Wednesday Night November 21, 2012
scriptures: Proverbs 20, Hebrews 10, 1 Thessalonians 5, Luke 17, Psalms 95, Psalms 69, Hebrews 13, Philippians 4
audio file: click to open in a new window or right-click to download
Notes
Proverbs 20:13
God values a work ethic.
vs 17
Sin is deceitful. Forbidden things seem sweet at first, but trap you.
vs 18
It is good to get counsel in God, to make sure that you are seeing things correctly in God.
A lot of people don’t value relationships and counsel before, in order to avoid getting in trouble. Instead they usually have the conversations after they made a foolish decision.
Hebrews 10:24
Do you want advice that maximizes you in Christ? Some times people don’t want to hear advice, especially when they know that it will go against what they want to do.
Are you trying to stimulate people in Christ?
We need to have reciprocal relations in Christ.
Love and good works. Can I see this in my life?
We are saved, free to live for God and to do things that are right.
Do I love people like this? It may take irritating people.
What are the works you do for the Lord?
Even in the bible, there was celebration of the harvest. It is an acknowledgment of the fact that the only reason we have what we need is because God gave it to us.
The firstfruits is an example of giving back to God off the top.
Many people only give to God now if they have nothing else to do, only give from what is left, instead of seeing His service as priority.
Remember, it was not long ago that society set aside Sundays as a day for worship and businesses were not open. Gradually as people worship less, less and less is set aside for God.
You need to plan for worship in your life.
Thanksgiving comes from the acknowledgment that all things come from God and what we are giving Him is from Him anyway.
Even our lives, God is constantly working our body processes. There is a lot going on that we don’t even control, much less think about.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-18
If you are living in the light, you don’t have to be worried about the end.
Be sober – controlled
Esteem your leaders.
Treat people well. Both in the church and in the world.
REJOICE EVERMORE- praise God for things.
PRAY WITHOUT CEASING – there are people who go through things, but don’t bother to pray.
Sometimes, you don’t get the answer you want.
In EVERYTHING give THANKS. – there is no reason for anyone to act as if they are entitled to things. Everything we have is a gift. It seems that those that are the most thankful and grateful are the ones that have the least or have lost the most, you would think. Then you find people that have not weathered those same storms who do not thank God often.
For many in the US, it should be called gluttonous day versus Thanksgiving. They don’t appreciate the harvest, they didn’t work for it and take things for granted. The things, people
that God placed in your life.
The bible says that men are unthankful.
You are out of touch with God if you have a bitter, complaining spirit. Have you thought this week that God forgave you for your sins and you gave Him thanks for it. If it has been a while, then maybe you don’t appreciate it.
As you think about all of the things that you have done for other people, and how much they may not have appreciated it. Think about how much more God has done for you. Do we dare ask if we have to worship God?
If you get hurt or aggravated, how much more do you think God feels.
The Lord says He will laugh at your calamity after you ignore Him until you want something.
We should pray without ceasing. No matter what is going or not going your way.
There are people who have died of diseases that you may have survived or not even gotten.
Luke 17:11
Leprosy was a disease that people were separated from others. They cried to Jesus for mercy. Most people have in some form asked for mercy. They asked God for forgiveness and he gave it. What then is there response?
These men took themselves to the priest to be declared clean. Only one of them turned back to thank and glorify God. For us, God has taken care of some situation that we have been worried about. What do we do?
There are many people who turned to God for help, received it, and fail to persist. That is selfishness. It is about themselves and not about God anymore.
vs 19
Thy faith has made thee delivered. There was healing beyond the body, down to the real issue, his need for God.
If someone has to beg you, prod you into worship, maybe you are part of the nine.
Incomplete
Psalms 95:1-2
Sing, make a noise to God. God is concerned about your spirituality, not about your personality excuses for why you don’t serve or worship Him.
Before you come to worship, you should have something that you are already thankful and grateful for. You come before His presence already thankful to Him. Come to Him with an attitude of worship.
Today, what did you thank God for?
We have to make sure that we use our freedom to serve, not to be selfish. If you are a spoiled brat, you need to put away childish things and become a man or woman of God.
Psalms 69:29-32
God appreciated thanks and praise more than things you could give Him. (He gave us whatever anyway.) Sometimes that’s what parents want more, to hear the appreciation more than the things that you give them.
You praising the Lord and having a thankful spirit encourages others too.
Hebrews 13:15-21
Praise continually (remember, rejoice evermore!)
Is God working in you like that?
Philippians 4:4-7
Approach God being thankful for what you have already received and what He has already done.
Then when you have the right perspective and trust in God, His peach will keep you and your mind.
God’s reasons are better than my wants.