Often, we want to grab at things we want when in fact we’re not ready for it.

Much of what we want is what God wants for us. But it’s not always when God wants it for us.

Genesis 1:26-28

God wanted man to be like Him, and to have what He has.

Man had dominion over the earth and all things in it.

Genesis 3:1-5 (2:16-17)

When man reached for that fruit, he did it trying to be more like God in his own time.

Man was already on track to be just like God, but man tried to do it his own way in his own time, saying that God’s way wasn’t good enough or fast enough.

Do not blame God: Blame your lack of knowledge.

1 King 3:5-14

Solomon ask for knowledge and understanding

God gave him so much more!

Riches, Honor, a long life

Hosea 4:6-7

The priests’ lack of knowledge was their downfall

They weren’t gaining knowledge or dispensing it

People perish for their lack of knowledge because they make bad decisions

Without knowledge, God will turn your glory to shame.

God gives us the knowledge we need to be fruitful in life

Getting knowledge is not easy or fun, but it is necessary to live the life God wants for us

Knowledge will help you to see and understand truth, and truth will set you free.

When you are in truth, you have nothing to fear because truth will prove you case

James 1:5-6

A defeated statement/hopeless stance

Could it be anything different?

We hold the power to change this to “It is what I always dreamed it would be.”

We need to be open to the idea that no matter where we are, our life can change.

Romans 12:1-2

Don’t conform: Be transformed!

We are not what we are. God is constantly transforming us.

We are transformed through the renewing of our minds

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is the substance of things hoped for evidence of things not seen.

Hanging on to the Resurrection

The disciples did not follow Jesus to become rich or famous, they did it because they saw the truth and wanted to follow Him.

Matthew 28:1-10

Mary and Mary put all their faith in Jesus, only to watch him die. When they went to the tomb and found it empty, what was their darkest day was turned around.

Don’t let anyone break your hold on the resurrection, especially not yourself!

1. Where is Jesus telling you to go?

2. Why aren’t you there?

Life has its ups and downs, but that’s part of the human experience.

Matthew 14:22-33

Jesus walks on the water.

Peter joins him

Peter began to sink when he saw how strong the winds were

Jesus reached out and saved Peter from drowning

When Jesus got in the boat, the winds stopped

Mark 6:46-51

Don’t make the journey alone: find companions to make it with you

Circumstance is what seems to bring us down, but we need to remember that Jesus is in the circumstance with us.

There is no circumstance that Jesus can’t handle

For God to know the number of hairs on our head,He has to be very close

God will never ask you for something you don’t have

If we are focused on the circumstance

Psalm 46

The Lord of Hosts is with us

Galatians 5:22-26

Love is the greatest fruit of all.

John 3:16

God is love.

Weed:

A plant that interferes with the management objective of a given area of land for a given period of time.

Wherever there is growth, there will be weeds

Galatians 5:29-21 Our Works

Weeds that deprive us of the inheritance of the kingdom of God

Galatians 5:22-25

The fruit of the spirit.

Our works are dirty rags, but when we how the fruit of the spirit, we pull those weeds that are dirty rags.

Before the fall, Adam worked with God. After the fall, he struggled to work with God.

God desires for us growth. But if we live to the flesh, we stifle that growth, effectively disqualifying ourselves from the kingdom of Heaven.

Things that last require sacrifice and hard work.

Weeds that grow quickly to be tall and hardy are often unable to reproduce.

Matthew 13:3-9

Jeremiah 3:3

Because the people were following other gods and weren’t ashamed of it, God withheld the latter rain

Latter rain is that last good rain to push the crops to completion

Without the rain, we become a barren wasteland

By asking God to send the rain, you are asking Him to do what you cannot do.

The land must be ready to receive the rain.

When the raindrops start to fall it is too late to prepare the ground.

Jeremiah 11:3-5

Joel 2:13

Rend your heart, not your clothes: Live fully into that pain and repent.

Joel 2:23-26

God will send the rain and give us a overflowing harvest

“In order to receive the rain we need to let God reign in our lives.”

A small leak will not case much damage or issue in the short term, but over a span of time, if left untreated, will cause a large amount of expensive damage.

If you are in the same place you were a year age, yor are not fulfilling your call: you are not growing.

Jeremiah 1:48

We are called before we are born

Just because we are called doesn’t mean we will fulfill it

We often disqualify ourselves from the dreams God has given us

Make your mistakes & move on

They are only mistakes if you don’t learn from them.

You may not know everything or have all the answers, but don’t let it stop you!

If you don’t have formal qualifications, don’t let it hold you back.

If God tells you to go don’t worry about the qualifications - go!

If God puts you in a situation, He will give you what you need to get through it.

God says to go and do what He says, and that He will give us what we need to do it.

When God puts you somewhere it may not always be perfect, but it will always end perfect.

Don’t be afraid! God is with us.

You will never achieve anything if you don’t even try.

By worldly standards. We are not qualified to do what God wants us to do.