“His Kingdom & Righteousness” Christ Connect Church (05-Jan-2014)

God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love And of sound mind (1) I have great peace because I love Your law and nothing shall offend me (2) You keep me in perfect peace because my mind is stayed on You And I trust in You (3) (1) 2 Timothy 1:7, (2) Psalm 119:165, (3) Isaiah 26:3, Our Proclamation

New Year – top resolutions 1.Lose weight and get fit 2.Quit smoking 3.Learn something new 4.Get out of debt and save money 5.Spend more time with the family “How to be happy and successful?”

Yesterday’s heat wave Beaudesert – 44.6C Maroochydore – 41.3C Redcliffe – 40.3C Archerfield – 43.5C Brisbane – 38.7C (below the predicted 41C)

The soul’s thirst Psalm 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.

Starting out strong Joshua 1:5 No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Joshua defeated 31 Canaanite kings (Josh. 12:24)

Seeking after God Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you Seeking the kingdom of God Seeking His righteousness

God’s Kingdom The Kingdom of God - the rule or reign of God over all creation - the government of God based on His Word & Law The Lord’s Prayer says “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10)

God’s Kingdom Pledge of Allegiance From this time forward, under God, I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people, whose democratic beliefs I share, whose rights and liberties I respect, and whose laws I will uphold and obey Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven

God’s Righteousness Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.“

God’s Righteousness God’s righteousness - a righteousness that’s not earthly or man-made (but from God) - revealed in the gospel of Christ - is based on purely on faith We are saved by grace thru faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8)

We’re looking for a Man Jeremiah 23:5-6 "Behold, the days are coming," says the Lord, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” - A messianic prophecy that points to Jesus!

Grace & Truth – In Christ John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”

Grace & Truth – In Christ John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For the Father made Jesus who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ

How to Seek Christ? 1.Spend time in Prayer 2.Spend time in His Word 3.Obey His Word John 15:7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

How to Seek Christ? 4.Spend time sharing His gospel Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs