THE WAY OF THE KINGDOM

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.
Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake."
Matthew 5:1-11 (NKJV)

• If you realized your need for God, you are a candidate for His blessings.
IF all you seek God for are material THINGS, you should not be surprised when you do not get them.

Those who are Wise SEEK God's Kingdom and His righteousness first: "But SEEK FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU" (Matthew 6:33).
IT is when you SEEK Him and His righteousness that other things would be added to you. THE things that supposed to be an addition should not be the main things.
Do not love the gifts more than the Giver of the gifts!
SOME want God's BLESSING but do not want Him WHO is The Giver of the Blessing; they do not want His Word, His work or kingdom established on earth, and do not want His plans and programmes for their LIVES.
THOSE who want His Blessing should want His person as well!
You cannot get His BLESSING without getting His person first, even if you get His BLESSING BY favour, without His person, it would not last because you would not be able to keep the BLESSING.

• The pattern of the kingdom
GOD blesses those who thirst for righteousness for they would receive it in full (Matthew 5:6).
GOD blesses the people with PURE HEART for they would see God (Matthew 5:8).
GOD blesses those who SUFFER for kingdom purposes, they passed through difficulties to obey God, the kingdom of heaven is theirs (Matthew 5:10).
GOD blesses those who are ready to give up their WILL to embrace God's WILL that His name might be glorified.

• Love is the key to successful Christian living

Without love unconditionally, you cannot live a successful Christian LIFE.
You do not love in the kingdom because of personal or selfish motives, because of what you will get or derive from others, you love as Jesus loves (1 John 3:16-18).
Love of God should permeate every aspect of your life as a believer.
IN the Church, you do not love because you are of the same ethnicity, tribe, race, colour, or whatever, and you do not love someone because they helped you while you were in need; NOT because of anything but Christ.
There should not be class and segregation among the brethren in the Churches, but rather THERE should be Bond of unity and mutual LOVE.

"Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let Nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself [herself].
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."
Philippians 2:1-4 (NKJV)

• And do not do your good deeds because you want to receive the PRAISE of people, When you do that you have already received your reward (Matthew 6:1).

Be plain and sincere in your dealings with other people, do not live to impress others, and be genuine in All you do: "Do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still please Men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10).
Strive to please God, not any Man; although Man may approve you, praise you, commend you, but If God does not, you cannot receive anything from Him.
God blesses those who are sincere, truthful, and faithful in their walk with Him.
Love God and your fellow human beings; and do whatever you do because you love God and you want to obey Him (Matthew 22:37-40).
God should be the centre of everything you do, and should be the reason for whatever you want to do (Romans 14:7,8).
IF you want to give for kingdom purposes: His work in the Church, help the brethren, or whatever, All should be done because you want to please God—not for self or personal aggrandizement.
Whatever you do without God as the basis or rationale would have been wrongly motivated.
WHEN you live and relate with others based on God's love, you would not be disappointed when you are let down by any.
Know that the best of Man is still Man, It is only God WHO cannot let you down.
You should also know that anyone could be an instrument in the hand of the devil to frustrate you in your Christian journey.
DO not put your trust in Man but God, also know that Man may disappoint you but God would not: "Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD. BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO TRUSTS IN THE LORD, and whose hope is the LORD" (Jeremiah 17:5,7).
If you are offended by any, endeavour to Forgive and let go.
THE proof that you love as God loves is the ability to forgive and overlook things when you are offended
You exhibit, express LOVE, through Forgiveness, Giving, and Sacrifice.
IF you love God and the BRETHREN, you will Give and be willing to Forgive when you are offended.

• Love is one of the fruits of the SPIRIT: "But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, Joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness [meekness], self-control, against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22,23);
YOU would have to work and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to grow all the fruits in your LIFE.

Fruits of the spirit are grown in the midst of tribulation, challenges, and afflictions.
You can only exercise and grow in Love in the midst of the unlovable people, you also learn Peace in the midst of chaos, and develop Patience when you experience delays and disappointments.
No fruit is grown in pleasures, THUS you have to work on the growth of the FRUIT of the spirit in your life, when fruit grown circumstances come your way.

• You will not fail in Jesus' name.
Peace!