July 23, 2023 - Spare Tires & GPS

Intro: It’s been wonderful to hear what God is doing in our missionaries lives isn’t it? It’s good to hear that God is using CDI to change the lives of folks, drawing them closer to Him, isn’t it?

Link: You know, Praying for our missionaries is powerful & important. Praying in our own lives for our families, community and church are powerful & important. Reading, Studying and Applying God’s Word to our lives are Important also.

HOLD ONTO THESE STATEMENTS, will come back to them.

Illustration: Let’s pretend I am taking a trip, in fact, I will show you a real life scenario that my family and I were on onetime. I will show you the story, but I will exaggerate the story to drive home a point. Don’t worry if you don’t get it, I’ll explain it at the end and hopefully it will all come together.

Tell and illustrate the story of our family driving to MI for supporter update, flat tire in Chicago on a curve of 6 lanes of heavy traffic.

Me grumbling, why did this happen to me.

I guess I need to get help.

Me getting in the back to get out spare tire.

Me putting it on...

Now, perhaps this isn’t the best illustration, however how many times do we as Christians get ourselves into a pinch and when we do, we finally go to the Lord, reading His Word & Praying. In life, we as individuals, husbands, wives, parents, as a church, rather then staying in constant communication w/ God, praying and furthering our relationship with Him.

Maybe we don’t pray on a regular basis till we get in trouble

Maybe we rarely read the Bible

Or we read it but don’t study it - THIS IS WHY Something Like CDI can be so beneficial

Or we read it and study it but we don’t Apply it - REMEMBER a few weeks ago in the sermon of the Glass & Mirrors, we talked about this very thing from the book of James.

How many times do we try to take the lead and then when we get in trouble, we then use God as our Spare Tire. Rather then having all along, used Him as our GPS?

Proverbs 3:1-8 “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; 2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you. 3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.

God is telling us here:

Study my WORD

By receiving the WORD within our hearts, we experience growth in godly character so that mercy & truth become ornaments in our lives

It isn’t enough for believers to carry the Bible in their hands; they must let the HS write it on their hearts. Obedience to the Word can add years to your life and life to your years - Warren W.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

For God to lead your paths, this imply that you must first first obey His Word. Thus, Read, Study & Apply God’s Word to your life.

Back to our Spare Tire & GPS. If you don’t follow the map or GPS, you’ll go down a wrong road, hit a pothole, pick up a nail and have a flat. So rather then calling on God to be your spare tire b/c of our own foolishness, lets consult the GPS to see where we aught to go, lets consult God and ask Him to direct our paths. Lets Read, Study & Pray.

Unlike a real map or GPS, God always knows the way. Unlike us, He never gets it wrong.

The phrase, “He shall direct your paths,” the word “Direct” means to be straight or even. I don’t know about you but I like to drive on even roads, no potholes in life is good. So for this to happen, I need to use God as my map or, He’ll end up being used as my spare tire. And God would much rather be your GPS.

Conclusion:

My Lord Knows The Way Through The Wilderness My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is follow. My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is follow.

Strength for today is mine all the way, And all that I need for tomorrow. My Lord knows the way through the wilderness, All I have to do is follow.

Challenge: Let me encourage you to not just Read, or Read & Study God’s Word, but Apply it to your heart as Proverbs 3:3 said, “write the commands of God on your heart.”

Unsaved: ABC

Closing Song: Sweet Hour of Prayer