Podcasts about put god first

Many Christians are familiar with the Old Testament tithe. In fact, Deuteronomy 14 teaches how tithes help God's people prioritize Him and care for others. What might surprise many is that tithing is meant to be an act of worship.Listen as Pastor Kevin Pobursky shares our latest message, First Things First, explores how our generosity truly begins when we remember that God comes first.

In the first message of our new sermon series “I Will,” we explore how putting God first is the foundation of a strong, thriving marriage. By shifting our primary loyalty to God, receiving His love, and growing in relationship with Him, we become better equipped to love our spouse—moving closer to each other as we move closer to Him. Subscribe to be notified of new videos: https://www.youtube.com/c/ValleyRealLife Follow us on Instagram: @valleyreallife Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/valleyreallife Take your next step and connect with us: http://www.vrl.church/connect Are you ready to say YES to following Jesus?: http://www.vrl.church/connect Submit a prayer request: http://www.vrl.church/prayer Partner with us: http://www.vrl.church/give #ValleyRealLife2025 #ValleyRealLifeRecap #ValleyRealLifeQuestions #Bible #ValleyRealLifeChurch #ValleyRealLife #VRL #DanShields #Spokane #SpokaneValley #ChurchinSpokane #OnlineChurchSpokane #OnlineChurch #OnlineChurchService #ChurchSpokane #ChurchSpokaneValley #FaithThatLasts #SpiritualGrowth #YoureInvited #SermonSeries #ChurchOnline #SundayMessage #IWILL #PutGodFirst #LoveOneAnother #Marriage

When we put God first through tithing and generosity, He multiplies whatwe give and uses it to bless others. Pastor Jared Priset

Pastor Bryan George – The Lord calls us to sow generously so that we willreap generously. When we receive gifts from the Lord, we arechallenged to save a portion for rainy days and to share a portionto help provide seeds for others.

🙏 Sermon Summary: Walking in Step with the Spirit This week, Jonathan Dunning challenged us to move beyond simply being a "nominally charismatic" church—one that sings the songs and waves the flags but "denies its power". Drawing from Galatians 5:25, "Since we're living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives", the message urged us to shift from mere information to impartation and to be constantly filled with the Holy Spirit. The Call to Power and Purpose Jonathan highlighted that being filled with the Holy Spirit isn't an "optional extra" but God's command and grace gift. Citing John Stott, he emphasized that what the church needs is not more eloquence or organization, but "more power from the Holy Spirit". This power enables us to be witnesses and missionaries, moving us beyond a "spirit of timidity" and into a spirit of "power and of love and of self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). He asked challenging questions for personal reflection: When were you last filled with the Holy Spirit? When did you last stir up the spiritual gift in you? How to Walk in Step with the Spirit The core of the sermon focused on practical ways to "walk in step" with God's Spirit, using the metaphor of a journey: Put God First and Deny Self-Will: This involves living a good and righteous life, obeying God's ways, and acknowledging Him so He can direct our path (Proverbs 3:6). Listen and Obey the Nudge: Like sheep recognizing the shepherd's voice (John 10), we need to be attuned to the Spirit's inner voice, the prompt, the stirring, or the nudge. This inner voice is the same one that convicts us of wrongdoing. Keep Pace and Time: We must avoid rushing ahead and lagging behind. Timing is key. Like the vision in Habakkuk, a clear vision is "for an appointed time" and requires patient waiting. We need to keep in step to catch the Kairos moment, the divinely appointed time where heaven touches earth. The Spirit's Guidance in Jonathan's Life and MCF Jonathan shared powerful personal examples of how the Spirit has led him through his life and ministry: Inner Voice: Sensing a clear call to pastoral ministry at age 17 and later feeling the distinct nudge to step down from a role, even with no clear path ahead. Impartation: Receiving an "anointing for ministry" through the laying on of hands and prayer from others. Prophetic Words: Receiving a word in his twenties calling him to prison ministry, which unfolded years later with a job as the UK's first free minister paid by the home office to serve as a prison chaplain. Scripture: Using Ecclesiastes 3 ("a time to uproot and a time to plant") to process a difficult transition in ministry. Closed Doors: Learning to "trust the closed door" when his "dream job" didn't materialize, which ultimately led him to stumble into ministry at MCF in Sheffield. He concluded by stressing that walking in the Spirit is also for the church collectively. MCF's journey—from moving to the estate to receiving prophetic words about enlarging the place of the tent (Isaiah 54) and the river of God flowing (Ezekiel 47)—has been a result of people listening and obeying the Spirit's nudges, not simply "man's design". The final challenge: "You cannot walk with God without moving." The time to move from theory to practice is now, by seeking to be filled with the Spirit. Would you like me to find a relevant Bible verse, such as Galatians 5:25, to post with this summary? Transcript Thanks, Nick. Morning, everyone. I've been given the title, Walking in Step with the Spirit, and a passage from Galatians 5, verse 25, which says, "Since we're living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives." Now, today, I don't intend to spend a lot of time going into what this verse means. I want to talk about my experience of the Holy Spirit, the church's experience of the Holy Spirit, and how that is really, really important today. So I'm going to be a bit of an agent provocateur, a bit of a stirrer this morning. It was a week ago I was chatting to Graham Reid, and we reflected how the church we were born into in the 1970s and 1980s, he was in Sussex House in North Yorkshire, the charismatic movement which we were birthed into, the baptism of the Holy Spirit, being filled with the Holy Spirit, was front and centre of what was happening. Each service, there was opportunity for people to come forward to be filled with the Spirit, as well as for other things. Ministry was very important. And actually, it was very much part of the warp and the web of the church. So what's changed? Because I think as I look at the church in the UK today, and I travel around quite a few of them, we have become nominally charismatic, i.e., in name only. We sing the songs, we wave the flags, we stick our hands in the air, but that's often as far as it goes. And actually, to sort of like misquote Paul in his letter to Timothy, we have a form of charismatic worship, but deny its power. Thanks, we've had a few amens for that, that's good. I think it's really important that we don't just play lip service to this aspect of ministry in the Holy Spirit, but actually we're engaging in a topic over a long period of weeks, which should actually transform us as human beings and as followers of Jesus. Jesus told his disciples, his followers, to be filled with the Spirit, to give them the power to be the missionaries and the witnesses that he required them to do in this world. He'd already taught them in Luke 11, verse 3, that God is this great good Father, much better than a human father, who longs to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him. Interesting. The need to ask. Not automatic. Paul was keen that Christians understood that they needed to be constantly filled with God's Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5, verse 18. "Be being filled" is the actual literal translation of that, as we know. And he contrasted that with being drunk, being intoxicated. Now, you know, if you've ever known what it is to be drunk, you basically, your tongue gets loose, you start to say things, you talk in a way that you wouldn't normally be guarded. You're basically a much more kind of like, they used to call it Dutch courage, aren't you? You're much more brave about confronting things and taking things on. You know, it's Dutch courage. Hey, hey. You know, I'm going to get in there. And the contrast was, don't be intoxicated by a worldly spirit, but God's Spirit gives you the power to speak and to go beyond your fears. In fact, you know, Paul talked to Timothy and said, you had to stir up the gift that had been given to him when he'd had hands laid upon him. Stir it up. Fan it into flame. Timothy had to do something with what God had invested in his life when hands were laid on him. And he said, that's because God hasn't given you a spirit of timidity where you hold back, where you haven't got Dutch courage, where you're afraid to say anything, afraid to do anything. But he's given you a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1 verse 7. This is important stuff. Barry Manson on Facebook recently had this quote from John Stott. Now, John Stott was not a charismatic or Pentecostal Christian. He was an evangelical. But it's very interesting what John Stott wrote. And all evangelicals should prick up their ears to this. "What we need is not more learning, not more eloquence, not more persuasion, not more organization, but more power from the Holy Spirit." Amen. So we need to go from information about this to impartation. From knowing about the Holy Spirit to asking God, our Heavenly Father, to fill us with His Spirit constantly. Otherwise, we're just on a paper exercise. We're just paying lip service to this. So I ask some questions of myself and I ask them of you today. When were you last filled with the Holy Spirit? When did you last ask your Heavenly Father to fill you with the Holy Spirit? When did you last stir up the spiritual gift in you? Because being filled with the Holy Spirit is not an optional extra or an add-on in our life. It's God's command and will and grace gift to you as His sons and daughters. So what does it mean to walk in step with God's Spirit? Which is the title today. I mean, the idea of walking with God is a metaphor for how life should be lived in Jewish thought. You see it at the very beginning, Adam and Eve walking with God. You know, this place of harmony, this place of perfection. In a perfect world, humanity is walking hand in hand with Father God and enjoying life in the goodness and the grace of God. Our lives were to be lived as a journey with God. This is Jewish thought, this, who leads and guides us. Now, you see that in the Old Testament played out in the wilderness wanderings where God takes them through the wilderness. Even in the patriarch's journey, Abraham, you know, journeying on to find that place of promise in God. This is a metaphor that's played out in Genesis and actually was a thought that the Jews held strongly. We kind of lost it a bit. Walking suggests we're on the move, that we're active, that we're going somewhere. Walking with the Spirit suggests that it's God that's taking us on this journey, that actually it's a walk of faith. I know sometimes it feels like a walk in the dark. It does to me. It will do to anyone who takes this seriously. We don't always know where we're going to end up. And walking in step with the Spirit suggests that we have to keep pace and time with God. We go at His pace and in His time. So how do we do this? Well, I mean, it's not easy, isn't it? It's easy to say it. It's another thing to do it. And there's some simple things that we all have to do, like put God first in our lives. Following Jesus says, we deny our own self-will, our selfishness. We take up a cross to say, that's dead to me. And we obey God's ways and will in our life. We live a good, righteous life before Him. We don't need a prophetic word or a tingle down the back of our spine to live well. We just need to follow what God's asked us to do. And in all your ways, Proverbs 3, verse 6, if we acknowledge Him, He will direct our path. So if we're living a good life, if we're living a righteous life, we are open to the possibility and should be able to walk in the paths that God has laid out for us. Secondly, we do it by listening to Him and then obeying what He tells us to do. I think it's very interesting, 1 Samuel 3, where this young child Samuel is in this place, this sanctuary, Shiloh, and he's taught by an old priest to say to God as a three-year-old or four-year-old, a very young child, speak. "Your servant is listening." What are we listening to? Who are you listening to? Are you listening to the voice of the Spirit? Because if you want to walk in the Spirit, we have to be attuned to what He is saying. Now, Jesus said in a passage in John 10 that His sheep, He's a good shepherd and we're His sheep in that sense, hear His voice. Now, I've worked on a farm. Shepherds don't know exactly what the shepherd's saying. They can't speak English. They don't understand English. They don't understand every word you're saying. But when the shepherd calls, Oi, oi, oi. Don't even use English, most of them. You know, Come by. That's the sheep dog, by the way. But, All you do, you stand by a gate and just make a noise like that. I know, I've done it. And the sheep prick up their ears and they come to the shepherd because they know the shepherd's either going to feed them or take them somewhere or look after them. They respond to a voice. We don't always clearly hear what God's saying to us, but we should be able to hear that, Oi! Over here. Oi! Like a dog, of course. We should be able to respond to his master's voice. Isaiah 30 verse 21 says these words. "When you turn to the right or to the left," and we do that at times, I get very distracted in life. Probably you do. "You're going to hear a voice behind you saying, this way. Walk in it." Now, I've never heard God speak to me audibly. But it's that inner voice. It's that prompt. It's that stirring. It's that nudge. It's that idea that's suddenly coming to your head from nowhere that you've not even thought of before. It's the same inner voice that convicts us at times that we're doing wrong because we all feel that that also is communicating with us, prompting us and nudging us into other areas. And sometimes, you know, we hear the voice of conviction and we think, oh yeah, we know that's wrong. We recognize that as maybe God's speaking to us. Why can't we recognize God communicating with us when he's nudging us to do something else? Somehow, we struggle much more with that. We walk in step with the Spirit by putting God first in our life, denying our own way, following him, by listening to him and then being obedient to that nudge of the Spirit and by keeping in step with the Spirit. Timing is key for us as Christians. Some of us hear something and we rush on ahead. We're going to make it happen. It's there and then. It's going to happen tomorrow. It's what God wants us to do there and then. And I think Habakkuk, if you read the book of Habakkuk, it gives us a really good pointer on this. He says, look, you've heard God. You've got a clear vision, but it's for an appointed time. It's not for now. Hold on to it. Wait patiently. It will happen, but not yet. The other thing we don't keep in step with the Spirit is we lag behind. And I don't think this is a judgment on any of us. But I think the truth is sometimes we might miss that moment that God has opened up for us. The Kairos moment. The moment where heaven, Kairos means a divine appointed time where heaven touches earth. There is a time, said Ecclesiastes, for every purpose under heaven. And actually, if we're too far behind, sometimes we might miss it. If we're too far ahead, we might have gone beyond God, keeping in step with the Spirit. I'm loving this camera because I'm having such fun this morning with me. Keeping in step, I should walk this way. Keeping in step with the Spirit is keeping pace with what God is asking us to do. But it transforms your life. Eric was talking about transformation last week. It changes your life's direction. It nudges you in certain things that perhaps you hadn't thought of doing. It takes you on a journey that perhaps you hadn't thought you were going to do. We need to keep and walk in step with the Spirit. I rarely talk about my experiences because it's not because they aren't that brilliant, any greater than anyone else's in this room. But I do think I want to talk to you tonight about how this has worked today, about how this has worked out in my life. Because there's various ways, the nudges, the prompts, the words, that God has taken me to the time where I stand before you now, you know, in this new chapter in my life. Whether it's that inner voice of the Spirit, whether it's impartation through the laying on of hands that Paul was talking to Timothy about, whether it's prophetic words, whether it's Scripture, whether it's closed doors, and I want to give you an example of each one of them. One of them. But they have helped nudge me. And God will speak to you and do things in your life in different ways, but you've just got to keep listening and you've just got to keep obeying. They've helped to nudge me to the place I am today, the inner voice. At my baptism at the age of 17 in a river in North Yorkshire, I sensed a clear call of God to pastoral ministry. Now I have this opinion that new Christians can hear God better. I think the older you get, bluntly, as a Christian, the more crusty you get. Frankly, you have too many filters, too many questions, too many cautions, oh that can't be God, too many negative experiences of when it's gone wrong that you basically are much harder to hear when God is asking you to do something. So I shared with an American evangelist who was over from Philadelphia, sat on a riverbank that I was called to ministry at the age of 17. I told him that him and I were going to be working together in the future. He was living in America. 18 months later he was living in North Yorkshire. We were living in a house together and we were working around the area. And I guess that I felt after 10 years of working at Hollybush, part time, well not 10 years, sorry, got this wrong. Let me go back. I was part of the youth work at Hollybush. I was going out preaching, leading worship as a teenager. But I felt disobedience because I needed to go to Bible college. Didn't have a word to go to Bible college. Never had a flashing light. Just felt it was part of the process of what I needed to do and of course that was where I met Karen. So in a sense the first word had led to me being obedient and walking through life into the second. After 10 years, after 10 years of working at Hollybush I was in a prayer meeting one night and I just knew it was time for me to let go and step down. There was no reason for that to happen. Things were going very well there in lots of ways. But I told the pastor there that I was leaving I was going to work my notice out. We were married we had a mortgage we had a baby son and I had nothing ahead of me. Didn't have a job to go to didn't know what was going to happen next. But I followed the prompt and the nudge of God. And guess what? I ended up here eventually. But it was only it was about two and a half years well more I don't know how long or two and a half three years ago that I again felt that nudge when I was here that this was the time for me to step down from here. No word no Bible no prophetic word just the inner guiding of God's spirit. Listen to the inner voice. Impartation. Again, 17, 18, stood at the front coming forward for ministry always hungry for the things of the spirit always hungry for God to meet with me. I was stood there an American who didn't know who I was never met him before had no contact with my church stood in front of me and said Jonathan that's a great name means gift of God so today tonight you're going to receive an anointing for ministry that's the last thing I remember as I lay flat on the floor but I knew with a conviction that God had called me to something else. There are many times when I've received prayer and help and ministry from other people that is really important. Don't shy away when there's an opportunity for prayer. Please do not shy away from receiving prayer ministry from others. The prophetic. These both took real time in my life. Again, early twenties, somebody at Hollybush said, "Jonathan, I believe God is calling you to prison ministry". The only prison I'd ever seen was Porridge, the TV program. I had no idea how that would happen. It was a few years later that a prisoner, sorry, somebody wrote to me about a friend of theirs who was in prison for murder. Asked me to go and visit him, a guy called Paul. He just died last year. He was in for life. He gave his life to Jesus. I ended up visiting him. Then ended up getting friends with the prison chaplain at Wakefield, who became the prison general for the whole Britain. He invited me onto the team at Wakefield. I then was the first free minister in the UK paid by the home office as a prison chaplain in full, certain maximum security prison. I took teams before I came to Sheffield into five different prisons every month. And God actually opened the door for me. But it took time. I didn't write to the home office for a job. God opened the door. I remember a couple called the Alums, who were a prophetic couple, who prayed over me maybe 25 years ago as this group connections meeting that we were at. I think Roland was there. And they prayed that I would have a ministry to work with small churches. That I would be moving around supporting them, advising them, imparting, encouraging and developing them. 25 years ago. I'm doing it now. Scripture. It was this summer trying to come to terms with the change of seasons that God is taking me through that I was at a quiet service down down the south coast in Sussex the end of August where somebody was reading asked us to reflect on Ecclesiastes chapter 3. "There is a time and a purpose for everything." And said, "I want you to go and think about this." And we got to verse 2 and was read out, "a time to uproot and a time to plant." And I just knew that God had uprooted me. And I wrote a reflection I've still got on my phone about how it is difficult for a plant that's been established for 30 years in a place to be uprooted taken out of its network of relationships and actually at the moment still in a bucket waiting for what comes next. But that's basically where I am. So God spoke to me through scripture helpfully through the prophetic through people praying for me and laying hands on me through that inner voice of the spirit. And finally through the closed door. Because the only reason I came to Sheffield was that the dream job I wanted which had been offered to me didn't turn up in time. So at that point the evangelical alliance was led by a guy called Clive Calver who wanted me to become the northern regional development officer for the whole of EA. That's 30 something years ago. I felt this was what God wanted me to do. I said I would go for this. He said Joel Edwards who eventually to go for him he was the church minister he would get back in touch with me and then would sort out what was going to happen next. Joel Edwards didn't get in touch with me but Jeff Williams did. And I had no word to come here no scripture no audible voice no prophetic word nobody laid hands on me and said go to Sheffield. I stumbled over the doorway into this church. Right. Just being obedient to God faithful to God and I ended up here. And three weeks after I arrived the EA offered me the job. But I felt it was lacking in integrity to walk away from a church to do that. And the rest as they say is history. But I remember at Bible College R.T. Kendall who was a very famous preacher. He spoke on the Macedonian call of Paul which was about closed doors and open doors. And the word that came to him was that he spoke on was "learn to trust the closed door". We don't always understand why God has done something. I hope I see now when I look behind me the grace and the goodness of God in all this. But at the time I didn't. Perhaps walking in the spirit is not always easy. It's not always clear. There are times when you don't always understand what's happening but it's true that we still listen and we still obey and we still go for those nudges. But walking in the spirit is not just for individuals. It's also for a church. Because MCF is not where it is today by accident or by man's design. This has been God's purpose and plan and who is behind it all and before it all. We're here today doing what we're doing because we've been walking with the Holy Spirit. It was never a good idea, it was God's idea. It's worth remembering I think it's not just the leadership team who have revelation and inspiration. They're not only the ones who listen to God. We should all be listening to God. And good leaders will always release the spirit of God and the genius of the gifts of the spirit in a church and listen to what's been happening. Most of the mission stuff that you see around you or certainly a lot of it didn't come from the leadership team but came from individuals who felt God was prompting them nudging them calling them to do things and the leadership got behind it at that time. Scripture says that we we collectively have the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2 verse 16. And the biggest decisions the early church had was the council of Jerusalem in Acts 15 where they had to decide what criteria Gentiles or non-Jews could join the church. Would they have to keep all the law? Would they have to do everything that good Jews had done for many many years? And they came with these big decisions at the end of Acts 15. But the phrase they used, the church, I love it. Because a whole group of them were gathered together to come to this decision. They said, "it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us." Togetherness collaboration as a group of people with the Holy Spirit to discover what God was doing. Of course, the first missionary journey which eventually took us into the church into Europe with Paul and Barnabas. They were released to serve as missionaries by a group of people who had been fasting and praying but who heard the Holy Spirit together telling them to release Paul and Barnabas to get on with what they had to do. How has walking in the Spirit worked out at MCF? And all these things I'm going to tell you have come from different people as far as I remember different words and different prompts. They've not come just from me or one other person or somebody else. Firstly, before I was even thought of coming to this estate in the first place, from Millhouses, leafy suburb of Millhouses to Batemoor Jordan Thorpe. That was a big nudge and it was a sacrificial nudge that this church made. But they made it on the prompt of the Holy Spirit on the basis of people being converted off this estate. That was a huge change from a middle class church to coming on to, I hate to use that phrase, but coming on to this area. It was a big big change and some people didn't like it I guess. A bit later on before we even had any buildings at all it was a friend of mine in the church who's not in the church anymore he's went up Scotland for a period of time who had a word from Isaiah 54 which we've often said which was about enlarging the place of your tent strengthening the states lengthening the cords do not hold back. You may feel like a barren woman who's not doing a great deal but suddenly your house is going to be filled. You've gone to two services here and basically before we even had a place we had this sense of God telling us to be established in this area and to almost sing over it. And it's a word that actually helped us to think about even stretching out to get that pub. Because one other thing was spare no expense if you read the New Living Translation. I always thought it was a fantastic thought because the expense is going up isn't it everyone? When we came to this building another one of the leaders who's no longer with us serving as another church he had a vision he kept talking about the piazza out there but the precinct where he saw the image of Ezekiel the river of God flowing from this place out onto the precinct. It's Ezekiel 47 of course. That river of God Jesus says is the Holy Spirit. "Out of your innermost beings will flow." So the flow of the Holy Spirit going out onto this estate that was seen very early on when we first moved here. Read John 7 verse 37 onwards if you want to get the idea of what Jesus is saying about this. But actually you see it's not the building isn't it? Because the Holy Spirit will only flow out of unit three if it's flowing out of the church which is us in unit three. It's flowing out the people who are being filled with the Holy Spirit who are being constantly filled with the Holy Spirit whose overflow is reaching out and lapping up and causing fruitfulness out there on our estate. Andy was the one who brought the artesian well saying he got a vision of somebody working hard on a pump. You know we were working hard doing stuff. And honestly there's still a danger in any church and I would say in this church because of the efforts we all put in that we rely on our own efforts of trying to pump the water so much. But I'm referring back to a word that Andy brought. This was about something springing up a well of living water springing up the Isaiah 43 thing. Again it's the Holy Spirit. It's the Holy Spirit coming forth. It's the Holy Spirit springing forth. This is why it's so important that we're filled with the Holy Spirit. That if we don't see it as an add-on. That we don't see it as something "well that happened to me 20 years I went to an Alpha course and I had a tingle or I felt a warm feeling." I mean God help us if that's all we think this is about. This is about the work of God. This is about the purpose of God. This is about the plan of God. Don't settle for anything less. No well worn passes. But I think it was me that had this vision of skiing off piste. You know because we were thinking how do we mission on this estate? How do we reach out on this estate? And it was about not just taking pre pre ordered ideas and just you know using that "oh that's worked over there" or "that's worked over there". But actually discovering is listening again to that voice what is God asking us to do that we're not being asked to go down a course. You know skiing down the course but actually off the courses and discover what God was asking us to do not just relying on those well known methods. And the fourth thing was the values which we worked through: encountering God, getting involved, living generously, transforming community. I want to say to you the journey for MCF has been bumpy, when I was leading it anyway. Still probably is. But it has a walk keeping in step with where God's spirit is wanting to lead us. So I'm going to finish with coming back to the values. Encountering God. That wasn't just about about a once and for all salvation experience but about us as the believers in Christ seeking after him longing for him discovering him in our lives. And as an old man at my previous church in North York she used to say, "if you're seeking God and he's seeking you then you're bound to bump into each other sooner or later". I conclude we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It's not an option extra. Don't deny God's grace in this and don't pay lip service to this. "Since we're living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit's leading in every part of our lives," Galatians 5 verse 25 says. Secondly, you have to trust and have faith that God does speak to you and he will guide you. And we all get it wrong at times. Be humble and admit it when we do. That's a good learning curve for us all, isn't it? It it's always good to what you really want you often think that's what God must want too. And it can be very confusing. You convince yourself it must be God's will. But walking in step with the Spirit is taking steps of faith. As John Wimber said, "faith spelled R-I-S-K." Don't expect God to speak to you with a megaphone because he won't. He normally has this still small voice that Elijah experienced in 1 Kings 19. More likely the internal nudge, the prompt, the reminder, the sense of peace or the sense of unease or conviction or a passion rising within you. And God will speak to you by the means like scripture, through sermons, perhaps through songs, through prophetic words. And we should take note of those things also. Finally, we're not going anywhere unless we move. And I just feel really sad when I go to certain churches and I have been to certain churches and churches I used to preach at many years ago they're on the verge of closing. Because I would say to you as the people of God, churches stagnate and become stale when they stop moving. They stop walking with God. Now this series has been a bit like learning the highway code, maybe doing your driving theory. It's time to hit the road with what you've learned. There was a Scottish preacher trying to explain the Holy Spirit said, "it's better felt than tell". And you know there's something about that. I could talk as much as I like about this but actually this is your invitation opportunity to be involved yourself. The sat nav might show you the route, scripture, but you don't arrive without setting off and following the instructions. You cannot walk with God without moving. We talk about wanting a move of God. Well that starts when God starts to move us. Move us, move us. As I hand back over to Nick now, just want to encourage you. Please take every opportunity during this series that is offered to you to be filled with the spirit. Amen. God bless you.

The provided text consists of excerpts from a sermon titled “Put God First,” written by Dr. Bobby Allen, which focuses on the central theme of prioritizing God above all worldly concerns. The sermon uses Matthew 6:33 as its foundational scripture, asserting that seeking God's kingdom first ensures that all other necessary things will be provided. Allen argues that putting God first is not just about establishing priorities but about proper positioning and aligning one's plans with God's will, which is evidenced by giving Him one's first fruits, thoughts, and love. Furthermore, the text suggests that this realignment leads to positive life changes, including increased peace and clarified purpose, citing figures like Abraham and Daniel as examples of obedience. Finally, the sermon stresses that there is a blessing attached to giving God the "first things," particularly in finances and family life, by referencing the promise of provision found in Malachi 3:10.

The provided text consists of excerpts from a sermon titled “Put God First,” written by Dr. Bobby Allen, which focuses on the central theme of prioritizing God above all worldly concerns. The sermon uses Matthew 6:33 as its foundational scripture, asserting that seeking God's kingdom first ensures that all other necessary things will be provided. Allen argues that putting God first is not just about establishing priorities but about proper positioning and aligning one's plans with God's will, which is evidenced by giving Him one's first fruits, thoughts, and love. Furthermore, the text suggests that this realignment leads to positive life changes, including increased peace and clarified purpose, citing figures like Abraham and Daniel as examples of obedience. Finally, the sermon stresses that there is a blessing attached to giving God the "first things," particularly in finances and family life, by referencing the promise of provision found in Malachi 3:10.

In this powerful message, Dr. Tony Evans emphasizes that when you make God your top priority, everything else in life falls into its proper place. Drawing from Matthew 6:33—“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you”—Evans explains that many believers struggle because they reverse God's order, chasing blessings before obedience. He reminds us that God's provision, peace, and power flow through alignment with His kingdom agenda. Evans urges listeners to examine where God truly stands in their daily decisions, finances, relationships, and ambitions. When God is first, He orchestrates the rest—turning confusion into clarity, lack into abundance, and chaos into calm. The key, Evans teaches, is trust: when you put God in His rightful position at the center of your life, you invite Him to manage what you can't. Put Him first—and watch Him handle the rest. Jag, Tedi, and I thank you for tuning in and SHARING!

Sermon Title: Practical Reasons Why Others Do Not Put God First in Their Finances (Part 1)Speaker: Rev. Provy R. CadelinaDate: November 1, 2023Service: Midweek Prayer Meeting ServiceIlocano Preaching

What do you value most in life? Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.” When God comes first, everything else finds its right place.This week we begin our new series, At the Core, by looking at what it means to put God first in every part of our lives. From our priorities and relationships to our work and worship, every area changes when God takes the center.Putting God first isn't about adding Him to a list—it's about reordering life around His will, His Word, and His ways. When we seek Him first, love Him most, obey Him faithfully, trust Him completely, and worship Him fully, our lives reflect what we truly value: His Kingdom above all.Connect with us!Missioncity.church

Sign up for my newsletter to receive fresh posts, encouragement, and Bible reflections straight to your inbox. There is a blog post that accompanies this episode at PrMarlon.comConnect with me.Check out our church at Cloverdale.orgThe intro music Fleet of Happy Fingers by Ryan BellChapters 0:14 Introduction to Prioritizing God 1:55 The Importance of Priorities 4:39 Habits Define Our Priorities 8:09 Starting Your Day Right 10:00 Making Room for God 11:53 Matthew Chapter 16 Insights 16:09 The Challenge of Self-Denial 18:05 Embracing God's Call to Action 19:53 Understanding Salvation and Works 27:51 The Heart of True Worship 31:39 Abiding in Christ 34:57 Staying Committed to Your Faith 38:15 The Power of Surrender 40:41 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

We press pause on daily noise to ask hard questions about time with God, marriage as a daily priority, and the quiet power of integrity at home. Along the way we read Titus 2, Philemon, and Psalm 101, warn against gossip, honor Albert Beyer's courage, and revisit providence in the Constitution.• gratitude for Scripture and freedom to read it• marriage as daily priority over distractions• Titus 2 roles, self‑control, and mentorship• Philemon's model of restoration and brotherhood• Psalm 101's call to integrity at home• Proverbs on gossip as fuel for conflict• Medal of Honor remembrance: Albert Beyer• founders' quotes on providence and the Constitution• critique of Everson and church‑state confusion• practical steps to reorder time, habits, and homeIf you enjoy a family‑friendly middle grade fantasy, please check out Countryside and, if you enjoy it, leave a review online somewhere, parents or grandparents or kids Support the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribe

Sister Stephanie L Colvin is the Director of First-Year Experience at BYU-Idaho. In her devotional address to BYU-Idaho students, she invites all to put God first in their lives, and discusses the impact dedicating more time to the Lord has had in her life, and what it can do for others.

Jesus uses the strongest language possible to communicate a most important message: we must put God first or else we will not make it, in other words, we can not save ourselves! Listen to learn more! Podcast by Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR. For all of Father Luke's homilies, search for the podcasts "Daily Homilies Blue Army Shrine" and "Franciscan Fridays at the Shrine"

Discover the powerful message in CJ Muston's sermon on 1 Corinthians 10: Put God First. Dive into two key themes - we should not put anything in our lives above or in between us and God, and we should not be the reason someone else steps further away from God. Drawing from Paul's warnings against worshiping false gods, learn why we must run away from anything that comes between us and God. Explore verses like 1 Corinthians 10:14-15, 10:23-24 on how everything is permitted but not beneficial, and how we must build others up and look out for each other instead of seeking our own advantage.Understand how living out our faith directly affects people around us and their ability to put God first. From eating everything sold in the marketplace (1 Corinthians 10:25-27) without questions for conscience's sake, to ensuring our actions don't get in the way of an unbeliever following Jesus. Featuring insights from For King and Country's "Broken Halos" quote: "Way too shy to bear our souls, so we shout opinions, but nobody listens." Delve into 1 Corinthians 10:28-31 on respecting others' conscience, limiting our freedom to show respect to others and God, and doing everything for God's glory.CJ Muston challenges: Don't offend Jews, Greeks, or God's church (1 Corinthians 10:32-33). Please everyone, look out for many so they can be saved. Reflect with prayers like: "God, is there anything in my life more important than you? Please give me clear direction on steps to put you first again." And "God, are there interactions I need to change so people are drawn closer to you and not pushed further away?"God wants to be close to you and first in your life - and in the lives of those around you. Perfect for believers seeking to live faith without pushing others away. Subscribe for more inspiring sermons, like and comment below! #PutGodFirst #1Corinthians10 #ChristianSermon #BuildOthersUp #GodsGlory #FalseGods #LivingFaith #DontOffend #ForKingAndCountry #BrokenHalos

The next time you hear yourself chanting (y)our mantra,know that you're living in the reality where only that mantra can be,the only reality where it's being chanted.The one where you're being of service, the one where you're being successful,the one where you have everything because you have God. You are healing, and you're healed. You were before the wound.Before the Womb. I love you I Am You, nik Support the show:▶▶https://www.patreon.com/goodmornings__________________________________________Today's Quotes: "When you place Krishna first, you will never be last. We will always win, with Him first. We're never last or left empty-handed, Sarvatah pâni-padam tat (BG 13.14). Krishna has got hands and legs everywhere. Wherever He will order, the things will come. Simply we have to become sincere; then everything is there. If you are actually engaged in the service of Krsna, all your necessities will be supplied by Krsna." - Srila Prabhupada "l am filled with you,skin, blood, bone, brain, and soul.There is no room for trust or lack of trust, nothing in this existence but that existence." - Rumi, The Big Red Book"Why let daily things bother your Have you forgotten how it is in time?Your father has never met your mother.The elaborate orchard garden you live in has not yet been planted.The work is always inside you......You are inside meaning, not words.You are the heart itself, not any language of the heart.You are the essence within the universe, not the universe.You are neither absence nor existence.I am blessed with faith and cursed with forgetfulness.Clear, but streaked with mud.Mature, growing older, and still a baby." Rumi, The Big Red Book

On today's LEADING THE WAY, walk through a key moment in the life of David as he grew from lowly shepherd to mighty king. It's a key message in Dr. Youssef's powerful series, DAVID: PORTRAIT OF A CHAMPION. (2 Samuel 7) Support the show: https://au.ltw.org/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today's Leading The Way, walk through a key moment in the life of David as he grew from lowly shepherd to mighty king. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/155/29

A Study of 1 Chronicles 22: 5-19

Crusaders Charge into Summer Reading is Northwest Christian's annual summer reading campaign.  During the summer of 2025, we're jumping -- with both feet! -- into Tim Kimmel's "Raising Kids for True Greatness - Redefining Success for Your Child".  Throughout Summer 2025, swing by the school's offices to pick up a free copy and join us!Both feet?  Yes!  The school's two podcasts -- Kingdom Culture Conversations and Off the Page -- are each working through the book all summer.On Off the Page, Geoff and G are working through the book chapter-by-chapter, taking a deep dive into the ideas, concepts, and principles that will help us all, as parents, to reframe how we approach raising our kids.Then, on Kingdom Culture Conversations, we are spending time with the "Top 10" list found at the conclusion of each chapter within  the book.  Specifically, we are putting those lists in front of members of the NCS faculty and community that might be able to offer insights based on their role in the school.It's going to be a great summer full of growth!  Take the time to join us!"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email gbrown@ncsaz.org or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

Crusaders Charge into Summer Reading is Northwest Christian's annual summer reading campaign.  During the summer of 2025, we're jumping -- with both feet! -- into Tim Kimmel's "Raising Kids for True Greatness - Redefining Success for Your Child".  Throughout Summer 2025, swing by the school's offices to pick up a free copy and join us!Both feet?  Yes!  The school's two podcasts -- Kingdom Culture Conversations and Off the Page -- are each working through the book all summer.On Off the Page, Geoff and G are working through the book chapter-by-chapter, taking a deep dive into the ideas, concepts, and principles that will help us all, as parents, to reframe how we approach raising our kids.Then, on Kingdom Culture Conversations, we are spending time with the "Top 10" list found at the conclusion of each chapter within  the book.  Specifically, we are putting those lists in front of members of the NCS faculty and community that might be able to offer insights based on their role in the school.It's going to be a great summer full of growth!  Take the time to join us!"Kingdom Culture Conversations" is a podcast created through Frameworks, a Biblical worldview initiative of Northwest Christian School.For more information on Frameworks, please visit: https://frameworks.ncsaz.org/For more information on Northwest Christian School, visit: https://www.ncsaz.org/To reach out to Geoff Brown, please email gbrown@ncsaz.org or you can reach him by cell phone: (623)225-5573.

Pastor Nathan kicks off our new series, Taking Back Control of Your Life, with the message “It All Starts Here.” A word focused on obedience and trusting God in your finances. If you accepted Christ we'd love to meet you! Click the link below to introduce yourself so we can help you along your faith journey! Click Here!

Pastor Nathan kicks off our new series, Taking Back Control of Your Life, with the message “It All Starts Here.” A word focused on obedience and trusting God in your finances. If you accepted Christ we'd love to meet you! Click the link below to introduce yourself so we can help you along your faith journey! Click Here!

Pastor Mike encourages believers to give Jesus first place in every area of life—above time, relationships, and routines—so their walk with God can be healthy, prioritized, and free of spiritual clutter.

Who were the “minor prophets” of Israel? Hosea, Amos, Obadiah, Joel, etc. are books that we tend to skip over in our Bibles. However, there is a powerful gospel message throughout the minor prophets. Though people sin and judgement comes, restoration is always available. God continually says to His people, “Return to Me.” In this series we will see how God's love never gives up, never stops, and never ends when it comes to His people.

This week on Las Vegas United, we're excited to welcome back, guest host Sharelle Mendenhall (Mrs. United States 2024).Join us as Joseph and Brittany Walters, founders of We Remodeling, share their journey of building not only a thriving business but a Kingdom marriage, grounded in putting God first in every area of their lives. From leading marriage small groups to experiencing miracles, breakthroughs, and unshakable joy, their testimony is a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness.They open up about how keeping Christ at the center of their business and relationship has led to blessings they never imagined—from transformed lives in their community to personal moments of divine favor and growth.Whether you're a business owner, a married couple seeking purpose, or someone longing to see God move in every area of your life, this conversation will inspire, challenge, and encourage you to pursue God's best with bold faith.Welcome to Episode #112 of Las Vegas United, where we invite leaders all over Las Vegas to share their hearts for God and this city.If you would like to be a part of our show: Check out our Website ➡️ https://www.ctnonline.com/affiliate/keen-las-vegas/ Email Us ✉️ lvunited@ctn.net ⬇️ ⬇️ SHOW NOTES ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Vegas Home Renovation ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Website

Daily Meditation When life’s calendar overflows with commitments, it can be hard to discern what’s truly important. In this relatable devotional, Laura Bailey reflects on how our time can quickly get consumed by good things—yet still leave us feeling spiritually empty. She draws from 1 Corinthians 10:23 to challenge us to rethink our calendars, our hearts, and our priorities. Through a busy season of endless events, Laura invites us to pause and ask: Just because we can, does that mean we should? By seeking the Lord’s guidance, we can learn to live more intentionally, create margin for the things that matter most, and align our lives with the eternal purpose of serving and glorifying God.

6/6/25 67am CT Hour - Mary Hallan Fiorito/ Carol and Pete Tomaselli Sarah and Glen chat about the Trump and Elon Musk feud, NBA finals drive in movies, kids mimicking their parents and give an update on the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage. Mary breaks down why Illinois defeating the Assisted Suicide Bill and if it will be coming back soon. 3 Questions with Heidi Carol & Pete talk about making sure you put yourself, spouse and God in the right order.

“The Goodness of God: Put God First” Jeremiah 1:4-8 Rev. John Allen explores listening for God's call and putting the first in our lives. Recorded live at Stonebridge United Methodist Church in McKinney, Texas. For more information, please visit www.mysumc.org.

Mark ch 12 vs 10-17 - Preacher Aaron Thompson - Sunday, May 25, 2025

Mark ch 12 vs 10-17 - Preacher Aaron Thompson - Sunday, May 25, 2025

God doesn't want you to be broke, or suffering or not have anything you need. He wants you to thrive, but often time we pursue those things ABOVE our relationship with God and that's when we begin to truly experience hardship. God above all is the best way to Thrive.

April 30th, 2025:  The Similarities of St Catherine & St Francis; St Catherine of Siena - Patron of Europe; We Need to Put God First; St Catherine of Siena - a Great Catholic Mystic

Are you struggling to put God first in your life? Do you want to prioritize your faith and experience spiritual growth, but don't know where to start? In this video, Pastor Emily Cummins explore three practical steps to help you make God your priority, and live a god-centered life. By incorporating these simple yet powerful practices into your daily routine, you'll be able to cultivate a deeper relationship with God, and experience the transformative power of practical faith. Whether you're a seasoned believer or just starting your spiritual journey, these steps will help you stay focused on what truly matters, and live a life that honors God. So, if you're ready to take your faith to the next level, and make God your top priority, watch until the end to discover how.

These three letters, PGF, should resonate in your life.  They are, "Put God First".  Remember the one who created you is also the one who will help chart your life story.  Time to PGF, isn't it?

Uncover how trust and a kingdom-first mindset pave the way to supernatural increase in part four of the Manifested Abundance series! Join guest minister Nathaniel Saint-Eloi as he delves into the power of aligning your finances with God’s principles, illustrating how an open heart and a willingness to honor God first, can turn scarcity into overflow. Drawing from the story of the widow’s oil in 2 Kings 4, Nathaniel reveals why honoring God—especially when resources seem limited—can lead to miraculous multiplications and unexpected blessings. (00:00) Put God First(07:36) Give God First in Faith(16:32) Seed of Faith(29:46) Putting God First in Giving(38:18) Heart-Centered Giving for Blessings(50:38) Blessings Through Faithful Giving www.citylightnyc.com

Thanks for listening and if you enjoy this message please share with a friend and let us know by giving us a rating. You can find more information about New Hope at newhopechurch.tv and follow us on Instagram @newhopechurchtv If you need prayer or have made a decision today please visit newhopechurch.tv/prayer You can also watch our sermons at youtube.com/NHChurch

Dr. Marty Baker

God is generous, and we are to be like him; therefore, we are to be generous. We have been so abundantly blessed, and God has given us freely everything we have, beyond anything we deserve or what our own efforts could achieve. Given this, we should know that everything we have belongs to the Lord, […]

Most people have UPHILL hopes, but DOWNHILL habits.

Pastor Garry Clark begins an exciting sermon series for the New Year called, "Making 2025 The Best Year Possible!" In this brief series Pastor Garry will show us why we must fear the Lord and put Him first. He shows us that we must trust the Lord with all of our hearts! If we do this it's going to be a great year because it's all in His Hands!

This week, we explored the first two commandments: Put God First and Don't Worship Idols. These commands are deeply connected, as putting God first necessitates removing anything else that could take His rightful place in our lives. If you would like to know more about MetaChurch and the movement of Jesus, we invite you to visit us at www.metachurch.tv.Support the show

Put God First and Watch Everything Fall Into Place | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your DaySUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/CONNECT WITH US:YouTubeTwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook

Send us a textI remember when I first made Jesus the Lord of my life, I was on fire for God. Nobody was going to stop me from going all in. However, I had a problem. I didn't know what it looked like to actually go all in with God. Nobody showed me how to practically live out the transformation God had performed in my life as a 17 year old.  I would see other teens my age who were Christians, but most if not all of them were lacking that spark…that fire for the Lord. I even tried going to a youth ministry my senior year of high school, but it almost seemed like a joke. I couldn't quite understand why it seemed like these Christians didn't even care. The youth pastor would start to teach on a topic, but the message would be overrun by teens making a joke out of it….the youth pastor did nothing but play along. Needless to say, I didn't go back to that youth ministry often.  I didn't quite understand how I was supposed to practically walk out my Christian life when I didn't even see other Christian teens walking it out. Was I supposed to just pretend this life change with Jesus didn't happen…because it did and it was very real.  So, how do we put God first in our life. Practically, what does that look like?  1.   Put God first in your day. Create the first bit of the morning to spend with God. If you have been struggling with reading the Bible every day, with spending time in prayer every day, with taking time to worship every day, I encourage you to do the First 15. What does 5 minutes in the Bible look like? I encourage you to start in the book of John. In most versions of the Bible, you will notice that the chapters are split up into sections. For example, with the New King James version of the Bible, John 1 is split up into seven sections. The first section's title is called, “The Eternal Word" and it's 5 verses long. Read through the whole section one time through, go back through it a second time and right down or underline anything that stands out to you. Then ask God, “Lord, what do you want me to know about this passage? What do you want me to do?” Write it down and take action.  Next is 5 minutes in prayer. Take time to talk to God, just like you would your best friend, about what's coming up that day. Ask Him for wisdom to get through whatever it is you have going on. He so loves you and cares about even the smallest of details.  Then the last 5 minutes is spent in worship. Worship is a response to God's goodness. Take 5 minutes and thank God for the good things He's doing in your life.  2.    Write out the key areas of your life and ask God, “Lord, will you show me how to put you first in every area of my life. Some key areas would include:FriendsGuysSchoolWorkSports/ALadies, we have had challenges recently with the UncommonTEEN App and had to close it down. Don't worry, a new app is coming soon!!If you still want to ask your Ask Me Anything Questions or if you need prayer, head on over to UncommonTEEN.com.For the Ask Me Anything Questions, click on the RED BUTTON at the top of the screen. These questions may used on a future episode of the UncommonTEEN Podcast!For any prayer requests or more personal questions, click on the YELLOW CHAT TAB at the bottom right hand corner of the screen. These will not be used on the podcast unless you say you would like it to be used. Connect with Us!Website: UncommonTEEN.comInstagram: @uncommon.teenUncommonTEEN Live Conference: UncommonTEENlive.com

Put God First and Unlock His Favor and Guidance | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/CONNECT WITH US:YouTubeTwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook

Pray First Thing and Put God First In Your Life | Blessed Morning Prayer To Start Your Day With GodSUBSCRIBE to catch all the latest prayers uploaded to the Daily Effective Prayer Podcast!For more powerful daily prayers and to connect with the ministry visit:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org© Copyright DailyEffectivePrayer.com  DO YOU NEED PRAYER? Send us a prayer request right now:https://www.dailyeffectiveprayer.org/prayer-request-online/CONNECT WITH US:YouTubeTwitterInstagram ThreadsInstagramFacebook