Sermon Central
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Recognising Things As They Really Are.
Contributed by Colin Coombs on Sep 2, 2006 (message contributor)
Summary: By recognising our dependence on God, and our own limitation without Him, we can move on to the unlimited possibilities with God.
RECOGNISING THINGS AS THEY REALLY ARE.
I RECOGNISE OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD
II Chronicles 20:12 [NLT]
O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help."
One of the primary needs in people is to be willing to admit they are not able to accomplish what needs to be done! Sometimes from inability; and other times because the opposition is too stong!
II RECOGNISE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DESIRE AND ABILITY
Romans 7:18 & 19 [JBP]
Indeed, I know from experience that the carnal side of my being can scarcely be called the home of good! I often find that I have the will to do good, but not the power. 19 That is, I don’t accomplish the good I set out to do, and the evil I don’t really want to do I find I am always doing.
Having a desire to see the advancement of the work of the Lord, or even our own advancement is not always wrong. We have to recognise that there are times when we do not have the ability to bring about our desires – even though they may be good!
III RECOGNISE THAT OUR WEAK VESSELS CAN BE CHANNELS OF DIVINE POWER
II Corinthians 12:9 & 10 [NLT]
"My gracious favour is all you need. My power works best in your weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may work through me. 10 Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Out of our weakness, the Lord’s strength and power can flow – but we need to ‘move over’ and let God be in control! With Him in charge ‘all things are possible’!
IV RECOGNISE THAT IT IS GOD’S CHOSEN WAY
God has chosen what the world calls foolish to shame the wise; he has chosen what the world calls weak to shame the strong. 28 He has chosen things of little strength and small repute, yes and even things which have no real existence, to explode the pretensions of the things that are— 29 that no man may boast in the presence of God.
If we accomplished everything in our own strength, then we might take the glory that belongs to the Lord for ourselves. With God’s power working through our weak vessels, He must have the glory
V RECOGNISE DIVINE OMNIPOTENCE
Job 42:2 [NKJV]
"I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.
How big is your God? Is He big enough to do all He has purposed in you life? Of course He is! We need to take deliberate action and place our complete trust in the Lord, in His Word, and in His ability to fulfil His promises.
VI RECOGNISE THE UNLIMITED POSSIBILITIES
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. [AV]
For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. [NLT]
When we really begin to understand who God is, and what He can do. The possibilities are endless. We can take our eyes off our own weakness and ‘fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith’ who is able to far more than we can ask, or even think!
