When You Were Little
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Today I’d like to turn to the pages of the Bible and help us to learn how to empower & live in God’s help in our EVERY DAY life.
6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Life in Christ is an Open-Book Test!
If any of you were like me, in school, your open book tests were really a test of speed reading and hoping the author used great chapter titles and section headings because you had never read the book before the test
Here’s a shameless plug for every Christian to crack the book!
Don’t wait until the test comes to try and find the correct answer
Pursue the Word of God now and you’ll have the answers you need when it’s test time.
The Resistor of Help:
The Resistor of Help:
16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Pride (Biblical definition): Self-Confidence
(Braggadocio)
Pride resists help and denies the need for it.
Here’s what pride looks like in the Bible
10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. 11 “Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;
Pride will cause us to forget that we didn’t get to where we are without a supernatural act of God!
17 So Samuel said, “When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the Lord anoint you king over Israel?
-did we rely upon God more when we saw ourself as little when we didn’t know what we were doing:
in our job
raising our children
in ministry
in our marriage
in school
in our finances
Do we rely more on God when we are outside of our comfort zone & in a place of stretching?
If so, maybe we are keeping God near out of convenience, and not out of the reality of a desperate need for His presence.
1 Now concerning things offered to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.
Puffiness reminds me of steroids…it’s unnatural and has consequences.
The bigger (more capable) we get in our own eyes, the harder it becomes to not be self-reliant
5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
We must fight to stay little in our own eyes or we will find it difficult to trust the One who truly knows it all.
Destroy Pride with Trust:
Destroy Pride with Trust:
Pride fights trust because pride looks at oneself and trust requires that we look at and recognize someone/something better and bigger than ourself
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Trust (Biblical Definition) - To hide for refuge
Trust is a choice and a purposeful running to a place of safety
Trust is saying, “I think I know how to do this on my own, but I choose to run to You and lean on You to lead me even in this.”
1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—From whence comes my help? 2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
(I will…I choose to)
The Bible never encourages us to do it on our own or in our own knowledge, ability, or strength
21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
There is NEVER a wrong time to trust God
There is never a time where we will know so much that we should not rely on God
I’d like to give you a few scriptures that will stand on their own about the importance of trusting God rather than giving into the pride that tries to overtake us.
2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
1 In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be ashamed; Deliver me in Your righteousness.
5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.
27 Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame.
Just One Thing:
Just One Thing:
Run, for safety, to God & lean hard on Him this week on purpose!
Discussion Questions:
Discussion Questions:
If there was a book of commandments for the modern world, what would some of the rules be?
Do you recognize any areas of your life where pride has caused you to be separated from God’s help? Please share.
Please read Romans 1:21-22 and share what this passage means to you. Please share how this scripture can be personally applied to your life right now.
In what areas do you struggle most to trust God? Please share if you are determined to make the choice to trust God in those areas & lean on His help.