Keeping Your Eye On the Lord

ILLUSTRATION: Trying to escape, in the dark, “ I can do this on my own, leave me alone”

Kids asking for help - finally - after you watch them struggle doing something the “wrong” way, for a long time

Basically, it’s time to stop worshiping YOU, and worship HIM

What is Your Plan to Live For, and Walk With God?

Ever get the idea that God is watching you struggle to do it on your own, YOUR way, and He’s just waiting for you to ask Him for help?

1) Remember what God has done

For Israel

Exodus - Under the cloud, through the sea...

(Tell the basics of each Exodus happening)

Golden calf, serpents (references to , , , Ex. 12)

God did all that, and yet, His people rebelled

For the Church

Salvation plan (tell the basics)

Therefore...

Written for our instruction - learn from others’ pride, triumphs, challenges

2) Flee Idolatry (v. 7, 14)

V. 8, (in the wilderness)

God is fatihful, ever-present, always providing what’s needed

But our PRIDE gets in the way, in His way

Whatever it is you put before God

Watch out for pride: Good effort? GREAT, BOAST in CHRIST!

Don’t ever, EVER get lax

Understand that we are frail, weak - relying on our own strength is not God’s wisdom

Resist Devil

Flee Immorality

You are made holy, set apart, “CHOSEN” for this -

1 Peter 2:9 NASB95

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

, , John 15:16

Ephesians 1:4 NASB95

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love

John 15:16 NASB95

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.

John 15:16

I CHOSE YOU - CHURCH - to DISPLAY ME!

GOD HAS AN AMAZING PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE! And it’s all about HIM.

Very, VERY few get this concept today

AND…if you want to do it all yourself, He WILL let you…so...

3) Planning - Find the Way of Escape (v. 13)

It’s there, ALWAYS - THIS IS AMAZING HOPE!

“These things” - written for our instruction (US: learn, be warned, and encouraged)

Are we willing to learn?

Change - have to want to

We often don’t want the path of escape provided (complying with the law, or asking forgiveness, repenting, saying we’re wrong, dropping the bitterness, etc.) God is very good at putting us in the position to do what’s right - it stinks at times

“I know I need help, but I don’t want to get it” - mature

Won’t happen if don’t want to

Some have stopped looking for the right path, have given in to evil

REHEARSE - plan ahead - look for it

Most practical piece of wisdom, IMO, in Bible!

IF you desire to live for the Lord

Feel trapped? Think Christ doesn’t understand?

He knows every emotion,

OT - God Himself went before His people

NT - Jesus Christ Himself went before us

God is FAITHFUL!

So flee from what pull you away from Him:

worshiping, serving, obeying, bringing others to Him

You CAN do this

Not by YOUR strength, but by Christ’s - (context, though)

A tremendous encouragement!

But…we walk through this life (not over, around, etc.)

THOSE WHO SEEK REFUGE IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS WILL FIND IT

OVERALL GOAL v. 31

- CANNOT drink the Lord’s cup AND the world’s - CHOOSE one; they are not compatible. Living for the Lord is total surrender

The world provides a false sense of security

Do ALL for the glory of God - There is no “blending” of glories; must put the world aside; live here, but for GOD’s purposes and glory

Includes not causing others to stumble

Follow Paul’s example

How closely would people follow Christ, if they followed OUR example, YOUR example?

Reflect Him, purpose for people to see Christ in YOU

Not for OUR good, but for others’, seeing Christ

I CHOSE YOU - CHURCH - to DISPLAY ME!

GOD HAS AN AMAZING PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE! And it’s all about HIM.

Repeating - desire to see others saved

So they can know Him, so they can live for Him, so they can show others Christ

This is why we are HERE - not for US

CLOSE

When you pursue Christ - go “toward Him”, finding and taking that way of escape - you are by nature fleeing what is not beneficial to the Godly life

by very defnition

So pursue God - flee all the other junk - you can DO it!

Others need to see you do it - then they will, too, or at least they’ll see you and make their own choice

That’s what God’s glory is about - we reflect so all can see it

So many don’t want to - Don’t let that change or affect your pursuit

VERSE 13 LEAVES NO ROOM FOR EXCUSES

GOD DOES HAVE AN AMAZING PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE - IT’S ABOUT PLEASING HIM, LIVING FOR HIM - WILL YOU FOLLOW IT?