Why God Hates Umbrellas

Clint Ware: Why God Hates Umbrellas

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Why God Hates Umbrellas                                    

I. His Grace Is Much Like Rain (and he wants us to get soaked and stay soaked

A. Constantly poured out on all (I Tim 2:1-4)

1 st - Prevenient grace gives us a taste of what we were meant for

      2nd - Justifying grace washes away the filth of original sin when we trust Jesus

3rd - Sanctifying grace refreshes and renews believers as we grow

              ~ this is the active presence of God in our lives

              ~ God Renews All Christians Everyday 

             

B. The ``Means of Grace`` 

           ~ the ways God has revealed for us to get soaked

~ Works of Piety (everyday expressions of our love for God) 

Prayer, Searching the Scriptures, Holy Communion, Fasting, Christian Fellowship, 

Healthy Living, Christian reading

~Works of Mercy (everyday expressions of our love for God) 

             Doing Good, Visiting the Sick, Visiting the Imprisoned, 

Feeding & Clothing those in need, Earning + Saving + Giving all one can, 

Seeking Justice for all, Opposition to Oppression of the poor and outcast 

II. Those Things That Block the Rain (Isaiah 59:l-2)

           A. Isa 59:l - He is more than willing and able to:

                       ~ forgive and save us

                       ~ listen and hear our prayers 

           B. Isa 59:2 - Our sin creates a block or separation

                       ~ he hides his face and withdraws His presence

                       ~ he will not or does not or chooses not to hear

           C. Why would he do that? LOVE

                       ~ he knows sin is bad + sin hurts + not what is best

                       ~ he draws back to help us understand that we are headed the wrong way

III. A Closer Look at the Umbrella

A. Sins of Commission  ~ the stuff we do that we know he told us not to do

B. Sins of Omission ~ the stuff we don`t do when we know we should (James 4:l7)

IV.  How to Throw an Umbrella Away

A.      Decide that if God says it's bad . . . it is, and if God says its good . . . it is. 

                         ``Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,`` (Isaiah 5:20)

B. Ask to borrow his eyes (``help me to see the sin my life``)

C. Ask to borrow his heart (``help to hate my sin the way you do``)

~ GOD HATES SIN SO MUCH BECAUSE HE LOVES US SO MUCH

D. Now take a good honest look at your heart and life.

E. Trust that what God says about you is truer than what anyone else has ever said.

~ if he says you can be free from that sin then you can be (John 8:34-36)

F. Resist the devil, throw that umbrella away, and enjoy the rain every day.