WEBVTT 00:00:22.320 --> 00:00:25.239 presence of the Lord, and what a great thrill 00:00:25.239 --> 00:00:27.960 to see each one of you. Some of you are aware 00:00:27.960 --> 00:00:30.640 there is some sickness going around, and so we 00:00:30.640 --> 00:00:33.399 want to be in prayer for those that are fighting 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:36.140 sickness. I know of at least three that said 00:00:36.140 --> 00:00:40.000 I'll be worshiping from home, but I'll be trying 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:42.119 to keep everybody else from getting what I got, 00:00:42.179 --> 00:00:45.399 and I get that. But we want to keep those folks 00:00:45.399 --> 00:00:48.659 in our prayers, amen. And then because we have 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:52.710 come out, we want to hear from God. and respond 00:00:52.710 --> 00:00:56.630 to the presence of God and he has something for 00:00:56.630 --> 00:01:02.549 us. Matthew 6 and verse 33, a familiar passage 00:01:02.549 --> 00:01:05.890 of scripture that will help us launch into a 00:01:05.890 --> 00:01:09.810 little series over the next few weeks that will 00:01:09.810 --> 00:01:13.069 help us have a little bit of direction as a church 00:01:13.069 --> 00:01:19.150 for the new year that is upon us. Matthew 6 and 00:01:19.150 --> 00:01:22.650 33 from the New King James Version. Why don't 00:01:22.650 --> 00:01:26.709 we read it out loud together? But seek ye first 00:01:26.709 --> 00:01:30.790 the kingdom of God and his righteousness and 00:01:30.790 --> 00:01:35.090 all these things shall be added to you. Praise 00:01:35.090 --> 00:01:37.950 God, I wanna speak from this simple thought, 00:01:38.049 --> 00:01:43.390 kingdom first. Kingdom first. Let's ask the Lord 00:01:43.390 --> 00:02:20.930 to speak to us together. Lord Jesus. Can you 00:02:20.930 --> 00:02:24.330 say in Jesus' name? The Lord bless you, may be 00:02:24.330 --> 00:02:26.930 seated. If you're our guest here today, we're 00:02:26.930 --> 00:02:29.990 so thankful that you're here. We will take time 00:02:29.990 --> 00:02:32.530 to pray at the end of this service. If you have 00:02:32.530 --> 00:02:35.330 a need or know of a need, we encourage you to 00:02:35.330 --> 00:02:39.849 come and receive from the Lord. By the time this 00:02:39.849 --> 00:02:43.330 little series is over, just a few weeks, I would 00:02:43.330 --> 00:02:47.229 like to have you be able to answer these questions. 00:02:47.310 --> 00:02:50.479 They're not very, complicated, but they are something 00:02:50.479 --> 00:02:54.099 to be thoughtful about. In terms of this passage, 00:02:54.939 --> 00:02:59.379 seek first the kingdom of God. What does it mean 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:04.819 to seek? What does it mean to seek, in this context, 00:03:05.219 --> 00:03:09.020 first the kingdom of God? What is God's kingdom? 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:11.919 I'd like for you to be able to think about that. 00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:14.860 and maybe come up with an answer, even beyond 00:03:14.860 --> 00:03:18.020 what I might share or others might share. What 00:03:18.020 --> 00:03:21.340 about in your own Bible study, maybe even as 00:03:21.340 --> 00:03:23.979 simple as a Google search for the kingdom of 00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:27.039 God? I would be curious what you come up with. 00:03:27.379 --> 00:03:30.240 But even beyond Google, let's get in the word 00:03:30.240 --> 00:03:34.599 and be able to answer the question, what is God's 00:03:34.599 --> 00:03:38.479 kingdom? And then what is the evidence that God 00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:42.360 is first? in all of our seeking? What is the 00:03:42.360 --> 00:03:47.340 evidence that God is first in all of our seeking? 00:03:47.860 --> 00:03:52.569 And then finally, what is the context? of this 00:03:52.569 --> 00:03:55.949 command, which may be the easiest part of this 00:03:55.949 --> 00:03:59.270 answer because we can look at the verses before 00:03:59.270 --> 00:04:02.409 and after and almost immediately get a sense 00:04:02.409 --> 00:04:04.849 for at least a little bit of what the Lord is 00:04:04.849 --> 00:04:08.250 saying through his word. One translation of Matthew 00:04:08.250 --> 00:04:12.430 six, I'm gonna go back up to verse 31. It says, 00:04:12.849 --> 00:04:16.850 so don't worry about these things saying, what 00:04:16.850 --> 00:04:21.579 will we eat? What will we drink? What will we 00:04:21.579 --> 00:04:27.259 wear? These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, 00:04:28.040 --> 00:04:33.180 but your Heavenly Father already knows all your 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:36.660 needs. I think most of us know enough about the 00:04:36.660 --> 00:04:40.019 Bible that we're not just supposed to be disheveled 00:04:40.019 --> 00:04:42.860 and sitting around without any clothes on and 00:04:42.860 --> 00:04:46.420 not even trying to attend to basic needs. That's 00:04:46.420 --> 00:04:49.680 not really what the Lord is speaking about, but 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:54.519 he is speaking to the anxiety and also the priorities 00:04:54.519 --> 00:04:58.579 of life that sometimes get us caught up in everything 00:04:58.579 --> 00:05:02.930 that is involved in being successful. in this 00:05:02.930 --> 00:05:05.490 world, and I don't mean successful in a bad way, 00:05:05.970 --> 00:05:09.750 just surviving, perhaps even thriving as part 00:05:09.750 --> 00:05:14.170 of life. So he's basically saying, that's how 00:05:14.170 --> 00:05:18.230 unbelievers live. They are dominated by all of 00:05:18.230 --> 00:05:22.350 the things that are impacting them in this present 00:05:22.350 --> 00:05:26.610 world. He said instead, seek the kingdom of God. 00:05:26.990 --> 00:05:33.069 above all else and live righteously, live right 00:05:33.069 --> 00:05:38.350 in the sight of God, and he will give you everything 00:05:38.350 --> 00:05:43.310 you need. I looked at many translations, so hopeful 00:05:43.310 --> 00:05:46.910 that one would say, he will give you everything 00:05:46.910 --> 00:05:50.810 you want, and I could not find it. But I have 00:05:50.810 --> 00:05:54.029 to say that just because he doesn't give me what 00:05:54.029 --> 00:05:57.470 I want, doesn't mean he doesn't give me what 00:05:57.470 --> 00:06:03.500 I need. He is an awesome God. little bit of a 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:06.220 hack to get through this little Bible study quicker. 00:06:06.660 --> 00:06:09.779 The Bible says we know that all things work together 00:06:09.779 --> 00:06:12.879 for good to them that love the Lord, to them 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:15.540 who are the called according to his purpose. 00:06:15.959 --> 00:06:19.839 And yet we look at that passage not as like a 00:06:19.839 --> 00:06:22.500 push the button, get what you want from God, 00:06:22.540 --> 00:06:25.699 like he's a vending machine. No, we know that 00:06:25.699 --> 00:06:28.620 everything we go through, whether it's success 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:33.139 or suffering, he will use to help us become like 00:06:33.139 --> 00:06:36.660 him. How cool is that? You know, we're all gonna 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:39.500 have some successes. We're all gonna have some 00:06:39.500 --> 00:06:42.620 suffering, but as children of God, we can seek 00:06:42.620 --> 00:06:47.279 him first, and he will provide us with what we 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:50.939 need. He goes on to say, so don't worry about 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:55.259 tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:59.800 Today's trouble is enough for today. So you might 00:06:59.800 --> 00:07:03.089 have some trouble today, so don't. get all stressed 00:07:03.089 --> 00:07:05.490 out about tomorrow, you got enough to deal with 00:07:05.490 --> 00:07:08.110 just dealing with today. Again, that doesn't 00:07:08.110 --> 00:07:10.850 mean we don't make plans for the future, but 00:07:10.850 --> 00:07:15.290 we don't allow ourselves to become eat up with 00:07:15.290 --> 00:07:19.629 anxiety over these things. So we know the context 00:07:19.629 --> 00:07:24.209 when the Lord says, seek the kingdom of God above 00:07:24.209 --> 00:07:27.990 all else. He's in the middle of talking about 00:07:27.990 --> 00:07:34.569 money. priorities and anxiety. And so God's anecdote 00:07:34.569 --> 00:07:38.490 for his people so we won't approach those areas 00:07:38.490 --> 00:07:43.310 of life like unbelievers do is that we will seek 00:07:43.310 --> 00:07:47.970 first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. 00:07:48.129 --> 00:07:52.189 Now I think we would agree that seeking the kingdom 00:07:52.189 --> 00:07:55.829 of God first probably is gonna be a blessing 00:07:55.829 --> 00:07:59.459 to God. It's his kingdom. If he can get a bunch 00:07:59.459 --> 00:08:02.860 of us rallied up about what matters to him, then 00:08:02.860 --> 00:08:06.360 his cause is going to advance. But how many of 00:08:06.360 --> 00:08:10.240 you know God good enough to know that if he's 00:08:10.240 --> 00:08:13.800 gonna benefit from us doing his will, we are 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:17.879 for sure gonna benefit from doing the will of 00:08:17.879 --> 00:08:23.550 God when we make him. our priority. And so I 00:08:23.550 --> 00:08:27.769 would like for this simple thought, kingdom first. 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:33.600 kingdom first to be our focus as a church family 00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:38.759 as we move forward into 2026. And I believe that 00:08:38.759 --> 00:08:42.720 there are many promises attached to this simple 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:46.980 principle for individuals, for families, and 00:08:46.980 --> 00:08:51.960 for our church family as we seek him first. And 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:55.019 again, I know there's a lot of promises we could 00:08:55.019 --> 00:08:59.690 latch onto, but this one is pretty - seek first 00:08:59.690 --> 00:09:03.629 the kingdom of God, His righteousness, and all 00:09:03.629 --> 00:09:07.070 these other things you're worried about. God's 00:09:07.070 --> 00:09:09.909 gonna take care of them. Doesn't mean you can 00:09:09.909 --> 00:09:12.710 quit your job and lay on the beach, but you've 00:09:12.710 --> 00:09:16.610 got a God who's partnering with you as you seek 00:09:16.610 --> 00:09:20.750 what matters to Him. He's seeking for your well 00:09:20.750 --> 00:09:25.429 -being, and at the very most, you're... Purpose 00:09:25.429 --> 00:09:29.490 the purpose he has for you being fulfilled. That's 00:09:29.490 --> 00:09:32.490 his promise for all of us How about think about 00:09:32.490 --> 00:09:37.350 it this way when God promises us that if we seek 00:09:37.350 --> 00:09:41.889 him first He will give us everything we need 00:09:41.889 --> 00:09:48.620 if we do the seeking God will do the adding And 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:51.100 there are so many times we feel like we lack 00:09:51.100 --> 00:09:54.600 so much and we get caught up with the anxiety 00:09:54.600 --> 00:09:57.820 connected with that. But why not just believe 00:09:57.820 --> 00:10:02.700 if I will seek him, he will follow through on 00:10:02.700 --> 00:10:05.600 his promise to us. Now, here's something that 00:10:05.600 --> 00:10:09.179 has troubled me because I know that I resemble 00:10:09.179 --> 00:10:13.960 this remark. Many things that we do as believers 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:21.049 may or may not be kingdom priorities. I can say 00:10:21.049 --> 00:10:24.110 as a pastor and someone that's lived for God 00:10:24.110 --> 00:10:27.450 for a while, there are some things that I do 00:10:27.450 --> 00:10:30.490 that I'd have to go back after doing this little 00:10:30.490 --> 00:10:35.090 Bible study and reevaluate. Is this a kingdom? 00:10:35.849 --> 00:10:40.389 Is this part of God's mission for my life? Is 00:10:40.389 --> 00:10:44.490 this the reason why he knew me before the womb 00:10:44.490 --> 00:10:48.090 and he has a destiny for me? And I wanna say 00:10:48.090 --> 00:10:51.450 this because I think it's equally true. Many 00:10:51.450 --> 00:10:57.730 things we can do as a church may or may not be 00:10:57.730 --> 00:11:01.169 kingdom priorities. And so we've gotta get in 00:11:01.169 --> 00:11:04.269 the word. We've gotta get in prayer and fasting. 00:11:04.679 --> 00:11:08.259 as individuals and together as a church family, 00:11:08.700 --> 00:11:12.700 are we really seeking your kingdom first? And 00:11:12.700 --> 00:11:16.299 as we look at how we live and what we do, are 00:11:16.299 --> 00:11:21.299 we truly giving ourselves to kingdom priorities? 00:11:21.500 --> 00:11:26.039 So we are gonna seek the kingdom first. Prayer's 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:29.000 gonna help that. Fasting is gonna help that. 00:11:29.230 --> 00:11:32.129 Being in the word is gonna help that. We're gonna 00:11:32.129 --> 00:11:35.710 do it together as a church family, but each of 00:11:35.710 --> 00:11:39.210 us are gonna do it individually because we know 00:11:39.210 --> 00:11:43.129 if I seek him first, he's got some blessings 00:11:43.129 --> 00:11:46.169 for me. He's got a purpose for me. In the book 00:11:46.169 --> 00:11:50.490 of Ezra, we see Ezra calling on people to pray 00:11:50.490 --> 00:11:54.960 and fast. for a unique reason, they are allied 00:11:54.960 --> 00:11:57.860 against a force that is working against them. 00:11:58.139 --> 00:12:01.860 And so this is what Ezra said, Ezra eight, then 00:12:01.860 --> 00:12:07.080 I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:12.059 that we might humble ourselves before God to 00:12:12.059 --> 00:12:17.220 seek from him. the right way for us and our little 00:12:17.220 --> 00:12:21.620 ones and all our possessions. Part of prayer 00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:25.879 and fasting is humbling ourselves and acknowledging, 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:29.940 I don't really know if I'm seeking you first. 00:12:30.139 --> 00:12:34.179 I don't really know if I'm doing it your way. 00:12:34.299 --> 00:12:38.120 And now I can sense that there is an attack against 00:12:38.120 --> 00:12:41.460 my family. He said, even my little ones, our 00:12:41.460 --> 00:12:45.159 children, there is an. of our soul that would 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:49.259 love to destroy all of us. And so we pray and 00:12:49.259 --> 00:12:54.399 we fast. God, show us the right way so that we 00:12:54.399 --> 00:12:57.360 can seek you first. He even said, you know, I 00:12:57.360 --> 00:13:00.279 was a little bit ashamed. I knew I could have 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:03.019 went to the king and said, King, I know you've 00:13:03.019 --> 00:13:06.039 given us favor, but there's an enemy attacking 00:13:06.039 --> 00:13:08.919 us. But he thought, and this is in that same 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:12.399 passage, he said, I had already told the king. 00:13:12.169 --> 00:13:18.129 the hand of our God is upon all those for good 00:13:18.129 --> 00:13:23.210 who seek him, but his power and his wrath are 00:13:23.210 --> 00:13:28.870 against all those who forsake him. So we fasted 00:13:28.870 --> 00:13:34.009 and entreated our God for this and he answered 00:13:34.009 --> 00:13:37.659 our prayer. Ezra said, you know, I could find 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:41.620 some human assistance and human direction. I 00:13:41.620 --> 00:13:45.120 could get a solution for this situation that's 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:48.639 from my own human ingenuity, and there's a place 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:51.399 for that. But he said, I've already kind of broadcast 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:54.340 to some people that I've got a God that answers 00:13:54.340 --> 00:13:57.580 prayer, that I've got a God that's leading me, 00:13:57.779 --> 00:14:00.659 I've got a God who's got his hand on me, and 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:04.220 I'm facing an enemy, so I've got to make a decision. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:07.899 I'm gonna try to work this out in my own way 00:14:07.899 --> 00:14:12.320 or I'm gonna seek him through prayer and fasting 00:14:12.320 --> 00:14:16.940 knowing that he's promised that all these things 00:14:16.940 --> 00:14:21.120 will be added unto me. Praise the name of the 00:14:21.120 --> 00:14:26.679 Lord. So I believe that every family, every individual, 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:31.279 and certainly our church can be blessed. We seek 00:14:31.279 --> 00:14:34.120 the Lord with prayer and fasting and so many 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:37.399 of you are doing that even right now But not 00:14:37.399 --> 00:14:41.340 just to be religious But to say God show us your 00:14:41.340 --> 00:14:47.919 way Show us your will We want your kingdom to 00:14:47.919 --> 00:14:52.659 be first. Amen Jesus said blessed are those who 00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:56.799 hunger and thirst for righteousness for they 00:14:56.799 --> 00:15:00.299 shall be filled Can I say it this way? Kingdom 00:15:00.299 --> 00:15:04.480 thirst will lead to kingdom first. One of the 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.740 great things about prayer and fasting is after 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:11.100 enough of you pulling away from the world, spending 00:15:11.100 --> 00:15:15.399 more time in the word, it's amazing more prayer 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:19.820 will lead to a desire for more prayer. More of 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:23.539 the word will lead to a desire for more of the 00:15:23.539 --> 00:15:27.340 word and so if you really want the kingdom first 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:30.940 You've got to have a kingdom thirst and that 00:15:30.940 --> 00:15:35.419 can only be Developed by having a hunger and 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:39.340 a thirst for righteousness Now you can look up 00:15:39.340 --> 00:15:41.919 here and you know, I may not be an authority 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:45.580 on a lot of things But I am an expert at eating. 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:50.330 I am really good at it But I can tell you, my 00:15:50.330 --> 00:15:54.129 wife is an amazing cook. I'm surrounded. My mother 00:15:54.129 --> 00:15:57.070 -in -law's an amazing cook. My mom is an amazing 00:15:57.070 --> 00:15:59.850 cook. My daughter has become an amazing cook. 00:16:00.070 --> 00:16:02.809 And I have had the privilege to sit at the table 00:16:02.809 --> 00:16:06.289 after they've worked real hard to prepare a meal 00:16:06.289 --> 00:16:09.549 for all of us that were in attendance. And I'm 00:16:09.549 --> 00:16:12.649 telling you, it was super delicious. But if on 00:16:12.649 --> 00:16:16.830 the way home, I grab myself a couple of Big Macs, 00:16:16.929 --> 00:16:20.360 I grab myself a - couple of large fries, I can 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:23.679 sit down at the table in front of the most beautiful 00:16:23.679 --> 00:16:27.419 meal, the greatest healthy meal, the most delicious 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:31.460 meal, and I'm not hungry and thirsty for anything. 00:16:31.840 --> 00:16:35.960 If you can unplug from the world just a little 00:16:35.960 --> 00:16:40.679 bit, if you can turn off the world just a little 00:16:40.679 --> 00:16:44.960 bit, you might find that your soul is hungry 00:16:44.960 --> 00:16:50.330 and thirsty. for righteousness. I'm not just 00:16:50.330 --> 00:16:53.889 talking philosophy. I know what it's like to 00:16:53.889 --> 00:16:58.649 fill my life, not with sin, but with stuff, with 00:16:58.649 --> 00:17:02.289 distractions, with entertainment. But it's amazing 00:17:02.289 --> 00:17:06.150 every time I realize none of this is healthy 00:17:06.150 --> 00:17:09.829 for my soul. Let me put it aside. Let me get 00:17:09.829 --> 00:17:12.990 in the Word. Before you know it, I'm hungry for 00:17:12.990 --> 00:17:15.690 a little bit more prayer, a little bit more of 00:17:15.690 --> 00:17:18.950 the Bible, a little bit more of church. What's 00:17:18.950 --> 00:17:24.549 going on? Kingdom first leads to kingdom first. 00:17:25.230 --> 00:17:29.269 And that's what God has for us. About 25 years 00:17:29.269 --> 00:17:33.829 ago, I began to observe how God was leading this 00:17:33.829 --> 00:17:36.589 church. He had led this church for many years 00:17:36.589 --> 00:17:40.250 before that. But as I look back, during that 00:17:40.250 --> 00:17:44.769 season, I know that God has called us to serve 00:17:44.769 --> 00:17:47.710 him together. Some of you have been around a 00:17:47.710 --> 00:17:50.869 long enough time to remember us talking about 00:17:50.869 --> 00:17:55.309 serving our generation. by the will of God. And 00:17:55.309 --> 00:17:58.910 so we launched into that together and God blessed 00:17:58.910 --> 00:18:02.130 us. Then some of you will remember the very first 00:18:02.130 --> 00:18:05.329 time that you heard someone say, come on, let's 00:18:05.329 --> 00:18:09.869 love Jesus. Let's love people. Let's love missions. 00:18:09.970 --> 00:18:12.910 Believe it or not, we have talked about that 00:18:12.910 --> 00:18:16.710 for 10 years around here. And so I believe that 00:18:16.710 --> 00:18:21.150 God has called us to serve our generation. God 00:18:21.150 --> 00:18:25.009 has called us. to love Jesus and love people 00:18:25.009 --> 00:18:28.190 and love mission. I believe when we started talking 00:18:28.190 --> 00:18:32.410 about go time a few years ago, that was absolutely 00:18:32.410 --> 00:18:36.829 the will of God and remains a part of God's plan 00:18:36.829 --> 00:18:40.569 for his church. Can I say this with all of my 00:18:40.569 --> 00:18:43.910 heart? Every time we serve in our community, 00:18:44.089 --> 00:18:48.609 we are answering the call of God. Every time 00:18:48.609 --> 00:18:52.609 we assist our partner churches, We are answering 00:18:52.609 --> 00:18:56.230 the call of God. Every time some of you will 00:18:56.230 --> 00:18:59.269 gather together, ring a doorbell, a neighbor 00:18:59.269 --> 00:19:02.789 opens up and you pray on the doorstep there with 00:19:02.789 --> 00:19:06.849 a total stranger, you are fulfilling the call 00:19:06.849 --> 00:19:11.269 of God. Every time you give to missions, you 00:19:11.269 --> 00:19:14.609 are answering the call of God. It's gonna sound 00:19:14.609 --> 00:19:17.849 crazy, but when you take an envelope and give 00:19:17.849 --> 00:19:21.559 to Christmas for Christ, I believe we are. responding 00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:27.119 to the call of God. All of our efforts have to 00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:31.799 be more than even our response to the call of 00:19:31.799 --> 00:19:37.059 God. They have to be motivated by his kingdom 00:19:37.059 --> 00:19:41.460 first. I heard a preacher recently saying it. 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:45.259 It kind of shocked me because I had never prayed 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:49.619 this way, never. When he said it. I started praying 00:19:49.619 --> 00:19:56.259 this way. He said, I have to pray. Jesus, purge 00:19:56.259 --> 00:20:01.319 my motives so that my motives are not about me, 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:06.140 my motives are about you. Because we can be doing 00:20:06.140 --> 00:20:10.460 all the right things and miss the kingdom of 00:20:10.460 --> 00:20:13.779 God because our motives are not aligned with 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:17.730 his will. Or we haven't prayed and fasted enough 00:20:17.730 --> 00:20:21.289 to know that what we're doing is not just what's 00:20:21.289 --> 00:20:25.609 good to do or feels right to do, but we have 00:20:25.609 --> 00:20:30.410 heard from God how he wants us to advance his 00:20:30.410 --> 00:20:33.009 kingdom. Could you close your eyes and raise 00:20:33.009 --> 00:20:36.190 a hand and say, Jesus, I wanna seek first your 00:20:36.190 --> 00:20:39.369 kingdom. I don't wanna just be committed to religious 00:20:39.369 --> 00:20:43.099 activity. I wanna seek first your kingdom. I 00:20:43.099 --> 00:20:44.940 don't wanna just do a bunch of things around 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:48.119 the church that are good to do. I wanna seek 00:20:48.119 --> 00:20:54.019 first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. 00:20:55.319 --> 00:21:00.099 Can you say in Jesus' name? It hurts me to say 00:21:00.099 --> 00:21:03.319 this because some of y 'all might take it the 00:21:03.319 --> 00:21:06.119 wrong way. And then we're gonna be in trouble, 00:21:06.240 --> 00:21:08.039 Brother Mark, so if it happens, you can blame 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:13.089 me. If everything that we're doing, everything 00:21:13.089 --> 00:21:16.630 I mentioned, is just another program from the 00:21:16.630 --> 00:21:20.690 church, then it's possible that we can miss the 00:21:20.690 --> 00:21:25.130 mark, we can miss the purpose and the blessing 00:21:25.130 --> 00:21:29.150 of seeking first the kingdom of God. I don't 00:21:29.150 --> 00:21:32.750 think that we have missed the mark, but I do 00:21:32.750 --> 00:21:37.609 think we need to reevaluate, am I seeking first 00:21:37.609 --> 00:21:41.539 his kingdom? Praise God Jesus said I'm just going 00:21:41.539 --> 00:21:43.740 to read it. It's not very comfortable to even 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:47.299 read But it's important to see the emphasis that 00:21:47.299 --> 00:21:51.640 he placed upon his kingdom He said to someone 00:21:51.640 --> 00:21:54.740 follow me that person said Lord. Let me first 00:21:54.740 --> 00:21:58.000 go and bury my father Jesus said to him let the 00:21:58.000 --> 00:22:01.279 dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach 00:22:01.279 --> 00:22:04.859 the kingdom of God Now listen Jesus wept when 00:22:04.859 --> 00:22:08.920 Lazarus died so our Savior is not insensitive 00:22:09.369 --> 00:22:12.170 To caring for those that are suffering because 00:22:12.170 --> 00:22:15.130 of loss, but he's trying to teach a principle 00:22:15.130 --> 00:22:19.150 The kingdom of God is more important than anything 00:22:19.150 --> 00:22:22.829 else That's the principle that he's teaching 00:22:22.829 --> 00:22:25.930 and another said Lord I will follow you But let 00:22:25.930 --> 00:22:29.250 me first go and bid them farewell Who are not 00:22:29.250 --> 00:22:32.730 at my house, but Jesus said to him no one? Having 00:22:32.730 --> 00:22:38.130 put his hand to the plow and looking back is 00:22:38.130 --> 00:22:42.930 fit for the kingdom of God. Of all the ways that 00:22:42.930 --> 00:22:46.289 God has called us as individuals and as a church, 00:22:46.789 --> 00:22:49.869 the greatest call that rests upon every believer. 00:22:50.299 --> 00:22:55.039 is a call to seek first the kingdom of God and 00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:58.720 his righteousness. Jesus came to Galilee preaching 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:01.519 the gospel of the kingdom of God. He said, the 00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:05.079 time is fulfilled. The kingdom of God is at hand. 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:10.000 Repent and believe in the gospel. John 3, Jesus 00:23:10.000 --> 00:23:13.740 said, most assuredly, I say unto you, unless 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:17.220 one is born of water and the spirit, he cannot 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:21.480 enter into the kingdom of God. The purpose of 00:23:21.480 --> 00:23:24.759 salvation is not just to have your ticket to 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:28.460 heaven. That's a wonderful benefit to being saved. 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:32.700 But the real purpose is he has given us access 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:37.039 to the kingdom of God. We are not born again 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:40.980 into a religion. We are not saved into church 00:23:40.980 --> 00:23:45.119 programs. We have entered into the kingdom of 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:48.420 God. And whatever you do personally or whatever 00:23:48.420 --> 00:23:51.750 we do. collectively as the people of God. It 00:23:51.750 --> 00:23:56.349 has to revolve around the revelation. I am advancing 00:23:56.349 --> 00:23:59.650 the kingdom of God. I might just be cleaning 00:23:59.650 --> 00:24:03.130 a toilet, but I'm advancing the kingdom of God. 00:24:03.250 --> 00:24:06.390 I might just be welcoming someone to church for 00:24:06.390 --> 00:24:09.869 their very first visit, but I am advancing the 00:24:09.869 --> 00:24:13.309 kingdom of God. And if I cannot get a hold of 00:24:13.309 --> 00:24:17.299 that kind of motivation and mentality, This is 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:20.299 where we're gonna get in trouble. You're probably 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:25.839 better off not to serve at all. Because the kingdom 00:24:25.839 --> 00:24:29.220 of God is more important to Jesus than heaven 00:24:29.220 --> 00:24:37.359 view. The kingdom of God is why God came to earth 00:24:37.359 --> 00:24:41.619 as a man. He robed himself in flesh. He walked 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:45.680 upon this earth. And I tell you what, The devils 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:49.099 were flipping out because they knew that the 00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:51.640 kingdom of God would ultimately be established 00:24:51.640 --> 00:24:55.059 at the end of the age. But here we are in the 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:59.599 middle of the human story and God shows up. And 00:24:59.599 --> 00:25:03.039 he's like, all you devils have been messing around 00:25:03.039 --> 00:25:06.250 with my planet. And I'm gonna just give you a 00:25:06.250 --> 00:25:09.230 little taste of what's about to happen, because 00:25:09.230 --> 00:25:11.970 while you're running around and causing all kinds 00:25:11.970 --> 00:25:14.869 of evil and all kinds of heartache and you're 00:25:14.869 --> 00:25:17.650 destroying the lives of people, let me tell you, 00:25:17.650 --> 00:25:21.450 the kingdom of God has come. And it's forming 00:25:21.450 --> 00:25:24.990 and it's becoming a massive movement. And at 00:25:24.990 --> 00:25:28.089 the last day when the trumpet sounds, the devil's 00:25:28.089 --> 00:25:30.970 gonna get a complete revelation that there is 00:25:30.970 --> 00:25:35.250 a king of kings. There is a Lord of lords. And 00:25:35.250 --> 00:25:41.809 his name is Jesus. I don't have this scripture 00:25:41.809 --> 00:25:45.509 in my notes but at one point Jesus said, if I 00:25:45.509 --> 00:25:49.130 cast out a devil, you ought to know the kingdom 00:25:49.130 --> 00:25:53.990 of God has come to you. He opened blind eyes. 00:25:54.470 --> 00:25:58.329 He raised the dead. The kingdom of God. We were 00:25:58.329 --> 00:26:01.180 getting just a little snapshot. He didn't open 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:04.180 every person with blinded eyes. He didn't raise 00:26:04.180 --> 00:26:06.779 everyone that was dead. No, because all he was 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:09.660 doing was giving us a picture of the kingdom 00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:12.779 of God. That's why sometimes we go through things 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:15.339 and we're like, oh my goodness, if my God is 00:26:15.339 --> 00:26:17.480 all that, why am I going through this? You know 00:26:17.480 --> 00:26:20.299 why? Because it's really all about his kingdom. 00:26:20.490 --> 00:26:23.529 And there are some times that he knows through 00:26:23.529 --> 00:26:26.730 success you'll advance his kingdom. Other times 00:26:26.730 --> 00:26:29.690 he knows that through suffering you'll advance 00:26:29.690 --> 00:26:32.849 his kingdom. But what he needs you to do is just 00:26:32.849 --> 00:26:35.769 believe that seeking the kingdom of God first 00:26:35.769 --> 00:26:38.829 is more important than my comfort, more important 00:26:38.829 --> 00:26:41.809 than my dreams, more important than all my other 00:26:41.809 --> 00:26:45.470 aspirations. All I know is I have a God that 00:26:45.470 --> 00:26:49.230 is King of kings and Lord of lords. I've been 00:26:49.230 --> 00:26:52.460 born again. into his kingdom, I'm gonna live 00:26:52.460 --> 00:26:59.119 for him. I'm gonna seek him first. Praise God. 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:03.799 We've heard this before, I've heard this before, 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:05.720 but we don't always think about it. I don't always 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:08.180 think about it. But how many of you would agree, 00:27:08.200 --> 00:27:09.720 you don't have to raise your hand, but just do 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:15.960 like a nod. That you are actually not of this 00:27:15.960 --> 00:27:20.559 world. A few people nodding. Notting off, no. 00:27:22.000 --> 00:27:25.779 How many of you would believe, this is a little 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:29.119 bit of a stretch, that you're actually an ambassador 00:27:29.119 --> 00:27:35.160 from another world? Sure. That's really what's 00:27:35.160 --> 00:27:37.240 happening here. That's why when we sing This 00:27:37.240 --> 00:27:39.140 World Is Not Our Home, we get a little bit excited, 00:27:39.180 --> 00:27:41.880 because we realize, and sometimes we don't realize, 00:27:41.980 --> 00:27:44.339 but in that moment we realize, my goodness, I 00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:47.000 don't care how bad it gets, I'm just an ambassador 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:50.309 here. Now I know most ambassadors leave their 00:27:50.309 --> 00:27:52.970 country and come to another country. In our case, 00:27:53.109 --> 00:27:55.069 we're in another country, but soon we'll be leaving 00:27:55.069 --> 00:27:58.829 to our own country. But we are still ambassadors. 00:28:00.150 --> 00:28:03.710 Praise the name of the Lord. But if we do church 00:28:03.710 --> 00:28:07.410 missions, if we love Jesus and love people and 00:28:07.410 --> 00:28:10.569 love missions, but we forget we are ambassadors. 00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:14.700 If we serve our generation by the will of God, 00:28:14.720 --> 00:28:18.119 but we forget we are ambassadors. If we get involved 00:28:18.119 --> 00:28:21.200 in every opportunity as God calls us to minister 00:28:21.200 --> 00:28:24.220 to lost people, encourage saved people, but we 00:28:24.220 --> 00:28:28.900 forget we are ambassadors, we will lose the blessing 00:28:28.900 --> 00:28:32.799 and the promises of God. It's important to have 00:28:32.799 --> 00:28:37.740 a kingdom mindset and a kingdom motivation. Whatever 00:28:37.740 --> 00:28:42.240 I'm doing, I am seeking first the king. of God 00:28:42.240 --> 00:28:47.140 and his righteousness. I am a kingdom representative. 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:51.619 My God, his name is Jesus. He's the king of the 00:28:51.619 --> 00:28:54.480 country where I'm headed and he has placed me 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:57.980 here almost like an embassy. This church is just 00:28:57.980 --> 00:29:01.319 one outpost and there are many others where we 00:29:01.319 --> 00:29:05.859 represent the king of kings and the Lord of lords. 00:29:07.140 --> 00:29:12.279 And everything we do. as strangers of this world 00:29:12.279 --> 00:29:17.759 is just to advance his kingdom. It's like our 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:21.140 king, and I hope I don't get in trouble with 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:26.099 the government for saying this, our king is slowly 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:32.400 taking over every nation, every tribe, every 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:35.579 tongue. He's not taking over with guns and missiles. 00:29:36.300 --> 00:29:39.180 He's taking over by pouring out his spirit upon 00:29:39.180 --> 00:29:44.299 all flesh and his kingdom is living through his 00:29:44.299 --> 00:29:49.740 people Praise the name of the Lord That's why 00:29:49.740 --> 00:29:52.359 when we pray we pray our father in heaven hallowed 00:29:52.359 --> 00:29:56.039 be your name your kingdom come Your will be done 00:29:56.039 --> 00:30:00.039 on earth as it is in heaven. We are seeking for 00:30:00.039 --> 00:30:04.549 God's kingdom to be established here like it 00:30:04.549 --> 00:30:07.630 is in heaven. That's our mission. That's our 00:30:07.630 --> 00:30:12.710 priority. We are seeking his kingdom first. But 00:30:12.710 --> 00:30:15.890 you know what? There is a whole lot of pressure 00:30:15.890 --> 00:30:20.630 in this world to forget that we are not of this 00:30:20.630 --> 00:30:24.289 world. And part of it is life, but part of it 00:30:24.289 --> 00:30:29.460 is the devil. I think he knows who we are. I 00:30:29.460 --> 00:30:34.009 think he knows what we have. And I think he knows 00:30:34.009 --> 00:30:37.410 if we let the spirit of God work through us, 00:30:37.829 --> 00:30:40.049 all of a sudden, this one's gonna be added to 00:30:40.049 --> 00:30:42.349 the kingdom of God, and this one's gonna be added, 00:30:42.509 --> 00:30:44.690 and this loved one that I thought I'd given up 00:30:44.690 --> 00:30:47.269 on, but I kept on praying, they're gonna be added 00:30:47.269 --> 00:30:49.609 to the kingdom of God. And this coworker that 00:30:49.609 --> 00:30:51.890 used to get on my nerves because of my faith, 00:30:52.089 --> 00:30:54.289 all of a sudden, they're gonna have a change 00:30:54.289 --> 00:30:56.130 of heart. They're gonna be added to the kingdom 00:30:56.130 --> 00:30:58.650 of God. So don't you know the devil is doing 00:30:58.650 --> 00:31:03.400 everything he can. To get us caught up with the 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:06.720 cares of this life Man, he's pretty good at it, 00:31:06.759 --> 00:31:12.160 isn't he? some people fall because of sin and 00:31:12.160 --> 00:31:14.259 I want to just throw out a word about that the 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:17.380 Bible says love not the world or the things in 00:31:17.380 --> 00:31:20.980 the world if Any man loves the world the love 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:25.099 of the father is not in him This doesn't happen 00:31:25.099 --> 00:31:29.640 too often but occasionally an ambassador with 00:31:29.640 --> 00:31:34.500 a lot of tenure, a seasoned saint will fall away 00:31:34.500 --> 00:31:39.259 from Christian convictions because they've started 00:31:39.259 --> 00:31:43.400 to forget they are an ambassador. And instead 00:31:43.400 --> 00:31:47.119 of standing for him, they blend in with them. 00:31:47.619 --> 00:31:50.599 And now everything that looks like the world 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:54.200 and acts like the world and live like the world, 00:31:54.880 --> 00:31:58.019 maybe there's a way I can serve Jesus and have 00:31:58.019 --> 00:32:01.430 the world too. But my brothers and sisters, there's 00:32:01.430 --> 00:32:04.940 no Bible for that. and our young people especially, 00:32:05.000 --> 00:32:07.900 we've gotta be careful because it's so easy for 00:32:07.900 --> 00:32:12.160 us to be captivated by the fads and the fashions 00:32:12.160 --> 00:32:15.380 and all that this world says is beautiful and 00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:17.480 will make you successful and oh my goodness, 00:32:17.519 --> 00:32:20.619 try this and you'll be so happy. Can I tell you, 00:32:20.640 --> 00:32:24.700 the world is passing away. The fashions of this 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:27.680 world are passing away. Everything the world 00:32:27.680 --> 00:32:31.380 calls beauty is gonna pass away. Everything that 00:32:31.380 --> 00:32:34.579 influences all of us. put so much pressure on 00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:38.339 us, it's passing away. Don't be led astray from 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:41.240 the kingdom of God by the lust of the flesh, 00:32:41.599 --> 00:32:45.940 by the lust of the eyes, by the pride of life. 00:32:46.339 --> 00:32:49.319 Come on, there is a struggle, there is a battle, 00:32:49.500 --> 00:32:52.140 but you're an ambassador. You've got the king 00:32:52.140 --> 00:32:55.640 of kings in your soul. You are one of those he 00:32:55.640 --> 00:33:01.849 has commissioned to seek his kingdom first. Praise 00:33:01.849 --> 00:33:05.089 the name of the Lord But if the enemy can't destroy 00:33:05.089 --> 00:33:09.670 you with sin He'll destroy you with worry with 00:33:09.670 --> 00:33:15.109 disappointment With frustrations if he can't 00:33:15.109 --> 00:33:18.990 destroy you with sin he'll destroy you with success 00:33:18.990 --> 00:33:24.470 and a love for things and Before you know it 00:33:24.470 --> 00:33:28.109 being an ambassador is not the first priority 00:33:29.480 --> 00:33:34.079 Seeking his kingdom first is not the first priority. 00:33:34.839 --> 00:33:38.160 And so Jesus says, don't worry about these things, 00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:40.400 what you're gonna eat, what you're gonna drink, 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.619 what you're gonna wear. And at first we're like, 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:43.539 are you telling us, like we don't have to worry 00:33:43.539 --> 00:33:46.460 about how we're, well don't let that become your 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:48.900 priority. Are you telling us we shouldn't make 00:33:48.900 --> 00:33:50.900 plans for the future? No, no, but don't make 00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:57.220 that your obsession. Seek first the kingdom of 00:33:57.220 --> 00:34:01.380 God. And in every season of life, in every station 00:34:01.380 --> 00:34:04.660 of life, in the success and in the suffering, 00:34:05.119 --> 00:34:09.519 kingdom first. How can I advance the kingdom 00:34:09.519 --> 00:34:14.119 of God in this situation? How can I advance the 00:34:14.119 --> 00:34:17.059 purpose of God with this suffering, with this 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:20.079 success, with this blessing, with what feels 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:23.119 like a curse? I'm not gonna get captivated by 00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:26.860 my situation or this world. I'm gonna seek first. 00:34:27.469 --> 00:34:32.369 the kingdom of God. Amen. The musicians would 00:34:32.369 --> 00:34:37.170 come, seek the kingdom of God first, pray the 00:34:37.170 --> 00:34:41.150 kingdom of God first, think the kingdom of God 00:34:41.150 --> 00:34:46.469 first, serve the kingdom of God first, submit 00:34:46.469 --> 00:34:51.909 to the kingdom of God first. In every situation, 00:34:52.250 --> 00:34:58.880 pray. How can the kingdom of God advance in me 00:34:58.880 --> 00:35:04.480 and through me in this moment. And I'm not saying 00:35:04.480 --> 00:35:08.860 just praying and then take your best shot. I'm 00:35:08.860 --> 00:35:13.500 saying hear from God. He's your King. Hey, we're 00:35:13.500 --> 00:35:17.139 in the embassy here, the embassy of heaven. If 00:35:17.139 --> 00:35:20.739 it looks like the enemy's surrounding us, somebody 00:35:20.739 --> 00:35:23.420 get on the phone and call the King. What do we 00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:27.230 do now? You better send in. Some special forces 00:35:27.230 --> 00:35:29.949 and he's not gonna leave us there to die. I'll 00:35:29.949 --> 00:35:35.530 just tell you I'm asking us to be a people of 00:35:35.530 --> 00:35:40.250 prayer just because We know he's called us to 00:35:40.250 --> 00:35:43.110 advance his kingdom and we can't do it in our 00:35:43.110 --> 00:35:46.269 own flesh We can't do it with our best programs. 00:35:46.530 --> 00:35:49.949 We can't do it with great music or loud preaching 00:35:49.949 --> 00:35:52.769 We can't do it with all the things that some 00:35:52.769 --> 00:35:57.690 people rely on Only way we can do it is by seeking 00:35:57.690 --> 00:36:02.550 first the kingdom of God. When you pray, when 00:36:02.550 --> 00:36:05.030 you fast, maybe you're doing a little bit extra 00:36:05.030 --> 00:36:08.610 at the start of the year, would you pray, how 00:36:08.610 --> 00:36:12.449 can I seek the kingdom of God first on my job? 00:36:13.269 --> 00:36:17.250 How can I make decisions in my job that advance 00:36:17.250 --> 00:36:20.489 the kingdom of God? How can I seek the kingdom 00:36:20.489 --> 00:36:24.690 of God with my education? My goals and with the 00:36:24.690 --> 00:36:29.409 process Jesus I can't just be caught up with 00:36:29.409 --> 00:36:33.650 these things. I've got to be seeking you First 00:36:33.650 --> 00:36:35.809 because the kingdom of God is not just Sunday 00:36:35.809 --> 00:36:38.389 and Wednesday The kingdom of God is wherever 00:36:38.389 --> 00:36:41.269 you are Because the kingdom of God is within 00:36:41.269 --> 00:36:44.550 you And so how can you represent the kingdom 00:36:44.550 --> 00:36:47.969 of God? Pray, how can I seek the kingdom of God 00:36:47.969 --> 00:36:52.269 first with my giftings with my talents? with 00:36:52.269 --> 00:36:55.969 my blessings. How can I seek the kingdom of God 00:36:55.969 --> 00:37:02.849 first? With my time. With my money. I know so 00:37:02.849 --> 00:37:05.590 many of you believe in tithing and offering, 00:37:05.789 --> 00:37:09.769 giving to missions. If you don't, would you pray, 00:37:10.250 --> 00:37:14.929 Jesus, how can I seek your kingdom first with 00:37:14.929 --> 00:37:18.369 my money? It'd change everything about your life. 00:37:18.969 --> 00:37:21.050 I know we don't give to receive, but is there 00:37:21.050 --> 00:37:22.190 anybody that would be bold enough to raise their 00:37:22.190 --> 00:37:23.349 hand and say, you know what, God's been good 00:37:23.349 --> 00:37:26.550 to me because I put his kingdom first. There's 00:37:26.550 --> 00:37:29.289 a lot of hands going up. And maybe not every 00:37:29.289 --> 00:37:30.809 hand went up that could have went up, but you 00:37:30.809 --> 00:37:32.989 know what, if you're afraid your hand couldn't 00:37:32.989 --> 00:37:35.889 have gone up, let this be the year that you just 00:37:35.889 --> 00:37:39.329 pray, Jesus, how can I seek you first with my 00:37:39.329 --> 00:37:43.070 time and with my money? In other words, like 00:37:43.070 --> 00:37:46.769 the one translation says, Matthew 6, 33, seek. 00:37:47.079 --> 00:37:53.519 the kingdom of God above all else. Can you say 00:37:53.519 --> 00:37:58.179 amen? When Jesus walked on this earth, the kingdom 00:37:58.179 --> 00:38:03.219 of God was with us. But since he has filled us 00:38:03.219 --> 00:38:07.679 with his spirit, the kingdom of God is within 00:38:07.679 --> 00:38:11.460 us. And ultimately when he wraps all this up 00:38:11.460 --> 00:38:15.260 soon and very soon, We're all gonna live in the 00:38:15.260 --> 00:38:16.900 kingdom of God and you know what's gonna be great 00:38:16.900 --> 00:38:20.219 about the kingdom of God the king is gonna reign 00:38:20.219 --> 00:38:26.980 supreme He is gonna be king of everything But 00:38:26.980 --> 00:38:31.519 now in this part of the process Every time we 00:38:31.519 --> 00:38:34.539 yield to the spirit. We're advancing the kingdom 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:38.800 of God And I think it goes back to Lucifer in 00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:44.139 heaven saying I will be like the most high And 00:38:44.139 --> 00:38:46.300 man, he got kicked out of heaven real fast with 00:38:46.300 --> 00:38:50.719 that kind of mentality. But now every time you 00:38:50.719 --> 00:38:54.239 and I have a choice, I will do it my way. No, 00:38:55.079 --> 00:39:00.380 I will do it God's way. You advance the kingdom 00:39:00.380 --> 00:39:06.219 of God. Oh, what a privilege we have to seek 00:39:06.219 --> 00:39:11.199 the kingdom of God first. When we resist his 00:39:11.199 --> 00:39:16.050 word. when we don't yield to his spirit, he's 00:39:16.050 --> 00:39:20.429 not a dictator. So in those moments when he doesn't 00:39:20.429 --> 00:39:24.030 reign in our hearts, there's no way he can bless 00:39:24.030 --> 00:39:28.389 us with the blessings of the kingdom. And so 00:39:28.389 --> 00:39:32.989 he's waiting on us to just say to him with our 00:39:32.989 --> 00:39:37.909 actions, you are not just my savior, you are 00:39:37.909 --> 00:39:43.349 my Lord. Because wherever he reigns, that's where 00:39:43.349 --> 00:39:48.409 his kingdom works. So our prayer is, Jesus reign 00:39:48.409 --> 00:39:51.349 in me. Could you stand and raise your hands and 00:39:51.349 --> 00:39:55.190 say, Jesus reign in me. Be the king of kings 00:39:55.190 --> 00:40:00.769 in my life. Jesus, my prayer, as a result of 00:40:00.769 --> 00:40:04.030 just thinking about this and praying about this 00:40:04.030 --> 00:40:09.010 and considering this. is what does King Jesus 00:40:09.010 --> 00:40:13.690 want from me today? And if he gives me tomorrow 00:40:13.690 --> 00:40:16.730 and it becomes today, what does King Jesus want 00:40:16.730 --> 00:40:21.570 from me today? And then if I'm facing a situation 00:40:21.570 --> 00:40:24.670 where I am blessed abundantly, I will look at 00:40:24.670 --> 00:40:27.769 all those blessings and say, Jesus, you're my 00:40:27.769 --> 00:40:31.030 King. Why have you blessed me with all of this? 00:40:31.329 --> 00:40:35.869 How can I advance your kingdom with these things? 00:40:36.679 --> 00:40:40.000 If I am taken into a valley of the shadow of 00:40:40.000 --> 00:40:43.920 death and I suffer great loss I know I will be 00:40:43.920 --> 00:40:50.199 just like anyone else and say But I hope it's 00:40:50.199 --> 00:40:55.300 followed up with a little thought How can I advance 00:40:55.300 --> 00:40:59.119 your kingdom in this pain? How can I advance 00:40:59.119 --> 00:41:02.300 your kingdom in this disappointment? Because 00:41:02.300 --> 00:41:04.800 everything that feels like it's choking me right 00:41:04.800 --> 00:41:08.219 now It's just this world that will soon pass 00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:11.960 away, but I'm an ambassador here, and you allow 00:41:11.960 --> 00:41:15.699 me to go through this trial so that I could advance 00:41:15.699 --> 00:41:18.840 your kingdom. What does King Jesus want from 00:41:18.840 --> 00:41:27.059 me? How can I seek him first? In Jesus' name. 00:41:28.000 --> 00:41:30.559 In Jesus' name. Would you just pray for a moment 00:41:30.559 --> 00:41:32.739 right where you are, and if they could bring 00:41:32.739 --> 00:41:35.239 the prayer list, that will help us. Just get 00:41:35.239 --> 00:41:38.340 ready to pray. We won't start praying just yet, 00:41:38.480 --> 00:41:40.719 Brother Bib, just give me a moment, but we'll 00:41:40.719 --> 00:41:43.820 get ready and we'll do that first thing. Would 00:41:43.820 --> 00:41:45.820 you just pray in the spirit just for a moment 00:41:45.820 --> 00:41:49.219 so our hearts can receive what God is doing? 00:41:50.039 --> 00:41:54.059 We need spirit and truth right now. The word 00:41:54.059 --> 00:41:57.880 of God works, but it works when our heart, the 00:41:57.880 --> 00:42:01.469 soil of our soul is seasoned by the spirit. Come 00:42:01.469 --> 00:42:04.190 on, grace and truth need to meet together right 00:42:04.190 --> 00:42:48.039 now. Can you say in Jesus' name? I don't want 00:42:48.039 --> 00:42:50.579 you to sing this. I'm just using this as an example. 00:42:51.639 --> 00:42:54.579 I was walking around the house thinking about 00:42:54.579 --> 00:42:58.880 Jesus reigning, and I started singing, and he 00:42:58.880 --> 00:43:05.159 shall reign forever and ever and ever. And he 00:43:05.159 --> 00:43:07.880 shall reign. I felt like it was Christmas all 00:43:07.880 --> 00:43:12.579 over again. And I want you to realize if you're 00:43:12.579 --> 00:43:15.559 in the valley of the shadow of death, he still 00:43:15.559 --> 00:43:20.239 reigns. He still reigns. You might be here and 00:43:20.239 --> 00:43:22.860 you've started this year off with so many blessings, 00:43:23.280 --> 00:43:26.559 celebrate that it's him reigning that makes those 00:43:26.559 --> 00:43:29.260 blessings worth anything because now you can 00:43:29.260 --> 00:43:34.579 use every blessing for his kingdom. So there's 00:43:34.579 --> 00:43:36.800 so many people here and we've only got about 00:43:36.800 --> 00:43:40.809 seven minutes, but whatever your need is. whatever 00:43:40.809 --> 00:43:44.530 your prayer is, or if you're just coming to worship, 00:43:45.269 --> 00:43:47.809 praise him, whatever you're gonna say to God, 00:43:47.889 --> 00:43:50.530 would you confirm, I know you reign. And I'm 00:43:50.530 --> 00:43:52.909 giving you my life, I'm giving you my family, 00:43:53.250 --> 00:43:55.349 I'm giving you my future. Go ahead and come, 00:43:55.349 --> 00:43:58.090 just for a few moments. When we got music practice 00:43:58.090 --> 00:44:00.469 starting in about seven minutes, some of you 00:44:00.469 --> 00:44:02.510 that can help us pray with a prayer list first 00:44:02.510 --> 00:44:05.570 thing, but it's all coming. Let's just acknowledge 00:44:05.570 --> 00:44:09.070 you reign over my life, you reign over my family. 00:44:09.690 --> 00:44:13.110 You reign over my health. You reign over my job 00:44:13.110 --> 00:44:17.130 situation. You reign over sickness. Jesus, these 00:44:17.130 --> 00:44:20.190 precious people that are fighting sickness right 00:44:20.190 --> 00:44:22.670 now. Some in the hospital, some in the hospital.