Longview Heights Sermons

What is the greatest problem in your life right now?

What if I told you the greatest problem in your life right now is actually you? You are your greatest problem.

If you are a follower of Jesus you have two natures, flesh, and spirit. Your flesh nature wants to do what's fun, what's convenient, and not necessarily the right thing or the best thing. Many of the things your flesh nature wants to do are actually self-destructive to you. You know for certain there are things that would be good for you, healthy for you, and yet you don't do them. You know that there are relationships that aren't good for you, choices that mess up your life, and yet you do them anyway.

Listen, you are not alone in this. See Romans 7:14-24

In this passage, Paul lays out the story of me and you. If you were actually able to practice all the right things you know to do, we’d be a lot more content in life. Yet, it’s not just knowing it. It’s getting yourself to do it. There’s this battle because we have a natural resistance inside of us that wants to do what’s easy, what’s convenient, what’s quick. Rather than what’s right and what’s best.

Today's message launches a new series called BAGGAGE: Dropping the Weight That's Been Holding You Back. We will look at the weights of broken relationships, past regrets, financial discord, depression, and shame. In today's message, we will address our greatest issue — ME.

How Can I Break Free from Me?

• Recall Daily God's Work, Not Mine (Romans 8:1-4)

The starting point is remembering daily what Jesus did for you. So many who are saved don't act like it.

They run around all the time filled with shame and uncontrolled thoughts, compulsions, fear, bitterness,

and insecurity. They're believers but they're not set free from "me" (themselves). Remind yourself of what Jesus

actually did for you! This is how the Holy Spirit sets me free from shame.

• Reset my mindset (Romans 8:5-8)

There are two mindsets:

The mindset of your old nature and the mindset of the Holy Spirit.

You have to choose between these two mindsets. Are you going to set my mind on the way I normally think

about my life, or am I going to set my mind on the way God thinks about my life.

You choose what you focus on. The temptations from Satan are constant, arent they? The good news is that as

a believer you have a helper, the Holy Spirit. Invite the Lord to guard and guide your mind, to help refocus your

focus.

• Recognize God's Presence In Your Life (Romans 8:9-16)

With God's presence in your life, you have a much greater force than willpower. Willpower wears out. It's not

enough. But with the Spirit in your life, you have the power of God's presence with you.

Call out to your Father, "God, I need you!" (Romans 8:16)

•Rely on God's Resources (Romans 8:26-32)

Notice three truths:

• Vv. 26-27. The Holy Spirit is praying for me. That helps me because, no matter what I'm going through, I know

God's on my side.

• V.28. God is using everything in my life for good. It's not all good but he's using it all for good. God is greater

than my problems. God is greater than my enemies. God is greater than my critics. And God is using it all for

good in my life.

• V.32. If God loved you enough to send His son, Jesus, to die on the cross for you, don't you think He's concerned with your debt? Don't you think he cares enough to help you with your health?

• Rejoice and Rest That God Will Never Leave Me (Romans 8:28-29)

Once you're in God's hand he's not letting go of you. You may want to let go but he's not letting go of you. Not

because of your conduct, but because of His character.

Question: Do you belong to Christ? None of these things can be true in your life unless you belong to Christ. Do you have the Holy Spirit in your life? Let's make certain of that right now.

Would you take a moment to look back over these notes? Say this in your heart, "Jesus, thank you for all you’ve done for me. Thank you that there’s no condemnation in my life for all the sin that I’ve done. You took that condemnation. Thank you that you destroyed sin’s control. Help me to never forget what you did for me. When I feel ashamed let me remember what you did on the cross for me. Holy Spirit, I ask you to reset my mindset. I don’t want the mindset of self-destruction. I want the mindset of life and peace. Thank you that no temptation is too strong. When I am afraid help me to turn my thoughts to you. Help me to remember that I’m your child and help me, to cry out to you Father. Daddy! I’m afraid. To focus on my Father and not my fears.

When I start to get bitter and I feel life is unfair, and when I feel hurt, help me to remember that you, God, are good and you’re in control. That you are praying for me. Thank you for doing that; that you are working all things for good. Thank you for doing that; that you are for me not against me. Thank you for that. And that you didn’t spare Jesus so you’ll give us whatever we need. Thank you for that. Most of all I thank you that you will never let go of me. You’ll never stop loving me. You’ll never reject me. Thank you that I cannot lose my salvation no matter what else I lose on this planet. That you will never stop loving me."

If you’ve never surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, I invite you to call out to Him. Say, Jesus, "I want you to be my Lord, my Savior. I want you to be the Lord of my life. I repent of my sin and trust you to forgive my sinfulness. I don’t understand it all but I want to trust in you completely. Thank you for your grace to me. I want to love you for the rest of my life and I ask you to accept me into your family by faith. In your name, I pray, Amen."

• Jesus’ Command

• Jesus’ Confidence

• Jesus’ Promise

How Can I Be Saved?

How Can I Be Sure?

How Can I Be Satisfied?

As we wrap up our WISDOM series in Proverbs. We take a deep dive into chapter 9. We see ourselves confronted with a choice to make. The passage portrays two houses. One stands open with an elegant lady named, Wisdom, inviting us in. The other stands open, with a seductive lady named, Folly, inviting in. So we see that there is a tug of war for our hearts – we must choose wisely.

Proverbs 9

1. Invitation to a Feast (vv. 1-12)

• Wisdom Warns (v.7)

• Wisdom Instructs (vv. 8-10)

1) Do not reprove or rebuke a mocker, someoen who is unteachable and filled with pride. (v.8)

2) Rebuke only the wise (v.8)

3) Instruct the wise and they will become wiser (v.9)

4) Know the beginning point of wisdom: it is the fear of the LORD, trusting and knowing the Holy One (v.10)

• Wisdom Rewards (vv. 11-12)

Each person must bear the consequences of the choices he or she makes in life. On one hand, wise choices produce good fruit. On the other hand, foolish choices result in decay and death.

New Testament Application:

• Wisdom – the Lord Jesus Christ – is building a house for all those who accept Him

• Wisdom's house is large, spacious enough for all who accept Christ's invitation

• The Lord extends an invitation for all to attend a great supper, a great marriage feast, a spectacular celebration. He is planning at the end of the world.

• The Lord Jesus Christ, the embodiment of wisdom, has prepared a great spiritual feast for all who accept His invitation, and He himself serves them

• Every believer is a messenger and is commissioned to deliver the Lord's invitation to the world.

• Believers can expect to be rejected and persecuted by others when they faithfully fulfill their responsibility to the Lord

2. Invitation to a Funeral (vv. 13-18)

• Folly Distracts (vv. 14-17)

• Folly Deceives (vv. 17)

• Folly Dooms (vv. 18)

3. Two Destinations – You Must Choose (v. 12)

Two suitors – Wisdom and Folly – are in a tug of war for your heart

The key: "The Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Proverbs 9:10

"A Searching Father Luke 15"

Repentance exposes God’s heart

• God’s love searches

• God’s love celebrates

• God’s love is constant

Repentance uncovers my deepest need

• Shows my worth in God’s sight

• Shows the destruction of sin

• Shows the nearness of the Father

• Shows the insanity of self-righteousness

Personal Responses

• The first son rejected the father in his rebellion

• The second son rejected the father in his religion

• The third Son was rejected by the Father, so I can be accepted"

You are searching for something; when you prize, pursue, and embrace wisdom, you will find it!

If you could be granted one wish with no strings attached what would your wish be? What does your wish say about your desires? Why did you make the choice you made? What was your motivation?

As we look at Proverbs 8 we will consider and examine our most profound desires.

In this passage, we see 3 personal responses to Wisdom's Worth:

1. Prize Wisdom (Prov. 8:1-11)

Wisdom says: "Listen! My words will tell you truth, truth more valuable than anything else you could ever seek."

2. Pursue Wisdom (Prov. 8:12-21)

We will not come up empty-handed if we pursue with a diligent heart.

See Prov. 8:17 "I love those who love me, and those who search for me find me."

3. Embrace Wisdom (Prov. 8:32-36)

Wisdom is not so much a matter of mastering a bunch of rules (behavior modification); it is embracing the wisdom you need. That wisdom is found in the person of Jesus Christ.

What does this look like as we live out our lives?

- Jesus is the wisdom of God to us

Jesus is our mediator that reflects and points to the Father.

- Jesus is the wisdom of God for us

When Jesus says, “My yoke is the only one that’s easy, my yoke is the only one that’s light,” here’s what he’s saying:

Our burden because of our sin is a heavy one, it’s death separated from Christ and life. Jesus died a death that I deserved to die and offers to you a life we don’t deserve.

To rest is to put your burdens in God’s hands and enjoy His provision of forgiveness and eternal life.

- Jesus is wisdom with us

Jesus didn’t say you would no longer have burdens if you hitched to him. He said their weight would decrease. His presence is with you.

Jesus Christ says, “Do you want rest?”

Embrace the cross, the gospel, Jesus Christ, is the only wisdom that will give you rest.

Take your next step with Christ! Please visit us at LHBC.me/Journey to find out more about taking your next step with Christ.

Successful failure happens when ….

I. My Weakness drives me to His Strength

II. My Limitations drives me to His Sovereignty

III. My Humility drives me to His Sufficiency