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SCRIPTURE - Mat 6:33                                                                                   NOVEMBER, 2005

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

SUBJECT - OUR PRIORITIES, ARE NOT GOD'S PRIORITIES!!

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This month's message, which, has a similar title as last month's message, could be considered as part 2, of that message, in that it deals with man's perception of God.

Last month, I addressed what most people tend to think God is like. It was mentioned how, we tend to believe that God, should, in so many words, lighten up, and give us a break, simply because we are only human, and none of us is perfect. Therefore, we can't help doing wrong, and that if He is as merciful as the bible says He is, then, He will forgive us, irrespective of whether we repent, or not.

We looked at how we want to believe that God, should get off of His 'high horse' and come down here, and compromise with us. He should be our 'buddy.'

Well, that is where our main problem is, in that we want Him, to be like us, when He is calling on us, to be like Him. Just as the parent, should raise their children to be like them, so too, does God, our Heavenly Father, want to raise us up to be like Him. It is totally asinine, to think that God, would ever stoop down to our mentality.

Yet, that is exactly what we, through our actions, demand of Him, if He expects us to worship Him.

Well, this month's message, is going a little further in to this area, and address just how we think, and how God thinks.

In life, we tend to pursue things, and make decisions, based on a simple formula, and that is priorities.

All of us, throughout life, have, at one time or another, been faced with multiple problems, and situations, in which we couldn't address all of them, so therefore, we had to prioritize them. When we did so, we would, most likely, deal with the most important problem first, then the next, and the next, and so on.

Trying to deal with multiple problems, at the same time, will tend to drive us, up the wall, and in to depression.

Jesus once said, Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

What He was saying, is that we shouldn't worry about things that are in the future, in this case, talking about tomorrow and beyond, because there is enough to worry about today.

To carry that a little further, we shouldn't worry about something that is going to happen one hour or so from now, but, what is happening, right now. All of this, shows how we should prioritize the situations that come in to our lives.

If we don't prioritize things in the right way, then, we are going to have serious problems, somewhere, down the road.

Well, believe it or not, God, has given us directions in how to prioritize our lives, in such a way, as to bring us in to His perfect will, whereby, we can be blessed.

The subject verse, gives us the prescription, that, when followed, will put us on the road to blessing, far above all that we can ask or think.

It says, 'Seek ye first', not second, third, or further down, 'the kingdom of God, and His righteousness...' Let's stop right there. If you will read the entire 6th chapter of Matthew, you will see that Jesus lays out, for those He is preaching to, life's necessities, and those things, that we all naturally have need of. These are not wants, but, needs. Things, that are the basic, 'must have, items. They are 'food, and clothing.' What could be more necessary than these?? In our minds, nothing.

But, Jesus says, not to worry. God knows what we have need of, and if He provides for the birds, and the flowers, how much more will He provide for us, that are made in His image??

However, as with everything that God provides for us, there are prerequisites, that must be adhered to. And they were just addressed in the subject verse.

When we see the terms 'Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness', we are looking at being like Him, in seeing things the way He sees them, and thereby, placing the things in the order He does. And mind you, what we may think is important, and put first on the list, God does not, and puts them further down the list.

Here are a few examples.

While listening to a young man, asking me about, what would I do, if my family were starving, and I didn't have a job, and I was going to get thrown out of my house, wouldn't that be a good reason to go steal some food, or, presumably rob someone, or maybe gamble on the lottery. Wouldn't God understand and forgive me??

Now, I know that God would forgive me, if I repented of it, but, He does not understand why I had to do it in the first place. That shows a lack of faith, in Him and His Word (Jesus). Jer 1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it. There is nothing that God has promised to us, that He will not deliver on. So, if I do something contrary to what He says, like, 'Thou shalt not steal,' then that means I don't trust Him.

That was only one of many simple examples. However, I want to address areas, where to common belief is one way, while God calls it, totally different.

Recently, during campaigning for president, John Kerry, was asked about his stance on abortion. he replied that as a Catholic, he did not support abortion, but, because it was legalized by the Supreme Court, he would abide by the court's decision.

Now, to him, this was the correct thing to say, because, he feels that women have the right to do with their bodies, what they want, and that no one can tell them any different. And he felt good with that answer. Even though, his church, says something different. And while you women, may think that way, you think God feels the same way. Not!!!

To God, all life, is precious. But, as far as priorities go, innocent life, especially life, in the womb, is far more precious, because it is truly, innocent life. Has the child in the womb told a lie?? Has it killed someone??? Has it rebelled against God?? Has it committed adultery or fornication??? Of course not. But yet, men, pronounce a death sentence on it. Couple that with our stance on 'capital punishment' where the perpetrator, has killed someone, and we want to protect them from being killed. We call it, revenge. But, God is the one that calls for the murderer to be executed, Ge 9:6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. What we end up doing is protecting a guilty life, and destroying an innocent life. Capital punishment then, is God's justice, and not man's revenge. And man's action on the innocent unborn child, makes him, a murderer, deserving of death.

While listening to a talk show host one day, when having asked about what type of leader we need in the nation, for president, a caller called in and said 'we need someone that was a God fearing individual.' The person, was implying that Republicans, are usually the ones that have values, based on the bible. The host replied, that it is more important, that we have someone in office, that cares for the hungry and poor. That will provide health care for the uninsured, and a litany of other things. To this host, these were more important. After all, the bible does say, we need to be sensitive to the poor, and that, 1Cor 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity (love for my fellow man, especially the needy), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

However, this host was missing something, and that is what priority should these things be put in??

The host had a valid point, but, let me ask you this?? Which is better?? Coming upon a person that is starving, and giving them a meal, knowing that in a few hours, they will be hungry again, or putting them in a position, where they can feed themselves for the rest of their lives?? You know the old saying, ' Give a man a fish, and you feed him a meal. Teach him how to fish, and you will feed him for a lifetime.'

Well, God tells us, that if we turn from our wicked ways, He will heal our land, meaning we all will be blessed, and no one will be poor, and have to starve, or be sick. All things good will happen to us. 2Chr 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Isa 1:18-20 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

So, what are our wicked ways?? Going against what God says. Most of these people that are poor, and suffering, are doing so, because of this nation's rebellion against God. We slap Him in the face 1.5 million times a year, over 49 million to date, through abortion. We support 'gay marriage.' We support 'separation of God and state.' We support 'affirmative action.' We call good, evil, and evil, good. All of which, the bible addresses. Some of you may say, I don't support all of those things. Well according to Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? If you support the party that supports these things, then, it doesn't matter what you think, you are supporting all of them. Now, more specifically, I am addressing Christians, for we hold the key in all of these things. If we don't do right, the entire nation is going to suffer.

Someone said, 'good intentions, are the devil's workshop.' Well that is a paraphrase of Prv 14:12, 16:25 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. If you don't have your priorities right, no matter how good your intentions are, or what the polls say, you are heading for destruction, and dragging everyone else, with you. That is, except for those, that do have their priorities right.

Oh yes, there are those of us, that do have our priorities right, and we are doing our best, to pass on the information to you, which is what God has said we should do, but, you don't want to listen.

If you intend to keep on in your stubbornness, and prioritize things the way you think they should be, after all that you have read in this message, then read Prov. 1:20 - 33, and see if you get the message.