Touré Roberts - Next, Is Waiting On You

So last week, we began to talk about the kingdom. Who was here last week? You were here last week, all right—about 60% of you. Wonderful! The rest of you were live streaming; I know, I know you caught it on YouTube or wherever. I understand that, and that’s fine. Not really, but it’s fine. It’s fine! Last week, I talked about the kingdom, and I discussed how, when we look at Matthew 6:33, Jesus really confronted our tendency to be more naturally conscious than spiritually conscious. Do you remember that? He goes on, saying, «Take no thought about what you’re going to eat or what you’re going to drink; after all, those are the things that unenlightened people consider.» If you weren’t here, you need to catch up—I can’t recap it all right now—but he basically takes us through this process. He talks about how we have to stop trying to be something and instead be who we organically are, planting ourselves in the things of God, so that we will naturally begin to flourish and become glorious and prosperous, right?

He takes us through this process and brings us down to Matthew 6:33, which is ultimately what he was about. He says, «Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these other things shall be added unto you.» He breaks down the normal way of thinking, which involves being overly concerned and consumed about what you’re going to eat, what you’re going to drink, and what you’re going to wear. How are you going to feed yourself? That’s the natural way to think. He comes in and breaks that up, saying, «Listen, I know that you need all that stuff—I’m not ignorant. I put you in this natural world, which means I know that you have to be fed, clothed, and sheltered. I understand that. Trust me, don’t expend your energy trying to create or produce what I’ve already set up for you.» He says a better use of your time, effort, and energy is to devote it all to seeking this thing called the kingdom.

He says, «But seek first the kingdom and his righteousness.» We examined that word «righteousness» in the Greek and found that it actually means «equity.» So, seek first the kingdom—which we’re going to talk about today—and the equity of God. I find my own equity, my own sense of worth and value, through seeking out God’s equity because I was created in His image. Oh, there’s something there! I was going to move past it, but I feel something on it. See, one of the reasons why God wants us to look at Him is so we can understand who our highest self is—the way He thinks, flows, responds, and perceives worth and value. Looking at God acts like a mirror: This is what I’m supposed to be like! I’m supposed to forgive; I’m supposed to walk in so much love that forgiveness just oozes out of me.

Okay, I was trying to move on, but right there—I’m supposed to walk… Listen, if forgiveness is foolish, then God is a fool. Hello, somebody! Because sometimes, you know, I’ll forgive but I won’t forget. You’ve heard that before. What’s the difference? Actually, it’s powerful to be a forgiver, but your pride will say, «No, I’m not going to forgive.» Oh, here’s one: «First time, shame on you; second time, shame on me.» You’ve heard that before? You heard me the first time—it’s on you! If I open myself up again and forgive you, giving you permission to hurt me again, then shame on me. Where is that in the Word?

So, we have all these little colloquialisms and ideas that actually keep us from being whole. You’re whole when someone can hurt you, and you can still love and forgive them. I’ll tell you what I figured out the other day: here’s the reality. I know that we think we have enemies—plural, right? I have an enemy, you follow what I’m saying? But here’s the truth: the highest thought concerning that is that you don’t have enemies; you have an enemy. The same enemy that I have is the same enemy that you have. We actually have the same enemy! But because we don’t know how to deal with our enemy, we go after each other. You’re not ready; it’s too early in the morning; you’re not ready for this!

I can forgive this person because they don’t realize that they are being victimized by the same enemy that I have, and they don’t know how to deal with him. So, they become crazy and attack me, but it’s not even about me! I tell you right now, your enemies—it’s not even about you; it’s about them. Sometimes we get all frustrated and think, «Well, I didn’t do anything!» You might even want to justify yourself and all that stuff. Why? At the end of the day, if…