“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.” (Psalm 66:19)

It’s okay to ask God questions!

In fact, Scripture encourages it. If you lack wisdom about anything, (you need directions about what to do) ask God boldly expecting Him to answer you!

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5 ESV)

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 KJV)

When you have questions for God

• Ask, seek and knock -  “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7 ESV)

• Ask with faith - “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Matt. 21:22 ESV)

• Don’t ask selfishly - “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” (James 4:3 ESV)

• Ask for what lines up with God’s will - “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (1 John 5:14 ESV)

• Ask in the Name of Jesus - “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14 ESV)

Therefore…

“If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7 ESV)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6 ESV)

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him, he also hears their cry and saves them.” (Psalm 145:18-19)

Quote:

“Having the answers is not essential to living. What is essential is the sense of God's presence during dark seasons of questioning.” - Ravi Zacharias

“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:8-21 ESV) 

What to do when you feel shaken

• Seek the Lord - “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 ESV)

• Pray with thanksgiving - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6-7 ESV)

• Humble  yourself - Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)

• Move forward - I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)

• Trust God -“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” (Prov. 3:5-6 ESV)

Therefore…

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (Psalm 37:5 ES)

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28 ESV)

“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:16-17 ESV)

Quote:

“I have complete confidence that God is able to take care of any situation and provide an answer to any question or problem - He has all the resources of the universe to draw upon in helping each one of us through any type of crisis if we will trust Him.” - Charles Stanley

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (James 3:17 ESV)

The fruit of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…” (Gal. 5:22 ESV)

The fruit of light

“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Eph. 5:8-11 ESV)

Abide in Jesus to bear much fruit

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 ESV)

“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.” (John 15:16 ESV)

Therefore…

“By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” (John 15:8 ESV)

“Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.” (Matt. 3:8 ESV)

“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” (Rom. 6:22 ESV)

Quote:

“It is of no use for any of you to try to be soul-winners if you are not bearing fruit in your own lives. How can you serve the Lord with your lips if you do not serve Him with your lives? How can you preach His gospel with your tongues, when with hands, feet, and heart you are preaching the devil's gospel, and setting up an antichrist by your practical unholiness?” - Charles Spurgeon

“So they remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.” (Acts 14:3)

The righteous are bold as a lion

“The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.” (Prov. 28:1 ESV)

Boldness without hindrance 

“Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” (Acts 28:31 ESV)

Boldness with confidence

“In whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.” (Eph. 3:12 ESV)

Filled with the Holy Spirit to speak the Word of God with boldness

“And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31 ESV)

Therefore..

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16 KJV)

“For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. Since we have such a hope, we are very bold.” (2 Cor. 3:11-12)

“Since we have such a hope, we are very bold…” (2 Cor. 3:12 ESV)

“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness…” (Acts 4:29 ESV)

Quotes:

“His voice leads us not into timid discipleship but into bold witness.” - Charles Stanley

“When we find a man meditating on the words of God, my friends, that man is full of boldness and is successful.” - Dwight L. Moody

“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT)

Pride is about self focus

We usually think of pride as good thing, but God does not when it’s about self righteousness or conceit. That’s because self pride is the opposite of humility. Self pride puffs up a person and humility does not. Self pride is the sin that entered Satan and got him cast out of heaven. There is a difference between the kind of pride that God hates (Proverbs 8:13) and the kind of pride we can feel about a job well done (Galatians 6:4) or the kind of pride we express over the accomplishment of loved ones (2 Corinthians 7:4). The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness or conceit is sin, and God hates it because it is a hindrance to seeking Him.

Pride precedes destruction 

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Prov. 16:18 ESV)

Pride precedes disgrace 

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.” (Prov. 11:2 ESV)

Humility precedes honor

“Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor.” (Prov. 15:33 ESV)

Therefore…

“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” (Rom. 12:16 ESV)

“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” (Prov. 27:2 ESV)

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (James 4:10 ESV)

Quote:

“Humility says you can learn from anyone. You don’t know it all. No one does! That’s why we need to remain teachable, humble, and lifelong learners.” - Rick Warren

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.” (Rom. 16:17-18 ESV)

Sowing discord among brothers is listed among the things God hates

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Prov. 6:16-19 ESV)

Causing divisions is among the works of the fresh 

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:19-21 ESV)

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him…” (Titus 3:10 ESV)

Therefore…

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matt. 5:9 ESV)

Quote:

“Satan always hates Christian fellowship; it is his policy to keep Christians apart. Anything which can divide saints from one another he delights in. He attaches far more importance to godly intercourse than we do. Since union is strength, he does his best to promote separation.” - Charles Spurgeon

“Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8 NIV) 

Agape love: Agape is the term that defines God's immeasurable, incomparable love for humankind. It is his ongoing, outgoing, self-sacrificing concern for lost and fallen people. God gives this love without condition, unreservedly to those who are undeserving and inferior to himself.

The greatest kind of love

The greatest kind of love is called  Agape love, which expresses itself in loving action toward others. God demonstrated it by sending His only begotten Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for us to provide the free gift of eternal life for all who will believe (John 3:16-17). This kind of love is a new commandment given by Jesus and is how people will be recognized as His followers.  

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

Measure your love by comparing it to God’s love definition...

• Love is kind 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” (1 Cor. 13:4)

• Love is not self-seeking

“ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (1 Cor. 13:5)

• Love always rejoices in truth

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. (1 Cor. 13:6 NIV)

•  Love always perseveres

“It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”  (1 Cor. 13:7 NIV)

• Love never fails

“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Cor. 13:8 NIV)

Therefore...

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13 NIV)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7 ESV)

“Let all that you do be done in love.” (1 Cor. 16:14 ESV)

“Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8 ESV)

Quote:

“In the New Testament, love is more of a verb than a noun. It has more to do with acting than with feeling. The call to love is not so much a call to a certain state of feeling as it is to a quality of action.” - R. C. Sproul

“And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze.” (Exo. 35:31-32 ESV)

Being able to create things is a wonderful gift from God

You see how God has put the knowledge and ability to create what they need within the nature of the creatures He’s made. Birds instinctively know how to build their nests and beavers know how to cut down trees and build dams. Every creature knows how to do what it needs to do. God has gifted humans to do much more than what animals can do. They can endlessly create as much as they can imagine. The above passage says that God gives us “intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs.” 

God provides creative skill for any sort of workman or designer 

“He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer.” (Exo. 35:35 ESV)

The Lord be with you as you work 

“You have an abundance of workmen: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of craftsmen without number, skilled in working gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and work! The Lord be with you!” (1 Chron. 22:15-16 ESV)

Therefore…

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Rev. 4:11 ESV)

“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” (John 1:3 ESV)

“But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.” (Gal. 6:4 ESV)

Quote:

“Creativity is contagious, pass it on.” - Albert Einstein

“For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins…” (Heb. 19:26 ESV)

Watch out, sin is all around you, recognize it and avoid it!

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5 ESV)

“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Gal. 5:19-21 ESV)

“Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Cor. 6:9-10 ESV)

Confess sin immediately and turn from it

“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Prov. 28:13 ESV)

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 ESV)

Therefore…

“No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God. By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (1 John 3:6-10 ESV)

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21 ESV)

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 ESV)

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isa. 1:18 ESV)

Quote:

“I’m against sin. I’ll kick it as long as I’ve got a foot, and I’ll fight it as long as I’ve got a fist. I’ll butt it as long as I’ve got a head. I’ll bite it as long as I’ve got a tooth. And when I’m old and fistless and footless and toothless, I’ll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition!” - Billy Sunday