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God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

Grace – the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, 
not because of anything we’ve done to earn it. 
It’s a gift.

Throughout Scripture, 
we find God helping those who cannot 
help themselves.

A father to the fatherless, 
a defender of widows, 
is God in his holy 
dwelling place.

Psalm 68:5 
New International Version (NIV)

There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.

Deuteronomy 15:11 
(NIV)

When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 
Leave them for the poor and for the foreigner residing among you. 
I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 23:22 
(NIV)

What does this have to do with us today?

God wants US to be His hands and feet!

God has a special place in His heart for the least, the last, and the lost.

All have sinned and fallen 
short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:23
(NIV)

For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in 
Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 
(NIV)

For God so love the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16
(NIV)

 

Fear

Fear: an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

Claustrophobia: Fear of being in constricted, confined spaces.
Musophobia: Fear of mice
Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
Aerophobia: Fear of flying
Aquaphobia: Fear of water
Acrophobia: Fear of heights
Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns
Escalaphobia: Fear of escalators
Emetophobia: Fear of vomiting
Chronomentrophobia: Fear of clocks
Omniphobia: Fear of everything

Fears can kill your confidence if you let them.

Judges 6-8 / GIDEON

When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said 
“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said,
“Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of 
Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” 
The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

Judges 6:12-16 New International Version (NIV)

Judges 7 / Gideon defeats 
the Midianite army…

…under the authority of God

Gideon exchanged 
his fear for faith

“Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

Luke 1:30

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from 
the Holy Spirit.”

Matthew 1:20

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 
Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; 
he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:10-11

Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. 
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 
In God, whose word I praise – in God I trust 
and am not afraid. 
What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 56:1-4 (NIV)

Fear, by it’s very nature, brings division, 
tears us apart, and makes us 
doubt the goodness of God.

  • Fr. Bill Peckman, relevantradio.com

What are you afraid of? What is it that’s got you unsettled & uncertain?

Today is the day! Accept the gift!

 

Comparison

Comparison: an examination of two or more items to establish similarities and differences. (Webster)

In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering — fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock.The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

Genesis 4:3-7 New International Version (NIV)

Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

Genesis 4:8-9 (NIV)

When we look in the mirror, we may see a little of Cain in us.

1 Samuel 16 – King Saul

And David came to Saul, and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor-bearer. Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Let David remain in my service, for he has found favor in my sight.”

1 Samuel 16:21-22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” Saul was very angry; this refrain displeased him greatly. “They have credited David with tens of thousands,” he thought, “but me with only thousands. What more can he get but the kingdom?” And from that time on Saul kept a close eye on David.

1 Samuel 18:7-9 (NIV)

Comparison

Jacob and Esau  – Leah and Rachel   –  Joseph and his brothers

The Bible tells our story.

 

Shame

Shame: a painful feeling of inferiority or unworthiness due to one’s actions, thoughts, circumstances, or experiences, resulting in a mix of regret, self-hate, 
and dishonor.

As a self-conscious emotion, shame informs us of an internal state of inadequacy, unworthiness, dishonor, regret, or disconnection. Shame is a clear signal that our positive feelings have been interrupted. Another person or a circumstance can trigger shame in us, but so can a failure to meet our own ideals or standards. Given that shame can lead us to feel as though our whole self is flawed, bad, or subject to exclusion, it motivates us to hide or to do something to save face. So it is no wonder that shame avoidance can lead to withdrawal or to addictions that attempt to mask its impact.

Mary C. Lamia Ph.D., Psychology Today online, 
“Shame: A Concealed Contagious, and Dangerous Emotion.”

BEFORE

Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 2:25 New International Version (NIV)

AFTER

…and they [Adam and his wife] hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because 
I was naked; so I hid.”


Genesis 2:25 New International Version (NIV)

“Who told you that you were naked?”
Genesis 3:11 (NIV)

Shame isn’t what God wants for us; 
that’s not the life Jesus died for us to have.

He died to deliver us and free us!

On hearing this [that He ate with tax collectors and sinners], Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2:17 (NIV)

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Luke 19:1-10

When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed
him gladly. All the people saw this and began
to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a ‘sinner.’”

Luke 19:5-7 (NIV)

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, 
is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man 
came to seek and to save the lost.”

Luke 19:9-10 (NIV)

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36-50

A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. As she stood behind him at this feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with 
her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Luke 7:37-38 (NIV)

SHAME – is a confidence killer

Lay your shame at the feet of Jesus

Claim the life He wants you to have!

That’s the life Jesus died to give you. That’s the life you were meant to have.

 

 

Reckless Love

Written by Cory Asbury, Caleb Culver, & Ran Jackson

#1 Billboard US Hot Christian Song Chart in 2018
Grammy Nomination & Dove Award – Song of the Year/Worship Song of the Year Top Christian Song – 2019 Billboard Music Awards

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me You have been so, so kind to me

“If…”

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me You have been so, so kind to me

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7 New International Version (NIV)

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Genesis 2:7 New International Version (NIV)

Breath = ruach (Hebrew) and pneuma (Greek) wind and spirit

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

Luke 15:3-7 – Parable of the Lost Sheep

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven

is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value,
he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13:44-45 (NIV)

You are the treasure!!
You are the pearl of great value!!

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven

is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value,
he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.”

Matthew 13:44-45 (NIV)

When I was your foe, still Your love fought for me You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me You have been so, so kind to me

But God demonstrates his own love for us: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

But God demonstrates his own love for us:

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

There’s no shadow You won’t light up Mountain You won’t climb up Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down Lie You won’t tear down Coming after me

Luke 15:8-10 Parable of the Lost Coin

Luke 15:11-31
Parable of the Lost (Prodigal) Son

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.”
Luke 15:18a-19 (NIV)

Luke 15:11-31 Parable of the Prodigal Father

There’s no shadow He won’t light up. There’s no mountain He won’t climb up. There’s no wall He won’t kick down. There’s no lie He won’t tear down.

Reckless Love – the kind of love our Prodigal God has for us!

What about you?

You Say

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up
Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low?
Remind me once again just who I am, because I need to know

…When he [Satan] lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar 
and the father of lies.

John 8:44 New International Version (NIV)

For you [Lord] created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — 
when I awake, I am still with you.

Psalm 139:13-18 (NIV)

How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He’s the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth’s foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

Ephesians 1:3-6 The Message (MSG)

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours
And I believe, oh I believe
What You say of me
I believe

WHO TOLD YOU THAT?

Sin makes you love what is foolish while thinking that you’re wise. Sin makes you think you’re capable of what you cannot do. Sin makes you think you’re righteous when really your heart is corrupt. Sin convinces you that you are okay when actually you’re heading for disaster. The Bible lovingly confronts you with everything you are not. It does so in order that you would run after everything you could be. The Bible forces you to face your foolishness and failure so you would run to One who IS wisdom and righteousness, and find your hope in him.

– John Paul Tripp, New Morning Mercies

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Who are you going to listen to?

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity

Our identity in Christ is not dependent on anything we do.

It’s dependent on who Jesus is.

God is love.

1 John 4:8 (NIV)

Taking all I have and now I’m laying it at Your feet
You have every failure God, and You’ll have every victory

Who are you going to listen to?
Who are you going to believe?

Do it Again

Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”
Joshua 6:1-5 New International Version (NIV)

Verse 1
Walking around these walls
I thought by now they’d fall
But You have never failed me yet
Waiting for change to come
Knowing the battle’s won
For You have never failed me yet

Chorus
Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet

The walls in our lives…

God’s promise still stands!

Verse 2
I know the night won’t last
Your Word will come to pass
My heart will sing Your praise again
Jesus, You’re still enough
Keep me within Your love
My heart will sing Your praise again

Chorus
Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet
(repeat)

God is faithful

I’ve seen You move, You move the mountains
And I believe, I’ll see You do it again
You made a way, where there was no way
And I believe, I’ll see You do it again

“…Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

Our God is the God who makes a way, when there’s no way.
When there’s no way, there’s always Yahweh!

Your promise still stands
Great is Your faithfulness, faithfulness
I’m still in Your hands
This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet

Living Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a 
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, 
spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief 
in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:3-9 New International Version (NIV)

VERSE 2

How great the chasm that lay between us
How high the mountain I could not climb
In desperation, I turned to heaven
And spoke Your name into the night
Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness
Tore through the shadows of my soul
The work is finished, the end is written
Jesus Christ, my living hope

VERSE 2

Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope

CHORUS

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope

VERSE 3

Then came the morning that sealed the promise
Your buried body began to breathe
Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion
Declared the grave has no claim on me
(repeat)

Jesus, Yours is the victory, whoa!

CHORUS

Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Oh God, You are my living hope

IS JESUS YOUR LIVING HOPE!?

 

Protect This House

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil
in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 6:10-12 New International Version (NIV)

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness 
in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

[Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth…] New King James Version (NKJV)

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, 
with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation 
and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Ephesians 6:13-17 (NIV)

Truth is God’s unchangeable standard.
Jesus = Truth

Righteousness is living our lives 
in alignment with God’s Truth.

Peace is the deep, inner feeling of stability that goes beyond understanding; shalom.

Faith is holding firm to God’s 
promises no matter what.

The Bible is the Word of God – our sword.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, 
as I should.

Ephesians 6:13-17 NIV

Are you ready to put on 
the full armor of God?

Win from Within

Character
“the excellence of moral beings.”

Character is who we are when no one is looking.

We develop character by controlling our thoughts.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, 
whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put into practice. 
And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9 NIV

We develop character by practicing Christian virtues.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 
and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance godliness; and to godliness mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.

2 Peter 1:5-7 NIV

People of character set a good example for others to follow.

In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

Titus 2:7-8 NIV

We develop character by practicing righteous living.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous
and the unrighteous.

Matthew 5:38-45 NIV

Daniel
Shadrach
Meshach
Abednego

…“King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, 
Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”

Daniel 3:16-18 NIV

He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” Nebuchadnezzar then approached the opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, “Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out! 
Come here!” So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.

Daniel 3:25-27 NIV

Character: 
holding firm to who we are, 
to whose we are, 
with the help of the Holy Spirit.

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