• The True Lord
  • Delivered the Israelites out of Egypt
  • He is God and there is no one beside thee
• Total Loyalty
  • God commands our entire focus on Him
  • No one or no other thing is worthy of our Primary attention
  • God it totally committed to us, we should give the same
• True Living
  • Commandment gives clarity how we should live
  • Every area of live should be guided by putting God first
  • We must guard our passions, priorities, and purpose to keep Him first
• Total Love
  • As sinners, we all fall short of this standard, God knew this, and yet still loves us
  • Christ died for our sins, that we are saved by faith, and not perfect obedience to the law
  • God the Holy Spirit helps us to live in a way that honors God and put Him first in everything we think and do

The True Lord

• God saved the Israelites from Slavery. No one else can take the credit
  • And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:1,2
• He saved them to be His very own people
  • “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.” Exodus 19:5a
  • “Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:5b, 6a
• God proved Himself to the Israelites…and the world
  • 10 plagues against the Egyptians to deliver His people
  • Quail, Manna, Water from a rock, Pillar of cloud by day…
• God is One, Self-Existent, All Powerful, All Seeing, All Knowing, Everywhere Present, Eternal, Perfect, All Providing, Source of All Life and Power, The Creator of All things Seen and Unseen

Total Loyalty

• God commands exclusive worship
• The Egyptians, Canaanites and other nations worshipped many gods…(polytheism)
  • They believed they had to make many gods happy to live a good life (rain, fertility, crops, battle, etc.)
  • No god had all power, but regional, vindictive
  • Pleasure, joy, satisfaction came through making these gods happy
  • God tells the Israelites they are not “gods” and commands the Israelites worship Him and to find their pleasure, joy and satisfaction in Him
  • “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exo 20:3
• Following the First Commandment puts the True God first in everything we think, say and do
• Putting God first means honoring God in all we think, say and do
  • Every aspect of life: Individually, family, work, entertainment, leisure, friendships, finances
  • His priorities are before ours
• What controls your thoughts and energies?
  • Work? Pleasure? Fame? Money?
  • What/who do you claim as your source of strength and success?
• Who we are should be connected to honoring God and glorifying His name

Totally Lost

• All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgression – it is by grace you have been saved. Eph 2:3-5
• Polytheism – Baal, Asherah, Dagan, Buddhism, Egypt - Ra, Osiris, All Non Christian Religions
• Wrong Theism – Atheism, Agnosticism, Cults, Islam, Judaism (worshipping God the wrong way)
• Poly-”Me”-ism – Career, Possessions, Money, Fame, Pleasure, Power & Influence
• Idolatry is either the inappropriate worship of the true God, or the appropriate worship of false gods. (Hastings Dictionary of the Bible)

The True Lord

• God saved the Israelites from Slavery. No one else can take the credit - And God spoke all these words: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” Exodus 20:1,2
• He saved them to be His very own people - “Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession.” Exodus 19:5a
  - “Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Exodus 19:5b, 6a
• God proved Himself to the Israelites…and the world - 10 plagues against the Egyptians to deliver His people - Quail, Manna, Water from a rock, Pillar of cloud by day…
• God is One, Self-Existent, All Powerful, All Seeing, All Knowing, Everywhere Present, Eternal, Perfect, All Providing, Source of All Life and Power, The Creator of All things Seen and Unseen
• Putting God first means Honoring God first in all we think, say and do
  • Our priorities reveal who/what is important in our lives
  • God has told us what is important in His Word

True Living

• Every Area of Life Should Honor God
  • Work: (or work to be), one of God’s ways to provide for my daily bread and use my skills to glory Him.
• Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:22-24
  • Work is a means of blessing and not the source
  • Give glory to the Creator and not the created
• So do not worry saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matt 6:31-33
• How do I put God first?
  • Acknowledge Who God is (Creator)
  • Acknowledge your position before Him (created)
  • Accept Jesus Christ as Savior (chosen)
  • Ask to know His will
  • Allow Him to work in your life
  • Apply what you hear from God through Bible study and prayer
  • He will…Align your priorities to His priorities
• Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Prov 3:5,6

Total Love

• The story of Exodus is similar to our lives
  • God desires to deliver us from our Egypt, the bondage to sin
• Salvation is not based on perfectly, completely obeying the law (works)
  • Salvation is by grace through Jesus Christ
  • who died for our sins and raised again for our justification
• God made us His priority, we should make Him our priority