The way up is to get down!
This was our sermon on Sunday!
It’s the cure for…
“Give me!”
“Notice me!”
“Poor me!”
When it really should be…
“Search me!”
“Make me!”
It means…
Total surrender!
To Jesus!!
Two examples…
King Nebuchadnezzar
Daniel 4: 33-37
“Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled.
He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox.
His body was drenched with the dew of heaven
until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle
and his nails like the claws of a bird.
At the end of that time,
I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven,
and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High;
I honored and glorified Him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion;
His kingdom endures from generation to generation.
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing.
He does as He pleases with the powers of Heaven
and the peoples of the earth.
No one can hold back His hand or say to Him:
‘What have you done?’
At the same time that my sanity was restored,
my honor and splendor were returned to me
for the glory of my kingdom.
My advisers and nobles sought me out,
and I was restored to my throne
and became even greater than before.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,
praise and exalt and glorify the King of Heaven,
because everything He does is right
and all His ways are just.
And those who walk in pride He is able to humble.“
The Prodigal Son
Luke 15:11-24
Jesus continued:
“There was a man who had two sons.
The younger one said to his father,
‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’
So he divided his property between them.
Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had,
set off for a distant country
and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
After he had spent everything,
there was a severe famine in that whole country,
and he began to be in need.
So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country,
who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
He longed to fill his stomach with the pods
that the pigs were eating,
but no one gave him anything.
When he came to his senses, he said,
‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare,
and here I am starving to death!
I will set out and go back to my father and say to him:
Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son;
make me like one of your hired servants.’
So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off his father saw him
and was filled with compassion for him;
he ran to his son,
threw his arms around him
and kissed him.
The son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven and against you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants,
‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.
Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Bring the fattened calf and kill it.
Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
For this son of mine was dead and is alive again;
he was lost and is found.’
So they began to celebrate.”
We feel invincible…
It’s always all about us!
Through bad and good…
And finally figure out where happiness is found!
In the midst of sadness…
And that’s the upside of down!
It’s all switched around…
The upside of down!!
Don’t go back again…
His sunshine ends the rain!!
Don’t be a fair- weather friend!
Always!!!
We may be down…
godssceneryandpromises 