Giving God 1st Place
Putting God 1st In Your Life • Sermon • Submitted
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· 340 viewsWhen God is 1st in my life I win
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Give God 1st Place
Give God 1st Place
God’s Place - My Prize
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.
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Confession of Faith
I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith!
1st Place - it is the focused ambition of all who compete. Whether an individual or team competition, the best score or time wins, and first place always brings the top prize to the one who achieves that privileged distinction. Always, that is, with one important exception.
Before our salvation, we usually hold first place in our own lives – living for ourselves, fulfilling our own selfish ambitions, promoting our own agenda. But when we become a Christian, first place is no longer our position to hold; it belongs to God.
Giving God first place in our lives began on the day of our salvation, but allowing God to remain first in all areas of our life is an ongoing process. When we do so, we live a fulfilled and blessed life in Christ here on earth, and inherit an eternal life of unspeakable blessings with God in Heaven forever.
“God has Given You First Place in His Heart”
I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith!
What would you think if someone told you that God sees you as if you have never sinned? The fact is, because of the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross, that is exactly how God sees you. As Christians, we are forgiven, cleansed and free!
That means you are one who has attained a special standing of righteousness in Christ. You are perfect, holy and blameless in God’s eyes. He calls each of us His child, an heir to His abundance, and His friend.
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
9 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."
20 The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen.
21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.
is 43
To understand how God sees us begins with how we see Him. God is not watching from a distance just waiting for us to make a mistake in order to punish us. Nothing could be further from the truth.
12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—
13 Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]
John
"Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God - children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."
God sees each of us as His own precious child. He is a loving Father showering favor and care to us out of His endless compassion.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
tells us that God is a rewarder of those who seek him.
God sees each of us in a profoundly different way than most of us see ourselves. Understanding how God sees each one of us is based on the work that Jesus Christ began in our lives the moment we received salvation.
God sees each of His children in a profoundly different way than most of us see ourselves. Understanding how God sees each one of us is founded upon the work that Christ began in our lives the moment we received salvation.
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
21 How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
This new creation is God’s divine work; a complete transformation of our spiritual condition and inner person. He has completely forgiven and cleansed us from our sin - past, present and future. We are in right relationship with Him.
This new creation is God’s divine work; a complete transformation of our spiritual condition and inner person. He has completely forgiven and cleansed us from our sin - past, present and future. We are in right relationship with Him.
This new creation is God’s divine work; a complete transformation of our spiritual condition and inner person. He has completely forgiven and cleansed us from our sin - past, present and future. We are in right relationship with Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.
We are God’s people presented to Him without any blemish of sin; truly as His righteousness through the work that Jesus did on the cross. God has given us first place in His heart!
"…as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions (sins) from us."
“God Wants First Place in Your Heart”
We are God’s people presented to Him without any blemish of sin; truly as His righteousness through the work that Jesus did on the cross. God has indeed given us first place in His heart!
Today, many base their worth upon wealth, or how high they are on the “corporate ladder,” or how successful their business is, or even who they know.
Here’s the problem, if our view of significance or worth is established upon those things, we will only feel good about ourselves when we are flourishing in these areas. When our wealth and success diminish, our self-worth will also because our foundation is not solid. The Bible describes it this way:
49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”
Our identity is only as solid as the foundation we place it upon. By establishing our identity on the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ, our sense of fulfillment in life will not depend upon the changing condition of temporal things.
When Christ is our foundation, our stability is like this:
48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
You have many ways to build your foundation on. It may be wealth, career, looks, family, fame, power or who you know. Of all the things to establish your identity upon, only Jesus Christ ssures us of victory!
Some of the other choices, are not bad or inherently evil. In fact, in many respects, they are very important areas of responsibility God has given us in our lives. The problem is we need balance
25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
This balance is achieved when we put Jesus first in all areas of our lives
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
When we resolve this truth in our own lives, we find peace and fulfillment, free from worry and anxiety. This balance is achieved when we put Jesus first in all areas of our lives
Putting Jesus first should lead you to examine your priorities and motives as to why you aspire to do or attain the things you desire. When He is first in your dreams and aspirations, you’re future will be filled with greatness and joy!
When God does bring a questionable motive to your attention, your most important response should be a willingness to make changes. Change can be difficult at times, but God always has our best in mind, and wants you to grow spiritually.
NEXT STEPS!
• Read 1 Proverb each day
• Identify 1 situation where you will operate in faith!
• Find 2 scriptures that speak to your situation!
• Get involved with a ministry or project at UCF!
• Attend a Growth Group!
• Invite Someone to Sunday Worship Service!