Sermon Tone Analysis

Start with John Piper Video

Is God’s provision enough for you?

God promises to provide all that we need.

Illus: There is a massive divide between between what we think are needs, and what are actually needs.

We all “need” a smart phone.

Oh yes, we also need internet and netflix.

Regarding food, we need more than just the staples but organic staples or staples that fit our diets, and frankly we “need” a dietary supplement on top of food.

Oh we do need a place to live, but frankly our place to live has to be greater than four walls, a kitchen and a toilet, but instead need to be at the level of our peers or even of our parents.

We all need a certain size TV, a certain level of truck, a certain rifle, a certain golf club, a certain tablet, you get the point.

We pervert the word need to justify buying things that that are not really needs.

When God says that he will provide your needs, he means your needs, not you perceived fake american needs.

God does not exist to enable us to worship the idol of materialism.

Illus: There is a ideology which is not the gospel that pretends to be the gospel here in America.

It is called the prosperity gospel.

The prosperity gospel is a fake gospel that leads people away from Jesus.

It teaches that if you follow God, He will give you your material desires, your career aspirations, your best life now.

It is when we use God for self help, good vibes, motivation devoid of the cross of Christ.

One prominent prosperity preacher said, “I think the scripture teaches us that we can pray for our dreams pray for the big things.. he's not a small God, this God is incredible,”

Sounds good, doesn’t it?

Deep within our own selfish desire we want God to fill our wants and desires as if his is a blessing gumball machine.

This kind of false teaching takes our selfish materialistic idolatry and turns God into a divine sugar daddy.

I have seen this foolishness everywhere I have served, and it is an epidemic here in the miss-lou.

Our being drawn to this shows deeply that we share the sin of the Israelites, God should satisfy our souls, but instead we look for our own cheap desires to satisfy us.

Are you a complainer?

Complaining exposes a heart unsatisfied by God.

Illus: Lets just get this out there.

We are ALL complainers.

We all look around at what does not satisfy our expectations and will let others know what is wrong .

The problem is not just complaining, it is the heart underneath the complaint.

Think with me for a moment, we are living in the single most opulent time in the history of the world and we complain more than any other time in the history of the world.

Lets talk church for a moment…

We argue about worship style, need more conveniences, demand tailor made programs...

As a church we work harder and harder adding conveniences to keep you coming back...

All the while there is a elephant in the room we are not dealing with.

If you are coming to church because of the music style, if you come to church because of the conveniences they offer, if we must constantly add or more preferential treatment to keep you coming back, then what satisfies your soul and leads you to church is not the transformation of God.

You are unsatisfied with God and looking for the style/building/programs/preferences of the church to fill a void only God can fill.

There is a difference between provision and preference.

Illus: If God satisfies you and he provides what you need, then what do you really have to complain about.

Will you take some time to watch and see what you complain about.

When you see yourself about to complain ask yourself… is this a preference, or a need?

More importantly what does this show about the contentment of my heart?

Does God really satisfy me, or am I looking for satisfaction in this preference.

An attitude of ingratitude angers God.

You can’t worship your preferences and also worship God.

Illus: I have a challenge for you starting this week.

Starting this Wednesday March the 6th and going all the way till Easter on April the 21st, I want you to go without.

I want you to find something that you would genuinely miss in your life and give it up.

There is a question I want you to answer as you give up something that you miss, does God satisfy you, or do you look for secondary “needs” to satisfy you?

Will you take the challenge to go without, will you allow God to define what really satisfies you?