Living Amazed

Look At Nature

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look (see) at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

So why do you worry about clothing? Consider (observe) the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:25-29

1. Birds never knew we had a Great Depression

2. Solomon could not outdress a flower

3. To worry puts you below the level of a flower or a bird.

4. Yet, you are more valuable than a flower or a bird (vs. 26).

   Jesus did not die for birds or flowers, but He did die for you.

5. There is a plan for nature. There must be a plan for you.

   a. God sustains nature every day.

   b. God has a plan for nature to be redeemed from its curse.

6. God has a daily plan for you and your future redemption.

7. You look past answers and only see problems.

8. Quit waiting for a prophecy from God, a sermon, or counsel.

   Look and consider what is always around you.

9. You cannot make a blade of grass or one petal of a flower. Why do you worry?

Our Body

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.” Psalms 139:14

1. Don’t look in the mirror to see the amazement of our bodies. We see only the zits, fat, blemishes, and wrinkles.

2. This is usually how we look at life.

Creation

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” Romans 1:20

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork.” Psalms 19:1

1. We have to shut our eyes and mind to think this all evolved.

2. As Christians, we walk by this every day and night and ignore it or take it all for granted.

3. We become used to the amazement of the universe, nature, and our bodies.

4. There are planets and stars above, snow-flakes around, and oceans and caves beneath us.

The Blessings Given To Us As God’s Family

“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” Psalms 103:2

1. Blessing God and remembering His benefits is a choice.

2. Keep a diary of your blessings, answered prayers, miracles.

Expect the Supernatural and Live Amazed as a Christian

1. We are the spiritual workmanship of the Lord in the new creation (Ephesians 2:10).

2. Things we cannot understand and seem are bigger than us bring amazement.

3. The supernatural brings amazement. We see what God has done that we cannot do.

   a. Matthew 12:22-23

   b. Mark 2:12

   c. Luke 9:43

4. Pray for the sick. Keep the supernatural part of your ministry

5. The disciples became familiar with God’s power - “send them away to buy themselves food.”

The Amazement of the Ark and Israel

1. The ark of the covenant was God’s presence.

   a. It went before the people daily and into battles.

   b. It was stolen by the Philistines and placed in the temple of Dagon.

   c. Yet the priests of Israel continued the daily service (1 Samuel 5).

   d. David, filled with newfound amazement, danced as he brought the ark back to Jerusalem after it was captured.

2. We need God’s presence daily in our life.

   a. Much of God’s glory has gone from the churches.

   b. Perhaps we have become too used to His presence.

3. We must not replace our amazement of the supernatural with common sense natural decisions.

4. We are shocked because the Democratic Convention had to vote to put God and Jerusalem back into their platform.

   a. Sometimes we need to put God back into our daily lives.

   b. When we lose the amazement of God, we lose the fear of Him (Psalms 55:19).

How Do We Regain Amazement - Our First Love?

See the Christian life through the eyes of new converts and those who have received a miracle.

Live Amazed as an American

1. We have lost amazement over our country.

2. We need to see the US through the eyes of new citizens and immigrants.

3. With all that is wrong with the world and our country, we still live in the best nation.

4. The rest of the world would gladly trade places.

5. Be amazed every day. Don’t wait until heaven.