First Things First

[0:00] Welcome. Thank you for choosing to listen to another word-filled message by David Entry. Preaching is the means by which God manifests his word and nourishes our spirits.

[0:12] May the life of God enter into you anew as you listen to this message. Be blessed. Father, what we are not, make us. What we don't know, teach us.

[0:26] What we don't have, give us. All to your glory. In Jesus' name. Amen. Now, this year, last Sunday I was talking about how to make the most of the year.

[0:43] I want to continue kind of in that direction, but this one, I have two titles. You can choose one. The first title I'm considering is First Things First.

[1:00] Or you can choose the biblical one. That's why I really seek ye first the kingdom of God. First things first.

[1:14] First things first. Matthew chapter 6. The Lord has ministered to my heart that this year there will be a lot of testimonies in the ashes and the choir.

[1:35] Major, major, major, major, major testimonies.

[1:51] Matthew chapter 6, verse 33 says, But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

[2:01] First of all, we have to know what these things are talking about. These things are there. When you read the previous verse, it's talking about the things that normal people do seek after.

[2:16] Verse, it says that, and why, verse 28, 27, which of you by giving thoughts can add one cubit unto his stature?

[2:29] And why take ye thoughts for raiment? Okay. Raiment is clothing. Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.

[2:41] They toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wow.

[2:52] Solomon was the greatest, richest man that we know of. In his days, gold was like dust. He was so rich. He said, even Solomon was not that decorated like the lilies who don't work.

[3:07] They don't do anything. They are just fulfilling part of God's order. And he says that, I read it again. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all, verse 29, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

[3:24] Therefore, well, wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe ye, oh ye of little faith?

[3:38] Why are you worrying? Therefore, take no thoughts, saying, what shall we eat? Or what shall we drink?

[3:49] Or wherewithal shall we be clothed? For, what is this? Verse 32 is there. For after all these things do the Gentiles seek.

[4:00] That the word Gentiles, there is human people, other people who don't have anything to do with God. That their life is around things. Things. Yeah.

[4:11] That's where, that's why an unbeliever lady can say, oh, are there guys in the church? I want to go there. See, because life is around things. Whilst a Christian sister, many Christian sisters who got married in church, many ones who got married, were busy.

[4:29] They were not, marriage was, God was their focus. Yeah. This year, I know you have determined that I must marry. I think there's a better way forward.

[4:41] There's a better approach. Rather, this year, I must increase my service to God. Because he says, seek ye first. These are the things that, no, no, go back. The things that the Gentiles seek after.

[4:52] For your heavenly father knows that it's time for you to marry. He knows it though. But why is he waiting? Because time is the best. He might be four days late, but he's still on time.

[5:07] So he said, your heavenly father knows you need these things. Then he goes and says, watch this. The next verse, he says, but. Even though these things are there. He said, contrary to pursue what others do.

[5:20] You seek. But seek ye. He didn't say don't care about the other things. He said, first. First. Seek ye. First.

[5:32] God's kingdom. And not only his kingdom. And his righteousness. Right way of doing things. God's right way of doing things. He said, seek ye. And he says that all these things that others are dying to get.

[5:46] God. God is the one who adds it to you. So that means those things are necessary. But don't let those necessary things determine the direction of your life.

[6:00] The direction of your life should be determined by the kingdom of God. And his righteousness. You should be able to say that. If I'm going to. If working.

[6:11] Going to church regularly. Means I'm going to lose. Money. Maybe. I earn 100 pounds. Because of activities.

[6:22] I'm not going to be earning 50 pounds. Or 70 pounds. He said. Well. I prioritize. Activities. There are people who. For health reasons.

[6:32] Are not able to work as hard as they used to. So they have to cut down. So I used to. Now it is my health. Right. Okay. Why don't you also do it the other way? I used to work.

[6:43] But nowadays. God is a priority. So I make sure I give God my best. Does that mean we shouldn't work? Jesus said. No. Paul said.

[6:53] But it's the same. Jesus. He who does not work. Must not eat. Efficiency. Is he efficient? No. He's not efficient. I think there's aloneness.

[7:04] He who does not work. Must not eat. So if you don't work. He should eat. In fact. In Ephesians chapter 4. Verse 27. He said. Don't give the devil a food store.

[7:15] Then the 28. Somewhere there. He says that. I said. 27. Don't give Satan a chance. Some of you. Some of the things you start reading. You are giving Satan a chance in your life. Because if you give Satan a food store.

[7:28] He will be like Russia. He will take over everything. No. Sorry. China. He will take over everything. You give him a food store. He will take over your house.

[7:41] Don't give him a place to stand. In your marriage. The way you are talking to your wife. You are giving Satan a food store. Yeah. The way you started talking to your ex.

[7:52] Yeah. You say. But there is nothing. He knows I am married. But you know.

[8:03] You are soft stores. Why is it that you are beginning to hide the conversations? Make it open. Make it open. Let everybody. If it cannot be open.

[8:15] There is something dodgy about it. There is something. Anything you are watching. Which others can't see you watching. There is something dodgy about it. Yeah.

[8:35] Any message. Somebody you are texting. You wouldn't like others to see. That this is the content. Of the text. You are not seeking.

[8:46] The righteousness of God. Seek. He faze the kingdom. And his righteousness. Now. Um. The previous scripture. That I was reading. Give no place.

[8:57] Look at the next verse. Hey. There are people in the church. Who used to steal. You know. Everybody is welcome to Christ.

[9:09] But the problem is. Some come. And they still. Continue. No. No. This one. I know some people are quite. Cletomaniac. So it's still.

[9:20] But. In our. United Kingdom context. I think. Lies. If you replace this. Tea with lies. Yeah. Yeah. The.

[9:33] The number of people. Who have lied to me. And they have a way. Of lying. With a smile. Yeah. Very neat. The lies are clean.

[9:45] Clean and neat. And they smile. Smile. You are going to divorce your wife. Because of other girl. I don't know.

[9:56] I don't know. I've never seen her in my life. See. But one of the. One of the challenges. Of growing in United Kingdom.

[10:07] Growing up in United Kingdom. Is. You have to. Lie your way around. In a lot of ways. Yeah. Especially if you are. The poorer you are. The more you must learn how to lie.

[10:20] Forms. You have to lie on forms. Some of you are. Living in council flats. You have to lie. To go there. Yeah. You lied so much.

[10:35] Yeah. And now you are there. You have to lie that. You are single. Meanwhile. You are not single. Yeah. There are people who.

[10:54] When they are in public. They use working stick. But it's not true.

[11:05] Because they want a disabled badge. You know. But that theory can be very beneficial. So why would you try? Yeah.

[11:15] But you don't pay congestion charge. Free. Oh. There are a lot of benefits. You don't pay anything. You can park in a lot of places. No one can park. At the shopping center. You have the first. Hey.

[11:27] Sometimes I go. And I see the desire. I say. Ah God. This is your thing. I have to park there. And a single yellow.

[11:39] Park there free. I know a lot of you can't identify with this. But the lies you can. If you grew up in South London. You have to lie to teachers.

[11:50] Lie to headmaster. Lie to headmistress. Lie to your mother. Some of you. Your mother still thinks you are a virgin. Thank you. She be boasting about you.

[12:06] She say. My daughter is an angel. My daughter is an angel. She doesn't know you are more experienced than her. She doesn't know you have suffered many things in the hands of many men.

[12:18] She doesn't know you have suffered many things in the hands of the machen, can they not know you have suffered many things in the hands of one. She is more experienced than her. She is here. And my daughter is an angel. She says. He doesn't know you have about you. She says. No. She says. so let him who lie lie no more it's surprising the number of people who have lied to me you know in the past because our kind of Christianity where we grew up Christianity lying it was like fornication so you don't lie it's hard to lie where our discipleship process it's hard to lie so I thought when people are genuinely I ascribe the same kind of but over the period of time I've learned the hard way yeah people can lie in this country he said let him who lie lie no more but work with his hand why do you work?

[13:20] so you can have something to give see your Bible yeah work with his hands what is good that he may have something to give to him who has need not to go and buy new shoes you see a lot of modern day Christians charismatics don't know a lot of the things the Bible says apart from claim it name it and claim it and so when it comes to seeking first the kingdom of God they are found wanting Jesus says that these are the things the world the Gentiles seek after when you go to the city they work and work and work for things things they just work for stuff get things buy this buy a car buy a shoe and they have so many they can't even use them but for some reason they still need more look at the amount of things you have bought this Christmas sale meanwhile you haven't given your tithe hey you and you want to wear it for interview hey thank God please help me for this interview you are wearing stolen merchandise but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things because they are necessary things what to eat what to wear where to live they are necessary things so now if first things must be first how do you go about the first things now I want to draw your attention to the fact that

[15:07] God can be sought after you can seek God so this year prioritize your seeking God make it a priority make it a priority don't make it somebody's you know job or a care group leader's job because some of the care group leaders do have been hit by sniper fire some of you you know your care group you can tell it's not in good shape why is it doesn't show up in church and it's supposed to be leading you but the pandemic has pandemized so many things a lot of things are out of pan so you have to take it upon yourself because this year sir I have a strong conviction that God will advance certain people significantly

[16:12] I'm speaking as a prophet now God will advance some people significantly in 2nd Chronicles chapter 15 it's a very interesting text I think you like it you know I quoted it a few weeks ago but I think we should go back to it and have a look at it and the spirit of the lord the spirit of the lord came upon Azariah the son of Obed and he went out to meet Asa and said hear ye me Asa and all Judah and Benjamin the lord is with you while you be with him ah really the lord is with you whilst you be with him and if you seek him he will be found of you but if you forsake him what will he do people are forsaking

[17:19] God and in the time of their crisis they are asking God but why I just don't understand what do you think the problem is the definition of God for many people for somebody sometime ago I think Richard Dawkins he is very intelligent guy but he thinks his intelligence means he knows everything spiritualia spiritualite examinat the things of God are only revealed to those whose spirit are open to God in reverence he said what people call God doesn't exist because who created God you see anytime someone asks this question you know the first problem define God because the God you are talking about even me I am also an 80s towards that God a God a created God is not God so the premise is wrong you started who created

[18:26] God okay I think you don't know what we are talking about you don't know where did God come from that's where your problem is the term God means the uncreated one the self existing one self existent one he existed before time and he existed after time he existed before matter and he existed after matter he existed before space and he existed after space in Genesis chapter one it says in the beginning God there it's right there in the beginning God did what created what the heaven space heaven space matter earth in the beginning time these three things everything physical must fit into time space and matter so if you are talking about God and you put God in time if you say who created

[19:29] God that means there was a time he wasn't okay so you let's assume someone created God so that one who created God who is he okay and who created that one and that one who created that one who created God who created that one so everything stops with God so the problem is people's understanding of God so that's why you are not serving him the way you are doing because you think God is just there to make sure you get a new car but what you don't know is for your sins to be forgiven is a big deal and that if you can seek him he wants you to many people you see it's that kind of God loves you message that kind of God loves you message that has really affected a lot of people because people think that they are the center of gravity center of attraction in the universe God can't do anything so when you are hungry you are upset with

[20:36] God why should I be hungry you love me no it's rather the other way around you are an enemy to God he's supposed to strike you dead but because of his mercy he's waiting for you to just come towards him so he can forgive you so when people think God needs them they are holding the wrong end of the stick I'm not going to church all this church thing is fake we are here we are here keep going keep going you will hit a brick wall and some of you who have tested according to Hebrews chapter 6 you have tested the good word of the Lord Hebrews chapter 6 he said who have tasted the good word of the Lord I think verse 5 6 somewhere there 4 5 6 who have tasted the good word of the and have tasted ah when you come to

[21:41] Carice one of the things that I target to do is make you taste the good word of the Lord you know what it does when you backslide and you go enjoy black panther and you start believing foolishness yeah the people who say Jesus is a black man I don't know what's wrong with them what do you get from it if he's a black man so I think the problem is your identity because 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 says that henceforth know we know man after the flesh verse 15 or 16 we don't know Christ we don't know man after the flesh 2nd Corinthians 16 wherefore henceforth know we know man after the flesh yet though we have known Christ after the flesh yet now henceforth know we know him more so when you start talking Christ is black Christ is green Christ is Latino Chinese wasting your time but I don't even know why they don't even say Christ is Japanese the whole thing is just the black people it's this black and white racial thing and it's usually people who have something bad against white people because there are white people who are very bad a lot of them

[23:01] I'll explain it they have used Christianity to cause atrocities in Africa in India they hide behind Christianity and some of them those days you know some of the bishops are very bad oh they are very bad the things they do the monetary deals so they are like rulers some businesses they go but they are genuine missionaries so when the missionaries go and do the work and educate the people and stuff like that the businessmen to see the business there and they go also like church members so it's so murky if you are not careful you throw away the baby with the bath water but my brothers who say Jesus is a black man my question is what has he done for the black people so far I think you are better at keeping white because

[24:04] I mean if that is where you want to take it see how he has help the white people okay what do I mean by by no Christianity took there are churches in this country in Europe that's more church buildings now they are shouting a lot of them but most of the leaders in those organizations don't like us they don't like us because the version of Christianity is a very different one so people some of you grew up you said I grew up in church but really the church you grew up in is actually like a mosque almost like a mosque or a synagogue it's not it's not Christ centered how many if you know what I'm talking about I used to be a mass ever morning mass evening mass but me and my mass ever brothers the boys

[25:05] I wasn't that bad some of them were bad mass they're bad they would go and quaff the alcohol for communion in the vessel drink it so I can risk you they were bad boys so when people say God has left me you left him first because in Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 13 it says that let's read it from the screen let's go if you can see let's go we'll visit that again did you see I'm not finding there's a way you are seeking that's not right so you seek me and find me man look at the next verse verse 14 let's read let's go says the

[26:07] Lord and I'll bring you back from your captivity I'll bring you from all nations and from all the places where I've driven you says the Lord and I'll bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried and I'll and I'll and I'll and I'll and I'll and I'll and I'll bring you back from captivity so that means that moving away from God will end you up in all kinds of complexities there are people who took a detour away from church from God for that matter church and things have there's a certain lady she used to come to church years ago when you're in first place she was an usher and then she followed her mother and left church sometimes you don't even know why they leave because as I said we make sure that we feed you we give we make you taste the good word of the Lord if you leave the thing will haunt you you can't say you didn't know some things yeah encourage if you make a mistake and you come here a little bit we will make you taste the good word of the Lord many people who go they will come but some of them by the time they come you don't recognize them they look very honorable now they come tatted this lady went after about five years when she came back oh still not married everybody are married people are married and gone when you see her she used to be nice oh you know some people when you see them you can see oh you want to look at them again because there is some pleasantness around her there is she she carried grace there was something but you see when she was seven she didn't value it she left church when she came back I was shocked people can change you not not character I mean looks who yeah why you look at people like how would

[28:18] I use yeah 50 and wait she's been looking like this for the past seven ten years since she's been in this church she hasn't changed you you look at her and some other people who have left and they didn't do God compared to you be shocked their skin has wrinkled more is not I'm telling you these are facts these are facts you know in your bloodline skin conditions are not good don't leave church when you leave God he will leave you remember that when you leave God he will leave you don't forget this year remember when you draw you draw near to God in James chapter 4 verse 8 he said draw near to God and he will draw near to you draw near to

[29:21] God and what happens God himself will also draw near to you please brush your feet up so let's say I'm God and that's you take a few steps forward and God also takes steps stop go back so do whatever you want you take and God you have to start a step and you think he's the pastor or group leader draw near to God and he will draw near to you first things first and it should be your target and your priority to draw near to

[30:24] God this year that's why those of you who have made it to church I'm thankful to God for your life because that's how the year started it's already six days old the 2022 you are spoken about it has already arrived and already five days is gone a sister told me something that touched my heart but I've been saying it a sister said pastor I'm growing I'm going to be this year this number of years old and she said but I remember when I was just 23 over 15 years has passed I remember 23 I don't know nothing has changed but all the years are gone

[31:24] I don't know why and I'm still in this state it touched my heart but I've been saying it those who haven't settled when they are 45 they were not settled when they were 29 so you who are 29 45 is coming because you are actually on the path but you have a feeling that no me I'll be different it won't be different until you do something differently if you don't do something differently it won't be different because don't forget when you used to be 18 it was just yesterday today you're already 26 oh when carrie started you were crawling look how old you are you remember you didn't have your daughter your son was not a teenager he was a baby we dedicated this child now this child has divorce he's in uni and still nothing has changed just the people have grown people have aged but nothing has changed you have to start doing something differently you have to start doing there are people who this year must marry yeah they must get married but you have to first things first if you want to get God involved then seek ye first he said draw near to God and he will draw near to you he said seek God whilst he may be found psalm 27 verse 8 when you said seek ye my face my heart said your face oh Lord will I seek make it your aim when it comes to pursuing

[33:40] God it's not groups it's one for himself but you can't also do it alone any pursuit of God that is not within the context of koinonia will not last koinonia is fellowship so you need the fellowship of the brethren to pursue God but within the fellowship you are doing your own thing so you are in a choir you serve differently you don't do it because others said alright today I'm not coming for rehzer today I'm sitting you don't do it because others do it you don't do it because by covenant and spiritual understanding this is how you want to do it and you do it that's one of the things God has used me to distinguish me from some of my pastor friends because some of them the way they do things is different the way they do things is different we might go through the same condition but our approach might be different our approach might be different because there are some things I would never do seek you first

[34:49] I don't know who God sent me to come and talk to the worrying aspect is there's so much years behind you I think it's time you change your approach seeking God is a lot of work it starts from the heart and that's what gives you an advantage or that's what gives seeking the meaning seek God seek God first change strategy see if it will not deliver this year other years you have not given God a heart pursuit you've done it but half heartedly this time why don't you give it full give it full your full attention and see if things won't start changing it's not like overnight it's not overnight it's like losing weight it's a long journey

[35:57] I've been trying to get this thing to go down but so I've stopped laughing at Isaac because I realized that the thing is it's not easy belly must go see God if someone says I'm not doing church I just go and sit somewhere night tree I'm waiting because I know you'll be down I know conditions will work against you because when you abandon God he allows captivity to have free access to you we read it 2nd chronicles chapter 20 sorry chapter 15 verse 2 and he went out the Lord is with you while you be with him and if you seek him he'll be found of you but if you forsake him look at verse 3 for a long time

[37:06] Israel has been without the true God without a teaching priest and without Lord look at verse 4 but when in their trouble they turn to the Lord God of Israel and sought him what happened and then when you read down the text that's where I was going to read a lot about when you read down the text it tells you about how they made vow that anybody who will not see God from the verse 12 or somewhere let's eliminate them from our territory you must start eliminating some relationships because it's slowing your pursuit of God down it's affecting you yeah that they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of Israel the Lord God of their fathers with all their hearts and with all their souls the next verse and whoever would not seek the Lord God of Israel was to be put to death cut them out there are some people you used to go and pick to church or wait for them to come and pick you you can tell especially women leave that man at home and he's always late their families those families can I talk to you families there are some of you the whole day you been home is different from some who just came from work you have been home the whole day and yet you make it to church late are they you have been home the whole day sir how are you living and it looks like for the past several months you are always late you are always late you are always late you don't have value for

[38:53] God people don't like this kind of things that will wake them up to help them your attitude towards church tells me a lot about your respect for God yeah they said that we go into covenant anyone who will not see God let put him to whether small or great whether they have money they don't have money whether male or female whether it is a woman who connects you to him because this guy is not serious when they start talking you can tell God is not in it and they actually eroding the little God you are capturing they are eroding it out of your life you have to end this year first things first God first enter into a covenant to seek God to seek God to seek God this message I'm preaching in the next five years you will see the difference they have taught us some gospel which is very detrimental that's bless me

[40:03] Lord gospel you are there and God is just there to save you it's not a good gospel you are there to sacrifice and save God and then he begins to show you what he can do let's finish the text verse 14 please then they took an oath before the Lord with a loud voice with shouting and trumpets and a horn and all Judah rejoiced at the oath for they had sworn with all their heart and sought him with all their soul and he was found by them and the Lord gave them rest rest God will give you rest God will give you rest in Jesus name thank you for listening to this message by David Entry to hear more from David Entry follow him on Facebook Instagram Twitter and LinkedIn you can also subscribe to Carous Church on YouTube don't forget to share and subscribe to our podcast so you're always up to date be blessed you you you you you you you you you you you