Seek Christ’s Kingdom and Righteousness (Mt. 6:19-34)
Let us bless one another, “Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living God.” The scripture we’re going through in Matthew 5, 6, and 7, is the message Jesus gave in the Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 28, Jesus Christ says, “Teach others what I have taught you and tell them to obey.” Last week, we learned about the prayer Jesus taught us to pray, and to teach others about that. Today, we are learning about this treasure, and there is something of great value to every individual, and what is that? At the very end, Jesus told us to seek Christ’s kingdom and His righteousness. So in order to tell us that last message, Jesus is explaining what a treasure is.
First, what is this Kingdom? You need to know the key to this in order to know the treasures and also how God works. For example, right now there is a war between Russia and Ukraine. Russia has invaded Ukraine and has claimed three territories as their own. Now, they have planted a Russian flag there. So now, all the businesses and schools operating in those territories belong to Russia. If a Ukrainian person in that territory doesn’t know this, they will have their land taken away. They were just living their lives without realizing it, but now that it’s Russia’s land, they can just take it all away. The Lord is telling us this Word in a spiritual sense today.
1. Treasure
1) For yourselves
(1) Do not store on earth (Mt. 6:19)
In order to understand this Word, in Mt. 6:19, the Lord tells us to not store up for ourselves treasures on earth. Everyone is living lives for themselves, and the Lord doesn’t talk at first about what it means to live for God, but what does it mean to live for yourself? Do we have to live our lives, gathering and saving up for the things we consider to be a treasure, in order words, the physical treasures, the things we see with our eyes, and the things we need to live?
(2) Moths, vermin – Destroy (Mt. 6:19)
If we do that, then moths and vermin will come in and destroy all of it.
(3) Thieves – Steal (Mt. 6:19)
In other situations, thieves will come in and steal it all away. People say they were swindled or conned by someone, or someone stole something from them. It says here that it will be destroyed by moths. We’ve probably saved up a lot but it’s being worn away, little by little.
2) For yourselves
(1) Store treasures in heaven (Mt. 6:20)
In Matthew 6:20, it says, “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” In other words, do not live for the things of earth, but live for God’s Word and God’s will in heaven.
(2) Moths, vermin – Do not destroy (Mt. 6:20)
(3) Thieves – Do not steal (Mt. 6:20)
Where moths and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. Satan is moving and working upon you so that you live your life for this plan of life that you have created for yourself. But if the plan of your life is for the things of the earth, they will all be destroyed and nothing will remain. However, if you use the things of earth for the things of heaven, then the things of heaven will never be destroyed.
I’ve seen a few funerals and the passing of people. I’ve also heard the last words that very elderly people say. Most of the elderly people will say, “My life was in vain.” They looked back on the lives they lived and realized, “Life went by so fast.” Now, in this moment when they are ending their life, they look back on their life and realize it was so short and brief. Yes, their lives may seem so brief, but there were so many things that happened inside of it. For example, their parents gave birth to them, they raised them up and fed them, they went to school and grew up, they got married and had children; they experienced so much, but from a perspective of a person who is about to leave this earth, it is only a brief moment, because all the work I did was in order for me to survive and live in that moment. When we were fed milk when we were young, when we went to school or graduated and got a job, these were all things that we needed to survive in that moment. We bought a house, we bought a new car, we bought accessories, sometimes people even buy a new face in today’s day and age. When we go back to our hometown, nobody recognizes our own face because we’ve cut it down so much, we just go back completely transformed.
While we are living our lives, it may seem we need all of that, but it’s ultimately just to maintain my life in that moment, but now that you think you have to end this life, there’s nothing you have left. That’s why people say life is so sad and empty. What are you guys worrying about right now? Isn’t it about how you’re going to live? For people who are a little more elevated, they think about how to live a good life, but we think like that while we’re living. If you think your life will end tomorrow, you don’t need any of that, so do not live your life for things like that. Live your life for the things that will remain on this earth even after you’ve gone. Even after you’ve gone, people will think of you and think, “I want to live my life like that,” leave that behind.
3) Treasure – Your heart (Mt. 6:21)
So do not store up and use your treasures for things on earth, the physical things you maintain, but store up treasures in heaven. In Mt. 6:21, it says “For where your treasure is, that’s where your heart will be also.” Jesus Christ is guiding us through His Word step by step in order to also talk about His Kingdom and His righteousness.
(1) Heart – Source of life (Pr. 4:23)
The Word of God talks about this in Pr. 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.” The wellspring of your life comes from your heart. That means everybody lives their life for whatever they think is most valuable in the deepest part of their heart. It might be different for everybody but there’s one commonality. It says in the later verses that people live for money; the Lord tells us that.
(2) Treasure – Wealth (Mt. 6:24)
(3) Treasure – Christ (Col. 2:3, Mt. 6:24)
However, the Word of God tells us in Col. 2:3 that within Jesus Christ are hidden all treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Whatever you think is of the greatest value in the deepest part of my heart will determine whether you live or die because whatever is in your heart will determine whatever you see with your eyes, which is the lamp of your body. When the people have the light of Christ within their heart, they can see things that others cannot. But if people think the treasures on earth are of greatest value in their heart, then that person is already dead. That is what is explained from Matt. 6:22 onward.
The heart determines everything you see. If a person has Christ inside of their heart, then everything they see will be different. Christ is the Truth, which means He is the accurate standard. Because you’re measuring everything in the world based on that accurate standard, you see things accurately. There are a lot of people who say, “I value justice or glory or money of this earth,” but all of that really just amounts to money. The Lord Jesus Christ who created the entire universe says, “You need to either serve money or God,” but people say, ‘I live for the country,” but you’re lying to yourself; you’re actually living for money.
2. Two masters
It says here that people try to serve two masters. This is all being led so that Jesus can explain the Kingdom. What is there in our hearts? What is the treasure in your heart? And whatever is in your heart, you are serving that, so you have two masters. What are these masters? You cannot serve both God and money, so you must serve one, and what does the Bible say is the result of people who choose to serve money?
1) Wealth – Master
(1) Love money – Root of all kinds of evil (1 Tim. 6:10)
1 Tim. 6:10 says, “But the love of money is the root of all kidneys of evil, and people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” This is not saying money is bad, but if you love money, if your heart is centered on money and your desire for money, you’ll ultimately leave your faith in God and cause yourself suffering, and because of that, you’ll always be so worried and concerned. Even if you’ve accomplished something, you’re so anxious you can’t sit still, because you’re working of the things of earth, thinking that this is for your benefit, this is the result what will follow.
(2) Woe to you – Rich (Lk. 6:24)
Lk. 6:24 says, “Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.” What is there to be woeful if you’re rich? It’s not talking about that, it’s talking about those who love money so much they have left Christ. There was a young man who came up to Jesus and asked, “How can I receive salvation? I have kept all the laws that were given to us,” and the Lord Jesus said,” Sell all your possessions and give all your wealth to the needy, then come and follow me,” but the young man left with a troubled heart and did not come back. That’s only possible if you believe in Christ, and what I’m saying today is not that money is bad and that God is good, but I’m saying, “What do you value more? What are you living your life with, valuing the most? What are you going to stake your life on?” That’s what this is talking about. You stake your life based on whatever you value most in your heart, and that’s what you serve.
(3) Money- Slave – Suffering (2 Tim. 3:1-2)
2 Tim. 3:1-2 says there will be terrible times in the last days, and the “last days” talks about the time between Jesus Christ’s first coming and second coming, so this is the present day. There will be terrible times of suffering in the present day, in our family, in the current situation in the world, and this is because everyone loves money more than they love God. It’s not that we don’t need ourselves and we don’t need money, but we think of this as more precious of a treasure than God, and without a doubt, you will become a slave to money and that will be lead to your suffering.
2) God – Master
Today there are many people who are suffering whether they go to church or not, and why is that? It’s because inside of them, there is something that is their master other than Christ. What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? It means you believe Christ has the greatest value in your heart. Then what will happen? Psalm 1:1 says you will bear fruit like trees in their season, and your walk of faith will naturally take place. I’m sure you may still face difficulties, but as more time passes, your walk of faith should naturally take place. However, if you’ve lived your walk of faith for a long time but there’s always something stuck in your heart or a problem, then it means you have something else in your heart. It means your heart is sitting in the seat of mockers. Jesus Christ must come into my heart at the seat of my Lord andMaster, but I’ve placed something else there instead, and that has no choice but to face suffering. How does that suffering come? You will face suffering you cannot understand. “I have all the success I wanted, but my heart is so empty, and it doesn’t matter how much I wander around trying to fill that void; it will not be filled.” While you’re making money, you’re ignoring all your problems and you’re taking medication for your depression, thinking that all you have to do is make more money, but that is not the case so you’re actually racing towards the path of suffering more and more.
Because you’re not able to find the answer for yourself, you keep trying to blame the other person. You get married and you think that all your problems are because of the other person, so you start blaming and resenting them. Yes, I’m sure there is a reason, you want them to help you, but they’re blind and you’re blind as well, so they’re not able to help you. Even if you come to church, you’re not able to hear the words because even when you come to church, relentlessly in your heart, you attempt to accomplish what you value the most, but you’re not getting that, so you start to judge the church. So the reason we have no choice but to face conflict after conflict is because we have the answer, but we’re not able to find it.
We immigrate to another nation thinking that is the answer to our life, but even America is not the answer. “I thought this person was good and I could rely on them and lean on them, but in the end, I could not,” and that’s the result. Then in the end, you say, “The only people I can trust on and rely on are my children,” but in the end, you can’t do that either, so the Lord tells us so simply, “What do you value in your heart?” Because your life will be determined by what is in your heart. I believe you will receive this grace today.
(1) Christ – Treasure (2 Cor. 4:7)
2 Cor. 4:7 says, in this body, which is a jar of clay, we have a surpassing treasure, and that all-surpassing power is from the One Who is that treasure. So, if you’re living your walk of faith just to make your jar of clay more firm, you have found the wrong solution. There are many people like that. There are many people who say, “I believe in Jesus Christ so that my family can become stronger and more successful,” but the Bible doesn’t tell us that. The fact that you’re a jar of clay means you’re easily broken, but inside of that, he has given us a treasure, and that’s where the all-surpassing power starts.
However, a religion will tell you that through this treasure inside of you, you live your walk of faith to strengthen the jar of clay. If you’re living your walk of faith just to make your jar of clay stronger with financial and material strength, with intelligence or some other kind of glory or honor, that is a religious life. Even though you go to church, the words of the gospel will not go into you. Those are like the Pharisees who did not receive salvation; that’s what you call a Pharisee. You understand this by God’s grace, “I am nothing special or great, and the treasure inside of me is everything. I have no choice but to be hard pressed on all sides because I don’t have the strength, but the One inside of me, Christ, has all power.” That will be revealed when you go through a crisis. When you’re at a loss, the power of the treasure within you will be revealed. When the COVID pandemic erupted, that is when the values inside all our hearts were revealed. Nothing matters, whether you come or go, I’m weak, you’re jars of clay, and we cannot do anything.
You know what clay is? You just gather dirt and it’s made like that. We are made of mud and dirt and yet we think we’re so valuable, and that’s the beginning of mental problems. Human beings made in the image of God must be filled with the Spirit, the image, the life of Jesus Christ, this treasure, for your life to become valuable, but the reason you want to be so proud is because you think you have value. “Do you know who I am?” The Lord tells you that you’re a jar of clay. You’re someone who is made from gathered dirt so “I breathe my breath of life into you; without that, you have no value,” then what is my life? The real you is the “you” that has the most precious treasure, Jesus Christ’s life inside of your heart, then everything will become normalized.
You will lose all enemies but if you don’t have that, you will make enemies; your scars will go away, too, and even if you get scarred, it will not be a scar to you. If you get a gold medal in the Olympics, then all the memories you have of not having parents and exercising and calluses and scars, you’ll be thankful for those, and all the times you suffered for exercising to get that gold medal,all of that will not be a scar for you. But what happens if you don’t get the gold medal? Even if you have the support from your parents and the greatest coach in the world, you’ll say, “I couldn’t get the gold medal because of these guys. That’s why we call the devil the father of lies. We live our lives in these lies, but what is the truth?
(2) Christ – Precious blood, precious living stone (1 Pt. 1:19, 2:4)
We have this most precious treasure of Christ, 1 Pt. 1:19, the precious blood of Christ, and 1 Pet. 2:4, the living stone who is the headrest. But these people don’t realize how precious this precious stone is, so the construction worker just discards it when they build the house because they don’t know the value. Even though we go to church, if the value of Christ doesn’t come into us, we just discard it. It has no meaning to us, like rubble on the sidewalk. We come to church and we judge everyone saying, “Everyone is so low-level, nobody works at the White House,” and we just cast them away.
(3) Moses – Rejected treasures of Egypt (Heb. 11:26)
In the Old Testament, Moses was adopted as the son of the princess of Egypt, and Egypt was a superpower nation that was reigning and controlling all the surrounding nations in that age. So, Moses was someone who could just stay still and not do anything, and he would be a royal family. Even if he wasn’t the Pharaoh himself, he was in a position where he could play around all he wanted and get all the love and respect from all the people, but one day, God moved him.
In Heb. 11:26, it says, “Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt,” and this is not something you can learn by studying with your brain. Only by the filling and grace of the Holy Spirit will your eyes be opened to see the value of the grace of Christ and heaven. Many people ask me, “Pastor, how are you walking that thorny path of being a pastor?” It’ snot a thorny path. I understand what they’re trying to say, but I’m talking about their eyes with which they see, that they think it’s a thorny path. Because from their eyes, they see this as a thorny path, and they want to do everything to prevent their own kids from walking down that path because their eyes are not open. But for me, how valuable is a life that is able to live for Christ?
Yes, I do know the treasures of earth, I know what they think is important, then they have to stay in the world, and God gave me the grace and I changed. When I see people who come to church and brag about earthly treasures, I say, “Okay, I get it.” I say, “You’re still holding onto the rubbish and dung water that I used to hold onto in the world,” and yes, it is something to be proud of and to brag about, when this is everything in your life, what are you going to do? “My kids got into this kind of school,” they brag about things like that, but I say, “Okay, what do you want me to do about that? “ I’m not saying that’s bad, but I’m saying it’s a problem because I can tell from the gleam in their eye and the tone of their voice that they think that this is everything in their lives, then these people will come and say, “Pastor, are you saying we shouldn’t go to a good school and make a lot of money?” I’ve never said that so I cannot communicate with them, because they’re communicating everything based on the value in their hearts, so we aren’t communicating.
What I’m talking about is how great of a value, how valuable is Christ. Christ is the creator God, all things that exist have come through Him, and all things exist and move for Him, but why do you take that Christ of such great value out of your heart, and take the Creation He has made and put that into your heart? So what’s in your heart is everything. Even if you have eyes to love a girl or boy, it doesn’t matter what your parents say; you’re going to follow that love, but what is that determined by? If you love them for Christ, then that’s great, then every step you take, things will naturally take place. Because the correct thing has already begun in your heart, but what of the people who go to church but live a religious life? They are using the name of Jesus Christ as an excuse to get whatever they’ve already wanted, and that’s a religious life. If you do that, you will be destroyed.
3) Eyes
(1) Eyes – Lamp (Mt. 6:22)
(2) Eyes – Darkness (Mt. 6:23)
(3) Heart – Only (Treasure)
It says if your heart is full of darkness, then the eyes with which you see will be different, and in order for your heart to change, you must receive God’s grace. Until you’ve received that grace of God to change your heart, it’s normal to like the things of the earth, to like your friends, to like drinking, to have fun, and that’s normal, that’s not bad; does that mean I want you to stop doing those things? Why would I tell you to stop doing those things if God made them? But whatever you eat or drink, do it for Christ, and it’s for Christ’s glory. Is this the work you’re doing to reveal the name of Christ?
Then He says, “Consider the birds of the air, do they worry about what to eat? Look at the flowers in the fields, do they worry about making their own clothes? However, even King Solomon in all his splendor was not clothed like they are. Are you less than these plants that grow today and will be thrown in the fire tomorrow?” They are living by the natural way that God has blessed them, but you are even greater than them; you are children of God. So, even though we do have to eat and we do have to drink, do not worry about what you will eat or drink.
I could tell you something like this, I’m not telling you these words because I studied theology. I’m telling you what I experienced and confirmed about God’s Word. After my friend committed suicide, I hated the world so I just left to study abroad, and I received the gospel there through a missionary. Then just by God’s work, He brought me back to Korea. There was no money that I had, and my parents were in Korea too, and all my parents are unbelievers. I wanted to experience, how is God alive? I had no money, but all the money I needed did not come from me; they came from external places. Later, I even got married. How do you get married? It was fascinating.
We got an insurance policy, and 6 months after the insurance policy, my mom got cancer, so we got tremendous amounts of money, and God allowed my mom to receive cancer in order for her to receive Jesus. Six months before she got cancer, she got an insurance policy and made a lot of money. So even though she’s just laying in the hospital, she got a lot of money from multiple sources, so she had a lot of money and gave it to me to get married with. After I gave back all the money I owed to people, I lost all that money in a month. Even though I was in seminary school as an assistant pastor, I wasn’t making any wage as an assistant pastor in the church, I was nothing to them. I had no money and I went to the bank, they said, “We have a great deal going on, you can take a loan and pay only 1% interest,” and every month, I had to pay my bills and eat food, but I had no source of income, and that continued.
One day, God moved my heart to think, “I have to give tithe.” I had no income, God just moves your heart and then He gives you the answer. There were times when my electricity bill was unpaid so my electricity went out. I didn’t know that happened, but it was on that day that my electricity went out, God gave me money. It’s quantifiable, I can find exactly when God gives me money. This wasn’t just for one year, but I lived like this in Korea for almost 10 years. Then I came here to study and I had no money then, either, so even that money was supported by God. We started our own church and I didn’t have any income or salary to pay myself, so if I just want to tell you the basics of what I went through, I have so much to say. If you’re potentially worried about what you should wear or eat, don’t worry; all you have to do is just entrust your life entirely to God.
3. Seek first
1) His Kingdom (Mt. 6:33)
Then what should I do? First seek His Kingdom, what is it that you must seek? Do not seek money but seek God’s Kingdom, don’t look for a good person, but seek Christ’s Kingdom. Stop praying for your business to go well, but seek God’s Kingdom.
(1) Christ’s Kingdom (Col. 1:13)
What is His kingdom? Col. 1:13 says, “he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.” In other words, seek first to be completely controlled by the kingdom of Christ. Jesus talked first about your heart, right? So your heart should be the first thing that is completely controlled and reigned over by Christ.
(2) Within me (Mt. 6:10)
Lastly, if we learn about the Lord’s prayer, “May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on earth as it has in heaven,” pray for that to come upon your heart first.
(3) Immanuel (Mt. 1:23)
Jesus Christ came to earth to be Immanuel, which is not just God with me, but God with us, and that is why we pray intercessory prayer for God to not just be upon me, but upon others as well. Completely trust and subdue yourself to Christ so He can control you fully in the way He wants, then what kind of life do you think you’ll have? The masterpiece of the Lord is wonderful, and then the moment you enter life, you’ll see you have things that are left behind. Because the Lord has made your life into a masterpiece, and that masterpiece goes until eternity. It goes into your children, it goes into the people who were influenced by you, and not only into them, but for generations after, so seek this first.
2) Kingdom – Word, Holy Spirit
If Christ’s Kingdom has been established in you,then also pray for this to be established in others. why?
(1) Holy Spirit – Evil spirit – Kingdom of God (Mt. 12:28)
This world, this land was conquered by Satan, but Satan is invisible; we cannot say he is here or there, he is invisible, but how is he controlling people? In Genesis 3:5, it says, “You will be like God.” God already exists, but Satan says, “Don’t believe God exists; you are God,” and he has planned that into people’s hearts, so from that point on, I am in the main figure of my life, I live my life, whatever I think is right is good, and whatever I think is wrong is evil. Only God determines what is good or evil, but now I’m the one who determines what’s good or evil for myself. That’s why the person who benefits me is the good person, and whoever hurts me is my enemy. That’s the lie Satan has planted into our hearts.
Then Satan plants the plan of our life to build the Tower of Babel so we can become strong. My kingdom I dream about is becoming so strong that no one can fight against me and I can crush them. This is what we live so diligently for. Satan is powerful but we can see the pattern of lies through which Satan controls us when he places this in our hearts, but the result of that is disasters and suffering. We do not have the ability to create our own kingdom, only when the Lord reigns over us and controls us will the kingdom of darkness be broken down.
That’s why Matthew 12:28 says, “If i drive out demons the spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” When you go into the field of the world, God’s kingdom must be established there first. Christ kingdom must be established within you, and when you go into your field pray for Christ’s kingdom to be established there. However, if Satan’s kingdom is reigning over your field, you’ll struggle so much to be left empty-handed. You’ll have everything stolen away, or your life will only amount to being devoted to Satan.
That was the Israelites, the people of God who were enslaved in Egypt, even though they were getting the best education and everything they did was used to build the pyramids. Today it is the superpower nation of America, even though we receive a great education and we have great jobs, later on, all of that is wrong. Because you did that for yourself, your kingdom, and in the end, the only result is suffering, that is the sadness of immigrants. Because they came here with a different dream, but it didn’t take place, and that’s what the Bible is telling us about, then what must we live for? Christ’s Kingdom. You were living for the kingdom of Christ, where He is ruling and controlling everything, and not only that, but establishing God’s Kingdom in the world, that breaks down Satan’s Kingdom, that’s why we study and work.
(2) Word – Angel of the Lord (Ps. 103:19-20)
In Ps. 103:19-22, it says the Lord has established His throne in heaven and everywhere in his dominion, and his angels do the bidding of His Word. The Lord gives us His Word through His angels, and then, when we hold onto that Word and pray, the angels work to fulfill that Word in the field.
(3) Will and everywhere in His dominion – Army, creation (Ps. 103:21-22)
The armies of angels are also moving for God’s will, and in the King James version, it says, “For God’s great pleasure.” God’s will is the salvation of lives, and that’s the reason why the armies of angels are moving. If you’re just sitting here without knowing this, that’s a loss to your life because unbelievers are studying and working right now. Why are we sitting here? If you’re sitting here without knowing the meaning of these words, it’s a loss to you. But while you’re sitting here, God gives you His Word, and while you hold onto that Word and you pray, God sends His angels to fulfill the Word in advance in your fields. God is at the throne of heaven doing His work, transcending time and space, and we are the citizens who live within this territory.
The Word God is giving me today, not the words you understand with your brain but the words that hit your heart, when you pray for all of that, God is already fulfilling all of that in your fields. This universe doesn’t operate and move in the way we think it does, but He says in Heb. 1:3 that God is controlling and maintaining all creation with His Word. So, stop living such mediocre lives, living for your will, but instead, let it go for God’s will. Because God’s will is already determined in heaven, and now it’s just being revealed in our lives. We just remain within the prayers and the answers to those prayers of God’s plan being fulfilled according to His time schedule through our prayers through us.
3) His righteousness (Mt. 6:33)
Then it says to seek His righteousness. These are the words Jesus Christ is saying to the people.
(1) Works of the law – Not righteousness (Gal. 2:16)
The Jewish people thought they could make their own righteousness by following the laws of God with their actions, but the reason God gave us the law was that through the law, we reveal that we’re sinners. God gave us the law, “Do not murder,” so the Jewish people were under the misconception that, “Just because I didn’t kill anyone, I’m a righteous person without sin.” However, the law that the Lord really gave us, says, “Even if you have wrath or anger in your heart, that is murder.” But the legalistic people of the Jewish nation only wanted to reveal their righteousness, their external righteousness. That’s what happens if you live a long walk of faith without the gospel.
If you have anger in your heart, you’ve already murdered. God has made it so that all the people are under curses of sin by the law, and we realize, “I’m a sinner,” that is why I need the love of the cross of Jesus Christ. Then I say, “I am nothing,” who are you to brag of your own righteousness? You are not someone who can judge or criticize anyone else by their actions, then righteousness we do believe in is the faith of Jesus Christ, Ga. 2:16.
(2) Christ – Faith – Righteousness (Gal. 2:16)
We cannot be righteous by our actions, but simply by believing in the one who has fulfilled the law perfectly and has forgiven all our sins for us, that Jesus Christ, that is why we are righteous, so if we want to reorganize this it means to believe in the Jesus Christ Who has died for us, that s righteousness. You say, “I’veodnethis and I’ve done that, you know right, God? “ That’s not a righteous person. A righteous person will do the work of God with thanksgiving. You pray for Chris’t kingdom to be established within you and for Christ kingdom to be established in the field to break down Satan’s kingdom and to establish the gospel.
(3) Christ who lives in me – Faith (Gal. 2:20)
This is what we must do first, then all these things meaning the things of the earth will be given to you as well. Simply speaking, if the spirit of Christ is inside of me, I have my physical body too, but the physical body is not a priority; the Christ Who is within me is my priority. But if you live your walk of faith continuously thinking your physical body is the priority, you’re not aligned with God.
Conclusion
1. Treasure – Christ
The most precious thing to us, in conclusion, is that we receive the grace that Christ becomes the most valuable thing in our hearts.
2. Kingdom of Christ
His reign and control must be within us.
3. Righteousness of Christ – Witness
Instead of boasting of our actions, we are sinners, but instead, we are righteous by believing in Jesus Christ. You live with this inside of you first, and the reason you go out to work or study in the world is to work to spread this in the world as a witness.
Message Prayer
Let us hold onto the Word we have received for this week and pray together.
Offering Prayer and Newcomer Prayer
God, we thank You. We thank You for allowing Jesus Christ, Who is the greatest treasure that the world cannot know, to be the Master of our lives and our hearts. We believe this is not by our own righteous actions, but the righteousness of believing in Jesus Christ. Allow us to live on this earth for your kingdom and Your righteousness. May we prioritize our lives to spreading this gospel for those suffering in a religious life and in unbelief in the world. We return our material blessings as offering. We pray that you will work upon all the hands that have given the offering for tithes, future generations, Temple construction, and missions, so that our church can continue to do missions. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
Father God, we thank You. Just according to the Word You have given us, we pray You will bless Natasha so she may experience and step into the work of God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, and may you bless her daughter in the same way. We believe God will guide Sarah who came from Mongolia in the same way as well. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, amen.
Benediction
Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the unending love of God, and the indwelling, working, guidance, and communion of the Holy Spirit, be upon all the people of God, the multiethnic people, and the remnants who desire to be witnesses of the Kingdom of Christ in their fields, be with them from now until forevermore always, amen.