Proverbs 16:9

 Proverbs 16:9

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.”

#1 “In their hearts…”

In most places where the heart is mentioned in Scripture, it is not looked upon kindly.  Jeremiah said, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it” (Jer 17:9)?  

Mark 7:21-22 says, “For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.” 

Just follow your heart may work for Disney, but it is terrible advice for the believer.

#2 “…humans plan their course,”

It is right to plan to a certain extent; what is for dinner tonight? 

When will I finish my work? But the kind of planning that is not good is the arrogant kind that desires its own way and has expectations for how things are going to go.  

This is essentially taking on God’s job.  James 4:13-17 calls it “boasting about tomorrow.”

#3 “but the Lord establishes their steps.”

What is going to happen is what God wants to happen. Seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness

 (Mt 6:25-34), don’t worry for tomorrow, live in his presence right now, and watch him unfold his perfect plan before you.  

This means live according to his principles in his Word, and lay down your life for him and for his Kingdom.  

You cannot even imagine what he has in store for those who trust in him.

WHATS MY MISSION

Text Like 9: 21-27

“Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I’m leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn’t, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:23-27‬ ‭MSG‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Missions is such key part of Jesus’ message that it reaches down and touches each of our lives. Our commitment to missions reflects our commitment to our Lord. 

Our mission is way bigger than ourselves or even the people we serve, it’s part of a worldwide movement Jesus started.

 Satan’s most powerful tools to get Jesus follower’s off mission is the weapon of DISTRACTION.

From this passage, Jesus identifies and calls out several  Distraction Missions that will pull you away from the mission Jesus has made you for.

Earlier in the chapter he shared point blank what following him meant.

Read Luke 9:23

“Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.”

A man walks up ready to follow and Jesus says that this mission may lead to homelessness. 

He was interested in following Jesus as long as it didn’t take him out of his comfort zone. Just think about all the things Jesus had his disciples do. 

He sent them out for weeks at a time with no cash, extra clothes or fall back plan. 

Our world is obsessed with safety and comfort. 

What happens when the Mission of Comfort comes in conflict with the Mission of Jesus? 

What happens when comfort becomes a bigger deal in your life than Christ? 

We learn here that Jesus says it would be better to count the cost before following him.

Luke 9:57-58 - Challenging the Comfortable Disciple

And as they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.” And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head” (Luke 9:57-58).

What about yourself? You like being a Christian, but do you share a willingness to go wherever Jesus sends you? Or is there some element of wealth, health, comfort or ease that might keep you from that commitment?

Luke 9:59-60 - Challenging the Convenient Disciple

“And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Permit me first to go and bury my father.” But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God”” (Luke 9:59-60).

The one willing to follow Jesus does not say, “I have this to do today, but tomorrow I can help you.” If you follow, then you go where Jesus goes. 

This man wanted to be a convenient follower. Convenient followers are not followers at all because they will only accompany Jesus when it is convenient for their schedules. Jesus challenged him to set his priorities in place.

First comes the absolute commitment. If you mean to follow Jesus, then Jesus must come first place. The Lord wanted him and us to say an unqualified, “Yes” to Him and then follow Jesus.

 When we face issues in life, and they will come, we then as Christ’s disciples ask Jesus what we should do. In this case the man could have asked Jesus how he should care for his dead father.

”Be Challenge & Take the Challenge”

OBEDIENCE WILL DO

 “When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.” But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?” Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.” “Enough!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied.”

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15:13-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The most obvious way to step out of God’s will is to commit deliberate sin. In fact, this is so apparent that you might wonder why I’m pointing it out. The reason is that I often hear believers try to justify partial obedience.

King Saul tried to justify ignoring the Lord’s instructions. After God ordered the Israelites to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all their holdings, they spared the choicest beasts as well as the leader, Agag. 

Pleased with himself, Saul announced that he had done as commanded. But when Samuel questioned him further, Saul tried to blame the people

 (1 Samuel 15:15). A king’s subjects, however, cannot act in so brazen a manner without his knowledge and permission.

Saul didn’t stop there. He argued that the animals had been saved so they could be sacrificed to the Lord. He must have sounded quite righteous to his own ears. But Samuel was not fooled. 

He called Saul’s action by its proper name—insubordination (v. 23).

Our reason for partial obedience may sound logical, but that doesn’t change the fact that we’re still in rebellion. 

Excuses and justifications won’t sway God in the slightest. He doesn’t alter His will to accommodate human desires or common sense. Instead, He looks for and takes delight in a faithful follower.

Are you trying to rationalize a decision or behavior? 

Perhaps you’ve offered reasons for pursuing a certain path. Or maybe you tried bargaining with God. 

I assure you He isn’t moved by any arguments. Remember: Partial obedience is disobedience in His eyes. And no sin is worth being outside His will.

Pride— Humility

 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

There is a sequence in Scripture that is respected . Pride goes before destruction. Likewise, humility comes before honor. In the spiritual order of things, it’s inviolable.

Pride is the first chapter in the book of failure.

Humility is the first chapter in the book of success.

God won’t put you in a position of leadership until you take a posture of servanthood. 

So as you’re pursuing your God-sized, God-given dream, remember the attitude you need to keep from beginning to end. Stoop!

And meanwhile here’s a tip. There are two ways to get humility. 

You can humble yourself or let God humble you. Choose the former so you don’t have to experience the latter.

Faithful Servant

 

““The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭25:22-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

FAITHFUL Servant —

 

1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV  Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

 

“A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.”

Proverbs 28:20 NIV

 

 

“Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find?”

Proverbs 20:6 NIV

 

 

Faithfulness hinges upon what we value as important combined with commitment. Humans have a powerful tendency to be faithful to what they think is truly important, be it a family name, spouse, friendship, employer, school, athletic team or even certain things like a make of automobile.

 

FAITHFULNESS IS ONE OF THE CORE VIRTUES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

 

why is faithfulness so important?

for the Christian, being faithful is important for four reasons:

1)we need to be faithful because God is faithful. 

 

God is faithful which means ...

... He is consistent

... He is dependable

... He is reliable at all times

 

2) we need to be faithful because God wants us to be like Him

3)we need to be faithful because faithfulness makes life a whole lot easier

4)we need to be faithful because God is going to judge us according to our faithfulness

 

 

 

Jesus emphasized 5 words: Well … done … good … faithful … servant. 

Faithfulness is the one He reemphasized in giving out His rewards (Matthew 25:21, 23): “Well done, good and faithful servant! 

You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. 

 

Come and share your master’s happiness!” The master had entrusted the servants with a portion of His assets, which they were expected to use faithfully on behalf of the master.  

 

The Bible commands us to “examine ourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Ask yourself, are you faithfully committed to the Lord, your spouse, your family, your church, and to the gifts and callings of the Lord in your life? 

 

Remember Jesus’ words to the third servant, who had failed to be faithful in what the Lord had entrusted to him — “You wicked, lazy servant!” (Matthew 25:26).

 

 

Mark 10:45, NIV  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

 

Jesus, the greatest Person ever to walk the earth, said that even He came to serve, to give. How can we, for whom He died, do any less?

 

We born-again children of God are citizens of the kingdom of God (John 3:3). And greatness in God’s sight comes through being a servant. Jesus said, 

 

“The greatest among you will be your servant” (Matthew 23:11), just as He came to serve us in His life, in His ministry, and in His death and resurrection for our salvation. 

 

He washed the disciples feet to give all of us an example: if our Lord and Master served in this way, how much more should we?

 

Sheep, Goats, and Wolves

 

Sheep, Goats, and Wolves

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” (Matthew 25:32)  

 

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)  

 

       The Lord will one day separate between the sheep and the goats.  He will also judge the wolves. Each of us must ask ourselves the question:  Am I a sheep, goat, or wolf?  Only the Lord’s evaluation will matter one day. In the mean time, we can test ourselves where we stand.  Let us consider a few more comparisons between sheep, goats, and wolves:

 

• Sheep seek the shepherd readily, goats seek the shepherd as a last resort, and wolves never seek the shepherd.
• Sheep allow love to cover a multitude of sins, goats allow gossip to uncover a multitude of sins, and wolves lead others into a multitude of sins.
• Sheep resist sin, goats yield to sin, and wolves justify their sin.
• Sheep crucify their flesh, goats pacify their flesh, and wolves feed on flesh.
• Sheep develop character, goats follow charisma, and wolves depend upon charisma to override character.
• Sheep serve out of love, goats serve out of obligation, and wolves serve for personal gain.
• Sheep seek reconciliation, goats avoid reconciliation, and wolves refuse reconciliation.
• Sheep are humble, goats are selfish, and wolves are proud.
• Sheep love all, goats love those who love them, and wolves love themselves.