Deeper Christian Life Ministry – Youth Search The Scripture For December 5, 2021 (Lesson 1029) : Topic – REDISCOVERING THE FORGOTTEN PATH TO BLESSING
YOUTH SEARCH THE SCRIPTURE
LESSON 1029
REDISCOVERING THE FORGOTTEN PATH TO BLESSING
Memory Verse: “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
TEXT: Ezekiel 36: Matthew 6:33
The path to divine blessings has been forgotten by many youths today. God has given us His promises and the prophecies of what He intends to do and how He will do them. He promises to bless youths in ways that are beyond human reasoning. He says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher that* the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8,9). But He cannot funy and richly bless anyone in the state of dirt and defilement except such is completely cleansed by the blood of Jesus, our Saviour. This is the reason God says: “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you” (Ezekiel 36:25). This refers to the experience salvation.
Question 1: What is salvation?
Salvation comes with conversion through repentance and faith in the death of Jesus Christ and it brings cleansing. Those who profess to be saved but are not living a righteous life must first be cleansed from sin in preparation for better things God wants to do in their lives. After salvation experience, there is another work of grace, which many youths are ignorant of today. They feel the initial experience Of salvation is enough; they forget God’s promises for sanctification (holiness or- purity of heart) and a third experience which is the baptism in the Holy Ghost. With these experiences we will fulfill the totality of God’ s will. Though God has given us His promises/ we must pray to obtain them. “Thus saith the Lord GOD; i will yet for this be enquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock” (Ezekiel 36:37). Believers should seek His place and pray to Him in order to enjoy His promised blessings: However, God wants His children to give His Kingdom and righteousness a priority in their lives. This is why our memory verse challenges us to “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
PRIORITISING THE REIGN OF THE MOST HIGH KING (Matthew 6:33; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; Luke 12:15-21; Psalm 119:36,37; Ruth 1: 15-18; 4:13-18; Proverbs 23:26)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God…” (Matthew 6:33). To have all that we desire, we must seek first the kingdom of God. Unfortunately, many youths do not know the path that leads to blessings. Solomon neither asked for riches nor wealth. Instead, he asked for “wisdom and knowledge” (2 Chronicles 1 : 10) to reign over God’s people in a proper and perfect way that Will satisfy Him. Because he put God first, the Lord will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before (2 Chronicles 1:12).
Question 2: What is the path to God’s blessings?
“My son,- give me thine heart, and let thine eyes Observe my ways” (Proverbs 23:26). Believers should Prioritise their relationship with God and submission to Him. Those who fail to put God first in all they do should Consider Christ’s parable of the ‘foolish man who failed to Prioritise the kingdom of God and make heaven his desire. All he concerned himself with was materialism. “But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee…” (Luke 12: 12:20), The prayer of a person Who cares about God and His glory should be: “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way” (Psalm 119:37). Ruth put God first and vowed that “thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God” (Ruth 1:16). She understood the pathway to blessings. She knew if she was’ to get the greatest of blessings from the Lord, she must put God first. Most youths Only adorn their body and neglect their souls and spirits. But we need to take care Of our spirits and souls as well because at death, the body remains in the grave while the spirit and soul go to God. As believers; we must be conscious of the truth that every kingdom has a reigning king. Jesus Christ is the reigning King in God’s kingdom. So, everyone must prioritise entrance into it through repentance and faith and have Christ reign in their hearts and life. All must prioritise the reign of the Most High King.
PURSUING THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM (Matthew 6:33; Zephaniah 2:3; Jeremiah 45:5; Isaiah 51:1,2; Genesis 13:5-15; 20:3-8, Matthew 5:6,20; Colossians 3:1-6, 14-16)
“But seek ye first… his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Having put God first, we should pursue “his righteousness” so that His blessings will be added to our lives. Our righteousness should be practical, active, personal and behavioural, Many do not understand the path to the blessings Of God by seeking “great things” for themselves when the Bible says, “seek them not” (Jeremiah 45:5). They fail to understand that God has created them for a purpose. The Lord wants us to be saved and sanctified, and to surrender our soul, spirit and personality to Him in order to fulfil His purpose for our lives. As believers, we should “Look unto Abraham” whom God “called… alone, and blessed him, and increased him” (Isaiah 51:2). We must not emulate Lot who failed to pursue God’s righteousness and eventually lost everything in Sodom and Gomorrah.
Question 3: What is the importance of righteousness in our lives?
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities” (Acts 3:19,26). There is need to follow the path of repentance, restitution and righteousness before we can have the blessings of the Lord. Righteousness at all times should be our pursuit. “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). God wants us to thirst and hunger after righteousness and “seek those things which are above” (Colossians 3:1). We must allow His doctrines on repentance, restitution, righteousness, holiness and sanctification to dwell in us richly.
POSSESSING THE RICHES OF HIS HOLY KINGDOM (Matthew 6:33; Daniel 4:34-36; 2 Kings 20;3-6; Proverbs 3:1,2,9,10; 1 Kings 17:11-16; Malachi 3:10-12; Isaiah 58:8-11; Hosea 10:12)
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). As believers, we do not need to be running after material things. All we need to do is pray, centre our affection on Him alone and make God’s kingdom and His righteousness our priority and pursuit. Nebuchadnezzar put God first, his kingdom was established “and excellent majesty was added unto [him)” (Daniel 4:36). Hezekiah also got additional fifteen years because he “walked before [Him) in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in [His) sight” (2 Kings 20:3). When we keep God’s commandments, honour and make Him the priority of our lives, He adds many good things to us. The woman of Zarephath “…did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.” (I Kings 17:15).
Question 4: What should be our priority concerning riches?
“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the World through lust” (1 Peter 1:3,4). As a believer, put righteousness above riches; purity before prosperity; and holiness before healing. Be faithful in all that you are called to do. Do not be like Ananias and Sapphira who lost t their lives because of unfaithfulness. When you do what God requires, “all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts” (Malachi 3:12)