The God's Thoughts and Ways

Isaiah 55:8-9
The Lord said, “My thoughts and My ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and My ways are higher than yours.”

God’s thoughts are not our thoughts.
God’s ways are not our ways.

His thoughts and ways are higher than our.

His thoughts and ways are better than ours.

Then why don’t we base how we live on God’s thoughts and follow His ways in our daily living?

I have seen three reasons that people don’t follow God’s ways.
They don’t know what God’s thoughts and ways are - Ignorance.
They are struggling to understand God’s thoughts and follow God’s ways - Confusion.
They don’t want to know God or follow Him - Apathy.

The solution to the first is to ask God. In James 1:5 we are told, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

The solution to the second is to seek God. In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

The solution to the third is repentance and transformation. We have to want God and to know Him. That is not an automatic thing. We have to turn from living life based on our desires and turn to Jesus and living life based on His desires. The turning is our choice and the living based on Jesus’ desires is God transforming you.

So what are God’s thoughts and ways?

First is AVAILABLE.

Isaiah 55:6-7
Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is yet near. Let the wicked abandon their ways and the sinful their schemes. Let them return to the Lord so that He may have mercy on them, to our God, because He is generous with forgiveness.

We are commanded to:
Seek God while He may be found
Call on God while He is near

This passage implies that there are times when God cannot be found and when he is not near.

We have grown up in the American church being taught that God is available whenever we want Him or when we are ready for Him.

I believe that is a lie.

In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose Me, but I choose and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”

In John 14:6 Jesus says, “No one come to the Father except through Me.”

We come to God:
Through Jesus
On God’s Terms
On God’s Timetable

We are blessed by God:
Through Jesus
On God’s Terms
On God’s Timetable

We don’t relate to God based on our terms, but based on His.

Second is FORGIVING.

Psalm 103:10-12
He has not punished us as we deserve for all our sins, for His mercy toward those who fear and honor Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west.

God is a loving and forgiving God.

God’s love is unconditional.

God’s forgiveness is NOT!

David outlines conditions for God’s forgiveness in Psalm 103:13, 17-18.

Verse 13: The Lord is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

Verses 17-18: But the love of the Lord remains forever with those who fear Him. His salvation extends to the children’s children of those who are faithful to His covenant, of those who obey His commandments.

God forgives those who:
Acknowledge Their Sin
Repent of Their Sin
Obey Him

God loves us no matter what.

God forgives us when we turn to Him in confession and repentance.

Third is FAITHFUL.

1 Corinthians 1:9
God faithfully keeps His promises. He called you to be partners with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Timothy 2:13
If we are not faithful, He remains faithful, because He cannt be false to Himself.

God will never go back on any of His promises. God will not back off His promise to bless or His promise to not bless.

God will always do what He says He will do.

Psalm 145:13
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all His promises and faithful in all He does.

You can count on God.

Fourth is HOLY.

1 Peter 1:15-16
But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

We are commanded to be holy. What does that mean?

Holiness has two aspects to it.

One is separation. We are to be separated to God for His purposes and His alone. We are not to be focused on our will but on God’s will. We are to be focused and living to do God’s will exclusively.

Two is moral excellence. We are to live according to God’s values and standards not the values and standards of this fallen world.

We are to live holy!

Fifth is TRUTHFUL.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

Everything Jesus said was true.
Everything Jesus did was right.

The Word of God is absolute truth with no error.

Anything that disagrees with God and His Word is wrong, it is a lie.

Lies lead to captivity.
Truth leads to freedom.

John 8:31-32,36
He said to the Jews who believed, “If you keep and obey My Word, then you are My followers for sure. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.”
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free for sure.”

If anything in your life disagrees with Jesus or His Word, it should have no place in your life. You need to get rid of it.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about acknowledging that God’s thoughts and God’s ways are better than our thoughts and ways.

If you want a life that has
Purpose
That is Full
That is Eternal

The only way is God’s way.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about coming to Jesus and letting His thoughts and ways be what you base your daily living on.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus gives us the invitation of a lifetime. He says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Look at that invitation.
Come to Jesus
Get Away with Jesus
Walk with Jesus
Keep Company with Jesus

The results are
Rest
Grace
Freedom

So come to Jesus and let His thoughts be your thoughts.
So come to Jesus and let His ways be your ways.

With Jesus’ Thoughts and In Jesus’ Ways Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
Joe