114 - Let Jesus Be First in Your Life#
114 - Let Jesus Be First in Your Life
(JP Text Group - Organized by Happy Angels)
Colossians 1:13-19:
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.
Silently pray for today’s gathering and place your own issues in Jesus' hands first.
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank and praise You, Lord, for this time when Your children gather here to listen to Your words. As we share, the Holy Spirit will guide us, giving us Your words, which are full of power and hope. We live in this world without losing hope because Jesus always brings us hope. When we see Jesus, we are filled with faith. Every time we come before Jesus, You always bring us comfort and encouragement. As a new week begins, we dedicate this time to You, letting You be first in our lives. Bless this time, we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen!
The topic of sharing is: Let Jesus Be First in Your Life.
Brothers and sisters, how can Jesus be first in our lives? We cannot see this God or touch Him. That is to say, after hearing today’s message, how should we apply it when we return home? What should we do in our lives or how should we think to let Jesus be first in our lives? What kind of message is considered a good message? It is one that, after you hear it, you know how to apply it when you return home. Such a message will have a significant impact on your life and living.
We need to understand how to let Jesus be first in my life. You can test yourself this way: You want Jesus to be first in your life, but how do you know if He is? I believe in Jesus too. Brothers and sisters, when problems arise in your life, what is your first reaction? That reaction is the first place in your life!
First place means the top priority. What do you think of first? For example, if you have a very lovely son and a friend gives you a beautifully packaged snack, what do you think of first? You wouldn’t say, “I’ll eat this first and give the leftovers to my son.” Your first thought would be, “How beautiful! I want my son to try this.” That is your first reaction, proving who is first in your life? Your son, that’s right, very well said.
Brothers and sisters, how many things have Jesus in the first place in our lives? If a child gets sick, what do you think of first? Some might say, “We have cold medicine at home, let’s give it to the child quickly.” This proves that Jesus is not in the first place in your life right now.
Some people think of rushing to the hospital, which also proves that Jesus is not in the first place in your life. It doesn’t mean that those who think this way don’t have Jesus in their hearts; it’s a matter of whether Jesus is in the first place in your life. It’s not that you can’t go to the hospital when you’re sick; it’s just what you think of first.
If the same situation arises, and your first thought is to pray for the child and then take him to the hospital, that also proves that Jesus is in the first place in your life. Amen! How can we adjust our thinking to let Jesus be our first priority in life? If you haven’t yet made Jesus first in everything, it’s okay; come and learn to know Jesus Christ, and you will be willing to place Him in the first place in your life.
Because God especially desires that everything about you is blessed. Our God has such a wish; He hopes you are healthy and strong, full of vitality, and filled with passion. Amen! May the brothers and sisters in our church be passionate people. When there are other churches or newcomers, let people feel that we are very passionate, and this passionate power does not come from ‘me,’ but from Jesus.
Jesus is a very passionate person. Wherever He goes, there are many followers, but the high priest does not have so many followers because the high priest always condemns people and points out others' problems. Although Jesus also pointed out some people's problems, like the Pharisees and the proud, He was still full of passion and wanted to help them; that is the heart of our Jesus.
Today’s sharing is that many people do not know whether Jesus is first in their lives. When you understand this, it will greatly help your life. Think about it, who is the master of this world? Who created the world? It was created by God. Amen!
The first point of sharing: Jesus is the First of All Things.
The content we just read in verse 15: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for by Him all things were created.
Here, “the Son” refers to our Jesus Christ, and “all things” refers to everything, right? The universe and everything in it were created by Jesus Christ, through His word, right? Thank the Lord!
Such a powerful God, when creating this world, is there any law? For example, will the sun come out today or not? Could such a situation occur? The song you just sang says that the sun will rise regardless of whether it is cloudy or rainy because this is God’s law, allowing the earth to revolve around the sun continuously. It will not be that today the earth revolves around the sun, and tomorrow it revolves around the moon. What God created is orderly. Amen!
Believers in Jesus should not deny science; science merely discovers a small part of God’s work. Scientists have researched ion movement, quantum movement, and some laws. The meaning of these laws is that they are unchanging, which precisely proves that our God is an unchanging God. Because God is unchanging, what He created also operates under unchanging laws. We need not worry about whether we will see the sun tomorrow. What if the earth stops revolving around the sun? You never need to worry about that. Because God is still in control of this world, our Jesus Christ is still in control of this world.
A few days ago, someone asked me a question: “Teacher, there are more and more disasters in the world, more and more deaths, the economy is not good, and various problems are arising. We need to pray urgently for our country. What if the economy collapses?” I said, “God is still alive.”
Today, God is still alive. When we pray, God will hear our prayers, and He will change the situation. Does that mean if we don’t pray, God won’t change it? No, because God loves us and has prepared everything for us. Even if we are disobedient, God still allows this world to operate, right? It’s not that because you are a bad person, you will lose your attractiveness in this world. If gravity were to disappear, where would we go?
Brothers and sisters, the first place in the world is still our Jesus Christ! God is still in control of everything. Amen! The matters in your home are also under God’s control. When you understand that the master of all things in this world is our God, and this God loves you very much, you will have confidence. The economic laws of the world are in Jesus Christ, health is in Jesus’ hands, and life is in Jesus Christ.
You need not worry about these things; just tell our God that He reigns in your life and will prepare the way for you. Thank the Lord! You just need to live according to God’s laws. Whether you believe in Jesus or not, it is undeniable that you must live according to God’s laws. Science has developed very well; it can predict that there will be an earthquake of a certain magnitude in a certain place. Can it change such things? Can it change or prevent an earthquake from happening? It cannot. The authority over the world is still in Jesus’ hands. Jesus is the first of all things. Amen! He is still governing this world with His commands.
The following says, “Whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
All things consist in Him, meaning that everything today is still in God’s hands. Amen, so you need not worry. God is still in control of this world. When you understand this, you need not worry, and you will have faith in God. Amen!
Verse 15: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Someone might ask, “What does your God look like? Can I see your God?” You should tell them that when you see Jesus, you see our God. So where is our Jesus? If you want to understand what kind of God Jesus is, you only need to read the Bible. Amen! It describes Jesus very clearly.
For example, if you want to understand Hitler, who is already dead, how can you understand this person? You can read his autobiography. After reading the books written about him, you will know what kind of person he was. Today, Jesus has returned to heaven. How can we understand Jesus? It’s simple: read the Bible, and you will see Jesus. When you see what Jesus did, that is the heart of our God.
Seeing what kind of heart Jesus had while on earth is the heart of our Father. Everything is in Him. When you have such a law, your family, your life, your finances, your career, and even your life will all change as long as you find this law. You will be in Jesus Christ, and you can receive all the abundance. What we need to do is discover God’s work and live according to God’s laws. Amen! Knowing that Jesus is first in your life will change everything. Everyone is familiar with Newton, right? He discovered the law of universal gravitation, and he is a very interesting person.
Let me demonstrate for you. One day, Newton, who particularly liked to meditate, sat under an apple tree. This is just an example; it doesn’t have to be an apple tree; it could be any other tree. Newton was meditating on God’s wonders and grace when suddenly something hit him on the head. So, what was his first reaction? I want to ask the brothers and sisters, if it were you, what would your first reaction be? You might say, “How frustrating! Why did something hit my head?”
Similarly, while Newton was thinking under the tree, an apple fell and hit him on the head. It hurt, but Newton’s first thought was of Jesus because, in Newton’s heart, Jesus was first. He didn’t think about the pain; he thought, “Why did this apple fall down instead of flying up?” It turned out to be God’s grace. This earth has a tremendous energy that pulls everything down, and thus he discovered the law of universal gravitation. Isn’t that wonderful?
If you let Jesus be first in your life, the way you see problems will change. Many of us have been hit by apples, but why didn’t you discover this law? It’s because Newton had already placed God first in his life. Whenever such a thing happened, he thought about God’s grace. Why did this happen? Where is God’s wonder? When you learn this, you will truly find joy in everything. Amen! Thank the Lord! What is Jesus like? If you let Jesus be first in your life, everything will change.
Acts 10:38: How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Do you see our Jesus? Jesus is such a God; wherever He goes, He is always doing good. Our God is also a good God; there is no evil in Him at all. Amen! If you believe in this God, what is there to worry about? Just like if your client has no deceit and always treats people well, would you still doubt them? Of course not. But people are not like that; we worry about being deceived. You think this person might play tricks or deceive you because there is evil in your heart.
But you must believe in our God. There is not a trace of evil in God. When you see everything Jesus did on earth, it was all for the good of others. Amen! Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. This means that when there is illness, we can rely on this God to heal us because He loves us. Amen!
The following explains why such things happen with Jesus: Because God was with Him! Does this God dwell with you? Yes, because the scripture just said how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. This means Jesus had such power because He had the power of the Holy Spirit within Him. You also have the Holy Spirit within you; the spirit within you is the same as the spirit within Jesus, both are the Holy Spirit.
When you believe in Jesus, God places this power within you. Let Jesus be first in everything, and you will be able to use this power. No matter what happens, when a leper comes to Jesus, He thinks of the Holy Spirit’s power. My Father has the complete ability to heal him. He doesn’t say, “Wow, your illness is so serious!” He thinks of God’s power and believes that the Father will surely have the ability to heal him. When the storm comes and the wind is very strong, Jesus does not say, “Wow, what a powerful storm!” Recently, there was a big typhoon in the Zhejiang area, and trains and planes were stopped because the wind was too strong. When we see this, we might say, “Wow, how powerful! I feel so small in the face of this storm.” But that’s not how Jesus thinks. In Jesus’ heart, the Father is first. He knows the Father has the complete ability to calm the storm. Amen!
When God is first in your life, everything looks different. Thank and praise the Lord! Jesus never oppressed anyone or deprived anyone of anything. Jesus once spoke harsh words to some people. For example, He told a young ruler, “Go sell all that you have and come follow me.” Actually, when Jesus said this to him, it was to let him receive a more abundant blessing. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, when five thousand people were waiting to eat but there were only five loaves and two fish, Jesus saw the Father’s abundant supply because the Father was always first in His life. He did not see how big the problem was but saw that the Father’s supply far exceeded the current problem. Therefore, Jesus could perform such miracles. Even today, He still hopes you receive His blessings. He hopes you understand His power and then rely on Him. When you encounter things, think of Jesus first. Amen! When you do this, you will find that your life becomes very easy.
Verse 15 tells us specifically, The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for by Him all things were created.
We already know that all things were created by Jesus and that Jesus loves you. You should believe that the center of this world is not you and me, but Jesus Christ. Jesus is the center of this world. Amen! To this day, Jesus still upholds all things with His mighty word. The world can exist today only because He upholds all things with His omnipotence. If one day God says this world should end, it will be gone as soon as He speaks.
Did God exert a lot of effort when creating this world? No, He created all things in this world with His words. Likewise, He can make this world disappear with His words. Understanding this, you will know that we are in God’s blessings! Because your life can walk with God’s life. Amen!
There is a God who loves us very much, and His name is Jesus. This God’s power is so great that even the universe was created by Him. Does He not understand this world? He understands it very well. Do you think that now the economy is very bad, and Jesus would say, “Wow, this is hard to solve”? Will such a problem arise? It will never happen. Economic problems, raising children, marriage problems, and all interpersonal relationship problems, Jesus has ways to solve them. You just need to call upon Him. You know He is the creator of all things, and we are the created. Everything was created for Jesus. As long as you follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and live according to God’s laws, you will be blessed. Amen!
Business people should believe that business has its laws. Many years later, it will repeat itself because this is what the book of Ecclesiastes tells us. What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun. If you discover this law, you will be the victor of the world. Amen! Why is Newton so famous? It’s because that fruit hit his head. He thought of God, and as a result, he became a very famous physicist.
Let God’s wisdom be in you, discover God’s power, and just follow Him. Amen! You will be blessed. Science has indeed helped us a lot. They have researched many things and discovered in the laboratory that we should live this way to avoid losses. Is this correct? It is beneficial to us. But I want to say that you need to know God, and you will surpass the things that science does not know.
Some things can be researched and analyzed by scientists, but not everything can be done. For example, do scientists believe in the existence of love? Can they analyze love? Where is love? It cannot be quantified. Yes, but it is indeed something that exists. Do you have love inside you? Where is it? You say it is everywhere, but which part loves your wife? Your mouth, your ears, your heart? If you take this person’s heart away, will this person stop loving? If this person changes their heart, will they be done? Has their love been taken away? Is that how it is? No!
Some people have artificial hearts. These things are invisible, but they exist. Amen! All things were created by Him. The visible things we know are created by God, and the invisible things are also created by God. They are also under His control. Amen! Just like the wind, whether believers or non-believers, everyone knows the existence of the wind, but has anyone ever seen the wind? Probably not. Scientists cannot study the wind; they can only see that something comes out and when they touch it, they say, “Oh, there is wind.” You only see the traces of the wind. When you see the leaves blowing this way, you know the wind is blowing this way; you only see the traces of the wind! This is what people have discovered.
I hope brothers and sisters discover God’s operating tracks in daily life. Amen! God’s operating tracks are all blessings! The Bible has written it. I hope you read the Bible every day and see God’s operating tracks in your life. If you live according to these tracks, you will surely be blessed.
Let me give you a very practical example. In Qingdao, there is the Olympic Sailing Center, and sailing boats rely on wind power. Think about this: if the wind is blowing this way today, as long as you follow the direction of the wind, you can easily sail the boat out. If you go against the wind, using all your strength, sweating profusely, the boat will stop moving, and problems will arise. This is the problem of Christians.
Many Christians believe in the Lord but find that everything is not going smoothly. They frown every day and sigh because they have not discovered God’s laws and are still relying on themselves. Clearly, the wind is blowing this way, but you are working hard in the opposite direction. The more you work hard, the more tired you become, and you become discouraged, saying, “Forget it, I don’t believe anymore.” Just like this sailing boat, while others’ boats sail smoothly, you are going against the current. You say the boat has a problem, or you say you are not suitable for sailing. In fact, you just used the wrong direction.
Brothers and sisters, learn to use the power of the Holy Spirit in your life; everything will be very simple. When you understand that all things were created by Jesus, if we walk in God’s direction, everything becomes very simple. A sailing boat sailing with the wind is very simple. You can dance on it without any problem because it does not require your strength but the power of the wind. Amen! The wind in the Bible symbolizes the Holy Spirit; you just need to follow the power of the Holy Spirit.
Do you know that God is willing to heal you? You tell the Holy Spirit, “I know You are willing to heal me; please fill me with Your power and let this illness leave!” It’s that simple. You are not trying to shout and scare the illness away. Many people shout loudly when praying, thinking that the louder the voice, the greater the power. But that’s not how it works! The Holy Spirit is gentle but full of power! You cannot hear Him or see Him, but the power that comes from Him is indeed great. Amen! In life, learn to let Jesus be the center of your life because He is the first of all things. Since everything is under Jesus’ control, when we are willing to obey Jesus and the Holy Spirit, everything becomes simple.
How exactly do we use this in life?
Let me ask the brothers and sisters a question: What is the purpose of work? Why do you go to work?
To earn money, to sustain life.
Now let me ask a second question: What is the purpose of earning money?
To live, to have a better life, or to save some money when young so that there is security when old. Or to earn more money when young so that there is some security when sick; insurance salespeople will tell you this.
But I want to say, does working hard guarantee a secure life? I mean working hard, not someone who works three days and rests two days. If you work hard, does your life have a certain guarantee? Not necessarily!
Did the earthquake happen in Nepal? I saw a news report that said: In a village, almost everyone sold their kidneys to improve their living conditions. They relied on selling kidneys to live, but this time they were completely disappointed because the earthquake collapsed their houses, and now they have nothing. They used to rely on selling kidneys to maintain their lives, but when faced with external forces, these plans became useless. Brothers and sisters, if we work for life, you will often complain. If making money is for your life to be secure or to live better, even if life is better than before, you will still have many complaints and dissatisfaction.
What is the problem? What is first in your life that is causing the problem? We need to guide brothers and sisters correctly and renew our thoughts. The purpose of our work is for Jesus. The scripture we just read says that everything was created through Him and for Him. Everything is for Jesus. If your work is for Jesus, to glorify Jesus, everything will be different.
If your boss scolds you, you will not be angry because you are working for Jesus. If you are working to make money and find that your boss shortchanged you a hundred dollars, you will curse him all night. Knowing that you are working for Jesus, making money for Jesus, raising children for Jesus, and helping others for Jesus, everything is for Jesus. Let Jesus be the first in your life, and what you do will be very valuable. Moreover, every day will be joyful, and your life will be abundant.
Verse 19: For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell.
This refers to Jesus. If you tell Jesus, “Lord, I want to earn a lot of money; I am making money for You,” God will grant it to you. Amen! Can earning a lot of money really guarantee that it will be enough when you are old? It cannot. Some people say, “I have paid for retirement insurance.” Can you be sure that the retirement insurance will be enough when you are sick?
But I tell you: Jesus is your health, Jesus is your wealth, He is your daily supply. If you live this way, you will not worry every day about saving an extra ten thousand dollars to spend more when you are old. You do not need to live like that. You will enjoy God’s abundant blessings every day, and your life will be different because everything was created through Jesus. Jesus can give you anew, and everything was created for Him. We live for Jesus. When life turns around, your economy, interpersonal relationships, your clients, and everything will be turned around by God, no longer relying on yourself.
When you understand this, it will be as simple as sailing with the wind. Just like healing others, you only need to lay your hands on this person and say, “I command the disease to leave you in the name of Jesus Christ!” This is the Holy Spirit doing the healing work. Amen! I just use words to speak the Holy Spirit’s words to this person, and the Holy Spirit begins to do this. It is not by our own efforts, trying to heal quickly; that is useless. We are not half-immortals. Only half-immortals do those flashy things. The Holy Spirit has great power. Amen!
It does not matter how loud your voice is. When you understand that everything is done for Jesus, you become one with Him. Everything Jesus did on earth was done to glorify the Father. Jesus had no lack on earth. When Jesus did everything to glorify the Father, He performed many miracles, and the apostles did the same!
We do not do things to make money or to live well; Jesus can give you all of that. As long as you make Him the first in your life, everything will be different. I hope everything we do in our church is for Jesus. Our work is for Jesus. My performance in the company is the best. When others ask me how I can do so well in such difficult times, I say it is because Jesus Christ is helping me. Because you are doing it for Jesus, everything will be different. Moreover, you will have someone to rely on every day, knowing that Jesus is helping you. Hallelujah!
Discover this law; as long as you follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, you will become harmonious with Him. Understand that Jesus loves you deeply. He is willing to share His blessings with you and manifest this blessing through you. Every time we talk about Jesus, our hearts are filled with peace. Every time we discuss Jesus, we are filled with faith because Jesus’ words always bring you comfort and faith. Thank the Lord!
When talking about His love, know that His love never ceases. We shared this last time; this never-ceasing love is still upon me today. Amen! Because Jesus loves us, He heals you. Because Jesus loves you, He wants to bless you financially. Because Jesus loves you, He wants to restore your family. This is all because Jesus loves you. How much does He love us? The specific manifestation is that He is willing to lay down His life for us.
An important aspect of letting Jesus be first in life is the issue of marriage.
This is an unavoidable moral issue for everyone. When Jesus is first in your family, your marriage is stable. Who established marriage? It was established by God. If your marriage lacks God and lacks Jesus, it is very likely to break. The divorce rate today is very high. Three years ago, I mentioned that the divorce rate in Beijing was fifty-one percent; now it is even higher. Why do I mention this?
A marriage without Jesus is extremely dangerous. Some celebrities get married and divorce just a few days later. Sometimes it is quite strange; for example, one likes sweet soy milk, and the other likes salty soy milk, and they divorce because of that. This is quite ridiculous. Why? If there is no love in marriage and you focus on each other’s problems, the longer time goes on, the more problems arise, and eventually, you break up and live separately.
But when Jesus is present in life, you love each other. Amen! What is the characteristic of love? It is willing to give for the other. If the whole family believes in Jesus, the wife loves the husband and is willing to give for him, and the husband loves the wife and is willing to think of her, can a third party intrude into this family? How could that happen? If we want our marriage to be stable and not let a third party intrude, we cannot do without Jesus. How can you maintain it?
To stabilize your marriage, it is best to have your unbelieving spouse believe in Jesus quickly. Tell them that believing in Jesus will stabilize our marriage. Look at how Abraham loved his wife even when he was old. Thank God! They are our example because they lived for the Lord. When both of you live for the Lord, your relationship will be very close. Just like the Song of Solomon describes how much Jesus loves us, if you receive this love, who can separate you in your married life?
Know how much Jesus loves you, and use this love to love your husband, children, and family, and you will always be together, with your hearts connected. Because it is the love of Jesus that connects you. Amen! This is what we need to understand in Christ. The same goes for marriage; let Jesus be the first in your marriage, and your marriage will definitely be stable. Amen, thank the Lord!
Another issue is the church.
Verse 18: He is also the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
The head of the church is Jesus Christ. Amen! We are a church centered on the words of Jesus Christ. Before each gathering, we ask everyone to raise their Bibles and say, “This is my standard of faith,” meaning we remind ourselves at all times that what the teacher says is not the standard, nor is what a deacon or a pastor who has preached for many years says the standard. Only the Bible is our standard of faith!
When we make Jesus’ words our standard, everything becomes different. He is the head of the church. What is the church? The church is not a building; this house is not the church. The church is a group of people, a group of people redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Amen! We are all in Jesus Christ, bought back by Him.
Verse 13: He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
This is our current identity. In other words, today, a person who lives with Jesus as the center of their life should first understand that God has saved them from the power of darkness. I am truly afraid when brothers and sisters say, “Teacher, hurry to my house to pray for me; there are demons in my house.” Who is greater? Is the devil greater or is Jesus greater? If you know that God has transferred you from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His beloved Son, you will say, “I now command in the name of Jesus Christ that all dark powers leave my house. You have no right to stay here because Jesus, my new Lord, is the first of all things. I am His church!”
What is the smallest church? Actually, two or three people can be called a church.
Matthew 18:20: For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.
The smallest church is the family. For example, Liu Renqing and Zhang Rong, the two of you are a church. The church is here, representing Jesus here. Amen! Jesus is here, which means the devil is definitely not here. The more you meditate on this, the more powerful it becomes. Some dark things will not take root here; some negative things will not be here because Jesus is here.
He always brings us hope and always solves our problems. Let Jesus be first in your family. The two of you, the smallest church, let Jesus be the head of the church, and everything will be different. What you do will always be blessed by God. Amen! I hope you let Jesus be first in your family, let Jesus Christ be first in your interpersonal relationships. When you get up, the first thing you should think of is Jesus and how much Jesus loves your family. Meditate on this, and everything will be different when you go out. Amen, thank the Lord!
If you do not do this and rely on yourself to live, problems will arise. Let me tell you an example from the Bible: There is a person in the Bible who lived by himself and had everything. I have told the brothers and sisters before, does having a lot of money guarantee that you will be carefree when you are old? Not necessarily. This person in the Bible is Solomon.
When Solomon was young, he asked God for wisdom. God not only gave him wisdom but also gave him wealth, status, and honor. Solomon’s life on earth was a model for everyone. I mean for those who do not believe. Think about it; as a man, if you could achieve what Solomon did, you would die without regrets. Do you know what Solomon had? Some people know; it seems some have read Ecclesiastes. Solomon said in the Bible, “Whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure.” What do you want to see? Money. Every year, a large amount of gold was brought to Solomon’s country.
In Solomon’s time, silver was not considered anything. When did silver not count as money? When I was young, silver was still valuable, but now silver is not worth much. However, three thousand years ago, in Solomon’s kingdom, silver was not considered anything; gold was the main thing. Solomon wanted to see ivory carvings, and every year several ships of ivory were brought to his country. Ivory products were very expensive, and Solomon enjoyed these three thousand years ago.
Solomon wanted to plant flowers, raise grass, and do whatever he liked. Some people say, “I have luxury cars, like Lamborghinis.” How many cars would satisfy you? Solomon had an entire garden filled with his ‘Lamborghinis.’ Horses were the best means of transportation at that time. He bought the best horses from Egypt every year. That was Solomon. In the end, Solomon said that these material things were not enough; one wife was not enough, so he married a thousand. He ate what he wanted, saw what he wanted, and played what he wanted. What else could a man in the world desire? Nothing more.
Brothers and sisters, what do people want to pursue? Solomon was the highest standard. When Solomon was old, he said, “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. There is nothing new under the sun.” Why? Because after decades, people will not remember who I was. I will grow old, and I can take nothing from this world. What can I take from such a vast kingdom? Today, if you have a hundred houses, what does it matter? When you die, can you take them with you?
But when we live with Jesus at the center, everything is completely different. The Bible says, “There is nothing new under the sun; all is vanity.” But there is something above the sun. Amen! We should not live under the sun; we should live with the eyes of faith above the sun. Above the sun is our God in control.
Do not let your gaze be under the sun, “Wow, gold, silver, beautiful women!” These are all limited and will disappear one day. But the God above the sun, what He gives you will exist forever. We work for the Lord. Your reward is stored in heaven. On earth, God will also let you gain. In this life, you will receive a hundredfold, and in the next life, eternal life. Eternal life refers to the future reward. If you earn money for the Lord and use money to help the church and help the poor, God will say your money will be stored in the heavenly bank, and in the future, you will enjoy what you have labored for forever. When Solomon discovered this, it was already too late because he was old and frail, and he discovered this problem.
So he warned future generations, saying that without God, everything is empty. I do not want my brothers and sisters to live like this. I hope you will start today to let Jesus be the first in your life and live centered on Jesus Christ. Amen! I also believe that those of you who came today have already made Jesus Christ first in your lives. Today, it is raining heavily, and the wind is strong, but you left the warmth of your home to come to church, which means you have already placed Jesus first. Amen!
Many people are doing business, and non-believers say, “Look at this group of people; they really have problems. They don’t make money on such a good day and still go to church.” But you know, the source of blessings is not determined by them; it is our God who blesses you. Amen! When you make Jesus Christ first in your life every day, everything is under Jesus’ responsibility for you—your children, family, work, business, and everything. Jesus will personally take responsibility. Thank the Lord!
Jin Pingliang had many relatives come to his house, but he and his wife came to church. The two of them placed Jesus first in their lives; otherwise, they should have accompanied their relatives. Thank the Lord! When we put Jesus Christ first, we will see Jesus’ blessings flowing out from our homes. Amen! Thank the Lord!
At that time, Solomon said, “I looked, and I did whatever I wanted to do, but I was still not satisfied.” Only when he found God did he find the answer. Because at that time, it was all about “me, me, me,” living centered on himself, he was bound to be frustrated because he was always dissatisfied! But when you center your life on Jesus, you will often be satisfied. This was Paul’s determination. Paul said, “I have learned to be content in whatever state I am. I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” This kind of heart is given by God. Amen!
Brothers and sisters, I do not want to see when the family’s economic conditions are poor, the two people often quarrel. Even if they work hard to earn money and improve their lives, they still quarrel. This is not the life we want. Starting today, let Jesus be the first in your family, let Jesus be the first in your heart, and let Jesus be the first in what you do. Everything will be different.
Let me give you an example: Jesus’ mother was Mary. How did she give birth to such a smart son? Was it because Mary was very smart? Did she learn all the wisdom in the world and give birth to a particularly smart son? No, the Bible says very clearly that when Jesus was very young, the Father was already taking care of Him. Amen! Mary knew that this child was different from a young age; the angel personally told her that God would take responsibility for Him. When Jesus was very young, the Bible says, “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.” Amen!
If you want your child to succeed, do not tell him, “Child, if you get into a good school, like Peking University, you will definitely succeed.” Not necessarily! Right? Just place him in God’s hands, and God will take responsibility for him. God knows where he is best. God knows when to use his wisdom. Just like Newton, when the apple hit him, he became famous. Do not have such burdens. If your child did not score a hundred but only ninety-nine, do not get upset. That one point was just a careless mistake… Don’t think like that!
You need to see the work God is doing in him; that is God’s inheritance for you. Amen! Place him in Jesus’ hands. Let Jesus be first in your child’s life. Of course, you need to teach him what you should teach. Let him know this God. Amen! Place everything in Jesus’ hands. Let Jesus be the first in your life, the first in your life, and everything will be different. I look forward to your testimonies. Thank and praise the Lord!
When Jesus is first in your life, you will have peace. You are not trying hard to become someone; you will live out the most carefree you, the most restful you. Amen! Because you know you are in Christ, God is particularly willing to place all His abundance in Christ, and you happen to be in this abundance. Do not care how bad your current environment is. When I place Jesus in the first place in my life, Jesus has the power to solve these problems. When Moses asked God, “What should I say when the Israelites ask me what Your name is?”
God said, “I AM WHO I AM!” The meaning of “I AM WHO I AM” in Chinese is: “I am, I just am…”
What does it mean? If you have an illness, what you need is healing, not a doctor! We need to adjust our thinking and must not say it wrong. When you are sick, do not say, “I need a doctor.” A doctor cannot heal all your diseases; what you need is healing, and where is healing? It is in Jesus! If your interpersonal relationships are very poor, what you need now is Jesus to restore your good relationships. Amen!
When you are weak, Jesus says, “I am your strength.” When you are sick, Jesus says, “I am your healer.” When you are troubled, Jesus says, “I am your comforter.” This is “I AM…” Every day, think about what you need, and He is that. Every morning when you get up, think about what you need, and just fill it in.
David said, “The Lord is my rock.” He particularly needed a rock. The Lord is my fortress because he had no place to go. The Lord is my refuge because someone was pursuing him. The Lord is my ever-present help in trouble; when he was about to be caught, he escaped. David knew “I AM, I just am…” The latter part is very important.
Brothers and sisters, in David’s eyes, God was his first place. I also hope that in your lives, Jesus is your first place. This way, every day will be different. You will enjoy His abundance in Christ and enjoy the rest He gives you.
Let us pray together, expressing what is in your heart, your worries, and tell Jesus, “I know You are the first in my life. I am willing to give the first place in my life to You. Please help me. Let me learn to rely on You this week. Hallelujah!”
Let us pray together:
Heavenly Father, we especially thank You. You hear the prayers of our brothers and sisters. You are our best friend. When interpersonal relationships break down and we feel lonely, You are our closest friend. In times of trouble, You are my comforter. Jesus, You are the I AM, the creator of all things, and all things were created through You and for You.
In the past, I lived for myself, for my children, for money, and for a better life in the future. But today, I want to live for You. I am willing to live for Christ. When I live for You, everything will be different. You will take responsibility for me. In any crisis, You are my Lord. You have not left me. You come to comfort each one of us. You know each of our needs, our lacks, and our weaknesses. Now let the power of the Holy Spirit fill every brother and sister present.
If you are weak, speak out and tell Jesus, “You are the first in my life.” If you have any unresolved issues or sad things, be bold and speak out because Jesus can comfort you. If you have an illness, tell Jesus about your illness and say, “You are my healer.” He can heal you because the Holy Spirit is working here, moving here. Do not worry!
Just reach out your hand to touch Jesus, and He will change everything for you. Your fears will disappear, your frustrations will disappear, and you will be filled with the peace of Jesus Christ because we truly know that You have brought us peace on the cross. By Your stripes, we are healed. By Your punishment, we have peace. When You shed Your precious blood on the cross for us, You brought us out of the kingdom of darkness and the power of sin. I am in the kingdom of Your beloved Son! I have been redeemed by You.
I am in Your hands every day. In Christ, Jesus, You have reserved abundant blessings for me. When I follow Jesus, miracles will occur. I know You are here, and You are first in my family and in our lives.
This week will be the same. Bad client relationships will be restored. Bad business, I bless my business in the name of Jesus Christ. Bless what my hands do. In the name of Jesus, I bless my body; my body is healthy. In the name of Jesus, I bless my children; they are smart and gentle. I believe Jesus is first in everything I do. I am willing to live this way. I am willing to testify for You and live for You. Jesus, I thank You. Thank You for loving me so much. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I pray! Amen!