Letting God Lead: Prioritizing His Will in 2024

I'll pray for your offering. Pray for your businesses. Pray for your jobs. Pray for the economy that surrounds you. How many of you know that we may live in the global economy? We may live in the American economy. We may live in the Texas and Louisiana economy, but how many of you know the Bible says that we're in this world, but we're not of it? Ultimately, we're in God's economy. Amen. Amen. And so a lot of, I hope nothing bad happens to our economy, but how many of you know that that a lot of times gets dictated by the natural mind a lot and the natural people who control those things, but how many of you know the natural man can do all that he wants to do to control the economy of the world, but that doesn't affect the economy of heaven? [00:40:01] (43 seconds)


But we're a part of God's economy, and we have got to get that, and God works with this economy, no doubt, and we believe God for that. But we can stand in faith, and we can say that the Word of God says when we bring the tithe into the storehouse that He opens up the windows of heaven and pours blessing upon us in our life. Room not enough to receive, it says. It also says it would rebuke the devourer for your sake. Devourer is a part of when the economy goes bad, that the devourer could be rebuked upon your life. He says don't come and give grudgingly or of necessity, because God loves a cheerful giver, and He's able to make all grace abound towards you. He says He's able to supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Amen? [00:40:57] (41 seconds)


I hope that your new year is already going well, going good. And you know, what better way to start off the new year than with a fresh commitment to put God first in our life. Amen. I want to start off with maybe a series. We'll see. But it's just a message entitled Let God Lead. Amen? Amen. Let God lead. And you say, Well, I just want God to do whatever he wants to do. That's kind of the passive aggressive approach to things. And it's not just let God do whatever he wants to do when he wants to do it. And I'm going to do my thing. And if he wants me to do it, then then he'll make me do it. That's that's not correct. That's not a way to put yourself under leadership. And when you put yourself under leadership with somebody, you have to let them lead. Amen. [00:45:33] (44 seconds)


Romans, the 12th chapter verses one through two, Paul said this to the Romans. He says, I beseech you. That could be another word that we can, we could exchange for I'm begging you. I beseech you. It's, it's, it's stronger than just an ask. I'm beseeching you therefore brethren by the mercies of God. So this is a, a, almost a begging request by, by the mercy of God, I'm asking you, I'm begging you to do this. And the thing that he asked you to do is to present your bodies as a living sacrifice. [00:46:29] (31 seconds)


And it's hard to fight things that are not priority, or not things that God would have us to do when it's normal for everybody else. And what looks abnormal is you actually offering up your body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable and pleasing to him. But he says, he says, and do not be conformed to this world. Here's the key to not being conformed to the world. It says, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. [00:53:11] (27 seconds)


And if we never do that, then we're always going to be dancing that dance of what is right and what is wrong. Can I do this and still be a Christian? Can I, can I, be a part of this and still be saved? Well, you're dancing a dance that you're never going to win. What you have to begin to say is, I'm not going to be conformed, but I will let the word of God transform my mind. And that way you can be in the world, but not find yourself of the world. [00:53:37] (24 seconds)


And so God and Moses are meeting so that Moses can get the plan for the people that had cried out to God to be rescued, and God rescued them, and they only wanted to be rescued halfway. They didn't want to go the whole way. So God's so good and God's so merciful, he said, well, if you're going to stay out there... We're going to have to have some rules and regulations. And so Moses is trying to hear from God for instruction, but the people don't want to wait for those rules and instructions. So it says, verse 1, Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron and said to him, Come, make us gods that shall go before us. [01:07:03] (41 seconds)


Today we don't have a man that hears from God for us. You say, that's why we hired you, Pastor. You better not have hired me to hear from God for you. You better not have hired me anyway. We better know that God called me here, and you believe it, and I believe it. But I'm not here to hear from God for you. I can help instruct you, and help where I can, and help you walk through things. But I'm not here to hear from God for you. Have leadership that God's given me for the direction of this whole body, maybe. But that's not even on my own. Amen. [01:17:11] (45 seconds)


Today we have the Holy Spirit on the inside. He hears from God. And we're to be taught of Him. We're to be led of Him. John 16, 13 says this, This sounds vaguely familiar about what Moses was doing. When Moses got the word from God, he wasn't going to come down and speak on Moses' authority. He wasn't going to come down and speak on Moses' authority. He wasn't going to come down and speak on Moses' authority. When he, the Spirit of truth, has come. This is Jesus talking before the death, burial, and resurrection. [01:18:11] (38 seconds)


The only sure way to know that what you do and the role that you play in others' lives is a blessing is to put God first and follow his plans, his purposes, and promptings over the demands, desires, and obligations of the people around you. Many times, we find ourselves on the defensive side of the ball. In life, we find ourselves on the defensive side of the ball. Now, when I was in high school, they always wanted me to be a pulling guard, and I didn't want to be a pulling guard. I wanted to be a defensive tackle. Why, you may ask? Because pulling guards did not get their name called over the intercom. [01:35:50] (44 seconds)


The way to make sure that God is in control of your life. No matter what situation you find yourself in is to put him first, to allow his word and his spirit to get to him. Spirit to lead and guide you in the truth. You know, and that's called loving God with everything. You know, that's what Jesus said, the two commandments. The one is the greatest, but the second is just like it. The first one was to love the Lord your God with everything. When you put him first, that's what you're doing. You're loving him with everything. [01:36:48] (31 seconds)