SERMON : PRIORITIES.
1. the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important than
others.
"the safety of the country takes priority over any other matter"
Similar:
prime concern
first concern
most important consideration
most pressing matter
matter of greatest importance
primary issue
precedence
greater importance
preference
precedency
pre-eminence
first/highest place
predominance
primacy
the lead
weighting
weight
weightage
a thing that is regarded as more important than others.
plural noun: priorities
"playing football wasn't high on my list of priorities"
In today’s society, sound priorities are a must. With everything that people have to
juggle on a regular basis, having a good set of priorities it an absolute must. If
someone has bad priorities, it can infect everything they do, because if your
priorities are in the wrong place, everything you do is done for the wrong reasons
What are some of your priorities for living a happy life?
Do you believe God should be your absolute #1 priority, even before your
spouse and family?
In your life, do you strive to make God a priority?
Yeah, What They Said
?You can?t get second things by putting them first; you can get
second things only by putting first things first.?
?C.S. Lewis
?When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed
but increased.?
?C.S. Lewis
?Lord, we don?t mind who is second as long as Thou art first.?
?W.E. Stranger
“Action expresses priorities” ~Ghandi
“Good things happen when you get your priorities straight.” ~Scott
Caan
“Like it or not, the world evolves, priorities change and so do you.”
~Marilu Henner
“I'd rather have roses on my table than diamonds around my neck”
~Emma Goldman
“All of the animals except man know that the principal business of
life is to enjoy it” ~Samuel Butler
I want to use a story that I heard once:
A high school science teacher wanted to demonstrate a concept to his
students. He takes a large-mouth jar and places several large rocks in it.
He then asks the class, “Is it full?" Unanimously, they say, "Yes!" The
teacher then takes a bucket of gravel and pours it into the jar. The small
rocks settle into the spaces between the big rocks. Again, he asks the
class, "Is it full?" Some students hold back, but most reply, "Yes!" The
teacher then produces a large can of sand pours it into the jar. The sand
fills up the spaces between the gravel. For the third time, the teacher
asks, "Is it full?"Most of the students are wary of answering by now, but
again, many reply, "Yes!" Then the teacher brings out a pitcher of water
and pours it into the jar. The water saturates the sand. Finally, the teacher
asks, "What is the point of this demonstration?" One student raises his
hand and says, "No matter how full one's schedule is in life, he can always
squeeze in more things?" "No," replies the teacher, "The point is that
unless you first place the big rocks into the jar, you are never going to get
them in. The big rocks are the important things in your life: your family,
your friends, and your personal growth. If you fill your life with small
things, the gravel, the sand, and the water, then you will never have the
time for the important things. So, what are the "Big Rocks" in your life?
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these
things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
Bible Verses/Stories
Matthew 6:33 -- "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness,
and all these things will be given to you as well."
Galatians 1:10 -- "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of
God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please
men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the
will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2
“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your
God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the
children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate
me” Exodus 20:5
Satan's Six Greatest Desires
It is inevitable for every Christian to confront the reality of a
genuine adversary, whether we accept it or not. This entity,
known by various names such as Satan, Lucifer, Beelzebub, and
the devil, made his ill-intent towards God's creation evident in his
initial interaction with humanity in Genesis 3. His character is so
malevolent that Jesus describes him as "a murderer from the
beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is
no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character,
for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44)
In essence, there is no truth, goodness, love, or hope that can
originate from the devil. Whenever we allow the enemy's words to
have influence in our lives, we align ourselves with ideas that are
in direct opposition to God's Word. The devil's aim is to "steal, kill,
and destroy" anything that brings glory to God, including
humanity themselves. Without further commentary let’s cover the
six desires of the adversary.
To Cause You to Question the Validity of God's Word
Satan shows his greatest trick during the first encounter with
mankind in Genesis 3:1-5 (AMPC) “NOW THE serpent was
more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the
field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to
the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall
not eat from every tree of the garden? [Rev. 12:9-11.] And
the woman said to the serpent, We may eat the fruit from
the trees of the garden, Except the fruit from the tree
which is in the middle of the garden. God has said, You
shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.
But the serpent said to the woman, You shall not surely
die, [2nd Cor. 11:3.] For God knows that in the day you
eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like
God, knowing the difference between good and evil and
blessing and calamity.”
So understand that Satan has been successful in persuading
people to question God's Word from the beginning of time. Even
today, he continues to deceive people into doubting the Bible's
infallibility and the promises it contains. As a result, many have
become skeptical and devote more time to disproving God than
accepting His love for them. When we doubt even one aspect of
what God has spoken, we begin to question everything else that
has been said and will be said. In the same way that faith can
move mountains, a single seed of doubt can spread like a
contagion throughout entire families, causing many to stumble,
as we saw in the Garden of Eden. Above all, we must never forget
that God does not lie. As is written in Numbers 23:19
(AMPC) “God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie,
neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or
compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and
shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not
make it good?”
To Render You Immobilized by Fear
The enemy also employs fear as a tactic. As someone who
formerly battled severe fear and panic attacks at the slightest
provocation, I can attest that fear diverted my attention from God
and towards immediate concerns. If fear permeates our lives, we
will discover that we are preoccupied with "what ifs." Our
existence becomes fixated on what we can or cannot manage,
rather than placing our complete trust in God. Fear will prevent us
from taking a leap of faith into a new profession, interceding for a
friend who may spurn us, or even finding rest. God does not instill
fear in us. On the contrary, His Word brings serenity, discernment,
affection, and a rational mind. God’s perfect Love casts out all
fear, note what is written in I John 4:18 (AMPC) “There is no
fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown
(complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels
every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of
punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the
full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete
perfection].”
To Prevent You from Proclaiming the Gospel
An ineffective Christian is one who hoards the gospel for
themselves. As a disciple of Christ, our fundamental role is to lead
others to follow Him. In fact, Matthew 28:19 (AMPC) declares it
to be our supreme mission. “Go then and make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Nevertheless,
one of the enemy's ploys is to stifle Christians. In contemporary
social media, we witness this as many believers are apprehensive
about sharing God's Word, either fearing online attacks or not
wishing to be linked to the "church."
While we cannot ascribe complete blame to the enemy
(admittedly, those who share the gospel in a hurtful and spiteful
manner bear some responsibility), we can observe how numerous
Christians choose to worship discreetly to avoid offending anyone.
However, as followers of Christ, we must seize every opportunity
to disseminate the gospel. When we shrink from this task, the
enemy triumphs! If we are not influencing others for Christ, the
enemy will certainly seek to influence those around us. Let us no
longer feel ashamed to spread the gospel, by any means
necessary. Let us live our lives by Romans 1:16 (AMPC) “For I
am not ashamed of the Gospel (good news) of Christ,for it
is God's power working unto salvation [for deliverance
from eternal death] to everyone who believes with a
personal trust and a confident surrender and firm
reliance, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,”
To Instill a Sense of Shame that Controls Your Life
Recalling your past mistakes or present doubts is another
strategy employed by the enemy. If the devil can persuade you
that your past disqualifies you from receiving God's love or
mercy, you will never fully embrace the Word of God.
Consequently, you will continue to feel defeated and frustrated,
accepting only some of God's Word. Shame keeps our attention
fixed on ourselves, reminding us repeatedly of our wrongdoings or
perceived shortcomings.
In truth, the enemy has no qualms about reminding you of these
things and making you feel unworthy to worship God, pursue His
calling, or receive His promises. Moreover, this sense of shame
will inhibit you from praying to God or sharing the gospel with
others. If the enemy can keep you in self-pity, you will never
experience God's peace. Remember, we are not defined by our
past actions. Rather, when we choose to turn away from sinful
desires and seek God's love, He will reveal to us how to live a
fulfilling life free from condemnation.
Take comfort in that fact that if we confess our sins, God freely
forgives and puts us back in right standing with Him, I John 1:9
(AMPC) says, “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and
confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own
nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss
our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all
unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will
in purpose, thought, and action].” And further we need not
be concerned about condemnation Romans 8:1
(AMPC) declares, “ THEREFORE, [there is] now no
condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those
who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the
dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
[John 3:18.]”
To Lead You to Worship Idols Instead of God
An idol is anything that we prioritize above the Lord. In the Old
Testament, this was evident as people worshipped physical
objects. Although most Christians do not worship a golden calf or
a statue of Jesus, there are still many idols that have taken root in
our hearts.
From idolizing celebrities to spending countless hours on social
media or obsessing over our self-interests, anything can become
an idol. This stratagem of the enemy is more insidious as we may
not realize it immediately. In fact, we can spend years venerating
things that appear good on the surface, only to discover that "it"
has become our life's primary focus. Therefore, what began as a
positive pursuit, like daily exercise, vacations, making money, or
finding a spouse, can become our primary source of hope and joy.
Eventually, we may look to these things more than we seek God.
This is perilous because when these things fade, we are left
feeling hopeless. Though God desires good things for us, we must
never worship them more than the One who bestows them upon
us. If something stands in the way of a life that is surrendered to
the Lord, we must be willing to relinquish it when the Lord
prompts us.The Word is very clear in Exodus 20:3-6
(AMPC) “You shall have no other gods before or besides
Me. You shall not make yourself any graven image [to
worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the
heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is
in the water under the earth; You shall not bow down
yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am
a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children to the third and fourth generation of those who
hate Me, [Isa. 42:8; 48:11.] But showing mercy and
steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who
love Me and keep My commandments.”
To Mislead You into Deception
It is more critical than ever for Christians to adhere to the Word of
God. In today's society, we witness many individuals conforming
the Word to suit their lifestyle instead of aligning their lifestyle
with the Word. This is a ruse by Satan to entice Christians into
cherry-picking Bible verses that make them feel good.
Rather than pursuing a life that follows the Spirit, we rely on our
own desires and moral beliefs to determine what is true. In many
ways, we become like Eve, willing to accept only portions of God's
Word while preferring our will over His. The truth is, if the enemy
can keep Christians lukewarm and hypocritical in their faith, he
can dissuade many from following the Lord
We must bear in mind that Satan will do anything to create
confusion, including exploiting Christians with varying beliefs,
making it seem like dozens of different religions combined into
one. We must acknowledge that anything we believe that
contradicts the Word of God is simply another tactic of the
enemy. Let us not grant the enemy any more influence over our
thoughts and actions, but instead walk fully in God's Word. In fact
a Man of God recently told me that many churches today have
become more night club than places of worship, people are going
to get a feel good message rather than sound biblical Word of
God based doctrine. II Timothy 4:3-4 (AMPC) says “For the
time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure)
sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching
[for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather
to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable
number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster
the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the
truth and wander off into myths and man-made
fictions.” Rather, let us remember, Hebrews 4:12 (AMPC) “
For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power
[making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it
is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the
dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal]
spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of
our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and
judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart
