Let God be First

Matt. 6:33 & Col. 3:24

Matthew 6:33 says But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.

Let God be First. We as a people have not taken this statement to heart. We have pushed God so far
back in the operating procedures of life that its almost as if hes not there at all. As a result we find in our
society today that sin is running a full course. We have right being called wrong and wrong being called
right. We have kids carrying guns to school, mothers drowning all their kids, fathers killing their entire
families, kids killing their parents, terrorist attacking America. Road rage is a constant threat. People
trying to play god trying to clone humans and create a super race of people. Homosexuality is ever
increasing, you cant even turn on your television sets anymore without seeing some form of it on TV.
Every diabolical thing the world has, has crept its way into the church. We have men and women of God,
who called them selves preachers of the gospel, marrying men to men and women to women, hiding
behind the premises that you never know who youll fall in love with just so they can have the numbers.
The moral and ethical standards that this country was built upon has become obsolete. The statement
and belief of being One Nation Under God, that at one time was recited by every child in school, has now
become a punishable crime to even mention. Man has taken the law a twisted in such a way that its now
lawful to be wrong and unlawful to be right. The reason is we have failed to Let God be First.

Let God be First is a declarative statement that we all agree with, we say amen to it, and we advice
people of doing it. We teach it and we preach it, but do we really understand what it means to Let God be
First.

The dictionary says:

Let: To allow, to permit, to acknowledge, to afford the opportunity.

Be: Exist, be present, to be real, and alive.

First: To be head of, the original, to be before all, in preference to something else, the beginning,
foremost.

Although God is God the creator of all that is and all power in Heaven and Earth is in His hands, realize
that he will never forcefully acquire the position of being first, even though he requires it. He said in
Exodus 20:3 the very first commandment Thou shall have no other gods before me. His requirement is
to be first, but he will not force his way in the position of being first upon us; therefore the ability,
responsibility, and capability of God being first lies within each and every one of us.

The problem we have in letting God be First is we are wrapped up, tide up, and tangled up in this flesh
and Paul lets us know in Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) dwelleth no good
thing.

The flesh is not subject to God, the flesh is under control of the mind. If the mind wants something it tells
the flesh wouldnt it be nice to have that,
Summary: Seek ye first the kingdom of God.
Scripture: Colossians 3:24 Matthew 6:33 (add scripture)
Tags: Growth In Christ (add tag)
Denomination: Apostolic
Audience: General adults
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the flesh now gets the desire for it. Thats why the Bible says Let the same mind that is in Christ Jesus be

also in you, because Jesuss mind was to do the will of his father and his flesh was in subjection to his

mind.

Since we have not brought this flesh under subjection we allow the desire, the wants, and the ambitions

of the flesh to give its first allegiance to everything else but God.

Our nature and tendency is to indulge this flesh, to allow our profession, our social acceptance, our

livelihood, our comforts, and our pleasures the opportunity to be satisfied. We spend so much time trying

to ensure that we meet the right people, drive the right car, wear the right clothes, attend the right social

functions, impress the right people, operate in the proper arenas so that the social elite of this world might

take notice of us. We diligently and meticulously strive for popularity and prosperity because human

conception is based on the belief that this is what it takes to be blessed and we confuse resource with the

source. So what happens is we spend all of our energy trying to reach unattainable expectations all that

this flesh may be satisfied and what little we have left we then offer unto God if our flesh isnt to tired.

We must realize is that the flesh will never be satisfied, and no matter what we have or achieve, no matter

who knows your name, no matter how much success you get that you will never be truly blessed until you

Let God be First.

Im reminded of a song we used to sing many years ago it said Im not asking for high men to know my

name, but give me Lord a clean heart and Ill follow thee. In other words Lord youll be first in my life and

whatever you want me to do Ill do. Just be first in my life.

The Bible says: Matthew 6:33 says But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all

these things shall be added unto you.

The mentality of society is get all these things and if you have time then seek God. We even find

preachers whose basis of their ministry is prosperity. Dont get me wrong there is nothing wrong with

having material things, but the organization of it is important. God desires for his people to be blessed

and prosperous, for in 3rd John 1:2 Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in
health, even as thy soul prospereth. God wants his people to be rich, he desires for his people to have

the abundance of, Hes the King and we are his children and we should have it, but first he wants us to

have much power, much anointing, much wisdom, much understanding. Once we have achieved these

things then all they other stuff will be added unto you.

We find in our society so many people that have achieved great prosperity & popularity, and according

to mans status they seem to really have it going on, they have the nice cars, live in the fine homes, travel

to all the exotic places, but one day you hear on the news that they have taken
their own life. The question arises why would they do something like that, they had everything going for
them? They didnt Let God be First, and failed to understand 2 key concepts.

1.) Position

2.) Relationship

Position is: The proper location and proper place of something (GOD) at any given time.

Relationship is: The condition of being connected.

Position: When I was in the army, whenever we would go on maneuvers, move from one place to
another, there was a position called POINT. The point position was the first position. It was a highly
esteemed and respected position. The point position had the responsibility of the lives of everyone in the
company on their shoulders. What the point man did was to lead the company through hostile territory.
He would go first ensuring that the way was clear, that there were no land mines or any danger before us.
What would happen sometimes by him being first if the enemy was out there somewhere they would
notice him first and they more than likely would shoot him. What this did was give the rest of the company
the knowledge that the enemy was out there and we could take the appropriate action to save our lives.

(Watch this): When you Let God be First, he becomes your point man and he leads you through the
hostile territory of the devil. He points out the land mines, the snares, the traps that are laid to entangle us
and he leads us around them.

In the natural what happened was the point man was shot and we had to protect our own lives, but in the
spiritual when you let God be first. What happens is God becomes not only your point man to lead you
through hostile territory, around all the land mines and traps set before you, but like David said he is my
Buckler. A Buckler is a shield and every fiery dart, every missile of destruction that the enemy shoots at
you God is standing there taking every blow. Saying come on my child everything is going to be all right
all you gotta do is Let God be First.

In Psalms 23 David understood something he said, Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow
of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me.
I want to change it a little if thats o.k. When you Let God be First you can say; Yea though I walk through
hostile territory I will fear no evil for thou art my point man. Thou goest before me in the presence of my
enemies, thou leadest me past all the traps and snares. I dont have to worry, I dont have to fret, all I
have to do is Let God be First.

The reason so many people are dying spiritually is they fail to Let God be First and they leave themselves
open to the attacks of the devil.

We have this concept Everywhere you go take God with you! and this is what we do.
We try to grab God by the hand instead of God grabbing ours and say ok God lets go here, lets do this
trying to take God to some place he aint gonna go and we place ourselves in open view of the enemys
attacks.

Summary: You have been grafted into this relationship with God. Thank God for the solider that pierced him in His
side.
Scripture: John 15:1-15:5 John 15:15-15:15 (add scripture)
Tags: Apologetics The Bible (add tag)
Denomination: Apostolic
Audience: General adults
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them to reproduction at the end.

Jesus says in verse 5: I am the vine, ye are the branches: (RELATIONSHIP)

*** If you dont understand your relationship, your place in God, youll find yourself trying to do what only

God can do. Many people in church today are confused, messed-up, discouraged, depressed, unable to

praise God the way they are supposed to because they are spending all of their energy trying to be their

own god. They are trying to bless themselves, heal themselves, promote themselves, climb the latter of

success themselves, trying to solve their own problems, answer their own prayers, trying to cover up for

God, because they feel as if hes not doing it fast enough, trying to make God look good through their

own human efforts and it cannot be done.

He said I am the vine, ye are the branches. All you gotta do is stay connected. All you gotta do is trust

me to give you what you need. I will supply all your needs not according to your circumstances, not

according to your time line, but according to my riches in glory. The important thing is we have a godly

connection, not with church, but with God. Many people are so connected with church, not the organism

but the organization, the flow, the position, that they are not connected with God. They are like Saul more

worried about the position, about who did what or who was doing what, who was going to shine or be

promoted, when we need to be more like David who was more concerned with the presence of the Lord

than anything else.

I am the vine, ye are the branches He was explaining the relationship.

** What we need to understand is that this saying originally pertained to the Jews and not the Gentiles.
Everyone that was not born a Jew is a Gentile, but (Watch this:)Romans 11:17 And if some of the

branches be broken off, and thou being a wild olive tree, wert grafted in among them, and with them

partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree. ) Because Israel was broken off of the vine we have

been grafted into the relationship.

inserted, transplanted, spliced, embedded, fixed, joined, and attached.** The word Grafted means:

In order for something to grafted in what has to happen is the bark of the tree or vine must be removed,

then a piece of the tree must be cut so that what is being transplanted can be inserted into the opening

and then the cells of the tree or vine attach themselves with the cells of the branch that is being grafted

until they become one. (Watch this): Isa. 53:3 But he was wounded for our transgression, he was bruised

for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Thank

God for the Roman solider that pierced him in the side because what he did was open up a way for us to

be grafted into the Blessed Vine to be able to receive of the blessing of the convenant of Abraham, now

that we have been grafted in were blessed,** (This is deep) :

the devil begins to attack us we get discouraged and upset. We sit there talking about Shanequa is
pregnant, wife done left me, I had two cars, a dog, and a cat. Then we ask God the question why did you
let me go, God says I didnt let you go you let me go, I never had your hand. If you would have Let me be
First I would have lead you around the land mind of Shanequas house, would have lead you to Bible
Class where you would have gotten the word in you, but you didnt put me first.

What we need to understand is the concept Where he leads me I will follow. We must Let God be in his
proper position in our lives and thats First.

I said there were 2 concepts

Relationship: Colossians 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance:
for ye serve the Lord Christ. In order to receive an inheritance there has to be relationship, there has to
be a connection.

Relationship how one thing relates to another has the entire world to do with function and productivity.
When you fail to understand your relationship with God youll find yourself trying to do things that only
God can do. So many people in church today are confused, depressed, discouraged, unable to praise
God the way the are supposed to because they dont understand the relationship. They spend so much of
their energy trying to bless themselves, answer their own prayers, solve their own problems, climb the
latter of success, trying to out sing somebody, out preach somebody, out testify somebody. Trying to be
noticed because by somebody and they fail to understand relationship with God. Jesus said I am the
vine and ye are the branches. You dont have to shake the Bishops hand to be blessed, all you have to
do is stay connected to the vine. When you understand relationship youll know you deliverance is in the
vine, your job is in the vine, your joy is in the vine. Listen you dont have to preach like TD Jakes to end
up on TV, You dont have to sing like Fred Hammond to cut a cd, But seek ye first the kingdom of God,
and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

When you Let God be First youll receive the reward of the inheritance. We know the inheritance is
eternal life with God, but while we are yet here if we Let God be First well receive of the inheritance. I like
to call it Gods interest.

If you have 5 million dollars in the bank, you dont spend all of that but you live off of the interest of it. Our
inheritance is eternal life with him, but while we are yet here the interest of the inheritance is what we are
living off of. The interest is knowing that No weapon formed against you shall prosper.

When you let God be First. When you understand position and relationship. You can develop what I like
to call a Ridiculous Praise.

A normal praise is when you have a blessing and you know what the blessing is and you praise God for
the blessing.

Ridiculous Praise is all hell is breaking loose in your life, husband left, wife ran off, kids strung out, car
repossessed, house is next, job gone, bills past due, you should have lost your mind a long time ago, but
you have Let God be First in your life. When you Let God be First, things that used to get on your nerves,
dont get on your nerves any more, people that used to get under your skin, dont get under your skin
anymore. When you Let God be First you can hear bad news and still have joy.

When you Let God be First even though it seems like all hope is gone you do as the Bible says and
Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with Praise.

When you Let God be First you dont sit here, but you come up, get on the Praise Team, cant carry a
tune in a bucket, but you let God be first and say, I still have Joy after all the things Ive been through I
still have Joy. Thats what we hear. No matter how bad or off key it may be, you make a joyful noise unto
the Lord and this is what God hears Glory, Halleauha, youre worthy. This is what the devil hears Na, Na,
Na, Na, you didnt get me. He gets upset, it confuses him, he says Ive been raising hell in their lives and
yet in still they can clap their hands and praise God thats Ridiculous, Im not gonna waste my time with
them.

If you want the devil to leave you alone, Let God be First. Let hell be breaking loose in your life and enter
into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Not that cute little panzy Sunday morning
praise, that you practiced in front of the mirror, but put it in high gear. Take the weave out, kick the shoes
off, loosen the tie and just begin to praise God like you have lost your mind.

I dare you to stand up and just begin to give God a ridiculous praise. You may be here tonight all hell is
breaking loose at home, you dont even really know why you came but you did. I dare you to start praising
God.