Summary
When we don‟t first begin by feeding ourselves spiritually we lose all the things we need to survive in this life. We have no way of acquiring the fruits of the spirit or to utilize those fruits. A life devoid of faith, hope and love is a life limited in joy and happiness.
We are spiritual beings who were designed to seek after our Heavenly Father. Each one of us longs to have the emptiness He put in us filled by the Father. Because of our personal choices, we constantly choose to do things our way which put us at odds with our heavenly father and creates a reality which draws us away from him.
Key Passage:
16Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17He said to himself, „What should I do? I don‟t have room for all my crops.‟ 18Then he said, „I know! I‟ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I‟ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19And I‟ll sit back and sayto myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and bemerry!”‟
20“But God said to him, „You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?‟
21“Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Sermon Points
This parable is about a man who was more concerned about his wants, desires and finances than he was about the things of God. He wanted to have wealth without a strong relationship with his Heavenly Father.
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Define Spiritual Poverty
Spiritual Poverty is a life devoid of the guidance and direction of the Heavenly Father through his son Christ Jesus.
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What we want and desire
17He said to himself, “What should I do? I don‟t have room for all my crops.”
We often talk about how egocentric children are. What we don‟t talk about is how egocentric adults have become. A self-centered focus takes God out of the equation and puts us in His place. We see this every day. Governments are pushing their thumbs down on their people, food companies are creating genetically modified products and selling them as natural products. Automation is taking away jobs once held by people. By allowing ourselves to becomemore dependent on man we are find a greater level of dissatisfaction in life despitethe constant reminder that all that is being done is “foryou.”
When our wants and desires get deeper and deeper we tend to focus more on us and less on God. It is about what we can do and how we can make ourselves
God. We focus on how we are all god‟s and we have the power within ourselves to Christ Like and we begin to make the Bible an error filled book we do nothave tofollow.
Romans 1: 21Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn‟t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like.
As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
This is your first sign of spiritual poverty
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Scope ofUnderstanding
Weare finite beings with a finite understanding who were created by an infinite being with infinite understanding. Whydo we always think we are so much smarter than he is? It is part of our rebellious nature to believe we are more important than we actually are. When we live in this rebellion we full ourselves into think the universe can answer our prayer when it was the Father who created it. We allow ourselves to believe everything is on our shoulders when we can‟t open up opportunities for ourselves. Weblame God because we are not getting what we think we want. In a world filled with opportunities how do you turn away from the one who can give you a life so filled with joy and excitement for the spec of dust you wrap your mindaround?
How can you understand when YOUR Heavenly Father through his son Christ Jesus is not allowed to reach into your life?
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What You See
If what you see is all there is your life is empty. This means you are wrought with fear and apprehension. Your failure is judged by the world and not by the one who turns what you call a failure into your greatest victory.
Perhaps we should ask Jesus to take away your eyes? Would you see the world for what it really is then. The world as Jesus sees it? Would you find the beauty that lies in every interaction you have with people
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Where you spend your greatest time
Computers, tablets and cell phones now decorate tables that were once designed for families to interact at and laugh and tell stories of the day. Instead what happens? No one talks. Jesus spent his entire ministry either talking or listening; what makes you different?
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Those in the most trouble
To have known Jesus and to walk away means one of two things:
- Either you never knew Him to begin with (where most people actually are)or
- There is an evil that lives in you that caused God to walk (eg Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayedJesus)
I gave you the benefit of being impoverished but the truth is YOUR dead. Without Christ you have no life, you are a walking dead person. Because the only love you genuinely have is for what can not be taken with you. You lead your family into death, your children and all who are counting on you to guide them correctly. Your call success Lamborghini‟s and Porsches but the one God uses to tell you what is coming the one who looks like Jesus in a manger, who has nothing but is RICH in relationship with the father, the one you call a failure behind their back; just as they did to Jesus.
The one who stayed when they had every right to leave, The one who loved you when everyoneelseusedyou;thetruesuccesswhocametoserveyouwhentheother‟sstole your information and charged you for their information. The one who gave freely, the one you accused of being something they were never. The one who brought you to the one who gave you the breath you use to denyHim!
Romans 1:26 – 32
26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
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Call to Repent Points To Ponder
In what ways do you put your wants above the things God asks of you?
What is it that stands in your way of surrendering your will to God‟s will for you life? What steps would you like to take today to help you move your life onto God‟s agenda?
