1st Commandment, Ex 20:2-3
 
 (the entire commandment series, "Living by the Rules, by 
  Joe Chesser)

 Intro:
  Frightening statistics point to breakdown of law, moral
  responsibility and even conscience in our world.
  a.  one serious crime every 2 seconds
  b.  murder every 23 minutes, rape every 6 minutes.
  c.  robbery every 58 seconds, aggravated assault 48
      secs, theft 4 secs.
  2. We are a nation under seige.
  3. Worse yet, the involvement of so many young people in
     crime and immoral behavior.
   a.  Teenage Americans - almost 1/3 of all violent crime
       arrests.
   b.  In 1980, 70% arrested in all categories were 25 or
       younger.
 4.  What has gone wrong
  a. What has happened to this enlightened world of ours?
  b. We don't have standards any more -- or even feel we
     should.
 5.  I believe we need a fixed standard
  a.  We need goals and limitations, a strong sense of what
      is desireable and what is forbidden.
  b.  We need some dependable rules for right living.
 6.  There is no better starting point for understanding
     right living than the 10 commandments.
 
 I.  God's Will for Human Lives
   1.  We must get back to the Word of God (rules for
       right living).
   2.  The Bible pinpoints the human dilemma and offers
       an answer.
     a.  Problem?  Our self-chosen ways usually lead to
         destruction
      Prov 14:12
     b.  Solution?  Obeying the commands of God.
      Ps 119:172, I John 5:3
    3.  God has not left us to decide WHAT is right, but
      only WHETHER we will choose to walk the path He has
      marked for us.
    4.  Right living is to walk in His commands; breaking
      them is a form of destruction.  I John 1:7
      a.  We really don't "break" commands, we challenge
          and defy them.
      b.  What we really break is ourselves 
          I John 3:4, Rom 6:23
      c.  rule of gravity
  
  The First Commandment, Ex 20:2-3,
  "Have no other gods before Me"
 
  (Get Your Priorities Right)

 1.  This asserts the aim of God to absolute sovereignty.
   a.  Without this, no basis or foundation for other laws.
   b.  This demands we ask - "What is going to be the most
       important thing in my life?"
 2.  Will we live for pleasure, carnal satisfaction, selfish
     ambition, or will we live for God (What are you doing,
     be honest).
 3.  So the first rule for the good life: "Get your 
     priorities right".
  Matt 6:24,33
  Col 3:1-3
 4.  The other rules annoy and frustrate until this has been
 dealt with successfully.
 5.  The Place of This Commandment for us.
   a.  What God asked of the Jews at Mt. Sinai, He asks of
       us.
   b.  Every major failure in the church traces to a failure
       of this point.
      1.  False doctrines-- someone has placed his own
          idea(s) first, Isa 55:6-11.
      2.  Sinful behavior-- wrong priorities (hurt feelings,
          depression)
      3.  Lack spirituality-- put God and His work on back
          burner.
      4.  Whenever we put what WE want above what we know is
          right, we have broken the 1st rule of right
          living.
    c.  Jesus is either FIRST or NOTHING, Mt 22:36-40
      1. Every aspect of a Christian's life is to find 
         meaning in Jesus as Lord.
      2. Eph 6:1-9
         (1) Why should children obey?
         (2) Why should parents be patient, teach?
         (3) Why workers considerate?
             (for the above three, what would Jesus say
               or do?)
 6.  If you turn away from God, you will seek the "Unholy
     Trinity".
  Everything that competes with God for 1st place comes 
 under one of these three headings:
  I John 2:16
 a.  Pleasure
   (1) work and duty become burdensome
   (2) what starts as a legitimate diversion from work
       can enslave our time, money, and energy so as to
       become sin.
   (3) It may be hunting, fishing, football, reading, TV
   (4) Anytime one becomes more important than your
       resonsibilities as an adult, a provider, or a
       Christian, it has become a god to you.
 b.  Possessions
   (1) When money or things rule your ambitions and
       thoughts, a god.
   (2) Col 3:5, Almighty God replaced with Almighty
       Dollar.
 c.  Position
   (1) over-inflated ego -- taking yourself too seriously.
   (2) your "rights" are all important, not a servant to
       others.
 d.  I John 2:15-17 "lust of flesh" = pleasure god
                    "lust of eye" = possessions god
                    "pride of life" = position god.
 Conclusion:
  1. God is a jealous God.
  2. He wants 1st place-- or no place
  3. He wants you to live by His rules.   
  4. You do need rules -- there are none better than God's
  5. Get your priorities right...NOW.

 =END=