Collide Ask

The two possibilities: Get it all and realize

The two possibilities: Chase it and never realize

2 weeks ago: The point of pleasure Is the Praise of the Giver

2 weeks ago: God's gifts can destroy When we make gods Of his gifts

We don't seek what we seek

We don't seek what we seek - Electronics, Cars, Material Poss - Money - People - Position and Status

We seek through what we seek - Happiness and Joy - Peace and Security - Love - Acceptance/well-thought of

What we seek is important Where we seek it and Why we seek it Are essential

Christ-followers Tend to be Epicurean Or Stoic

Epicurean- Makes a god of the gift

Epicurean- Makes a god of the gift Stoic- Considers it spiritual to refuse it

God is a Giver He wants us to enjoy What he provides (To his Praise)

For God so loved the world that he…?

Review

Every good and perfect gift Is from above, coming down from the Father… - James 1

If you…know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! - Matt 7

Jesus and the Open Bar…

God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment - 1 Tim. 6:17

There are things God wants for you That you don't have Right now

God wants to give We want to receive So…what's the problem?

The problem is not God's desire to give But Where we seek and Why we seek

What we seek is important Where we seek it and Why we seek it Are essential

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

You desire and do not have, so you murder (or hate?). You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.

What are they seeking? What they want

And when they don't get it? War

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions - James 4

There are things God wants to give you That you don't yet have

Peace Joy Purpose Fulfillment Love

As well as: Food Shelter Clothing (Matthew 6)

You do not have, because you do not ask.

What we seek is important Where we seek it and Why we seek it Are essential

- Ask spouse - Ask bank account/credit company - Ask self - Ask others

You do not have, because you do not ask (the right Person)

There are things God Wants to give you that you Don't have because you Haven't asked God

The Fall:

The Fall: Self-effort Self-direction Self-centeredness=

The Fall: Self-effort Self-direction Self-centeredness= Unfulfilled, Constantly Striving

...my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters…

…and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water - Jeremiah 2:13

Faith: Do I really believe that what God wants for me is greater than what I want for me?

Surrender: I'll crucify "self"

Surrender: I'll crucify "self" Bar Rescue: Everyone loves it!

Redemption and Restoration: Christ's Effort- Crucifixion Carry a cross- death to self Seek God for my needs- pray= Purpose, Fulfillment, Needs Met

You do not have, because you do not ask. "God…I'd like this. I ask for it. And submit to your Lordship"

If I can't ask God for it…?

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full - John 16:24

God wants you to ask God wants to give God wants you to experience the joy of answered prayer

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions - James 4

What we seek is important Where we seek it and Why we seek it Are essential

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions

Spend it on your passions… Idolatry= God is a means to an end. My pleasure is the goal

There times we don't receive because we're looking to please the flesh and make a god of the gift rather than praise the Giver of the gift.

"Why do I want this?" "If it be your will. In Jesus' Name"

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? - Rom. 8:32

Spiritual Myopathy

Myopathy Ignores: God's gifts are best God's gifts satisfy God's gifts are…enough

List: - What haven't I asked for? - Can I ask for this with a clean conscience? - Pray

There are things God wants to give you that You don't (yet) have

The ball's in your court…

There are things God wants to give you that You don't (yet) have As a church…

Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

…therefore pray (ask!) earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” - Matt. 9

Jesus died to bring people to himself We are about that mission Ask!

And not to become "successful" and big But to glorify God and help people become whole