Insights For Kingdom Living In 2023 Series

Sermon: Insights For Kingdom Living in 2023

Scripture: Matthew 6:31-33 “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God[e] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Introduction: Jesus said to seek first the kingdom of God in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:33). The verse’s meaning is as direct as it sounds. We are to seek the things of God as a priority over the things of the world. Primarily, it means we are to seek the salvation that is inherent in the kingdom of God because it is of greater value than all the world’s riches. Does this mean that we should neglect the reasonable and daily duties that help sustain our lives? Certainly not. But for the Christian, there should be a difference in attitude toward them. If we are taking care of God’s business as a priority—seeking His salvation, living in obedience to Him, and sharing the good news of the kingdom with others—then He will take care of our business as He promised—and if that’s the arrangement, why not try it?

Speaking to His disciples and multitude of people on the mount of Olive, Jesus gives an invitation to the kind of life God intended for them. Jesus knew many were spending time seeking a better life, so Jesus offers them and us sound advice for living the good life. Matthew 6:33 is the first mention of the kingdom of God. In the gospels, the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Heaven are used interchangeably. The kingdom of God is mentioned more than 100 times in the gospels alone. It was the central focus of Jesus’s message. This evidence shows the importance of God’s kingdom on earth and our need to understand it.

We have a clear command to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” Today, many elected officials will be sworn in Washington, DC. After celebrating each candidate must learn how to function in their office. Every candidate begins his journey, seeking to be elected, after being elected, they must learn to use the authority of their particular office. In like manner, every believer has been invited into full participation in God’s kingdom. Successful participation means prioritizing our life and focusing our passions. Seeking after what we can eat, drink and wear maybe tempting, but we must set higher goals.

There are so many natural concerns in the world, there is a tendency to seek everything else first, and then God’s kingdom and righteous ways. Jesus warns his followers against anxiety, worry, fear, doubt, and distractions over the cares of life. He said, “Take no thought”, because your heavenly Father knows your every need. We are encouraged to be assured that the life of the believer and all of his time is in the hands of God. God knows how provide for every one of His children. Finally, we are assured that if believers make the kingdom of God and His righteousness their first pursue, all these things shall be added unto them.

What did Jesus mean when He spoke of the Kingdom of God? Simply, the kingdom of God is the rule of God or the reign of God in this present world. It’s the way that God expresses Himself through His believing Children in the world. Maybe we can see more clearly if we understand what Jesus did not mean. Jesus was not speaking of geographical location such as the Holy Land, nor a political power or influence such as the Sanhedrin Counsel, nor a physical throne for earthly power. Jesus confessed, “My kingdom is not of this world!” Yet His kingdom will have influence in this world.

Let take a quick view of the kingdom as described in the gospels. Speaking in parables, Jesus gives us a many-sided view of the Kingdom of God in the gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 13:24-29 Parable of the Wheat and Weeds

“24 Here is another story Jesus told: “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a farmer who planted good seed in his field. 25 But that night as the workers slept, his enemy came and planted weeds among the wheat, then slipped away. 26 When the crop began to grow and produce grain, the weeds also grew. 27 “The farmer’s workers went to him and said, ‘Sir, the field where you planted that good seed is full of weeds! Where did they come from?’ 28 “‘An enemy has done this!’ the farmer exclaimed. “‘Should we pull out the weeds?’ they asked. 29 “‘No,’ he replied, ‘you’ll uproot the wheat if you do. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. Then I will tell the harvesters to sort out the weeds, tie them into bundles, and burn them, and to put the wheat in the barn.’” (The kingdom of God has an enemy)