Do you ever feel like you are taking 2 steps forward financially then 3 steps back? You got money back from your taxes and finally a little cushion and then bam! The furnace quit, the car broke down, a bill came due and there you are again in an even worse condition. Perhaps you could find some help from the book of Haggai chapter 1.
The people had returned from being exiled in Babylon (a place of bondage). They experienced new freedom. They were given a new purpose to go and build the house of God. They began to do that, successfully laying the foundation, building an altar and were even offering sacrifices. They are on the right road but then struggle and problems and the work of God stalled. Soon they got distracted and lost their priorities. People had gradually turned from the doing the will of God to doing their own will.
Haggai comes and basically says let’s finish rebuilding God’s house.
The people say what we might when it comes to money… “It is not a good time to build, there is recession, drought, crop failure, and high inflation (doesn’t that sound like us).
Check out Haggai 1:4 he says “Is it then time for you to build your own paneled houses?” It could have the idea of luxury and ornamentation but the point he is making is that this economy thing "didn’t stop you finishing your stuff but somehow it has stopped you from doing God’s stuff."
v. 5 he tells them to consider their ways. Great word for us in regards to the money we are given. So often we are not slowed down funding our lifestyle but we make all kinds of excuses why we slack on what is important to God. Like them we get our priorities backwards.
Haggai says “you have sown much, and bring in little; you eat, but do not have enough; you drink, but you are not filled with drink; you clothe yourselves but no one is warm, and he who earns wages, earns wages to put into a bag with holes” (v. 6).
Is that happening to your finances, working harder and seeing it fly away…consider your ways. What are you doing with what God has given you? Don’t make the mistake they did in assuming they were responsible for their growth and prosperity, and so they did it their own way. They were being disciplined by God (v. 9-11) so that they could get on the right track. If you are struggling financially, I am not saying you are being disciplined by God…but you might. Let’s get our heart set on things that are important to God and see if God will help us with the rest.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
LO$T- Quit Pretending
Are your finances a mess? Are you overwhelmed with debt? Do you keep getting yourself into financial trouble?
Lots of people in America are pretending to be rich. Many of us have chosen to have the nice homes, cars, and stuff and yet are in over our heads in debt and we have become what Solomon talks about “a slave to the lender.” It is often said there are two kinds of people “the have’s” and “the have not,” but the reality is there is a third group “the have not paid yet” people. Pretending to live a lifestyle they cannot afford. Proverbs 13:7 says “One man pretends to be rich, but in truth has nothing…”
Somehow we have bought the lie that debt is ok, when Proverbs tell us it is slavery (we are a slave to the lender). It is interesting to note that in 1929 only 2% of homes had a mortgage against them. Forty years later only 2% didn’t have a mortgage against them. What changed in our thinking?
We are asking wrong questions like:
“How much $ down is this going to take?”
“How much is it going to cost a month?”
“What is the most I can get for the least down?”
Instead we need to start asking ourselves the right questions. Is your marriage going to be stressed because you are fighting and worried about money? Are my kids going to miss out because we bought things we didn’t need, with money we didn’t have, to impress people we didn’t know. There is a hidden cost of unbiblical stewardship.
“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)
Try doing this instead to reverse the consumption mentality and debt cycle. Next time you see that brand new coffee maker at Walmart and you think “my life has not been full without this coffee maker, and if I buy it today by opening up a new credit card I can save 10%.” Consider putting it back on the shelf (I know, I know…it’s hard but you will live). Then pray for three days and if you feel you still need it, buy it. As the amounts go up, give yourself some more time.
We have all heard the definition of insanity… “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting to get the same results.” We are trying new things over the month in our “LO$T- In Our Finances.” Hope you can come Sundays and also to our brand new small group series called “Finances God’s Way” through Crown Ministries…check the link out...
http://www.crown.org/Cart/Church/ManagingGodsWay.aspx
Lots of people in America are pretending to be rich. Many of us have chosen to have the nice homes, cars, and stuff and yet are in over our heads in debt and we have become what Solomon talks about “a slave to the lender.” It is often said there are two kinds of people “the have’s” and “the have not,” but the reality is there is a third group “the have not paid yet” people. Pretending to live a lifestyle they cannot afford. Proverbs 13:7 says “One man pretends to be rich, but in truth has nothing…”
Somehow we have bought the lie that debt is ok, when Proverbs tell us it is slavery (we are a slave to the lender). It is interesting to note that in 1929 only 2% of homes had a mortgage against them. Forty years later only 2% didn’t have a mortgage against them. What changed in our thinking?
We are asking wrong questions like:
“How much $ down is this going to take?”
“How much is it going to cost a month?”
“What is the most I can get for the least down?”
Instead we need to start asking ourselves the right questions. Is your marriage going to be stressed because you are fighting and worried about money? Are my kids going to miss out because we bought things we didn’t need, with money we didn’t have, to impress people we didn’t know. There is a hidden cost of unbiblical stewardship.
“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)
Try doing this instead to reverse the consumption mentality and debt cycle. Next time you see that brand new coffee maker at Walmart and you think “my life has not been full without this coffee maker, and if I buy it today by opening up a new credit card I can save 10%.” Consider putting it back on the shelf (I know, I know…it’s hard but you will live). Then pray for three days and if you feel you still need it, buy it. As the amounts go up, give yourself some more time.
We have all heard the definition of insanity… “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting to get the same results.” We are trying new things over the month in our “LO$T- In Our Finances.” Hope you can come Sundays and also to our brand new small group series called “Finances God’s Way” through Crown Ministries…check the link out...
http://www.crown.org/Cart/Church/ManagingGodsWay.aspx
Friday, February 12, 2010
Are you lost financially?
Have you ever asked yourself if you are lost financially…these statements should give you a good idea if you are (taken from Andy Stanley’s series “Lost).
1. If you spend more then you make you are lost
2. If you don’t know if you are spending more then you make- you are lost
3. If you don’t care whether you are spending more then you make- you are lost
4. If you are spending more on your car, then your car is worth you are lost.
5. If you don’t know how much you owe on the car you are lost.
6. If paying the minimum on your credit card is a way of life you are lost.
7. If you think that is good financial planning you are lost.
8. If you are not saving, or not sure if you are saving enough you may be lost.
9. If you don’t know how much you owe, you are lost
10. If you have no way of tracking where your money goes, you are lost.
11. If you got a financial dream but no plan you are lost. If we don’t plan, we plan to fail.
12. If you make over 75000 a year and you feel financial pressure you are lost. You are one of the wealthiest people in the world (top 1%). Everyone in the world would look at you and say “what???”. You have created an unrealistic lifestyle.
13. If you make decision that you hope your spouse never discovers, you are lost
No one plans to get lost but somewhere along the way you did.
Let me make a bold statement: “you can not wholeheartedly follow Christ and stay lost financially.” Why? Because Jesus simply said too much about money. He talked about it more then heaven, hell, salvation, faith, and prayer. What did he conclude?
1. Our heart follows our treasure (money) Matthew 6:21. If you are lost financially your heart will get wrapped up somewhere in it.
2. We can’t serve both God and money (Luke 16:13). If you asked God what is the #1 competition he faces for our heart, it is our money and our stuff that steals it.
3. Debt is bondage just as great as any addiction (ok Jesus doesn’t say this outright but Solomon did). Prov 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” How can you wholeheartedly serve Christ and be a slave to the lender (think about it). Let’s be honest most of us are in serious debt…random stats: Average 28 year old has $66,000 of debt, for every $1 we get we spend $1.22, our national budget this year had 3.8 trillion dollars of new debt.
Wouldn’t it be great to be free! It's possible. Instead of being in bondage to debt, not giving … don’t have money, not serving… don’t have time, not doing things you have dreamed of …can’t afford it. How about beginning to get “unlost.” To get there it has to start with you finding out where you are. You have to track where the money is going and determine where you want to be. Hopefully it will begin with you determining that debt is not ok, it is not God's best, and God has a better way. Come and join us for our new series "LO$T" and hopefully it will revolutionize your finances!
1. If you spend more then you make you are lost
2. If you don’t know if you are spending more then you make- you are lost
3. If you don’t care whether you are spending more then you make- you are lost
4. If you are spending more on your car, then your car is worth you are lost.
5. If you don’t know how much you owe on the car you are lost.
6. If paying the minimum on your credit card is a way of life you are lost.
7. If you think that is good financial planning you are lost.
8. If you are not saving, or not sure if you are saving enough you may be lost.
9. If you don’t know how much you owe, you are lost
10. If you have no way of tracking where your money goes, you are lost.
11. If you got a financial dream but no plan you are lost. If we don’t plan, we plan to fail.
12. If you make over 75000 a year and you feel financial pressure you are lost. You are one of the wealthiest people in the world (top 1%). Everyone in the world would look at you and say “what???”. You have created an unrealistic lifestyle.
13. If you make decision that you hope your spouse never discovers, you are lost
No one plans to get lost but somewhere along the way you did.
Let me make a bold statement: “you can not wholeheartedly follow Christ and stay lost financially.” Why? Because Jesus simply said too much about money. He talked about it more then heaven, hell, salvation, faith, and prayer. What did he conclude?
1. Our heart follows our treasure (money) Matthew 6:21. If you are lost financially your heart will get wrapped up somewhere in it.
2. We can’t serve both God and money (Luke 16:13). If you asked God what is the #1 competition he faces for our heart, it is our money and our stuff that steals it.
3. Debt is bondage just as great as any addiction (ok Jesus doesn’t say this outright but Solomon did). Prov 22:7 “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.” How can you wholeheartedly serve Christ and be a slave to the lender (think about it). Let’s be honest most of us are in serious debt…random stats: Average 28 year old has $66,000 of debt, for every $1 we get we spend $1.22, our national budget this year had 3.8 trillion dollars of new debt.
Wouldn’t it be great to be free! It's possible. Instead of being in bondage to debt, not giving … don’t have money, not serving… don’t have time, not doing things you have dreamed of …can’t afford it. How about beginning to get “unlost.” To get there it has to start with you finding out where you are. You have to track where the money is going and determine where you want to be. Hopefully it will begin with you determining that debt is not ok, it is not God's best, and God has a better way. Come and join us for our new series "LO$T" and hopefully it will revolutionize your finances!
Friday, January 29, 2010
NOT NOT MY PROBLEM
In America we have an epidemic of everyone blaming everyone else for their problems. Fast food restaurants are serving too much and too fatty food, causing obesity… Government is responsible for all our problems, and quite honestly should solve my social problems, my health problems, my financial problems, etc… or we blame are mom, dad, kids, spouse-their fault for why I am what I am. You get where I am going.
I think we do that in our spiritual life….I am not growing because there are too many hypocrites in church…the church is too materialistic…the church is so shallow. Why aren’t we reaching people for Christ, obviously the pastor’s sermons are too boring. The ministers aren’t reaching out to the lost. Why don’t they reach out to the poor? Start a ministry to youth, children, etc?
At some point we (you, me) as individuals have to take responsibility. Nothing is going to change or get done if everyone is blaming everyone else for their problems or for what is not getting done. That is why I admire guys like Daniel who when he prayed in Daniel ch. 9 (read it please) he took responsibility for the sin in the land, he took responsibility for repenting when the reality was it wasn’t him committing all those transgressions. He owned it though.
Over this last month we have been doing a series called “God’s mission…MY mission.” It is time to own what is important to God…worship (loving God), evangelism (loving people), discipleship (being one and making one), and this week MISSIONS. The mission is far too important to pass off to someone else and the rewards and fruit are too amazing to not care about it. Everyone has a world they can impact for Christ….do it.
I think we do that in our spiritual life….I am not growing because there are too many hypocrites in church…the church is too materialistic…the church is so shallow. Why aren’t we reaching people for Christ, obviously the pastor’s sermons are too boring. The ministers aren’t reaching out to the lost. Why don’t they reach out to the poor? Start a ministry to youth, children, etc?
At some point we (you, me) as individuals have to take responsibility. Nothing is going to change or get done if everyone is blaming everyone else for their problems or for what is not getting done. That is why I admire guys like Daniel who when he prayed in Daniel ch. 9 (read it please) he took responsibility for the sin in the land, he took responsibility for repenting when the reality was it wasn’t him committing all those transgressions. He owned it though.
Over this last month we have been doing a series called “God’s mission…MY mission.” It is time to own what is important to God…worship (loving God), evangelism (loving people), discipleship (being one and making one), and this week MISSIONS. The mission is far too important to pass off to someone else and the rewards and fruit are too amazing to not care about it. Everyone has a world they can impact for Christ….do it.
Friday, January 8, 2010
A great word for those in a constant mess
Remember the commercial with the “easy” button. It was pushed in the midst of a mess and they could be taken away to something great. That is how many of us believers in Christ view life…it’s a mess but hey someday heaven, some day glory.
I was reading 2 Corinthians 3 and studying Rick Renner’s take on the Greek and was really encouraged and challenged.
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty(freedom). 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
Notice the phrase we are being transformed into the same image (Christlikeness) from glory to glory….in other words from a current glorious place to another high glorious place. God is working to take your present life and present situations we are in and make them glorious.
If this is true need to ask some questions
-Am I living in a glorious stage even though it is challenging or am I living just stuck in an ugly mess with wrong attitudes and disobedient actions
-am I totally inattentive to God? Apathetic? Lazy?
Look at the first part of the verse- “but we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord." The Greek word for open means to unveil, uncover, to disclose. It is also continuous in action, in others words once opened remains open.
Rick Renner writes “We must be willing to permanently remove the veil from our eyes and to take an honest look in the mirror in order to truthfully acknowledge the condition of our present stage. Only after we have truthfully seen and acknowledged the condition of our present stage…only when we see what we are can we make a sincere decision to change, by removing the veil… it is the way the Lord can show us (ourselves) so we can receive correction, change us, transform us, and prepare us to move upward into the next glorious phase of our life.”
Notice Paul talks about the change that happens AFTER the veil is removed. We are transformed from the inside out, beginning in our thoughts and affecting our actions and even countenance. We can move not from mess to another mess but from glory to glory…
How does the process begin? It begins with us quit trying to pretend everything is glorious in our life as we stick our head in the sand. That denial just keeps us stuck. The Lord wants to lift the veil and get us to the place of openness. He says “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom,” freedom to deal with sin, deal with the mess. It may be hard to look at the mess of our finances, the mess of our relationships, the mess of our health..the mess of whatever it is that isn’t so glorious. As we allow the Spirit to lift that veil, God transforms our stuff into glory.
Be encouraged and open to Him.
I was reading 2 Corinthians 3 and studying Rick Renner’s take on the Greek and was really encouraged and challenged.
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty(freedom). 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
Notice the phrase we are being transformed into the same image (Christlikeness) from glory to glory….in other words from a current glorious place to another high glorious place. God is working to take your present life and present situations we are in and make them glorious.
If this is true need to ask some questions
-Am I living in a glorious stage even though it is challenging or am I living just stuck in an ugly mess with wrong attitudes and disobedient actions
-am I totally inattentive to God? Apathetic? Lazy?
Look at the first part of the verse- “but we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord." The Greek word for open means to unveil, uncover, to disclose. It is also continuous in action, in others words once opened remains open.
Rick Renner writes “We must be willing to permanently remove the veil from our eyes and to take an honest look in the mirror in order to truthfully acknowledge the condition of our present stage. Only after we have truthfully seen and acknowledged the condition of our present stage…only when we see what we are can we make a sincere decision to change, by removing the veil… it is the way the Lord can show us (ourselves) so we can receive correction, change us, transform us, and prepare us to move upward into the next glorious phase of our life.”
Notice Paul talks about the change that happens AFTER the veil is removed. We are transformed from the inside out, beginning in our thoughts and affecting our actions and even countenance. We can move not from mess to another mess but from glory to glory…
How does the process begin? It begins with us quit trying to pretend everything is glorious in our life as we stick our head in the sand. That denial just keeps us stuck. The Lord wants to lift the veil and get us to the place of openness. He says “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom,” freedom to deal with sin, deal with the mess. It may be hard to look at the mess of our finances, the mess of our relationships, the mess of our health..the mess of whatever it is that isn’t so glorious. As we allow the Spirit to lift that veil, God transforms our stuff into glory.
Be encouraged and open to Him.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Everyone knows it, few do it but it could change your life
The secret to life, the secret to success, the secret to genuine contentment, the secret to making the most of life happens when we choose gratitude over complaining. Most know the importance of gratitude; however, few actually get to that place.
In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus has compassion on ten lepers and says go show yourself to the priests (who made the call of those healed). It says that as they went they were healed or cleansed. I imagine a discussion was happening, “hey look at you, your complexion is clearing up,” “guys these lesions have gone from me, color is returning.” Their greatest hope was becoming a reality and one of them returned to Jesus and it says loudly glorified God. This wasn’t some solemn “we thank thee, oh Lord,” it wasn’t some shallow “thanks” either. He was fired up, passionate gratitude was happening.
Jesus says “your faith has made you well.” All of them were healed physically, but this Samaritan was healed spiritually, emotionally, salvation had come to him (leprosy affected a lot more then just the physical).
Faith grows in the soil of gratitude. You want stronger faith, start thinking of all the things for which you could give thanks. We are not talking about a shallow thanks your parents made you give when people gave you a gift. Rather heartfelt praise to a gracious God who has done so much. Notice Jesus asks the question “where are the other nine? were there not ten healed.
“I would come back to give thanks,” or would we?
As I look at the generation of Israelites that saw the most dramatic miracles of God…the plagues, the fire by night, pillar of cloud by day, the parting of the red sea, the manna and how was their attitude? I can’t help think these people would be filled with the most gratitude, after all God had taken them out of the bondage of Egypt. I would think they would have the strongest faith because they clearly saw the hand of God. Yet we see a constant whining, complaining, mmmmuuuurrrrrmmmmuuuuurrrrring. Numbers 11:1 says they complained and God HEARD IT, and was displeased.
I am not sure we often think about the fact that God hears our complaining. Imagine your kids whining and complaining to you all the time, you wouldn’t like it….it would grate on you. Replace you, imperfect parent, with perfect God and it is all the more insulting. I heard one minister say the average person complains twenty times a day. The apostle Paul writes that in the last days there is going to be a prominent self centeredness and unthankfulness that will define that time, having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-7). That tells me that we may know we are to live with gratitude but most choose to not walk in it.
We choose our attitudes. As one said “gratitude is the attitude, that sets the altitude for living.” If we can get this truth in our hearts it could revolutionize our life. We could literally reach a greater depth of peace, joy, contentment, and intimacy with God we have yet to attain. Most aren’t going that direction, but how about you….want to make the trek?
I Want to invite you to Cornerstone over this Christmas, we are going to take a fresh look into the Christmas story. I know you are saying “I have heard it a thousand times already.” Like this dead, lifeless tradition we keep. This year is going to be different! Come and join us for our new series “Christmas Alive.” It is a powerful, life transforming story of good news….we need to hear.
In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus has compassion on ten lepers and says go show yourself to the priests (who made the call of those healed). It says that as they went they were healed or cleansed. I imagine a discussion was happening, “hey look at you, your complexion is clearing up,” “guys these lesions have gone from me, color is returning.” Their greatest hope was becoming a reality and one of them returned to Jesus and it says loudly glorified God. This wasn’t some solemn “we thank thee, oh Lord,” it wasn’t some shallow “thanks” either. He was fired up, passionate gratitude was happening.
Jesus says “your faith has made you well.” All of them were healed physically, but this Samaritan was healed spiritually, emotionally, salvation had come to him (leprosy affected a lot more then just the physical).
Faith grows in the soil of gratitude. You want stronger faith, start thinking of all the things for which you could give thanks. We are not talking about a shallow thanks your parents made you give when people gave you a gift. Rather heartfelt praise to a gracious God who has done so much. Notice Jesus asks the question “where are the other nine? were there not ten healed.
“I would come back to give thanks,” or would we?
As I look at the generation of Israelites that saw the most dramatic miracles of God…the plagues, the fire by night, pillar of cloud by day, the parting of the red sea, the manna and how was their attitude? I can’t help think these people would be filled with the most gratitude, after all God had taken them out of the bondage of Egypt. I would think they would have the strongest faith because they clearly saw the hand of God. Yet we see a constant whining, complaining, mmmmuuuurrrrrmmmmuuuuurrrrring. Numbers 11:1 says they complained and God HEARD IT, and was displeased.
I am not sure we often think about the fact that God hears our complaining. Imagine your kids whining and complaining to you all the time, you wouldn’t like it….it would grate on you. Replace you, imperfect parent, with perfect God and it is all the more insulting. I heard one minister say the average person complains twenty times a day. The apostle Paul writes that in the last days there is going to be a prominent self centeredness and unthankfulness that will define that time, having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-7). That tells me that we may know we are to live with gratitude but most choose to not walk in it.
We choose our attitudes. As one said “gratitude is the attitude, that sets the altitude for living.” If we can get this truth in our hearts it could revolutionize our life. We could literally reach a greater depth of peace, joy, contentment, and intimacy with God we have yet to attain. Most aren’t going that direction, but how about you….want to make the trek?
I Want to invite you to Cornerstone over this Christmas, we are going to take a fresh look into the Christmas story. I know you are saying “I have heard it a thousand times already.” Like this dead, lifeless tradition we keep. This year is going to be different! Come and join us for our new series “Christmas Alive.” It is a powerful, life transforming story of good news….we need to hear.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
How do I know when it is God speaking to me?
I like the story I heard of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Apparently President Roosevelt got tired of smiling the expected presidential smile and saying the usual expected things at all those White House receptions. So, one evening he decided to find out whether anybody was really listening to what he was saying. As each person came up to him with extended hand, he flashed that big smile and said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." People would automatically respond with comments like "How lovely!" or "Just continue your great work!"Nobody listened to what he was actually saying, except for one foreign diplomat. When the president said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning," the diplomat responded softly, "I’m sure she had it coming."
Are you taking time to listen? Last week we talked how God gives us Holy Spirit impressions- John 14:26 "The Holy Spirit will be your teacher and will bring to your mind or remembrance [key word] all that I have said to you." "Bring to your mind" means He gives us impressions. He gives us ideas. He gives us these gut feelings.
I am not saying it is easy to always get what the almighty God is saying. It is hard for me to explain to my son why he shouldn’t eat stuff in the garbage or play in the toilet. So it must be hard for God to get through to us…but all I know is that He has done what He can to make a way by destroying the barrier of sin and given the Holy Spirit.
The question is “how do we know that impression is God or just some bad indigestion or something else?”
I gave many ways you can test (as 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirit) to determine if that thought, or message, or word is of God or not.
1. Is it biblical? Be assured God is consistent. You as a parent may not be or your parents may not have been, but what God says God’s Word is constant. If a message or word or thought doesn’t line up with scripture you can know that is not of God.
2. Does it make me more like Christ? (Phil 2:5) His goal is to make us more like Christ.
James 3:17 (NCV)
But the wisdom (defined as the best choice in any situation) that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial, sincere. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others.
The ideas that God gives are full of wisdom. Notice the description of what that includes it is peaceful, gentle, considerate, submissive, full of mercy. If you have ever been bowled over by someone speaking for God who demonstrated an arrogance or sense of bragging…this passage would tell you it wasn’t of God. God’s desire is that the quality of our message or the quality of our life point to Christ.
3. When I'm trying to figure out whether I've got this idea from God or not, I need to ask
“Does my church family confirm it?”
Ephesians 3:10 "God’s intent is that through the church the manifold wisdom of God is revealed."
We weren’t created to be island…we were adopted into his family. God speaks through his people. If you have something you believe may be of God, run it by some people of God.
Proverbs 11:9 "The wisdom of the righteous can save you." Save you what? Money, time,
reputation. Be open to council, correction, and guidance. If others mature believers are questioning it…you should too.
4. Is it convicting or condemning? Conviction comes from God and it is very specific and points the way to change. He points out an attitude, behavior, or something in your life that needs changing. You confess, repent, and feelings leave.
On the other hand, condemnation comes from the devil and is very general and just leaves you feeling bad. It is very vague and basically says something like, “You're bad. You're no good. You're worthless. You stink. God could never use you. Forget ever trying to be a Christian."
So if you have this very general sense of guilt that's condemnation and it is not from God.
Satan minimizes your sin before you do it, "It's no big deal!" and after you do it he goes
"Look at what you did!" He wants you to walk around in constant guilt because guilty Christians are worthless in serving God.
Sometimes we are mistaking our low self worth for God speaking…or substituting the past voices of parents that you could never please and put it on your heavenly Father. Need to get truth in you that believes Jesus paid the price for our sin so we could be forgiven and at peace with Him. We don’t need to live in condemnation any longer.
5. Do I sense God’s peace about it?
1 Corinthians 14:33 "God is not the author of confusion."
So if you're feeling confused it isn’t coming from God. If you feel pressured and overwhelmed and driven to make a hasty decision or a major decision fast, you need to question it. Not too many examples where God says “rush” to a major decision. I can think of Jesus talking about counting the cost of following me, that He is patient not wanting any to perish. He gives people time to make the right decision.
The only time you are going to feel stressed out and pressured is when He’s told you something to do and you don’t do it. It creates stress in your life but that is self imposed.
Colossians 3:1 "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts."
If God is genuinely speaking to you and you think this idea is from God, it's going to bring peace to your heart IF you follow it. God's Spirit produces a calm spirit.
May you learn to “test the spirit, to see if they may be of God” (1 John 4:1). These are just a few but using them will help you know if it is or isn’t of God.
Are you taking time to listen? Last week we talked how God gives us Holy Spirit impressions- John 14:26 "The Holy Spirit will be your teacher and will bring to your mind or remembrance [key word] all that I have said to you." "Bring to your mind" means He gives us impressions. He gives us ideas. He gives us these gut feelings.
I am not saying it is easy to always get what the almighty God is saying. It is hard for me to explain to my son why he shouldn’t eat stuff in the garbage or play in the toilet. So it must be hard for God to get through to us…but all I know is that He has done what He can to make a way by destroying the barrier of sin and given the Holy Spirit.
The question is “how do we know that impression is God or just some bad indigestion or something else?”
I gave many ways you can test (as 1 John 4:1 tells us to test the spirit) to determine if that thought, or message, or word is of God or not.
1. Is it biblical? Be assured God is consistent. You as a parent may not be or your parents may not have been, but what God says God’s Word is constant. If a message or word or thought doesn’t line up with scripture you can know that is not of God.
2. Does it make me more like Christ? (Phil 2:5) His goal is to make us more like Christ.
James 3:17 (NCV)
But the wisdom (defined as the best choice in any situation) that comes from God is first of all pure, then peaceful, gentle, and easy to please, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, impartial, sincere. This wisdom is always ready to help those who are troubled and to do good for others.
The ideas that God gives are full of wisdom. Notice the description of what that includes it is peaceful, gentle, considerate, submissive, full of mercy. If you have ever been bowled over by someone speaking for God who demonstrated an arrogance or sense of bragging…this passage would tell you it wasn’t of God. God’s desire is that the quality of our message or the quality of our life point to Christ.
3. When I'm trying to figure out whether I've got this idea from God or not, I need to ask
“Does my church family confirm it?”
Ephesians 3:10 "God’s intent is that through the church the manifold wisdom of God is revealed."
We weren’t created to be island…we were adopted into his family. God speaks through his people. If you have something you believe may be of God, run it by some people of God.
Proverbs 11:9 "The wisdom of the righteous can save you." Save you what? Money, time,
reputation. Be open to council, correction, and guidance. If others mature believers are questioning it…you should too.
4. Is it convicting or condemning? Conviction comes from God and it is very specific and points the way to change. He points out an attitude, behavior, or something in your life that needs changing. You confess, repent, and feelings leave.
On the other hand, condemnation comes from the devil and is very general and just leaves you feeling bad. It is very vague and basically says something like, “You're bad. You're no good. You're worthless. You stink. God could never use you. Forget ever trying to be a Christian."
So if you have this very general sense of guilt that's condemnation and it is not from God.
Satan minimizes your sin before you do it, "It's no big deal!" and after you do it he goes
"Look at what you did!" He wants you to walk around in constant guilt because guilty Christians are worthless in serving God.
Sometimes we are mistaking our low self worth for God speaking…or substituting the past voices of parents that you could never please and put it on your heavenly Father. Need to get truth in you that believes Jesus paid the price for our sin so we could be forgiven and at peace with Him. We don’t need to live in condemnation any longer.
5. Do I sense God’s peace about it?
1 Corinthians 14:33 "God is not the author of confusion."
So if you're feeling confused it isn’t coming from God. If you feel pressured and overwhelmed and driven to make a hasty decision or a major decision fast, you need to question it. Not too many examples where God says “rush” to a major decision. I can think of Jesus talking about counting the cost of following me, that He is patient not wanting any to perish. He gives people time to make the right decision.
The only time you are going to feel stressed out and pressured is when He’s told you something to do and you don’t do it. It creates stress in your life but that is self imposed.
Colossians 3:1 "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts."
If God is genuinely speaking to you and you think this idea is from God, it's going to bring peace to your heart IF you follow it. God's Spirit produces a calm spirit.
May you learn to “test the spirit, to see if they may be of God” (1 John 4:1). These are just a few but using them will help you know if it is or isn’t of God.
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