Sermon Notes for June 9, 2018 - Is THAT in the Bible? "God Helps Those Who Help Themselves"
II Thessalonians 3:10-12
Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work... We command you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.
Proverbs 6:6-9
6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.
Deuteronomy 8:16-17
16 He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. 17 He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’
1 Peter 5:5
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
2 Dangers of Spiritual Self-reliance
1. It makes you arrogant
2. It makes you forget your dependance on God
Jeremiah 17:15
5 This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.
Genesis 16:1-2
... 2 So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal.
Genesis 16:12
12 This son of yours will be a wild man, as untamed as a wild donkey! He will raise his fist against everyone, and everyone will be against him. Yes, he will live in open hostility against all his relatives.”
Psalm 94:17-19
17 Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. 18 I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.
The Truth: God helps those...
1. ... who admit they are powerless to help themselves.
2. ... who trust Him for help.
Psalm 121:1-4
1 I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.
The Bible Teaches...
1. GOD BLESSES INITIATIVE
2. GOD HELPS THE HELPLESS
