Matthew 6:25-34

Matthew 7:1-5

When I see something in you that bothers me, I need to first look in the mirror.

When I come to terms with my own sin, I become better qualified to talk with someone else about theirs.

When I am tempted to pass judgment on you, I need to stop, look in the mirror, and see if there is a trace of something in me that ought to be addressed.

“God, what is it in me that bothers You?”

If you want to thrive, then you need something very important:

The Assurance of Your Salvation

1 John 3:1-3

1 John 5:13

You can KNOW that you are saved!

Thrive Secret #1: Assurance

1, The Battle

Revelation 12:10

We lack assurance not only because of Satan, but also because of self.

2, The Basis

Deuteronomy 19:15

John 3:36

John 6:37

Romans 10:13

John 6:47

Don't ever put a question mark where God has put a period!

Matthew 6:16-24

Entitlement is simply thinking you have a right to something that's actually a privilege.

Signs of entitlement:

1, lack of gratitude

2, envy

3, "I deserve it"

4, secret anger

5, rationalization

We feel the most entitled to the things we value the most.

Our assumption… what we're pursuing has greater value than what we currently possess.

What if we're overvaluing what we're pursuing?

Overvaluing the wrong things will cause you to overlook the best things.

Matthew 13:44-46

The most valuable thing you can lean into is to love God, and love others.

What do you value?

Are you RUNNING or COASTING?

3 MOTIVATIONS for this race:

#1, Looking to witnesses (Hebrews 12:1)

"something better" (Hebrews 11:40)

#2, Looking up to Jesus

Hebrews 12:2

Hebrews 13:21

1 Peter 4:11

#3, Looking forward to joy

Hebrews 10;35

A person of faith:

- quiet confidence

- clear witness

- on a journey

- can distinguish between the temporal and the eternal

- stands to inherit God's blessings

1 Timothy 6:12

John 4

Comparison is easy.

We love our comfort.

Leaving is hard.

We have a choice about how we live out the Kingdom values of Jesus.

Hebrews 11:39-12:2

Hebrews 11:4-32

2 Timothy 4:7

1 Timothy 6:10-12

flee ←→ pursue

...battling the tendency to coast.

Hebrews 10:32-33

Hebrews 5:12

Hebrews 2:3

Hebrews 6:5

Hebrews 3:12

Hebrews 12:12-14

Run the race!

Fight the fight!

Pursue peace!

Pursue holiness!

Are you RUNNING or COASTING?

3 MOTIVATIONS for this race:

#1, Looking to witnesses

[to be continued]

The most perplexing question in prayer is simply “why?”

God doesn’t answer my prayers... my way.

#1, You are not God

#2, God is not done

#3, “Do I really believe that God is good? Do I really trust Him?”

What we want is an answer, but what we need is a Person.

Matthew 6:9-13

#1, express desires, not demands.

#2, pray “not my will, but Your will.”

#3, focus on the Giver, not the gift.

For many of us, prayer is worry in God’s direction.

God is bigger than your circumstances,

and He is better than your circumstances.

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Paul knew he was working for something circumstances could not destroy.

Ask God to help you…

- see beyond your circumstances.

- persevere beyond your circumstances

- fulfill His Kingdom.

The importance of people first started with our Creator God.

Genesis 1:26-27

The worst forgetfulness of all is to forget PEOPLE!

2 Timothy 1:3-5

Romans 1:8-9

Job 14:14

John 11:25

Revelation 14:13

Philippians 2:3-4

Galatians 6:9-10

Matthew 6:11-12

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

A new list:

1, What we need / what do I want

2, Where do I need forgiveness?

3, Whom do I need to forgive?

**We need to forgive, even though it costs us something.

It is virtually impossible to stay angry with someone you pray for.

The prayers that we don’t pray are often more important than the prayers we want to pray.

Leviticus 6:9,12-13

Questions we need to ask as we consider THE FIRE:

↓ REVIEW ↓

1) What is this fire?

2) Whose responsibility is it to keep the fire burning?

3) How do we keep the fire burning?

- We pray

- Hearing the Word of God

- Christian service

4) Why do we keep the fire burning?

- God says so.

- There are still people living in darkness, looking for the light.

- For those who will come behind us.

Keep the fire burning... ON FIRE!