God wants us to join with Him.

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Topic # 470 (providence)

Introduction:

A.       God is always at work.  He wants us to get on board with His plan. To get on board w/Him.

1.       There are moments of decision we have to make – which way we are going to go – step out in faith – or go w/status quo.

a)      God is NOT calling us to mundane, mediocre, average, apathetic service.

B.      God wants us to join with him! He wants us to know His work & be involved in it!

1.       Psa. 81:10-16–text talking about Israel. But…principle established here applicable to Christians today!

2.       God has desire to bless His people!

a)      God wants people to listen to Him; adjust their lives; adjust their plans; to serve Him.

3.       If we not careful, we can expect God to be our servant.

a)      pray that God bless our families, improve our financial condition, give us our wants/desires, etc. if not careful, make God our servant!

b)      WE are the SERVANT! God has done His part! He sent His Son for us!

4.       to join with God – to get on board with His plan, will require a reorganization of our thinking!  We must change the way we look at things!

C.      Consider – book of Genesis & story of Abraham.

1.       what do we think about when we read this book?

a)      account of Abraham’s walk w/God?

b)      OR…is Genesis an account of God using Abraham to do His work?

2.       Remember…God had his plan from foundation of world to redeem man from sin.

a)      Abraham to be part of this plan – tool for God to use to accomplish HIS task!

b)      Ever thought: why did God not immediately give Abraham a son?

1)   had to wait 25 yrs for a son.

2)   During this time, God preparing Abraham to be a father.

3)   Abraham had to be brought into the mainstream of God’s plan!

3.       Abraham had to make adjustments from being self centered to GOD CENTERED

D.      We have to make adjustments to enter into God’s work as well.  We will discuss the adjustments in the remainder of this AM’s lesson.

 

I.  What Often Stops Us From Joining With God’s Work?

A.     Dependence on Self.  (Pride)

1.       Gal. 6:3 – be careful of attitude of self confidence.

2.       Rom. 1:19-22 – self confidence – it all started w/fact that they would not recognize who God was.

a)      what Paul dealing with = the end result.  The effects of years of not knowing God.

b)      Compare to modern society.  100 years ago – no one believed Darwinism.

c)       Majority today do not honor/thank God – largely dependent on self.

3.       God expects us to go away from dependence on self!

a)      2 Pet. 2:9-14; 17 – there will be serious condemnation on those who choose to follow their own will.

b)      Eph. 2:3 – we’ve all been here.  Note actions of Ephesians – turning away from this.

1)   this the way of man – not to depend on anyone else

2)   this not the way of Christ.

4.       Must learn to depend/look on God.  Get away from It’s all about me thinking.

a)      exhibited by expecting others to serve us.

b)      Jesus:  Jhn. 13:3-5; 12-15 – taught we must serve others – humility.

c)       Get away from idea: preachers; leadership; bible classes there to SERVE us; our wants; do our evangelism for us.

5.       Must begin to look at things differently – so we may work with God!

B.     Selfish & Ordinary living.

1.       general attitude of world:  everyone going to heaven.  Bible makes it no secret that NOT everyone going.

a)      idea:  live as you want – doesn’t matter.

b)      1 Jhn. 2:15-17 – don’t love the world!  Christians often don’t look that different from the world.

2.       Must seek to get away from selfish/ordinary living.

a)    idea:  one who has most toys at end wins.

b)   Truth:  no toys at end.  Get away from this type of thinking.

c)    Our priorities MUST be rearranged.

3.       Num. 13 – 12 spies.  (10 gave unfaithful report.)  Why?  Suffered from selfish thinking & reliance upon self.  Thought:  we can only do what we can do.

a)    task before them:  giants.

b)   Gave unfaithful report.  Weren’t looking to God.

c)    Josh 2:11 – God’s secret made known. Canaanites scared of Israel.

d)   Spies didn’t know this because their selfishness stopped them from seeing God’s plan.

e)    Cost them 40 years of wandering in wilderness.

4.       How many times has our selfish ideas/wants STOPPED US form accomplishing God’s task? How many times has my selfishness put me off track?

 

II.  What Must We Do to Join God’s Work?

A.     Develop confidence in God!

1.     Phil. 4:13 – all things = spiritual things!

2.     not secular.

3.     God WILL help us accomplish HIS spiritual task!

B.     Develop dependence on God.

1.     1 Cor. 5:7 – learn to look to God to accomplish impossible task.  Depend on him!

2.     depend on God – to where it becomes who we are – Gal. 2:20.

3.     Paul lived a totally different life after he became a Christian.

C.     Become God focused.

1.     must approach Christian life – How can I serve?

a)    not – what can God/church do for me?

2.     take extra time; effort; fellowship; develop relationships.

3.     Mt. 20:28 – remember attitude of Jesus.

D.    Develop a God first attitude.

1.     Mt. 6:33 – must put God first!  Worldly concerns must b/c secondary!

2.     1 Pet. 1:14 – put God first – b/c obedient children!  Seek to be holy!

E.     Have a God following life.

1.     Gen 39 – Joseph story – 17 yrs later – Gen. 45:5, 7.  Says God brought him to that point.  WOW!

2.     Joshua/Caleb – dependent/focused upon God.  (Num. 14:9)

3.     practical application:  are we focused upon God through our behavior?

a)    temper; gossip; speech; to DO service for God?

4.     I must seek to change from self-dependent to God dependent!

5.     I must adjust my:

a)    attitude/mind

b)   heart/spirit

c)    God CAN’T work with us unless we make changes!

 

Conclusion:

A.       We must seek to do things God’s way.  If we do things His way – things will come out best.

1.     follow His instructions.  He knows best.

B.       We must work to understand His goals, focus, what He has in mind.

1.     He has a purpose!

2.     Sometimes we fail to commit to God’s purpose b/c we still look to OUR purpose/OUR desires/OUR wants.  This leads to failure.

3.     Js. 1:22-25 – blessings will come through our obedience!

C.       God wants us to join w/Him in His work!

1.     In our attitude, speech, actions.

2.     Are you on board w/His plans?

D.       Are you a Christian?  If not you can get on board with his plan first by obeying the gospel.

E.       If you already Christian, then why not make sure you sacrifice self in order to see His plan.

F.        I N V I T A T I O N