Just A Taste Series

• I understand we have a lifetime of experience in failure, flesh, sin, habits and attitudes.

• But I also know the most powerful force in the universe is working on me.

• If you are saved, the most powerful force in the universe is working on you.

• Paul wasn't complimenting the Philippians when he said, "Php 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."

• Paul wasn't looking at the Elijah and Moses in the lives of these believers.

• He was looking at the one who began the good work with faith that He will sustain it.

• We are certainly not to give up on ourselves when it comes to those habits.

• Most of the time, God has to bring us to the end of ourselves before He can be our victory.

• That means God has to defeat us in order to share His victory with us.

• That is discouraging at the moment.

• I want to believe that I am strong enough to handle some things.

• I want to believe I can stand against some temptations.

• However, I am never stronger than when I turn it over to God.

• When I focus on my law and my truths, I miss the Redeemer.

• We are certainly not supposed to give up on each other.

• I have a friend who did not give up on me. He wanted to beat me up a few times.

• I was frustrated, and when I get frustrated, I get short and cynical.

• This friend would say, "Tim, quit it. Tim, quit it."

• But this friend prayed for me. He made no excuses for me. And he never gave up on me.

• This friend confronted me and kept loving me, trusting that God was working.

• God used this friend to show me my self-reliance and the subsequent failure.

• Never say, "Things will never change with that person."

• One of these days, that cloud of the Shekinah glory of God will cover them and they will hear the voice of God speaking, if you continue to love, confront and pray for them.

• I must press on.

• Just remember that those little victories are just a taste of what God is doing.

II. The Providence: Don't presume to understand what is happening at the time.

• The disciples must have thought at the moment they saw Elijah and Moses, "Wow, I knew Jesus was special, as special as any of our heroes in the faith."

• It's kind of fun to snicker at them, but we do the same thing.

• If you are like me, you want to understand right now what God is doing.

• One of Satan's tricks is to flatter us into thinking we know what's going on.

• 1Co 4:5 Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

• I don't think there is anything wrong with trying to understand what God is doing.

• I think that is part of our God-given nature.

• But we must remain humble in realizing that we only see a portion of the picture.