Friendship Centre Connect Group

Understanding and living the principles of righteousness Matthew 6:33

Now that we are saved what is next? The answer is in Matthew 6:33 we must seek first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness. What is a Kingdom? The kingdom is a combination of two words; a king and a domain. A king is a ruler, and a domain is a location. So to seek first the kingdom God would mean to seek first the king and his domain. In other words, to seek first the ruler and his location Principles of righteousness 1. First principle is to seek first the King. Who is the King? The King is God. Why do you need to seek God? The answer is; He is the source of your life. Man was created in the image and after the likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). The image and likeness of God is spirit (John 4:24). It means man was created in the image and after the likeness of Gods Spirit (Job 33:4). The Spirit of God created man, so the source of man is the Spirit of God-

The source of anything is the sustainer of that thing. Like Paul in the Bible sought after God, we have to seek after Him in our life time (Acts 17:28, 1 Corinthians 2:2, Philippians 3:10). 1.1 How to seek God. John 1:1 We seek God through studying his word. (Romans 1:16-17, John 5:39, 2 Timothy 3:15) 2. Seek Gods domain or location. Seeking the king means seeking his domain. Gods domain is the place where He has registered His name Psalms 48:1-3. (Hebrews 12:22) Zion is the church, and that Gods domain.

Jesus is the head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23) You can be in the church but you are not in Christ. Being in the church and not in Christ is to be in a building and not in the body of Christ (Romans 8:9).

In seeking God and his domain we need to know how to behave in his domain (1 Timothy 3:15). In Matthew 11:28-29, Jesus asked us to learn... Most Christian find it very hard to live right but you must know that the yoke of righteousness is easier to carry that the yoke of sin. The yoke of righteousness is; abstinence, consecration, self- control, self-denial, commitment, dedication and sacrifice to God bring rest.

But the yoke of sin is; pains, shame, oppression, sorrow... and all these eventually lead to death. In seeking Gods kingdom, we must put on a new garment (Ephesians 4:24). What is the garment that you are to put on? Romans 13:14... The garment is Christ. So Put on Christ! 3. Seek the citizen of the Kingdom. Psalms 119:63 In every kingdom, there are people and people live as neighbours. We seek the citizens of Gods kingdom by loving them. Matthew 22:37-39, 1 John 5:2. We should love our neighbour.