Welcome back to 'Business, Money, and Christianity.' Continuing our series, today’s live segment explores 'Why Seeking the Kingdom First Unlocks Supernatural Provision.' We know this message will bless you—let’s dive in!
See, to be what God wants you and me to be, we have to have more than enough. He doesn't want us to downsize and live in a hut just so all of our money can go toward something else. He's a God of more than enough.
He wants us to rise to the occasion. There is provision available for us to do whatever He has called us to do. The problem is that most people are more concerned about what they want to do than what God wants them to do.
Go to Matthew chapter 6. The last verse. I'm 13 seconds over time. Oh no, I've got 13 seconds left. By the time I said that, I had eight.
Matthew chapter 6, verse 31:
"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?"
Let me translate that. Don't be concerned about what it's going to take for you to live.
God has already made provision for you and me to live. Now, as I've said before, we have to manifest it. We have to be willing to recognize that God has provided for us, and we've got to believe it. The reality of what God has given us has to become greater than the reality of what we're currently living in.
This is a difficult concept for many people to grasp. But God, just like in the story I told about that December, had already made a way. I didn't know how it was going to work out. Was I supposed to get another job? That's natural thinking. Should we take out a loan? That's natural thinking. Should we pay the supplemental bill over the next 12 or 18 months? That's natural thinking too.
But knowing that the provision was already there and that I simply needed to apprehend it, that I needed to stay connected to God's system, is what caused it to manifest. It came in different ways. Who cares that it didn't all come at once? It came in little spurts that added up to a really big thing. That's fine. The key is knowing, having the faith to remain consistent, and keeping your mouth aligned with what you're believing for. That's what causes it to manifest.
Verse 32:
"For after all these things do the Gentiles seek."
Those who don't know Christ are concerned about how they're going to live, what they're going to wear, what they're going to eat, how they're going to make their mortgage payment, and how they're going to pay their utilities. They're consumed with "I have to, I have to, I have to."
They don't spend much time thinking about who they are or what God wants them to manifest. They're simply focused on moving from problem to problem and from issue to issue.
"For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things."
How many of these things? All of them.
Let's go back to verse 31.
"Take no thought"—don't even dwell on it—and don't say it. When you speak it, you take ownership of the thought.
"What shall we eat? What shall we drink? How shall we be clothed? How are we going to take care of all the necessities of life?"
Your heavenly Father knows that you have need of all these things.
How much can you rest in that truth? He knows what you need.
"God, I need Your manifestation in my life. Right now, this is the situation I'm facing. I need You. I need Your provision to become visible in my life."
We'll continue and talk about how this system works and about the things we do that interfere with it.
Verse 33:
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God..."
The kingdom of God is the system of God. The kingdom of heaven is a geographic location.
Hold your place here and go to Luke chapter 9. Matthew, Mark, Luke... there it is. Go to verse 27.
"But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God."
Jesus is speaking here.
Are any of those people still alive today? No.
What was He talking about? He was talking about the system He was bringing into the earth.
When I die, am buried, and am resurrected, you're going to see the power of God manifested. You're going to see My kingdom, My way of doing things, come into operation.
Then we see the church established in the book of Acts, and we see God doing powerful things.
So Jesus says, "Seek first the kingdom of God." In other words, seek first the way I do things.
Let me make sure I'm saying that correctly.
Does your Bible say "first"? What's first? Is it second? Third? No, it's first.
Do it My way first.
"Be not conformed to this world," but follow what I say and how I do things.
Seek first the kingdom of God. Seek first the way I've designed this thing to work. Seek the place where My power operates and where everything that pertains to life and godliness has already been given to you.
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
How many of these things?
All these things.
God has a system, and His system must come first in our lives.
Now, this is where self-deception often enters the picture. We know the Bible. We've read the Bible. We've gone to Sunday school. We've attended church. We call ourselves Christians.
We say, "I believe all this, and I'm doing it."
But is it manifesting?
Are we seeing the results?
The manifestation of Christ reveals the glory, power, and presence of God.
Jesus is coming back for a glorious church—a church that reveals Him.
In the context of what I'm preaching on today, the manifestation of divine provision, we have to manifest it.
Why would Jesus come back for a broke, depressed, sick, defeated church?
No. He's coming back for a glorious church without spot or wrinkle.
I must bring my faith to the point where what Jesus provided through His crucifixion and resurrection becomes visible in my life.
If it isn't working in me, then I'm not manifesting Him.
And honestly, I believe the system is much simpler than we often make it.
If I seek His manifestation in my life, then I must align myself with His way of doing things.
That alignment will make my life work better, and it will prepare me for His return.
But can I truly wrap my mind around that?
Like in my story, can I walk it out?
How old was Tiffany then? Let's see. Were they in high school in 2005? Maybe middle school or high school.
I've got two kids at home.
Actually, they weren't the problem. I'm the one who wanted to eat. They probably just wanted coffee.
Can you trust God when you have a family? Can you trust Him when you're responsible for other people?
Can you trust Him enough to believe that He will make a way because He loves you and He loves your family?
When we get down to brass tacks, that's where it becomes difficult.
We live in a very emotionally driven culture.
Most people are more concerned with what they're feeling, what they're thinking, and what their comfort level is than with what God has said—even though what God has said would solve everything.
Let's all stand.
Throughout March, I'm talking about provision.
But what I'm teaching applies to every area of life.
Next month we'll talk about health.
We'll talk about peace. There should be no fear in our lives. We should manifest the peace of God at all times.
We should manifest the goodness of God regardless of our circumstances.
We should manifest the joy of God.
We should manifest the love of God.
We should manifest confidence in God.
We should manifest Christ in every area of our lives.
We should not be having emotional breakdowns.
You might say, "You don't know what I'm going through."
Well, I can tell you one thing.
You're going through what everybody else goes through, because the Bible says so.
The difference is that right now you're the one feeling it instead of somebody else.
Jesus is coming back.
I would encourage you to get ready.
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