But first the Kingdom

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:31

The principle found in Matthew six was speaking of God’s provision, but the concept remains the same. Before we can lead anyone, we must focus on our walk with God. My wife says, regarding worship ministry, “You can not lead someone if you have not yet gone.” This postulate is the same; Before you roll up your sleeves in mentoring, you must first connect with God for yourself.

Recently, I have seen more and more shirts that say “But, first coffee.” I love a good cup of coffee, but it seems we have twisted priorities quite a bit. At the start of my day of course, I have coffee, but at the forefront of everything I do is his kingdom. This is the reason I start with this chapter and thought. In this post, we will discuss the pattern Jesus set, where you should be in the priority list, the “waiting room” and what to do in it.

First let us talk about the pattern Jesus laid out before us on “Leading.” One pattern set by Jesus is prayer. The Bible makes it exceedingly clear; we must be in a mindset of prayer perpetually (1 Thess. 5:17). I would say that, if anyone came close to this in scripture, Jesus fulfilled this “pray without ceasing” motto. He is continually shown through the gospels in the act of prayer. It shows him to pray: alone, in public, before meals, before important decisions before and after healing, and that he would fulfill the father’s will as noted in Luke 22:42. He taught often on the momentousness of prayer. If you take all the places that show Jesus praying, you will have a perfect outline of how to pray, but also how important it is to pray. Jesus perfectly models the importance of prayer in one’s individual walk. Now I ask a question, that I often ask myself: Where do I fit into all of this? At one point or another I am sure you have asked yourself something similar to this because when coming directly into the Kingdom of God we still have the “human” mentality. The author, quoting Jesus, in Matthew chapter sixteen verse twenty-four says: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. In the list of priorities we often put ourself excessively high. In pertinence to the list, we must understand that we shouldn’t be on it. I have heard it said this way, “God doesn’t expect a lot, he just expects all.” Often times the reason people are afraid to do the will of God is because there are scared to be without. Do not take me wrong. I am not saying we as Christians are meant to be in prosperity, but I know God will always take care of his children. Scripture even says this way in Matthew Chapter six verses 31 and 32: 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.When you worry, Jesus says you are like the Gentiles – people who don’t know God. God, your Good, Loving Heavenly Father, knows what you need!

Remember when it comes to the priority list, we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow him the way he intends, so that all we are and everything we will ever become could be given for the Kingdom of God. As a child I remember vividly sometimes with my grandmother that, with the help of the Holy Ghost, she mentored, molded, and made me the person I am today. For example: One morning on the way to church my grandmother stopped by the gas station. I would always ask for something from the station. This morning in particular, I asked for something from the station, and she obliged. She said,” whatever is left over put on the gas pump.” I ran in, grabbed some ZotZ, but instead of waiting on me to give her the signal that I had put the money on the pump. She started pumping the gas. By the time I got out there to tell her I’d put the money on the pump she had already filled up the car. The moral of the story is: the timing of the lord is perfect, and everything He wills you to do is within the parameters of his time. There are two things I’d like to pull from the story mentioned: waiting on God may be outside of your timing, but it will always cost you more than you are willing to pay. Scripture says in Ecclesiastes chapter three verse one, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” What can we take from this? We must follow the leading and direction of God. Here’s the thing, it isn’t a restriction we have following him, but it is an honor he allows us to follow his leading. Never look at it as something that restrains you, because when you follow him it gives you the freedom to be lead. If society has its way it’ll lead you, and if Satan has his way, he’ll lead you. Both under the preface or assumption, “Be yourself.” Individuality is very important for the Kingdom of God, but the moment we take it our own hands we pass the authority to something or someone else. His timing is perfect, it may not always align with what your plan is, and that may be one of the reasons it is so perfect. The second point made is that if you don’t wait on God, it will cost you more than what was intended. Now while looking back I may have had only twenty dollars walking into the store, in the end my grandmother spent over forty dollars that day. I believe we can apply the same principle to our spiritual lives. Every day you come to a crossroad. Every day you will pay a toll to go one way or the other. If you choose him the scripture says, “He’ll renew your strength.” When we are in the waiting, we must recognize the reason we are here and the one we are working for. The waiting room can be a tough place to be in, but it is something everyone must go through. Take David for example, he went from a Shepard tends the flocks to anointed king of Israel, and then directly back to the fields. It is in this “waiting rooms” God is able to test and try our character. Don’t become bitter in the wait, but strengthen yourself in the Lord. Stop looking for a way out but look for the one, to whom will bring you through. In order to put the Kingdom first, we must truly know the King. When you are after the King’s heart his desires will become your own. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Philippians 2:5). How do we become more like Him? I believe scripture places great importance upon these disciplines: prayer, fasting, and reading the word. Matthew Chapter six verse seven starts out by saying, “But when ye pray.” Prayer is the most important thing one can do. Once prayer becomes a practice, you will begin to see his heart in your own and his mind within your own. I mentioned earlier to importance of prayer, but how, practically, do we apply it within our lives. In the book of Daniel chapter six, verse ten, we see: “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” This is just one application scripture notes. You may not pray three times a day, but you must make a priority in your life individually to pray. What I do is: first thing in the morning I say, “Thank you God for waking me up this morning.” I go about my daily routine, and within the routine I am praying. I talk to God as though he is right beside me because, news flash, he is. I have heard it said though, “If you can not tell me when or where you pray specifically, you don’t pray.” I have found this to be true. I disregard the where portion, although I have a specific place of prayer in the evenings. I believe we must set aside a time for God daily. I suggest, the first thing you do in the morning is thank God and ask that he prepare you for the day. Around midday, thank him again, ask that he would lead and guide you to hungry souls that need him. I always a lot a time, and place to be with God. It is there that God meets me in the most miraculous ways. This is not something I have conjured only own; There are scriptural backgrounds I have followed on prayer. Take Adam and Eve for instance, scripture says in Genesis chapter three verses eight through ten: 8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.

This account shows Adam, and Eve hiding. Scripture does not note things irrelevantly, if it is noted it is pertinent to what is happening. Scripture says, “Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day.” I believe this was their time to be with the Lord. This shows a pattern of consistent conversation with the Lord. This is not the only reason, but we must set aside time for God, in our days, to be with him and only him. Next we talk about fasting. Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:16-18). Jesus never said, “If ye fast,” he said, “When ye fast.” Fasting, to me, is one of the hardest things to do, but is so rewarding. I do not feel the need for expelling why fasting is important here, but I will give a practical application for your life. Just as prayer must have a consistent time, fasting too must have a set time within your life to be practiced. What I have always done is: take a day out of the week to fast consistently. My pastor, Nathan Thornton, of my home church, Apostolic Restoration Church West Monroe, always says, “If you are making a life decision, fast three days before deciding.” These are just a few things I have done to implement fasting within my life. Fasting is a way of you to separate yourself from your flesh and grow closer to God. If you are to be a mentor and leader, the way God wants you to, you must take time set aside for prayer and fasting. The most dangerous thing for a leader to do is lead without the leading and guiding of the Holy Ghost. You are attempting to lead them to God, preferably that you have a relationship with. Last, we will discuss reading the word of God. There are quite a few reasons we as Christians should read his word. 1. It contains God’s pattern of our lives. Paul writes that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16.

2. Another reason you should read the word of God is: it is our sustenance. Jesus said, “But he answered and said, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4.

3. The last reason mentioned reading the Bible is: it gives us discernment. The author of Hebrews writes, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s (Philippians 2:21). As individuals, it is natural to seek our own will, but God’s Word cuts through all of this; it separates out all self-serving in our lives and ascertains what is truth and righteousness.

These are just a few reasons that we must read the word of God. To be applicational, reading the word is not an option. A way to include it within your life is to set a specific time a day to read the word of God. I like to listen to the Bible chronologically, while following along in the word. I often do this while drinking my morning coffee, paired with whatever I am having for breakfast. You may have a different way of comprehending the word; Therefore, you may need to set a time aside from all else to read the word. Whatever you do, make it a priority to read the word of God because it is in these times of reading you will learn about God’s character and might. Never discount the word of God as just a book. The word of God is alive as noted earlier;Therefore, it can touch you and reveal itself if you are searching it out. Last, understand that before you lead anyone God must be whom you are following. Paul set a perfect example of this in the letter to Corinth. Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). The social media age in which we live our online followings are waxing by the day. All the while our personal connections dying, little by little our human interactions dwindling to nothing. We as the church of the living God must take back human interaction for the Kingdom. Understand though, people are supposed to follow you as you follow Christ don’t get caught up in the followers get caught up in pursuit of God. You will become a great leader. “But first the Kingdom.”