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2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: (2) that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. (3) For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, (4) imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (5) And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

FIRST OF ALL (3)

FIRST A.Last two weeks we looked at sixteen “Firsts” in the New Testament. 1. First be reconciled 2. First seek God’s kingdom 3. First remove the plank from your eye 4. First bind Satan 5. First will have been last 6. First clean the inside of the cup 7. First feed the children 8. First commandment 9. First follow Jesus

FIRST 10. First say, “peace to this house” 11. First count the cost 12. First, share Jesus with those closest to you. 13. First, thankfulness for faith 14. First give to God 15. First division is wrong 16. First of all the gospel B.This week we will look at eight more.

I. FIRST GIVE YOURSELF 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: (2) that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. (3) For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, (4) imploring us with much urgency that we would receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (5) And not only as we had hoped, but they first gave themselves to the Lord, and then to us by the will of God.

II. FIRST A WILLING MIND 2 Corinthians 8:8-12 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. (9) For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (10) And in this I give advice: It is to your advantage not only to be doing what you began and were desiring to do a year ago; (11) but now you also must complete the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to desire it, so there also may be a completion out of what you have. (12) For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.

III. FIRST COMMANDMENT WITH PROMISE Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: 3 "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.”

IV. FIRST THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

V. FIRST, PAUL WAS A PATTERN 1 Timothy 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.

VI. FIRST OF ALL PRAYER 1 Timothy 2:1-4 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, (2) for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. (3) For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, (4) who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

VII. FIRST, TEST ELDERS AND DEACONS 1 Timothy 3:8-10 Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 10 But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless.

VIII. FIRST SHOW PIETY AT HOME 1 Timothy 5:3-5 Honor widows who are really widows. (4) But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show piety at home and to repay their parents; for this is good and acceptable before God. (5) Now she who is really a widow, and left alone, trusts in God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day.

WHAT IS FIRST IN YOUR LIFE? A.Are your priorities straight? B.Are you putting first things first? C.Are you putting God’s things first? D.JOY = Jesus first, Yourself last, Others in-between.

HAVE A PRIORITIZED WEEK