Message: “Why Do I Do What I Do?” from Pastor Joe

Why Do I Do What I Do? Lesson Objective:  General To look at the various reasons that motivate us to action Personal:  To examine myself to make sure that I have the right motivation Scripture:  James 4: 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions Introduction: What motivated you as a child? Candy or other rewards Spankings or threats Simply you were told ‘do it because I said so” What motivates us as a Christian Rewards from God -- Job 1: 9-11Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. 10“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face Threat of Hell- Revelation 21: 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Simply because God said it- Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. John 14: 25 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. Examples of motivations in the Bible. Eve motivated by wanting to be like God. Motivation can change the way we look at things. Genesis 3:  4-6  “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it Saul motivated by what he and the people  saw as good and wanting to please others.  1 Samuel 15: 7-9  Then Saul attacked the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, near the eastern border of Egypt. 8 He took Agag king of the Amalekites alive, and all his people he totally destroyed with the sword. 9 But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves[b] and lambs—everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed. David motivated by defending the name of God. 1 Samuel 17: 36-37 our servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God.37 The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”  David did not see a giant but an adversary of God. Rahab motivated by love of family Joshua 2: 12-13  “Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”   Hebrews `11:31  By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient Abraham and Lot Genesis 13: 9-11Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.” 10 Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company:  Lot motivated by greed and what he could see..  Abraham motivated  by generosity and faith.   Conclusion What motivates us? Money  -  1 Timothy 6: 10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. Praise of people Praise of men – Mathew 6: 5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.   Ego Luke 18: 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. Glory of God 1 Peter 4: 11  If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.      

Scripture References: James 4:3

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From Series: "Sunday Service"

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