Streams in The Desert

Speed has its disadvantages.  The world seems smaller and less spectacular when you realize how few hours it takes to span the oceans and circle the globe.  The wonder at the beauty along the wayside is transferred to the awesomeness at the genius of man to create the marvelous machines which whirl us past at enormous speeds.  Can you wonder that modern life today is such a strain? 

Do you ever reflect upon the quietness in nature?  Off into the hills, away from the busy thoroughfares of life, there is a stillness that is pulsating with growing things.  The forests and fields are with quiet patience absorbing the warmth of sun and drops of rain. 

Have you ever thought how pleasant is the voice of God?  It is to be compared with the refreshing sound of running water in a pebbly brook; musical, delightfully gentle, humble.  His command of “stand still” is to slow us down to a more moderate pace.  We can then see His signs along the way.

Should Christians be involved with lotteries or other forms of gambling?

The Bible does not specifically forbid gambling, but there are several biblical principles that should make Christians hesitate to participate:

1.     God presents work as the normal way to get the money we need (Eph 4:28; II Thess. 3:12; Prov. 31). When a person cannot work, the second choice is prayer (Phil. 4:6, 19).

2.     All my income belongs to God, not me (Psa. 24:1), and I am not free to use it as I wish. I am a steward, who should use it for God's purposes. Christians are called on to meet the needs of their family (I Tim. 5:8), and share with others, particularly Christians who have needs (2 Cor 8-9; Gal. 6:6-10; 3 John).

Ask: Does God want me to use His money to buy a lottery ticket?

3.     God uses money to accomplish important purposes in my life:

a.      Meet basic needs (Matt. 6:11; I Tim. 6:8).

b.     Build character (Phil 4:10-13)

c.      Give direction, by providing or withholding resources.

d.     Helping others through me.

e.      Show His power by providing miraculously.

Ask: Does gambling accomplish these results? Am I looking to God or to the lottery for my needs?

4.     Greed and covetousness are sin (Ex. 20:18; I Tim. 6:9; Heb 13:5), and these are motives in most gambling.

5.     Proverbs warns of disaster for people who want to get rich quickly (28:20,22).

6.     Wealth that comes easily goes just as easily (Prov. 13:11).

7.     Gambling can be addictive, and even if you don't fall prey to it as a compulsive habit, your example may cause others to be enslaved by it (I Cor. 8:9, 13).

Fans of Jesus?

"I think Jesus has a lot of fans these days. Fans who cheer for him when things are going well, but who walk away when it’s a difficult season. Fans who sit safely in the stands cheering, but they know nothing of the sacrifice and pain of the field. Fans of Jesus who know all about him, but they don’t know him. But Jesus was never interested in having fans. When he defines what kind of relationship he wants, 'Enthusiastic Admirer' isn't an option. My concern is that many of our churches have gone from being sanctuaries to becoming stadiums. And every week all the fans come to the stadium where they cheer for Jesus but have no interest in truly following him. The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them." - Kyle Idleman, from his book "Not a Fan"

WHY WE FAIL GOD

• Many of us are failures/or have failed sometime.
• We fail society, loved ones, and friends.
• We fail in business, and we fail in school.We fail in Church
• THE TRUTH IS THAT WE FAIL BECAUSE WE DID NOT SEEK TO PASS.
• We BECOME lazy and indifferent.
• WHY? MOSTLY WE ONLY THINK ABOUT OURSELVES

WE LOSE FOCUS

BUT, NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD!

^{Romans 8: 38} And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love……. nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• So how do WE fail God?
• Many different reasons all leading to the same ultimate destruction.
1• WE FAIL TO COUNT THE COST
• Before/after conversion, we fail to take the cost into account. Luke 14:25-35.

26: If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

³³ So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
• We fail to consider, "denying themselves." Matthew 16:24;

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Luke 9:23. Same message
• We fail to realize that 99.99% effort won't do.
• Mostly we fail, because we never had any intention of being a follower of Christ.
2• WE FAIL TO LISTEN TO GOD'S MESSENGERS
• God has been sending His messengers for years.
• Yet the results are usually the same.
• Jeremiah 7:25-28; 

²⁵ Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:

²⁸ But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
• 2 Timothy 4:1-6.
² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
3• WE FAIL TO DEVELOP VIRTUES OF A CHRISTIAN
• This happens when we really do not repent of our lifestyle
• When we make no changes in our behavior.
• 2 Peter 1:5-11.

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ Wherefore then rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
4• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF WRONG ASSOCIATION
• This was Solomon's problem. 
• 1 Kings 11:1-13.

⁶ And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

⁹ And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel….
• It can also be our problem. 
• 1 Corinthians 15:33.

³³ Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
• Our companions guide us whether you realize it or not.
5• WE FAIL TO BE LED BY THE WORD OF GOD/TRUTH
• WE continue in Our ignorance. 
• Acts 17:11;

¹¹ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

2 Timothy 2:15;

¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Hosea 4:6.

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…..
• Psalm 119 has 176 reasons for learning and respecting God’s laws.
• God’s word is truth. John 17:17

¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
6• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS OF THIS LIFE
• Consider the parable of the sower and the soils. Luke 8:9-14.

¹² The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

¹³ They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

¹⁴ And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Where do You Fall in these categories?
• Life has so many distractions,
• And we are the ones to allow the distractions to keep us out of our duty to God.

7• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO BE RICH AND TO HOLD ON TO THEIR RICHES
• Matthew 19:16-22.

²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
• Paul warns against such. 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19.

⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
• John also warns about worldly desires. 1 John 2:15-17.
• This is also described by the term covetousness which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:5

8• WE FAIL BECAUSE SIN IS SO DECEITFUL
• Hebrews 3:12,13.

¹³ But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
• While sin is deceitful, we must remember that when we sin, it is OUR choice.
• The deceitfulness comes from our own lusts.
• James 1:13-16
¹³ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

¹⁴ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
9• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF FALSE DOCTRINE
• All who teach anything different from what the Bible teaches SAYS are teaching false doctrine.
• This can happen when people add to scripture

When we TWIST scripture;
• It can also happen when people delete things from scripture.
• It also happens when they change the message.

It can happen when we apply scripture selectively
• 1 Timothy 4:1-4;

¹ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Acts 20:28-30.
²⁸ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

²⁹ For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
10• WE FAIL BECAUSE WE ARE SET IN OUR OWN WAYS
• Proverbs 14:14;

¹⁴ The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: 

1:30-33.

³⁰ They would have none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
• Pig headed, stubborn, or whatever you call it. 
• One can reject God because He does not fit our own concept of what God should be.
11• WE LOSE OUR LOVE FOR GOD
• In all likelihood, we never really developed a REAL love for God.
• John 14:15;

¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Revelation 2:4;

⁴ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Matthew 24:12.
¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
12• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF IN-ACTIVITY AND COMPLACENCY
• This has another word: Apathy/ indifference/no excitement
• James 2:14-26

¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
• The person who gets nothing out of church when they attend services is this type of person. 

YOU WILL NOTICE THE COMMON THING HERE IS LOSING FOCUS

SO? WHAT ARE WE TO DO SO AS NOT FAIL GOD?

SO THAT, NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD!

• WE MUST REORIENT Our Focus
• How is our Worship:
• IS IT IN Spirit and in Truth?
• Following the commands and examples of the New Testament

Sticking to the 10 commandments

NOT SUGGESTIONS!
• Or do I just occupy a pew and feel good about myself?
• Work:
• Is it honorable work?
• Does it allow me time to serve God?ME
• Play/Leisure:
• Does it distract me from serving/hearing God.TV/FOOTBALL

• Am I obsessed with it to the point of God taking second place?
• Speech:
• Does it build up or tear down?
• Is it wholesome? ESTHER NJOROGE
• Would anyone find it offensive?
• (Granted: speaking the truth is offensive to those not willing to live by it)

• Dress:
• Modesty? My dress my choice
• Belong to the world, or to Christ?
• OTHER ISSUES
• So many more things we could consider.
• Our associates, our places of recreation, our habits,

•Just about everything that people see as “YOU”.
• Are you trying to serve God better than “well enough”?

• Conclusion
• There are many reasons WHY people fail God.
• Most of these reasons listed come about because the people do not PUT FORTH AN EFFORT in trying to please God.
• TRYING TO PLACE THE BLAME ANYWHERE BUT UPON THEMSELVES.
• That will not work on judgment day.
• Are you ready to put YOUR FAILURE IN THE PAST, and start serving the Lord?

GOD BLESS YOU!

• Many of us are failures/or have failed sometime.
• We fail society, loved ones, and friends.
• We fail in business, and we fail in school.We fail in Church
• THE TRUTH IS THAT WE FAIL BECAUSE WE DID NOT SEEK TO PASS.
• We BECOME lazy and indifferent.
• WHY? MOSTLY WE ONLY THINK ABOUT OURSELVES

WE LOSE FOCUS

BUT, NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD!

^{Romans 8: 38} And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love……. nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
• So how do WE fail God?
• Many different reasons all leading to the same ultimate destruction.
1• WE FAIL TO COUNT THE COST
• Before/after conversion, we fail to take the cost into account. Luke 14:25-35.

26: If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

³³ So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
• We fail to consider, "denying themselves." Matthew 16:24;

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Luke 9:23. Same message
• We fail to realize that 99.99% effort won't do.
• Mostly we fail, because we never had any intention of being a follower of Christ.
2• WE FAIL TO LISTEN TO GOD'S MESSENGERS
• God has been sending His messengers for years.
• Yet the results are usually the same.
• Jeremiah 7:25-28; 

²⁵ Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:

²⁸ But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
• 2 Timothy 4:1-6.
² Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
3• WE FAIL TO DEVELOP VIRTUES OF A CHRISTIAN
• This happens when we really do not repent of our lifestyle
• When we make no changes in our behavior.
• 2 Peter 1:5-11.

⁵ And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

⁶ And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

⁹ But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

¹⁰ Wherefore then rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
4• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF WRONG ASSOCIATION
• This was Solomon's problem. 
• 1 Kings 11:1-13.

⁶ And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

⁹ And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel….
• It can also be our problem. 
• 1 Corinthians 15:33.

³³ Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
• Our companions guide us whether you realize it or not.
5• WE FAIL TO BE LED BY THE WORD OF GOD/TRUTH
• WE continue in Our ignorance. 
• Acts 17:11;

¹¹ These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

2 Timothy 2:15;

¹⁵ Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Hosea 4:6.

⁶ My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee…..
• Psalm 119 has 176 reasons for learning and respecting God’s laws.
• God’s word is truth. John 17:17

¹⁷ Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
6• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF THE DEMANDS OF THIS LIFE
• Consider the parable of the sower and the soils. Luke 8:9-14.

¹² The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

¹³ They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

¹⁴ And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

Where do You Fall in these categories?
• Life has so many distractions,
• And we are the ones to allow the distractions to keep us out of our duty to God.

7• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF THE DESIRE TO BE RICH AND TO HOLD ON TO THEIR RICHES
• Matthew 19:16-22.

²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
• Paul warns against such. 1 Timothy 6:6-10, 17-19.

⁹ But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

¹⁰ For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
• John also warns about worldly desires. 1 John 2:15-17.
• This is also described by the term covetousness which amounts to idolatry. Colossians 3:5

8• WE FAIL BECAUSE SIN IS SO DECEITFUL
• Hebrews 3:12,13.

¹³ But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
• While sin is deceitful, we must remember that when we sin, it is OUR choice.
• The deceitfulness comes from our own lusts.
• James 1:13-16
¹³ Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

¹⁴ But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
9• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF FALSE DOCTRINE
• All who teach anything different from what the Bible teaches SAYS are teaching false doctrine.
• This can happen when people add to scripture

When we TWIST scripture;
• It can also happen when people delete things from scripture.
• It also happens when they change the message.

It can happen when we apply scripture selectively
• 1 Timothy 4:1-4;

¹ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

² Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

Acts 20:28-30.
²⁸ Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

²⁹ For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

³⁰ Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
10• WE FAIL BECAUSE WE ARE SET IN OUR OWN WAYS
• Proverbs 14:14;

¹⁴ The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: 

1:30-33.

³⁰ They would have none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
• Pig headed, stubborn, or whatever you call it. 
• One can reject God because He does not fit our own concept of what God should be.
11• WE LOSE OUR LOVE FOR GOD
• In all likelihood, we never really developed a REAL love for God.
• John 14:15;

¹⁵ If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Revelation 2:4;

⁴ Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Matthew 24:12.
¹² And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
12• WE FAIL BECAUSE OF IN-ACTIVITY AND COMPLACENCY
• This has another word: Apathy/ indifference/no excitement
• James 2:14-26

¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
• The person who gets nothing out of church when they attend services is this type of person. 

YOU WILL NOTICE THE COMMON THING HERE IS LOSING FOCUS

SO? WHAT ARE WE TO DO SO AS NOT FAIL GOD?

SO THAT, NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD!

• WE MUST REORIENT Our Focus
• How is our Worship:
• IS IT IN Spirit and in Truth?
• Following the commands and examples of the New Testament

Sticking to the 10 commandments

NOT SUGGESTIONS!
• Or do I just occupy a pew and feel good about myself?
• Work:
• Is it honorable work?
• Does it allow me time to serve God?ME
• Play/Leisure:
• Does it distract me from serving/hearing God.TV/FOOTBALL

• Am I obsessed with it to the point of God taking second place?
• Speech:
• Does it build up or tear down?
• Is it wholesome? ESTHER NJOROGE
• Would anyone find it offensive?
• (Granted: speaking the truth is offensive to those not willing to live by it)

• Dress:
• Modesty? My dress my choice
• Belong to the world, or to Christ?
• OTHER ISSUES
• So many more things we could consider.
• Our associates, our places of recreation, our habits,

•Just about everything that people see as “YOU”.
• Are you trying to serve God better than “well enough”?

• Conclusion
• There are many reasons WHY people fail God.
• Most of these reasons listed come about because the people do not PUT FORTH AN EFFORT in trying to please God.
• TRYING TO PLACE THE BLAME ANYWHERE BUT UPON THEMSELVES.
• That will not work on judgment day.
• Are you ready to put YOUR FAILURE IN THE PAST, and start serving the Lord?

GOD BLESS YOU!