Everyone says “God comes first.” But here’s the truth—God isn’t first, He’s the ONLY. If He’s not Lord of your 16 hours, He’s not Lord at all.
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Here are the author's notes from this week's message:
*- One of the major strategies demons use against Christians isn’t what occurs during the eight (8) hours we spend at work or school, but what takes place during the sixteen (16) hours we spend away from our day’s commitments, mostly spent with our biological or adoptive family members.
*- This series will examine “the other 16” hours of our day—when we’re not at work or school—and how those hours reveal whether our lives truly belong to the Lord, and what to do to submit to Him if not.
*- Many believers have embraced the phrase: “God first, family second, and ministry third.”
*- It sounds wise, but it creates compartments that are unbiblical, deceptive, and evil because separating God from family and ministry creates a lasting imbalance at work and school.
And the Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to tend and guard and keep it.
Genesis 2:15 AMPC
*- Man served God before he was given a family.
*- Firstly, how did Jesus define family?
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Matthew 12:46-50 KJV
*- family: those who do the will of God, Who leads His family and is the Father of the obedient ones.
*- Let's begin with the men…
*- Joshua, the highly successful and fearless leader who replaced Moses, stood boldly and said:
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15 AMPC
*- Men, we must declare and instill in our families that no matter who serves whom, we won't just believe in God, we’ll serve Him wholeheartedly and completely.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,
*- gave: to give oneself up for (from uncommitted singleness to humbly committing to marriage)
*- Paul orders men who are willing to leave singleness to marry, to love as Jesus loved and why He loved—remembering that love always has a purpose…
26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word,
27 That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless].
*- Jesus gave Himself up for us to set us apart from our old ways, clean us up with God’s Word to present us to Himself, being flawless and holy unto God. Husbands, do the same for your wives.
*- Although many in Jesus’ church failed Him, left Him, and denied Him, He remained faithful and stayed true to His calling and purpose. Husbands, remain faithful to do your part without failure.
28 Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.
29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church,
30 Because we are members (parts) of His body.
31 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
Ephesians 5:25-31 AMPC
*- Paul spoke about a man's body, his flesh, because married people become one flesh—not one soul, not one spirit, but one flesh. Husbands, provide your wives with what you want for yourself.
4 He must rule his own household well, keeping his children under control, with true dignity, commanding their respect in every way and keeping them respectful.
5 For if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how is he to take care of the church of God?
1 Timothy 3:4-5 AMPC
*- Fathers, if we don't live in such a way that commands respect, not fear, out of our children at home, how can we care for God's sons and daughters in the church?
