JESUS FIRST
Ask yourself this question. Is Jesus the most important thing in my life? Then answer the question as honestly as possible.
The Kentucky Derby’s winning jockey was being interviewed by a reporter. The reporter asked him a question about track conditions. The jockey replied:
“FIRST, I want to give thanks to my Lord and Savior Jesus!”
Would you have answered the question in that manner?
Why should we make Jesus the most important thing in
our lives? Why Should Jesus come first?
Start with GRATITUDE!Nobody else could ever love you more than our King. Nobody else could possibly give you more than our King. Nobody else has ever been tortured to death to pay for your sins; past, present and future. Nobody else has healed you of all diseases, maladies, infirmities, illnesses once and for all! Nobody else has given you ALL THINGS that pertain to life and Godliness. Nobody else can give you more power than the same power that Jesus had when He walked the earth.
Nobody else has bestowed the Holy Spirit upon you. Nobody else has ever loved you enough to die the worst, most painful death that has ever been experienced, to ransom you from your sins.
(John 3:16, John 15:13, Hebrews 10:10, Hebrews10:12, John 10:10, Isaiah 53:4-5, 1Peter2:24, 2Peter1:1-4, John14:12-14, John 15:13, John16:13 and John 19:1)
JESUS is the Way and the Truth and the Life. Nobody comes to the Father who is Jesus, but by Him. It is entirely impossible to stand before the Father sinless, but by making Jesus your King. Jesus has saved us eternally
so that we will live with Him eternally in bliss, if only we believe in Him.
Jesus told us what the three most important weapons of the enemy are, they are used by old scratch to keep Jesus from being the most important thing in our lives:
(Mark 4:19)
The deceitfulness of riches.(He did not mean that we are not supposed to be wealthy. He meant that we are not to make money our God.)
The cares of this world. So true, the world and its tyranny of the urgent, trying to direct it’s events, and the constant bombardment of current events, sports, drama, Hollywood, electronic devices are all included in the cares of this world. But the number one tool of the cares of this world is; THE FEAR OF WHAT OTHERS THINK!
The second most destructing tool of the evil one is THE FEAR OF ECONOMIC INSECURITY! Explain this please: How is it possible to believe Jesus and have fear of economic insecurity when He has already given us everything we will ever need or desire?
There are preachers who refuse to teach the promises of Jesus for fear of what other’s will think or the fear of losing their givers.
I know a preacher who knows the truth of the Gospel but won’t teach it for fear of losing his biggest donor who is an old testament works and performance believer.
The lust of other things! This means desiring even craving anything more than we do our King. For most, that list is very long. Be honest with yourself. Where does Jesus stack up on your totem pole?
The answer can be easily found in the amount of time you spend with Him as opposed to your computer, TV and or social media. The answer lies in how much you give to Him financially. There is no more demonstrable act that emphasizes one’s faith and belief than giving your money to an unseen God!
Because the economy is red hot and people are making more money than ever, many have increased their giving proportionately, to give Jesus the same raise they got.
One of my partners has actually doubled his giving and
as the increase comes to Jesus through our ministry, I have significantly increased our giving.
Read the declaration of Jesus: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
(Matthew 6:21)
My view of giving is based on these Words from Jesus and The Holy Spirit through Paul:
“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”
“God loves and in fact, will not do without a prompt to do it cheerful giver whose heart is in his giving and He will cause all grace to come upon you and multiply your seed sown”
(Matthew 7:12 and 2Corinthians:9)
So, I am an over tipper, and giver because I want people to give to me generously and I want to bless others as He has blessed me. (I am not boasting! I have nothing at all to brag or boast other than My King and His love.)
I like God’s financial plan. I give God north of 15%. I get a tax deduction for my giving. I get to keep 85% of my income and God multiplies my 15% infinitely and causes me to have all grace in every situation. I make God my Partner and help Him accomplish His will. Do you know a better program?
Many people who “Love the Lord” give him nothing. They have the fear of financial insecurity. They believe that what they give, they will no longer have. In other words they do not trust God with their money.
Cheerful generous lovers of Jesus give 88% of all of the offerings to Him. Twelve out of 100 people who claim Jesus give to Him. Eighty Eight people out of 100 give nothing or very little. I remember one exceedingly wealthy man who snidely throws a 20 in the offering plate thinking that he has done something awesome.
The answer is also found in how much time you invest in His work. The answer is in how much time you spend studying His teachings and learning and teaching them to your people.
I know people who claim to love Jesus but run from His gospel because it is not politically or socially acceptable, though it is life.
I know people who will never invite a preacher to a party because they don’t want to offend their friends and families with talk about Jesus.
I know preachers and evangelists that call Jesus “Christ” which He is not. Jesus was the anointed one when He walked on the earth. He is now the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and the name JESUS is above every other name. Because it is the only name by which a man can be saved. So the devil loves it when we call Him by another name such as Messiah. Jesus is not the Messiah! Jesus was the Messiah, the one who is to come, but then He arrived.
It is very sad that people are ashamed of His Name and of His Words. I know preachers who will not say the name Jesus or teach His Word for fear of losing their flocks.
Read the Words of our King:
Jesus answered, “Hear O Israel The Lord our God is one Lord; And you shall love the Lord our God out of and with your whole heart and your soul, and with all your mind and out of and with all of your strength”
(Luke 12:29-30)
The pharisees and sadducees thought they had Jesus in a perjury trap. They asked Him which of the ten commandments was the most important.
Jesus speaking to the Jews who were under the commandments quoted the first commandment. Thank God we are not and were not ever responsible for keeping the law of Moses.
However, this commandment clearly identifies how important it is to God, for us to make Him the most important thing in our lives.
We put almost everything in front of Jesus on our priority list.
Teacher Ron Reeser awakens at 4am and immerses himself in Jesus and the Holy spirit for at least 3 hours before doing anything else. How blessed do you guess he is.
Read the Words of Jesus:
“For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself”
“Because whoever is ashamed of Me and of My teachings, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when He comes in the threefold glory (the splendor and majesty) of Himself or the Father and of the holy angels.”
(Luke 9:26 Amplified Bible)
The lust of other things.Lust is not just meant as sexual lust. It also includes anything we chase after or admire and want more, than we want Jesus and His Word. Some examples, Money, Power, The admiration of men and women, Position, Prominence, To be better and even holier than others, Athletics, The craving of material goods.
These are but a few of the things we lust after. Each of us have the lust of other things and we know what they are.
That jockey made it clear in front of at least 20 million folk what his highest priority is.
To me that man is the embodiment of a hero. Why? Because Jesus is first in his life. “first, I want to give glory and honor to my Lord and Savior Jesus!”
He is a hero because like Caleb, He planted His flag publicly in the soil of our Lord and Savior Jesus the King, regardless of what anybody thinks!
This teaching is not judgement or condemnation at all.
God does not judge you so who would I be to do that. Also you are not to judge yourself. Sometimes we just
need to evaluate our program and where beneficial to change it.
Can you imagine having a huge party and instead of drinking, gossiping, back biting and talking about the cares of this world; there was no alcohol or drugs and everybody spoke and gave their testimonies of how they love Jesus and how grateful to Him they are?
How peaceful and joyous and happy an occasion would that be? How much would that bless the King? You would never forget it. Neither would our Lord Jesus.
I promise you this: The more you are involved with Jesus and the Holy Spirit the more you will know grace, peace, happiness, fun and His love.
As I wrote earlier, this is not a beat up piece. Please do not see it that way. Instead it is a message of direction and guidance from Jesus in the person of the Holy Spirit.
This message was issued by the Holy Spirit and was presented to you by Pastor Allen Fleming who is the leader of Throne of Grace Ministries/KnowJesusKnowGrace.Com
ministries.
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Thank You,
Pastor Allen Fleming
Throne of Grace Ministries/
KnowJesusKnowGrace.Com
P.O.BOX 669153
Marietta, Georgia 30066
