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A Believer’s Response

By faith, a believer must accept totally the Word of God as inerrant, the standard for all truth and the soul authority for all belief and practice.

Our entire existence depends upon the “Authority of Scripture”

Result: Proper Priorities

As we come to submit toe the authority of the Word of God, one of the first areas that you will notice being impacted is your priorities.

Most people who believe have good motives and really do set out to please the Lord.  However, they may have not yet become convinced of a biblical priority system.  Because of this they are continually pressured by other people and circumstances to follow demands that are contrary to good, sound living.

Remember: priorities are established by our commitment to that priority, not necessarily how much time we spend doing it.

The greatest violations seem to com in two areas.  One is the family and our job outside the home.

Priorities:

GOD

MATE

FAMILY

MINISTRY

JOB

PRIORITY # 1- YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD

Your relationship to God affects all other priorities.  (Acts 20:28, I Timothy 4:16, II Peter 1:3-10)

PRIORITY # 2- YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR MATE

Your marriage is the ultimate illustration of Christ and His bride to be on earth.  (Ephesians 5:32-33) 

Quote by Martin Luther: The husband should hate to leave the home-The wife should hate to see him go.          

PRIORITY #3- YOUR RELATIONSHIP TO YOUR FAMILY

Rules must be understood and obeyed. (I Timothy 3:4-5 and 5:14, Ephesians 6:1-4)

PRIORITY #4- YOUR MINISTRY TO THE BODY OF CHRIST

We truly serve God by ministering to His people.  (Ephesians 4:11-12, Hebrews 10:23-25, I Cor. 12:13)

PRIORITY #5- YOUR JOB OUTSIDE THE HOME

Eternal matters always precede earthly matters. (Colossians 3:2, Matthew 6:33)

Event:                   Old Testament                New Testament

The birth of Abram—Gen.11:26                                

God’s call of Abram—Gen. 12:1-3                    Heb. 11:8

The entry into Canaan—Gen. 12:4-9

Abram in Egypt—Gen. 12:10-20

Lot separates from Abram—Gen. 13:1-18               Heb. 7:1-10

God’s covenant with Abraham—Gen. 15:1-21          Rom. 4:1-25, Gal. 3:6-25,Heb. 6:13-20

The birth of Ishmael—Gen . 16:1-16

Abraham promised a son by Sarah—Gen. 17:1-27         Rom. 4:18-25, Heb 11:11-12

Abraham intercedes for Sodom—Gen. 18:16-33

Lot saved and Sodom Destroyed—Gen. 19:1-38

The birth of Isaac—Gen. 21:1-7

Hagar and Ismael sent away—Gen. 21:8-21                 Gal. 4:21-31

Abraham Challenged to offer Isaac as sacrifice—Gen. 22:1-19        Heb.  11:17-19, Jas 2:20-24

The death of Sara—Gen. 23:1-20

The death of Abraham—Gen. 25:1-11

 Abram rescues Lot—Gen. !4:1-17

Abram pays tithes to Melchizedek—Gen. 14:18-24

Abram rescues Lot—Gen.

Abram in Egypt—Gen.

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Commemoration of Albrecht Durer, artise, 1528.

Oh God in heaven, have mercy on us! Lord Jesus Christ, interecede for your people, deliver us at the opportune time, perserve in us the true genuine Christian Faith, collect your scattered sheep with your voice, your divine Word as Holy Writ calls it.  Help us to recognize your voice, help us not to be allured by the madness of the world, so that we may never fall away from you, O Lord Jesus Christ.  Author: Albrecht Durer.

Albrecht Durer, the great German artist of the Northern Renaissance and friend of Erasmus and Martin Luther, was sympathetic toward the Reformation.  His realistic style reveals an evident appreciation of the Scriptures.  Although he was a master painter, he achieved popularity in his lifetime for his engravings.  many believe that his engravings are his greatest contributions to Western art.  Prints were made from these engravings, and for the first time in history men and women of ordinary means were able to purchase these prints and have great art in their own homes.

1707-1788–English clergyman, poet and hymn writer

“Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

At all the times you can

To all the people you can!”

“Best of all is, God is with us.”

“You have nothing to do but to save souls; therefore spend and be spent in this work.”

“The longer I live, the larger allowances I make for human infirmities.  I wxact more from myself and less from others.”

“Christ the Lord is risen to-day,” –Sons of men and angels say.–Ranise your joys and triumphs high;–Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply.  (Easter)a

“Hark the herald angels sing,–Glory to the new-born king.”–Peace on earth, and mercy mild,–God and sinners reconciled.!  (Christmas)

Lo! on narrow neck of land,–’Twixt two unbounded seas, I stand.–Secure, insensible  (Life)

A charge to keep I have,–A god to glorify:–A never-dying sould to save,–And fit it for the sky.  (soul)

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“So that you may approve the things that are excellent.”  Phillppians 1:10

1. Will it be spiritually profitable? (1 Cor. 6:12a)

2. Will it bring me into bondage? (1 Cor. 6:12b)

3. Will it build me up? (1 Cor. 10:23)

4. Will it build others up? (Rom. 14:19)

5. Will it help me be more like Christ? (1Jn. 2:6)

6. Will it help other Christians by its example? (1Cor. 8:9)

7. Will it slow me down in the race? (Heb. 12:1)

8. Will it draw me away from God‘s people? (Heb. 10:24-25)

9. Will it hypocritically cover my sin? (1 Pet. 2:16)

10. Will it glorify God? (1Cor. 10:31)

(Adapted from: Making the Hard Decisions Easy)