Legacy’s Leon Sexton, “Seek first the Kingdom of God”

Northern Thailand Tribal Girls

Last night I received the latest newsletter from Legacy Institute’s Leon Sexton (who is in northern Thailand) that stated:

The pursuit of the Kingdom of God brings contentment. But it takes FAITH that God will take care of us and provide all our needs – and even sometimes a few of our WANTS!

God does not want us to worry about the physical necessities of life and what we need to take care of our families. Instead, He wants us to trust HIM – have faith in HIM and PURSUE THE TRUE RICHES of the Kingdom of God.

Matt 6:28-33

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

It took me being over 50 years old and going through a lot of heartache before I finally learned this extremely important spiritual lesson. And I still have a lot more to learn about pursuing God’s Kingdom. But I have to say that my life has changed since God finally got this lesson through my thick skull!

Now there is nothing intrinsically wrong with having wealth. Father Abraham was a very wealthy man. But what comes first? Is it the Kingdom of God or is it the pursuit of that wealth?…

As things get tougher and the price of oil and other necessities of our modern society keep climbing, may Almighty God continue to supply your every need until that blessed day when Our Lord and King returns.

And while it is true that economic troubles will worsen, until recently nearly all who professed Christ in the more prosperous countries probably had more trouble dealing with too much than too little.

Jesus warned:

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:22-23).

And until some have too little, they will not seek first the kingdom of God. And will not support the work that God wants done in this age–many seem to be too satisfied and focused on themselves to have the type of work God expects.

Jesus also warned:

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked– 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent (Revelation 3:14-19).

And sadly, even though Jesus gave these warnings, many still have trouble being faithful. Many do not have a personal zeal for the work.

But they need to repent and gather together before the end (Zephaniah 2:1-3) if they would like to possibly be protected during the tribulation.

People who hope that they do not have to gather together now and hope to join in at the end for personal protection will not be protected (Luke 17:33).

Those once part of the old WCG need to remember that the Church correctly used to teach:

Philadelphia has little strength to do this great work that God has given it to do. God has opened the door, and yet look how insignificant, how weak, how little strength we as a Church have to do that work…Revelation 3:7-13: “And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write these things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that OPENETH, and no man SHUTTETH; and SHUTTETH and no man openeth.” The great door that God has opened to this work is the facility to go into all the world and preach the gospel; the door of radio, the door of the printing press, plus many other such doors. God has set before us an open door and no MAN can shut it. God can shut it, and He will when the work is finished and the Philadelphia Church goes to a place of safety. …The Laodicean Church is not going to he worthy to escape to a place of safety. When it is too late, they will find that the Church of Philadelphia has gone to safety (What Is the “LAODICEAN CHURCH”? Good News August 1959 Vol. VIII, Number 8).

Notice what Herbert W. Armstrong taught:

Next, when our Great Commission is in God’s sight completed, we are to be taken–symbolically flown on the two wings of a great eagle–we shall be taken to a place of protection from the Great Tribulation (Armstrong HW. Looking…PASTOR GENERAL’S REPORT – VOL.3, NO.4 January 23, 1981).

And that still is true today. We who think that we part of the true Church need to support the Living Church of God as it seeks to fulfill that Great Commission of proclaiming the true gospel and to teach people in all nations to obey the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 28:19-20).

Anything less is not seeking first the kingdom (Matthew 6:33).

Several articles of related interest may include:

The Philadelphia Church Era was predominant circa 1933 A.D. to 1986 A.D. The old Radio Church of God and old Worldwide Church of God, now basically the Living Church of God.
The Laodicean Church Era was predominant circa 1986 A.D. to present. Non-Philadelphians who mainly descended from the old WCG.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God was the Emphasis of Jesus and the Early Church Did you know that? Do you even know what the gospel of the kingdom is all about? True religion should be based upon the true gospel.
Getting the Gospel Out is More than a Local Job Discusses Biblical rationale for doing an international, and not just a local, work.
There is a Place of Safety for the Philadelphians. Why it May Be PetraThis article discusses a biblical ‘place of safety’ and includes quotes from the Bible and Herbert W. Armstrong on this subject–thus, there is a biblically supported alternative to the rapture theory. But the Bible shows that Christians must be gathered together BEFORE it is time to go IF they may be protected.
Should the Church Still Try to Place its Top Priority on Proclaiming the Gospel or Did Herbert W. Armstrong Change that Priority for the Work? Some say the Church should mainly feed the flock now as that is what Herbert W. Armstrong reportedly said. Is that what he said? Is that what the Bible says? What did Paul and Herbert W. Armstrong expect from evangelists?