How Should We Approach Tomorrow?

How Should We Approach Tomorrow?

2 Tim. 4:1-8

How are we doing what we have planned to do for the Lord? Have we just set back and let others do what we need to do ourselves? Have we sought His help in our lives? Have we been too dependent on ourselves? Where do we stand today?

2 Timothy 4:1 - 8 ¹I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; ²Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. ⁶For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: ⁸Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Real question is…What are we going to do with today?

I. Power of a Prayerful Attitude as we approach each day (Like Abraham included God in his life) Gen. 17:1

Genesis 17:1 And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.

A. Seek out His help in guiding our lives. - Gen.21:33 - sought the Lord continually

Genesis 21:33 And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.

B. Scrutinize our position with God - Gen. 18:17; 23 - Asked a favor of God

Genesis 18:17 And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
Genesis 18:23 And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

C. Stand with the comfort that He cares and brings needed help - Gen. 22:8; Trusted God

Genesis 22:8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

D. Sincerely reach out to the One who will help you do what you need to do for Him !!!

II. Penalty for excluding His help in our lives (Esau was an example of an excluder)

A. Regularly miss the mark as to what God wants in our lives - Gen. 26:34-35 married two Hittites

Genesis 26:34-35 ³⁴And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite:
³⁵Which were a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah.

B. Real purpose in our life is lessened as we wander aimlessly - Gen. 25:27 - man of the fields

Genesis 25:27 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.

C. Reject His helping hand - which often causes guilt - Gen. 25:29-30 Never asked God for help

Genesis 25:29-30 ²⁹And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
³⁰And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

D. We live a life cheated if the many blessings that God wants to give to us! - Gen. 25:31 - 34 do we despise His blessings

Genesis 25:31-34 ³¹And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
³²And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
³³And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
³⁴Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

III. Prize of a CLOSER life with Him (Paul was ready to claim that prize)

A. Contentment in the fact that we are His - with that sweet peace it brings –. 1