Faith Follows (not leads) God

INTRO: Blueprint for true success, put up a house with no foundation, how long will it last? (days, months…)

READ:

Factors to consider from James, most importantly, MAKING GOD’S WILL YOUR PRIORITY

1) Foundation-less Plans

MY STORY - BD life in CA all the way to Bethlehem - God not in it

THEN - God led, I followed, less $$$, more peace, more joy, enjoying the nearness to God

I had a a series of 5-year plans, and....

Remember: Godly vs Worldly wisdom

POINT: When we plan without God, we miss/forget:

WHO we are, WHY we are, and WHAT our job is

Life (physical) is short - so live for God

Tempting to live like the rich, as in James

BASIC, recall building bigger barns

Luke 12:18 NASB95

“Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

BASIC, best life now

Luke 6:24 NASB95

“But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.

2) Results of Worldly-Wisdom-Living

Arrogance is the foundation (overconfidence in self)

Self-pride - “look at me” (kids, “watch me, watch me”)

Wealth, clothes

Gold and silver (great illustration for James’ crowd)

an incorruptible commodity, God says even THAT will rust, and gold does not naturally rust!

ASIDE: This is not a condemnation of saving for retirement, or working hard to provide, to save, etc.

Mistreat others - after all, they ARE less important than you

Get all you want, and die wanting more

THIS IS NOT HUMILITY!

Basically, if you suppress what is right, then wrong becomes the habit!

You can be amazingly successful, you can produce kids who astound and amaze the world, who resent you and who resent God! (Korean children example)

What drives you? What are you teaching others, including kids?

What are you willing to compromise on your way up the ladder, on your way to the top?

“I’ll work hard now, gain success, and then later I’ll get serious about a relationship with the Lord.” NO YOU WON’T

3) Seek God - FIRST

Matthew 6:33 NASB95

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“If God Wills”

because it is evil (sin) to go it without God

Results without God are ALWAYS unsatisfying

If you are oppressing anyone, or if you are the oppressed...

Lord of Sabaoth (Hosts/Armies) hears the cry of His own!

Decide - live for this world now, or for eternity

(Vapor, mist) - Morning sun burns away the mist, quickly

Jesus WILL return, and all this will be gone, GONE.

CLOSING/CHALLENGES

Don’t know complete trust in God until you put your complete trust in God

Life decisions, job, family, church, money (including giving)

REALIZE - all this is God’s already

>> Cindy M. to Guatemala - God led her to that, and look!

>> Our move to Illinois, God showed us path to follow

>> New people baptized, joining, following God

SEE AMAZING THINGS LIKE THAT, OPEN YOUR EYES!!!

What is God’s Will? Great Question

Romans 12:2 NASB95

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Not everything you do is God’s will; not everything that happens is God’s will

Examples: God’s will is that all be saved ()

But…God causes all things to come together…()

What if that job, that education, that success story falls apart? Really.

Can you still follow God?

Prayer and Decisions: We typically make decisions, and THEN ask God if that’s OK (praying for “peace” about my decision, but we’ve already made up our mind)

Proverbs 16:9 NASB95

The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.

POINT - Even plans we make with Him in mind, we can leave Him out

Move to IL, stress, but He says “Be Still” - it worked out when I let Him lead

POINT - We think “If I can just make it to _____, or if I just get through ______, or when we finally achieve_________, then it will be OK.

JAMES - WE can get to the end of this life, and be impressed by what we have, what we’ve done, what we have stored up, and really, we…have....nothing.

Trusting in gold and silver? God will RUST it!!!

Envying for gold and silver - check priorities!

Check the bank statement, and stressed about what’s there? (Personal, church)

Are you willing to let it get to ZERO if that is what it takes for God to get your attention, to fully worship Him?

Are we, as a church, willing to let go of what we think is important and direct our worship to Him, to stop being “double-minded”, and trust Him completely?

When we do, our worship will change - DRAMATICALLY

We’re not there, but that’s where we’re going

We need to start now, eternity is already here!

Envying for gold and silver - check priorities!

I told you my story - WHAT’S YOURS?

I had a 5-year plan, then I had a spiritual growth plan

What’s yours? How do you make your plans?

What is your heart’s desire? Are you letting God shape that desire?

QUESTION: WHAT KIND OF CHRISTIAN DO YOU WANT TO BE IN 5 YEARS?

Paul Tripp: “What you could do on your own is simply not comparable to what your Lord of grace and power can do through you,”

Really, what kind of Christian....? Assumption is that you want to grow stronger, but some people don;t want to.

What’s in the way that you need to let God take away? What do you need to commit to God to grow? Start now - TODAY

Start now - TODAY