Happy Steps
Sunday March 28, 2021
Notes
Matthew 5:3 NKJV
Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Proverbs 16:19 NKJV
Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
This first characteristic of the child of God is a foundation that God can build upon. God cannot build upon the foundations of pride,
We are going to look at four stages, of a growing blessed life. They all have two words and the second word is “Me.”
- Give Me
This is where we all start, every person, every baby, every spiritual baby, every marriage. We all start with “give me”.
Luke 15:12 NKJV
And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.
By God’s design, there are some needs that a husband can meet in a wife. Some needs that a wife can meet in a husband. But there are some needs that only God can meet, and if you’re looking for your spouse to meet the needs that only God can meet, you’re going to be disappointed.
- USE ME
But, the second stage we move into is use me, and it’s not a good use me. It’s “use me so I can be seen, or significant, or feel important”. This is the next stage that every Christian goes through: “Give me”, and then, “Use me”. “give me something so I can feel significant, so I can have power”.
Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself”.
Acts 8:18–21 NKJV
And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God.
Luke 15:13 NKJV
And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.
That’s what that means, sexually immoral.
Okay, so he decides to do something to make him happy.
- SEARCH ME
Now we’re beginning to move into maturity.
Luke 15:17 NKJV
But when he came to himself…
Let me say it another way: when he began to search his own heart,
This is the way the psalmist says it.
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me”.
This is when we stop focusing on someone else meeting our needs, or what’s wrong with our spouse, and we start focusing on what’s wrong with us.
Here’s the fourth stage, is “Make me”.
- MAKE ME
We start with
- give me
- We move to “use me”, but it’s for the wrong reason.
- Then, “God, search me.
- Finally “make me”,”a vessel fit for the Master’s use”.
Luke 15:19 NKJV
and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.
Luke 15:29 NKJV
So he answered and said to his father, ‘Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends.
Look at the father’s response…
Verse 31
“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours”.
1 Peter 2:2–3 NKJV
as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
We start at God, give me, but I end up saying, God, make me into Your servant. Make me a person that You can use.