GIVE GOD THE FIRST CHANCE

When something goes wrong, GIVE GOD THE FIRST CHANCE (loose something, hear bad news, run into complications):

Also, in your EVERYDAY LIFE, GIVE GOD THE FIRST CHANCE (the first of your income, your time, your opportunities):

Matt 6:33

33 But SEEK FIRST his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Once again, my children have had TERRIFIC testimonies in line with today’s message. This time, Carrie’s van was making a “clunk” sound when applying the brakes. You who have had experience in this area KNOW that “clunk” in the brakes area means $250 - $450 repair bills - its NOT JUST THE BRAKES. When we dropped off the van for repair, we said, “God WILL restore”. The mechanic called in the afternoon to announce, “your van has PLENTY of brake pad left .. it lost a bolt and a part . . total price including labor, $65.” WOW .. lets ALWAYS give God the FIRST CHANCE :)

Solomon gave God “first chance” in his life - look what God did for him !!

IKing 3:5-14 (NIV)

5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

6 Solomon answered, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 "Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.

8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.

9 SO GIVE YOUR SERVANT A DISCERNING HEART TO GOVERN YOUR PEOPLE AND TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN RIGHT AND WRONG. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this.

11 So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice,

12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.

13 Moreover, I will give you what you have NOT asked for-- both riches and honor-- so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life."

NEW TESTAMENT - Lazarus had died and JESUS is encouraging Martha to ignore current circumstances and have faith - “giving God first chance”.

John 11:35-46 (NIV)

35 Jesus wept.

36 Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

37 But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.

39 "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

40 Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!"

44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.

46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done.

Your Tithe is supposed to be “first chance” to God .. right off the top ! !

Prov 3:9-10 (NIV)

9 Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the FIRSTFRUITS OF ALL YOUR CROPS;

10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

THE WIDOW gave God “first chance”:

IKing 17:10-16 (NIV)

10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?"

11 As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."

12 "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread-- only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it-- and die."

13 Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. BUT FIRST MAKE A SMALL CAKE OF BREAD FOR ME FROM WHAT YOU HAVE AND BRING IT TO ME, and then make something for yourself and your son.

14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.'"

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.

16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

PUTTING GOD FIRST in our lives .. giving Him FIRST CHANCE:

Matt 10:37-40 (NIV)

37 "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me;

38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

40 "He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me.

Matt 6:25-34 (NIV)

25 "Therefore I tell you, (give God FIRST CHANCE in EVERYTHING) do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33 BUT SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.