1 Peter 1:3-9
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls.
 
God knows when we face horrendous situations. He hears our cries. Even those who maintain the closest fellowship with Him are not immune to feelings of hopelessness. Many time’s God allows us to face hopeless circumstance in order to test and try our faith, it is the hopelessness that forces us to seek God, and it is there that we find strength and refreshment.
 
Hope is necessary for our well-being. Hope gives significance to life choices and enables people to endure living in a fallen world where pain, suffering and injustice are the norm. When tribulations come like a thief in the night and rob a person of their livelihood, material possessions or physical health; the enormity this kind of suffering can crush even the steadiest of souls!
 
How does one survive the losing of a loved one, being fired from a job, having one’s marriage fall apart, or being diagnosed with a life-threatening disease? Like the Gentile believers of Peter’s day and all other generations, living in a fallen world means one will inevitable experience one, several or all these tribulations.
 
Peter stated that the only goal that cannot be crushed by this fallen world is the living hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the kind of hope that finds unspeakable joy in our, future heavenly reward, suffering in the present because it proves and refines faith and the receipt of salvation of whom the angels and prophets searched intently for generations.
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”
 
Because we do not have a dead Savior… we have a living hope. The resurrection of Jesus guarantees that God will honor all His promises to His faithful children. That living hope keeps us going in the darkest of times.
 
Living hope begins with the acknowledgement of praise that God has mercy on His fallen creation. During suffering and pain, we often focus on what we have lost, rather than on what we still have! While God temporarily allows injustice to occur never forget that God has dealt mercy to every man, woman and child.
 
While we would like to blame this fallen world on Adam and Eve, it is the wages of our sin that has brought tribulations and death upon us! Doesn’t every choice that we make to disobey God not drive another nail into Christ’s hands and feet? No matter what one’s circumstances, Peter reminds his readers to praise God the Father for His choice to give His only begotten Son Jesus to die and atone for our sins. Instead of death God gave us the chance to be born again, not of the original flesh and blood that was so easily corrupted but of water and the Spirit. To be born anew as a child of God, is that not the ultimate act of mercy?
 
To be born again is a major miracle, a unique work of God in human nature. God transforming a person dead to sin into a believing child of His… is one of the greatest miracles ever received. Peter reminds Christians that their growing hope is to be the expected result of being born again. The degree in which a believer intensely believes and lives their life in view of spending an eternity with God is a good measure of how spiritually mature that believer has become.
 
Peter has in view the kind of maturity that does not read the commands of God and see them as a burden.
 
1 John 5:3-4
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world our faith.
 
Peter, a living hope is one that never forgets the mercy God showed when He raised us up with Jesus Christ, so that we might no longer be a prisoner in a tomb of spiritual death but of His redeemed child!
 
1 Peter 1:4-5
4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
 
 
The object of living hope is the promise that the true believer is the beneficiary of God who will receive an inheritance that can never perish fade of spoil. The New Testament regularly uses ‘inheritance’ to refer not only to an earthly inheritance but also to a believer’s ‘share’ in the heavenly kingdom, his or her future heavenly reward.
 
Peter also looks forward to the inheritance that is yet to come. Like God Himself, His word, our new resurrection bodies and heavenly home, our inheritance in Christ will not perish like earthly possessions that are subject to the bondage of decay. This inheritance is one that can never become unclean or defiled, will never fade like earthly wealth, grow dim or lose its beauty!
 
The foundation of a living hope is found in knowing that this inheritance is secured by God’s power and guarded by our faith. The Gentile believers of Peter’s day were dispersed all over. In this verse Peter is most likely addressing their anxieties that they would not have the strength to remain faithful to Christ in the face of intense suffering and persecution. Peter assures them that “God is continually using His power to guard His people by means of their faith.”
 
Like the children of Israel… we too are aliens and foreigners in a strange land that is not our final destination. The same God who raised Christ from the dead promises to one day bring us to be with Him. It was this living hope that sustained Paul when he was beaten with rods, pelted with stones, given forty lashes with the cat of nine tails, shipwrecked, starved and was in constant danger of rivers, bandits and persecution from his fellow Jews.
 
2 Corinthians 11:23-29 (NIV)
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24 Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26 I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27 I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?
 
So, like Paul we are to live in light of eternity knowing that heaven is an inheritance kept for us while we turn through faith and the power of God are being kept for it! Paul felt such a close connection to God and the churches he helped start, that he took personally their troubles and challenges. Only through such a close connection with God, and with each other can we grow into the people God calls us to be.
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
 
Peter tells the Gentile believers to not only rejoice in their secure…eternal home to come but, also in the suffering they are to experience while on this earth. The word “rejoice” in the New Testament “signifies a deep spiritual joy in what God has done in your life.” If one day you were to share in the suffering of Job, to have all your children die, your entire wealth taken away and were on the brink of physical death; would you rejoice? Job did … he refused to curse God and die but instead rejoiced in the Lord who “gives and takes away”
 
Job 2:9-10
9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 He replied, “You are talking like a foolish[a] woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
 
Even though not every Christian goes through such suffering, those who do can feel unspeakable joy in the midst of pain because they have faith that their suffering in this present world of bondage and decay is brief, in comparison to spending an eternity with God in heaven.
 
Romans 8:18-21
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
 
Think about this fact for a moment, years from now we will make our three score and ten years, seem like such a small, little amount of time! All the floods, typhoons, tornadoes, tidal waves, financial burdens, sickness and insanity that this world puts us through cannot separate us from the love of the Lord Jesus Christ who sustains us and our inheritance for an eternity!
 
Rejoice when suffering, Peter says, because “the tension between the pressures and the ultimate glory to come is precisely what strengthens our faith” to endure and receive the rewards to come. James says to consider it “pure joy” when facing trials and tribulations for the testing of one’s faith produces perseverance which ultimately leads to spiritual maturity.
 
 
It is very easy to go through tribulation, only to focus on what is lost rather than the potential of what can be gained! Instead of living a life of gloom, crushed by suffering and pain, Peter tells believers to rejoice for their faith, which is more precious than gold…might be proven to be genuine! Trials burn away the impurities in a believer’s faith in the refiner’s fire! We have all met “lukewarm” Christians who often detract from the Gospel message because they do not practice what they preach! They do not believe what Christ has promised. The motivation to faithfully persevere through tribulations means bringing glory, praise and honor to Christ because He alone is the one who enables us to be holy!
 
There will always be joy, in knowing and being in Christ…
 
1 Peter 1:8-9
8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith the salvation of your souls.
 
It is at this point that Peter reminds the Gentile believers that they are to walk by faith, not by sight. Although alive during the life of Christ, most of these believers never met Jesus Christ in person! Even though they never got to see Jesus turn water in wine, drive out an evil spirit from a man in Capernaum, heal Peter’s mother in law, cleanse a man from leprosy, heal a Centurion’s paralyzed servant, or feed 5,000 men plus women and children. calm a storm at sea, walk on water or raise Lazarus from the dead, they still loved and believed in Jesus Christ! Faith is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance what we do not see”. The joy of future eternity with Christ illuminates the plight of those whom suffer with inexpressible and glorious joy. This is the ultimate paradox of human existence, when we are weakest and suffer the most we are also the strongest and can feel the greatest joy, because we have received the salvation of our souls.
 
In Conclusion:
 
Peter finishes this passage by reminding his readers that the salvation that they have received is “by far greater than anything. Even though the prophets of the OT were inspired by the Holy Spirit does not mean that they fully understood the prophesies in which they wrote. Even though they intently searched through earlier Scriptures, there is “no evidence that any Jewish authority in the first century really understood that the Messiah would have to come and suffer first.” What they did not see clearly, on this side of the cross we not only see but know that Christ’s death and resurrection is the model in which we are to live.
 
 
“if we suffer with Him we will reign with Him.” Even the angels who “see the ultimate reality from God’s perspective,” are looking intently into our salvation. I want to finish with a final question to ponder: are we intently living our lives as born-again believers with, “Jesus, A living Hope”, our glorious inheritance that we have and are about to receive?
 
2 Timothy 2:11-13
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with Him, we will also live with Him;12 if we endure, we will also reign with Him.
If we disown Him, He will also disown us;13 if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.
 

Matthew 5:1-12
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
“God wants me to be happy?” “You only live once, so be happy”, We often hear that phrase in our day, usually as an excuse for some kind of behavior that the individual knows is wrong.  As long as, I’m happy, I’ll continue to do what makes me happy. But is that true? Is that really all that we need focus on, being happy, finding happiness? Is that what God wants you and I to be happy? 
 
Where can we find happiness? Some find it in hobbies, entertainment, material things, in relationships, falling in love and so on. Let say, that we already have all of these things, everything that I had just mentioned, should it be enough to be happy? To live a happy life?
 
Another form of happiness that creeps inside the household, even in churches today. Is wealth (money) that will fix everything, if I have a lot of that I’ll be happy. That pursuit of wealth and security has even found its way into theology in our day - this “happiness theology” is often called the Prosperity Gospel, Prosperity Church.
 
This theology (if we can call it that) this stitched together, homegrown theology is not clearly defined but is centered on the insistence that God’s top priority is to shower blessings on Christians in this lifetime. As you can see, it is the total opposite of what Jesus was trying to teach.
 
 
 
Chapter five of Matthew’s gospel begins what is known as “The Sermon on the Mount” and it will run through the end of chapter seven. I believe that all of this was one sermon delivered by the Lord at one time. The Sermon on the Mount is probably the best known part of the teaching of Jesus, although it may be argued that it is the least understood and certainly the least applied, and least believed. I mean, just look at them. Would you believe these things to be true? Go down the list… “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth”.
 
Who would believe that these things are true? I’m blessed, if im poor? I’m blessed, if I mourn?
I’m blessed, if im meek?  Who would believe such a thing? I’m searching for happiness, and this is God’s answer?
 
The Sermon on the Mount in our English bibles can be read in about ten minutes, it can hardly be assumed that the crowd that Matthew talks about have walked all the way into this secluded wilderness only to hear a ten-minute message from Jesus and leave.
 
It is more likely that this is a sample of the message that Jesus often delivered to his listeners.
The first seven verses of chapter five constitute what is known as “The Beatitudes.” These do not describe different types of people, but an abiding and progressive condition in one person in different experiences. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones points out three important points when studying the Beatitudes…
1) They are a description of what every Christian is meant to be.
2) All Christians are meant to manifest all of these characteristics. It is not a list you get to
    choose from, every Christian is meant to be all of them.
3) None of these come naturally.
 
Each one of them is produced by grace alone as we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. The first four Beatitudes deal with one’s relationship with God and the second set deals with one’s relationship with others.
 
Now, let us break down these verses, so we can have a clearer understanding, of what our Lord Jesus was teaching on that day.
 
Matthew 5:1-6
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Picture this if you, just imagine that you were there. It should be noted that Matthew identifies three groups of people who surround Jesus, the disciples, the religious leaders, and the multitudes (or crowds). The “disciples” were those who have made a personal commitment to Jesus. The “religious leaders” (Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes) were generally opposed to Jesus and his message. The “crowd” was those who were casually interested by what He had to say, but who had not made a personal commitment to Him. So, if you were there, which group would you belong to?
 
Now… if you think about it, that crowd, is no different than churches today. In a present church, even in ours we have three groups, and God knows which one is which. We have “disciples, children of God, who has made a personal commitment to God.” Sure… we may not have any Pharisee, Sadducees, or Scribes. But what we do have are those who are well versed in scripture, but only in knowledge, no outer appearance to prove that they belong to God. And of course, We have the “crowd’, these are the ones who just comes to church, don’t really have a real relationship with Jesus, just wants to see if Jesus is right for them.
 
First: What is the meaning of the word, “Blessed”?
 
Webster Dictionary:
enjoying happiness; specifically, Christianity: enjoying the bliss of heaven —used as a title for a beatified person, bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune, a blessed event.
 
As we have already noted the first seven verses of chapter five are known as “The Beatitudes” and they are called that because the word means “blessing” and because the first word of each verse beginning with verse three and ending in verse ten is “blessed.”
 
“Blessed”, translated in Greek (Makarios) has the same translation, it is translated as “happy”
Ok… so now I’m confused. I’m “Searching For Happiness”, and this is what Jesus is teaching me.
Let’s translate the Beatitudes, using the word “happy”. (Just A few)
“Happy are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”
“Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”
“Happy are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth”
 
The word, “Blessed”, in its real sense refers to one’s relationship to God and refers to a condition of inner satisfaction.  Being, “Happy”, is circumstantial, it’s a state of being, therefore uncertain and temporary. Being “Blessed”, is a gift from God, which is eternal. While being “Happy”, is a state that we can do, for as long as what we are doing makes us happy.
 
 
 
If we follow the our natural inclinations the Beatitudes would read, happy are the rich, for they believe they have it all, happy are the carefree, for they do not worry about nothing; happy are the arrogant, for people defer to them; happy are the hardhearted, for they pity no one; happy are they, that care nothing about justice, for they care only about themselves; happy are the wicked, for they care nothing about God; happy are the violent, for they do not care about belonging to God; happy are those who persecute others, for the only kingdom they think about is their own. But through grace the Holy of Spirit creates within us the ability to strive for greater possibilities.
 
So…while being “Blessed”, is having a relationship with God, which also is a blessing that comes from Him. Which will last for all eternity. While being “Happy”, is conditional, and temporary.
I believe that most Bible believing Christians would agree, that the believer is not free to do whatever they please to make themselves happy. God does not want his children to be happy if requires SINNING! So…While “Searching For Happiness”, requires breaking Gods commands, should we do it? Keep in mind, being “Blessed by God is eternal. While trying to keep yourself “Happy”, by sinning will only be temporary, and eventually you’ll get tired of that, and the happiness is gone. On to the next sin.
 
While it is always true, that God understands your situation, that is not the same as God approving of what you are thinking about doing, or what you are doing, or what you have already done that His word says is wrong. Don’t compromise Gods words in order to remain happy.
 
Often within cults we hear of how these false teachers pervert and twist the clear teaching of the Word of God to allow them, to allow themselves special privileges. There is within each of us, the desire to carry out those things that we think would make us happier. When we hear individuals say that the word of God does not apply to them then we can know for sure that they are in an area of great moral danger. If what you desire forces you to consider twisting or ignore the clear teaching of God’s word, beware! Our actions may make someone stumble.
 
Matthew 18:6
6 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.
 
The Lord will warns His followers, It is a serious consideration to understand the influence that our actions have on others. Our behavior concerning right and wrong may convince others to follow our example. To lead someone into a sinful action is a serious matter to God. Consider if you will, your household. Your spouse, your children, are you being a stumbling block to them? Look at Gods warning (Powerpoint) friends, family, coworkers.
 
 
For example:
 
The prophet Nathan in confronting King David of his adultery with Bathsheba said…
 
2 Samuel 12-14
14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also who is born to you shall surely die.”
 
In the New Testament Paul reminded the Jews in the book of Romans, “For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through (or because) of you.”
 
Romans 2:24
24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
 
If you are carrying the name “Christian”, it is not your name that is being dragged in the dirt, it is Christ. Whether we realize it or not many are watching us and our conduct. God intends for what they see to attract them into His kingdom, but when we disobey, because we want to be happy, the opposite tends to happen.
 
You will notice the first Beatitude and the last Beatitude promise the same reward, ‘for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. What does that mean? Our Lord starts and ends with it because it is His way of saying that the first thing you have to realize about yourself is that you belong to a different kingdom, His kingdom.
 
To such a world and to all unhappy Christians, the opening words of the Sermon on the Mount gives hope. The Beatitudes or “blessings” are meant to inspire us as to what we are to be.
 
Recognize that we will never achieve lasting happiness on our own. We will never find true and lasting happiness the state of being “blessed” until we give up on our own efforts and allow the Holy Spirit’s transforming power into our lives. Realize that the blessing of God in an individual life begins with forgiveness of sin.
 
A life of blessing begins with the greatest blessing of all, the blessing of being forgiven of your sins!
 
Psalms 32:1-2
Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, Whose sin is covered.2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
 
We have now learned the first half of the Beatitudes, is being blessed, by having a relationship with our Lord. Now let us look at the other half…being blessed with our relationship with others.
 
Matthew 5:7-11
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
    For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
 
God’s mercy is not a reward earned by our showing mercy to others. Rather, those who recognize the magnitude of the mercy Jesus has shown them, will treat others as their Heavenly Father has treated them.
 
“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God”. Because God is spirit, His divine essence is invisible. Because He is infinitely Holy, sinful humans would be destroyed if they were to behold His glory directly. Nevertheless, believers “see” God through the insight of faith, and Jesus assures Hid disciples that in seeing Him, they have seen the Father. For you and I, this will be a future event. But for now, “we live by faith, and not by sight”.
 
“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God”. Conflicts among individuals, races, nations, amongst each other. Comes from our alienation from God, because of the fall. Jesus is the great peacemaker through His wall destroying death. Jesus calls the children of God to make peace, by displaying the Spirits fruits.
 
“10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake”. 
 
Remember the words of Jesus when He said.. “you will be hated by all, for My names sake”…. “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first”. All of the insults, the hatred, the persecution that comes to you, simply because you belong to Christ, comes with a blessing.
 
In Conclusion:
 
 From the lesson taught by Jesus. What will make you happy? After all of these, will you still be “Searching For Happiness”? Or do you want to be blessed? Keep in mind, happiness is temporary. True joy, pure joy comes by being blessed with the gift of Holy Spirit. And that is eternal!
 
Again… from the beginning of the Beatitudes to the end. There is a promise of heaven.
 
Matthew 5:3
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:12
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
 
Don’t settle for temporary happiness that world offers. Trust in the blessings that only Christ can give, which are eternal!
 
Revelation 22:12-14
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
 
 
 

Matthew 6:25-34
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap, nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 “which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 So, why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 “and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 “Now if God clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat? Or What shall we drink? Or What shall we wear? 32 “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
 
God did not design you and I to be anxious, to worry, or to be nervous. After all, for the past two Sundays, if it is still not clear to you. Jesus wants us to have faith in Him, and all His promises. In all these things, the issue for the believers in Jesus Christ, comes down to trust!
 
Do you believe, that you are in charge of your life? Or do you acknowledge that God directs each day, and provides for our needs? Your answer has everything to do with how much worry you can do, and how much trust you put in our Lord Jesus.
 
Have you ever watched a mouse running inside a wheel? The faster the mouse runs, the faster the wheel moves…but the mouse doesn’t make the slightest progress. The mouse does not even have the sense to get off the wheel.
 
That is what worrying does to you. You run faster and faster, trying harder and harder to meet the demands, trying to fix the problems, prevent any disaster, and still you do not have control over your circumstance. So, when something does not go quite right, your frustration level continues to mount. Get off the wheel…get off the cycle of worry, and start trusting in Jesus to lead your life. “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
 
Psalm 68:19
Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation!
     
(NIV) “Praise the Lord, to God our Savior, Who daily bears our burdens.”
Obviously, getting to know God in a personal way should be our greatest priority in life. If we plan on spending eternity with Him, then it would seem like a good idea to get to know Him now. Understanding how quickly life goes by and how long eternity is, should teach us to have the right priorities. We are in a sense, “Here today, and Gone tomorrow”.
 
James 4:14
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.
 
So… what are your priorities in life? Is seeking Gods kingdom and righteousness a one time thing, what I mean is, as soon as I have been born again, I have no need to seek Him anymore?
What about on a daily basis? Do we still seek God daily? Or only when we need Him?
 
The main point of this message is found on verse 33. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all this things will be added to you”.
 
Seek first reveals Jesus concern for the priorities of our life. He commands that our first priority is His kingdom, and His righteousness. It is fairly easy to be a good christian when we are in church. It is a bit difficult when we are out in the real world. (work, family, friends)
 
God wants us to be, what He called us to be. (Christians) It may not be easy, but He does provide for us the help that we need, if only we will be obedient to His commands, and abide by His will! We may be battling our sinful nature on a daily basis, but it should no longer have the control that it wants. That is why it is very important to seek Him daily.
 
Let us walk through this teachings of Jesus, and see where we can have our eyes fixed on Him, and live a life that reflects His righteousness.
 
From our text, it defines three issues in life. Shelter, Clothing, and Food. These things are very important, simply because we will need them on a daily basis. Therefore, we are prone to focus on them, as our main priority. Those who personally know God and understand His loving kindness and faithfulness should not live their lives with the same anxiety, as those who do not know God.
 
Generally, we live our lives our way. We give ourselves first priority. As a result, we go after the material things. We give a small attention to the spiritual things in life, and that is our relationship with Him. We forget to seek Him daily, we expect that somehow the spiritual things will take care of themselves. Listen…from our text, it is clear that God will provide for our daily needs. What we lack is to seek His kingdom, and His righteousness. By lacking in this area in our life, we live like we are still lost. There is no such thing as a christian, and still lost!!!
 
To Seek first His kingdom means... His rule, His reign in our lives. His will, His authority. Seeking Gods kingdom is loosing ourselves in obedience to His lordship to the extent that we can. What I mean is, there will always be that flesh and spirit battle that goes on within. But which one should win?
 
Next, is that we are to seek His righteousness. How do we do that, when we have not seen Jesus face to face.  How can we imitate Him, and live our lives pleasing to Him? Righteousness is in accord with His character…hence, Christ-likeness. Instead of longing after the things of this world, which eventually will be destroyed in the end, we are to hunger and thirst for the things that are eternal.
 
Colossians 3:2-3
2 Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
 
It is to have Jesus’ truth, love, and righteousness manifested in our lives. To have peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
 
Romans 14:17
“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”.
 
If you are holding on to the things of this world as your priority, let me remind you…in fact let Peter remind you of this truth…
 
2 Peter 3:11-12
Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be, in holy conduct and godliness,12 looking for the hastening of the coming of the day of God.
 
We had a taste of this lesson on our Bible study, when the Lord returns. Jesus will return, are you ready? What Jesus is clearly teaching us in this text, is to establish our priorities in life. Let your first priority be, to follow Christ. Jesus is saying to focus your attention and hopes on the Him. If you are going to be consumed by anything, be consumed by His kingdom, His righteousness, and see how your life will turn out.
 
Our caring and protective Father, will always add to what we need in our life. The passage calls us to seek first His kingdom, and leave the secondary to His provincial care. If you are looking for work, seek first His kingdom, and He will provide you with work. If you already have job, and your making ends meet, seek first His kingdom, and see that He provides you with a promotion. If God’s priorities, becomes our priorities, He will take care of our needs. This daily supply is a promise!
Notice that it is a conditional promise.  First we seek His kingdom, and everything else will fall into place. Rather than being like pagans who are concerned about physical needs, rather than seeking and worrying about food, shelter, and clothing like unbelievers do, “Jesus says…focus your attention and hopes on the things of the Lord and He will take care of your needs. The Lords disciples…God’s children, should be concerned about the things of God, Hid kingdom, and His righteousness. Then all these needs will be supplied in Gods timing. This is the life of daily seeking God, and trusting Him in faith!
 
If the first priority in your life is not God’s kingdom and righteousness, then it may explain some unproductive living and giving. What I mean is, if your seeking His kingdom and righteousness, but  living in a life of sin, stop wondering why your prayers are not being answered. Why you cannot seek His face…
 
Psalm 66:18 ( NIV )
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.
Psalm 66:18 (NKJV)
If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.
 
Willingly living a life of sin, is not seeking His kingdom and righteousness. That is the total opposite. Get your walk right with God. Seek His kingdom, seek His righteousness, and see God do a miracle in your life. Seek His kingdom and His righteousness, and have Him give you a new life. Don’t expect a righteous God to spiritually or eternally bless you, if you are not going to put Him first.
 
A daily decision in life must be made. What am I putting first? Or…Who am I putting first? Seeking God is a daily spiritual decision. Putting God’s kingdom and righteousness first, will give you..bless you with the daily provisions that you will need, and more. God loves to be a blessing to His children…
 
Matthew 7:11
If you then, who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
 
We must give God sovereignty over our lives. This is where the issue lies. Will we walk or live by faith in Christ, or will we walk by the sight and wisdom of a natural man?
 
IN CONCLUSION:
 
Two rules should govern the life  of a christian. Seek first His Kingdom, and His righteousness daily. So that we can enjoy His precious promises of daily provisions, and much more, His eternal blessings.
Allow…better yet trust our Heavenly Father to keep His promises concerning the rest of your life. Your life and mine will better in His, than our own.
 
Short Story:
 
When Dr. W.A Criswell, Pastor of the largest Southern Baptist Church in the world at one time, was preaching in the North Shore Baptist Church in Chicago, he was entertained at the home of deacon, James L. Kraft, who was the superintendent of their Sunday school , and founder of Kraft Foods..
 
Kraft said, that as a young man, he had a desire to be the most famous manufacturer and salesman in the world. He planned on becoming rich and famous by making and selling cheese, and began as a young fellow with a little buggy pulled by a pony named Paddy.
 
After making  his cheese, the youth would load his wagon, and he and Paddy would drive down the streets of Chicago to sell the cheese. As the months passed, young Kraft began to despair because he was not making any money, in spite of his long hours and hard work.
 
One day he pulled his pony to a stop and began to talk to him. He said “Paddy, there is something wrong. We are not doing it right. I am afraid we have things turned around. Our priorities are not where they ought to be. Maybe we ought to serve God and place Him first in our lives.”
 
Kraft then drove home and made a covenant that for the rest of his life, he would first serve God and then would work as God directed.
 
Many years after this, Dr. Criswell heard James Kraft say, “I would rather be a layman in the North Shore Baptist Church, than to head the greatest corporation in America. My Job is serving Jesus.”
 
We can see Kraft products at every grocery store there is. James Kraft put God as his first priority  in his life, and God has blessed him.
 
How about you? What will be the first priority of your day your life? “Seek First His Kingdom, And His Righteousness”, and see how your life will turn out. Gods promises are yours, but you have to seek Him first daily, for the rest of your life. From here to eternity.