Gospel Life Church

ANNOUNCEMENTS:LT meeting tomorrow at 7pm, Easter Egg Candy, Family Meal/Meeting next SundayPROVIDENCE The doctrine that God is continually involved with all created things in such a way that he (1) keeps them existing and maintaining the properties with which he created them; (2) cooperates with created things in every action, directing their distinctive properties to cause them to act as they do: and (3) directs them to fulfill his purposes.The goal this morning is to help see things through the lens of God being in control of all things, to have spiritual eyes in your perspective, and to see things as God does.Paul says in Ephesians 1:11, “he makes everything work out according to his plan.”or, Ephesians 1:10 NET God accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his willColossians 1:17 NLT 17 He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.Hebrews 1:3 NLT The Son sustains everything by the mighty power of his command.This fact is hidden from us until we read it in Scripture. So lets begin by taking a survey of key biblical texts:Inanimate creation and the weatherPsalm 148:8 NLT 8 fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him,Job 37:5-12 NLT 5 God's voice is glorious in the thunder. We can't even imagine the greatness of his power. 6 "He directs the snow to fall on the earth and tells the rain to pour down. 7 Then everyone stops working so they can watch his power. 8 The wild animals take cover and stay inside their dens. 9 The stormy wind comes from its chamber, and the driving winds bring the cold. 10 God's breath sends the ice, freezing wide expanses of water. 11 He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning. 12 The clouds churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.Job 38:24-38 NLT 24 Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind? 25 "Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning? 26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land, in a desert where no one lives? 27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up? 28 "Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew? 29 Who is the mother of the ice? Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens? 30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes. 31 "Can you direct the movement of the stars-- binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? 32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons or guide the Bear (Big Dipper) with her cubs across the heavens? 33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth? 34 "Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? 35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct? 36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? 37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds? Who can tilt the water jars of heaven 38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?Psalm 135:6-7 NLT 6 The LORD does whatever pleases him throughout all heaven and earth, and on the seas and in their depths. 7 He causes the clouds to rise over the whole earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.Psalm 104:4 NLT 4 The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.Matthew 5:45 NLT For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.2. Animals Matthew 6:26 NLT 26 Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. Matthew 10:29 NET Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.Job 38:39-41 NLT 39 "Can you stalk prey for a lioness and satisfy the young lions' appetites 40 as they lie in their dens or crouch in the thicket? 41 Who provides food for the ravens when their young cry out to God and wander about in hunger?3. Random or Chance EventsProverbs 16:33 NLT 33 We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall.Ecclesiastes 9:11 NAU again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.chance here for the Israelite means “the unexpected”PRIMARY VS. SECONDARY CAUSATIONThese passages affirm that such events are entirely caused by God. Yet we know that, in another sense, they are entirely caused by factors in the creation as well.God directs, and works through the distinctive properties of each created thing, so that these things themselves bring about the results that we see. In this way it is possible to affirm that in one sense events are fully or 100% caused by God and fully or 100% caused by the creature as well. However, divine and creaturely causes work in different ways. The divine cause of each event works as an invisible, behind-the-scenes, directing cause and therefore could be called the “primary cause” that plans and initiates everything that happens. But the created thing brings about actions in ways consistent with the creature’s own properties, ways that can often be described by us or by scientists who carefully observe the processes. These creaturely factors and properties can therefore be called the “secondary” causes of everything that happens, even though they are the causes that are evident to us by observation.Primary vs. Secondary Causation4. God directs the Rise and Fall of the NationsJob 12:16-25 NLT 16 Yes, strength and wisdom are his; deceivers and deceived are both in his power. 17 He leads counselors away, stripped of good judgment; wise judges become fools. 18 He removes the royal robe of kings. They are led away with ropes around their waist. 19 He leads priests away, stripped of status; he overthrows those with long years in power. 20 He silences the trusted adviser and removes the insight of the elders. 21 He pours disgrace upon princes and disarms the strong. 22 "He uncovers mysteries hidden in darkness; he brings light to the deepest gloom. 23 He builds up nations, and he destroys them. He expands nations, and he abandons them. 24 He strips kings of understanding and leaves them wandering in a pathless wasteland. 25 They grope in the darkness without a light. He makes them stagger like drunkards.Acts 17:26 NLT 26 From one man he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.Daniel 4:34-35 NLT 34 "After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal. 35 All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, 'What do you mean by doing these things?'5. God Directs the Direction of Our LivesJesus reflects on our need to see and depend on God’s provision for our daily needs:Matthew 6:11 NLT 11 Give us today the food we need,Paul has this same perspective when he writes in Philippians 4:19:Philippians 4:19 NLT 19 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.Paul sees that God is in control and taking care of him even though we know from Philippians 1:7; 13–14; 17 that Paul is in a Roman prison. Psalm 139:16 CSB Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.Job 14:5 NLT 5 You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.Jeremiah 10:23-24 NLT 23 I know, LORD, that our lives are not our own. We are not able to plan our own course. 24 So correct me, LORD, but please be gentle. Do not correct me in anger, for I would die.Proverbs 20:24 NLT 24 The LORD directs our stepsProverbs 16:9 NLT 9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.A man may plan his road to the last detail, but he cannot implement his planning unless it coincides with God’s plan for him. He is deluded if he supposes that he has unfettered control and can impose his will on every situation without limitation in order to make his plan a reality.” (Waltke, Proverbs, vol 2, p. 16)Proverbs 21:1 NLT The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases.EXAMPLES:Ezra 1:1 NLT In the first year of King Cyrus of Persia, the LORD fulfilled the prophecy he had given through Jeremiah. He stirred the heart of Cyrus to put this proclamation in writing and to send it throughout his kingdom:Ezra 6:22 NLT 22 Then they celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days. There was great joy throughout the land because the LORD had caused the king of Assyria to be favorable to them, so that he helped them to rebuild the Temple of God, the God of Israel.Success & FailurePsalm 75:7 NLT 7 It is God alone who judges; he decides who will rise and who will fall.1 Corinthians 4:7 NLT 7 What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?CONCLUSION:God’s providential work in our lives extends to all aspects of our lives. Our words, our steps, our movements, our hearts, and our abilities are all from the Lord.CAUTION:God’s providential direction as an unseen, behind-the-scenes, “primary cause,” should not lead us to deny the reality of our choices and actions. Again and again Scripture affirms that we really do cause events to happen. We are significant and we are responsible. We do have choices and these are real choices that bring about real results. Scripture repeatedly affirms these truths as well.Our choices are real choices and do have significant effects, because God has made us in such a way that he has created us with the property of willing choice.Some would say that if our choices are real, they cannot be caused by God. But the number of passages that affirm God’s control is so considerable, and the difficulties involved in giving them some other interpretation are so formidable, that it does not seem that this can be the right approach to them. It seems better to affirm that God causes all things that happen, but that he does so in such a way that he somehow upholds our ability to make willing, responsible choices, choices that have real and eternal results and for which we are held accountable. Exactly how God combines his providential control with our willing and significant choices, Scripture does not explain to us. But rather than deny one aspect or the other (simply because we cannot explain how both can be true), we should accept both in an attempt to be faithful to the teaching of all of Scripture.In the weeks ahead we will deal with some of the challenges to our view of God that these texts raise for us. We will seek to answer some of the harder questions but the question will be, are we willing to submit to God or will we seek instead to create and craft a god of our own imagination? CONCLUSION: submission and dependencyHow shall we respond?First, are we truly willing to submit to Scripture, to all that Scripture teaches? We can cherry pick, but just because we don’t believe in gravity doesn’t make gravity cease to exist.Do we really want truth, and if so are we willing to submit to it.I want to challenge us toward humility. Are we willing to break and bend, to learn and grow, to repent of hard hearts. Are we willing to cast ourselves, including our intellects and wills, on the mercy of God.We will be looking at different facets of the doctrine of God in the weeks ahead to prepare us to be obedient to the mission God has called us to. We are looking at the doctrine of God to prepare us to be evangelists. Look around, there is room for more people here and we need to get serious about sharing the Gospel, but first we need to see who God is, so that we have the correct motivation.NLT Psalm 18:26 To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.Acts 26:14 NLT 14 We all fell down, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is useless for you to fight against my will.'All things work together for good but its good as God defines it.2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT 17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.As we look at these truths, we will either see God’s goodness and greatness or we will harden our hearts and rebel against God.

Philippians 3:7-21 NLT 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Philippians 3:7-21 NLT 7 I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. 8 Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ 9 and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith.

Understanding God: Eternal vs. Human Perspective 02/26/2017

Understanding God: Eternal vs. Human Perspective 02/26/2017

ANNOUNCEMENTS:Worship Night this Friday @ 7pm, Feb 24th.Easter Egg Candy- donations in mission box, coming up quickly Please purchase items similar to…Miniature candy bars StarburstHersey kissesMini tootsie rollsSmall wrapped mint or butterscotch candies.Small pieces of wrapped gum Please do NOT purchase Smarties, Suckers, Licorice. Large candy bars, or Un-wrapped candiesLT Meeting after worship- Alpha, Worship Night SpeakersPRAYER CAN CHANGE THE MIND OF GOD SO PRAY LIKE LIVES DEPEND ON ITUnchangeableness/IMMUTABILITY. God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, Yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations.We often hear talk about man’s free will but this morning I want to draw your attention to God’s free will.Genesis 6:5-6 NLT 5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.1 Samuel 15:10-11 NLT 10 Then the LORD said to Samuel, 11 "I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command." Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.We will say more about God changing his mind later but for now we can either look at these passages and be confused or we can see them as an opening to change God’s mind and see Him work in our lives and in the lives of those around us.1 John 5:14-15 NLT 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.So this morning I want to motivate you to pray by showing you that the prayer of the righteous can move God to work in our world.Exodus 32:9-14 NLT 9 Then the LORD said, "I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. 10 Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation." 11 But Moses tried to pacify the LORD his God. "O LORD!" he said. "Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? 12 Why let the Egyptians say, 'Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth'? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.'" 14 So the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.This passage God’s responsiveness to a righteous person’s prayer prayed not for selfish reasons but out of a desire to see God’s will accomplished. So what can we do? Live righteously, and pray earnestly!!!Proverbs 15:8 NLT 8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.Proverbs 15:29 NLT 29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.Psalm 145:18 The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:19 He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. Psalm 34:17 The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 4:3 You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him. Psalm 34:16 But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. Psalm 66:18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Proverbs 1:28 "When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. Isaiah 59:2 It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 1Peter 3:12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil." Here is yet another example of the Lord changing His mind in response to the prayer of the righteous:Amos 7:1-6 NLT The Sovereign LORD showed me a vision. I saw him preparing to send a vast swarm of locusts over the land. This was after the king's share had been harvested from the fields and as the main crop was coming up. 2 In my vision the locusts ate every green plant in sight. Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, please forgive us or we will not survive, for Israel is so small." 3 So the LORD relented from this plan. "I will not do it," he said. 4 Then the Sovereign LORD showed me another vision. I saw him preparing to punish his people with a great fire. The fire had burned up the depths of the sea and was devouring the entire land. 5 Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, please stop or we will not survive, for Israel is so small." 6 Then the LORD relented from this plan, too. "I will not do that either," said the Sovereign LORD.Jonah 3:4 NLT 4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”Jonah 3:9-10 NLT 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us." 10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.Isaiah 38:1-6 NLT About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: "This is what the LORD says: 'Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.'" 2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you." Then he broke down and wept bitterly. 4 Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD: 5 "Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, 6 and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.These instances should all be understood as true expressions of God’s present attitude or intention with respect to the situation as it exists at that moment. If the situation changes, then of course God’s attitude or expression of intention will also change. This is just saying that God responds differently to different situations. The situations with Hezekiah and with the intercession of Moses are similar: God had said that he would send judgment, and that was a true declaration, provided that the situation remained the same. But then the situation changed: someone started to pray earnestly (Moses in one case and Hezekiah in the other). Here prayer itself was part of the new situation and was in fact what changed the situation. God responded to that changed situation by answering the prayer and withholding judgment.In the cases of God being sorry that he had made man, or that he had made Saul king, these too can be understood as expressions of God’s present displeasure toward the sinfulness of man. In neither case is the language strong enough to require us to think that if God could start again and act differently, he would in fact not create man or not make Saul king. It can instead imply that God’s previous action led to events that, in the short term, caused him sorrow, but that nonetheless in the long term would ultimately achieve his good purposes. This is somewhat analogous to a human father who allows his child to embark on a course he knows will bring much sorrow, both to the parent and to the child, but who allows it nonetheless, because he knows that greater long-term good will come from it.Luke 18:1-7 NLT One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'" 6 Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?If we were really convinced that prayer changes the way God acts, and that God does bring about remarkable changes in the world in response to prayer, as Scripture repeatedly teaches that he does, then we would pray much more than we do. If we pray little, it is probably because we do not really believe that prayer accomplishes much at all.In the following text please remember that the church is now God’s temple:2 Chronicles 7:14-16 NLT 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy-- a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.Fathers, are you praying for your family? Mothers, are you praying for your children? Does God’s wrath abide on people you love? Do you really want God to work in our city? Do we really want to see people saved? Then change God’s mind, and pray like people’s lives depended on it.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:Worship Night this Friday @ 7pm, Feb 24th.Easter Egg Candy- donations in mission box, coming up quickly Please purchase items similar to…Miniature candy bars StarburstHersey kissesMini tootsie rollsSmall wrapped mint or butterscotch candies.Small pieces of wrapped gum Please do NOT purchase Smarties, Suckers, Licorice. Large candy bars, or Un-wrapped candiesLT Meeting after worship- Alpha, Worship Night SpeakersPRAYER CAN CHANGE THE MIND OF GOD SO PRAY LIKE LIVES DEPEND ON ITUnchangeableness/IMMUTABILITY. God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, Yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations.We often hear talk about man’s free will but this morning I want to draw your attention to God’s free will.Genesis 6:5-6 NLT 5 The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. 6 So the LORD was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.1 Samuel 15:10-11 NLT 10 Then the LORD said to Samuel, 11 "I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command." Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.We will say more about God changing his mind later but for now we can either look at these passages and be confused or we can see them as an opening to change God’s mind and see Him work in our lives and in the lives of those around us.1 John 5:14-15 NLT 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.So this morning I want to motivate you to pray by showing you that the prayer of the righteous can move God to work in our world.Exodus 32:9-14 NLT 9 Then the LORD said, "I have seen how stubborn and rebellious these people are. 10 Now leave me alone so my fierce anger can blaze against them, and I will destroy them. Then I will make you, Moses, into a great nation." 11 But Moses tried to pacify the LORD his God. "O LORD!" he said. "Why are you so angry with your own people whom you brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand? 12 Why let the Egyptians say, 'Their God rescued them with the evil intention of slaughtering them in the mountains and wiping them from the face of the earth'? Turn away from your fierce anger. Change your mind about this terrible disaster you have threatened against your people! 13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You bound yourself with an oath to them, saying, 'I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars of heaven. And I will give them all of this land that I have promised to your descendants, and they will possess it forever.'" 14 So the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had threatened to bring on his people.This passage God’s responsiveness to a righteous person’s prayer prayed not for selfish reasons but out of a desire to see God’s will accomplished. So what can we do? Live righteously, and pray earnestly!!!Proverbs 15:8 NLT 8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but he delights in the prayers of the upright.Proverbs 15:29 NLT 29 The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayers of the righteous.Psalm 145:18 The LORD is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. Psalm 145:19 He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. Psalm 34:17 The LORD hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. Psalm 4:3 You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will answer when I call to him. Psalm 34:16 But the LORD turns his face against those who do evil; he will erase their memory from the earth. Psalm 66:18 If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. Proverbs 1:28 "When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. Isaiah 59:2 It's your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore. James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. 1Peter 3:12 The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right, and his ears are open to their prayers. But the Lord turns his face against those who do evil." Here is yet another example of the Lord changing His mind in response to the prayer of the righteous:Amos 7:1-6 NLT The Sovereign LORD showed me a vision. I saw him preparing to send a vast swarm of locusts over the land. This was after the king's share had been harvested from the fields and as the main crop was coming up. 2 In my vision the locusts ate every green plant in sight. Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, please forgive us or we will not survive, for Israel is so small." 3 So the LORD relented from this plan. "I will not do it," he said. 4 Then the Sovereign LORD showed me another vision. I saw him preparing to punish his people with a great fire. The fire had burned up the depths of the sea and was devouring the entire land. 5 Then I said, "O Sovereign LORD, please stop or we will not survive, for Israel is so small." 6 Then the LORD relented from this plan, too. "I will not do that either," said the Sovereign LORD.Jonah 3:4 NLT 4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!”Jonah 3:9-10 NLT 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us." 10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.Isaiah 38:1-6 NLT About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill, and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to visit him. He gave the king this message: "This is what the LORD says: 'Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. You will not recover from this illness.'" 2 When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have always been faithful to you and have served you single-mindedly, always doing what pleases you." Then he broke down and wept bitterly. 4 Then this message came to Isaiah from the LORD: 5 "Go back to Hezekiah and tell him, 'This is what the LORD, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will add fifteen years to your life, 6 and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria. Yes, I will defend this city.These instances should all be understood as true expressions of God’s present attitude or intention with respect to the situation as it exists at that moment. If the situation changes, then of course God’s attitude or expression of intention will also change. This is just saying that God responds differently to different situations. The situations with Hezekiah and with the intercession of Moses are similar: God had said that he would send judgment, and that was a true declaration, provided that the situation remained the same. But then the situation changed: someone started to pray earnestly (Moses in one case and Hezekiah in the other). Here prayer itself was part of the new situation and was in fact what changed the situation. God responded to that changed situation by answering the prayer and withholding judgment.In the cases of God being sorry that he had made man, or that he had made Saul king, these too can be understood as expressions of God’s present displeasure toward the sinfulness of man. In neither case is the language strong enough to require us to think that if God could start again and act differently, he would in fact not create man or not make Saul king. It can instead imply that God’s previous action led to events that, in the short term, caused him sorrow, but that nonetheless in the long term would ultimately achieve his good purposes. This is somewhat analogous to a human father who allows his child to embark on a course he knows will bring much sorrow, both to the parent and to the child, but who allows it nonetheless, because he knows that greater long-term good will come from it.Luke 18:1-7 NLT One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2 "There was a judge in a certain city," he said, "who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3 A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, 'Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.' 4 The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, 'I don't fear God or care about people, 5 but this woman is driving me crazy. I'm going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!'" 6 Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge. 7 Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don't you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?If we were really convinced that prayer changes the way God acts, and that God does bring about remarkable changes in the world in response to prayer, as Scripture repeatedly teaches that he does, then we would pray much more than we do. If we pray little, it is probably because we do not really believe that prayer accomplishes much at all.In the following text please remember that the church is now God’s temple:2 Chronicles 7:14-16 NLT 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy-- a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart.Fathers, are you praying for your family? Mothers, are you praying for your children? Does God’s wrath abide on people you love? Do you really want God to work in our city? Do we really want to see people saved? Then change God’s mind, and pray like people’s lives depended on it.

Revelation 3:1-2 NLT "I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive-- but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.The 2 reasons the church at Sardis is said to be dead is because:Conformity to the culture around itFailure in their Gospel witness.Read Luke 6:20-49Luke 6:27-28 NLT 27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.Luke 6:35-36 NLT 35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.We just read:Luke 6:28 NLT 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.How is it that if we are truly practicing the love that is commanded in this verse that we would ever be persecuted?Sometimes, too often, we are persecuted bc we have done exactly what Jesus told us not to do, we judge and condemn others out of our hatred.When individuals are hateful or judgmental in the church, people don’t just say that that individual is hateful, they say the church is hateful. All the investments that we make in loving people, can be obliterated in an instant when one member of our church misrepresents Jesus.But sometimes if you are living out this passage, the person or people who will persecute you and speak evil against you are the people you poured your life into the most.If you live the life Jesus is calling us to and you genuinely seek to love people, there will come a time when you are persecuted, and instead of condemning these people, instead of judging them, and speaking evil against them, we must learn to continue to love and bless them.you are going to feel violated, used, abused, taken advantage of, but rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven. Don’t be surprised and shocked. No servant is greater than his master and Jesus warned us about this.When we do speak evil thinking we are defending righteousness, here is what Jesus says:Luke 6:45 NLT 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.Jesus’ teaching on love became the centerpiece of the Christian Church:Luke 23:34 NLT 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.”Acts 7:59-60 NLT 59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don't charge them with this sin!" And with that, he died.Romans 12:16-21 NLT 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD. 20 Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." 21 Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLT 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.1 Peter 3:9 NLT 9 Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.So as a Christian, you are going to be insulted or you aren’t doing it right, but you better be insulted for the right reasons. You are going to be tempted to pride, you are going to be tempted to retaliate, you are going to be tempted to take revenge.The only way you are going to be able to love others, no matter what the context, is if you have the hope that Jesus is the one who will set all things right in the end on judgement day.Luke 6:23 NLT For a great reward awaits you in heaven.1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NLT 9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people. 12 It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside;If we are going to openly criticize Muslims or Islam, abortion, homosexuality, or any such issue, can we be known for loving people who take the opposite position in our real lives?When we aren’t loving people and blessing them, but instead we use social media to attack them, we are taking judgement in our own hands, and we become like the very culture we are criticizing. Can we make it the practice of our church that those who have been Christians longer give preference to the younger Christians? That is to say can we be willing to yield to the preferences of others, to be inconvenienced? If we always have to have things our way, how will we ever grown? If you get even a handful of people together there is going to be disagreement. The challenging thing we are trying to do at our church is make a place centered on Jesus and that means we have a broad spectrum of backgrounds. Who is Jesus hard on?Luke 11:52 NLT 52 "What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”If we are going to have strict standards, can we have those standards for ourselves. It is too easy to be hard on others and easy on ourselves. When we fail to love others even when they are totally unChristian Jesus says this to us:Luke 6:46 NLT 46 "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?I’m not arguing we should be docile and weak people, that are too cowardly to speak the truth. I’m arguing that LOVE MUST BE OUR APOLOGETIC.When you are confused and don’t know how to respond, open this passage in Luke 6 and figure out how to respond out the conditions Jesus lays out for us here.This is going to apply to your marriage, your children, your relatives, your coworkers, your presence on social media, people you have tried to love and disciple in the church, new believers, people that frustrate you.

Revelation 3:1-2 NLT "I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive-- but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of my God.The 2 reasons the church at Sardis is said to be dead is because:Conformity to the culture around itFailure in their Gospel witness.Read Luke 6:20-49Luke 6:27-28 NLT 27 "But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.Luke 6:35-36 NLT 35 "Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.We just read:Luke 6:28 NLT 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.How is it that if we are truly practicing the love that is commanded in this verse that we would ever be persecuted?Sometimes, too often, we are persecuted bc we have done exactly what Jesus told us not to do, we judge and condemn others out of our hatred.When individuals are hateful or judgmental in the church, people don’t just say that that individual is hateful, they say the church is hateful. All the investments that we make in loving people, can be obliterated in an instant when one member of our church misrepresents Jesus.But sometimes if you are living out this passage, the person or people who will persecute you and speak evil against you are the people you poured your life into the most.If you live the life Jesus is calling us to and you genuinely seek to love people, there will come a time when you are persecuted, and instead of condemning these people, instead of judging them, and speaking evil against them, we must learn to continue to love and bless them.you are going to feel violated, used, abused, taken advantage of, but rejoice, for great is your reward in heaven. Don’t be surprised and shocked. No servant is greater than his master and Jesus warned us about this.When we do speak evil thinking we are defending righteousness, here is what Jesus says:Luke 6:45 NLT 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.Jesus’ teaching on love became the centerpiece of the Christian Church:Luke 23:34 NLT 34 Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing.”Acts 7:59-60 NLT 59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, "Lord, don't charge them with this sin!" And with that, he died.Romans 12:16-21 NLT 16 Live in harmony with each other. Don't be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! 17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. 18 Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. 19 Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, "I will take revenge; I will pay them back," says the LORD. 20 Instead, "If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads." 21 Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.1 Thessalonians 5:15 NLT 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people.1 Peter 3:9 NLT 9 Don't repay evil for evil. Don't retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will bless you for it.So as a Christian, you are going to be insulted or you aren’t doing it right, but you better be insulted for the right reasons. You are going to be tempted to pride, you are going to be tempted to retaliate, you are going to be tempted to take revenge.The only way you are going to be able to love others, no matter what the context, is if you have the hope that Jesus is the one who will set all things right in the end on judgement day.Luke 6:23 NLT For a great reward awaits you in heaven.1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NLT 9 When I wrote to you before, I told you not to associate with people who indulge in sexual sin. 10 But I wasn't talking about unbelievers who indulge in sexual sin, or are greedy, or cheat people, or worship idols. You would have to leave this world to avoid people like that. 11 I meant that you are not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don't even eat with such people. 12 It isn't my responsibility to judge outsiders, but it certainly is your responsibility to judge those inside the church who are sinning. 13 God will judge those on the outside;If we are going to openly criticize Muslims or Islam, abortion, homosexuality, or any such issue, can we be known for loving people who take the opposite position in our real lives?When we aren’t loving people and blessing them, but instead we use social media to attack them, we are taking judgement in our own hands, and we become like the very culture we are criticizing. Can we make it the practice of our church that those who have been Christians longer give preference to the younger Christians? That is to say can we be willing to yield to the preferences of others, to be inconvenienced? If we always have to have things our way, how will we ever grown? If you get even a handful of people together there is going to be disagreement. The challenging thing we are trying to do at our church is make a place centered on Jesus and that means we have a broad spectrum of backgrounds. Who is Jesus hard on?Luke 11:52 NLT 52 "What sorrow awaits you experts in religious law! For you remove the key to knowledge from the people. You don't enter the Kingdom yourselves, and you prevent others from entering.”If we are going to have strict standards, can we have those standards for ourselves. It is too easy to be hard on others and easy on ourselves. When we fail to love others even when they are totally unChristian Jesus says this to us:Luke 6:46 NLT 46 "So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say?I’m not arguing we should be docile and weak people, that are too cowardly to speak the truth. I’m arguing that LOVE MUST BE OUR APOLOGETIC.When you are confused and don’t know how to respond, open this passage in Luke 6 and figure out how to respond out the conditions Jesus lays out for us here.This is going to apply to your marriage, your children, your relatives, your coworkers, your presence on social media, people you have tried to love and disciple in the church, new believers, people that frustrate you.

Believe God 02/05/2017

Believe God 02/05/2017

Life Through the Lens of God Refining Us 01/22/2017

Life Through the Lens of God Refining Us 01/22/2017

1. Wasted DiscipleshipMatthew 7:6 NLT 6 "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.Matthew 15:26 Jesus responded, "It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs." Proverbs 23:9 Don't waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice. 2 Peter 2:22 They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud." Proverbs 9:7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. Proverbs 9:8 So don't bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Revelation 22:15 Outside the city are the dogs the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. Proverbs 11:22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout. Proverbs 26:4–5 Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.Matthew 10:14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. The point here is we can waste our time on people who have already decided.Stubborness vs. humilityThe fool has said in his heart, There is no God.The natural man 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 NLT 14 But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature.2. MoneyPsalm 37:21 NLT 21 The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.Proverbs 22:7 NLT 7 Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.Proverbs 27:23 NLT 23 Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds,1 Timothy 6:10 NLT 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NLT 6 Remember this-- a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever." 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.Get out of DebtGiving to the poor is lending to the LordYou will never get poor by being generousGod supplies to the generous.2 ILLUSTRATIONSFriend paid when I didn’t know how I was going toMoney showed up in my account3. AngerWe get angry about the wrong things so that we get angry where we should be patient, and passive when we should get angry.James 1:19-20 NLT 19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT 26 Be angry and do not sin. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.Psalm 4:4-5 NLT 4 Don't sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. 5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the LORD.4. MotivesJeremiah 17:10 NLT 10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."Can we get in the habit of asking “why”?We often only go as far as the “what” and the “where” but forget about the “why” and the “how”.So what are our underlying deeper motives?Here is a sampling:Pleasure, Freedom/Autonomy, Love/Intimacy, Significance/Reputation, Respect/Admiration, Control, Power, Peace, Happiness, Comfort, Meaning, and Success.The man who is always late and unavailable when there is work to be done might be motivated by comfort, laziness, or perhaps he is motivated by success and respect and is afraid of failure.The wife who is mortified that a surprise visitor saw her messy house might be motivated by reputation.The father whose children are fearful and whose wife is cautious might be motivated by power.The teen who rebels against any curfew might be motivated by freedom.The mother who never lets her children stay with a babysitter might be motivated by control.We need to ask ourselves questions like:Why does life not seem like its worth living?Why are these goals so important to me?Why do I feel I need this particular thing so badly?Why do I define success and failure in this particular way?Why was I so angry with my spouse or my child?Why am I feeling depressed?Why am I feeling bitterness or jealousy?Why am I wasting my time and being lazy?We want to indulge our desires over and against God and this is where good things become god things and we step into idolatry.When we realize that our evil desires are incapable of being satisfied ultimately outside of God then we can repent and turn to God who will satisfy our deepest longings.So the idea is feel the feeling.So I challenge us to get in the habit of asking the “why” question to help get good at interpreting our motives so we can apply the Gospel to our hearts.5. TimeNLT Ephesians 5:16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.Exhaust the possibilities available.Believers act wisely by snapping up every opportunity.This goes back to the previous verse:Ephesians 5:15 NLT 15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.Those who are wise make the most of every opportunity to conduct themselves in a way that is pleasing to God.Psalm 90:12 NLT 12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.6. Laziness/SlothProverbs 6:6-11 NLT 6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.So we can waste our time, getting angry at things that don’t matter, being motivated by things that can never satisfy, spending out time being lazy and selfish.

1. Wasted DiscipleshipMatthew 7:6 NLT 6 "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.Matthew 15:26 Jesus responded, "It isn't right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs." Proverbs 23:9 Don't waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice. 2 Peter 2:22 They prove the truth of this proverb: "A dog returns to its vomit." And another says, "A washed pig returns to the mud." Proverbs 9:7 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. Proverbs 9:8 So don't bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Proverbs 26:11 As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness. Revelation 22:15 Outside the city are the dogs the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idol worshipers, and all who love to live a lie. Proverbs 11:22 A beautiful woman who lacks discretion is like a gold ring in a pig's snout. Proverbs 26:4–5 Don't answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are. 5 Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.Matthew 10:14 If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave. The point here is we can waste our time on people who have already decided.Stubborness vs. humilityThe fool has said in his heart, There is no God.The natural man 1 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 NLT 14 But people who aren't spiritual can't receive these truths from God's Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can't understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren't ready for anything stronger. And you still aren't ready, 3 for you are still controlled by your sinful nature.2. MoneyPsalm 37:21 NLT 21 The wicked borrow and never repay, but the godly are generous givers.Proverbs 22:7 NLT 7 Just as the rich rule the poor, so the borrower is servant to the lender.Proverbs 27:23 NLT 23 Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds,1 Timothy 6:10 NLT 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.2 Corinthians 9:6-11 NLT 6 Remember this-- a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop. 7 You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully." 8 And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 9 As the Scriptures say, "They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever." 10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. 11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God.Get out of DebtGiving to the poor is lending to the LordYou will never get poor by being generousGod supplies to the generous.2 ILLUSTRATIONSFriend paid when I didn’t know how I was going toMoney showed up in my account3. AngerWe get angry about the wrong things so that we get angry where we should be patient, and passive when we should get angry.James 1:19-20 NLT 19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.Ephesians 4:26-27 NLT 26 Be angry and do not sin. Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.Psalm 4:4-5 NLT 4 Don't sin by letting anger control you. Think about it overnight and remain silent. 5 Offer sacrifices in the right spirit, and trust the LORD.4. MotivesJeremiah 17:10 NLT 10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."Can we get in the habit of asking “why”?We often only go as far as the “what” and the “where” but forget about the “why” and the “how”.So what are our underlying deeper motives?Here is a sampling:Pleasure, Freedom/Autonomy, Love/Intimacy, Significance/Reputation, Respect/Admiration, Control, Power, Peace, Happiness, Comfort, Meaning, and Success.The man who is always late and unavailable when there is work to be done might be motivated by comfort, laziness, or perhaps he is motivated by success and respect and is afraid of failure.The wife who is mortified that a surprise visitor saw her messy house might be motivated by reputation.The father whose children are fearful and whose wife is cautious might be motivated by power.The teen who rebels against any curfew might be motivated by freedom.The mother who never lets her children stay with a babysitter might be motivated by control.We need to ask ourselves questions like:Why does life not seem like its worth living?Why are these goals so important to me?Why do I feel I need this particular thing so badly?Why do I define success and failure in this particular way?Why was I so angry with my spouse or my child?Why am I feeling depressed?Why am I feeling bitterness or jealousy?Why am I wasting my time and being lazy?We want to indulge our desires over and against God and this is where good things become god things and we step into idolatry.When we realize that our evil desires are incapable of being satisfied ultimately outside of God then we can repent and turn to God who will satisfy our deepest longings.So the idea is feel the feeling.So I challenge us to get in the habit of asking the “why” question to help get good at interpreting our motives so we can apply the Gospel to our hearts.5. TimeNLT Ephesians 5:16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.Exhaust the possibilities available.Believers act wisely by snapping up every opportunity.This goes back to the previous verse:Ephesians 5:15 NLT 15 So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise.Those who are wise make the most of every opportunity to conduct themselves in a way that is pleasing to God.Psalm 90:12 NLT 12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.6. Laziness/SlothProverbs 6:6-11 NLT 6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-- 11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.So we can waste our time, getting angry at things that don’t matter, being motivated by things that can never satisfy, spending out time being lazy and selfish.