First things First

Dr. Anthony Berry

Keep God First and Experience His Presence • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

Revelation 2:1–7

Confidence

Faith and Order

Joseph gains favor with Pharaoh

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This series outlines the benefit of divine order in a hostile world

Notes

Transcript

Taking Care of the Big Things First

There was a professor that was sharing problem solving wisdom with some of her subordinates. Using a jar she poured in some small stones with the intention of getting the one large rock into the jar as well. The jar filled quickly and there was no way to get the one large rock inside. It would have been better to place the rock inside the jar first, and having placed the proper priority on the project then pour the small stones in around it. By identifying the big piece of the puzzle first, makes it easier to pour the little rocks in around it and fill the empty spaces.

The Little Stones Drew our Attention Away from the Rock

Our lives can become filled with little things that cause us to forget source of how we got where we are. The little stones being many, seem like they ought to be taken care of first. We all have priorities, but what happens when our legitimate jammed packed schedule begins to dominated our lives to the point that we lose our identity and priority of God in our lives.

The cars, the jobs, and seeking to make money have taken priority to many of us.

Our possessions have obsessed us to the point that when we do need God, it has been a minute since we last talked with Him. We become those who enjoy religious clothes and hats but are disconnected from God. We have a Bible but we haven’t dove deep into study it for ourselves. When we seek God to give us stuff we sacrifice relationship for religion.

Our priorities can lead us to being present physically in church but disconnected spiritually. For instance, But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss” (Lk 22:48).

Christianity was never intended to be less than a spiritual relationship

From the beginning God wanted a relationship with His people

Listen to the text from Exodus 19:5-6 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;

and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.

God wants men and women’s relationship with Him to be first

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 20

Then God spoke all these words, saying,

“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before Me.

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.

“You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,

but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Our lives are demanding and our priorities are out of balance

We are all generally good people but the demands of the fast paced life pull us away from personal Sabath with God. We have legitimate tasks to handle. Work, Sports, entertainment, fun, children, cooking, cleaning, and commuting. All these demands become first in our lives. Jesus is the rock and we pay little attention to him, and become upset when He doesn’t move when we want Him to like we want Him to.

Recall your first love

Rev 2 Commendations

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

“To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:

‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;

and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary.

Rev 2 Condemnations

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update Chapter 2

‘But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

‘Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent.

‘Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Stick with what got you there: remember when you found God

The Church Must Prioritize God so that each household can manage the blessing of God

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