Asking for the greater

Matt 6
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God , and his righteousness ; and all these things shall be added unto you .

1. The Kingdom of God
"The kingdom of God" is the primary subject of the Sermon on the Mount--that kingdom which the God of heaven is erecting in this fallen world, within which are all the spiritually recovered and inwardly subject portion of the family of Adam, under Messiah as its Divine Head and King. Therefore a kingdom must have a reigning King!

Therefore ask for greater and eternal things that God will take care of the needs that He knows that we need. Why ask for the good when God wants to bless us with His Kingdom! If we know that our God gives us freely why then worry? Won't He provide us in all abundance? Didn't Solomon ask for Godly wisdom that he was blessed with honor and riches?

2 Chron 1
11 And God said to Solomon , Because this was in thine heart , and thou hast not asked riches , wealth , or honour , nor the life of thine enemies , neither yet hast asked long life ; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people , over whom I have made thee king : 12 Wisdom and knowledge [is] granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches , and wealth , and honour , such as none of the kings have had that [have been] before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

2. The heathens' prayer
Engulfed in concerns for self

103:1 [[ [A Psalm] of David . ]] Bless the LORD , O my soul : and all that is within me, [ bless ] his holy name .

The heathen would say the reverse 'Bless my soul O my God'.

The supposed worship to Almighty has changed focus from acknowledging the greater to the lesser, from the eternal to the temporal. The fear/reverence for the Almighty to circumstances.

Matt 6:
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Do our prayers seem to babbling before our Father? Repeated babbles will eventually end up as complains as the Israelites after seeing God’s supernatural rescue from Egypt. An experience of salvation alone doesn’t determine our love and loyalty to our Savior.

Since we have a Loving Father in Heaven, the amount of trust in God’s providence is directly proportional to our reverance and relationship with Him.

Psa 34
8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! 9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

Exp: Daniel and his 3 friends, Peter facing the Jewish religious leaders.

Acts 5:
29 Then Peter and the [other] apostles answered and said , We ought to obey God rather than men .

Take this in contrast to the scattering of the disciples at Gethsemane and now having seen the resurrection glory of Jesus Christ, their lives live for the Kingdom of God.

Fear for their own lives took a metamorphosis to fear (holy reverence) for the Almighty.

These ones live in the Kingdom of God, knowing the higher life and the benefits and authority of obeying the laws and statutes of that Kingdom.

Duet 28:
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head , and not the tail ; and thou shalt be above only , and thou shalt not be beneath ; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God , which I command thee this day , to observe and to do [them]:

We will never be experience living a higher life of victory (over sin, ourselves, circumstances) and being on top of all situations without obedience. Adam in contrast to Jesus allowed sin to overcome him because of disobedience whereas the last Adam overcame everything including the cross by obedience (‘Your will be done’)

3. Whom we recognize as our Father

Matt 6:
9 After this manner therefore pray ye : Our Father which art in heaven , Hallowed be thy name .

The King of the Kingdom is also our Father. More than a King! A father will love, protest, provide for as well as ensuring that we grow into maturity.

Matt 5:
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

The root word for ‘perfect’ is ‘telios’ or maturity.

Luke 22:
29 And I appoint unto you a kingdom , as my Father hath appointed unto me ; 30 That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom , and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel .

Matt 25:
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand , Come , ye blessed of my Father , inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world

Our inheritance is given from the Father because we are blessed! We have to realize the by forsaking the lesser.

4. What are the things of the Kingdom?

Matt 5:
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

The 10 Commandments, forgiveness, not judging others, praying, giving alms, trust (not worrying), authority….. Matt 5, 6 & 7