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Who Will Meet My Needs? The Gospel in Today’s Culture - Part 5 Philippians 4:11-19 Our Culture’s Focus lWe have developed and nurtured a culture of “ME” –Our litigious reaction to
injury or insult is based in a rights-centered mentality –Our lust to have even the
smallest “need” met instantly has made us prey to the enemy l1 John 2:16 –Even our greed stems from
this base motivation –Our relationships are
initiated by “what can she (or he) do for me?” lThe relationship soon deteriorates due to
resentment at being manipulated! lEntire countries go to war because the “rights” of certain groups or individuals are violated Three Categories of
“Needs” lPhysical – Matthew 6:31-32; 1 Tim. 6:6, 8 –Food –Clothing –Shelter lSoulish
(Mind, Will, Emotions) – Eph. –Security lKnowing you are unconditionally, permanently loved
(agape) –Significance lLasting, positive, meaningful impact on the lives
of those you care for lBuilding legacy of Truth into future generations lSpiritual – Matthew 5:6; Philippians 4:11-19 “Religion” Seeks to
Meet Four Needs The Desire for
Knowledge lSo many questions – so few satisfying answers! –Why? How? When? Who? lTheism: God (or gods) have or will communicate the
answers lBuddhism: Enlightened people will discover the
answers lDeism: Don’t ask!
Seek peace instead of answers lIn the Bible God tells us to seek wisdom –Proverbs 1 & 2 –Wisdom: Seeing my
situation from God’s perspective lThe Gospel is the communication of God’s truth to an ignorant and foolish world –1 Corinthians 1:20-24 lWe find the way to “knowledge” and Truth in Scripture –2 Timothy 3:16-17 lWe find the basis for all knowledge and wisdom in Christ Himself –Hebrews 1:1-2 The Desire for
Community lNote the redefinition of family in our culture. lNote also the “hyphenation” of our society –“I am an
____-American!” –“I am a born-again
Christian!” lIs there another kind? lIn a dizzyingly expanding world of media & communications, there is a gnawing desire to belong lFor Christians, the Church touches this need – Phil. 4:10 –Acts 2:41-47; –Most people who leave a
church do so due to a break in fellowship, not a dispute over
doctrine, etc. –Philippians 2:1-4 –Not only is our fellowship found in the
Church, but our identity is found in Christ Himself lActs 17:28; Colossians 2:9-10 The Desire for
Freedom from Guilt lEvidence: lThe Bible says: our awareness of sin is caused by our common guilt in Adam –Romans 5:12-21 –We are by nature sinners
(Rom. lGuilt vs. Conviction –Guilt can be a tool of
Satan to keep you away from God –Conviction is a ministry
of the Holy Spirit to restore you to fellowship with God – John 16:8, 1 John
1:9 lThe cure for guilt: –Confession! (1 John 1:9) l“Confess” = agree with - say the same thing as God
says about your sin lEzra 9:6-7, 13-15 lDaniel 9:3-17 lPsalm 51:10-13 –Repentance! (2 Chron. 7:14; Luke 13:3-5) The Desire for
Eternal Life lEvery belief system and philosophy seeks to establish a legacy that lasts beyond our mortal lifetime. lMajor world religions all strive to deal with eternity –Hinduism/Buddhism:
reincarnation – getting it right the next time; achieving nirvana –Islam: 100 levels of
heaven, where you will be depends on your works –Modern Judaism: peace and
tranquility at last! lThe Christian hope for more than a meaningful earthly legacy by which they are remembered –Hope is resting on the promises
of God –Faith is acting on the commands
of God –Grace is the power to accomplish the will of God lGod has provided the Way to Eternal Life –John 3:16-18 –John 14:6 –John 17:3 –Acts 4:10-12 lThe Life of Contentment –Paul learned that if he
was rightly related to God his needs would be fully met Phil. 4:11, 13 –Our circumstances no
longer dictate our attitude toward life or toward others –Colossians 2:9 – we need
nothing else besides Christ Himself – we are complete!! –Paul also learned that as
we seek to meet the needs of others our own needs are fully met – v. 19 –The “poor” churches in lWhen Jesus is Lord we find true contentment |
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