GOD FIRST

In our day and time we have many distractions and many sources to turn to in time of need. We have the internet, we have the library, professionals, parents and other family members, friends, television. But, as Christians we have examples as well as directives from God as to who we are to go to FIRST.
This article is about going to God first. It seems that this would be axiomatic (self-evident, unquestionable,) but, how many of us really do that? How many of us turn to God when we have a need? When I say a need I mean a dire immediate need. A need so immediate and so grievous that your mind automatically flips to the avenue of fastest deliverance. For example, someone breaks a leg. Do they automatically think doctor, hospital, ambulance or do they turn to God for His healing. I have told you this before, if you don’t get deliverance from God then, by all means get to a doctor, but, give God His rightful place and go to Him first.
The reason that we don’t go to God first is that we have been trained, throughout our lives, that God is too busy, God doesn’t answer the small things, the signs, miracles and wonders that we read about in the Bible are no longer available. Those are lies from the pit of hell! God is as real, as concerned about you and me and as ready to deliver us as any time in the history of man. The reason we don’t get our deliverance is that we have been trained wrong. No one has taught us the conduit to God’s deliverance. That conduit is our ability to believe.
John 16:23 (KJV) 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
Mark 11:22-24 (KJV) 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God (literally: Believe God.) 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Believing is the KEY to power, to deliverance to seeing God work in this day and hour! There is a record in Mark about Jesus endeavoring to teach and help people in his own home town.
Mark 6:1-6 (KJV) 1 And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. 2 And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? 3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. 4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and
healed them. 6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.
Do you see what it says? They were offended in him and he didn’t do mighty works because of one thing, ONE THING, their unbelief! You can change your thinking around so that you EXPECT God to heal you, that you expect God’s deliverance, that you look forward to seeing God’s hand working in your life. All it takes is training.
Romans 12:2 (KJV) 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
You by the freedom of your will have to turn away from things of this world and get enough of the word of God in your mind so that you believe God and His promises to you.
In Mark there is a record of a man seeking deliverance for his son. I wish to take you through to this record to show you the steps to the man and his son’s deliverance.
Mark 9:14-27 (KJV) 14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. 15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. 16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; 18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
He brought his son to the disciples for deliverance. You would think if anybody could help they could, after all they were the Apostles, they were given power to cast out devils and heal the sick by Jesus, himself. But they couldn’t. Now the man is looking to Jesus for deliverance.
19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Most commentators say that Jesus was talking to the Apostles. He wasn’t. He was talking to the MAN.
20 And they brought him (the boy) unto him (Jesus): and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
Now, Jesus is going to get to the heart of the problem.
21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. 22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
The man needed deliverance as much as the child! Help US. This is the same cry in the hearts of men and women, today! Help us, Help me!
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
I am reaching out to you right now! God will help you. All things are possible to those that BELIEVE!
Everybody is responsible for their own deliverance. You are responsible to believe. The only people that aren’t responsible are children, the insane and dead people.
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. 26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
The Bible is not a book for everybody, it is a book for those who want to believe. It is impossible to please God without believing (Hebrews 11:6.) and it is filled with story after story of those who got their deliverance by one act. The act of believing.
God is ready, willing and able to deliver us. It is not up to God because His promises are yea and amen. It is up to each individual to rise up to the privilege of believing and appropriating God’s deliverance. What a privilege to put God first.