Unaware That We Are Taking God’s Glory: Part 2 ~ Message 15

  This message continues the study of how our motives for serving God can easily change from serving in love into a service of duty without us being aware that it has happened. 

  We are much like Cain and Abel. Both had a desire to please the LORD with their offerings, but Abel’s offering was from the heart as evidence of his appreciation for the LORD’s blessings and his motive was the LORD’s pleasure. Whereas Cain’s offering was meant to gain more favor by impressing the LORD with the quality of his efforts.

  Jesus said “If ye love me keep my commandments”. We see things from the outside, like keeping a score board. How many in attendances, offering sizes, number of conversions and so on and if they show growth they make us feel successful but Jesus said “without me ye can do nothing”. The way to tell the difference between the outward appearance and the heart is who you want to benefit from your efforts.

Scripture References:Lk. 17:7-10, Jn. 15:4-5, Is. 42:5-12, Is. 48:6-11Prov. 3:5-6, Mk. 4:35-41 

Salient Points: Self justification, What to expect from a sinner, Just tools, Cain’s failure, Looking to criticize, Got in on God’s deal, Humbled or hardened, Glory in the heavens, When God had it alone, Why God made us, We get in the way, Trusting God’s ways, Passive prayers, Unanswered prayers, Selfish prayers, Looking for relief, God wants total trust, Still creating, Fearful and without faith, Real fear, Fixated on self, Where is the storm from, How much is God doing in our life, Asking God the right way. 

Special Thanks,
Images courtesy of; Hubble Telescope, Nassau, Space Science Telescope Institute and the James Webb Space Telescope that include selected scriptures from the public domain version of The King James Bible. The availability of STScI materials on this website does not imply the endorsement of STScI or by any STScI employee of any private use of such materials, including, in particular, any commercial use and any use intended to mislead. For more information please visit our Copyright Information page by clicking here.