As Christians, What are we to seek First?
Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
We are to seek His kingdom, first. It is a kingdom which comes within each of us. He will surely see to us.
It is a reign of Grace.
God is the God of all grace, and He gives us what we need.
1 Peter 5:10 “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered awhile, make you perfect (complete), stablish you, strengthen you, settle you.”
Grace is the unmerited favor of power. The grace of God is manifold (1 Peter 4:10), which means that God’s power is shown many ways:
By grace are ye saved
Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men,”
Also by grace, we live for Christ Jesus. (Remember it is His power that enables us to do.)
2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of God may rest upon me.”
Hebrews 12:28 “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which can not be moved, let us have (hold on to) grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”
By grace we are kept, or upheld by His power within us, so we persevere to the end.
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
By grace we are made strong for the work before us.
2 Timothy 2:1 “Thou therefore my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
By grace we show to others, what God has done for us.
Example: Paul’s own testimony.
1 Timothy 1:12-14, 16 “And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me for that He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern for them which should hereafter believe on Him to everlasting life.”
Paul, who persecuted the church, putting some to death by his witness against them, received mercy, and grace.
He said, “..the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
For such a sinner (he calls himself the chiefest of sinners. 1 Timothy 1:15), great grace was needed to bring him to the mercy of salvation.
And Who does he praise for this grace?
1 Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever, Amen.”
Now unto the King—my King, Paul says, be honor and praise forever.
As Christians, we should seek His kingdom first, and praise our King for all He has done, by grace, for us.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 