What's behind the notion that everything should always go my way? That's what we're going to explore today. If you had some challenges in your week like I did, I'll bet you just might be encouraged by what we discover.

This Sermon Was given By Pastor Clark Cothern Virtually on April 5th

Allowing Christ to overcome my irrational belief that everything always goes my way.

What is it about us that causes us think that things should always go our way? We’re going to explore this idea this week.

So…how did your week go? (Have you forgotten what day it is? I think it may be February 65th or something like that.)

Jesus never made a blanket promise in His preaching and teaching that would give us that impression. (See Matt. 5:11)

At the core of this problem (the Bible calls it sin) is the concept that somehow we should know better how things should go than God knows.

Three words for “sin” include:

Hamartia (Greek) means, “Missing the __________.” (Rom. 5:12)

Rasha (Hebrew) means, “to intentionally _________ or __________ from the path.” (Psalm 18:21)

Pasha (Hebrew) means, “to ________ against authority.” Often translated as “______________.” Psalm 51:13

The root problem: “I know more than God does.”

Even in the Coronavirus Pandemic we see evidence of the curse of sin.

Everything on the earth was affected by the curse of sin.

Mankind was ______________ from God.

Work would become _____________.

Mankind is subject to _____________ and _________.

Perhaps the most devastating result of the fall is that we (mankind) lost sight of our true ______________.

You are NOT the ________ ___________ of the world.

If you try to find an answer to the question, “what is love?” I think that you keep arriving at something that points to God and that we can’t improve on what He started for us by creating this world.

Why can’t people see clearly what God displays for us?

Because of the fall our “consciences are _____________.” (1 Timothy 4:2;

Romans 1:21).

“Taste and see that the LORD is good. How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8, CSB)

Only God can make us spiritually sensitive again. The word “regeneration” describes this.

Many people in Jesus’ day wanted a good old-fashioned revolution. They wanted renewal on their terms.

Why did Jesus do for us what he did, even though it seemed very unfair to Him? Because of his love for us.

And someone might ask, about God, “But why didn’t He do something about that rebellion if he knew it was going to happen?”

He did!

Christ became the unblemished Lamb sacrificed for atonement of sin. John the Baptist announced, “Behold the Lamb of God who comes to take away the sins of the world.”

Because Jesus is also the Good Shepherd, we can trust him with our lives and can become the sheep of his pasture. He is the GOOD shepherd, the one who lays down his life for his sheep.

Is the Lord your shepherd?

Trust Jesus. He will hold you fast.