Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, June 16, 2002, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia. For more outlines, including a zipped file of all of my 1999, 2000, and 2001 sermon outlines, click on the link at the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

WHAT IT MEANS TO PUT GOD FIRST

By Michael D. O'Neal                      Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church                      Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:24-34

Text: Matthew 6:33

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

Introduction: Today is Father's Day! We are commanded to honor our fathers, and I thank the Lord for this opportunity, on a national holiday, to do that. The Bible says,

Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise)

Not everyone knows his father. America's morals and our country's family unit have deteriorated to the point that more and more children do not live with their natural father. That is sad.

Some of us do not have the opportunity to honor our fathers in person because we have already seen our fathers die and be buried. That is sad, too.

However, I have to admit that one of the saddest things to me about Father's Day is that many people claim to be Christians, and they claim God as their heavenly Father, and they refuse to honor Him on Father's Day. Some Christians on Father's Day will go visit their earthly father and not be in the church where their heavenly Father wants them to be. Some Christians on Father's Day will stay home with their family and not attend church. That kind of behavior is an abomination to God!

The title of this morning's message is, "What It Means to Put God First." You will never have the peace, joy, and victory that God wants you to have until you put HIM first.

We should put God's
Message first
Money first
Mission first
Miles first (church, then work ... live where God wants us to live, go to church where God wants us to attend, etc.)

TO PUT GOD FIRST MEANS TO

I. DESIRE HIM FIRST

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

A. We should desire His person more than anyone else

B. We should desire His pleasure more than anyone else

C. We should desire His praise more than from anyone else

TO PUT GOD FIRST MEANS TO

II. DEPEND ON HIM FIRST

Psalms 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

It makes a father happy when his children demonstrate that they have confidence in his ability and wisdom.

A. We need to trust God more than our infantry and military might

B. We need to trust God more than our income

C. We need to trust God more than our own intelligence

TO PUT GOD FIRST MEANS TO

III. DECLARE HIM FIRST

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Note the words, "first of all."

Let's talk about GOD FIRST

A. To our community

B. To our children

C. To other Christians

TO PUT GOD FIRST MEANS TO

IV. DO FOR HIM FIRST

2 Corinthians 8:5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

The secret of giving is to give yourself to the Lord first.

A. Let's worship Him first

B. Let's work for Him first

C. Let's walk for Him first

Are you honoring the Father on this Father's Day?

Is He first in your life?
Do you desire Him first?
Do you depend on Him first?
Do you declare Him first?
Do you do for Him first?


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