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God wants to do everything

God wants to do everything
Philip. 2:12-13 (NLT)
Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. [13] For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him.

God told me this week that it was Him who brought us to this point in our ministry and life. He said that He wants us to come to a point where we know that it is all Him. There are some things that we need to keep in mind to stay healthy: love, truth and discipline.

1. Acknowledge the Lord-Deut. 26:1-4
a. Deut. 26:1-4 (NLT) "When you arrive in the land the Lord your God is giving you as a special possession and you have conquered it and settled there, [2] put some of the first produce from each harvest into a basket and bring it to the place the Lord your God chooses for his name to be honored. [3] Go to the priest in charge at that time and say to him, 'With this gift I acknowledge that the Lord your God has brought me into the land he swore to give our ancestors.' [4] The priest will then take the basket from your hand and set it before the altar of the Lord your God.
b. We must acknowledge that it is God working in us and directing every step we take because the word says:
i. Psalm 37:23 (NLT) The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.
ii. Proverbs 20:24 (NLT) How can we understand the road we travel? It is the Lord who directs our steps.
c. He said when you arrive –you have arrived in CT for His purpose so give thanks that the Lord brought you here. Do not always complain and say oh I cannot wait to get out of this place. Well you want to leave your post, your assignment.
d. Before the 16th century, harvest was the term usually used to refer to the Autumn season: in fact the word comes form told English haerfest, which meant Autumn (the German word Herbst has the same origin and still means Autumn). The word is a compound word (haer+fest) and its first part has Indo-European roots in *kerp meaning to gather, pluck, harvest. Compare it with the Latin verb carpere meaning to cut, divide, pluck (Carpe diem). So haerfest indicated originally to joyful celebration of finally being possible to gather the mature crops; it extended afterwards its meaning to the all period beginning with the harvest (autumn). Recall also the expression harvest moon which is recorded since 1706 and indicates the full moon within a fortnight of the autumnal equinox (21 of September). However, as more people gradually moved from working the land to living in towns (especially those who were literate), the word came to refer to the actual activity of reaping, rather than the time of year, and the terms Fall and Autumn began to replace it in the former sense. [3]-taken from Wikipedia
e. Harvest timing is a critical decision, that balances the likely weather conditions with the degree of crop maturity.
f. I think about life of Joseph he acknowledges that is was God who had brought him to Egypt and not his brothers. He did not blame them or take it out on them when he had the power to do so. Gen.45:1-8 he said don’t be upset and don’t be angry with yourselves… it was God.

2. Obey the Lord’s commands-Deut. 26:16-19
a. Deut. 26:16-19 (NLT) "Today the Lord your God has commanded you to obey all these laws and regulations. You must commit yourself to them without reservation. [17] You have declared today that the Lord is your God. You have promised to obey his laws, commands, and regulations by walking in his ways and doing everything he tells you. [18] The Lord has declared today that you are his people, his own special treasure, just as he promised, and that you must obey all his commands. [19] And if you do, he will make you greater than any other nation. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the Lord your God, just as he promised."
b. You must recognize that it is God giving you the desire to obey him.
c. Commit to God without reservations
d. You promise to obey Him
e. You have to walk in His way doing everything he tells you to do
f. He will make you greater
g. He promised it and He will do it
h. I think about King Josiah how he took his position and called all of the people from the least to the greatest. He renewed the covenant and he pledged to obey the Lord.
i. 2 Kings 23:1-3 (NLT) Then the king summoned all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem. [2] And the king went up to the Temple of the Lord with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, and the priests, and the prophets—all the people from the least to the greatest. There the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the Lord's Temple. [3] The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the Lord's presence. He pledged to obey the Lord by keeping all his commands, regulations, and laws with all his heart and soul. In this way, he confirmed all the terms of the covenant that were written in the scroll, and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

3. Trust that God has our best interest-2 Peter 1:3
a. 2 Peter 1:3 (NLT) As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!
b. God has given us the power to do what pleases him
c. Psalm 9:10 (NLT) Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, have never abandoned anyone who searches for you.
d. Will you question God like Job did?
i. Job 38:2 (NLT) "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words?
e. Do you still question the Lord?
i. Job 40:2 (NLT) "Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? You are God's critic, but do you have the answers?"
f. Do you want to discredit the Lord?
i. Job 40:8 (NLT) Are you going to discredit my justice and condemn me so you can say you are right?
g. I think about the story of the widow who gave only two pennies and Jesus was watching her and He said she gave more than all the other. You see it is the heart that God sees and He knows your motive for giving. Mark 12:41-43(NLT)

Do you know God is working in your life or are you still wandering in the wilderness?
Hebrews 4:7-11 (NLT) So God set another time for entering his place of rest, and that time is today. God announced this through David a long time later in the words already quoted:
"Today you must listen to his voice.
Don't harden your hearts against him."
[8] This new place of rest was not the land of Canaan, where Joshua led them. If it had been, God would not have spoken later about another day of rest. [9] So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. [10] For all who enter into God's rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. [11] Let us do our best to enter that place of rest. For anyone who disobeys God, as the people of Israel did, will fall.

Posted by pastoral on 2009-02-23 12:47:46 | Rating: