01/04/2023
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NOVEMBER 2020,
(STUDY 1).
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πMatthew 6:33; 22:37; Revelation 2:4.
All of us, as human beings, make decisions daily either through our actions or inactions. We are free moral agents and have the liberty to choose what we want at any point in time.
Every one of us is faced with many personalities and activities that clamour for attention and devotion: our spouses, our children, our jobs, our business interests, our career ambitions and aspirations, our academic commitments and educational pursuits, our extended family commitments, our hobbies, etc.
The world, the flesh, and the devil conspire to keep God last/ least/ low on the list of our activities, priorities, and pursuits. We all need wisdom, as true Christians, to establish the principle and practical habit and lifestyle of giving God FIRST place and putting Him FIRST in all things and at all times.
Putting God and His demands FIRST imply that:
π·His Word is your bounds and obligation,
π· His walk engages your heart and life,
π·His will controls your decisions and actions and you submit absolutely and surrender totally to Him,
π·His way is your perpetual path and you follow Him to the end,
π·His worship is your daily employment and dominates your schedule,
π·His witness is your passion and profession and you sacrifice for it,
π·His work comes first before your agenda and you are ready to defend His name anywhere, anytime, and before anyone.
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πExodus 20:2,3; Matthew 6:33; 22:37,38.
God first and foremost, forever! The Christian must and should take note that:
π΅ God will either have all of you, as a person, or none of you.
π΅ God will either be on the throne of your heart and life or not reign over you at all.
π΅ God will either be first in your life or be absent from your life. He does not play second fiddle to anyone.
π΅ God will rather be at the steering wheel of your life than be a spare tire in your life.
π΅ God will rather be in charge of your life than be under your charge.
π΅ God will have the very best of everyone and everything, and not the rest/ remnants.
Why must and should we put God first?
π§He has commanded, mandated, and ordained us to do so: "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bo***ge.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me." π(Exodus 20:2,3).
π§ He created us for Himself and His glory alone: "Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
These people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise." π(Isaiah 43:7,21).
π§He has bought or purchased us at a great price. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which is God's." π(1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23).
We are His heritage, "which he hath purchased with his blood." (Acts 20:28). We are fully and forever His "purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory." π(Ephesians 1:14).
π§ This is the primary condition for divine blessings and prosperity: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." π(Matthew 6:33).
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πMatthew 6:33; 22:37,38.
God must and should be pre-eminent in every life. Your love for God is proven by your actions. Make God number one in your life as you love, live, and labour for Him daily, diligently, and dutifully. What are you doing?
πΆGive God FIRST PLACE in your heart and life. πMatthew 22:37,38.
πΆ Give God your FIRST LOVE without dilution or distractions, with faithfulness and fervency.
πRevelation 2:4.
πΆ Give God the FIRST HOUR of every day in personal communion/ daily quiet time and family devotion. Always seek to be alone with God in prayers, Bible reading, and meditation. He will give you the strength to carry you through the activities of the day.
Early rising to seek God individually and as a family is pivotal to our daily walk with God.
πMark 1:35-37; 1 Samuel 1:19; Psalm 63:1.
πΆ Give God the FIRST ALLEGIANCE. Adore, cherish, exalt, and love Him above everyone and everything. No human being (spouse, child, boss, etc) or relationship should be more important than your relationship with God or come between you and God.
God must always and ever be FIRST AND FOREMOST.
π1 Samuel 2:29; Matthew 10:37,38; John 12:25; 21:15.
πΆ Give God the FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK/ SUNDAY (it is the Lord's Day) with dedication and devotion. Sunday should not be a money-making day for a Christian except those on essential services such as medical personnel, police officers, security guards, etc. Also, build your life around God's family on other days of the week.
π1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 10:25; Revelation 1:10.
πΆ (6) Give God the FIRST PORTION of your income; always practice giving of tithes, offerings, special contributions towards Church program and projects, etc.
πLeviticus 27:30; Proverbs 3:9,10; Malachi 3:8-12; Matthew 23:23.
πΆ (7) Give God the FIRST CONSIDERATION in every decision; seek His counsel, direction, and guidance always and do only His perfect will.
πPsalm 37:23,24; Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalm 143:10; Romans 12:1,2; Ephesians 5:17.
πΆ (8) Give God's witness and work FIRST DEVOTION over and above your own business, employment, engagement, enterprise, or work.
πLuke 2:49; John 9:4.
πΆ (9) Give God and His glory the FIRST AND FOREMOST CONTROL over your character, comportment, conduct, conversation, etc. You must deliberately, decisively, and dutifully glorify God in all that you do.
πMatthew 5:16; 1 Corinthians 10:31.
πΆ Give God and His Word FIRST AND FULL OBEDIENCE at all times and in all things, even in the face of challenges and difficulties.
πActs 4:18-21; 5:27-29.
πΆ Give God's eternal and glorious kingdom FIRST PREFERENCE at all times. In essence, your prime and primary passion, prayers, principle, priority, and pursuit is to make heaven at last, at all costs, by all means, come what may.
πMatthew 6:33; Colossians 3:1-4.
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πExodus 19:5; Proverbs 3:9,10; Jeremiah 7:23; 11:4; Malachi 3:10-12; Matthew 6:33; 19:29; Mark 10:29,30.
Each and everyone ought to know that:
π»You cannot put God first and He will put you last, neither can you put God last and He will put you first!
π»You cannot forsake God's desires and He will fulfill your desires neither can you fulfill His desires and He will forsake yours.
π»You cannot put God up and He will put you down, neither can you put God down and He will put you up.
The all-around package, all-encompassing promise an all-inclusive provision for putting God first is revealed by the Saviour Himself in the Scriptures: "all these things shall be added unto you." π (Matthew 6:33). These include earthly and ephemeral blessings, as well as eternal and everlasting benefits, such as divine backing and blessings, divine provisions and prosperity, divine preservation and protection, etc.
Most importantly is the guarantee of heaven at last after having lived for God on earth and putting Him first and foremost: "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life." π (Matthew 19:29).
