February 19, 2012

10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON

                                                     ‘Weep with those who  weep.’   Romans 12:15

                                ‘Some Day  You’ll Be Glad This Happened….’
                                ‘God Must be UP To Something…’
                                ‘God Doesn’t Make Mistakes…’
                                ‘You Must Be Very Special For God To Trust  You With This …’
                                ‘Won’t It Be Great To See How God Uses This?’
                                ‘Isn’t It Good To Know That Everything Happens For a Reason?’

                ‘The man said, “The woman whom YOU gave to be with me, she gave me the fruit of the tree, and I ate.”’     Genesis 3:12

WHERE DID … ‘EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON’… COME FROM?

                ‘We know that all  things work together for good to  them that love God, to  them who
                are the called according to his purpose.’   Romans 8:28 (KJV)

WHAT DOES ROMANS 8:28 ACTUALLY SAY?

                ‘We know that all  things work together for good to  them that love God, to  them who
                are the called according to his purpose.’   Romans 8:28 (KJV)

                ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who  have
                been called according to his purpose’…

                THIS VERSE IS NOT A PROMISE TO EVERYONE…

                                1. Those Who Love God… Those Who Obey His Commands

                                                ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments..’    John 14:15

                                2. Those Who Are Called According To His Purpose those Who Have Become
                                     Followers Of Jesus…

                                                ‘To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of
                                                our Lord Jesus Christ.’  2 Thessalonians 2:14

                                                ‘Fight the good fight of faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were
                                                called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of
                                                many witnesses.’   I Timothy 6:12

EVERYTHING IS NOT GOD’S FAULT!! 

                A. Self-Inflicted Wounds
                               
                B. Life In A Fallen World…

                                ‘Therefore, just as sin come into the world through one man, and death through sin,                                    and so death spread to all men because all sinned—‘  Romans 5:12

                                Genesis 3….

                                ‘If we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we                                     are faithless, he remains faithful—for  he cannot deny himself.’   2 Timothy 2:12-13

                                ‘Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes to test you, as though                                        something strange were happening  to you.  But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s                                    sufferings that  you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.’
I Peter 4:12-13

                C. Foolish Decisions

                                ‘Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses                                                his way.  When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart ragesagainst the Lord.’                                                   Proverbs 19:2-3

WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?

                A. Anger At God

                B. Glossing Over Sin..
               
                C. Irresponsibility

                                ‘When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.’
Proverbs 19:3

                D. Misplaced  Hope

                #1 – CAN A BAD THING EVER BE A GOOD THING….

                                A. The Crucifixion…

                                                ‘this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of                                                    God, you crucified  and killed by the hands of  lawless men.’   Acts 2:23

                                B. Joseph

                                                ‘As for you, you meant evil against me, but God  meant it for good, to bring it                                                  about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.’ 
Genesis 50:20

                #2 – IF GOD IS GOING  TO FIX THINGS  SOMEDAY…. WHY NOT  NOW….

                                ‘The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient                                            toward  you, not wishing  that any should perish, but that all should reach                                                        repentance.’      2 Peter 3:9

                                ‘I will never leave you or forsake you.  So we can confidently say, “The Lord is                                                   my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me…”’     Hebrews 13:5