What right has God got to tell me what to do?
I can make my own decisions… I have the right to do whatever I want with my life, my body, my mind, my belongings….
This is a usual human response. I belong to myself and no one has the right to tell me what to do…
Misconceptions:
- I do not belong to myself… I belong to God. He made me and he has the right to tell me what to do. He cares for me, and he knows better than me what I need and should have..
- I can make my own decisions… We do not. It might seem that we do, but there are greater powers than us in our world, and they hold us fast in their grip. We either belong to God or the enemy of our souls – the devil…
- I know what I want… We want what the media tell us we want… We do what others around us do. We are not strong without God’s Holy Spirit living in us, so we are really at the mercy of the loudest, or most attractive person..
The 10 commandments: GOD gave them for our benefit.
People do not like them because they stop us doing stuff we want to do, and they make me feel guilty. This is what we think anyway…
GOD gave them to us to show us the right way- to teach us. To show what he is like so we can know HIM. GOD is kind and is not willing for anyone to perish..
Commandment 1: “Thou shalt have no other god’s before me.”
In a way, this is the only one we need.
That’s quite straight forward… Only one GOD. We are to worship HIM. If there is only one God, then all the others are false.. Its that straight forward…
Why should I worship GOD?
- He is the only one. He made me and has designed me to love and worship Him. If I dont love and worship Him, I will worship something or someone else.
- God gives me life and breath. He keeps me in my life, wether I know it or not. He decides what happens to me- good or difficult.
- God keeps me safe and protects me for bad things. He delivers me in times of trouble.
- God is a jealous God. Because He wants the best for me, he wants me for himself. Friends- they go off with another person- sad, hurt, jealous… Married people- jealous when the other person goes off with another. Wanting the best for the other person.
- Faith in God and trust in God is the basis for all other good.
Can I be good without God?
Motivations and reasons for what we do. Some times I am good because I want others to think I am good.
I want to make a good impression.
I want a reward.
I want to avoid a punishment.
I want to feel good about myself.
Do I do good things when no one sees? Do I really do good things for totally good reasons?
When I am honest with myself, I find that I am not really that good after all.
The Bible says that without God I am blind, deaf and actually dead!
My soul is dead..!
I cannot change myself… I cannot worship and love God properly.
I actually need a miracle.
To keep this command, I need a miracle from God. I need to be resurrected!
My dead soul needs to be brought to life..
You see, there is no good thing in me.. and in reality, I don’t want the true God anyway… So God has to work in me, so that I actually want Him. I also need to see my need of Him. When I look inside and see my sins, how bad they are, how strongly they hold me.. There is a desperation to get them dealt with. Who can do this? Maybe the minster, the councellor, teacher…
No, only the God I have offended can cleanse me. Why Him?
Because it is his laws I have broken and I have not loved Him. Only He has the power.
God is able to forgive me and make me new- resurrect me, because he sent JESUS to die for me. He paid the penalty for my wrong. He took the blame instead of me.
I do not love GOD, but HE LOVES ME…!!
He went to these extrordinary lengths to get me free from sin. He wants me for himself… he wants me to be in heaven with Him forever..!
When you become a Christian there is a big realisation of what JESUS did for you, and you realise how much He loves you. That makes you love HIM back.
If you do not love Him back, you do not belong to Him.
If you are a Christian you will want to keep this commandment. In fact, it will be the purpose of your life and the motivation behind what you do, think, say.
GOD IS REAL
I need to say this… everything in our society is saying the opposite. The media is completely biased about the reality of GOD and His involvement in our world.
GOD made the world and everything in it, and he upholds everything by His power and might.
The most important thing we have to face up to, is that He has a say over all things, and he has the right to judge us.
God is not to be trifled with. He is not a soppy friend- He is the GOD of all eternity- eternal, sovereign, all powerful, holy, fair, majestic, supreme…
It matters how we view Him and how we revere Him.
The Bible says “the fool has said in his/her heart , there is no God..” You can see how this is true.
So tonight, look inside and see if you really love Him and have repented of your sins.
Is pleasing Him your goal in life?
Maybe you need to adjust yourselves. Maybe you need to lay yourself down at Jesus feet…
Lettsom Inn 