ME VS. GOD

2 CORINTHIANS 5:9-10

2 C O R I N T H I A N S 5 : 9 - 1 09 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

2 C O R I N T H I A N S 5 : 9 - 1 010 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

1. What happens at the root level impacts the tree.

1. What happens at the root level impacts the tree.

2. People are like trees.

1 . T H E R O O T S Y S T E M O F PA U L

2 . T H E R O O T O F T H E R O O T S Y S T E M O F PA U L

1 . THE ROOT SYSTEM OF PAUL

2 C O R I N T H I A N S 5 : 99 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

Key Phrase, “Whether we are at home or away.”

2 C O R I N T H I A N S 5 : 88 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Home = With the Lord. Heaven.

Home = With the Lord. Heaven.

Away = This life now

2 C O R I N T H I A N S 5 : 99 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to Him.

ROOT SYSTEM OF PAUL: The ambition to please Christ in any and every situation.

J O H N 5 : 4 4 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

1 T H E S S A L O N I A N S 4 : 11 Finally then, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received from us how you must walk and please God—as you are doing.

ROOT SYSTEM OF :The Apostle John

1 J O H N 3 : 2 1 - 2 221 Dear friends, if our conscience doesn't condemn us, we have confidence before God

1 J O H N 3 : 2 1 - 2 222 and can receive whatever we ask from Him because we keep His commands and do what is pleasing in His sight.

ROOT SYSTEM OF :King David

P S A L M 1 9 : 1 414 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

ROOT SYSTEM OF :Jesus

J O H N 8 : 2 8 - 2 928 So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.

J O H N 8 : 2 8 - 2 929 The One who sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.”

What is the overarching ambition of your life?

T H R E E R E A S O N S W H Y Y O U N E E D T H I S R O O T S Y S T E M : 1. The ambition to please God

will lead to fruitful decisions.

The Normal Decision Making Process:

The Normal Decision Making Process:a. Is what I want forbidden?

The Normal Decision Making Process:a. Is what I want forbidden?b. What is required of me?

The Normal Decision Making Process:a. Is what I want forbidden?b. What is required of me? c. What do I want to do?

Three Types of Decisions:• Sinful Decisions

Three Types of Decisions:• Sinful Decisions• Righteous and Fruitful

Decisions

Three Types of Decisions:• Sinful Decisions• Righteous and Fruitful

Decisions• Worthless Decisions

2 C O R I N T H I A N S 5 : 1 010 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

The Decision Making Process of Paul, Jesus, and John:a. What is forbidden?

The Decision Making Process of Paul, Jesus, and John:a. What is forbidden?b. What is required of me?

The Decision Making Process of Paul, Jesus, and John:a. What is forbidden?b. What is required of me? c. What do you want?

M A R K 1 4 : 3 636 And He said, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

P S A L M 5 1 : 1 6 - 1 716 You do not want a sacrifice, or I would give it; You are not pleased with a burnt offering.

P S A L M 5 1 : 1 6 - 1 717 The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.

T H R E E R E A S O N S W H Y Y O U N E E D T H I S R O O T S Y S T E M :2. The ambition to please

God will lead to practical holiness.

IDEA: Being alone and anonymous is the soil In which all kinds of sin grows.

2 S A M U E L 1 2 : 9 - 1 09 Why then have you despised the command of the Lord by doing what I consider evil? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife as your own wife—you murdered him with the Ammonite’s sword.

2 S A M U E L 1 2 : 9 - 1 010 Now therefore, the sword will never leave your house because you despised Me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own wife.

T H R E E R E A S O N S W H Y Y O U N E E D T H I S R O O T S Y S T E M :3. The ambition to please to

God will lead to amazing rewards in heaven.

2 . T H E R O O T O F T H E R O O T S Y S T E M O F PA U L

2 C O R I N T H I A N S 5 : 1 010 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

Why must we give an account?

Why must we give an account?a. Heighten our sense of grace.

Why must we give an account?a. Heighten our sense of grace.b. Reward to us.

M AT T H E W 6 : 1 9 - 2 119 Don’t collect for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.

M AT T H E W 6 : 1 9 - 2 120 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.

M AT T H E W 6 : 1 9 - 2 121 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

M AT T H E W 1 0 : 4 242 And whoever gives just a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple — I assure you: He will never lose his reward!

APPLICATION 1. Learn what is pleasing

to Him.

C O L O S S I A N S 1 : 9 - 1 09 For this reason also, since the day we heard this, we haven’t stopped praying for you. We are asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,

C O L O S S I A N S 1 : 9 - 1 010 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God.

• Knowledge of His will• Knowledge of His will in

all wisdom• Knowledge of His will in

all understanding

APPLICATION 1. Learn what is pleasing

to Him. a. Get knowledge: Read

the Bible.

"The data collected by CBE attest to many of these effects. For example, statistical analyses reveal that, controlling for other factors, such as age, gender, church attendance, and prayer, Christians who are engaged in scripture most days of the week have lower odds of participating in these behaviors:"

ê Getting drunk = 57% lower odds

ê Getting drunk = 57% lower oddsê Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds

ê Getting drunk = 57% lower oddsê Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds ê Pornography = 61% lower odds

ê Getting drunk = 57% lower oddsê Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds ê Pornography = 61% lower oddsê Gambling = 74% lower odds

ê Getting drunk = 57% lower oddsê Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds ê Pornography = 61% lower oddsê Gambling = 74% lower oddsê Nickelback Fan = 98% lower odds

ê Memorizing scripture = 407%ê Sharing faith with others = 228% higher odds ê Discipling others = 231% higher odds

APPLICATION 1. Learn what is pleasing

to Him. b. Get wisdom and

understanding: Get counsel and practice.

P R O V E R B S 1 9 : 2 020 Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise later in life.

APPLICATION 2. Learn to ask the question,

“What is pleasing to you?”