1. Seeking First the Kingdom of God “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you” Mt. 6:33 ”For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17

2. Seeking First the Kingdom of God There is a kingdom of God –“Kingdom of God” and “Kingdom of Heaven” are variations of same idea –Entrance to the kingdom of God is by New birth (John 3:3- “ Except a man is born again, he can not see the kingdom of God”) Repentance (Mat. 3:2- “Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”) Divine call (1 Thes. 2:12- “that you would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

3. Seeking First Kingdom of God “Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness” –Many do not seek… –The righteousness of God.. righteousness where one performs his duties toward God, to ourselves and others “All these things will be added unto you” “All these things of verse 32 One of the most popular verses on the provision of God. Praise God! But a kingdom is mentioned here- the kingdom of God

4. Seeking First the Kingdom of God The Kingdom of God –A new and different kingdom than that the people wanted Jesus to establish –Kingdom of God is the rule of God –Not an earthly kingdom, but spiritual (Rom. 14:17) –Spiritual truth can not be understood by those dominated by material thoughts or things –The disciples asked the Lord: “Why do you speak in parables?” Hear the answer-

5. Seeking First the Kingdom of God o “ Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Mt.13:13 and “ For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” V.15 o The Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesian believers- “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened..” o May the eyes of our heart be opened to understand..

6. Seeking First the Kingdom of God A kingdom has ENEMIES –As we live the “kingdom life” we have enemies to contend with- to fight against.  “For wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Eph. 6:12  We are to SEEK it. We are to pursue it.  It is intentional. God does not force us to seek His kingdom. o “I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me.” Pr.8:17

7. Seeking First the Kingdom of God Be SUBMISSIVE/OBEDIENT to the authority of this kingdom.  “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6 o "I will tell you the secret. God has all of me there is of me. There have been men with better brains, greater talents, and greater opportunities. But, from the day I got a vision for what Jesus could do with the poor of London, I made up my mind that God would have all of William Booth there was.“ William Booth o KPY