Is it simply that we to be sharing our relationship with Jesus with others and then for us to step aside and to allow Jesus to reveal and draw others to himself?

Are we prepared to ask ourselves as to whether we are still trying to want our own will and our own way ___ and for those attitudes to co-exist with and alongside God’s will and God’s way?

Alternatively do we long like John to begin to see what John saw, “his glory —the glory of the only Son of the heavenly Father!”

Nehemiah did not display anger but rather he simply stated the truth and prayed. He asked for strength to continue the work. Nehemiah knew the presence of God alongside of him and knew that he could call on God at any time.

Nehemiah didn't only pray, he became the answer to his own prayers for restoration. He returned to Jerusalem to lead the transfor¬mation effort of the city.

If our community is going to be transformed, it will be as a result of our prayer and our labour with God to bring it to pass. It will require our sacrifice of time, resources, commitment, and responsibility.

Maybe today God has spoken to you about having a critical spirit and you need to confess to Almighty God that you have criticized Him by criticizing one of His creation. Maybe it is that you have stopped doing what God wants you to do because you have looked for the approval of others rather that Our Father God Himself.

Maybe today you are here and for whatever reason you feel that you cannot go on. Maybe you are in need of the comfort of others and to hear the reminder that, “you belong to God, …. You have already won your fight …., because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.

Maybe today you need to give the alarm and have those within the fellowship of this church ‘stand in the gap’ in prayer and ask for your protection.

When Solomon showed humility, when he showed honesty and when he asked for wisdom, what was God’ response?

The Lord was pleased with Solomon for responding in the way he did.

Solomon did not ask for anything that would materially benefit himself or others? God not only gave him the wisdom that he asked for but he also rewarded him with

• riches and honour and

• the promise of a long life

David allowed sin to separate him from God by becoming proud and by looking to rely on human power and human resources. To sin in this way not only made God angry but also David and his people were severely punished for their sins.

That led us onto seeing David returning to that place of respect and awe for Almighty God when he was not prepared to bring a sacrifice that cost him nothing. God does not want us to bring to him of our leftovers of time, our money or anything else.

God wants to have totally, fully, completely that first place in our lives.

David’s ability to claim that God was his rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, horn, stronghold, refuge and saviour ____ was due to one reason. David had a deep and personal trust in Almighty God. He knew what it was to trust in God for himself. How do I get to have a personal faith in God?

The Bible gives us this reassurance and tells us how we can have a personal faith in God just like David did.

It says in the end of the New Testament in the book of 1 John these words,

“God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

It then says,

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

1. Idle ___ not doing what you should be doing.

2. The First Look.

3. The Second Look.

4. Fuelling the Temptation.

5. The Sin Committed.

6. Sin Exposed.

7. The Choice of Confession or Cover-Up.

8. The Consequences of Sin

9. Sin is never hidden from the One who Matters.

Our Weapon in the Battle:

Our weapon in whatever you are battling with today ____ the battle is won by the power of the Lord’s Name.

When David defeated Goliath, the sling and stones were merely a means. The battle was won in the Name of the Lord Almighty.

How are you going to live in the future? Are you willing to ask God to reveal His vision for your life to you?

When God looks at your heart what does He see?

Are you committed to being fully obedient to Him? OR

 Are you someone who has committed your life to be a follower of God and yet you remain what God described as ‘lukewarm’ with you still wanting some control of your life. OR

 Are you a person that to those looking on you look pretty good but you know that the way that God is seeing you, you are pretty much a mess on the inside.