First Things First

Intro the Series

New series called Reset.

As summer ends, some of us had the time of our life.

Some of us, it didn’t go as plan.

Some of us got great news. (Bad news)

Some of us are in transition.

As another season begins, it’s a perfect time for a reset.

Reset in our priorities | mind | Relationships | pace | Mission

Intro

When I started thinking about raising my son, I started doing what every parent does. I read books. I watched YouTube videos. I searched articles. I wanted somebody to tell me how to do this right.

None of those things were bad.

They gave me information.

But eventually I realized something...

Nobody knows my son better than the One who created him.

I was trying to solve a spiritual problem with informational supplements.

Information can help me... but only God can lead me.

Over time I realized something that changed far more than my parenting...

Everything I need begins with seeking God.

Not just sometime.

Not just eventually.

FIRST.

Turn to Matthew 6

Transition

For ten verses Jesus talks about one of the biggest struggles we all have—worry. He talks about food, clothing, bills, tomorrow, and all the everyday pressures of life. Then, after spending ten verses talking about the problem, He gives us one verse that becomes the solution.

Scripture and Title

Matthew 6:25 ““That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?”

Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?”

Matthew 6:27 “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

Matthew 6:28 ““And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,”

Matthew 6:29 “yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are.”

Matthew 6:30 “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?”

Matthew 6:31 ““So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’”

Matthew 6:32 “These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.”

Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

Matthew 6:34 ““So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

If I could summarize everything Jesus just taught in one phrase, it would be this...

First Things First

We have so many things to worry about…

In verse 33, Jesus comes and gives us the order!

Seek First

Live Right

Needs Met.

Problem = We keep trying to reverse the order!

We want...Needs Met...then I'll live right.

Live Right...then maybe I'll seek God.

Jesus says...

No.

Seek first, then you’ll live right. As you live right, needs will be met!

Seeking God 1st is the priority.

When my priorities are aligned, the foundation of my living is set, my needs are met! 

Transition

In these 2 verses, Jesus gives us 3 ways to reset our priorities.

Point 1

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else.”

Vertical aspect = Deals with place, order, importance

Birds don’t harvest and store > more valuable

lilies of the field don’t worry about clothing > more valuable

Don’t be like gentiles… what shall we eat, wear, drink - YOUR FATHER ALREADY KNOWS!

PUT GOD ABOVE YOUR NEEDS

Here’s the Reality = You'll never handle your needs correctly until you value God correctly.

Application

Every time I put something ahead of God...

I'm unintentionally saying...

"God...

You don't know what my marriage needs."

"You don't know what my kids need."

"You don't know what my business needs."

"You don't know what my health needs."

"You don't know what my future needs."

But Jesus says… Your heavenly Father already KNOWS.

He already Knows!

Do you believe that?!?!?

Do you believe He already knows?!

Do you believe He is Jehovah Jireh

Do you believe He is Jehovah Rapha

Do you believe He is Jehovah Shalom

If I really believe He is those things...why would I seek something else first?

Jesus says anxiety over these things dominates the thoughts of unbelievers.

Why?

Because they don't know the Father you know.

Conclusion

If I put God above it all, everything else is below it.

If God is above it all…

then cancer is below Him.

Finances are below Him.

Grief is below Him.

Anxiety is below Him.

Depression is below Him.

Marriage is below Him.

Whatever is beneath God shouldn't become bigger than God in my life.???

Transition

Some of us agree God should be the highest priority...we just don't make Him the first priority.

Point 2 - Put God Before Your Plans

Remember seek 1st = time, place order and importance.

Horizontal aspect deals with the time

The only thing that wasn’t created is God! (I am that I am (Exodus 3:14) it signifies absolute, uncaused existence—God simply is without derivation from anything else.)

Illustration… look at a timeline =

1st slide = just Beginning Middle End

2nd slide = Beginning Middle End with God large enough to cover all 3

Time exists inside of God which means God exist beyond time.

We Keep inviting God into situations He was already present in before we arrived.

In our minds…

Some of us invite God to the ground breaking ceremony… then leave Him out of the construction

We ask God to bless what we’ve already decided

God isn't first because He demands it.

He's first because He's always been first.

PUT GOD BEFORE YOUR PLANS

Application

In life, before I seek the job to provide I seek God

Before I seek the dr to heal, I seek God

Before I seek the heart to forgive, I seek God

Before I seek the victory over depression, I seek God

Before I seek patience, I seek God

Transition

If Point One answers Who should be first...

and Point Two answers Where God belongs...

Point Three answers the question all of us wrestle with.

When do I actually start?

Jesus says...

Today.

Point 3 - Put God First Today

Matthew 6:34 ““So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Verse 34 actually protects us from misunderstanding verse 33

We hear “Seek first the Kingdom” and think

I’ll start next week

When life settles down

When the kids get older

when i finally get free time

Jesus says “ Don’t worry about tomorrow!…”

WHY?!?!?! = You can only seek God today!

Yesterday is gone and tomorrow isn’t here!

The only place you’ve ever met God… is TODAY!

Every time you've encountered God...

it was "today."

Yesterday was once today.

Tomorrow will become today.

Faith is always exercised in the present!

PUT GOD FIRST TODAY

Think about the crucifixion…

Imagine Friday. Jesus is Dead. He’s gone

Everything God promised looks impossible

The disciples didn’t know Sunday was coming. They were told, but they had to live by faith today.

All they could do…

Seek God Friday.

Wake up Saturday.

Seek God again.

Wake up Sunday… before they found out

Seek God again.

The resurrection happened on Sunday…. but faithfulness happened on Friday.

They couldn't live on Sunday's resurrection while standing in Friday's grief.

Application

Some of you are living in Friday.

Some are living in Saturday.

You’re waiting for Sunday.

Your peace isn’t found in Sunday, It’s found in putting God first Today!

what if God's assignment isn't to get to Sunday...but to trust Him on Friday?

Faithfulness isn't measured by how fast Sunday comes.

It's measured by whether I still seek Him on Friday.

Closing

A Better counselor.

A Better paycheck

A Better diagnosis

Better circumstances

God...is above everything.

So I don't put my needs over Him.

God...is before everything.

So I don't begin life without Him.

God...is first every day.

So I don't have to live tomorrow before I get there.

So tomorrow morning...

before you pick up your phone...

before you check the news...

before you check your email...

before you start solving problems...

seek Him.

Because what's first...shapes everything that follows.

Church… Let’s reset.