayer that the Kingdom belonged to His Father.

ii. He ends this prayer with the words, “Thine is the Kingdom…

The Son – Heir

i. It is also the Kingdom of Jesusbecause He is the heir of all things. We find reference to this in various scriptures here are two for example,

1. Eph. 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

2. Col 1:12-13 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

ii. Luke 1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

iii. JOHN 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world:

iv. Hebrews 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

v. 1 Corinthians 15:24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

The Holy Spirit – Births/Brings Us Into The Kingdom

i. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The Flock – Given to as joint-heirs

i. Literally

1. Luke 12:32 Fear not little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

a. It is our by right of inheritance

b. Matt. 25:34 It tells us that in the last day Jesus will say to His own, “Come, O blessed of my Father, inheritthe Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

c. Matthew 16:19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

d. It is given to us, not sold or traded to us but given!!!

i. Given because we receive it.

1. Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

2. Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

ii. Spiritually

1. Luke 8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God:

a. Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

What does it mean to be given the kingdom? John Piper gave this answer, “It means simply and staggeringly and unspeakably that the omnipotent rule and authority of the King of the universe will be engaged forever and ever on behalf of the little flock of God. What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, God has prepared for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9). And it is the Father's good pleasure to give it to his little flock. [1]

What a marvelous thought to contemplate Luke 22:29-30 And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The Kingdom Is Made Up of –

The Born Again - John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again; he cannot see the kingdom of God.

i. John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

The Righteous – Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

i. Matthew 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Child-like – Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

i. Matthew 19:14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdomof heaven.

Those that do the Father’s Will – Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Those that press into it – Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

i. Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

ii. 2 Thessalonians 1:5 Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:

iii. Mark 9:47 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

Those Excluded from the Kingdom - Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Mark 10:15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10:23-24 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! Luke 9:62And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

[1] http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/it-is-your-fathers-pleasure-to-give-you-the-kingdom