KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:33 KJV” But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

We continue with our previous discussion on the need to do things in its proper order.

The Lord Jesus gives a major step that would answer the problems of being anxious about various issues in life. He said, seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all these things, shall be added unto you. The Lord Jesus said if anyone would come after him must first deny himself take up his cross daily and follow him. Matthew 16:24. When a man prioritizes his longings before God, then he becomes an easy prey for Satan. Just listen to what Satan told God about how men react when their lives are attacked.

Job 2:4 KJV” And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life. But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face. Satan says a man living for himself is too vulnerable. At the least difficulty, he would be ready to attack even God. The Lord’s counsel to seek first His kingdom and its righteousness frees him from the weakness of his flesh.

The Lord revealed that when a man chooses to go after God and His reign over his life first, all the physical and material needs are also added to him. The man who makes the law of God his delight is like a tree planted by the rivers of water that yields its fruit in its season, its leaves shall not wither and whatsoever he does shall prosper. (psalm 1:2-3). This is the cardinal truth of scripture and has proven to be practically true over and over again. To seek first the kingdom of God is to go after the will of God for your life. It also includes doing all those things that honour God. Get yourself committed to serving God in His house. The number one service you can offer God is to be involved in winning the lost for Christ. Dedicate your life to helping new believers stand strong in Christ. Give your life to the service of God in any capacity that will make you useful in the house of God.

You must also commit your life to living in righteousness. Put every deceitful act absolutely from your life. 2 Corinth 4:2). Sin is a reproach to any people, yet righteousness would promote and exalt you. Prov 14:34 Dear child of God free yourself from the deceptions of life. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness and every other thing would also follow after you

CONFESSION

I have chosen to seek first the rule of God over my life, in all that I do. I forsake all hidden things of dishonesty to walk uprightly. God blesses me with all that I need.

FURTHER STUDIES

Deu 28:47 KJV” Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;”

2 Corinth 4:2 KJV” But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:33 KJV” But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

In the sermon on the mount, our Lord Jesus spoke extensively about a whole lot of issues. He also talked about what makes men to be anxious. As the year has just set off, there are some things that people will be occupied with. The Lord instructed on one point that should be the focus of every one of us.  We must all seek first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, and all the things whose absence causes men to be anxious would be added to us. Men are always ruled by something of some kind. Some have blatantly opposed the pursuit of God, yet are ruled by things as simple as example cigarettes. They are so addicted to it, but it has not made any significant improvement in their lives. Man is a dependent being and would always depend on something. Men cannot live without depending on oxygen. If we can’t do without something as simple as oxygen, then our Lord Jesus’ suggestion to seek first the rule of God and its righteous ways is very important to every one of us. He added that if we do so, then every other craving of us would automatically be added to us.

What does it mean to seek the kingdom of God? A Kingdom simply means the king and his domain or the king and His reign. Seeking the kingdom of God is seeking to let the will, purposes, and choices of God become your prime concern this year. He also added, and its righteousness. Righteousness in the scriptures has two main expressions. Righteousness as a gift of the nature of God and righteousness as right living. As Christians, the first form of righteousness comes first and produces the second in our lives. Beloved as the new year has just set off, put God first. Seek to please God in every engagement.

God has ways that He wants us to go. Please tread on those paths. If we would diligently travel this year along this pathway, then we would never fall into the trap of anxiety, which easily takes its toll on men. I believe some people have even started getting anxious about events that lie ahead of them. Beloved to set off in the year this way is to get along on the wrong path. Choose the master’s way. Seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and every other thing shall be added to you.

CONFESSION

God is first in my life. His word is my strongest persuasion. His ways are always perfect. I travel the journey of life by doing that, which pleases Him. Life is always very meaningful when God is first.

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov. 12:28 KJV” In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death”.

Prov. 14:12 KJV” There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28:20 KJV “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the WORLD”. Amen.

Our key scripture has a very important instruction to give us, yet I would want us to consider the second aspect of the verse, which says “lo l am with you always, even unto the end of the age”. This statement our Lord made is not a promise. If he had said I would be with you, then that could be described as a promise. In the scripture, he says,” I am with you”. This is a present continuous statement. It is a declaration of a fact not based on any condition. He is present with you. Never, never ask Him to be with you. That is a big sign of unbelief. Rather, affirm that He is with you always.

This should be your assurance for this new year. Jesus is always with you.

Jesus, the holder of tomorrow, says He is with you. Jesus, as the king of Kings, never walks alone. He has an entourage of angels accompanying Him. If He says He is with you, then you have angels all around you as well. These angels are ministering spirits called to minister or serve us the heirs of salvation. Hebrews 1:14. You will never walk alone. You are not facing any challenge alone. You have unseen beings with you to help you do your various assignments, studies at school, write your examinations, etc. They are there to protect you from danger. Approach every task with lots of confidence and with a mind to come out with the best output. Have an excellent attitude to produce the best works because, as a child of God, you are heavily assisted. Ask the Holy Spirit who is with you in the name of Jesus to always help you do your best. You would get the best from life by giving your best.

With the Lord‘s assurance of His presence, never speak of failure or defeat. Your thoughts, coupled with your words, create your experiences in life. With His presence, believe in the possibility of every good thing and call those things into being. You would get what you say in faith. Isaiah 44:26 KJV” That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; ‘God shall confirm your words spoken in faith. Your world is created by your words, according to Hebrews 11:3. You are a success. and has overcome every negative power. Whatever you engage to do shall be successful. You would not die but live to declare the goodness of the Lord. I declare you healed from any disease that has tormented you in the past years. Have a great year and put smiles on the faces of others.

CONFESSION.

Thank God for giving me a new year. The Lord Jesus is always with me. Nothing would evermore move me. In this year, the Lord’s name would be glorified in me. Satan’s kingdom will be depopulated through my witness.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 1:14 KJV” Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”

Hebrews 13:5 KJV” Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee, So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:4” But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.

In our previous study, we learnt that the Lord Jesus answered the devil. Today, we would consider what Jesus said and its implications.

When Satan attempted to tempt the Lord, he (Jesus) did not attempt to consider the word of the devil, whether it was true or not. He did not argue with the devil. The Lord went straight to the divine law of truth, the word of God. He said it is written. God’s word is written in the bible, and it is also settled forever in Heaven, for His faithfulness is unto all generations (Psalm 119:89,90). To confess is to say the same thing in consent. Confession is a way of endorsing what you believe, as it has been declared by God. Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. You are saved by what you say. God always looks up to our confession of what we have believed to affect our salvation in every area of our lives.

If the devil attacks your body with any infirmity, you speak out what is written in the bible and is also settled in heaven. The scripture says in 1st Peter 2:24b, “…..by whose stripes you were healed”. You likewise believe and say, “By His stripes I am healed”. Please note that every word of the devil is a lie or a half-truth. John 8:44. “You are of your Father the devil, and the lusts of your Father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in Him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own, for he is a liar and the Father of it”. Please read carefully what the word says about our adversary. He is a liar and the Father of all liars. He cannot speak the truth.

Please learn this, although his (Satan’s) words are lies, believing a thing has the power to create that thing. If you believe Satan’s lies, that thing that appears to be so would materialize. Your way out is to turn away from Satan’s words to tell him the truth. IT IS WRITTEN.

 CONFESSION

The written word of God is the eternal truth. I live by the Lord and declare that what God has said about me is the truth. I am walking in victory, power, health, peace, and blessings in Jesus’ name.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Genesis 1:2-3 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light”.

Psalms 119:89-90 “Forever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.

The first part of our key scripture says, “But He answered and said”. Satan’s words must always be answered. When Satan spoke into Jesus’ mind, he, the devil, attempted to introduce doubt into Him. This doubtful word, if allowed to linger, could have affected Him.

Dear child of God, every word of the devil is potent with destruction, death, doubt, fear, and every negative thing. His words must not go unanswered. In Mark 5:35, 36, the Lord was requested by Jairus to come and heal his daughter who was sick. As he went along with Jesus, certain men came and told him he should not bother the master because his daughter was dead. In verse 36, the Lord Jesus said, “As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he said unto the ruler of the synagogue, be not afraid, only believe”. I Isaiah 54:17b, the scripture says, Every tongue that rises against us in judgement, we must condemn it. The continuation of the verse reads as follows: “This is the heritage of the servants of God, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” It is your heritage to have it your way, not the devil’s or evil persons’ way.

Beloved, do not allow any word Satan gives you to go unanswered. The word came in Jairus’ case to kill his faith. Your faith is your divine hand to receive your miracle. When your faith is washed off, Satan’s program would prevail. If somebody tells you any evil word, don’t keep quiet about it; answer back. Don’t accept a death sentence from the doctor when God has said all things are possible to him who believes. Speak back to him who told you whatever death sentence; that the Holy Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you, and he has given life to your mortal body (Romans 8:11).

Silence often means consent. Isaiah 53:1 says, “who has believed our report?”. Whose report would you believe? Satan’s report or God’s? Note that God’s report can’t come to you until you have answered what Satan told you.

When the devil said, “If you are the son of God…” The Lord refuted his doubting words with His corresponding answer.  “It is written, man shall not live by bread but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Always remember that the last words that stay in your heart and mind is what will prevail. Let those last words be what God has said.

  CONFESSION

Satan would never have the last word over any situation in my life, I would always answer him with God’s word, which is the truth in Jesus’ name.

FURTHER STUDIES.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth”.

Mark 5:35-36 ” While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 4:4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”.

Our Lord Jesus had fasted for forty days and forty nights.  The Lord was hungry, and it was at this point that the devil came to tempt Him.

The devil did not appear physically as He did in Genesis chapter three when He came to tempt Eve. He spoke the words into His mind. Please understand that every contrary impression suggestion, the idea that flies through your mind, comes from an evil source. Many Christians even accept these thoughts as their own. The Bible speaks of casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God…” (2nd Corinthians 10:5). Don’t give any attention to ANY contrary view of any sort. It may seem harmless, yet the source is deadly and would destroy or rob you of your eternal blessings.

The Bible says Satan came after the Lord was hungry. Satan is an opportunist. He comes at your weakest moments. He can even create the conditions for your fall. He may stir up your emotions and agitate your feelings, but there is one thing he cannot do. The devil can never take or decide for you. It is a big error when people accuse the devil of being the one who made them sin. Dear child of God, it is not in the power of Satan to make you decide to do wrong… Satan will influence, coerce, and stir, but he does not have that right. In 1st Chronicles 21:1, the bible said, “And Satan stood up against David to number Israel”. In this instant, it came as a suggestion. It was up to David to refuse or yield. Unfortunately, he yielded, although Joab, David’s army general, asked him not to do so. (1st Chronicles 21:1-4).

The Lord Jesus said to the devil, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. The Lord could not be tempted to sin because He had made up His mind not to. A decided mind cannot be tempted.

Please make up your mind to stand for God, no matter the pressure.

 CONFESSION

The devil always strikes at the weakest moments. I have made up my mind to honour the Lord and never give any occasion for the flesh.

FURTHER STUDIES.

James 1:13-15 ” Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”.

Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.

We continue with our study on conditions for acceptable service that brings corresponding rewards.

Serving diligently: Diligence is a sign that one is committed to a course. Diligent service would always attract God’s approval. According to 1st Corinthians 3:8 “……every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour”. It is what you do and how you do it that determines your output. Proverbs 1:24 says,” the hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute”. Diligence is not just actions but an attitude. It proceeds from the honour one places on God that makes him or her give his best. Diligence does not ignore details. It is the simple details that one attends to that always make every work stand out. He is always prompt for duties and appointments. The diligent always seeks to go through his assignments with excellence and does not stop midway. Jesus said, “…My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish it.” You would be rewarded for your diligence.

Do it sacrificially: God delights in sacrifices. Why was the offering of Cain despised, and that of Abel chosen or accepted? (Genesis 4:1-8). Abel brought the first and the best, and Cain just took anything from the field. The man that sows sparingly reaps sparingly, and he that sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. (2nd Corinthians 9:6). Your level of sacrifice would determine your rewards. Sacrifice is always the secret to multiplication. When a seed is not planted, it abides alone, but if it is planted, it dies but grows into fruition and a harvest. There is nothing extraordinary by itself, it is man’s extraordinary input that makes a thing extraordinary. Doing your best equal diligence, going beyond your best is a sacrifice. The boy who gave his lunch to the master to feed the multitudes went home with a basket full of fish and loaves. (Matthew 14:21). Sacrifice always moves God to come in with amazing rewards. He did it for Abraham, Solomon, and Noah. You are the next.

 PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you for opening my eyes to these timeless conditions of service. As I commit myself to observing these roles, I  let my service bless many lives in Jesus ‘ name.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Exodus 23:25-26 “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee. There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.”

Psalms 126:6 “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

We continue with our discussion on the conditions for acceptable service

The next condition for an acceptable service is

Maintaining family dignity: In 1st Timothy 3:2, 4, the bible declares that bishops or deacons must be people of one wife and the man who rules his house well. The home is the best display of one’s true nature. A divided house cannot bring any good example to bear on the house of God. The Bible says the prayers of the man who mistreats his wife would not be answered (1st Peter 3:7). Maintaining family dignity is very paramount to rendering acceptable service. The unity of husband and wife gives ground for a strong bond to see prayers answered, and so couples must not allow the sun to go down on their anger. They must not give any place to the devil (Ephesians 4:26, 27).

The next condition is to serve willingly: 1st Corinthians 9:17 says, “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward, but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me”. God always loves a cheerful giver. A service done out of compulsion attracts no rewards. As 1st Corinthians 9:17 puts it, a dispensation of the gospel, or you have only done your duty. Serving the Lord should be a delight. The Lord Jesus said, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me, and to finish it. (John 4:34). He implied it is my pleasure to do what the Father ask me to do. No wonder God the Father honoured Him so much. Deuteronomy 28:47,48  “Because thou severest not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things, therefore shalt thou serve thy enemies which the Lord shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness and in want of all things……”.

Dear brother or sister the consequences of not serving with willingness or joyfulness is too costly. Take the task He gives you gladly and let His work your pleasure be.

Answer quickly when He calleth, send me, send me.

CONFESSION

It is a great thing to serve the Lord. It is the most rewarding venture to be part of His labourers. I excitedly dedicated my life to do His bidding and bring glory to His name through my service.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without murmurings and disputings”:

Malachi 2:13-14 “” And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the LORD with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand. Yet ye say, wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.

We learnt from our previous study that serving God in His church is one of the means to seek the kingdom of God. Well, for one to obtain God’s approval, he or she must serve acceptably: we would now consider some of the conditions that make our service acceptable

Spirituality: spirituality is being scripturally dominated: To serve God acceptably, you can’t afford to be carnal. The carnal man is not subject to the Lord and can’t be. (Romans 8:7). The spiritual man is at peace with God and enjoys a supply of divine life. The spiritual man fears God and therefore trembles at the word of God. Isaiah 66:2 “For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and a contrite spirit and trembles at my word”. Isaiah 52:11 says the one who bears the vessels of the Lord must depart from iniquity. 2 Timothy 2:19 reminds us to depart from iniquity because we bear the name of the Lord.

Godly character: To offer an acceptable service unto the Lord, you must manifest a godly character. You must demonstrate practical godly character. When the early church wanted men to serve the tables for the brethren, they requested for men with an honest report, full of the Holy Ghost (Acts 6:3). Apostle Paul said in Acts 20:33,  “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold or apparel”. The apostle did not use his position to manipulate and take advantage of people. He said my own hands laboured for me.

Love motivated: The third condition for an acceptable service is to serve with a sincere heart of love: 1st Corinthians 13:3 informs us that if he should sacrifice all that he has yet without love, it profits him nothing. Love must be your motivation for all that you do in serving the Lord. Without love, one becomes critical, legalistic, and proud (to be continued).

 CONFESSION

 God has called us to bless us as we also serve Him acceptably. I align my life according to all His conditions, so my service would attract God’s total rewards.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Isaiah 52:11 “1 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD”.

2 Timothy 2:19 “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”.

Our key scripture presents two main ideas

• Seeking the kingdom of God and his righteousness.
• Receiving our heart’s desire (rewards) for doing the first part.

As children of God, one way we can seek the kingdom of God is by offering services to God in our local churches. There are many Christians who are just churchgoers and do not do any particular service in the house of God. God rewards labourers and not people with titles. Matthew 20:8 “So when evening was come, the Lord of the vineyard saith unto His steward. Call the labourers and give them their hire…” It is those who laboured who were rewarded.

Please note also that it is not the title you carry that brings you the rewards, but real labourers, people who are involved in exerting themselves in the house of God for God’s work and name to be exalted. What are you doing for God to reward you? Don’t just join the church. Do something to contribute to the expansion of God’s work. Ephesians 4:16 “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love”. You are a part of the body and must give your supplies for the increase of the body.

We must also understand that God rewards acceptable service. It is this kind of service that attracts undeniable rewards. Phil 2:7 says, “But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men”. The scripture says Jesus humbled Himself and took the form of a servant, and became obedient unto death, and so God has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name that is above every name. The Lord offered Himself for an acceptable service that attracted a response from the Father, who gave him a name higher than every other name.  At the mention of His name, every knee should bow, and every tongue should confess that Jesus is Lord.

The Lord offered an acceptable service that attracted God’s approval, conferring upon him a name above every other name. God is a faithful rewarder. He would always reward all those who sincerely seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

For our next series, we would consider the kind of service that God accepts.

CONFESSION

God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. I seek the Lord in a way that attracts His total approval for a corresponding reward.

 FURTHER STUDIES.

Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”.

Exodus 23:25 “And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee”.