09/01/2024
Teaching: God First
An in depth teaching on placing and maintaining God in the center of our lives.
GOD FIRST
Many Christians say “I put God first in my life...” but sadly this is nothing more than a Christian cliché. The true meaning of “first” has been lost in the congregation because it has been lost at the pulpit.
It’s a Biblical perspective and has been blurred by a faulty understanding because the Holy Spirit is not present. God must be first.
We all have monetary needs, relationship constraints, schedules to meet, employment requirements but at the end of the day I must ask myself this question. Is God my priority or is “need” my priority?
God must be at the center of our lives. Being led by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God must take a precedence over all things.
TOTAL INVESTMENT
Matthew 22:37 And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
There must be a total investment when we say, “God first”, because this means during the times of plenty and in the times of shortage. It means by His Hand and not by your hand will needs be fulfilled.
“God first” means I am ridding the rhetoric between God driven and world driven. This is the birthplace of authentic faith. This authenticity displaces faith built on a sandy fluid foundation for one that is built on a firm and solid one.
IDOLATRY
1John 5:21 Little children (believers, dear ones), guard yourselves from idols—[false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart].
Many Christians have some idols in their lives and do not know of their existence. One of the main focuses of the Watchmen on the wall in our spiritual lives is to warn us of their presence, but sadly without the Holy Spirit, this is impossible.
The focus on work, making money, satisfying needs, attending to family and anything that has replaced God as first in our lives is an idol no matter how we try to explain it away.
DIVINE FOCUS
Placing God first means we are to emulate Jesus. In 1 Peter 2:21 we read “For [as a believer] you have been called for this purpose, since Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you may follow in His footsteps.”
Jesus was totally committed to the Father; He was focused, and nothing distracted Him. That’s putting God first. Jesus’ words, actions, and teachings all came from the Father. Jesus glorified the Father in every detail of His life and accomplished all that He had been sent to do.
We need to ask ourselves an important question, “Have I accomplished everything that I have been sent to do?” Or, “Is something in the way?”
Putting God first means over everything in our lives, not just some things. Everything! Don’t be deceived by a false teacher who says you can manage both the secular and the Divine equally. This is not possible!
Matthew 6:33 But FIRST and most importantly SEEK (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.
Apostle Ric Perez
ATtheWELL.org
