But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Friends, the false gospel tells people all they need do is repeat a few words and they are saved. It is akin to enrolling in a course, never attending a class and expecting (or being worthlessly given) a Ph.D. The LORD says we seek (learn) the kingdom of God and His righteousness (the ideas and ways of the truth and equity), before the blessings flow. The graduation comes when by the knowledge of God we understand Him, and are made in His image and likeness (with His mind) – and then we go to work in the world.
As much as it pains me to says it: most preachers are satisfied with the fables they have learned and now teach along with others they think are relevant. They are teaching their own ideas and going their own ways hoping only to reproduce followers with zeal but lacking the knowledge of God.
The title above is Matthew 6:33, a verse telling of the way out of man’s ignorance of the Divine nature (character, person) of God. In the original text, there is no comma after God, which tells us, seeking His kingdom and righteousness is one search. The word here translated “seek” is the Greek word zeteo, meaning to search (literally meaning be fervent in; seemingly from the words zeo, (to be hot, boil of liquid or glow of solid), and te, (meaning both or also, in the sense of connection or addition).
Friends, throughout history many critics have criticized the New Testament writers for (what they thought/think is) their ignorance in preaching the imminent return of the LORD Jesus Christ. What we understand is what the writers understood, the coming of Christ is in people individually, as the result of finding that for which they have diligently searched.
God the Father seeks (zeteo) those who will worship Him in spirit (knowing His nature – as a deliverer, not a destroyer) and truth. The word truth in Greek is aletheis, from the prefix a, which we know reverses the meaning of the word it is fixed to, which is lanthano.
Here is the Strong’s Greek Dictionary definition: #2990: lanthano (pronounced lan-than’-o) a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses; to lie hid (literally or figuratively); often used adverbially, unwittingly:–be hid, be ignorant of, unawares.
The verse referenced above, which is the LORD speaking of those who the Father seeks, is John 4:23. It is a statement that follows a conversation about where God is worshipped, and He is speaking to those He has identified as ignorantly worshipping. He is saying the Father isn’t looking for those who will worship Him in ignorance, hidden in their lack of conscious awareness.
John 4
9 Then said the woman of Samaria [Israel as idol worshipers – the objects of their worship were the creations of men] unto him, How is it that you, being a Jew [Judah – now, the evangelicals – the most observant, having zeal, but lacking knowledge], asks drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says to you, Give me to drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water.
11 The woman said unto him, Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then have you that living water? [The woman’s statements exemplify the ignorance of the word of God, where it resides {the gift in him} and from where it flows.]
12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water [the old ways of hearing the falsely so-called word of God] shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
15 The woman said unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
16 Jesus said unto her, Go, call your husband [the one to whom you are currently joined], and come hither.
17 The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, You have well said, I have no husband:
18 For you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband: in that said you truly [alethes – the truth that sets her free from those who must be removed so to the seventh one who has now come, the LORD, she will be faithfully joined].
19 The woman said unto him, Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and you say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus said unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when you shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 You worship you know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews [has always been with the most observant and zealous, seeking the LORD, even while in the sleep of ignorance].
23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth [aletheia – without ignorance of Him]: for the Father seeks such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth [aletheia].
25 The woman [the unfaithful of God’s people, who long ago left Him] said unto him, I know that Messiah [the one anointed by God, with the oil that produces the light – understanding in the mind] comes, which is called Christ [God in his flesh speaking]: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
26 Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto you am he.
Friends, I again tell you in the name of the LORD, these men who now lead God’s people must be removed because they will hold them in ignorance until they are. They are those Paul speaks of in Romans 1:18, who hold (katecho – hold down) what would end ignorance (the truth captive) in their unrighteousness.
Romans 1
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel [euaggelion – this full message] of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew [Judah – the elect remnant] first, and also to the Greek [those wallowing in the mire they call knowledge].
17 For therein [the gospel – this full message] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by [their own] faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold [katecho] the truth [aletheia] in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made even, [no comma here – and the words “made even” are translated from the Greek word te – in] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart [reasoning mind] was darkened [degenerated into ignorance].
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the un-corruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed [metallasso – caused the change of] the truth [aletheia – the lack of ignorance] of God into a lie [pseudos], and worshipped and served the creature [the creation – their false doctrines and ignorance] more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
The “lies” these men have created, in which they hold men to them as law they claim leads to salvation, are defined above using the nine times used Greek word pseudos. They are the unrighteousness wherein the truth is “held,” as Paul describes above in Romans 1:18, where we saw “hold” was from the Greek word katecho. We know katecho, meaning to hold down, is the word Paul uses in 2 Thessalonians 2:6 & 7, where it is rendered “withhold” and “lets” in telling of those who hold down God’s people and will hold them until they are taken out of the way. We know these sayings are Paul further defining our (His dead body – church united) rising to meet the LORD in the air, which he had earlier described to them in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. We know this air (aer), where we meet the LORD, is the same air (the seven times used word aer) Paul describes in Ephesians 2:2, describing where we were once held (in death) but are now freed from by the LORD’s truth (removing our ignorance). In each of these passages, Paul also describes the perpetrators, who are holding the truth and God’s people in their unrighteousness, as those against whom the LORD’s wrath is revealed, of which we are eyewitnesses.
Ephesians 2
1 And you has he quickened [brought from death into life – from ignorance into understanding, from darkness into His marvelous light], who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past you walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air [aer], the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)
6 And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.
2 Thessalonians 2
6 And now you know what withholds [katecho – holds down God’s truth and keeps His people from rising to meet Him] that he [these men who hold the truth in their unrighteousness] might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity does already work [and has now had its full work and caused the sleep {darkness, death, drunken minds} of God’s people]: only he who now lets [katecho – holds down in ignorance] will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the LORD shall consume with the spirit of his mouth [this word of God], and shall destroy with the brightness [the light of His understanding] of his coming [and enlightening us]:
9 Even [enlightening us of – by truth freeing us from] him, whose coming is after the working of Satan [opposing and resisting God] with all power and signs and lying [pseudos] wonders [where we were held],
10 And with all deceivableness [apate – delusion – wrong path, which leads to destruction] of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth [aletheia – the love that removes ignorance], that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion [energeia – the working of Satan in verse 9 above], that they should believe [put their faith in] a lie [pseudos – what holds them in darkness]:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not [don’t put their faith in] the truth [aletheia – what removes ignorance and darkness], but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the LORD, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification [separation from the men and their ideas – into purity] of the Spirit and belief of the truth [aletheia, which has freed you from their hold]:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel [euaggelion – the full message of Christ in us], to the obtaining [peripoisis – seeming literally referring to becoming the horse the LORD rides] of the glory [presence and power] of our LORD Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our LORD Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which has loved us, and has given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.
2 Thessalonians 3
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the LORD may have free course, and be glorified [seen as the presence of God speaking His word of truth], even as it is with you: [referring to what is written in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, “when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth {alethos}, the word of God, which effectually works {energeia – which is the power of God] also in you that believe]
2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable [who refuse to be reasoned with and therefore will not change the positions they hold] and wicked men [who vilify this work of God]: for all men have not faith [in this power of God].
3 But the LORD is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.
1 Thessalonians 4
9 But as touching brotherly love [philadelphia] you need not that I write unto you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
10 And indeed you do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia [in the shambles they call the houses of God]: but we beseech you, brethren, that you increase more and more;
11 And that you study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
12 That you may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that you may have lack of nothing.
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the LORD, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the LORD shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the LORD himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the LORD in the air: and so shall we ever be with the LORD.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day [light] of the LORD so comes as a thief in the night [into darkness].
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness [not lacking understanding], that that day [understanding] should overtake you as a thief.
5 You are all the children of light [understanding], and the children of the day [where the light is]: we are not of the night [where there is no light], nor of darkness [where there is no understanding].
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
When Paul, in verse 3 above, says that when these men say “peace and safety” sudden destruction comes upon them, he is telling of when they vilify God’s warnings and tell their followers not to worry about the warnings – because they are saved. The word Paul uses to tell of the suddenness of this is the Greek word aiphnidios, which is the word phaino, meaning to lighten (shine), and the letter a, which tells us the word means without light, and therefore it is saying they are without understanding.
Aiphnidios is only used one other time, in Luke 21:34, where it is rendered “unawares” in telling of the same destruction. Luke is telling of not seeing the light the LORD spoke of earlier in the chapter when telling of His coming.
Luke 21
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.
29 And he spoke to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the kingdom of God [which we seek] is nigh at hand.
32 Truly I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares [aiphinidos].
35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36 Watch you therefore, and pray always, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
We know from Matthew 24 the coming of the Son of man in a cloud (where the source of the light isn’t yet seen, only the light -Job 37:21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind {Spirit} passeth, and cleanseth them.), as described above in verse 27, is as a light shining from one end of heaven to the other. This is telling of the understand being given by God, missed by those the LORD describes in Luke 21:34.
Matthew 24
27 For as the lightning [understanding] comes out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
28 For wheresoever the carcass is [the dead body – the sleeping church], there will the eagles be gathered together.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun [church] be darkened [be without understanding], and the moon [civil government] shall not give her light [understanding], and the stars [all God’s people] shall fall from heaven [from the fixed positions as lights in the air], and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear [phaino – the light shining] the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels [messengers] with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
We know the snare that comes upon these men is what should have been for their welfare, but instead becomes the trap they are caught in.
Psalms 69
22 Let their table become a snare before them: and that which should have been for their welfare, let it become a trap.
23 Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.
24 Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your wrathful anger take hold of them.
25 Let their habitation be desolate; and let none dwell in their tents.
26 For they persecute him whom you have smitten; and they talk to the grief of those whom you have wounded. [see Isaiah 53:5 – so the blood and water would flow – and the Spirit world move men to be cleansed in them]
27 Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into your righteousness.
28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.
Romans 11
7 What then? Israel has not obtained that which he seeks [epizeteo] for; but the election has obtained it, and the rest were blinded.
8 (According as it is written, God has given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.
9 And David says, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumbling-block, and a recompense unto them:
10 Let their eyes be darkened [without understanding], that they may not see, and bow down their back always.
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come [through this full message – euaggelion] unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing [their degeneration away from the truth] of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fullness?
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:
14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?
16 For if the first-fruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree [the oil that flows into the branches bringing life – and feeding the light];
18 Boast not against the branches. But if you boast, you bears not the root, but the root you.
19 You will say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in.
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear:
21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not you.
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off.
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?
25 For I would not, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob [those who unawares wrestle with God and His word]:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins [remove their repetitive errors by understanding].
28 As concerning the gospel [euanggelion – this full message of Christ], they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father’s sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as you in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who has known the mind of the LORD? or who has been his counsellor?
35 Or who has first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Isaiah 48
1 Hear you this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.
2 For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.
3 I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass.
4 Because I knew that you are obstinate, and your neck is an iron sinew, and your brow brass;
5 I have even from the beginning declared it to you; before it came to pass I showed it you: lest you should say, Mine idol has done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, has commanded them.
6 You have heard, see all this; and will not you declare it? I have shewed you new things from this time, even hidden things, and you did not know them.
7 They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when you heard them not; lest you should say, Behold, I knew them.
8 Yea, you heard not; yea, you knew not; yea, from that time that your ear was not opened: for I knew that you would deal very treacherously, and were called a transgressor from the womb.
9 For my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for you, that I cut you not off.
10 Behold, I have refined you, but not with silver; I have chosen you in the furnace of affliction.
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
13 Mine hand also has laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand has spanned the heavens: when I call unto them, they stand up together.
14 All you, assemble yourselves, and hear; which among them has declared these things? The LORD has loved him: he will do his pleasure on Babylon, and his arm shall be on the Chaldeans.
15 I, even I, have spoken; yea, I have called him: I have brought him, and he shall make his way prosperous.
16 Come you near unto me, hear you this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the LORD God, and his Spirit, has sent me.
17 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the LORD your God which teaches you to profit, which leads you by the way that you should go.
18 O that you had hearkened to my commandments! then had your peace been as a river, and your righteousness as the waves of the sea:
19 Your seed also had been as the sand, and the offspring of your bowels like the gravel thereof; his name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before me.
20 Go you forth of Babylon [confusion], flee you from the Chaldeans [those who use their words to manipulate and control you], with a voice of singing declare you, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say you, The LORD has redeemed his servant Jacob.
21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters [His word] to flow out of the rock [Christ] for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.
22 There is no peace, says the LORD, unto the wicked [who vilify this word and work to justify themselves].
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