The Glory of God

Scripture

Exodus 14: 17-18, 31

And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the LORD!”

When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the LORD had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the LORD and in his servant Moses. 

Observation

1. God delivered the children of Israel to make his glory known.

God did want to relieve their suffering, he did want to deliver them out of slavery, and he did want to make them into a great nation.  That all is true but it was not God's greatest motivation.

His greatest motivation was to make his glory known.

2. When we see God's glory we will worship him truly.

They were filled with awe.  When we see Jesus as he truly is, we will fall down in worship.

3. When God's glory is revealed, it will draw men unto him.

They knew he was lord and they put their faith in him.  They went beyond head knowledge of God to experiential knowledge of God.  When people experience the glory of God firsthand, they will place their faith in him.

Application

1. My greatest motivation must be the glory of God.

I get mixed up and start worry about my glory, my reputation, and my kingdom.  It must be about his glory, the expansion of his kingdom, and his reputation. My motives need to be purified.

2. My obedience will declare his glory.

Moses had to act in faith.  God gave him commands and Moses had to obey those commands.  I declare God's glory through obedience. Sometimes I want to glorify God through great exploits not simple obedience.

Prayer

Change my heart, purify my motives.  May the glory of God be my motivation.  May Jesus be lifted up that all men may be drawn to you.

Moving Mountains

Scripture

Matthew 21:18-22

In the morning, as Jesus was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry, 19 and he noticed a fig tree beside the road. He went over to see if there were any figs, but there were only leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” And immediately the fig tree withered up. 20 The disciples were amazed when they saw this and asked, “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” 21 Then Jesus told them, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. 22 You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.”

Observation

Jesus response to the fig tree always seems a little over the top to me.  I am not even sure figs were in season but what I do know is the lesson is on faith.  It does not teach on faith in faith but on having faith.  The existence of faith in you is enough, the faith of a mustard seed, though small can move mountains.

1. Have faith in God.

Again not faith in faith or faith in myself but trust God to keep his promises.

2. Grow in my relationship with Him.

The more I know Him, the more I will trust him.  Faith grows by experience.  When I experience God keeping his word to me, it builds my trust in him.

3. Doubt is questioning God's character.

When I doubt his word, I doubt his being.  God's promises are backed by all the honor of his name.  

Application

1. God is sovereign so even when people are making decisions on my future, I can trust God to get me to the right place.  No man can act outside of God's sovereignity.

2. Having a need is the first step of receiving a miracle.

Needing a miracle positions me into receiving a miracle.  Times of great need are times of great opportunity.

Prayer

I do trust you can rest in the fact that you can move mountains.  I will not be consumed by worry or anxiety but will experience the peace of God.

Building Block 1 to Financial Health

Building block #1 Giving

What are the benefits of giving?

A. You will experience an increase in intimacy

Matthew 6:21 "for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

B. You will experience an increase in heaven

Matthew 6:20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in nor steal."

Philippians 4:17 "not because I desired a gift, but I desire fruit that accumulates to your account."

C. You will experience an increase on earth

Proverbs 11:24-25 "There is one who scatters, yet increases; and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will be watered also himself."

Building Block 2 to Financial Health

Building Block #2 Working

Three reasons to work hard

A. You follow the example of Jesus.

John 5:17 "In his defense Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working." 

B. Working provides for your needs

Psalm 128:2 "You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."

Proverbs 12:11

"Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense."

Proverbs 14:23 "All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty."

C. God rewards hard work.

1 Corinthians 15:58 "Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

Hebrews 6:10 "God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them."

Building Block 3 to Financial Health

Building block #3 Saving

A. It is wisdom to save for the future

Proverbs 21:20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

Proverbs 21:5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.

1 Corinthians 16:2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.

Proverbs 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 30:24-25 Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise: Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

B. A plan for saving

Save $1000.00

Pay off all consumer debt

3-6 month emergency fund

Save for retirement

Save for college

Pay off house

Save and give

Building Block 4 to Financial Health

Building block #4 Planning

A. The Bible teaches to plan for the future

Proverbs 13:16 A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about it!

Luke 14:28-30 “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish’?”

Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, you sluggard;  consider its ways and be wise!  It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

Proverbs 16: 9 In their hearts humans plan their course,  but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 27:23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and attend to your herds.

Proverbs 14:29 He who is impulsive exalts folly

B. Tips for planning

1. Know how to understand your monthly statement and read it every month.

2. Turn in your quarterly report on time

3. Know want funds are personal and what is work, then keep them separate.

4. Keep your receipts and keep good records.

How to get promoted

Scripture 

Matthew 20: 26-28

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. 28 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Observation

A servant was a hired worker that maintained the master's household and a slave was someone who was forced into service.  They were at the bottom of Jewish society, but with Jesus down is up.  

1. Among us it should be different.

Workers should have a different attitude than everyone else.  We have a calling not a  profession.  

2. Don't seek promotion but demotion.

We seek to lower ourselves not seek to get "promoted in the organization."  We choose servanthood and slavery, people who have no rights or privileges.

2. Leadership is servanthood.

I do not believe God looks for leaders.  Moses and David were never a leader of men before their calling.  I believe God looks for servants that He can work through.  

Application

1. Have a servant's attitude.

I work in an organization so I do not control my position, ministry, or location.

I can chooses my attitude towards my ministry, my leadership, and life.

2. Don't seek position.

Seek ways to serve people.  Seek ways to lower myself.  God is sovereign and will take care of what ministry I am in, where I reside, and what title I have.

3. Do my best where I am with what I have.

Everyday do what I can do.  Don't focus on what I can't do, what I don't have, or the lack of authority or power that is given to me.  Find a need and fill it, do what I can everyday.

Prayer

Father this is hard for me. I want to exalt myself and have others acknowledge and promote me.  I need your help to do the opposite.  I want to lower myself, trust in you, and be obedient where I am.  May there be less of me and more of you, none of me and all of you.