KINGDOM AND RIGHTEOUSNESS
(week 18/15)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Matthew 6:33 KJV: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Here, the Lord Jesus tells us to seek first the Kingdom of God AND His righteousness: so obviously the Kingdom and His righteousness are NOT EXACTLY the same thing.
What is the difference?
The Kingdom is the DOMINION OF GOD, enforcing right-doing, peace and joy IN THE AIR by the power of the Holy Spirit:
Romans 14:17 NIV: For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
The Kingdom of God has TO BE ENFORCED by prayer to overcome the power of Satan in the air and replace it with the power of Holy Spirit so enforcing the Kingdom:
Ephesians 2:2 NIV: in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Matthew 11:12 AMP: And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize–a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
Righteousness is two-fold: INTERNAL right-standing and CONSEQUENT right-doing BY THE LIFE OF GOD, THAT RIGHT-STANDING GIVES US ACCESS TO.
Right-standing is internal right-standing in your spirit BY THE CLEANSING OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS that gives you ACCESS TO THE LIFE OF GOD.
Romans 8:10 NKJV: And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is [or has access to] life because of righteousness (right-standing).
1John 1:7-10 NKJV: But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (10) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
So, while the Kingdom is from the air by the power of the Holy Spirit, personal righteousness is from within by the blood, which gives right-standing and the life and power of God, which empower right-doing, fulfilling:
Philippians 2:13 NKJV: for it is God who works IN YOU both to WILL and to DO for His good pleasure.
In other words, we seek FIRST DAILY and so pray BOTH for the Kingdom to influence ALL MEN (saints and sinners) to right-doing, peace and joy (as was demonstrated during the last elections in Nigeria on March 28, 2015) by the power of the Holy Spirit FROM THE AIR and then for righteousness for all saints: internal right-standing by the blood and right-doing by the life and power of God.
In fact, this was what the Lord Jesus taught us IN WHAT MANNER TO PRAY IN:
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV: 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. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. (13) And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Practically, we seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness DAILY, by praying at LEAST ONCE EVERY 6 HOURS (Mk.13.35, 2 Sam. 6.13, Dt. 6.7) and AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY:
1. ‘Father I confess OUR sins to CLEAN WITH THE BLOOD’ (1 Jn. 1.7-10)
2.‘In Jesus Name WE have LIFE’ (Jn. 20.31).
3. Pray in tongues and travail (Eph. 6.18, 1 Cor. 14.2, Jude 1.21) to RELEASE THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT INTO THE AIR TO ENFORCE THE KINGDOM.
As we practice this as a DAILY HABIT, ALL OTHER THINGS WILL BE ADDED UNTO US, SINCE WE ARE IN CONTROL OF THE AIR AND OUR ANGELS CAN OPERATE UNHINDERED BY SATANIC FORCES (DAN. 10.1-13) TO BRING INTO PHYSICAL MANIFESTATION ALL OUR NEEDS THAT ARE BEING SUPPLIED BY GOD’S RICHES (PHIL. 4.19) IN GLORY!
1John 3:22-24 NKJV: And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. (23) And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment. (24) Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Fulfilling,
Deuteronomy 28:1-2, 10-13 NKJV: “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. (2) And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God: (10) Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. (11) And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. (12) The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. (13) And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
