First Things First – Paul M. Williams

Matthew 6:19-34 When demanded of the Pharisees, "when the kingdom of God should come", Jesus responded by saying: "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:  Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For behold, the kingdom is within you" (Lk. 17:20-21).  If indeed it be the case that the King of kings has come to establish His kingdom in the hearts of men and to take His seat upon the throne of our lives, what ought to be the response of the Christian?  Well the words of our Lord come to mind:  "Not my will, but thine be done".  Could it be that the root of the cause of so little growth in the lives of professing believers is that this very issue of the kingdom of God has not even been considered let alone embraced? As a new year has dawned, this sermon is an exhortation and call for Christians to set in order, first things first for 2017.  A divided heart given over to the riches and cares of this world, will always and forever be a stumbling block to the growth and expansion of the kingdom of God in the life of a Christian.  At all costs a way must be cleared for the King to rule and reign!!