Part 4 - 08042024 - 12 Rules for Decisive and Delightful Living

Grace Place Atlanta COGBF 4700 Mitchell Street Forest Park, GA 30297 Website: atlantacogbf.org Email: info@atlantacogbf.org Phone: (404) 241-6781 Wayne D. Mack, Pastor Pastor Wayne D. Mack Sermon Notes August 4, 2024, A Dozen Dos [Rules] for Decisive and Delightful Living James 1:26-27 New King James Version 26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. This morning, we’re continuing a message series entitled: A Dozen Do Rules for Decisive and Delightful Living! It is about 12 Doable Rules for Everyday Living based on principles from the Bible. Each one is a reminder of how to find greater delight 1 and joy in our lives upon choosing to live free from the negativism and age-old deceptions of life. All of the principles are driven by choice. Each one of us has to make the clear uncluttered choice to experience the supernatural liberty they bring to our lives. Keeping in mind that “He whom the Son sets free is free indeed.” So far, we have covered 4 Do Rules . . . 1. Make peace with your past so it won’t disturb your present. 2. What other people think of you is none of your business. 3. Time heals most everything, give it time! God heals everything through time. 4. No one is in charge of your happiness, except you. And now Number 5 . . . 5. Our FIFTH DO Rule is . . . Pray and Live Like God Already Knows What You Need! This Do Rule is easier stated than believed for many Christians. 2 Let me say it again: Pray and Live Like God Already Knows What You Need! This is really a command from Jesus. Before we dig deeper, let’s make this principle personal: Repeat after me: I must Pray and Live Like God Already Knows What I Need! What if we decided to make this “truth statement” a very supernatural part of our everyday living and prayer life? I think it’s worth meditating on and making a conscious effort to weave into fabric of our daily living as Saints. Nevertheless, if we struggle with the fact that, in life and prayer, God Already Knows What I Need, then we have to be like the father whose son had a possessed spirit; we have to ask Jesus to help our unbelief. In Mark 9:23 & 24 listen to Jesus’ conversation with the possessed boy’s daddy: 23 Jesus said to the dad of the ailing boy, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” 3 Man, if we could only be so sincere! Did you hear the father’s desperation to believe Jesus? Because of his ailing child, he “cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Say it with me: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” [Next time put some tears with it!]. For some of us, we are confident that God already knows what we have need of. For others of us, we must touch and agree with the man who needed his son to be healed: with tears, pray . . . “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” Did you know The Bible declares that God already knows exactly you need even before you ask? In Matthew 6: 8 & 9 Jesus says 8 “Therefore do not be like them [that is, the heathen]. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Pray confidently and assuredly. Now, get this, this verse is not saying “PRETEND” that God Already knows what you have need of; but rather it is saying emphatically that God already knows what we need – therefore, we should pray and communicate with God applying such confidence. What happens when we don’t come to God in a way that says “Lord, I already know that you know what I have need of? 4 For starters, it conveys doubt -- even defiance, or ignorance. It shows up as Doubt when we don’t agree [or at least acknowledge] what God has already spoken – which is: “I already know! If nothing else, when God has spoken . . . there’s only one thing for the church to say: AMEN – whether we are fully there or not. Say it with me: God has spoken, Let the church say: AMEN. Now, Defiance sets in when we boldly resist God and disobey Him after He Himself has already told us that He already Knows. Ignorance takes its place when we lack knowledge of this truth because we didn’t even know it was in the Bible. So, we ought to Live Life in a way that God already knows what you have need of. And why? Because He Does! But how do you do that? How do you live, commune, and communicate with God in a way that conveys He already knows what you need? Think of it in this way: How would you approach someone you know [like a friend, or relative] who already has knowledge of what you need?] I would think, first, with a relieved, humbled, and positive attitude! Knowing that they are already aware of my need [and can more than meet it] – I’m going to approach them with great confidence {doubting 5 nothing} because I know they got me. No explaining or explanation needed. No vain repetitions that the heathens use. [For the heathen thinks they will be heard because of their many words. Educating God on what He already knows. Now for some truly hard hitting biblical truths to help us apply Jesus’ encouragement on believing that God already knows what we need. Before I give you some “Help My Unbelief Steps,” I want you to think of some things you believe you have need of right now. Now, name them, make a list. Jot needs down as they come to you. [This is not a trick exercise. So, be honest with yourself.]. Now, before we close this message, I’m going to help you validate your list. But for now, let me offer a few “Help My Unbelief Steps” for “How To” live, commune, and communicate with God in a way that conveys you know that He already knows what you need? 1. Know this: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 2. Know that the highest road in knowing God is to trust that He alone knows better than we know what we need. Romans 8: 26-28 . . . 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And 6 we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 3. Know that Jesus Told Us it was so! So we can believe it! In Matthew 6: 8 & 9 Jesus says 8 “Therefore do not be like the heathen (unbeliever) [uses many words; You know why? To educate God – as if He needed to be informed on what we need]. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. 9 In this manner, therefore, pray: Pray confidently and assuredly. I will approach them with great confidence because the confidence I approach them with is evidence that the least of my worries is getting what I need or getting my need/s met. Approach Him in the affirmative. Not begging but boasting and bragging. God, you know what I’m here for and I know You are able to meet my need. PAUSE! Here’s where wisdom, knowledge, and understanding must be applied. In knowing God is able to meet your need, then you also must know that Him meeting it may come in the form of a: Yes! No! Wait! My Grace is Sufficient! He has everything. He owns everything. So, there’s no need to have a scarcity mentality. Because He has an abundance of everything, that’s one less worry you should have – especially with regard as to whether He can meet your need. 7 As I promised, let me give you a rule for authenticating your list of needs. This practice will help you differentiate needs from wants from desires. There’s a difference. Here goes: Look at your list. Now, ask yourself, how many of these things come with TEARS. When tears are real, as they were with the father who desperately wanted his son healed – then we can know that God hears our heart and thus our prayers. In hearing us though, we must exercise wisdom and know that God has one of four answers for us: Yes! No! Wait! My Grace is Sufficient! A Dozen Dos for Decisive and Delightful Living 8