First Things First - Week 1 | The Importance Of First

Jan 4, 2025 • Chad Mayne

Revelation 2:4-5 You have forsaken the love you had at first. 5 Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.

Prayer should be your first response, not your last resort.

Genesis 4:2-5 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. 4 And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions (In other words an animal) from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Exodus 20:1-3 And God spoke all these words: 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

Leviticus 27:30 “‘A tithe of EVERYTHING from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Proverbs 3:9-10 (IF YOU) Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; 10 (THEN) your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

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

WHY DON’T WE PRAY MORE?

WE LACK FOCUS

WE LACK CONFIDENCE

WE LACK FAITH

Matthew 6:6-7 (NIV) But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

Matthew 6:6-13 (MSG) “Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

MATTHEW 6:8-13 (NIV)

8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

10 your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us today our daily bread.

12 And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

13 And lead us not into temptation,

Philippians 4:6 "Don't worry about anything…"Pray about everything."