This series has really challenged me and this fast really opened my eyes to an error in the thinking of this church. Many people, including myself, were having a hard time asking God for good things that they felt as if they did not deserve, therefore trying to carry the punishment for themselves and diminishing the work of Jesus and the gospel. We know that God is sovereign and in control but do we believe that He is good and merciful? A good and loving Father who we can run to for everything? I think this error in our thinking has effected our worship, prayer, and faith. Today we spent time just praying and asking God for good things, not that we deserve it or that He has not already done enough for us, but that we believe that our God is good and His mercy endures forever. We are going to continue asking Him for grace and kindness. We had so many people coming up for prayer today crying and asking for God to show up in their lives and asking for miracles, healings, restoration, provision, peace, and the list could go on. I thank God for the good and gracious things He did this week and I know that something has been stirred in me so I want to run to him for continued grace. Thank you for being a good and merciful God.
My prayer for this church is that we would get a bigger picture of God. In the connection groups we are going to be spending time in prayer for each other and just asking for God to meet you at the point of your need. Then we will also be talking about a few other thoughts concerning these things. Look over these questions think about them and when you go to your connection groups we will discuss them.
(1) How do you view God?
(2) Do you believe your view of God effects your prayer life and worship?
(3) Do you know God is good and that He loves you?
(4) What are somethings that you are having a hard time trusting God for?
(5) What can your group be praying about for you?
Really think through these questions and in your groups you will be tackling some of these topics. Bless you and make sure to stay connected in your groups. If you do not have a group check the web page for days and times. See you sunday as we start a new series.
I think the hardest one for Ken and I was to truly believe God could help us get out of financial hardship. We feel like we need to be better stewards over what God has given us some how, and that we haven’t in some way, and that’s why we are in the place that we are right now. God has helped us out of so many tuff places before now that his grace has just run out & he just doesn’t have anymore to give, or that this time he’ll use tuff love & make us get out of this situation on our own.. After yesterday’s sermon, we realized how stupid that was because everything in all our finical situations has gotten us to this point up unto now, & we are exactly where He wants us so that says something right? Plus we’re to fully rely on him all the time, he’s not going to say “oh I’m sick of you and your problems figure this one out on your own” Anyway we have asked for help again & he is a good and gracious God who will provide. No matter what the means are. Whether its through us buckling down & him providing the exact right amount or Him blessing us, or bankruptcy, He will provide a way & because its his way, it’s the perfect way. He will take care of us & worrying will get us no where, it can’t add a day to our life. (really it will probably take days away) He has a plan that will get us to the next point where he wants us. That’s really all we care about, doing what he desires so that we can please him, & he can be glorified. We feel like money is just a tool, for him to use for his purposes. We don’t want to be rich, we never have. We just want him to be able to use all of his resources to advance his kingdom in the way he needs with out us getting in the way.
GOOD STUFF AMBER!!
One interesting topic that came up in our discussion was “who is the author/creator of the consequence of sin”, in other words, does God give us consequence as our punishment and if he did why would he change his mind?
That flawed perspective hinders our prayers and distorts our view of God. It’s flawed in the sense that we have always dealt with the consequence of sin. There’s no point in our life we can trace back to where we weren’t in sin and dealing with it’s consequences, either by nature or commission. Satan through Adam is the author of that, sin is its root. Jesus took that deserved punishment, consequence upon himself and showed us grace.
We have to know Jesus as our rescuer and savior, that’s why he came! Not to dish out our deserved punishment and consequence. We have to read to the right side of our bibles more, know Christ and him crucified. If our view of God doesn’t take into account the cross, propitiation and expiation and his resurrection than we have not a clue about God.
Might I suggest Vintage Jesus as required reading for us all.
Let me add that there is of course consequence to sin. I don’t mean to imply there isn’t. But what’s important is that Jesus does not vacate our lives due to those consequences. We need to take those to Jesus and let him sort them out. He may heal and remove them, he may bring context to them, he may bring some revelation about how to handle them. We need to allow Jesus to be King of every part of our lives and cast our fears, cares and worries upon Jesus.
Kyle,
Good stuff. I must say that God is teaching this house a valuable lesson. We must learn.