Consult God First

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There was a brother in Christ who told me that whenever his daughter would come to him with issues, he’d ask her if she had first talked to God. If she’d say no, he’d tell her go talk to God first then come back to him after. The earthly father was teaching something crucial here, “the principle of God first”.

There is so much anger and malice I’m reading these days that it is clear some of us aren’t following that principle. Particularly because the words spoken/written are contrary to the Word of God.

What part of pray for your leaders do believers not understand? What part of put away anger and malice is confusing? Our feelings are not always facts. Angry at your leader? Don’t like him/her? Pray for them. If you are a believer in Christ, it is your duty to represent the Lord as He calls us to. Nothing more shameful than believers acting worse than those in the world.

1 Timothy 2:1-3
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior…

Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

This works in all cases. We need to consult God first in our lives. We can end up in all sorts of trouble otherwise and end up saying things that we only regret later on. Let’s take a page from Nehemiah from chapter 2. Notice when the king (who had reasonable authority to grant Nehemiah’s request) asked Nehemiah what he wanted, Nehemiah prayed to God before responding. Urge us (myself most definitely included) to do the same. Amen.

Nehemiah 2:4-5
Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”
So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ tombs, that I may rebuild it.”

God is in control

God is in controlHappy new year everyone! I hope you’re stepping into the new year with Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. If you have not made that decision as yet, I pray you will surrender to Him and leave the burden of sin behind with 2013. If you don’t see any reason to follow Jesus, I want to remind you that your rejection of Him does not void His sovereignty. God is in control, why fight against the One who loves you the most, the Creator of all things? Do not move forward with that burden, that losing battle. Let go, and let God.

I have been really been blessed by the following sermon (James MacDonald – God is in control), and just wanted to share it with you.

The main points of the sermon are:

1. God is in control even in your suffering

2. God is in control even at mid-night

3. God is in control even when your faith is weak

4. God is in control even when the wicked seem to prosper

Watch the sermon and be blessed!