Who Do You Think You are Talking To?

Sermon Title:  Who Do You Think You Are Talking To?

Sermon Text:  “The Lord is always good. He is always loving and kind, and his faithfulness goes on and on to each succeeding generation.” Psalm 100:5 (LB)

Introduction:  

Names of God:

YHWH (i.e. Jehovah)

El.

Elohim.

Adonai.

Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh.

Shaddai.

Sabaoth.

Your understanding of what God is really like shapes everything else in your life, including how you pray. BECAUSE GOD IS ALWAYS GOOD . . . this will drive how you come to God in prayer. 

1.  God's plans for my life will always be good

 “‘I know what I’ve planned for you,’ says the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you! My plans will give you hope and a good future. And when you call to me and pray to me, I will listen to you!”     Jeremiah 29:11 (NCV)

  

“We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”       Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Joseph: “Your plan was to hurt me, but God turned your evil plan into a GOOD plan to save the lives of many people!”       Genesis 50:20

“So, we can rejoice when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are GOOD for us – they help us learn patient endurance.” Rom. 5:3 (NLT)

2.  God always gives me what I need, not what I deserve.

    “He has not treated us as we deserve for our sins or paid us back for our wrongs . . . (In his goodness), he has taken our sins away and removed them as far as the east is from the west!”     Psalm 103:10, 12

Romans 5:6-8 (ESV) 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

“Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close . . . my enemies are waiting for me to fall . . . Yet I remain confident that I’ll see the goodness of the Lord while I’m living here in the world.” Ps. 27:10-13 (NLT)

“(Jesus) understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly with confidence to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find the grace to help us when we need it.”   Hebrews 4:15-16 (NLT)

3.   God puts my good above his own good.

    “I am the GOOD shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me . . .   And I will sacrifice my life for my sheep.”                John 10:14-15

    “Jesus died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God, filling us with God's goodness.”                       Romans 4:25 (LB)

    “Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave Christ up for us all, won’t he now also give us everything else we need?” Romans 8:32 (NLT)

4.         He does not say yes to every request…delay is not denied

“You fathers – if your children asked for a fish to eat, would you give them a snake instead? Or if they asked for an egg, would you give them a scorpion?  Of course not! So if you, as sinful people, know how to give GOOD gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”              Luke 11:11-13 (NLT)

Jesus replied, “You don’t realize what you are asking for!”   Matthew 20:22 (NLT)

God says, “My thoughts are completely different from yours, and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”                                       Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

PRAY THIS WEEK

    “Lord, keep me from paying attention to what is worthless. (Instead) let me      live by your Word . . . I want to obey your principles. Please renew my life with your goodness!”   Psalm 119:37, 39-40

    Revive My Heart . . . My LifeGroup . . . Our Church Family

    “Bring us back to you, God; we’re ready to come back. Give us a fresh     start.”      Lam. 5:21 (The Message)