What happened to the disciples that allowed them to go from failure to success?

I.  They were called to forget about their past.

John 21: 15 "When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs.”

Acts 1:4-5  "...“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts1:8  "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Matt. 28:18-20  "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

John 20:21  "Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

1. Introduction

2. Be confident in God, for He is righteous (2:17-3:6)

3. Be confident in God, for He is faithful (3:7-12)

4. Conclusion

The Problem: (vs. 13)

If God is a spring of living water, why do we keep drinking from broken cisterns?

    1) We’re too comfortable (vs. 7a)

Proverbs 26:11  “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.”

Psalm 135:15-18  “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.”

John 4:10  Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

    1) Sluggishness

Proverbs 26:15  “The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.”

Luke10:38-42  "As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

    1) Safe places.

Psalm 23:1-2  “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters”

Psalm 43:4  “Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the harp, 0 God, my God."

Ex. 20:8-11  "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.  For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy."

1)  Remember  (to rest on the Sabbath)
2)  Renounce (work during this time) Ex. 20:10
3)  Refresh - Ex. 31:17

Ex. 31:17 "It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he abstained from work and rested."

Psalms 62:1, 5   "My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him...Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;  my hope comes from him."

I. Introduction

    1. The challenge of a godly life

    2. Religious activities vs. a godly life

    3. 7 complaints of the Israelites:

        a.  Do you love me, Lord? (v. 1:2)
        b.  You ask too much!  (v. 1:6)
        c.  Your rules are too strict!  (v. 1:13)
        d.  You invade my privacy!
        e.  It is not fair!
        f.  The money I earned is dear to me.  (v. 3:8-12)
        g.  A godly life costs too much.

II. The problems of these complaints

    1. The reasons behind these complaints

        a. It is futile to serve God (3:13-15)
        b. There is no justice on earth (3:15)

    2. 2 different mentalities

        a. Consumer mentality (2:17; 3:14-15)
        b. Godly mentality

III. 6 reasons it is worth living a godly life

        1.  God will listen
        2.  God will remember
        3.  You belong to me. (v. 3:17)
        4.  God honors the people who serve Him.
        5.  God can distinguish what is right or wrong.
        6.  Eternal perspectives  (v. 4:2)

IV. Conclusion

 
Work is ...

• Creative


We reflect who God is like and act on His behalf  (v. 1:26, 28; 2:15, 19)
 

• Cursed


We have a purpose to sustain ourselves (v. 3:17-19; 2 Thes. 3:6-10)
 

• A response


Work is not a calling, but a response to follow Jesus (Lk. 14:26-27)