What Does God Want From Me?

MATTHEW 10

Recap – The Hidden Treasure of Fasting: Many testimonies.

• We’re concerned about what we put in our mind but not in our mouth. We are peculiar people in regard to spiritual things but why not physical things?

1 Peter 2:9, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession [peculiar], that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

Peculiar people: eis: different from what is usual.

If caffeine in the form of energy drinks, soda, and coffee give us traits opposite of what the Spirit gives, there’s a problem: joy, peace, contentment, gentleness are exchanged for aggression, agitation, anxiety, irritability, and being short-tempered.

• When I feed the body what it was designed to consume, it operates much more efficiently –

The Dangers of CNS Addiction

* Amphetamine (speed) * Ephedrin * (Ritalin) * Methamphetamine (Desoxyn – crystal meth or ice) * Yaba *Ecstasy or MDMA *Cocaine * Caffeine

Addiction to this type of drug can have a devastating impact on the physical and mental well-being of the individual. It can drive people to insanity and drastically decrease their quality of life. Unlike some other addictive substances it is not necessary for the individual to take CNS stimulants for long before they are addicted. There are several dangers of this type of addiction:

* Increased tolerance , such that the individual will need to take more of the drug in order to experience the same effect. *Withdrawal symptoms for those who stop taking the substance. *Severe paranoia and psychosis leading to a loss of touch with reality *Severe depression and suicidal thoughts *Damage to body organs including the heart and respiratory system * Illness due to poor nutrition * Work and family problems

Fear, Anxiety, Stress, Anger, are all heightened…

READ MORE: http://alcoholrehab.com/drug-addiction/central-nervous-system-stimulants/

Jesus was accused of drunkenness and gluttony

I didn’t even touch base on the three essentials of water, sleep, and oxygen (Aerobic and anaerobic). Cancer cells thrive in anaerobic atmosphere.

• Or talk about aspartame, sodium nitrates, and so on.

• Sugar, caffeine, and junk food addiction are ravishing the church.

“Pastor, pray for my diabetes…cancer.” Are you creating an environment that fosters health? WATERMELON SEEDS

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What Does God Want From Me?

Matthew 10 (NIV) 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. 9 “Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—10 no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. 11 Whatever town or village you enter, search there for some worthy person and stay at their house until you leave. 12 As you enter the home, give it your greeting. 13 If the home is deserving, let your peace rest on it; if it is not, let your peace return to you. 14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.

1. Don’t look at the odds . . . Only 12

• WW I 4.7million; WW II 16.3; KOREAN 5.7, VIETNAM 8.7, and PERSIAN GULF 500,000.

When you’re filled with the Spirit of God, even a minority is the majority.

• I’m useless, hopeless, unqualified. GOOD – “Now I have you in a position of openness, willingness, dependance, and flexibility.” God  +  Humility  =  SUCCESS

“Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you.”

― Andrew Murray, Humility

*Recommended Reading: Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome, by Kent Hughes.

• BUT – Fine line between presumption and faith

1. an act of taking something to be true or adopting a particular attitude toward something, especially at the start of an argument or action.

FAITH: an act of KNOWING something is true or adopting a particular attitude of humility while waiting on God.

2. behavior perceived as arrogant, disrespectful, and transgressing the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.

FAITH: is underscored with humility; we are respectful of others and the things of God – we don’t want to transgress the limits of what is permitted or appropriate.

– Presumption rushes / Faith waits

– Presumption is fueled by pride / Faith by humility

– Presumption is assuming / Faith is knowing

– Presumption results is anger, anxiety & confusion / Faith offers peace in the midst of the storm

• “Be still and know that I am God…”       “Those who wait on the Lord…”

TAKE-AWAY: Presumptuous people assume without seeking God…without waiting on Him; they rush ahead to get what they “want”.

So What Does God Want? When you’re filled with the Spirit of God, even a minority is the majority. If you’ve been presumptuous and reckless, repent and turn back to God. There is safety in the center of His will.

• “BUT SHANE…I’VE DONE TOO MUCH DAMAGE!” You’d be amazed at what God does with brokenness and repentance.

At 30, “Lord, I’ve ruined my life…it’s over.” No, my son…it’s just begun.

2. We have limited time to do God’s Will

The priority: “Go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

• If everything is a priority, then nothing is.

• Do not go in that direction or spend time with those people or that situation; you’re just spinning your wheels. Go rather to those I’m giving you a burden for.

How do I know? Listen for the Voice THRU Relationship: John 10:27 KJV – My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

So What Does God Want? There are some things that are clearly God’s will for our lives: to be saved and to worship Him, to be holy and set apart for His glory, to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit, to witness to others, to make disciples, and so on. (Refer to 1 Timothy 2:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7; Ephesians 5:17-18; and Matthew 28:19.)

3. “Proclaim this message”: The gospel is primary.

• Life is Gospel-centered; not worldly-centered

(Review your calendar and checkbook – or FACEBOOK)

The power of the gospel (when truly embraced) is like dynamite that ignites a hunger for God so intense that every aspect of life is changed—we become bold not passive; stable not hysterical; and committed not wavering.

• Ministry isn’t the gospel – it’s the by product.

• “Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God”: When ministry is our mistress, our relationship with God suffers.

So What Does God Want? Misaligned priorities always results in frustration.

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”   Ps. 19:7

• THE GOSPEL HURTS IN ORDER TO HEAL.