Introduction:
1. In my life, I must say I never knew God. I must say my parents did not force me to learn about a Creator, a Savior, or a Sustainer. I was a typical product of America. I spent my youth learning how to make friends and play baseball, perhaps other sports as well. I learned how to fish, how to hunt, how to chase girls, and mostly how to desire for money and success.
2. It seems from a child, I can remember being taught in America if you had enough money then you could do anything. I have had many friends, relatives, now co-workers, and others dream about becoming extremely successful and rich. If I had a million dollars, if I win the lottery, if I invent the next thing-a-ma-bob, if I could get on shark tank, If I could get on a singing show, etc… then I would not have a worry in the world.
3. I have spent my entire life seeking after money, success, and all kinds of other idols. It seems that because most of knowledge, understanding, creativity, success, etc… do not include the What would Jesus do (WWJD)? We have lost the American dream by worshipping the idol success in the temple of money.
I. There is a God and no matter what you think He is what He is
A. It is God’s way or it is not the way (Our perception does not change reality)
1. As a man thinks in his heart so is he (Prov 23:7)
a. Proverbs 23:6-7 KJV Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: (7) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
2. Many cults, religions, and mystics have experiences
a. How many stories have been told of an experience they have had. What are the point of these stories? We do not need to tell of experiences, we need to tell the truth of God’s love. Jesus did not say what you will experience will set you free but He said “the truth will set you free” John 8:32
b. Many people say they hear angels, God, dead people, and that a voice talks to them. God does not whisper in your ear or mind but has spoken through His word. It is up to us to remember His commands and do them.
B. Many today do not know God, either due to ignorance or obstinacies
1. Do you care at what table you sit at? (1 Cor 10:21-22)
a. 1 Corinthians 10:21-22 KJV (21) Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. (22) Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he?
b. We need to be careful who and what we are receiving from.
2. We are ignorant (Eph 4:17-19)
a. Ephesians 4:17-20 KJV This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, (18) Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (19) Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (20) But ye have not so learned Christ;
b. We can be like Jesus by obeying or we can be like our neighbor, which do you want?
C. Our minds, hearts, and children are becoming so darkened that God is giving up on us
1. Many do not recognize God as God (Rom 1:20-25)
a. Romans 1:20-25 KJV For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: (21) Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (22) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, (23) And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. (24) Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: (25) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
2. Many are calling their sin, God. (Rom 1:26-32)
a. Romans 1:26-32 KJV For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. (28) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
b. How many people today are saying God made me this way, therefore it is God will that I change from a woman to man or a man to a woman, or to be homosexual. It is not God’s will for sin to control mankind.
II. Each person here has a measure of faith to know God exists
A. Every Design had a Designer
1. The watchmaker
a. Someone has given me an illustration of a watch
b. The idea is that for all of this world to happen by accident or mere chance is like me taking the parts of a pocket watch, putting them into a bag, shaking the bag and its contents up, then reaching my hand into the bag and pulling out a put together, complete and working pocket watch.
c. You and I both know you can not put the right parts in a bag shake it up and have a complete product. You see each part of a pocket watch has a design and a purpose.
d. Each gear, piece, bearings, and shafts all depend on the others for it proper working order.
e. The watch would never work unless an intelligent being put each piece in its proper place so that it would run correctly.
f. God is the watchmaker
g. God is the one who put each part of this universe together
h. He is the source of all things.
i. He is the intelligent being that put everything in its place.
2. No one can please God unless they understand who He is (Heb 11:6)
a. Romans 12:3 KJV For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
b. Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
B. God is Faithful to keep His word
1. What is the New Testament or Covenant?
a. It is Jesus Will for us to obey. It is the agreement between God and man if they want to be saved. God says I will perform all of these things (promises and rewards) and we say we will obey and follow Jesus.
2. Are we keeping our agreement with the Creator? Our Savior?
C. God never gives a command we cannot perform
1. How do you love God? (John 14:15) (1 John 5:2-3)
a. John 14:15 KJV If ye love me, keep my commandments.
b. 1 John 5:2-3 KJV By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. (3) For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
2. What will we be judged by? (John 12:47-48)
a. John 12:46-48 KJV I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. (47) And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. (48) He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
III. How do we know God’s Will?
A. Knowledge of God’s Written Word
1. Study God’s word (2 Tim 3:16-17)
a. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 KJV All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (17) That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2. Properly applying God’s word (2 Tim 2:15)
a. 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
B. What happens when we refuse to obey God’s commandments?
1. Listen to some scripture found in Jerimiah
a. Jer_13:10 This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
b. Jer_23:22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.
c. Jer_6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.
2. If we “love” God Then we must do what He has commanded
a. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. (John 15:10 KJV)
b. 2 John 1:6 KJV And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
c. 2 John 1:9 KJV Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
C. God will not give us commands we cannot obey
1. God’s commandments help us when we obey (1 John 5:2-3)(Mic 2:7)
a. Micah 2:7 KJV O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
2. Look at the reward when we obey (Rev 22:14)
a. Revelation 22:14 KJV Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
IV. Each one of us can do the simplest things to serve God and not ourselves
A. Look at this parable of the talents (Mathew 25:14-30)
1. We all have talents
2. 2 used their talents and more was given. 1 Did not and his was taken away.
B. Look what is included after it (Mathew 25:31-46)
1. You may say what talents do I have?
2. Listen to what the Lord said after His lesson on talents:
a. Matthew 25:31-46 KJV When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: (32) And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: (33) And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (34) Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: (36) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? (38) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? (39) Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (41) Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: (42) For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: (43) I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. (44) Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? (45) Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (46) And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
b. There is not a human here that does not eat, that does not drink, that does not understand when a person has hit bad times and has no clothes, that does not understand what being sick means, and that does not understand when someone is put into prison. We all can reach out and provide the needed things for anyone. Just a side note: in roman prisons they did not feed you, someone had to provide you with food or you died.
c. We all have these talents. Have you used yours lately?
Conclusion:
1. Mark 12:29-31 KJV And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: (30) And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (31) And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
2. Are you keeping the commandments of God? God asks, are you learning my words? Jesus said “Matthew 11:28-30 KJV Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
3. Jesus also said “John 10:9-11 KJV I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (10) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (11) I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
4. Perhaps you were following Jesus and forsook your Lord like I did, remember this scripture “Hebrews 13:5 KJV let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
5. God’s says in 2 Peter 3:9 KJV The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
Father we renounce anything unholy and ask you would grant us repentance and mercy in Jesus of Nazareth's name amen.
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