by: Dr. Laytecia McKinney #vtomchurch #iamwowmentor #DrLMcKinney
Our text in Matthew 6:33 tells us to “seek the ye first the kingdom of God, ad his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. To see “first he kingdom of God and his righteousness” means to turn to him first for help, to fill your thoughts with his desires, to take his character for your pattern, and to serve and obey him in everything. What is important to you? People, object t, goals and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if you don’t CHOOSE to give him first place in every area of your life. You cannot build a kingdom lifestyle with having King Jesus first in your life!!
To have a full understanding of this message, you first but know and understand the meaning of the words in our message title: BUILD - Verb. build, construct, and erect mean to make a structure. build is used for putting together several parts or materials to form something. Workers are building the house. So, in order to build a Kingdom Lifestyle, you must use KINGDOM TOOLS in order to build with. Many people receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior; join a church and attend services but do not apply the Kingdom tools which is the word of God to their lives that they may continue to grow thereby. To build a Kingdom lifestyle, you must build upon the foundation of the Apostles & Prophets according to Ephesians 2:20; with Christ Jesus being the Chief Cornerstone. KINGDOM - The realm in which God's will is fulfilled. Being a part of God's Kingdom is not just declaring yourself a part of God's Kingdom, it is living as a citizen under King Jesus. If you do this, there is power in Him. This Kingdom is not just a theory, or something to talk about, it is powerful and can change lives. LIFESTYLE - The way in which a person lives. Lifestyle is the interests, opinions, and behaviors of an individual, group, or culture. ... The broader sense of lifestyle as a "way or style of living". NOW LET’S GET TO THE MEAT OF OUR TEXT: Lifestyle is a way that one chooses to live their life. It is the choice that an individual makes. By the way, it doesn't come overnight.
5 THINGS ABOUT A LIFESTYLE:
1. It is a process.
2. The lifestyle that one chooses to live is one of consistency.
3. It is a learned behavior.
4. It is a mindset.
5. It is an attitude that one adopts.
In any case, the way a person arrives at the lifestyle that they embrace, is through their thinking process. For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. “Eat and drink!” he says to you, But his heart is not with you. In order for one to embrace the Kingdom of God, one's mindset has to be transformed. This comes through studying and reading His Constitution (the Word). One must surrender their whole self to the Holy Spirit. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Your mind is a very delicate part of your soul. It will affect your whole being. This is why it has to be transformed through God's Word. It has to be subject to the guidance and leading of the Holy Spirit. This is why it was sent to us from above. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Be aware, the Holy Spirit comes through obedience to the King's Word. In other words, you must be in line with God's purpose for your life. In essence, you must be willing to submit to God's Word. Remember, God gave His Son to all mankind so the only way to the Father is through His Son. There is no exception. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. THE KINGDOM LIFESTYLE IS ONE OF PEACE NOT WAR. Jesus has angels for that. But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him. And suddenly, one of those who were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword, struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. But Jesus said to him, “Put your sword in its place, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels? How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen thus?” OUR ATTITUDE IS TO BE THAT OF A KINGDOM MINDSET. Jesus told Peter to put up his weapon. Why? Because our battle is not with flesh and blood, but spiritual principalities. Paul likened it as a Roman soldier's armor. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. This is what a citizen of the Kingdom should embrace.
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