We Need A Priority Shift

We Need A Priority Shift  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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We need to shift our priorities from thinking gain is godly, follow God, and learn to be content with what He has given us.

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The Results of False Teaching

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I’d like to start in the third verse of Paul’s first letter to Timothy… I’d like to read the first couple of words:
“If any man teach otherwise....”
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The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
Now more than ever we must keep our eyes open, for there are people who teach error and their focus isn’t on changing lives.
Nor is it on helping someone to become a better person where it counts… being a Christian matters when no one else is looking, being a Christian matters when you are at home with your spouse and kids; and, yes while on the job or in your neighborhood.
It’s impossible for a man or woman to say I have a heart to serve God,but doesn’t have a heart for God’s people.
It’s impossible for a man or woman to say I have a heart to serve God,but can’t be found when it comes to dwelling with people.
In the Word of God says:

2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks?

3 Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock.

4 The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them.

Look at the heart of this false teacher… they only care about themselves, they tend to their own needs, they don’t attempt to strengthen people of God (because they aren’t even focused on the people of God). There is no healing, the lost stay in sin. The saved have horrible lives under false teachers/leaders just trying to serve God that wants people to know He loves them. They live lives with no hope that leads to hopelessness.
Remember we are supposed to be the light of the world; in the Word tells us:

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Those words were written in the red print too. Our lives are not our own, we have been brought with a price. Simply put, we just can’t do whatever WE want to do. Live have the light that light the darkness and the darkness can’t touch it - yet and still. WE want to turn it off to fit in.
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Let’s follow along a little bit more to see what happened to the people under this false sheppard:
In we find:

And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered.

6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them.

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People are lost because some of us have led with force, we have said cruel words that have driven people away. We have been hard on people. We have looked down on people. We have turned people away from God. We have misrepresented God, we have sinned before His people and have not repented.
Outside of the ark of safety the devil is wreaking havoc on people’s lives. People are going through so much now. As the word said, “They became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they were scattered”.
You might ask, “How does this happen?”
It’s quite simple… a young man after a negative Church experience might go out with friends to a night club and say this isn’t so bad… take a drink and say… this isn’t so bad… meet a young cute thing and you know the rest.
If you don’t keep them in Church, you will find them at all kinds of clubs: night club, strip clubs, country club (yes sometimes we drive people further into secular work to the extent where they don’t have time nor the will to serve God). There’s all kinds of houses you may find people at too (outside of the house of God: the crack house, prostitute’s house,meth house, overnight at the boyfriends, house, overnight at the girlfriends house, which leads to one standing in their house taking the next day pill and committing murder by early abortion.
There are lost people out there… where are the leaders? Where is the Church? That is our call!! That is where we need to be!! How often have you seen Joel Osteen knock on door? Have you ever seen him talk about evangelicalism? Sure preaching should empower your flock to meet the needs of people where sinners are and open your doors while they are in the greatest need. After a natural catastrophe Joel Osteen didn’t open the doors of his sizeable facility to meet the needs of thousands of people that were displaced due to flooding. I’m sure Joel didn’t personally make that call. But another leader did… Church we need to do better.
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The Result of Watered Down Gospel

Now I would like to read the entire scripture for your hearing and let us dig a little bit deeper:

3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

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To garner the numbers, get people to fill the room… false teachers have orchestrated sermons to tickle the ear of followers. Like well… Joel Osteen - with watered down gospel. Saying words to tickle the ears of God’s people and literally filling stadiums on a weekly basis.
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Members feel like they can still sin and serve. God will always forgive me. Once saved they are always saved.
Partial truths… partial truths will not get you to heaven. The words given by Jesus Christ are intended to give us the victory and if we follow that - those words will take us from earth to glory.
Not only do we need to be careful about false teachings… we also need to be leery of demonic inspiration. Some of this teaching is coming from the pit of hell. If you too aren’t careful. God will say depart from me ye workers of iniquity. This in it’s own right casts away the notion of once saved always saved.
In second Corinthians 6: 15-18 we find the following words:

And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

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I’ve come to let you know that any word coming from any pulpit that tells you that it’s OK to dwell with the world and there is a never ending pool of forgiveness that allows us as the temple of the living God to dwell in sin - with infidels and unbelievers did not come from God.
In fact, God doesn’t even want you around the world… He said, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate”
We don’t want to do the things that please God. How important is mankind to please? How important is your best friend to please? How important is your spouse?
We can’t continue to put things and people before God. He is a jealous God and the wrong person to displease.
Your friends, family, boss, neighbor does not have a heaven or hell to put you in — but God does. We should spend every waking hour trying to please Him. That’s what is important. We need a priority shift.
In second Corinthians 6:14, these words best sum it up for all relations:

14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Many times we apply this word to marital relationships; however, it can be applied to any relationship we have. We are the Children of God… too often this is lost on what we see on TV. Men and Women living sinful lives with big Crosses around they neck as if they believe. This is New Testament writings… God said He will not receive us not if we touch unclean things.
This comes full circle to living godly lives… as much as possible. God knows we will fall — all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; but, we should be making an attempt to be better somehow.
When Church leadership doesn’t fall under Godly authority, it will replace it with wordly standards.
People with big degrees from heavy universities are sought after for leadership roles, where people whom have high degrees and high professional title dwell in fellowship. Proud people with plenty of worldly sense but knowing nothing about the true character of God. Pointing out questions in the words and with this you’ll find envy...
Why envy?
People become jealous of the BMWs, the fancy houses, fancy job titles… assuming they know the lives of the others they fellowship with through the worldly achievements they have made. They think that through all of the money, titles and education received that have achieved are Godly gain. That literally gain makes them good. If you have - you are good. More importantly, if you don’t have - you are not good. If you don’t have you are ungodly. That isn’t faith! That’s greed.
Let’s go to verse four and five of the text to find these words:

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

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4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
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The Holy Bible: King James Version. (2009). (Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., ). Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
I’ve come to let you know your Bachelor’s degrees don’t make you godly.
I’ve come to let you know your Master’s degrees don’t make you godly.
Being a Doctor or a Nurse doesn’t make you godly.
Nor will being a professional basketball or football player for that matter - make you godly.
Being a millionaire or billionaire doesn’t make you godly.
Having nice cars or clothes doesn’t make you godly.
Living in fancy neighborhoods don’t make you godly.
Big house on top of the biggest hill… still won’t make you godly.
We have one of the richest men in this country right now as the President of the United States. What kind of moral compass does he have?
Like him, prosperity teachers tend to gather amongst themselves, become proud and cast people away.... the old you are not good enough to serve here… we can’t hang with you… look at what she is wearing… no one likes you, they are beneath us... the shift becomes inward, it is not godly, certainly isn’t Christian.
When we can’t clean the mote out of our eyes to see clearly and help someone else. The world see and knows we are the ones that should be doing so - we scatter them around the earth and they are going through unimaginable things. Remember the word I shared with you earlier today:
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
When it’s all said and done… greed has no place in the hearts and minds of God people.
Solomon said it best when he wrote in

6 Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness,

Than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

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He goes forward to say in verse 9-11
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9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law,

Even his prayer shall be abomination.

10 Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way,

He shall fall himself into his own pit:

But the upright shall have good things in possession.

11 The rich man is wise in his own conceit;

But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

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Be Careful When It Comes to Money - It’s a Trap!

We need a priority shift saints… we simply can’t let the world define to us what simply is good.
As we head back in the we see the seriousness and the need to guard ourselfves from greed:
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9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

From the garden of eden when Eve was beguiled of the devil and saw that forbidden fruit was nourishment and sinned. And more importantly, convinced her husband it was OK to eat and satisfy his hunger. Mankind has continued to meet its needs outside the rules and will of God. Money, things of substance is the root of all evil. When we start seeing and wanting things - it opens the door to ungodly influence. Yes and even demonic influence. Don’t let the big head take you places where you will be eternally separated from God. Money brings people to tempt you - they will give you a little bit of whatever to get the money you have. The parties can lead to drug abuse and alcoholism… Saints, we really just need to be careful - especially when we are blessed.
We need a priority shift!!
We are heading in the right direction now. I think God’s word has been established for today. I would like to leave you guys with this. Let us review the text from the sixth verse and read through the eighth verse:

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

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Godliness with contentment is great gain. Not the houses, not the cars, not the degrees, money in the bank accounts, TV shows, NBA, NFL, rapper, politician or preacher. None of these things our society values (although preached from the housetops) are gain.
Being content with what you have and living for God is true gain and will lead you to heaven.
Be
Jesus didn’t come down through 42 generations for us to get a promotion on the job, build up a storehouse and tell our souls to be at rest. He died on a old rugged cross so that we, while not perfect can get back up again after sin. Repent and try to get back on track. The more we focus on God and flee from things that will cause us to err - the better we are in the sight of God. After all is said and done. Our goal in life should be to please Him.
When we do this we can fight the good fight of faith, eventually lay hold on eternal life which is the reason why God called us.... He called us to one day live with Him. When we accepted this call, we did so to live uprightly before people. There are many witnesses watching what we do. We don’t have time to slip. We need to be about our Father’s business.
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