Sermon Central
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Seek First The Kingdom Of God
Contributed by Anthony Zibolski on Apr 19, 2009 (message contributor)
Summary: This sermon speaks hard about seeking first the things of God. If we are to do that.. we need to (1) let God be in charge (2) allow God to be in the decistion process (3) give back to others.
Seek First the Kingdom of God
Disclaimer: This sermon was prepared by personal study and Sermon Central contributions.
Introduction-
This is a very familiar verse. There are some verses that jump off the page to us.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
No one can serve two masters.
Seek first the Kingdom of God.
Each one of these can and have been a sermon in themselves.
Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these things shall be added unto you. What things?
Blessings of God? yes
Material things that we need? yes
The blessing of not worrying? Yes
For some that would be answer to prayer.
But what else?
We didn’t take the time to read all of chapter 6- but it is not a coincidence it comes after chapter 5 “Blessed are those” Scriptures of the Beattitudes. He gives us direction for helping others. He gives us direction for prayer, even gives us the model prayer of Jesus. Tells us two times in the chapter that what we do for man, we will have a reward. But He also tells us that we should do it in private or we will lose our blessings. Tells us that if we really want to get a close relationship with God- Be praying, that fasting, the giving up of our body needs is a new and exciting way to worship and communicate with God. It is not a coincidence that it is sandwiched between chapter 7 of judging others, and the important verse of asking, seeking, knocking.
Because if you will get the principal of Seeking God First- all these things will be added unto you.
Seeking and putting God first is not easy.
It is not the normal thing to do. Putting God first is a discipline.
Society sometimes get intrigue by God, but , most are not seeking God, they are expecting God to do the work.
We don’t like disciplines. We don’t want to be told No, WAIT, STOP, GIVE IT A CHANCE, SHARE, CHANGE.
It is a conscience decision that no matter what we go through or have, we will seek God first.
The sign outside, it is not profound or catchy.
The answer to the problem- Seek God first.
This is a simple truth that we do not do. When all else fails, ask God. No Beg God, for Him to make it right.
Fasting is the abstaining from food for spiritual purposes.
Take the time that you would have been eating and spend it with God in prayer. Some cannot do that because of some health issues, but we can all sacrifice our time and seek God’s purpose for our lives..
Storing up treasures in heaven instead of the u-haul mentallity here is putting priorities right.
It is not wrong to have things. It is wrong for things to have you.
Illustration-(SC)
E. Stanley Jones:
“If you don’t make up your mind, then your unmade mind will unmake you. God can do anything for the man who has made up his mind; He can do little or nothing for the double minded.”
Where am I going with this?
Some people life’s are miserable because of what they know to do but they will not do it.
God has spoken to you about some things and you just refuse to change. He has tried to give you direction.
Life is short- stop hating someone.
Make peace with your past, so it won’t mess up your future.
You don’t have to win every argument.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you. Stop blaming others.
Don’t compare yourself to anyone else because you do not know the journey they have been on.
God has told you these things.
He has said if you will seek me first before you make these mistakes. I will be there for you.
Society pushes God back and keeps Him at a distance. So if we are not careful, we can, and will do the same thing.
They call wrong right, and right wrong.
Facts don’t cease to exist because we ignore them.
We use to say the pledge of allegiance with the term “One Nation under God”, now it is criminal to put God in our schools.
God told Israel and He is telling us. Exodus 20:3 “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”.
It is our responsibility to put God first. Even when the world says that it is wrong. We know what is right.
Why is it when we do our own thing- contrary to God’s word. We get upset at God when our life falls apart.
Seeking God first does not mean we will not make mistakes.
It does not mean we are perfect.
It means we are trying to put our priorities right. God is first
