Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of Gods grace in its various forms. When it comes to important decisions, whose will usually takes priority in our lives? Submit the form below to have someone follow up with you: Submit the form below to schedule a free call. From the January/February 2016 issue of Discern Magazine, German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe grasped the importance of priorities. 3) The priority of witnessing to others. Do you or someone you know need counseling? The word vanity means futile, empty or meaningless and comes from a root word that means to exhale or a vapor, as if chasing the wind. Thus, we must keep God central and be built together as His people. There ought to be no such thing as a believer just attending church. We dont go to church; we are the church!
What God Says About Priorities - Biblical Counseling Center 4:18; also Phil. She has a relationship with God. How Do You Know You Have the Holy Spirit? The question is, will having a job outside my home in any way compete with or diminish my effectiveness in fulfilling my primary calling in my home? Theres not time for that right now. How confrontational must we be to remain true to the gospel. God has a will, or desire, for theuse of your time. Therefore tell her to help me.. Purpose: Why are we here? 2:17). The one factor that seemed to transcend all the rest [was] putting first things first (1990, pp. We do live in different seasons. God may not communicate exactly that way, but He does want you to know the purposeof your life, as Nancy will explain in a series called, First Things First. Copyright 1992, Steven J. Cole, All Rights Reserved. As Revive Our Hearts has faced the most challenging financial season in the nearly 10 years that we've been on the air, I confess that at timesIve been tempted to worry and to try and fix things without consulting the Lord. Wisdom is knowing the right things; being wise is doing the right things. You shall have no other gods before Me (Exodus 20:2-3). On the other hand, the Bible records examples of people who had distorted priorities, and who actually rejected Christs offer to become one of His disciples. *Offers available only during the broadcast of the podcast season. Mr. Hunter cites Deuteronomy 30:15-19 as support for his statements. Luke 18:22-23 Solomon began his reign with right priorities. He became the greatest and richest king in world history (1 Kings 10:23). The first things Jesus preached and taught revealed how the Kingdom was the top priority. Andre van Belkum currently serves as the pastor of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association, in New Zealand and the Pacific region. Formerly they had not received mercy, but now they had. Consider three of the most important eternal priorities. We were going around the room telling what church we were from. Its very clear that the priorities in that womans life are in this order. Everything Jesus said and didHis prayers, teachings, healings, and miracleswas focused on the kingdom, not a religion. 148-149). And do not neglect doing good and sharing; for with such sacrifices God is pleased.. At my annual physical examination the doctor asked, How often do you exercise? Do you limit your salt intake? and Does your diet contain much cholesterol? I thus began an intensive fitness program, which I checked off on the daily Personal Maintenance Schedule on the refrigerator door. Then simplyrespond tothe leading of the Holy Spirit. Gods number-one priority for mankind is that we discover, understand, and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. That question is crucial for each of us to ask, ncluding Nancy. I'd go so far as to say that if you are holding back on God, if your heart is not saying, "Yes, Lord" to Him, please don't try and "tip" God by sending a donation to Revive Our Hearts. Our text has a distinctively corporate flavor. He had position, power and prestige. No one has piled up more sin than Gods mercy can cover. As you consider your financial situation, I'd encourage you to ask yourself if you areusing the resources God has entrusted to you to further His kingdom. Heres where he gives that job description: 1 Timothy 5: 9 and 10. Proverbs 6:6-11. He who says, I know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (Genesis 1:28) However, Satan took that dominion from man through his deception of Adam and Eve. Why? He bought cattle and livestock, hired servants, singers, musicians and entertainers. That He is living means that Christianity is not a religion of going through dead rituals. With the high divorce rate, some children rarely see their own fathers or mothers.
Individual character was essential to decency, order, and justice within public life. Im holding up the Scripturethe Word of God. Now that sounds very elementary, but I think it really is profound. Physical things cannot replace our need for spiritual communion with our Creator. He married 700 wives and had 300 concubines (1 Kings 11:3). There is instruction for those who are single, and we need to consult the Lord about what those priorities are for each season of life. The Bible records an incident in which Peter, James and John, who Christ was calling to become His disciples, had their priorities right: So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him (Luke 5:11). What does Peter mean when he says that unbelievers stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed (2:8)? To keep from falling apart, they needed to see their identity as Gods people. As we commune continually with Him by faith, we learn that our primary need in life is to know Him (Phil. All Scripture references are from the New King James Version unless otherwise indicated. 198.). As Peter goes on to state, He is the cornerstone of the church. As he famously wrote, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound/ That saved a wretch like me." Our priority is not to spread the Christian religion, but rather to proclaim the message and concepts of the King and Kingdom of God. What would you say is the number one priority in your life? Leslie: Its Tuesday,December 28, and this is Revive Our Hearts with Nancy Leigh DeMoss. From 1977-1992 he was the pastor of Lake Gregory Community Church in Crestline, California. Do you work with our young people? The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway. Now, theres one place you can find out what those priorities are, and thats in the Scripture. Ministry is Christ slopping over from you to me and from me to you. If you think earthly things will bring you lasting fulfillment, take it from the greatest king in ancient history, they will only leave you empty. Only God can satisfy the longings of your soul! You have a gift. Just as when you build a house or building, you want to make sure the foundation is solid, since everything else rests on it, so with our lives. Paul uses the phrase one thing to bring focus and clarity to his life.
Lesson 9: The Priorities Of God's People (1 Peter 2:4-10) For all his God-given wisdom, Solomon was extremely foolish in some areas. He calls their service an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God (Phil. I hope youll still give to Revive our Hearts, but I just want to say that supporting the ministries and outreaches of your local church is evenmore important. The next thing on her job description after her relationship with her husband is her children. Christs death is sufficient for the chief of sinners. Nancy: Time does not permit us to talk about every person and every season of life, so I want to start by saying if you want to know Gods job description for your life, youve got to get into this Book. Revive Our Heartsis an outreach of Life Action Ministries. And in Scripture, He does give us a clue. And whats the evidence? She is to be a homemaker, a worker at home, a keeper at home. If so, is He central in your life? Your email is 100% safe. It is a relationship with the living Lord of the universe! Were not talking about something on our to do list. What Should We Learn From Gods Still Small Voice. If you can sustain your relationship with the Lord, cultivate it, be growing spiritually; if you can sustain your relationship with your husband, be meeting his needs, be serving as his helper, be meeting the needs of your children, be keeping your household in order and be ministering to the needs of the poor and needy around you and then have a job in addition to that, go ahead and do it. It's founded on an idea and the idea is liberty. 2:5). If youre married, let me encourage you to talk with yourmate about your yearend giving. As believer priests, we all have direct access into Gods presence through Christ, our mediator (1 Tim. He will someday be glorified in His saving His elect and in justly condemning the reprobate. Mary set aside other busyness in her life to listen and learn from Jesus. That's the offering God really wants. If He is central in your life (Priority One), then you will be ministering to people when you have contact with them.
1. Reprioritize: Developing Apostolic Priorities (2 Timothy 1:1-7) They are to be discreet and chaste. When is the last time you had a facial? the cosmetologist asked.
Finally, would you give to Revive Our Hearts? Christ taught His followers to pray often that Gods Kingdom be established, and that Your [the Fathers] will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). What has helped you most to make God central in your daily life? If you are married, if you have children, Gods priorities for you in terms of your work, your ministry, are your husband, your children, and your home. Once youve trusted Christ as Savior, the entire Christian life is a process of discovering all that He is to you. One woman described herself as a Christian at large. I thought, What a violation of biblical truth! Theres no such thing! He pursued pleasure, recreation and architecture (spending seven years building the Temple and 13 years building his own palace1 Kings 6:38; 7:1). So related to year-end giving, what priorities should we follow? This is what Jesus prayed in Matthew 6:10, let your kingdom come and your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Go back inside, and change your clothes. (See 1 Thessalonians 2:4 .) And all these other things in life that are not the prioritythe ones that you need will be added unto you. We are being built together into a spiritual house or temple in the Lord. Solomon wrestled with and answered four key questions on the meaning of life: Solomon discovered that none of these questions can be answered satisfactorily without God. Answers with Bayless Conleybroadcasts practical teachings of the Bible to its viewers in a non-religious way. In the beginning God created man and gave him dominion in all the earth to help accomplish His top priority. Of course we come to Him in salvation when we first put our trust in Him. That change may be some of the carburetor adjustments were going to talk about over the next several days. All rights reserved. We are assured that the wicked will be punished. Rooted in biblical teachings and "America is the only country ever founded on an idea. What is Gods top priority? They help keep us in focus when pressures build. Destiny: Where are we going? Your email address will not be published. We provide Skype counseling for people across the country, and live counseling in 5 offices across the Chicagoland area. Second, are you seeking to be built together with His people or do you just attend church? Jesus Christ is the central issue in belief or unbelief. Its to her husband. Some are; but the Bible is clear that we can expect some to reject not only the message, but also us. Thats why the writer of Hebrews emphasizes how vital it is for you and me to pay attention to what God says in His Word. But if you cant, then put first things first. 11:9). It tells them that they are sinners who have offended a holy God. 7:15-17). In response to what Jesus had done in his life he said, One thing I know: I was blind, but now I can see. (John 9:25). These are noble priorities - Worship, growing spiritually, sharing our faith, being ready for Christ to come and making Jesus the priority of our life. But in this instance priorities were an issue. BUT God had a plan to restore man back to Him and for man to regain his place of authority and for the kingdom of heaven to come on the earth. How do I balance the importance of working hard for the Lord, while still having enough time for God, spiritual growth, and my family, when my job won't allow it? 1:12-18; 2:1-11). 43:20); a royal priesthood (Exod. The Bible catalogs Solomons greatness and excess: There is a big difference between having wisdom and being wise. Article Images Copyright , Banish the Unofficial Luggage of Foster Care, Reconstructing Christianity Instead of Deconstructing, How to Find Biblical Joy When You Face Life Changes, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He became the greatest and richest king in world history (1 Kings 10:23). If I dont have time to get to know God, then something needs to change. Its so easy to let the pressures and busyness of lifedistract usfrom the things that are most important. In an age when we're bombarded with negative news stories on a 24/7 basis, Pastor Jack Hibbs and Barry Meguiar want people to know they have nothing to fear, because God is greater than fear of the enemy. The supremacy of Christ. Then I believe out of that ministry, God will give you opportunity to touch the lives of others in ways that will minister grace to them. When He created man and put them on earth it was to expand His kingdom, His rulership, and His will on earth. Indeed, much of the history of the ancient Hebrews can be told as a story of blessing for faithfulness to Godabiding by Gods standard of holinessand punishment for abandoning those standards (p. 4). The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose for Gods glory and our fellow mans good. That giftedness should be being used to help others, especially other believers. More that anything else, Revive Our Hearts needs your prayers as we face serious budget needs. This is actually a curriculum for young women.
Give God Your Best. They sum up the Great Commandment (to love God and neighbor) and the Great Commission (to win and disciple the lost). If God is not central, we are off track. 1:23). Receive Articles, Encouragement, and Special Offers, Moving Your Church in the Right Direction with Biblical Counseling. First and foremost, have you truly believed in Christ as Savior and Lord? Is Accepting Jesus All to Becoming a Christian? Gods plan of redemption was Jesus the Savior of the world Redeemer King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The kingdom of God is not a priority in their life. We are passionate about helping hurting people. People dont like that. 6:29; 12:42). It may be that He'll lead you to make Revive Our Hearts a higher priority over other spending choices that wont make as big of a difference in eternity. 12:7). The first passage is that very familiar one in Proverbs chapter 31. That is probably the rarest phenomena in the political history of the world; this has Conservative commentator and radio talk show host Todd Starnes says YouTube has permanently shut down his account. 1 Peter 4:10. Prophetic messages from respected leaders & news of how God is moving throughout the world. What Is Happening to Patriotism in America? His parents, David and Bathsheba, named him Solomon, meaning peaceful, but the prophet Nathan nicknamed him Jedidiah meaning beloved of the Lord (2 Sam. Now, heres the concept that has challenged me over the years, and I have to go back to this every day of my life. God has called us out of the world as His people so that we can go back into the world and proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light (2:9). The Queen of Sheba, no stranger to luxury, was overwhelmed by his wealth and wisdom (1 Kings 10:1-7). Many A Lutheran minister has sparked controversy and captured public attention with a recitation of a heretical "Sparkle Creed" during a recent church service. It is bread for your spirit and water for your soul! All rights reserved. Certainly not! I thought you might enjoy this story: It all began when the dental hygienist, who was scraping tartar off my teeth, asked, Do you spend about four minutes each time you brush your teeth? With a gurgling tube hanging from my lip, I responded, A liddle lessth than that.. Now lets get back to Nancys series called, First Things First. He is the author and giver of life, able to impart spiritual life to all who believe in Him. In His Sermon on the Mount, Christ taught some of the most meaningful principles of Christian living in the entire Bible (Matthew 5-7). The collective wisdom of the ages would say it matters a great deal. He graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M., 1976 in Bible exposition) and Califo More. Now, that doesnt mean you go home and get rid of your children. How do I juggle all the demands that come into my life day after day and not always end up feeling winded and breathless in the process? How can a Christian know where he/she is supposed to serve in the church? First of all, the young women are to love their husbands, then they are to love their children. Are you interested in learning to counsel others? But a Christ who is Lord, who confronts sin and demands obedience--thats another story! And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple (Luke 14:26-27). Are some appointed to perish? Third, are you seeking to proclaim His excellencies to those in darkness, that they, too, may come to know the Savior? While our body will return to the dust, our spirit will return to God who gave it to us (Eccl. We have to be honest with ourselves. That Christ is a stone means that He is a solid foundation on which to build our lives. He lost the kingdom. Leslie: Nancy Leigh DeMoss has beenoffering some good advice that you wont find in most time management books. He said, Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least., Stephen R. Covey in his bestseller The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People put it this way: As a longtime student of this fascinating field [of life and time management], I am personally persuaded that the essence of the best thinking in the area of time management can be captured in a single phrase: Organize and execute around priorities.. The believers to whom Peter wrote were under pressure-- probably not from being busy--but pressure from persecution. The word earnest literally means superabundant, excessive, and frequent. You and I need to give superabundant, excessive, and frequent heed to the Word of God which we have heard. To be led by the will of God is to embody the character of Godto become like God. Even when faced with a horrifying trial of physical pain and mental torment, Christ prayed, Not My will, but Yours, be done (Luke 22:42). They worked hard for the Lord. Then he built a majestic temple in Jerusalem to facilitate the worship of Yahweh which became the headquarters of God on earth. In verse 10 Peter draws from Hosea 1:10 & 2:23 to remind his scattered readers that formerly they were not Gods people, but now they are. The temptation is to tone down the message so that people will not reject it (or us). So its my prayer that you will make Gods Word the priority God desires for it to be in your lifestarting today! He is a living stone. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? Should I accept that I will have to sacrifice much for my work, consider a career change, or do something in between?" Some of you are mothers of preschoolers, but you will not always be mothers of preschoolers. 19:6); a holy nation (Exod. The qualifications are that when they were not a widow, when they were younger, they had to fulfill Gods job description for their lives. Romans 12:1 tells us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. Now, rather than go into all of that in detail, just look at the set of priorities there. It all boils down to this. Get your free "5 Things Your Church Needs" Resource! But the dissonance of the term should grab our attention. Thats lifeto love God with all my heart. So as we look into the Word of God, there is instruction for older women. And we need wisdom on how to prioritize the many opportunities facing us on a limited budget. Find out more about these options at ReviveOurHearts.com. We are now to be ambassadors for the king and kingdom. Sign up to receive the week's latest articles, blog posts andupdates. Jesus preached, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near (Matthew 4:17). As I look at the Scripture, there are three key Scriptures, one in the Old Testament and two in the New, that give very clear and specific instruction about Gods job description for those who are wives and mothers. Thats the number one priority, the controlling, core focus of her life. If our devotion for Him is lacking, were just playing church. The pressure easily could have driven a wedge between the Jewish and Gentile members of the church, leading to church splits. Christ stated: If anyone comes to Me and does not hate [love less by comparison] his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. Then be sure that you aregiving to your local church. I would ask each of you to examine your priorities. Scattered as aliens in a pagan world (1:1), it would have been easy for them to lose sight of their priorities as Gods people. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Get God. 19:5). He is the only way into the kingdom. It was not until he was more than 20 years of age that a 12-year-old boy showed him the powerful reality of a relationship with Christ. Morality: How should we live? Thank you so much. He spent his life searching for the one denominator that all successful people share. Youve already got some wrinkles around your eyes, she warned. Under pressure, we tend to focus on the urgent, but not always on the important. Used by permission. We are to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom and help build the kingdom of God. I looked it up this morning. Since God made us to be connected with other people, theres a high felt need for community. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken from her. (Luke 10:41).
Christian Priorities: Putting God First - Life, Hope and Truth This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright 2023, Crosswalk.com. Psalm chapter 27, verse 4, the Psalmist said. He was like the man who spent his whole life climbing the corporate ladder only to find out it was leaning against the wrong wall. God's people must keep God central, be built together as His people, and proclaim His excellencies to others. I always get a little nervous when I read this chapter because I begin immediately to feel like I could never be such a woman. When I talk about having a relationship with God, let me start by saying that were not talking about adding one more thing to an already overcrowded life. Setting priorities will allow you to differentiate between serious obstacles and obstacles that are easily fixed. But having said that, we must remember that the biblical Christ is going to offend many people, for at least two reasons: First, the cross of Christ is offensive (1 Cor. Your email address will not be published. The Word of God tells us that it is vital to put our priorities in the right order and then carefully cultivate each one with zeal and enthusiasm.
4) The priority of being ready for the return of Jesus. He chronicled his pursuits in Ecclesiastes 2. But the number one prioritythe priority of God for our livesis the same for every child of God, whether youre married or single, whether youre younger or older, whether youre male or female (well, were all female, but whether were talking to males or females). Its not uncommon for grown children to move thousands of miles from parents. Finally. Then something is wrong and something has to change. An Opportunity:To get more helpful, hope-filled resources and encouragement, please subscribe to Biblical Counseling Centers Mended Lives blog. A well-known educator in religious matters, Herbert W. Armstrong, wrote the following definition of perfect character: It is the ability, in a separate entity with free moral agency, to come to the knowledge of the right from the wrongthe true from the falseand to choose the right, and possess the will to enforce self-discipline to do the right and resist the wrong (The Incredible Human Potential, p. 138; see more about Mr. Armstrong in our article The Church: A Worldwide Work). The Psalmist said, My number one priority in life is to live in the presence of God, to learn from Him, to love Him with all my heart.. Counsel? And yet, those who are disobedient are responsible for their sin, even if it is in line with Gods predestined plan (Acts 2:23)! Now, in the time we have today, I want to focus on one particular season of life because so many women are in this season of life. And yet the Lord said, But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Love for Christ must be central! Jesus came to the earth to reestablish Gods number one priority. Its interesting that her ministry is in relation to acts of mercy toward the poor and the needy, a distinctively God-given calling to us as women. Her books have sold more than five million copies. You will recall how the Lord rebuked the church at Ephesus (Rev. The Bible is all about the King and the Kingdom. When He created man and put them on earth it was to expand His kingdom, His rulership, and His will on earth. As you read through it, look for commands, look for instruction, look for direction that applies to you. The most important thing in my life is to love God. David prioritized worship in his life even while facing tremendous abuse. Unlike his father, who was a warrior, he enjoyed national peace during his 40-year reign. We need not go through any human priest. Without it, hardship was not far off. A few of you I realize are not in that season, but you still need to be aware of what the job description, biblically, is for wives and mothers because some of you have daughters who are wives and mothers. You really should, she said, or you will lose your teeth. I vowed to myself that I would floss, pick, brush and rinse as instructed. And what are the things we have heard? So its good to be reminded occasionally of our priorities as Gods people. The Kingdom of God is where God rules. Ephesians 5:15-17, Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! This is the answer to whats missing in the life of every person and what the world needs. Second, Christs lordship offends people. Invariably it has something to do with the fact that they have not embraced Gods priorities for their lives. Im not suggesting that we be rude and insensitive in presenting Christ to people. Thats her children and her home. (2 Cor. But, they need not remain in disobedience and rebellion. But others will reject Him and you.
As those priorities are in place, then she has time for outreach, for ministry. To believe in Christ, I must let go of my own works as the means of my salvation. Solomon called himself the preacher and repeated this lament, Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; vanity of vanities, all is vanity (Eccl. Your email is 100% safe.
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