{"id":3020,"date":"2023-06-02T16:50:53","date_gmt":"2023-06-02T16:50:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.sunesishq.com\/?p=3020"},"modified":"2023-06-03T16:48:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-03T16:48:41","slug":"the-principle-of-first-things","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sunesishq.com\/notes\/the-principle-of-first-things\/","title":{"rendered":"The Principle of First Things"},"content":{"rendered":"

WHAT IS FIRST?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The word FIRST features in the bible multiple times in both the shadow of the Old Testament and the reality of the New Testament. When applied to vegetation or animal life, the scriptures refer to the first fruit or firstborn. In addition, some refer to a law of first things, referring to principles guiding the conceptualization of firstborn or first fruit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When we speak of creation, we always see who is first or alpha, and that is God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rev 22:13<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(AMPC)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0I am\u00a0the Alpha<\/strong>\u00a0and the Omega,\u00a0the First<\/strong>\u00a0and the Last (the Before all and the End of all). [<\/span>Isa 44:6<\/span>;\u00a0<\/span>Isa 48:12<\/span>]<\/span><\/p>\n

Gen 1:1<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(NIV)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0In the beginning<\/strong>\u00a0God created the heavens and the earth.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joh 1:1<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(NIV)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0In the beginning<\/strong>\u00a0was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the verses above, we note that God is First. He must likewise be first in our lives; else our lives would not stand the test of time.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are born again, you are part of the body of Christ or the Ecclesia of God. Our description in scripture is \u201c\u2026the church (assembly) of the Firstborn\u201d (Heb 12:23, AMPC). The Lord Jesus \u201c\u2026is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is\u00a0the Beginning, the Firstborn<\/strong>\u00a0from among the dead<\/u>…\u201d (Col 1:18, AMPC). He told Apostle Peter, \u201cI will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it\u201d (Mat 16:18, AMPC).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why can His Church or Ecclesia not be overpowered?\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

This is because it honours\u00a0the principle of FIRST THINGS. It has the most solid foundation. The foundation is the FIRST part of the building in construction.<\/span><\/p>\n

1Co 3:11<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(AMPC)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0For no other\u00a0foundation<\/strong>\u00a0can anyone lay than that which is [<\/span>already<\/span><\/em>] laid, which is Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).<\/span><\/p>\n

In like manner, just as the construction of His Ecclesia follows the law of first things, our individual lives as living stones are built up following the same principle.<\/span><\/p>\n

1Pe 2:5<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(AMPC)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0[<\/span>Come<\/span><\/em>] and, like\u00a0living stones, be yourselves built [<\/strong><\/span>into<\/span><\/em><\/strong>] a spiritual house<\/span><\/strong>, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [<\/span>those<\/span><\/em>] spiritual sacrifices [<\/span>that are<\/span><\/em>] acceptable\u00a0and<\/span><\/em>pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

But what is the first living stone again from whom all other living stones take our image, likeness, instruction and life?<\/span><\/p>\n

1Pe 2:4-6<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(AMPC)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

4<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0Come to Him [<\/span>then, to that<\/span><\/em>]\u00a0Living Stone<\/strong>\u00a0which men tried\u00a0and<\/span><\/em>\u00a0threw away, but which is chosen [<\/span>and<\/span><\/em>] precious in God’s sight. [<\/span>Psa 118:22<\/span>;\u00a0<\/span>Isa 28:16<\/span>]<\/span><\/p>\n

5<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0[<\/span>Come<\/span><\/em>] and, like\u00a0living stones<\/strong>, be yourselves built [<\/span>into<\/span><\/em>] a spiritual house, for a holy (dedicated, consecrated) priesthood, to offer up [<\/span>those<\/span><\/em>] spiritual sacrifices [<\/span>that are<\/span><\/em>] acceptable\u00a0and<\/span><\/em>\u00a0pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

6<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honored),\u00a0precious chief Cornerstone<\/strong>, and he who believes in Him [<\/span>who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him<\/span><\/em>] shall never be disappointed\u00a0or<\/span><\/em>\u00a0put to shame. [<\/span>Isa 28:16<\/span>]<\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s house is being built in Zion, and the foundation stone, also known as the chief cornerstone, is the Living Stone Jesus Christ, which some have rejected. The chief means the first. Lord Jesus actually means the First and Chief Owner of All. He earned that placement as first by birth (Rom 8:29; Col 1:15,18), inheritance (Heb 1:3-4), achievement (Php 2:9-11) and conquest (Col 2:15; Eph 4:8; Heb 2:14-15)\u2014hence being given a name above all other names in\u00a0three worlds<\/strong>. \u201cThat in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow,\u00a0in heaven<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0on earth<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0under the earth<\/strong>,\u201d (Php 2:10, AMPC).<\/span><\/p>\n

There are some who do not honour the law of first and build faulty foundations for their lives. For example, to be born again, one must \u201c\u2026 acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord\u2026\u201d (Rom 10:9, AMPC). Lord means chief or first. Failure to do this means you are not born again and cannot access salvation. This is foundational to the new birth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first of a thing serves as the foundation. The concept of Lordship is about first. This is why Jesus is the foundation or first stone in the house of God, otherwise known as the firstborn from the dead, firstborn of all creation or firstborn among many brethren.<\/span><\/p>\n

FOUNDATION<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When describing the building of His House, Jesus told Peter he would be a good builder and build on the Rock.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mat 16:18<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(KJV)<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and\u00a0upon this rock<\/strong>\u00a0I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.<\/span><\/p>\n

He spoke about others who did not build their buildings or their lives upon the Rock but upon the sand:<\/span><\/p>\n

Mat 7:26-27<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(KJV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

26<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not<\/strong>, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which\u00a0built his house upon the sand<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

27<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.<\/span><\/p>\n

So we see that it matters upon what foundation (chief cornerstone) or first principles we build our lives. Building on the sand are those who do not heed God\u2019s word, but what about those who heed his word?<\/span><\/p>\n

Mat 7:24-25<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0(KJV)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

24<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them<\/strong>, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:<\/span><\/p>\n

25<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a powerful principle revealed in this teaching by Jesus, and that is:<\/span><\/p>\n