Reverse the Curse

Is it safe to say we all procrastinate a little? Some maybe a lot?

I've never met anyone who never procrastinated

We all know the consequences, some more than others, and we regret being like this—It is a curse!

Tonight I want to talk about how we Reverse the Curse!

Jeremiah 17:5-8

5 This is what the LORD says:
       "Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
       who depends on flesh for his strength
       and whose heart turns away from the LORD.

 6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
       he will not see prosperity when it comes.
       He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
       in a salt land where no one lives.

 7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
       whose confidence is in him.

 8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
       that sends out its roots by the stream.
       It does not fear when heat comes;
       its leaves are always green.
       It has no worries in a year of drought
       and never fails to bear fruit."

1. The Curse (Verses 5-6)

   1. Although the pitfalls of laziness can reveal it, the bigger curse is relying on human effort as your strength!

      1. Maybe your feeling regret for how you could have done better in school—or in some other area this past Semester?

      2. Yes, we should strive to do everything for the Lord and with all our heart (Colossians 3:23)!

      3. But now is not a time to feel bad about it—

         1. You're in the midst of the final battle of the Semester!

         2. We need to rely on the grace all the way through and be forward thinkers!

         3. We need to learn to have godly sorrow that produces change rather than just feeling bad!

   2. I'll admit laziness is and has been one of my deepest character sins—For me, I'm convinced it is the kind that Jesus said can only come out with prayer and fasting!

   3. However, I know my laziness is most often rooted in an even uglier and deeper sin: pride!

      1. I have in me an independent spirit!

      2. On far too many occasions I lose touch with God and think I can do it on my own!

      3. That is why I've been convicted by this passage and need to stay convicted by it

         1. Brothers and sisters, we can't make light of this horrible condition—it needs to be put to death!

         2. For in it you cannot even see when prosperity comes!

   4. And look at how it causes God's heart to break (Jeremiah 2:13):

      1.  13 "My people have committed two sins:
                They have forsaken me,
                the spring of living water,
                and have dug their own cisterns,
                broken cisterns that cannot hold water. 

2. Reverse the Curse (Vs.7-8)

   1. Personal testimony: I've been gifted in sports, specifically baseball. It was all I did and thought about growing up. In fact, in some ways because of it I didn't learn how to read well. Probably pretty close to classified as illiterate through 11^th grade. Then I studied the Bible and started to get inspired by it. A year later I went into college, struggled at first, then chose a double major in two of the hardest reading degrees—Philosophy and Political Science. It was by the inspiration of God's Word, memorizing it and relying on it for strength that I not only learned how to read but got a degree. But my knowledge of the Scriptures is far more important to me than my B.A.

      1. But over the four years I was in school, I was determined to rely on God all the way through—knowing where I come from I am 100% convinced it was by focusing on God that I did as well as I did!

         • Many here can probably say, "3.33, double major in PolSci and Philosophy, big deal, I'm able to do better than that!"...?

         • Many of you can probably do better than that from your own strength

         • Well, I couldn't! I did something I could not have done without God!

         • You need to find what that is for you

      2. As much as I've relied on God before—because of pride I always need to recommit to relying on Him!

   2. You will always flourish when your confidence is in God

      1. Not fear the heat – you don't flinch at life's stresses and pressures

      2. Leaves always green – stay spiritual, faithful, zealous

      3. No worries in a year of drought – you're still inspired at the times where things seem less inspiring

      4. Never fail to bear fruit – It is to God's pleasure and honor that we bear fruit (John 15), staying spiritually productive

Conclusion-

3. I share this Scripture and it's message in my life to encourage you to have God as your confidence and strength--

4. That you would not be shooting for purly human aims--what is of human effort--but that you would only shoot for the excellency of a God reliant life! 

   1. This Scripture is true:

      1. It is a curse to rely on your own strength!

      2. It is God who can and will reverse the curse!

   2. Will you make God your confidence and strength?

Ending the Year Spiritually

Introduce the idea of ending the year spiritually.

I'm going to read a very challenging passage—hard to understand—and make some points. Hopefully you can get familiar with this passage and be inspired by the things Jesus taught.

Two things I thought we need right now:

1. Perseverance

   1. Finishing the Semester well

   2. Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically (literally 'from the soul'), as something done for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the Lord—you serve the Lord Christ.

   3. Maybe tonight can remind you of who you're living for?

2. Godliness

   1. Preparing to be faithful over the Christmas break

   2. What are going to be some challenges, obstacles, trials?

   3. What are going to be some opportunities?

      1. For spiritual growth and just for enjoyment

I thought of this passage because Jesus talks about Ending Spiritually, so I think it is a helpful thought to Ending Your Year Spiritually

Text: Luke 21:1-36

1. Jesus has awesome spiritual vision

1. 2Peter 1:8-9 talks about being "nearsighted and blind" when we're not growing

2. There is more predicted than we can possibly be totally sure about; we know:

   1. Destruction of Jerusalem (predicted by Jesus because the order of Luke and then Acts)

   2. Prediction of the Christians escaping (vs.20)

   3. Great persecutions (which started after this book, and after the book of Acts—see Foxes Book of Martyrs for more detail)

   4. Second Coming and Redemption

      1. What did "the day of the LORD mean to the Jews"?

3. Jesus made connections—to a first-century Jew mindset

   1. They had all kinds of imagery of a heroic savior—probably like Super Man--

      1. A Messiah leading them into an age of glory for God's people, where it was a Utopian empire

      2. These images related to them in more ways than us

4. Jesus connects with us in some ways more with vss.33-36

   1. These are the words we trust in!

   2. This more than anything helps us persevere!

1. Jesus speaks honestly

   1. There will be challenges if you follow me—there is a cross we must bear!

   2. But we have such an opportunity to be useful for His glory and the salvation of many others

   3. Vs.19 by endurance you will gain life!

2. Jesus promises to be there with us

   1. Verses 13-19

   2. Give you exactly what you need to say—

      1. Use it as a testimony—opportunity to witness!

      2. Make connection with them being with family members

   3. Why did disciples die so heroically and even at times joyfully?

      1. I believe it was because Jesus was right there with them!

3. Jesus promises redemption

   1. Vs.13 – I just love that expression of safety—it is like a Dad would say

   2. Vs.27 has a connection with the apocalyptic imagery of Revelation 1:7 and Daniel 7:13

   3. What a glorious statement in vs.36 "stand before the Son of Man"

In prayer today I thought through Ending the Year spiritually. I'm going to need to devote much more prayer to it. One thing I thought was how far our Campus Ministry has come over the last year. I just thought how much I love you all! It is such a joy being together and sharing in one another's lives! It's not over, but it has been a great year! I thought: where will we be a year from now? I think life is special when you look forward to growing together with people.

I was a little emotional thinking of God's joy to want to spend time with us. God longs to purify our hearts so we can enjoy our relationships with Him. God is looking forward to the next 1, 2...5, 10, 20 (not years) but millennium!

Let's not be like the world, but let's gain a more perseverance and a more godly focus going into the New Year!