12 Steps - #2

#2 step

"We came to be aware that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity."

The power that changes you they call The Higher Power

The thing that changes you in AA is what they call The Higher Power

If you want to change things in your life

If you want to make breakthroughs in your life

If you want miraculous change in your life

Understanding there is a higher power provides tremendous strength and guidance

AA was developed from a group called the Oxford Group (1931)

They believed that the solution to living with fear and selfishness was to surrender one's life over to God's Plan.

Their idea of who this higher power was- distinctly Christian

They also believed that God had a plan for each and every life

Our goal is to surrender to that plan....or at least seek it out.

I don’t know where your life journey is

But sometimes our path can get messed up and off track by our refusal to ;

Listen to people telling us the truth

Insisting on living our own way

The good news is that God has a way to:

Get you going in the right direction again

Return you to thinking properly about life

EVEN WHEN WE DO NOT DESERVE THE HELP

God speaks to that in :

God speaks to that in :

19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. He will be gracious if you ask for help. He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.

God and his strength is always available

But we need to ask for it

Sometimes asking for help is very hard

Why is it hard?

Because we need to accept that we were wrong

Because we are not strong enough to continue

The next two verses are extraordinary and show us the character of the God we serve

20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

This is an amazing example of God’s grace and compassion and mercy

This prophecy was given at a time when the Assyrian army was attacking Israel and Judah.

The northern kingdom of Israel would be conquered by Assyria

The northern kingdom of Israel would be conquered by Assyria, and the people of Israel would be taken into exile.

The Assyrians would then come against the southern kingdom of Judah,

Why? Because they continuously chose to seek out and follow other gods instead of God almighty

What was Judah’s response to this threat from Assyria?

Isaiah 30:1–2 NLT

“What sorrow awaits my rebellious children,” says the Lord. “You make plans that are contrary to mine. You make alliances not directed by my Spirit, thus piling up your sins. For without consulting me, you have gone down to Egypt for help. You have put your trust in Pharaoh’s protection. You have tried to hide in his shade.

Because of this threat the leaders of Judah looked to Egypt for protection against the Assyrian invasion.

Because of this threat the leaders of Judah looked to Egypt for protection against the Assyrian invasion.

Instead of turning to God and saying…we messed up

They ran to Egypt to try and hire soldiers and help

The last thing a typical human wants to do is confess fault/need

Instead of accepting it and going to counselling and being willing to change

The marriage is bad

Isaiah had been calling Israel back to God for potentially 64 years

You have children

Even with the consequences of their rebellion from God upon them

Go on an expensive vacation

They still turned to Egypt instead of God for help

Yet God said to them.........

20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink, he will still be with you to teach you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

21 Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left.

Though they had deliberately and willfully disobeyed and made a mess of their nation

God was still wishing to help them and lead them and teach them

When people try to say the God of the old testament is vicious and murderous

Show them this scripture

All God asks is that we

22 Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images. You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!”

Summary:

God is waiting for us to turn to him

to trust him with our struggles

To invite him into our lives and restore us