God’s Path Finders - 3
Subject: Finding God’s Divine Direction in Our Lives
by Rick Welborne
Proverbs 3:1-10 (NKJV)
1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;
2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
8 It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones.
9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10 So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
Review:
1. To find God’s direction we must daily weigh the options before us.
--Neurologist tell us that the first time we think about a decision, our brain starts weighing options, eliminating one possibility after another, until we settle on the one we feel is the best choice for us.
Psalm 119:9-11 (NKJV)
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.
10 With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!
2. To find God’s direction you must be willing to pass the multiple choice test.
Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NKJV)
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
20 that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."
Insanity – doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
James 4:17 (NKJV)
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
17 Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
3. To find God’s direction you must realize the choice is yours.
Groeschel – You can’t change your past, but God can help you rewrite your story and change your future.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV)
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Tonight’s Message:
1. To find God’s direction you must avoid that one stupid mistake.
Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)
24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
24 This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
--This is the day…everyone say that…this is the day…the Lord made this day and He made it for me. No matter what your past looks like. Today you can decide to start new and fresh.
--Pastor, I have started over so many times and I have failed every time. Everyone who has ever accomplished anything of significance have failed and started over many times.
--More than one time every pastor has someone sitting in their office saying…I made just one stupid mistake and it is costing me everything.
--A man goes on a business trip and has dinner with a few clients…he has a couple of drinks with them to fit in. He should have gone to his room but thinks, I will just have one beer and then off to bed.
--A lady is at the bar alone drinking so you strike up a conversation…more drinks…most of us can figure out the rest of this story. His wife finds out and now he is separated from his wife and kids…has to move out.
--Pastor, one stupid mistake…really? More than one bad decision was made that night…compromising by drinking, not going straight to your room, going to the bar, more alcohol, talking with the woman…etc.
--How far could we go back in this person’s life to find out many bad mistakes and bad decisions, one after another…they pile up and so does the sin. Example of David.
2 Samuel 11:1-5 (NKJV)
1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child."
1 It happened in the spring of the year, at the time when kings go out to battle, that David sent Joab and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the people of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.
2 Then it happened one evening that David arose from his bed and walked on the roof of the king's house. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to behold.
3 So David sent and inquired about the woman. And someone said, "Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"
4 Then David sent messengers, and took her; and she came to him, and he lay with her, for she was cleansed from her impurity; and she returned to her house.
5 And the woman conceived; so she sent and told David, and said, "I am with child."
--In a time when kings go out to war…other translations say in a time when kings normally go out to war, David was home lounging. He was getting lazy…it is a choice.
2 Samuel 11:2 (NLT2)
2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.
2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.
--Late one afternoon he gets out of bed and goes on the roof (a good view) to watch HBOB – Hello Bathsheba Oh Baby network…probably came on at that same time every day. Most likely premeditated.
--He looked, he lusted, he called for her, he slept with her, she became pregnant, and he had her husband put up at the front lines of the battle to have him killed…he did the noble thing and married her…wow!
--He made many bad choices but if there was one stupid mistake…it was staying home during a time when kings go out to war. Do you see the domino effect? I love that there was a prophet willing to deal with David.
2 Samuel 12:1-12 (NLT2)
1 So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.
2 The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.
3 The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.
4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”
5 David was furious. “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!
6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”
7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.
8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more.
9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.
10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.
11 “This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.
12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”
1 So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: “There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor.
2 The rich man owned a great many sheep and cattle.
3 The poor man owned nothing but one little lamb he had bought. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man’s own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter.
4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing an animal from his own flock or herd, he took the poor man’s lamb and killed it and prepared it for his guest.”
5 David was furious. “As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “any man who would do such a thing deserves to die!
6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity.”
7 Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul.
8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more.
9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife.
10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.
11 “This is what the LORD says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view.
12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”
2. To find God’s direction you must start where you are.
--It has been said that two of the biggest mistakes you can make in life are not starting and not finishing. If you are like most people, you have good intentions to start new habits or a new life.
--It is pretty safe to say that many of us never followed through with those good intentions. Also, many of us are guilty of starting that new life or new habit, just to quit…to not finish. It is easy to feel like a failure.
--We must somehow find the strength to see and to even know that God is our beginning and He is our ending. Also, He is everything in between.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
--If you are to start where you are, you must first look to Jesus, the author and the finisher of your faith. Our motivation to start over has to be what He did on the cross…His suffering for us gives us hope.
Revelation 1:8-17-18 (NKJV)
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last.
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
--Jesus says I am the Author and Finisher, I am the Alpha and Omega, I am the Beginning and the End, I am the One Who was, Who is, and Who is to come, the Almighty!
--He says I am the First and the Last, I am He Who lives and was dead, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death…I am Everything from A to Z!
--How easy should it be to start…to start over…to start afresh? Start today, start again tomorrow, and start every day after that. Pastor, I need a new heart! OK!
Ezekiel 36:25-27 (NIV)
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
3. To find God’s direction you must start flossing.
--Say what…sometimes we get the strangest answers in the most unusual places. I had horrible gums. My dentist said I could lose all my teeth. I was sitting in the dentist chair when I looked up on the ceiling.
--As I contemplated being toothless, I looked up and there was an answer and a challenge to my teeth and gums. You do not have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep!
--I started that day and have never stopped. It is one of my greatest commitments. Within weeks my gums started improving and improving rapidly. When I went back to the dentist in 3 months, he was shocked.
--My gums were almost perfect. Most of the issues I was having with cavities went away also. It felt like a miracle! My dentist thought it was! He wanted to use me as a poster child for flossing.
Zechariah 4:6-10 (NKJV)
6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.
7 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' "
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
9 "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."
6 So he answered and said to me: "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' Says the LORD of hosts.
7 'Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" ' "
8 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
9 "The hands of Zerubbabel Have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know That the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you.
10 For who has despised the day of small things? For these seven rejoice to see The plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. They are the eyes of the LORD, Which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth."
--Catch what the Lord is saying in your situation…What you are believing God for will not happen by your own strength or power but by Holy Spirit. He will remove the mountains in your way as He applies His grace.
--Phil.1:6 – You can have confidence that what God has started in you, He will complete…you will finish well. Do not despise a small beginning…God has this!
--Start flossing! Get started with what God called you to do!
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