We will continue the point we were making the last time we were together, just before you had your mid-term holiday, just over a week ago.

We are looking at Matthew 13:38. "The good seed are the children of the kingdom." We are God's planting in this world. We are part of God's kingdom and must ever put God's kingdom first.

This is what the apostles did. They put God's kingdom first! The enemies of the gospel in their day said: "Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us," Acts 5:28.

Note the apostles' response! "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men," Acts 5:29.

That choice has had to be made by God's people throughout the ages and it has brought suffering, persecution and death to countless multitudes of the saints of God.

The time of such intense conflict draws near again! God's people will have to show courage and oppose the desires and demands of the world and stand firm for the laws of God's kingdom.