08/28/2022: SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM WEEK 11
August 28, 2022

SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. —Matthew 6:33

9  In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.
10  Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. —Matthew 6:9 - 10

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. —Matthew 13:44

THE TREASURE OF THE TRIAL

  1. The treasure of His care in the trial.
  2. The treasure of His strength in the trial.
  3. The treasure of His strategy in the trial.

6  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 
7  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 
9  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 
10  But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 
11  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. —1 Peter 5:6 - 11

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. —Hebrews 11:1

But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren. —Luke 22:32

1. He is perfecting me through the trial.

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. —1 Peter 5:10

PERFECT:
To fit, make sound, complete
To mend (what has been broken or ripped), to repair
To make complete.

Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the sonof Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them… —Matthew 4:21

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. —Psalms 34:18

He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. —Psalms 147:3

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” —Luke 4:18

Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. —Philippians 1:6

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” —Revelation 21:5

2. He is establishing me through the trial.

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. —1 Peter 5:10

ESTABLISH:
To make stable, place firmly, set fast, fix
To make firm
To render constant, confirm one’s mind.

24  “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26  “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27  and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” —Matthew 7:24 - 27

3. He is strengthening me through the trial.

But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. —1 Peter 5:10

STRENGTHEN:
To make strong,
strengthen of one’s soul.

That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, —Ephesians 3:16> 17  that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 
18  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— 
19  to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20  Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, —Ephesians 3:17 - 20

And let us not grow weary while doing
good, for in due season we shall reap if
we do not lose heart. —Galatians 6:9

28  Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 
29  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
30  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” —Matthew 11:28 - 30

4. He will settle me post-trial.

10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11  To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. —1 Peter 5:10 - 11

SETTLE:
To lay the foundation, to give new vision/perspective, to make stable, to establish.

He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. —Luke 6:48

1 I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry.
2  He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps.
3  He has put a new song in my mouth - praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord. —Psalms 40:1 - 3

He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. —Psalms 18:19

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. —Revelation 2:17