The Blessed Life Part 2 | But First: Putting God in His Rightful Place

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Luke 9:60-61 (NIV) Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.” Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

But First

Putting God in His Rightful Place

1. Put God first in my .

Psalm 5:3 (NIV) In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.

2. Put God first in my .

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV) So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

3. Put God first in my .

John 13:34-35 (NIV) A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.

4. Put God first in my .

Psalm 50:15 (NIV) And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.

5. Put God first in my .

Matthew 6:21 (NIV) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Deuteronomy 14:23 (LB) The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to put God first in your lives.

Tithing was never about ,

it was always about .

What is the tithe?

Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

Malachi 3:7 (NKJV) Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from My ordinances and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’ “

Malachi 3:8 (NKJV) Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

Malachi 3:9 (NKJV) You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.

Malachi 3:10 (NKJV) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

Malachi 311 (NKJV) “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts;

Malachi 3:12 (NKJV) “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.

Tithing

1. Removes the curse.
2. Rebukes the devourer.
3. Restores the blessing.
4. Tithing is a .

Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV) Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

1. Tithing is .

Genesis 14:18-20 (NKJV) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all.

Genesis 28:22 (NIV) This stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.

Leveticus 27:30 (NIV) A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Deuteronomy 26:1-2 (NIV) When you have entered the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance and have taken possession of it and settled in it, take some of the firstfruits of all that you produce from the soil of the land the Lord your God is giving you and put them in a basket. Then go to the place the Lord your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name.

Deuteronomy 26:13-15 (NKJV) Then you shall say before the Lord your God: ‘I have removed the holy tithe from my house, and also have given them to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, according to all Your commandments which You have commanded me; I have not transgressed Your commandments, nor have I forgotten them. I have not eaten any of it when in mourning, nor have I removed any of it for an unclean use, nor given any of it for the dead. I have obeyed the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that You have commanded me. Look down from Your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people

Matthew 23:23 (NLT) What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.

2. Tithing is .

Malachi 3:8 (NIV) “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me!

You’re God of the

opportunity to .

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness…