Radical Faith Produces Radical Blessings

Abraham demonstrated RADICAL faith

After receiving instructions to sacrifice his one and only son, he started EARLY the next day in his journey of obedience.

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. Genesis 22:1-3

He viewed this act of obedience as WORSHIP for BOTH he and his son.

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:4-5

He trusts God to PROVIDE the sacrifice necessary to spare his son’s life.

Genesis 22:6-8

He is prepared to OBEY God completely and wholeheartedly.

Genesis 22:9-11

The Key to Abraham’s Obedience was his WILLING Heart.

But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Genesis 22:11

Abraham experienced RADICAL blessings.

IMMEDIATE blessings.

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The Lord Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” Genesis 22:13-14

Long-Term / LEGACY blessings.

The angel of the Lord called to Abraham from heaven a second time and said, “I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, Genesis 22:15-17

ETERNAL / Spiritual blessings.

and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:18

All of Abraham’s blessings were due to his willingness to OBEY.

Radical Faith STILL Produces Radical Blessings.

Avoiding Election Infection

Faith before politics.

You don't see any conflict between your faith and your politics.

Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” Luke 5:31-32 

They all ate as much as they wanted. Afterward, the disciples picked up seven large baskets of leftover food.  Matthew 15:37 NLT

Bible first / Politics second

Jesus first / Political party second

To get this right we must do something Jesus did.

People first / Politics second

We can disagree on what's best for people, but we can't disagree that what's best for people is what's best.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  Matthew 22:37-38 NLT

A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”  Matthew 22:39-40 NLT

Your behavior makes perfect sense to you.

Everybody's behavior makes perfect sense to him or her.

Your political views make perfect sense to you.

Everybody's political views make perfect sense to him or her.

Be a student, not a critic.

Jesus' followers should be the most confident, curious, composed, compassionate people in the room.

Four Questions to Avoid Election Infection:

1. What led you to hold that view?
2. Have you always held this view?
3. Have you met him? her?
4. I get most of my information from the media.  How about you?

In conclusion:
- Opinion?
- Argue your point?
- Make a point at the expense of influence?
- Jeopardize a relationship? 

Sending Free

Sending Free

Jesus' example gives the suggestion that at point anyone can have a new life.

We get to recognize our shortcomings and have another go at it.

CS Lewis said “Friends aren’t mandatory to survival but they do give it meaning.”

To follow Jesus by ourselves is possible though when we find it harder than expected we slow down and sometimes stop altogether. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."  Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.  Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  Galatians 6:1-3 ESV

Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to

wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.”  John 13:10 ESV

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6 ESV

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 1 John 3:20 ESV

What prevents me from following Jesus?

What slows me down and creates a struggle in following Jesus?

Who is around me cares and have I withdrawn from them?

I am free to follow Jesus how He made me.

Jesus hasn’t given up on me and I shouldn’t either.

What Makes You Happy - Part 6

You're Not Enough

As long as you are all about you, you won't be happy.

You can't fulfill you.

You cannot acquire, consume or even exercise your way to happiness.

You can serve and volunteer your way to happiness.

How can behaving selflessly make myself happier?

How can emptying myself leave me feeling so full?

DIVINE DESIGN

Sin separates us into our own self-centered worlds.

You've got to find a way to give yourself a way.

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.  Galatians 5:16 NLT

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Galatians 5:17 NLT

But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.  Galatians 5:18 NLT

When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 NLT

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 
Galatians 5:24 NLT

Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Galatians 5:25 NLT

How do we measure the value of a life?

The value of a life is always measured by how much of it was given away.

If it's all about you, you'll never be happy.

You were designed by the giver of life to give your life away.

What Makes You Happy - Part 5

Pleasure and Happiness

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT

I'm my own worst enemy.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.  John 10:11 NLT

    You:   bought it        leased it            ate it            drank it    smoked it        dated it

Sin separates.

Sin's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy.

Problem:  Prioritizing pleasure over happiness

Eventually, pleasure loses it's pleasure and becomes a prison.

Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!  Romans 6:15 NLT

Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.  Romans 6:16 NLT

Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Romans 6:17 NLT

Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living. Romans 6:18 NLT

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NLT

Peace with God, paves the way to peace with ourselves, which equips us to make peace with others.

Jesus:  If you sow better, you'll reap better and feel better.

Is there a pleasure that's undermining your happiness?

Is there a pleasure that's slowly taken you prisoner?

What Makes You Happy - Part 4

Happy Money

I thought I knew what would make me happy.

How much more money would it take to make you more happy? to give you peace?

More than you currently have.

Money can contribute to your happiness if you manage it well.

Here’s the lesson: Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your possessions are gone, they will welcome you to an eternal home. Luke 16:9 NLT

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. Luke 16:10 NLT

And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? Luke 16:11 NLT

And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own? Luke 16:12 NLT

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. Luke 16:13 NLT

Has your desire for some thing, ever caused you to do something?

Has your desire for some thing ever caused you to do something stupid?

Has your desire for some thing ever caused you to do something you regret?

Desire for = devotion to

Discontentment        Awareness

Greed = the assumption that it's all for my consumption

Debt
"I want" is better than "I owe."
"I want" is between you and God.

Don't trade your peace for some thing that can't possibly bring you peace.

Discontent        Greed        Debt

Giving always results in joy.

Generosity         Wisdom

Give > Joy    Save > Peace        Live > Freedom

Money contributes to your happiness, when and if you manage it well.

What Makes You Happy - Part 3

Peace With God

Happy people are at peace with:
- Themselves        
- Others        
- God

Peace with God paves the way to peace with ourselves and equips us to make peace with others.

Do for others as your heavenly Father, through Jesus, has done for you.

The conflict:
- Sin        
- Your sin

Something can be absolutely unfair and true at the same time.

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12 NLT

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.   Colossians 1:13 NLT

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.    Romans 5:1 NLT

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.  Romans 5:2 NLT

God's love is too strong to simply go along.

So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.  1 John 1:6 NLT

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.  We love each other because he loved us first.    1 John 4:18-19 NLT

If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?  1 John 4:20 NLT

Peace with God begins with faith in Jesus.

Peace with God is sustained by submission to Jesus.

Have you made peace with God?

Are you at peace with God?

What Makes You Happy - Part 2

God doesn't want you to be happy, He wants you to be holy.

If you're happy and you know it, repent.

Blessed = Fortunate or happy

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,  and he began to teach them.  Matthew 5:1-2 NIV

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:3 NIV

Poor in spirit = people who embrace their daily dependence on God regardless of what they have.

The moment you put your trust in riches instead of Him who richly provides, you're unhappy.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Matthew 5:4 NIV

Fear of dying will rob you of the joy of living.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Matthew 5:5 NIV

Meekness = a proper estimation of ones' self worth within the broader context of God's love.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 NIV

Happy = no guilt, no regret, and a clear conscience.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Matthew 5:7 NIV

Happy are the relationally generous. 

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8 NIV

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 NIV

Happy are the reconcilers.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 5:10 NIV

What's the common denominator?

Happiness is an outcome.
Happiness is not immediately accessible.
You sow and you reap your way to happiness.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.   Matthew 7:24 NLT

But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.  Matthew 7:26 NLT

What makes you happy?   Sowing