The issue of dependence is a difficult piece for a nation of people known for independence. The very foundation of our country was laid in the idea of independence. We fought for it. We gave our lives for it as a nation. And yet somewhere along the way, as with all things that start well, we lost our way. Independence was never meant to be an excuse to not trust God. Are you depending on God in your everyday life?
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Episode Notes
Living Life Independent of God is Never a Good Thing.
- This issue of dependence is a difficult piece for a nation of people known for independence.
- Christianity is a dependent lifestyle not independent.
- Independence of God and reliance upon one’s own abilities do not mesh with Kingdom of Heaven theology.
Your Life’s Race Requires Help from on High
- That help must be received by faith.
- The phrase the ‘just shall live by faith is mentioned 4 different times in scripture.
The Psalmist and Dependence
- Notice the two words “my God”… in you I trust.
- Plug this phrase into the situations of your life and ask yourself, “Do I trust Him, do I depend upon Him in every situation.
- Jacob prayed a ‘my God’ prayer in Gen. 28.
- The psalmist took him unconditionally as ‘my God’ first.
- Jacob’s declaration was only conditional.
- His prayer was the classic “I am in trouble, God if you get me out of it, I will never do that again prayer” that people often pray when they are neck deep in troubles.
- Look at what Jesus said about dependence.
John 5:30 (ESV)
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
- This is actually your true day of independence when you actually realize that you can do nothing apart from Him.
John 15:5 (ESV)
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Blessed are the Poor in Spirit
Matthew 5:2 (ESV)
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Poor in spirit means ‘Blessed are you when you are poor in spirit or totally bankrupt’.
- If you are bankrupt, you are unable to pull anything off.
- You have no resources.
- All of which makes you ‘dependent’ person rather than independent.
- We are to be dependent on God just as Jesus was dependent on His father.
- To the degree that you live independent of God, to that degree your Christian life is unsuccessful.
- Lack of dependence is an early warning sign of a failing Christian life.
Dependence or ‘Poor in Spirit’ is A Place of Realization for Salvation
- ‘Poor in spirit’ speaks loudly of dependence’ for salvation.
- Jesus is simply saying, ‘you need to come to a place of realization that you do not have the resources to save yourself.’
Dependence or ‘Poor in Spirit’ is A Place of Realization for Life after Salvation
- ‘Poor in spirit’ speaks loudly of dependence’ for lifestyle Christianity
- You do not start out ‘poor in the spirit’ in the new birth acknowledging that you are bankrupt and then become ‘rich in the flesh’ by your own abilities.
- If you don’t have the resources to start this Christian life, you certainly don’t have the resources to walk any part of it.
The Danger of the ‘Self-Help’ Message
- The information coming through ‘self-help’ channels is not on the same level as the truth of God’s Word.
- God does not need help from the ‘self-help’ community in order to ‘fix’ His children.
Dependence and Our Physical Health
- The same thinking applies in the area of our physical health.
- Here is a Bible example of a person who by passed the Lord in the area of his physical health.
2 Chronicles 16:12 (ESV)
12 In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was diseased in his feet, and his disease became severe. Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.
- This is the independence piece seen in the life of Asa.
- It speaks of a lack of dependence
- It speaks of the flesh rising up and saying, I can do this myself.
What Is the Message of Dependence?
- ‘Faith in God’ is a primary expression of dependence.
- Dependence on God is a spiritual attitude and one that you must practice until it becomes a ‘holy habit’.
- It starts with the spiritual attitude of knowing that you are incapable of producing results on your own’.
A New Testament Bible Examples of a Lack of Dependence
- The church of Laodecia
Revelation 3:14–17 (ESV)
14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. 15 “ ‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
- Notice the word ‘realizing’ in verse 17.
- Laodicean believers should have realized their state
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Question: In what particular area have you depended solely upon the Lord for His help?
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