STUCK? Move from Failure to Success (Luke 5:1-11)

1. Jesus need to have a presence in your life in every aspect
2. Begin to cooperate with GOD's plan
3. Be willing to anticipate GOD's promises, get in the bible and find them and stand on them
With these in place I cannot fail!

Falling into the debt trap & getting out;
38 parables and 16 of them were on $ and possessions.
$ is a spiritual issue
Luke 15:11
Mistake 1: over estimated the importance of wealth($ was important than anything else), we think $ will solve everything. We need to learn contentment w/what we have.
You can only have contentment with Jesus Christ as your saviour.

Mistake 2: wanting instant gratification.
Timing is a big issue w/us, we need the discipline of postponing pleasure.
There is a sense of entitlement in this generation.
Learn to say "no."

Mistake 3: spending on sinful activity v.13
Sin is costly not only financial, spiritual, but health repercussions.
Stay away from sinful behaviors that cost you and repent.

Mistake 4: spending more than resources allow v.14
We tend to over spend our resources.
Whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net at his feet Proverbs 29:5
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food, but the foolish devour everything they have Proverbs 21:20

Mistake 5: not anticipating hard times v.14
James 4:13-14
Illness, downsizing, steep price increases.
Be wise planners because we trust in GOD.

Luke 5:11-24
5 steps to getting out of debt;
1. Acknowledge the situation to get out of trouble. V.17
Proverbs 27:12
3 conversions (Martin Luther 15th century) heart, mind, and wallet
Do you feel guilty when you buy your kids a gift, or go out to eat? Are you jealous of what others have? Do you have hopelessness?
2. Accept Responsibility V.15
Do not blame others!
You have to the difficult things and take responsibility for change. GOD will help you.
3. Develop a Plan V. 18-19
Luke 14:28-30
The difficulty is priortizing the plan, be diligent about your wants vs. needs.
If you get the first priorities wrong then it is all wrong.
A. Pay the Lord first- Proverbs 3:9
(10% into the store house)
Ask GOD for the wisdom to manage the other 90% of the $
My resources are not mine, they are GOD's for me to manage properly
B. Set up a family budget- Proverbs 13:18
Prioritize your finances
C. Get out of debt as soon as possible
Romans 13:8
D. Submit to the Father's will
If we find ourselves in financial difficulty come to the father repent, and then submit humbly.
E. Start immediately V.20
Do not put off til tomorrow what you can do today!
CAUTION: Your financial plan should not be allowed to cause division between your marriage. Make some compromises, and formulate the plan together.

We all have problems...
Communication, finances, spiritual development, family

2 Chronicles 20:1-21

1. To overcome the problem you must identify the enemy correctly;
When we get into conflict we point ou the wrong enemy and end up fighting in confusion.

Our 3 enemies: Satan, Sin, and Selfishness

2. Admit your inadequacies;
V.12 King Jehosephat confesses his inadequacies and asks GOD for help.
Zechariah 4:6

3. Take it to the Lord;
V.3-4 confess, fast, pray, and seek the Lord.
We typically take our problems to the ones who cannot help us.

4. Relax in your faith;
V.15 The battle is not your's, it is GOD's
When we fight GOD's battles w/our own strengths we get very weary. Then we feel we let GOD down.
Remember GOD is not in our hands, we are in His.
(Check out the book- Ordering Your Private Life by?)
Colossians 2:6
So then just as you received Christ as Lord, continue to live in Him...
Ephesians 2:8-9
That is how you are supposed to live your life.
Has GOD ever lost in any situation?

5. Thank GOD in advance;
V.21 Put some men in front to sing to the Lord, and the marching army follows

Luke 4:18
Why it is a joy to get together.
GOD delights in releasing people from oppression.
People walk around in discouragement and depression.
How to get out of it;
What makes depression so hard to help is because we can't see it. We don't readily see people with depression.

Elijah was a tremendous spokesman for GOD, through Elijah all kinds of miracles that took place. He wanted Israel to have a spiritual awakening.
Jezebel hated Elijah.
Elijah was an antagonist for GOD.
Jezebel's response 1 Kings 19:2
V.3 Elijah ran away, and prayed for death. What happened to the mighty prophet Elijah?
James 5:17 Elijah was a man just like us..
Our emotions are caused by our thoughts, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he...
Romans 12:2...be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Jesus said, "know the truth, the truth will set you free."

How to renew our thinking;

1. Focus on the facts not your feelings
Elijah felt like a failure because of one incident, therefore he became a failure.
Don't listen to your feelings! Know the truth!
2. Don't compare yourself to others;
1 Kings 19:4
Elijah got into comparison mode. When you compare yourself you will always be down.
We like everybody to see our strengths.
When we compare, we compare our weaknesses to others strengths, and we will never match up that way. This is a recipe for depression. You are not thinking right when you do this.
2 Corinthians 10:12

3. Don't take false blame;
1 Kings 19:10
Elijah blamed himself for a failing nation.
People do not always respond the way we want them to, this does not make you a failure.

4. Don't exaggerate the negative;
Don't throw a pity party.
Not everyone is against you.
V. 18

Getting past our good intentions:
Col. 3:17 (paul says)
Your behavior should reflect your Father
We do all in the name of the Father
1. I can't just try harder (look at Col. 2: 20-23)
You gotta dig in, and go after what you are trying to attain and overcome your obstacles- you need GOD!
2. Realign your priorities (Col. 3:1-4)
Set your heart on things above, set your mind on things above
This world is filled with sin and evil and it's not gonna change. So we get mis aligned.
The first to get out of alignment is our heart.
The second our minds
(TV, magazines, etc.)
Philippians 4:8
Is your heart and mind set on things above or the things below?
You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

3. We have to exterminate the obstacles
Col. 3:5-11
Sexual immorality, impurity, greed, etc...
We tend to give up removing the obstacles and try to live in peace with them.
Crucify the flesh, do not suppress it.
How do we kill the obstacles (sin)?
Live my life at an altitude where sin cannot reign nor live in my life.
Numbers 25:11
Ask GOD for help to put my sins to death, and study GOD's word. Learn it!

4. Put on a new me;
Col. 3:12-14
Clothe myself in the things of the bible and righteousness.
Welcome GOD's influence in my life.
Col. 3:15-16
Let the peace of Christ rule your heart ....
Let word of Christ dwell in you richly...


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