CollideAsk

The two possibilities:

Get it all and realize

The two possibilities:

Chase it and never realize

2 weeks ago:

The point of pleasureIs the Praise of the Giver

2 weeks ago:

God's gifts can destroyWhen we make gods

Of his gifts

We don't seek what we seek

We don't seek what we seek- Electronics, Cars, Material Poss- Money- People- Position and Status

We seek through what we seek- Happiness and Joy- Peace and Security

- Love- Acceptance/well-thought of

What we seek is important

Where we seek it andWhy we seek it

Are essential

Christ-followers

Tend to be EpicureanOr Stoic

Epicurean- Makes a god of the gift

Epicurean- Makes a god of the gift

Stoic-Considers it spiritual to refuse it

God is a Giver

He wants us to enjoyWhat he provides

(To his Praise)

For God so loved the worldthat he…?

Review

Every good and perfect giftIs from above, coming downfrom the Father…- James 1

If you…know how to give good gifts to your children, how much

more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those

who ask him!- Matt 7

Jesus and the Open Bar…

God richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment- 1 Tim. 6:17

There are thingsGod wants for you

That you don't haveRight now

God wants to giveWe want to receive

So…what's the problem?

The problem is notGod's desire to give

But Where we seek andWhy we seek

What we seek is important

Where we seek it andWhy we seek it

Are essential

What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

You desire and do not have, so you murder (or hate?). You

covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.

What are they seeking?

What they want

And when they don't get it?

War

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions- James 4

There are things God wants to give you

That you don't yet have

PeaceJoyPurposeFulfillmentLove

As well as:Food

ShelterClothing

(Matthew 6)

You do not have, because you do not ask.

What we seek is important

Where we seek it andWhy we seek it

Are essential

- Ask spouse- Ask bank account/credit company- Ask self- Ask others

You do not have, becauseyou do not ask

(the right Person)

There are things God Wants to give you that you Don't have because you

Haven't asked God

The Fall:

The Fall:

Self-effortSelf-direction

Self-centeredness=

The Fall:

Self-effortSelf-direction

Self-centeredness=Unfulfilled, Constantly Striving

...my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters…

…and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that

can hold no water- Jeremiah 2:13

Faith: Do I really believe that what God wants for me is greater

than what I want for me?

Surrender: I'll crucify "self"

Surrender: I'll crucify "self"

Bar Rescue:Everyone loves it!

Redemption and Restoration:

Christ's Effort- CrucifixionCarry a cross- death to selfSeek God for my needs- pray=Purpose, Fulfillment, Needs Met

You do not have, because you do not ask.

"God…I'd like this. I ask for it. And submit to your Lordship"

If I can't ask God for it…?

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full- John 16:24

God wants you to askGod wants to giveGod wants you to experience

the joy of answered prayer

You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions- James 4

What we seek is important

Where we seek it andWhy we seek it

Are essential

You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions

Spend it on your passions…

Idolatry= God is a means to an end. My pleasure is the goal

There times we don't receive because we're looking toplease the flesh and make a god of the gift rather than praise the Giver of the gift.

"Why do I want this?"

"If it be your will. In Jesus' Name"

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for

us all, how will he not also with him graciously give

us all things?- Rom. 8:32

Spiritual Myopathy

Myopathy Ignores:

God's gifts are bestGod's gifts satisfyGod's gifts are…enough

List:- What haven't I asked for?

- Can I ask for thiswith a clean conscience?

- Pray

There are things God wants to give you that

You don't (yet) have

The ball's in your court…

There are things God wants to give you that

You don't (yet) have

As a church…

Jesus said to his disciples,

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;

…therefore pray (ask!) earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest”- Matt. 9

Jesus died to bring people to himself

We are about that mission

Ask!

And not to become "successful" and big

But to glorify God and help people become whole