Central Truth for Learning
We cannot rightly pursue a Kingdom we do not understand. To seek God’s Kingdom first is to bring our lives under His rule and make His will, His righteousness, and His priorities our governing pursuit.
INTRODUCTION — FROM EMPOWERMENT TO KINGDOM PURSUIT
Throughout August, we emphasized, “Empowered for Divine Fulfilment.” We learned from Acts 1:8 that God’s work requires God’s power. Last Sunday, as we considered Acts 1:8 alongside 1 Corinthians 12:7–11, we were reminded that we cannot live the Christian life effectively in human strength.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22), and later they were to be “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). The Holy Spirit works in us to produce the life and character of Christ (Galatians 5:22–25), and He empowers us for witness and service (Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:7).
But as we enter September, there is a necessary question:
Empowered for what? What should occupy the life of a Spirit-empowered child of God?
Jesus answers:
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” — Matthew 6:33
The Holy Spirit does not empower us for spiritual exhibition. He empowers us to live Christ, manifest Christ, serve Christ, and pursue the priorities of Christ.
So, understand the trend:
HOLY SPIRIT EMPOWERMENT → KINGDOM LIVING → DIVINE FULFILLMENT.
Our focus this month is “Pursuing Kingdom Priorities for All-Round Fulfillment.” But before we can pursue Kingdom priorities, we must understand the Kingdom itself.
A Kingdom that is not understood cannot be intentionally pursued.
Jesus devoted much of His teaching to the Kingdom. He preached the Kingdom (Mark 1:14–15), explained its mysteries through parables (Matthew 13:10–11), demonstrated its power (Matthew 12:28), taught His disciples to pray for its coming (Matthew 6:10), and commanded them to seek it first (Matthew 6:33).
Therefore, our question this morning is:
What is the Kingdom of God, and what does living in that Kingdom entail?
A. UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM — GOD’S RULE AND REIGN
Key Scriptures: Mark 1:14–15; Matthew 6:9–10; 12:28; Luke 17:20–21; Colossians 1:13
When we hear “Kingdom of God,” our minds can immediately go to heaven—the place we expect to enter when our earthly journey is over. That is part of our future hope, but it does not fully explain what Jesus meant when He spoke about God’s Kingdom.
When Jesus began His public ministry, He declared:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” — Mark 1:15
The word translated kingdom (basileia) fundamentally carries the idea of kingship, rule, reign and royal authority.
So a simple working definition is:
The Kingdom of God is God’s rule and reign through Christ—received by those who submit to the King, expressed through transformed lives, and awaiting its complete manifestation when Christ returns.
1. The Kingdom begins with the King
There can be no kingdom without a king.
The angel told Mary concerning Jesus: “The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign…” — Luke 1:32–33
Jesus is not merely a religious teacher whose advice we consider. He is King and Lord.
After His resurrection, He declared, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). Paul says that ultimately every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Philippians 2:9–11).
Therefore, seeking the Kingdom begins with our response to the King.
Jesus asked: “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46
We cannot genuinely seek His Kingdom while continually resisting His authority.
You cannot separate the Kingdom from the King. And you cannot sincerely pursue the Kingdom while refusing the King’s rule.
2. The Kingdom means God’s will becoming our way of life
Jesus taught us to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” — Matthew 6:10
Notice the relationship: YOUR KINGDOM COME → YOUR WILL BE DONE.
Where the King rules, the King’s will is done.
Therefore, the Kingdom must first become real within us before it can be expressed through us.
God wants to rule:
- our thoughts and desires,
- our relationships and families,
- our money and possessions,
- our careers and ambitions,
- our decisions and priorities,
- our bodies, time and abilities.
- Paul captures this surrender in Romans 12:1–2: present your bodies to God and allow your minds to be transformed so that you may discern and live His will.
- This is where Kingdom Christianity becomes personal.
- Joseph lived this principle when temptation came. He refused Potiphar’s wife, saying, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). His immediate consideration was not convenience, pleasure or personal advantage, but what God desired.
- Daniel demonstrated the same Kingdom consciousness when he “purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).
- These men lived before Jesus preached Matthew 6:33, but they illustrate the principle: God’s will take priority over personal convenience.
Kingdom Truth:
We cannot continually pray, “Thy Kingdom come,” while insisting, “My will be done.”
3. The Kingdom is present now, although its fullness is still coming
Jesus said: “If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.” — Matthew 12:28
Paul says that the Father has: “…translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” — Colossians 1:13
So the Kingdom is not merely something we will enter someday. Through Christ, we have already come under God’s saving rule.
Yet Jesus still taught us to pray, “Thy kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10), and Scripture points toward the day when Christ will finally defeat every opposing authority, including death (1 Corinthians 15:24–26), and His reign will be openly manifested (Revelation 11:15).
Therefore:
The Kingdom has come in Christ.
The Kingdom is being expressed through His people.
The Kingdom will be manifested in fullness when Christ returns.
We are citizens of that Kingdom now, and therefore we are expected to live its life now (Philippians 3:20; Colossians 1:13).
B. PURSUING THE KINGDOM — THE KING’S PRIORITIES BECOME OUR PRIORITIES- Matthew 6:19–33; 22:37–40; 23:23; 2 Peter 1:5–8
Having understood what the Kingdom is, Jesus now says: “Seek ye first…” — Matthew 6:33
Understanding must lead to pursuit.
1. “Seek” speaks of deliberate and continuing pursuit
Everyone is seeking something:
Some seek money. Others seek recognition, marriage, career advancement, security, comfort, influence or possessions. Many of these things are legitimate concerns. But Jesus confronts us with a deeper question:
What is the master pursuit of your life?: In Matthew 6:31–32, Jesus speaks about food, drink and clothing. He does not deny that we need them. In fact, He says:
“Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” — Matthew 6:32
Then He says, “But seek ye first…” Jesus is establishing an order of priority.
The unbelieving world makes earthly necessities and possessions its consuming pursuit. The disciple is to make God’s Kingdom the governing pursuit and trust the Father concerning life’s necessities.
Therefore: We must not spend our lives pursuing what Jesus promised to add while neglecting what He commanded us to seek.
2. “First” means the Kingdom governs every other priority
Seeking the Kingdom first does not simply mean, “Pray first thing in the morning, then spend the rest of the day doing whatever you want.”
First means priority, supremacy and governing importance.
God is not merely one item among many on our lives’ agenda. His rule determines how every other part of life should function.
A young person seeking the Kingdom asks, “Lord, what kind of person do You want me to become?” before merely asking, “Which career will make me successful?”
A businessman or professional asks, “How can I honour Christ here?” and not merely, “How much can I gain?”
A parent asks not only, “How can my children become successful?” but, “How can they know, love and serve Christ?”
An elderly believer does not conclude that Kingdom usefulness has ended. Psalm 92:14 says, “They shall still bring forth fruit in old age.” Prayer, wisdom, encouragement, generosity, and godly example remain Kingdom investments.
Kingdom living means every season of life falls under the King’s priorities.
3. Kingdom priorities are the things God values
What, then, occupies the heart of the King?
Scripture gives us the answer.
Jesus emphasizes love for God and neighbour (Matthew 22:37–40), righteousness (Matthew 6:33), justice, mercy and faithfulness (Matthew 23:23), reconciliation (Matthew 5:23–24), forgiveness (Matthew 6:14–15), servanthood (Mark 10:43–45), care for others (Matthew 25:34–40), and making disciples (Matthew 28:18–20).
These are Kingdom priorities. This is where we must examine our passions.
What Christ loves must increasingly become what I love.
What Christ values must become what I value.
What Christ pursues must increasingly become what I pursue.
Christ’s priorities must become my priorities.
Jesus said:
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” — Matthew 6:21
The question is therefore not merely, “Do I attend church?” It is, “Does what matters to God increasingly matter to me?”
CONCLUSION — WHAT ARE WE SEEKING?
Beloved, Jesus is not merely asking whether we know the phrase “Kingdom of God.”
He is asking us:
What are you seeking?
What occupies your heart?
What controls your decisions?
What receives your best energy?
What determines what you call success?
What matters most to you?
If the Kingdom is God’s rule, then seeking the Kingdom means allowing the King to rule.
If the Kingdom expresses God’s will, then seeking the Kingdom means making His will our pursuit.
If the Kingdom has priorities, then seeking the Kingdom means making what matters to God matter to us.
And if the King has promised to care for His children, then seeking the Kingdom means pursuing Him while trusting Him with the additions.
So our journey this month begins with five movements:
UNDERSTAND → SUBMIT → PURSUE → PRACTISE → TRUST
Understand the Kingdom — know the rule, will and priorities of God.
Submit to the King — allow Christ to govern every area of life.
Pursue His priorities — love what He loves and value what He values.
Practice His righteousness — turn Kingdom teaching into daily living.
Trust the King — depend upon His power and leave the additions with the Father.
Personal Examination
Before we pray, let every one of us ask:
“If God’s Kingdom is truly first in my life, what area of my life is still resisting the rule of the King?”
And perhaps another:
“What am I presently pursuing that has become more important to me than what matters to Christ?”
Final Charge
When the King has first place, His will becomes our pursuit, His priorities become our passion, His character becomes our lifestyle, His power becomes our sufficiency, and His purpose becomes our fulfillment.