Matthew 7:7-12 read
Remember Matthew 7:7-12 is on the heals of 1-6 which speaks about judging others and how we should respond to that.
I want to suggest that this passage is teaching us about our prayer lives in relation to our personal relationships to others. In other words God is willing to change you if you are willing to ASK Him
Many times people get mad at God, doubt Him or claim the Bible is not worth it because they take this passage out of context pray for something (like a material possession) don’t receive it and then they challenge this Scripture. It forms their view of God.
In a Baylor University study
Researchers found these four ideas of God were found among believers. The data showed: • 31.4 percent believe in an Authoritarian God, who is very judgmental and engaged
• 16 percent believe in a Critical God, who is judgmental but not engaged• 25 percent believe in a Benevolent God, who is not judgmental but engaged• 23 percent believe in a Distant God, who is completely removed
Distant God
To me this is the most disturbing because there are believers in our churches today that believe that God is distant and does not concern Himself with the affairs of people.
Or no matter what we ask God He has a blank stare on His face and He will not change the course of things on our behalf.
Two OT illustrations of God changing His mind because He was asked. Ex 32 The Israelites made the Golden Calf to worship and did things that were displeasing to God. God wanted to destroy them. Moses asked Him to relent and He did v12-14
2 Kings 20 Hezekiah v4-6 God gave him 15 years.
If we believe or fall into a trap of thinking God is distant and does not care that will radically affect our prayer life and whether or not we believe God can truly change us.
Lets start in the middle of this passage to first challenge that thought then we will look to what Jesus taught as to our attitude and how we should pray especially for a change in our lives
Vrs 9-11 Jesus uses the illustration of how we being “evil” sinful can figure out how to give good gifts to our children, how can God being good not be able to deliver.
Jesus is being kind of comical as He challenges this thought process. We have to reprogram our thinking and realize that God is good God and wants to help us, comfort us, bless us and answer our prayers
Romans 8:32 The gospel illustrates God’s grace towards us.God wants to give us the desires of our hearts but also wants to change our hearts to His desires.
But we have a responsibility when it comes to prayer.
Vrs 7-8 In these two verses Jesus gives us three attitudes that we should have in prayer it repeats them and gives us the results and repeats them.
Jesus even gives us an acronym to remember it by
Ask- Dependence -receive
Seek-Passion - you will find – A beautiful letdown
Knock-Persistence - the door will be opened
Ask=Dependence, inadequate, we do not have the power inside ourselves or the resources to control the situation.
Who can help me? Can I help myself? What does the world say?
When we ask God we are admitting that we need help and it is some thing that humbles us.
When I was younger and I had to fix my bike and could not get a bolt off that was too tight I asked my Dad and I was confident that not only would he do it but he could do it.
When you ASK God you are showing your dependence on Him.
James 4 says you don’t have because you don’t ask.
But notice prior to him saying that James 4:1. This is a relational idea, if you are going to get along with other people, you need God’s help.
What is the promise?
The promise is it will be “given to you” v8 “receive”
The million dollar question is always, why didn’t it work out or I get what I wanted?
Lets look at one of Jesus prayers Luke 22:32 Jesus prayed that “Peter’s faith would not fail” did it?
But that was part of Peter’s learning experience.
So when the answer to our prayers are not what we think they should be we have to trust God that He is in control and He will work things out the way He sees fit.
When we look at prayer like that it shows our dependence on Him
Seek=Passion or desire-Don’t get confused with emotional experiences. Look at Jesus’ passion, It was obedience to the point of death. Jesus sought to do the will of the Father.
Job 5:7-9 The counsel of Job’s friend Eliphaz is to “Seek God”
Phil 2:21 Our problem is that when we seek we seek for ourselves but God wants us to seek after Him in obedience then we will find.
When we are in prayer seeking God’s direction these are the things we have to remember.
Deut 12:4-6 seek what God chooses
The more we seek God the more we find how we should pray and what we should ask for and what His direction is in each situation. Not to spend it on our own pleasure etc.
Psalm 10:4 the wicked in pride does not seek.
Psalm 34:10 those who seek will not lack
Psalm 69:32 those who seek will live
Psalm 119:1-3 Those who seek him are obeying
You may be asking, why has God put me in this situation?
Acts 17:26-28 God has put each person in a place and situation so that they would seek Him. God wants you to passionately seek Him.
Knock =Persistence
Luke 11:5-8
When God sees our persistence in prayer he appreciates our diligence and desires to reward us. Hezzikiah & Moses
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The verdict is in.
-Maybe you have felt judged by others, people who think they have it all together and they look down on you.
-Maybe you feel judged by others but it is really your own guilt and shame that is keeping you from being around these people. They are not really judging you they may not even know what you are doing wrong
-Maybe you tried to help someone in their spiritual walk and struggle with sin and they accused you of being judgmental. They put up walls.
-Maybe you suffer from having a critical spirit. You criticize people because they don’t do things the way you would or you know you can do a better job.
-Or maybe you are critical of others to draw people away from seeing your faults or making yourself look better.
Like Augustine said “Lord, deliver me from the lust of vindicating myself.”
Lets see what Jesus has to say about Judging others…
V1-2 “judge” means form an opinion of, Is this talking about judgment from God or from the other people around you?
It seems as though this gives us the idea that if you are compassionate, loving and forgiving towards others they will respond that way to you. The idea of we reap what we sow. People will most likely treat us they way we treated them.
But God’s point of view, being every person will be judged by God we are accountable for the way that we treat other people. If we are constantly judging people and criticizing them God will hold us accountable for those attitudes. James 3:1 stricter judgment
The first time I went snowboarding. I am going to be better then all these people. I will pick this up no problem. Skating and surfing.
Before I became a parent I would look at other peoples kids and say “my kids will never do that”
Through these situations and situations like these God has humbled me to realize that anytime I am critical or judgmental I need to pray for the people I am criticizing or judging.
When someone in his congregation pointed out several faults in him and his preaching A wise pastor Instead of retaliating, or trying to defend himself, he looked at the woman and said, "If what you say is true, would you mind praying for me?"
The next step is that we have to pray for our own critical or Judgmental spirits
Sometimes we Judge people based upon our own preferences or rules
James 4:11-12 Adding rules and judging others by those rules makes you a Judge of the law basically saying “God’s commands are not good enough I need to add some and hold others to them” its called legalism Preferences, convictions or absolutes - Dancing
Dancing foot and praying knee.
We have a law of liberty Romans 1:1-13 when things are not spelled out for us we need to realize there is liberty and if God had something to say about it He would have. But we should not do things that will cause others to stumble into sin.
Lets get into the meat of this passage
V3 Why are looking at others faults and ignoring your own. Where is your heart? IF you are so focused in on the sins, faults or shortcomings of others your heart is in the wrong spot.
John 8 Stoning of the women. Law said she must be stoned, Deut 22:22-23 but where was the guy? Picking and choosing what they want to believe and do.
Verse 9 The “convicted by their own conscience” maybe that is you, you don’t like being around others because your own conscience is convicting you of your wrong doing.
Youth group “Too many people pointing fingers”
Notice even though Jesus had every right to judge but He judged with mercy and compassion. And gave sound advice
Said “go sin no more”
Vrs 12 Notice the follow up to this. This is why I love Jesus, I want to Follow a God like that.
Notice “so you shall put away evil from Israel” Deut. 22:22-23
HE is the light here to take away sin.
“God Judges after He expresses His love”
V4 The question posed here is how can you help another person understand how to have victory over a certain sin if you are having the same problem with it.
Understand things are always seem easier from the spectators position.
It was F.B. Meyer “when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know”
1. we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin.
2. we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her.
3. We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances. Stephen Brown, Christianity Today, April 5, 1993, p. 17.
V5 clean up your act and then you can be helpful to someone else.
The idea is not that we should ignore sin and refuse to discuss it’s consequences, rather one should be gracious, quick to forgive and come alongside and help.
“He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help”.
A. Lincoln
Notice this passage says “then you be able to see clearly” Sin clouds our vision. Example: when we are full of pride and puffed up we can’t see where are wrong or have wronged others.
Criticism or judgment is always difficult to accept, but if we receive it with humility and a desire to improve our character it can be very helpful. Only a fool does not profit when he is rebuked for his mistakes.
It stated that when we are criticized we ought to ask ourselves whether the criticism contains any truth. If it does, we should learn form it, even when it is not given with the right motivation and in the right spirit. The article then offered these three suggestions:
(1) Commit the matter instantly to God, asking Him to remove all resentment or counter-criticism on your part and teach you the needed lessons.
(2) If you have made a mistake or committed a sin, humbly and confess it to God and to anyone you may have injured.
(3) Be willing to learn afresh that you are not infallible and that you need God's grace and wisdom every moment of the day to keep on the straight path.
When we are criticized or judged, let's accept what is true and act upon it, thereby becoming a stronger person. He who profits from rebuke is wise.
V6 “pearls before”
Godly counsel, comforting and advice should be reserved for people who want to hear it and will take heed to it and will respond. Those who do not want it will turn on you, mock you and ridicule you for trying to show them the error of their way. These people are enemies of the cross, not just your average un-believer who is ignorant of the truths of God.
There are people who are too hard hearted to closed, to proud to hear you out. It is not always gross immorality often times it is just plan stubbornness or pride.
God calls us to rebuke and corrects people of the errors. Proverbs 9:7-9 Remember the fruit of getting close to the Lord is wisdom. James 5:20
-Maybe you feel judged by others but it is really your own guilt and shame that is keeping you from being around these people. They are not really judging you they may not even know what you are doing wrong
-Maybe you tried to help someone in their spiritual walk and struggle with sin and they accused you of being judgmental. They put up walls.
-Maybe you suffer from having a critical spirit. You criticize people because they don’t do things the way you would or you know you can do a better job.
-Or maybe you are critical of others to draw people away from seeing your faults or making yourself look better.
Like Augustine said “Lord, deliver me from the lust of vindicating myself.”
Lets see what Jesus has to say about Judging others…
V1-2 “judge” means form an opinion of, Is this talking about judgment from God or from the other people around you?
It seems as though this gives us the idea that if you are compassionate, loving and forgiving towards others they will respond that way to you. The idea of we reap what we sow. People will most likely treat us they way we treated them.
But God’s point of view, being every person will be judged by God we are accountable for the way that we treat other people. If we are constantly judging people and criticizing them God will hold us accountable for those attitudes. James 3:1 stricter judgment
The first time I went snowboarding. I am going to be better then all these people. I will pick this up no problem. Skating and surfing.
Before I became a parent I would look at other peoples kids and say “my kids will never do that”
Through these situations and situations like these God has humbled me to realize that anytime I am critical or judgmental I need to pray for the people I am criticizing or judging.
When someone in his congregation pointed out several faults in him and his preaching A wise pastor Instead of retaliating, or trying to defend himself, he looked at the woman and said, "If what you say is true, would you mind praying for me?"
The next step is that we have to pray for our own critical or Judgmental spirits
Sometimes we Judge people based upon our own preferences or rules
James 4:11-12 Adding rules and judging others by those rules makes you a Judge of the law basically saying “God’s commands are not good enough I need to add some and hold others to them” its called legalism Preferences, convictions or absolutes - Dancing
Dancing foot and praying knee.
We have a law of liberty Romans 1:1-13 when things are not spelled out for us we need to realize there is liberty and if God had something to say about it He would have. But we should not do things that will cause others to stumble into sin.
Lets get into the meat of this passage
V3 Why are looking at others faults and ignoring your own. Where is your heart? IF you are so focused in on the sins, faults or shortcomings of others your heart is in the wrong spot.
John 8 Stoning of the women. Law said she must be stoned, Deut 22:22-23 but where was the guy? Picking and choosing what they want to believe and do.
Verse 9 The “convicted by their own conscience” maybe that is you, you don’t like being around others because your own conscience is convicting you of your wrong doing.
Youth group “Too many people pointing fingers”
Notice even though Jesus had every right to judge but He judged with mercy and compassion. And gave sound advice
Said “go sin no more”
Vrs 12 Notice the follow up to this. This is why I love Jesus, I want to Follow a God like that.
Notice “so you shall put away evil from Israel” Deut. 22:22-23
HE is the light here to take away sin.
“God Judges after He expresses His love”
V4 The question posed here is how can you help another person understand how to have victory over a certain sin if you are having the same problem with it.
Understand things are always seem easier from the spectators position.
It was F.B. Meyer “when we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know”
1. we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin.
2. we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her.
3. We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances. Stephen Brown, Christianity Today, April 5, 1993, p. 17.
V5 clean up your act and then you can be helpful to someone else.
The idea is not that we should ignore sin and refuse to discuss it’s consequences, rather one should be gracious, quick to forgive and come alongside and help.
“He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help”.
A. Lincoln
Notice this passage says “then you be able to see clearly” Sin clouds our vision. Example: when we are full of pride and puffed up we can’t see where are wrong or have wronged others.
Criticism or judgment is always difficult to accept, but if we receive it with humility and a desire to improve our character it can be very helpful. Only a fool does not profit when he is rebuked for his mistakes.
It stated that when we are criticized we ought to ask ourselves whether the criticism contains any truth. If it does, we should learn form it, even when it is not given with the right motivation and in the right spirit. The article then offered these three suggestions:
(1) Commit the matter instantly to God, asking Him to remove all resentment or counter-criticism on your part and teach you the needed lessons.
(2) If you have made a mistake or committed a sin, humbly and confess it to God and to anyone you may have injured.
(3) Be willing to learn afresh that you are not infallible and that you need God's grace and wisdom every moment of the day to keep on the straight path.
When we are criticized or judged, let's accept what is true and act upon it, thereby becoming a stronger person. He who profits from rebuke is wise.
V6 “pearls before”
Godly counsel, comforting and advice should be reserved for people who want to hear it and will take heed to it and will respond. Those who do not want it will turn on you, mock you and ridicule you for trying to show them the error of their way. These people are enemies of the cross, not just your average un-believer who is ignorant of the truths of God.
There are people who are too hard hearted to closed, to proud to hear you out. It is not always gross immorality often times it is just plan stubbornness or pride.
God calls us to rebuke and corrects people of the errors. Proverbs 9:7-9 Remember the fruit of getting close to the Lord is wisdom. James 5:20
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Got Fruit?
Got Fruit?
Matthew 7:15-20 Part of the Sermon on the mount
V15 A warning “beware”
The religious leaders of that day were teaching of a coming Messiah but they rejected that Jesus was Him. Because of that they were “False prophets or teachers”
“look like sheep but are wolves” They look good but they are not.
Wolves are skilled and know how to attack and when they attack they devour.
Matt 10:16-23 Jesus’ call to His followers. we should be sheep
“wise as snakes” Snakes were commonly know for being silent and contemplative of next move.
“Harmless as doves” we are not to cause trouble but be people that bring truth and peace to others
It is not easy to follow Jesus as a sheep in a world full of wolves.
V16 The litmus test “You will know them by their fruits” We all understand the concept of good piece of fruit
This will be our focus for tonight.
V17-18 Good comes from good bad comes from bad.
Two different fruits illustration
1. “Strangler Fig” Bad fruit
Bad Fruit The Strangler Fig
In Mexico and the tropical zones of South America a so-called "strangler" fig grows in abundance. The Spanish-speaking people refer to it as the "matapalo" which means "the tree killer." The fruit is not palatable except to cattle and the fowls of the air. After the birds eat it, they must clean their beaks of the sticky residue. They do this by rubbing them on nearby trees. The seeds of the small fig have a natural glue which makes them adhere to the branches. When the rainy season arrives, germination takes place. Soon tiny roots make their way down into the heart of the wood and begins to grow. Within a few years the once lovely palms have been entirely covered with the entangling vines of the parasitic growth. Unless the tree is set free through the removal of these "strangler" figs, it finally begins to wither, dropping one frond after another until it is completely lifeless. The only was to stop the killing process is for someone to take a sharp knife and cut away the invader.
Matthew 3:7-9 The religious leaders believed that because the came from Abraham they were going to be saved and they also taught that. Change your mind. = fruit is salvation
Romans 6:21-22 the fruit of sin deeds are worthless and bring forth death
When we follow people who are teaching the wrong things or we believe the error it is destructive. The fruit or outcome is bad.
2. ‘Taste Berry” Good fruit
Good Fruit "Taste Berry"
It is said that in Africa there is a fruit called the "taste berry," because it changes a person's tastes so that everything eaten tastes sweet and pleasant. Sour fruit, even if eaten several hours after the "taste berry," become sweet and delicious.
.
What does the Bible tell us about pursuing a fruitful life?
1. Righteous people receive eternal life. How are we declared righteous? Trust in Christ. Proverbs 11:30 righteousness which we can only get through Christ is the “Tree of Life” Rev 22
2. Believers will have fruit. Proverbs 12:12 If you are declared righteous and you are living righteous there will be fruit from your life.
What are the fruits?
Ryrie “What are fruits which a Christian can bear? The N.T. gives several answers to the question. Developing Christian character is fruit. If the goal of the Christian life may be stated as Christlikeness, then surely every trait developed in us that reflects His character must be fruit that is very pleasing to Him.”
The more we emulate Christ the more fruit we display. What was Christ like?
Compassionate, loving, forgiving, selfless, resisted temptation, hated sin,
3. Learning about God and His Word Proverbs 8:19 The fruit of Godly wisdom is better then gold. Do I care about learning the things of God?
4. Obedience John 15:5 walk in obedience Psalm 1:3 if you are rooted in Christ you will be a person the bears fruit.v6 or there will be no reward. Do I care about putting what I have learned into practice? Obedience.
5. Plug into a church body to help you in your walk with the Lord. Col 1:9-10 Paul was praying for them to be fruitful and increase in knowledge.
God has planted a seed of salvation (Taste Berry) in us and with His help he wants us to bear good fruit. John 15:5 “without Him we can do nothing”
Bottom line is walk the walk, faith in action
If we are living out our faith we will bear the fruits that God desires of us. “Taste Berry” Life will be sweeter for us and those around us.
V19-20 The demise of a false prophet or teacher or unbeliever.
“Therefore” the conclusion of the matter is You can tell what someone believes by what is coming out of their life.
So where do we start “It starts with our attitude (in our minds)
Got Fruit? Challenge 08 Gal 5:22-23
Dr. Ryrie states “To show these character traits (fruits of the Spirit) is to bear fruit in one's life. right character will result in right conduct, and as we live a life of good works we produce fruit
Matthew 7:15-20 Part of the Sermon on the mount
V15 A warning “beware”
The religious leaders of that day were teaching of a coming Messiah but they rejected that Jesus was Him. Because of that they were “False prophets or teachers”
“look like sheep but are wolves” They look good but they are not.
Wolves are skilled and know how to attack and when they attack they devour.
Matt 10:16-23 Jesus’ call to His followers. we should be sheep
“wise as snakes” Snakes were commonly know for being silent and contemplative of next move.
“Harmless as doves” we are not to cause trouble but be people that bring truth and peace to others
It is not easy to follow Jesus as a sheep in a world full of wolves.
V16 The litmus test “You will know them by their fruits” We all understand the concept of good piece of fruit
This will be our focus for tonight.
V17-18 Good comes from good bad comes from bad.
Two different fruits illustration
1. “Strangler Fig” Bad fruit
Bad Fruit The Strangler Fig
In Mexico and the tropical zones of South America a so-called "strangler" fig grows in abundance. The Spanish-speaking people refer to it as the "matapalo" which means "the tree killer." The fruit is not palatable except to cattle and the fowls of the air. After the birds eat it, they must clean their beaks of the sticky residue. They do this by rubbing them on nearby trees. The seeds of the small fig have a natural glue which makes them adhere to the branches. When the rainy season arrives, germination takes place. Soon tiny roots make their way down into the heart of the wood and begins to grow. Within a few years the once lovely palms have been entirely covered with the entangling vines of the parasitic growth. Unless the tree is set free through the removal of these "strangler" figs, it finally begins to wither, dropping one frond after another until it is completely lifeless. The only was to stop the killing process is for someone to take a sharp knife and cut away the invader.
Matthew 3:7-9 The religious leaders believed that because the came from Abraham they were going to be saved and they also taught that. Change your mind. = fruit is salvation
Romans 6:21-22 the fruit of sin deeds are worthless and bring forth death
When we follow people who are teaching the wrong things or we believe the error it is destructive. The fruit or outcome is bad.
2. ‘Taste Berry” Good fruit
Good Fruit "Taste Berry"
It is said that in Africa there is a fruit called the "taste berry," because it changes a person's tastes so that everything eaten tastes sweet and pleasant. Sour fruit, even if eaten several hours after the "taste berry," become sweet and delicious.
.
What does the Bible tell us about pursuing a fruitful life?
1. Righteous people receive eternal life. How are we declared righteous? Trust in Christ. Proverbs 11:30 righteousness which we can only get through Christ is the “Tree of Life” Rev 22
2. Believers will have fruit. Proverbs 12:12 If you are declared righteous and you are living righteous there will be fruit from your life.
What are the fruits?
Ryrie “What are fruits which a Christian can bear? The N.T. gives several answers to the question. Developing Christian character is fruit. If the goal of the Christian life may be stated as Christlikeness, then surely every trait developed in us that reflects His character must be fruit that is very pleasing to Him.”
The more we emulate Christ the more fruit we display. What was Christ like?
Compassionate, loving, forgiving, selfless, resisted temptation, hated sin,
3. Learning about God and His Word Proverbs 8:19 The fruit of Godly wisdom is better then gold. Do I care about learning the things of God?
4. Obedience John 15:5 walk in obedience Psalm 1:3 if you are rooted in Christ you will be a person the bears fruit.v6 or there will be no reward. Do I care about putting what I have learned into practice? Obedience.
5. Plug into a church body to help you in your walk with the Lord. Col 1:9-10 Paul was praying for them to be fruitful and increase in knowledge.
God has planted a seed of salvation (Taste Berry) in us and with His help he wants us to bear good fruit. John 15:5 “without Him we can do nothing”
Bottom line is walk the walk, faith in action
If we are living out our faith we will bear the fruits that God desires of us. “Taste Berry” Life will be sweeter for us and those around us.
V19-20 The demise of a false prophet or teacher or unbeliever.
“Therefore” the conclusion of the matter is You can tell what someone believes by what is coming out of their life.
So where do we start “It starts with our attitude (in our minds)
Got Fruit? Challenge 08 Gal 5:22-23
Dr. Ryrie states “To show these character traits (fruits of the Spirit) is to bear fruit in one's life. right character will result in right conduct, and as we live a life of good works we produce fruit
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Which Gate?
Which Gate?
Matthew 7:13-14
There are two gates.
1. One is wide (v. 13).
2. One is narrow/small (v. 13 & 14).
There are two ways.
1. One is broad (v. 13).
2. One is narrow (v. 14).
There are two destinations.
1. One is destruction (v. 13).
2. One is life (v. 14).
There are two groups of people.
1. One is large (v. 13).
2. One is small (v. 14)
Two ways to look at the passage
1. Salvation or entrance into heaven- The common way to look at this passage. Luke 13:23 “are there few who are saved”
Narrow- it suggests that we are not bringing anything with us- sacrifice Christ’s Sacrifice
No room for stuff or wealth (accomplishments) Mark 8:36 “what does it profit”
No room for your good deeds (achievements) Eph 2:8-9
No room for your own philosophy (accolades) Col 2:8
Most importantly no room for un-forgiven sin which is really what is keeping us out Rom 6:23
Wide – all that stuff is welcome, it can fit
The American way is that more is better.
but when it comes to spiritual things less seems to be better.
Result=Destruction-condemned for eternity separate from the Lord
Result of the narrow = life
How do we enter the Narrow?
Believe and receive the truth about Jesus John 1:12
Truth is narrow John 14:6
No condemnation John 5:24
That when He died He was paying the price for our sins which are keeping us from Him.
It is not difficult because of God, it is difficult because…
1. We have a problem letting our pride down and admitting we need Him
2. 2 Cor 4:4 tells us the Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers.
Then once we do lay it all down we realize all the things that we were holding onto could have never brought the fulfillment or the right relationship that we receive when we trust the Lord.
Why only a few?
1 Corinthians 1:22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness
Because people want to hold on
2. The uncommon way of looking at this passage is staying on the narrow path of obedience. That is a narrow path because each situation has the right thing (truth one way) or many wrong things. In many cases it is easier to disobey then obey.
1. Many go the wide gate of disobedience. How can we avoid that in 2008?
A. Don’t follow the crowd in doing wrong Ex 23:2
Non-Christian Crowd, Christian Crowd
Galatians 2:20
B. Don’t believe Satan’s lies John 8:44
- Satan hates God and is so angry with Him that he wants to get back at God through us
-Satan’s Discouragement
-Distraction & hang us up
-Jealous of us because we will be exalted above him and where he once was. Player hating
-How do we know it is Satan? Test it by the Scriptures, which brings us to our next point.
C. Don’t neglect your time spent with God, spiritual feeding
Daily time reading & learning, prayer, gathering with other Christians. Josh 1:8
D. Sinful Desires Romans 7:20 “It is the sin dwelling within me”Welcome to the fallout Welcome to resistance The tension is here The tension is here Between who you are and who you could be Between how it is and how it should be
These things all lead to destructive spiritual patterns in life that need be addressed
The results are either a destructive life or a fruitful life next week we will talk about what the fruitful life looks like.
In 2008 I dare you to move…from where you are to where you need to be.
Matthew 7:13-14
There are two gates.
1. One is wide (v. 13).
2. One is narrow/small (v. 13 & 14).
There are two ways.
1. One is broad (v. 13).
2. One is narrow (v. 14).
There are two destinations.
1. One is destruction (v. 13).
2. One is life (v. 14).
There are two groups of people.
1. One is large (v. 13).
2. One is small (v. 14)
Two ways to look at the passage
1. Salvation or entrance into heaven- The common way to look at this passage. Luke 13:23 “are there few who are saved”
Narrow- it suggests that we are not bringing anything with us- sacrifice Christ’s Sacrifice
No room for stuff or wealth (accomplishments) Mark 8:36 “what does it profit”
No room for your good deeds (achievements) Eph 2:8-9
No room for your own philosophy (accolades) Col 2:8
Most importantly no room for un-forgiven sin which is really what is keeping us out Rom 6:23
Wide – all that stuff is welcome, it can fit
The American way is that more is better.
but when it comes to spiritual things less seems to be better.
Result=Destruction-condemned for eternity separate from the Lord
Result of the narrow = life
How do we enter the Narrow?
Believe and receive the truth about Jesus John 1:12
Truth is narrow John 14:6
No condemnation John 5:24
That when He died He was paying the price for our sins which are keeping us from Him.
It is not difficult because of God, it is difficult because…
1. We have a problem letting our pride down and admitting we need Him
2. 2 Cor 4:4 tells us the Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers.
Then once we do lay it all down we realize all the things that we were holding onto could have never brought the fulfillment or the right relationship that we receive when we trust the Lord.
Why only a few?
1 Corinthians 1:22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness
Because people want to hold on
2. The uncommon way of looking at this passage is staying on the narrow path of obedience. That is a narrow path because each situation has the right thing (truth one way) or many wrong things. In many cases it is easier to disobey then obey.
1. Many go the wide gate of disobedience. How can we avoid that in 2008?
A. Don’t follow the crowd in doing wrong Ex 23:2
Non-Christian Crowd, Christian Crowd
Galatians 2:20
B. Don’t believe Satan’s lies John 8:44
- Satan hates God and is so angry with Him that he wants to get back at God through us
-Satan’s Discouragement
-Distraction & hang us up
-Jealous of us because we will be exalted above him and where he once was. Player hating
-How do we know it is Satan? Test it by the Scriptures, which brings us to our next point.
C. Don’t neglect your time spent with God, spiritual feeding
Daily time reading & learning, prayer, gathering with other Christians. Josh 1:8
D. Sinful Desires Romans 7:20 “It is the sin dwelling within me”Welcome to the fallout Welcome to resistance The tension is here The tension is here Between who you are and who you could be Between how it is and how it should be
These things all lead to destructive spiritual patterns in life that need be addressed
The results are either a destructive life or a fruitful life next week we will talk about what the fruitful life looks like.
In 2008 I dare you to move…from where you are to where you need to be.
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