PART 1 - FIRST, GOD.

Matthew 6:25-34 English Standard Version (Chapter 6)

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious 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: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

NEW SERIES IN CHURCH TODAY: .CALLED FIRST...WHY FIRST?

Overview: i wanna talk today and the next few weeks about the principle of FIRST… and the priority of GOD. We are going to look at it in Scripture, We are going to lean into His word. the reality is this: We live in a chaotic world.... but we serve a God of ORDER.

(in this seres were going to talk about the Chaos of this World, but the ORDER of CHRIST: and How we can ENGAGE in HEAVENS ways rather than the WORLDS way)

God is a GOD OF ORDER. a GOD OF PRIORITY. He’s not out of control....He doesn’t DO RANDOM. GOD IS A PRECISE GOD.

And as we consider this, and perhaps are able to lean in to what the spirit is saying, then were going to live and experience a greater level of intimacy with God.

Part 1 today: “First, God”.

HOLY SPIRIT COME (PRAY)

LET US NOT MISS WHAT YOU ARE DOING, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING, HOW YOU ARE HELPING.

SO AS WE BEGIN THIS SERIES, LIKE ALWAYS - WE HAVE TO - WE MUST - ESTABLISH SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS. IF YOU ARE NEW TO FAITH IN CHRIST< YOU ARE GETTING THE SHORT-CUT HERE - THE UPGRADE EARLY ON - THIS TOOK ME A DECADE TO GET AS A CHRISTIAN. AND MY PRAYER IS THAT YOU GET IT STRAIGHT AWAY.

(were gonna cover some ground - and answer the Questions: what does it look like in scripture to LET GOD LEAD and TO PUT HIM FIRST… in ALL AREaS).

IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN FOR A LONG TIME, THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO TUNE OUT - I THINK today may serve as a reminder, some cobwebs might get cleared out - and no matter what i believe the Holy Spirit is going to speak to us in Jesus name. amen?

Let me REMIND you what JESUS SAID:

Matt 6:32-33 “32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Lets BEGIN with our FIRST point, in this series FIRST.

1.GOD IS FIRST.

God is the priority HERE.

Write this down: “EVEN IF I DONT PUT GOD FIRST, HE STILL IS FIRST”

This is it: Gods bigger than us.

So catch this:

even if God isnt put in FIRST place. HE. IS. FIRST.

Even if God is disregarded, He is STILL FIRST.

Even if God is seemingly defeated, Hes still victorious because HE IS GOD. there is no other

Even if GOD is REJECTED by MAN, He’s STILL the Maker of HEAVEN and EARTH.

IS 45:5 “5 I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,”

HERE IS WHAT I WANT YOU TO CATCH: ITS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO BE SECOND.

Its called the IMMUTABILITY OF GOD.

if GOD COULD BE SECOND

IT MEANS HE COULD IMPROVE OR GET BETTER

AND HE CANT BE BETTER, BECAUSE HES PERFECT.

God EXISTS in HIMSELF, SELF DEFINED UNABLE TO BE RESHAPED, DESTROYED - 100% Free from CHANGE.

We are BORN. GROW & Pass away. But GOD DOESNT. He is the ETERNAL GOD WHO CANNOT CHANGE.

Mal 3:6 “6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”

ps 102:26-27 “26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, 27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.

IS THERE ANYONE GRATEFUL TODAY WE SERVE A GOD WHO DOESNT CHANGE: His MIND, HIS WAYS, HIS LOVE.

James 1:17 “17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”

GOD IS BIGGER

GOD IS GREATER

GOD IS SUPREME IN ETERNITY, AND IN CREATION & In NATURE

THIS IS WHY: GOD.... IS FIRST.

FIRST, GOD.

This is a revelation that i believe revolutionizes the life of a believer. Upon salvation we have a choice and the choice is this: Who is going to be IN FIRST place. Me… or HIM.

and this is a DAILY CHOICE. an ONGOING DECISION!

BUT LET ME ASK YOU SOMETHING: Who would possibly be PUT in the PLACE of GOD.?

Who could be Installed in that PLACE

Deceivingly..... - We do actually appoint a person

a pretty special person in fact

someone with whom we REGARD QUITE HIGHLY

WHO IS THE GREAT OPPOSING GOD in our LIVES? its us.

ITS YOU

ITS ME

WE BECOME OUR OWN GOD

WE TRY TO STAND AS OUR OWN HIGH PRIEST

WE (IF WERE NOT CAREFUL) TRY TO MOVE TO BE A HOLY SPIRIT UNTO OURSELVES!

This is a REVELATION for you & ME.

and its my HOPE tHat God gives us a great understanding and reveals to us much through His word today

THIS IS THE HOPE WE HAVE: SOMETHING GREATER THAN US.

A HOPE IN WHICH OUR EFFORTS ARE NOT BASED UPON.

A FATHER IN HEAVEN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE ISDOING.

**PIVOT**because you may be in here today and when it comes to life, spiritually, just in life in general it SEEMS LIKE THINGS Just aren’t WORKING right now.

Nothing seems right

life ISNT WORKING OUT

STUFF KEEPS going WRONG

Well… its a GOOD thing your in CHURCH today

The reason that might be in existence in your life.... and it may be happening because

OUR LIVES CAN GET OUT OF ORDER.

2.GOD COMES FIRST.

It could be, that there is a RE-ORDERING… a RE-PRIORITIZATION that needs to take place to get you where to need to go, or where God is wanting to LEAD YOU TO.

WRITE THIS DOWN:

"I will never come second when i put God first”

Why is that?

Its because THINGS ARE NOW IN THE RIGHT ORDER.

Gods plan is to bless you.

HE WANTS TO TAKE CARE OF HIS KIDS.

Psalm 5:11-12 “11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. 12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord; you cover him with favor as with a shield.”

GOD WANTS YOU TO RELY ON HIM.

we see this continually as a rhythm and pattern with Gods people. They put him first and it works out for them’

(things are good, blessing, rest from enemies, trouble free)

Then they forget that & what happens?

They worship other idols (someone else is given FIRST place) - Here is the thing, God cannot and will no occupy SECOND plavce.... So what happens? and God ALLOWS them to be carried off into bondage so they will learn a lesson that you and i can learn by simply reading the word and accepting it for our own lives:

“JESUS LOVES ME, THIS I KNOW, FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO”

JEREMIAH 31:3 “3 the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

I just wrote a list of things.... these are simply my reflections on the way i’ve felt God has done things in my life when seasons of life existed for me where God was prioritized correctly in my life.

Just a few things:

What happens when God comes first:

my relationships work. (God brings the RIGHT people into my life)

my finances work. (later in this series),

Incredible Blessing comes (Prov 10:22 “22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” )

More and more opportunity arises. (often from seemingly nowhere)

Things grow well. (healthy growth)

I am continually provided for. (and suprised by)

I worry less. (the AMOUNT of worry goes down). Matt 6

I have more faith. (im built up so i believe even more)

I find it easier to forgive (Grace is closer to me)

I strive and struggle less (I realize its Him not me)

i sleep better (my sleep is sweet - More later in this series).

I am a more peacful Person, (God wants to bring Shalom into my life).

..... and many many more things: ALL WHEN GOD IS FIRST.

3.JESUS WILL ALWAYS BE FIRST.

For all time. for all of eternity.

Jesus is and will always be FIRST.

HES FIRST IN LINE. HES LAST IN LINE

Let me say it another way

Supreme or Preeminent!

John 1:1-4 “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

Before Anything EVER WAS. there was JESUS.

After everything has been. There will be Jesus.

Christ Exists not JUST FOR something.

CHRIST EXISTED BEFORE ANYTHING WAS.

We SERVE a GOD WHO IS… and IS FOREVER!

Colossians 1:18 “18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”

Revelation 1:5 “5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood”

Rev 1:7-8 “7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.””

LETS WORSHIP THIS FIRST GOD… JESUS CHRIST THIS MORNING IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON & HOLY SPIRIT - AMEN.

MINISTRY TIME

first place time.

Ephesians 1:5 “5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,”