Overcoming Flimsy Excuses and Blocking God's Will

May the Lord share with you a prosperous New Year!!

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Things We Need To See

Things We Need To See 2 Kings 6:8-17 ( KJV ) 8Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp. 9And the man of God sent unto the king of Israel, saying, Beware that thou pass not such a place; for thither the Syrians are come down. 10And the king of Israel sent to the place which the man of God told him and warned him of, and saved himself there, not once nor twice. 11Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was sore troubled for this thing; and he called his servants, and said unto them, Will ye not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? 12And one of his servants said, None, my lord, O king: but Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.

Things We Need To See 13And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

Things We Need To See Flimsy excuses that extinguish our fervor for the Lord We use excuses to hide our failures We use excuses to ease our conscious We use excuses to shift blame to others

Things We Need To See Flimsy excuses that extinguish our fervor for the Lord Some excuses: Don't have the time No one else is doing any better I am doing my best… considering No one notices if I do or don't… I am too tired I tried once and it did not work The Lord understands I am only human, etc.

Things We Need To See Flimsy excuses that extinguish our fervor for the Lord How many times have you made excuses for yourself about serving the Lord?

Things We Need To See Flimsy excuses that extinguish our fervor for the Lord How many times have you talked yourself out of serving the Lord?

Things We Need To See Flimsy excuses that extinguish our fervor for the Lord How many times have you failed others because you fail to serve the Lord?

Things We Need To See Flimsy excuses that extinguish our fervor for the Lord How many times have you heard others use excuses and you just did not buy it? Do you think God buys your excuses?

Things We Need To See Flimsy excuses that extinguish our fervor for the Lord Do you think God buys your excuses?

Things We Need To See Blocking God's will by the insertion of our own will and desires

Things We Need To See Blocking God's will by the insertion of our own will and desires What we say by this:… I don't want to do His will

Things We Need To See Blocking God's will by the insertion of our own will and desires What we say by this:… I don't want to do His will I am not going to do His will!

Things We Need To See Blocking God's will by the insertion of our own will and desires What we say by this:… I don't want to do His will I am not going to do His will! I have more important things to do with my time and life!

Things We Need To See Blocking God's will by the insertion of our own will and desires What we say by this:… I don't want to do His will I am not going to do His will! I have more important things to do with my time and life! I am more important than God, His plans, His commands, His way!

Things We Need To See Blocking God's will by the insertion of our own will and desires What we say by this:… I don't want to do His will I am not going to do His will! I have more important things to do with my time and life! I am more important than God, His plans, His commands, His way! I know more than God does!!!!!

Things We Need To See Blocking God's will by the insertion of our own will and desires Matthew 26:42 ( KJV ) 42He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Jesus surrendered to God’s will

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace This shows a tendency to not trust the Lord for His promises

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace What we say by this:… God is not capable of taking care of me

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace What we say by this:… God is not capable of taking care of me God's plan is insufficient

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace What we say by this:… God is not capable of taking care of me God's plan is insufficient God's Son died for nothing

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace What we say by this:… God is not capable of taking care of me God's plan is insufficient God's Son died for nothing I know more than God

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace What we say by this:… God is not capable of taking care of me God's plan is insufficient God's Son died for nothing I know more than God I need to do a little more so I can be saved

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace What we say by this:… God is not capable of taking care of me God's plan is insufficient God's Son died for nothing I know more than God I need to do a little more so I can be saved I do not need God (I’m good enough)

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace Salvation is a gift

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace Salvation is a gift This gift doesn’t require a down payment, deposit, shipping cost, etc.

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace Salvation is a gift This gift doesn’t require a down payment, deposit, shipping cost, etc. We just need to pick the GIFT up

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace This gift (once we accept it) will change our lives James 2:17-18 ( KJV ) 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace This gift (once we accept it) will change our lives Our allegiance will change

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace This gift (once we accept it) will change our lives Our allegiance will change Our attitude will change

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace This gift (once we accept it) will change our lives Our allegiance will change Our attitude will change Our approach to life will change

Things We Need To See Persistent practice of substituting our works for His grace This gift (once we accept it) will change our lives 2 Corinthians 5:17 ( KJV ) 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Things We Need To See Mark 5:1-20 ( NKJV ) 1Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” 8For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!”

Things We Need To See 9Then He asked him, “What is your name?”And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 11Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” 13And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 14So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened.

Things We Need To See 15Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon- possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 18And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon- possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.

Things We Need To See Overlooking by the One with His protection This requires faith

Things We Need To See Overlooking by the One with His protection When we doubt, this is what we say:… God is untruthful - or a liar

Things We Need To See Overlooking by the One with His protection When we doubt, this is what we say:… God is untruthful - or a liar God will not keep His promises

Things We Need To See Overlooking by the One with His protection When we doubt, this is what we say:… God is untruthful - or a liar God will not keep His promises God is not Omnipotent and cannot take care of His own

Things We Need To See Overlooking by the One with His protection When we doubt, this is what we say:… God is untruthful - or a liar God will not keep His promises God is not Omnipotent and cannot take care of His own God does not know my needs

Things We Need To See Overlooking by the One with His protection When we doubt, this is what we say:… God is untruthful - or a liar God will not keep His promises God is not Omnipotent and cannot take care of His own God does not know my needs God does not care

Things We Need To See Overlooking by the One with His protection When we doubt, this is what we say:… God is untruthful - or a liar God will not keep His promises God is not Omnipotent and cannot take care of His own God does not know my needs God does not care God is not God

Things We Need To See Overlooking by the One with His protection We need to completely trust God We need to depend upon Him

Things We Need To See Should we not be as Elisha and pray for each other that we will see what needs to happen in our lives? 17And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: If our eyes were opened today and we could see like the young man saw, what would we see?

Overcoming Flimsy Excuses and Blocking God's Will