* Jeremiah 29:11 reveals God’s plan for us - to bless us, not to curse us.
* But if we want to experience this plan we have a part to play.
* Numbers 33:55-56 - If God’s people disobeyed, listen to what He said: “And I will do to you what I had planned to do to your (enemies).”
* Key - We can change God’s plan if we refuse to adhere to God’s principles.
* Notice the very next thing Moses addresses in Numbers 34:1-2 - BOUNDARIES!
* Deuteronomy 5:29 - God had just given the 10 Commandments, and then said this.
* If we want God’s blessings we must stay inside His boundaries, living by His principles.
* It’s our choice - how God treats us is up to us.
* Psalms 34:15-16 - It’s Our Choice.
* I’ve told my kids I am not here to be their friend - I’m here to be their dad.
* If they can honor me as dad then we’ll be best friends, but if they don’t then I’ll be the worst enemy they’ve ever had.
* I want to be friends with all my kids, but it’s their choice.
* If they honor me by obeying my rules, then we’ll be friends and they’ll be in my favor.
* If they don’t then we won’t be friends and they won’t have my favor.
* They’ll have my love, but not my favor.
* My love is unconditional, but my favor is conditioned on their obedience.
Psalms 34:15-16 (3/16/17)
Changing God's Plan
March 16, 2017 • Benham Brothers
Psalms 1:1-3 (1/12/17)
January 12, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* The blessed man is someone who doesn’t walk, stand, or sit…… * These are “conscious” things - lying down was not in there (unconscious). * 1) Walk in counsel of wicked - counsel is what you allow to influence you. * This comes through your eyes and ears - what you see and hear. * 2) Stand in the path of sinners - all paths lead somewhere. * We have to ponder the path of our feet and stay on the right track. * We get “hooked” by other’s hooks when we’re on their path. * 3) Sit in the seat of the scoffers - buddying up with those who hate God. * We have to pay close attention to who our close confidants are. * Bad company corrupts good morals. * The blessed man is someone who delights in God. * Just like a grandpa seeing his grandkids for the first time in a year. * Delight is all about focus - it’s never about you. * The blessed man will be like a tree - an evergreen. * It’s firmly planted by the source of life (water). * Bears the proper fruit at the proper time - nourishment for others. * Always has leaves - protection for others. * Never will die.
Psalms 2:8 (12/2/18)
December 2, 2018 • Benham Brothers
ASK! • God has all the answers, but He often doesn’t reveal them unless we ask. • God loves to give us little hints into what He’s doing. • EX: hide and seek w/my young kids - they always wanted to be found. • If I looked in the wrong place I’d hear them make a noise to point me in the right direction. • Dan 7:15-16 - Daniel had a dream but didn’t understand it. • He had to ASK what was going on. • DAN 8:15-16 - He saw another vision and he sought to understand it. • God sent Gabriel to give him the meaning (Mary & Zechariah). • DAN 9:1-3 - Daniel read Jeremiah and “sought” the Lord by prayer and fasting. • DAN 9:20-23 - God gave Daniel what he asked for. • • Asking God does three things: • 1) Asking aligns you with your purpose (“Ask me for anything” - Solomon) • Daniel’s purpose was to write down what he was told. • PSALMS 2:8 (NIV) - Christ’s purpose was for the nations but He had to ask. • EX: I woke up the other morning with an intense feeling God wanted me to ask Him for anything. • Jesus often said before a miracle - "What do you want?" • When we have an "Ask God" mindset we discover certain things break our hearts and we begin to ask God concerning those things. • This is His way of guiding us. • 2) Asking aligns you under God’s authority. • Asking recognizes the person you’re asking as having authority. • This aligns you in the proper authority structure and results in POWER. • Authority is the right to use power. • 1 JOHN 4:9 (ESV) - God Grid - live “through” Him (spaghetti strainer). • This is a mindset of “Ask God.” Two things to ask for: • ** Permission - you need God’s stamp of approval before you do anything. • ** Provision - God gives TO you so He can give THROUGH you. • 3) Asking aligns you with God’s will. • JOHN 14:13 - "I will do whatever you ask for IN MY NAME." • How do we know God’s will? • Renewal - Romans 12:1-2. Renewal transforms our minds as we ask, “God, what do you think about this?” “What thoughts do you have toward my husband who’s always late, or my kids who back talk?”
Psalms 3:1-4 (1/11/18)
January 11, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* Our number one need as a human is security - “who can I trust?” * If we find our “ultimate” security in anything but God then when they fail us our world will fall apart. * This Psalm is David’s journal when Absalom rose up against him. * During this time he found security in God. * This is how David was a man after God’s own heart and how he never lost his faith.