Eternal Kingdom, Eternal Priorities (Sunday Morning 8/19/2024)

Each week, much of what I preach and teach focuses on how to live the successful and abundant life that Jesus Christ paid for us to have. **John 10:10** tells us, "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." As a pastor, I’m acutely aware of the struggles many people face daily, whether it’s paying bills, dealing with physical ailments, sickness, disease, pain, or depression. I’m also deeply familiar with the family problems, loss, drama, and mental anguish that many endure. These challenges motivate me to help the people of this church, whom I love dearly, to find the abundant life that Christ promised, a life free from these burdens. **Matthew 11:28-30** reminds us, "Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.'"

I’m not a doctor, lawyer, banker, psychiatrist, or all-knowing guru. I am a preacher and minister of the gospel. So, the help I offer is based on the Word of God, prayerfully delivered in power and demonstration of the Holy Ghost.

At my core, I truly believe that faith in God is not merely a coping mechanism designed to help us endure the suffering and hardships of this world, though it certainly does that. **Psalm 34:19** assures us, "The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time." I believe that the power of the gospel we preach and believe in is the remedy to these issues. It is a source of true prosperity in spirit, soul, and body—mentally, physically, and spiritually; financially, relationally, and personally. This belief drives me to frequently preach and teach along these lines. I preach healing, deliverance, and prosperity. **3 John 1:2** expresses this well: "Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit."

I believe that death, sickness, and disease are our enemies. These adversities come either directly or indirectly as a result of the fall of man, which was initiated by the devil. The devil is our enemy, and everything he brings upon humanity is an enemy to us. As it is written, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life” (John 10:10, NLT).

I believe that Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price to remedy these issues. These problems stem from the curse that came upon humanity in the Garden of Eden. However, Jesus Christ dealt with this curse once and for all. “But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing” (Galatians 3:13, NLT). Therefore, it is our responsibility to believe God’s Word and confront these issues, driving them out of our lives through faith and obedience.

Every person struggling to meet their basic needs due to poverty is ultimately in that situation because of the devil and the fallen state of this world. Yet, I believe that the promises, power, and principles taught in the Word of God can lift any individual out of such a terrible condition. As the Bible says, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, NLT).

This is why I preach blessing, healing, deliverance and financial prosperity—not out of greed or covetousness, but because I want to see the works of the devil destroyed completely. I believe God has commanded us to trust Him and His Word, as it is written, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22, NLT). This faith is essential for overcoming the challenges brought by the enemy.

I want each of you to know God’s Word, to believe in God’s Word, to know how to pray, and to know how to take authority over the devil. “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you” (Luke 10:19, NLT). I desire to see you and your entire family succeed and flourish. I long to see the Kingdom of God expand, grow, and flourish while the kingdom of darkness is defeated and shrinking in our area.
We are in a spiritual war, and this is how we fight. As the Apostle Paul said, “We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments” (2 Corinthians 10:4, NLT). This is why I preach the way I do. I want to see each one of you walking in total victory.

However, this morning, I want to take a different direction. Because of my commitment to these principles, I sometimes worry that I may appear to be too focused on the here and now, neglecting to address one major subject that is of utmost importance: the eternal Kingdom of God. **Colossians 3:1-2** encourages us, "Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth."

Life on this earth is short, but eternity is certain and will last forever. **James 4:14** reminds us, "How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone." While we all face various struggles, not everyone faces the same issues. Some may struggle with sickness, others with financial difficulties, and others with family problems. But there is one thing we all have in common: we will all die someday, and we will all spend eternity somewhere. We will either spend eternity in heaven with God, the millennial reign with Christ, and in the new heavens and the new earth as described in the Bible, or we will spend eternity in hell and eventually the lake of fire forever. **Matthew 25:46** says, "And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life."

No matter how well we live or what struggles we face, this life is short. Our successes and failures will be forgotten, and the world will move on without us. For example, I retired from Toyota two years ago, and as far as I know, they haven’t missed building a single car due to my absence. When we are gone, life will continue, and so will our families, governments, and societies. Quickly our names are forgotten. Everything you worked and struggled to accumulate, and guard will be dispersed and sold in auctions and yard sales in a few hours. The rest will be thrown into the trash and donated to Goodwill. **Ecclesiastes 1:11** reminds us, "We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now."

Therefore, it’s crucial for us to focus on our own eternal existence. The primary purpose of Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit, is not just about physical prosperity and health, but about eternity. **John 3:16** says, "For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." Our purpose as Christians is not just about the blessings we receive, but about how many people we can bring into the Kingdom of God with us. **Matthew 28:19-20** commands us, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

We cannot become so focused on the physical and natural things of this world that we forget about eternity. **1 John 2:15-17** warns us, "Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." We can't be so consumed with accumulating wealth, big houses, or nice cars that we neglect souls and how many people we can lead into the Kingdom of God. As the Bible says,**Mark 8:36** challenges us with this thought: "And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?"

If we are commanded by God to seek first His Kingdom, it makes me wonder: what is His number one priority? **Matthew 6:33** instructs us, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Is God more concerned about the size of our houses or about how many people will avoid the fiery torment of hell because of our efforts to win them to the Kingdom? **2 Peter 3:9** reassures us, "The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent."

Our priorities should reflect our concern for God’s command: **Mark 16:15** records Jesus' command: "And then He told them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.'" I dare say that most of us care less about how many people are born again than we should. It’s not just about what we feel in our hearts; it’s also about our actions. **James 2:17** tells us, "So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." Does our checkbook show that we’re putting the Kingdom of God first, or does it show that we’re more concerned about material possessions and sending God just a small fraction of our resources? **Matthew 6:19-21** advises, "Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be."

We jump at an opportunity to consume the pleasures and comforts of this world but hesitate to witness to our own neighbors. **Luke 16:9** advises, "Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home." We won’t even invite our coworkers or family members to church, let alone volunteer in the church to help those who are actively trying to win souls. **Romans 10:14** asks, "But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?"

We are so busy trying to squeeze every drop of happiness out of this life that we lose sight of what matters for eternity. **1 Corinthians 7:31** reminds us, "Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away."

Last week, I talked about sowing, much of which was about what we can gain physically in this world. **2 Corinthians 9:6** says, "Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop." I believe in that, and I don’t take it back. It’s important. Christ paid a terrible price that includes those things. **Isaiah 53:5** declares, "But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed." But how much eternal seed are we sowing? **Galatians 6:8** challenges us: "Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."

If we were truly convinced that Jesus Christ is coming soon, if we had a vision and a reality of how long eternity is, how glorious heaven is, and how terrible the horrors of hell are, we would live differently. **Revelation 22:12** reminds us, "Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds." Where our treasure is, there our heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21) says, Are we like Martha, worried about all the tasks that need to be done, or are we like Mary, consumed with spending time with the Master? (Luke 10:41-42)

What does it mean to be Kingdom-minded? I believe it means being more concerned about what God is concerned about, not the other way around. **Matthew 6:33** again reminds us, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." Clearly, God loved the world so much that He was willing to sacrifice His own Son in the cruelest fashion to gain a family of human beings. **Romans 5:8** tells us, "But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." To be truly Kingdom-minded, we must be willing to do whatever it takes to win souls to the Kingdom of God. **1 Corinthians 9:22** expresses this heart: "When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some."

When we pray, how much of our time is spent asking for personal needs compared to praying for lost loved ones or for God to use us to further the Kingdom? Are we more obsessed with money than with souls? **1 Timothy 6:10** warns us, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows."

I want everyone in this room to be healed of whatever ailment is in your body, and I believe the atonement provides for that. **Isaiah 53:4-5** affirms this: "Yet it was our weaknesses He carried; it was our sorrows that weighed Him down. And we thought His troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for His own sins! But He was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed." But if you die with that ailment and are born again, you will live for eternity without that sickness, disease, or pain. However, if you are healed of your sickness but lose your soul and go to hell, hell is eternally horrible. **Mark 9:43** warns, "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand than to go into the unquenchable fires of hell with two hands."
The Kingdom-minded person is more concerned about the eternal state of others than their own earthly comfort. **Philippians 2:3-4** encourages us, "Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." Even the Apostle Paul said that while it was better for his followers that he remains alive, it was better for him to go on to heaven. (Philippians 1:21-24) But because they needed him, he chose to stay and serve God by serving his congregation.

This morning, I’m concerned that perhaps we are too earthly-minded and not focused enough on heaven and eternity. Myself included. **Romans 12:2** reminds us, "Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect." So, I want to set the record straight: our number one focus should be on eternal things, and the temporary things of this world should be secondary. **2 Corinthians 4:18** concludes with this powerful truth: "So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever."

We must truly seek first the Kingdom of God, making the Great Commission of Jesus Christ our highest priority above all else. If we do this, I believe everything else will naturally fall into its proper place on our list of priorities. When we love God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and love our neighbor as ourselves, as commanded in **Matthew 22:37-39**, we cannot help but be in proper alignment with God's will.

God’s promises of healing and prosperity are not meant to satisfy our own lusts, covetousness, or selfish worldly desires. **James 4:3** warns, "And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure." We cannot love money or earthly pleasures more than God, as **1 Timothy 6:10** reminds us, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows." We must keep a close watch on our hearts and minds to ensure that these things do not subtly sneak into our lives. **Proverbs 4:23** advises, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."