What’s AT YOUR CENTRE? What holds THE FIRST PLACE IN YOUR LIFE?
My prayer for you, is, THAT IN ALL THINGS CHRIST MAY HAVE THE PRE-EMINENCE… Colossians 1:18.
Some will place their life priority on running the rat race, acquiring more and more wealth. Only trouble with the rat race is that only the rats win. Some will spend a lifetime chasing vanities. James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
It’s been said that, for some, the Lord can occupy “a large place in our life, an important place, and YET NOT OCCUPY FIRST PLACE.” WHAT is it, then, that has the first place in your life? Is Jesus first?
We can miss God’s best by listening to other voices, and neglecting our soul. Luke 9:61 And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let ME FIRST go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. There will always be something else that calls for our attention, that demands our time… and eats it up, and before we know it we have spent a life.
Christ is the head of the church. He sets the vision, sets the direction, sets the motion, of where we are to be, and what we are to do… He turns us as to which path to walk, He takes charge…
Is THE WILL OF GOD preeminent in your decision making processes? Do we stop and think, what is it that God wants me to do? Does the will of God matter to us? Do we stop and pray about what we are thinking to do? Do we stop and ask His will for our lives? Or do we just go ahead, willy-nilly, without prayerfully seeking God’s leading?
Is your heart-deep desire… to WALK WORTHY of the Lord? Do we care about what is worthy of the Saviour?
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Do we seek to do all things to the glory of God? Do we labour to be fruitful in every good work? Or do we hold back from service? Are you content to be a casual Christian? Do we seek to strengthen our faith? Do we know spiritual power with God? Do we wrestle in prayer?
Do we yield to the power of the Holy Spirit? Yield… to His empowerment? His enablement?
How about, practically, now, in how we get on with other people… Do we care about others? Do we exercise the fruit of the Spirit? Do we count it all joy, as we face life’s challenges? Is there a deep abiding joyfulness that we have, that sees us through, in our assurance of faith, in our stedfast resolve to follow the Saviour, no matter what?
Our Lord is sovereign, glorious. He must be the First and the Foremost. We, as God’s people must be CHRISTOCENTRIC.
He is the sustaining power of His own creation. He holds it all together. The world is in His grip. And He keeps us. He is the Glue that holds us together.
When Christ is Preeminent we will know His will and His purpose for our lives – what we have been created for. We will know His sustaining power, and we will rest in that.
He is due THE PREEMINENCE – it means that He holds the first, the highest place. The highest authority or power.
May our first consideration not be our comfort but His kingdom. His righteousness. Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. May we place His interests first, before our own.
May our lives be consumed with advancing His Kingdom. That our lives be invested in His church, His will. That our loyalty be to His church. Not just some token effort. That you put the kingdom of God first.
In your home. Christ will be the head of the home. In your use of time. You will determine to commit to the meetings of your church. In your example – to your family – to your children – and your workmates. In the friendships you develop – you will make sure to make friends with those who have the same devotion to your Saviour. In your use of money. You will want to invest it wisely in what counts. You won’t just give God your small change. You will determine to be generous in your giving unto the Lord. Christ and His Kingdom. Christ and His church will be your FIRST PRIORITY.
Let us recognise the truth if the centrality and sufficiency of Christ. The supremacy of Christ.
[0:00] The preeminence of Christ.
[0:12] This brother thought that our church was lacking in that regard.! I think he's right. He said we're a load of pew warmers. I'm not sure if you are, but there's truth there, isn't there? Sometimes we can take a bit of challenge. I had to agree with him. We have got a lot of pew warmers in this church. Pew potatoes, if you like. This is not to condemn anyone, I'm just telling the truth. It's how someone thinks, someone perceives of this church.
[0:46] It grieves me to think that, someone would think that of this church, but I think we've got a long way to go. We need to lift our game as a church. This truth of Christ's preeminence, that's my theme today. What's at your centre? What is at your centre? What would you reckon are your personal priorities for your life? Who holds the first place in your life? My prayer for you is that in all things, Christ may have the preeminence. That's my prayer this morning. And it says in Colossians 1 verse 18, and he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things, he might have the preeminence. For some people, their emphasis in life is all about keeping up with the Joneses, isn't it? As if that's all there is to life, the pursuit of pleasure and happiness and comfort.
[1:49] Some will place their life priority on running the rat race. Could have pictured here a treadmill. The rat race, acquiring more and more, more and more wealth. Only trouble is with the rat race, it's only the rats that win. You're supposed to laugh at that one. Some will spend a lifetime chasing vanities. This is the reality. Like James says, life is passing us by. In James 4, 14, it says, whereas you know not what shall be on the morrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapour that appeareth for a time, a little time, and then vanisheth away. Life is a vapour, says James. Like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our lives.
[2:45] How will we spend our lives? How will we make it count? What we can too easily do is get the emphasis badly wrong. And like the writer of Ecclesiastes, this widely man of Ecclesiastes says, in Ecclesiastes 1 verse 2, vanity of vanities, saith the preacher. Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.
[3:09] What should occupy the first place? It's all about Jesus. It's all about him. It's all about his grace. It's all about his will. It's all about his praise. It's all about the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who should occupy our energy, engage our mind, strengthen our arms, guide our steps, and lead our way. This is what counts. That Christ be first and foremost, that he be preeminent above all else.
[3:37] That he take the highest place. That he be held supreme. Life is a vapour, says James. What is your life? It's like a vapour. It comes for a moment and it vanishes away. Our utmost should be that he be placed in the highest place. That he be held supreme. That he be praised.
[3:58] Christ. That he be at the centre. That he be at the centre of our life choices. It's been said that for some, the Lord can occupy a large place in our life, an important place, and yet not occupy the first place. It's very true, isn't it? He occupies a large place, an important place, but not the first place. That Christ occupy the first place of our life.
[4:28] Is Jesus first? That's the question. Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first?
[4:48] Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first?
[5:00] Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Is Jesus first? Thank you.
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