Priorities

Title: Priorities

Surprised to see an empty seat at the Super Bowl stadium, a diehard fan remarked about it to a woman sitting nearby. “It was my husband’s,” the woman explained, “But he died.” “I’m very sorry,” said the man. “Yet I’m really surprised that another relative, or friend, didn’t jump at the chance to take the seat reserved for him.”

“Beats me,” she said. “They all insisted on going to the funeral.”

Genesis 26:24-33

That night the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bless you and will increase the number of your descendants for the sake of my servant Abraham."

25Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD. There he pitched his tent, and there his servants dug a well.

26Meanwhile, Abimelech had come to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath his personal adviser and Phicol the commander of his forces. 27Isaac asked them, "Why have you come to me, since you were hostile to me and sent me away?"

28They answered, "We saw clearly that the LORD was with you; so we said, ’There ought to be a sworn agreement between us’--between us and you. Let us make a treaty with you 29that you will do us no harm, just as we did not molest you but always treated you well and sent you away in peace. And now you are blessed by the LORD."

30Isaac then made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. 31Early the next morning the men swore an oath to each other. Then Isaac sent them on their way, and they left him in peace.

32That day Isaac’s servants came and told him about the well they had dug. They said, "We’ve found water!" 33He called it Shibah, and to this day the name of the town has been Beersheba.

Isaac son of Abraham went up to Beersheeba I want you to notice his priorities.

1. Isaac built an alter there and called upon the name of the Lord

Isaac’s first priority where ever he went was to locate a good Bible believing Pentecostal church and worship with the other believers.

2. Isaac pitched his tent.

Isaac’s second priority was to his family. While God was most important in Isaac’s life, His family, His wife and then children was his main earthly concern.

that priority included

-taking care of his wives needs

-disciplining and leading the children in the faith

-working

3. There His servants Dug a well

Isaac’s third priority was toward mankind. In the desert a well was life, Life not only for his family and animals, but for anyone who traveled near by

His third priority was to refresh all those who came into his venue with life giving water.

PRAYER

1. Isaac built an alter there and called upon the name of the Lord Gen 26:25

A. IN ISAACS DAY THEY HAD NO CHURCH

The patriarch would go to a place, and there on the plane, he would make an accessible alter.

This would be the place where he would sacrifice to Jehovah, and the place would be consecrated for worship and prayer.

B. The modern day application of this priority is church

why do I say CHURCH

This first priority presupposes the knowledge of and faith in God

Don’t get me wrong.........God wants to be number 1 in your life

Jesus says That............

Luke 12:29-31

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. [30] For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. [31] But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

But being in church was the way Isaac displayed his faith in God

I think sometimes when we say God is most important

we do not realize what that means -- if he really is most important......

Matthew 19:28-30 Jesus says

"Every one who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters or father, or mother or children or lands for my names sake, will receive a hundred fold and inherit eternal life".

God wants to be first place in our lives, and that means we must forsake anything else that would take his place

1 Timothy 6:10 talks about the number one thing that desires to stand in the way of us putting God first.

It says "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, some people eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."

Money of course is not the only thing that we put before God

Putting God first means we will do everything within our power to display our faith in Christ like Isaac did.