SEVEN PRIORITIES OF A SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIANS
What
is your priority as a Christian?
Some
of you mention prayer, some say reading the bible and others say serving God
and family. The meaning of “priority” is “the fact or condition of being
regarded or treated as more important than others.” Below are seven priorities in our successful
walk with God:
1.
THE PRAYER PRIORITY
Acts
6:4 – “But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of
the Word.”
“The
Church is looking for better methods; God is looking for better men”
“What
the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations
or more and novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use --- men of
prayer, men mighty in prayer.
The
Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men. He does not come on
machinery, but on men. He does not anoint plans, but men --- men of
prayer.” ― E.M. Bounds, Power Through
Prayer
What
is Prayer?
Prayer
is having a spiritual experience with God.
Prayer
is not a physical act. One may kneel down when one prays but kneeling down is not
praying. One may be talking, but talking is not praying. One may folded or
raise hand it’s and not praying also.
In
prayer the most important thing is to make contact with God in one’s mind and
spirit; concentrate on Him, give undivided attention to Him, fellowship with
Him, experience Him and hear from Him. How deep is your prayer time with God?
2.
THE BIBLE STUDY PRIORITY
In
Matthew 13:12-15 Jesus states a spiritual principle.
12
For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but
whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him. 13
Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and
hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 And in them the prophecy
of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing
you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not
perceive; 15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard
of hearing,
And
their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with
their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I
should heal them.’
16
But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear; 17 for
assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see
what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear
it.
Then
Jesus said, “Whosoever has will be given more and he will have an abundance.”
Matt. 13:11.
As
we use our spiritual eyes, our eyesight will improve. As we use our spiritual
ears, our hearing will become more acute. As we respond to the light of God has
given us, he will give us more and more light until our lives are flooded with
the glory of God.
Application:
As we immerse ourselves in Word or Scripture, our goal is to develop within
ourselves the mind and heart of God. We want to be able to think and to respond
to every situation the way God Himself would.
3.
THE CHURCH ATTENDANCE PRIORITY
PSALMS
63:2 – NIV.
I
have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. I come to
Church to see Jesus, I praise Jesus, I worship Jesus, I believe Jesus. I was
glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
I
go to Church to Offer Worship that Pleases Him.
Psalms
69:30 “I will praise the name of God
with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the
Lord better than an ox or bullock.”
God
is pleased when our worship is authentic. Worship in spirit isn’t referring to
the Holy Spirit but to your spirit. God designed your spirit to be in communion,
worshipping Him.
God
is looking for worship as an overflow of our heart. Worship in the Spirit and
truth means worship will be authentic and accurate.
Acts
1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
the earth.
Power
to Witness for Christ
Paul
uses four words for “power” –
• dunamis – Gods power
and ability eg. His Eternal energy
• energeia – authority
delegated, right to act
• kratos – strength
• ischus – ability or force (personal)
The Word is used 100 times in Greek in Acts 1:8 It denotes “being
able”, or having the capacity to control another or situation. In this
verse Paul speaks of God’s power toward us who believe. The highest act of
His power on our behalf is the resurrection of Christ - (Ephesians
1:20-22; Rom 1:4)
5.
THE SEED SOWING PRIORITY - Galatians 6:6-10
The
one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches
him. 7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he
will also reap. 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh
reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap
eternal life.
9
Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not
grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
a.
Prepare Your Seed For Sowing
In
this year season of Joyful Giving, let me share with you a very profitable way
of sowing and reaping. You need to know how to prepare your seed before sowing
it into the intended ground for your expected harvest! If you want to have a
bountiful harvest, you must never sow casually and carelessly! Your giving is
SACRED! IT MATTERS TO GOD AND IT MUST ALSO MATTERS TO YOU!
b.
Steps to Prepare your Faith Seed
i.
Determine the SIZE of your seed.
ii.
Prepare your seed by soaking it in the Blood of the Lamb & speak a
prophetic destiny into it (what you want the seed to achieve - healing,
financial increase, salvation of loved ones, etc)
iii.
Release the seed into the hand of Yahweh Tsabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, the King
Who sends forth His Angels to fight your financial battles & bring the
harvest to you.
iv.
Finally Prayer over it.
6.
THE PURSUIT OF HOLINESS PRIORITY - Hebrews 12:14
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” 1 Pet. 1:14-16 - "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
What
is Not Holiness?
1.
Holiness is not hardness.
Some people think that they are holy because they
are opposed to everything.
2.
Holiness is not haughtiness.
Some people think that they are holy because
they are better in their behaviour than others.
3.
Holiness is not unhappiness
Some people think that they are holy because
they are miserable.
What
Is Holiness?
1.
Holiness is displaying God’s character.
2. Holiness flows from Christ into us.
3. Holiness is empowered by the Spirit.
7.
THE SERVICE TO GOD PRIORITY
John
12:26 – “If any man serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall
also my servant: if any man serves me, him will my Father's honor.”
JESUS
MISSION
Jesus
said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his
life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). That was His personal mission
statement.
Am
I going to live with a clenched fist expecting others to serve me? Or am I going to live with an open hand,
giving and serving? In the world, greatness is determined by how many people
SERVE YOU; but, in God’s kingdom, greatness is determined by how many people
YOU SERVE.
CONCLUSION:
The
Seven Priorities of a Successful Christian:
THE
PRAYER PRIORITY
THE
BIBLE STUDY PRIORITY
THE
CHURCH ATTENDANCE PRIORITY
THE
WITNESS OF CHRIST PRIORITY
THE
SEED SOWING PRIORITY
THE
PURSUIT OF HOLINESS PRIORITY
THE
SERVICE TO GOD PRIORITY
PRAYER
Dear
Lord Jesus,
Lately
I’ve been feeling out of focus, and I’ve been distracted by all the things on
my schedule. I need the help of the Holy Spirit today. Search my heart, Lord.
Reveal anything in my life or on my schedule that needs to change.
When
I look at my calendar, I get discouraged. I haven’t been putting you first,
which has thrown everything else off balance. I am starting anew right now,
coming to you each morning in prayer to evaluate my priorities. Help me to see
what’s most important according to your truth. As I bring each decision before
you, guide me with your wisdom in how I spend my days. In Jesus Name, Amen.
BENEDICTION
Romans
15:5-6
“May
the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with
one another, in accord with Christ Jesus; that together you may with one voice
glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
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