How Do I Seek First the Kingdom? | Living Now in Light of Later

by Alan Smith

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Cor 15:58

For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
2 Cor 5:4-5

I used to play the saxophone. I wasn’t great, but I was good and had potential. One year I set the goal to make the All Region Band. This required performing a very difficult piece of music in front of a panel of judges. Preparation for this task involved committing hours of time that would normally be allocated for play to a fairly grueling process of practice. Not being a naturally disciplined child, it might not surprise you to hear that some doubted I would in fact follow through. But I did. Why? I had captured a vision of a future reality, and I was motivated in the present to live in light of that reality.

1 Corinthians 15 is about the future moment when Christ returns; we will rise bodily from the dead to meet Him—transformed and incorruptible. In verse 58, Paul tells us that we should live in the present “ … steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Part of what it means to seek first the kingdom of God in my life involves capturing a vision for that which is yet to come. I seek first the kingdom by living within the present in light of a future reality.

Our access to this future reality of resurrection and new creation is not simply conceptual or theological. By the Spirit, we have been given access in the present to a reality in the future. The Spirit has been given to us as a guarantee, a down-payment, in the present, toward that future reality. By the Spirit, I am called to live within my present context as an heir of that future reality.

1. The New Testament firmly anchors our future home in terms of bodily resurrection and new creation. When you think of your future in Christ, is your hope similarly placed? Why or why not?

2. When Jesus returns there will be an end to sickness, sorrow, pain and suffering (see Rev 21). In what ways does the Holy Spirit work presently within believers to bring that future reality into the present?

3. Through what relationships might the Holy Spirit want to use you this week as a conduit of new creation power?

How Do I Seek First the Kingdom? | Enforcing His Victory

by Angie Wyatt

Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.
Revelation 12:10–11

I love movies about fighters and champions. Films like Rocky always bring their star to that defining moment when they are faced with a fierce, internal struggle. As Rocky plows through his outdoor workout despite a fierce blizzard, the audience asks, “Will he find the fighter within?” We watch Rocky’s inner struggle, and we cheer him on. We instinctively know that if he can conquer the battle within, he’ll become the champion when the world is watching. 

When faced with seemingly insurmountable obstacles, champions determine who they are and press through with an inner strength. As Christians, our status as champions in this spiritual battle is challenged daily. The Enemy accuses people by reminding them of their failures, past sins and inadequacies. All these are qualities that are cancelled through our relationship with Jesus. We must determine who we are as God’s people and enforce His victory over our lives.

By His death and resurrection, Jesus overcame the power of darkness completely and forever. As believers, we have access to His power. 1 John 5:4 says, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”  In Revelation 21:11, we read that believers overcome the Enemy by the blood of Christ and by their testimony. Christ has won the spiritual battle through His blood. We reinforce the victory with our testimony.

When we praise, pray, worship and put on our spiritual armor, we testify to the world that we belong to God and we believe in Jesus. We are enforcing His reign in the world and agreeing with His conquering power. When we fight the battle spiritually, we win the battle.

1.  In what ways does your life testify of Jesus Christ?

2.  How can you reinforce the victory of Jesus?

3.   In what ways are you victorious in the kingdom of God?