Sep. 03, 2023

“FIRST”         (Matthew 6:33)  9-3-23

1. The Kingdom of God is both NOW & NOT ___­­______!

Luke 17:20–21 (ESV) ²⁰ Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, ²¹ nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.” (NIV84 “is WITHIN you”)

Matthew 6:33 ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

2. God & His Kingdom ­­­­­­­_______________ to be FIRST!

Genesis 4:4 (ESV) ⁴ Abel…brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 

Rev 2:4 (NASB) ⁴ 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

2 Cor. 8:1-5 ¹ …the Macedonian churches… ² Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity…  ⁵ they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 

3. Being FIRST is:

- Not a _____________________________!

- an Irreducible ___________________!

- a Non-negotiable _________________!

Malachi 1:6–8 ⁶ “…where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?” says the Lord Almighty. “It is you priests who show contempt for my name. “But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’ ⁷ “By offering defiled food on my altar. “But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’… ^8 “When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you?” 

Matthew 6:33 ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

4. The Problem: 

We Want “______ these things” without the “___________”.

- HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE’RE PUTTING GOD FIRST?

James 4:17 (ESV) ¹⁷ So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

5. Three Areas God Demands to be First:

           - T _______________

            - T _______________

            - T _______________

Mark 7:9-13 ¹⁰ For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Anyone who curses his father or mother must be put to death.' ¹¹ But you say that if a man says to his father or mother: 'Whatever help you might otherwise have received from me is Corban' (that is, a gift devoted to God), ¹² then you no longer let him do anything for his father or mother. ¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down." 

** Swindoll, “When the Heart is _______, the Feet are ________.”

1 John 3:17–18 ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

One Process for Putting God First:

A. It Starts with an _____________ Love Relationship with God. 

                        (Through Prayer, the Bible & Fellowship)

B. It Requires _____________ with the Holy Spirit to Direct you. 

C. He Directs by __________________ the Word of God to you. 

D. He _________ your Spirit by His Holy Spirit to Do Something. 

  (to APPLY the Words of God & FOLLOW His Promptings) 

E. Where God ________, He Provides! (Whatever’s needed to carry it out!)

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 ¹ When you have entered the land the LORD your God is giving you… ² take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce… 

Matthew 6:32 (ESV) ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. (“seek after” = an Intensive Demand meaning to Crave, or to Desire.)

** “He’s Either Lord of _____ or He’s Not Lord at _____!”