Three Seasons Community Church– 2-17-08

If you have no desire for God your prayer life will be "all about you" instead of all about Him!

Matthew 6:33– But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Kingdom = royalty, rule, realm

Righteousness = It is conformity to all that He commands or appoints.

The righteousness of God is the claim which God has upon man. In order for man to recognize and fully submit to that claim of God upon his life,

Matthew 6:33 (CEV) But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.

Who/what are we seeking first? Who/what are we putting first?

Matthew 6:19-34

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. [20] But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. [21] For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where is your heart? How do we measure where our heart is?

(I) Treasure, anything laid up in store, wealth (Matt. 6:19, 21; 13:44; Luke 12:34; Heb. 11:26; Sept.: 1 Kings 14:26; Prov. 15:16. See Gen. 43:23; Prov. 2:4). Metaphorically, of spiritual treasures pertaining to the mind or to eternal life (Matt. 6:20; 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 12:33; 18:22; 2 Cor. 4:7; Col. 2:3).

Our time

Our talents

Our treasure or money

The most precious resource in our culture today is not money– it’s time!

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 (NIV) When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, [2] take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name

The principle is the principle of giving our first fruits to God!

Are you giving God the first fruits of your time? Or are we telling God to be happy with the leftovers?

How do we give God the first fruit of our time? By giving God our most productive, alert time of the day!

God desire and deserves the first fruits of our time.

I would encourage you to develop the habit of spending your "prime-time" with God.

What you’ll discover is just like with money– the more time you give to God, the more your priorities come into proper perspective and the more time it seems like you have!

God wants the first fruit of our treasure!

Malachi 3:8-10 (NIV) "Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. "But you ask, 'How do we rob you?' "In tithes and offerings. [9] You are under a curse--the whole nation of you--because you are robbing me. [10] Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

When we tithe it establishes new financial priorities, builds God’s kingdom on earth and open our "heavenly" saving account. [Matthew 6:19-21]

Tithe = 10% of your gross income

Look where you invest your treasure– and you’ll see where your heart truly is!

What does my check book, debit card, credit card or bank statement say is REALLY important to me? Really #1 in my life?

God deserves the first fruits of our talents.

Are you giving God the first fruits of your talents? Anything we love doing– we can do for God!

Are you giving God the first fruits of your time, talents and treasure TO God? Or are you telling Him to be happy with the leftovers?

If so, praise Him and continue to do so!

If not, where do you need to begin? Time, Treasure, Talents, First fruits, Worry, Faith...

God longs for us to seek Him first! Most of us are not!

Be honest about where you are? Repent

And ask God to fill us with a desire for Him– ABOVE and beyond every other desire or distraction!

Deut. 4:29 (NIV) But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

James 4:8 (NLT) Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, you hypocrites.