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Self-Sufficient or Self-Sufficient or Dependent?Dependent?• Rugged individualism and Rugged individualism and

pioneering spirit is part of pioneering spirit is part of the American storythe American story

• Gospel calls on us to Gospel calls on us to dependdepend on God rather than think we on God rather than think we are self-sufficient, Lk 9:23; are self-sufficient, Lk 9:23; Phil 4:13; Heb 13:5-6Phil 4:13; Heb 13:5-6– ““Self-sufficiency is a terrible place Self-sufficiency is a terrible place

to be, because it is the worst deceit to be, because it is the worst deceit you can bring on yourself. You need you can bring on yourself. You need God. You need God every minute of God. You need God every minute of your life.” your life.” (Dr. Joseph Stowell)(Dr. Joseph Stowell)

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Self-Sufficient or Self-Sufficient or Dependent?Dependent?

• To what or whom do you To what or whom do you turn in times of turn in times of abundance? In times of abundance? In times of scarcity?scarcity?• Whether in little or in Whether in little or in

much – our sufficiency is much – our sufficiency is of God, 2 Cor 3:5; Phil of God, 2 Cor 3:5; Phil 4:10-134:10-13

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The danger of forgetting The danger of forgetting God, Deut 8:11-20God, Deut 8:11-20• May lose fear of God during May lose fear of God during

times of abundance, Psa times of abundance, Psa 106:6-15, 19-21106:6-15, 19-21

• Stubborn, unthankful Stubborn, unthankful hearts can develop toward hearts can develop toward God, Psa 78:5-11God, Psa 78:5-11

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The danger of trusting in The danger of trusting in self and material things, self and material things, Luke 12:15-21Luke 12:15-21• Ability to Ability to learnlearn

contentmentcontentment comes from comes from the challenges of both the challenges of both deprivationdeprivation and and prosperityprosperity, Phil , Phil 4:10-13; 1 Tim 6:6-104:10-13; 1 Tim 6:6-10

• In what do you put your In what do you put your trust?trust?

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The danger of self-The danger of self-indulgence, 2 indulgence, 2 Sam 11:1-2; Amos 6:1, 3-6Sam 11:1-2; Amos 6:1, 3-6• cf. Excesses of the cf. Excesses of the

“Roaring ’20’s” and the “Roaring ’20’s” and the restraint of the 1930’srestraint of the 1930’s

• Self-indulgence is Self-indulgence is characteristic of characteristic of forgetting God rather forgetting God rather than turning to God, Dan than turning to God, Dan 4:30; 5:204:30; 5:20

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SinSin reminds us we need God – reminds us we need God – Only God is sufficient to save Only God is sufficient to save us, Col 1:19-22 (Lk 15:17)us, Col 1:19-22 (Lk 15:17)•Only Jesus saves, Acts 4:12; 1 Cor Only Jesus saves, Acts 4:12; 1 Cor 15:55-5715:55-57• Unbelief is a mark of self-Unbelief is a mark of self-sufficiency, Psa 78:21-22sufficiency, Psa 78:21-22• By rejecting His plan of salvation, By rejecting His plan of salvation, Mark 10:17-22Mark 10:17-22• By refusing to obey Him, Deut 9:4-By refusing to obey Him, Deut 9:4-7; Eph 2:8-9; Heb 5:97; Eph 2:8-9; Heb 5:9

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SufferingSuffering reminds us we need reminds us we need God – Only God is sufficient to God – Only God is sufficient to see us throughsee us through• Suffer for His sake, Phil 1:29; 1 Suffer for His sake, Phil 1:29; 1 Pet 3:14; 4:12-14Pet 3:14; 4:12-14• Life’s sorrows, Eccl 3:1-8; Jas Life’s sorrows, Eccl 3:1-8; Jas 5:10-115:10-11• Suffering keeps us humble and Suffering keeps us humble and trusting in God, 2 Cor 12:7-10trusting in God, 2 Cor 12:7-10• Suffering teaches us empathy Suffering teaches us empathy and compassion, Heb 2:18; 4:15-and compassion, Heb 2:18; 4:15-16; 1 Jno 3:16-1716; 1 Jno 3:16-17

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The need for directionThe need for direction reminds reminds us we need God – Only God is us we need God – Only God is sufficient to guide us in truth, sufficient to guide us in truth, Jer 10:23; Jno 14:6Jer 10:23; Jno 14:6•God’s word a complete guide, Psa God’s word a complete guide, Psa 119:105-106119:105-106• Full assurance of understanding Full assurance of understanding in Christ (treasure of wisdom and in Christ (treasure of wisdom and knowledge are in Him), Col 2:2-3knowledge are in Him), Col 2:2-3• The self-sufficient arrogantly The self-sufficient arrogantly reject the truth, being deceived, reject the truth, being deceived, Col 2:4Col 2:4

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1313 Consider the work of God; For Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He who can make straight what He has made crooked? has made crooked? 1414 In the day In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other, So one as well as the other, So that man can find out nothing that man can find out nothing that will come after him. (Eccl that will come after him. (Eccl 7:13-14)7:13-14)

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•God fully supplies your needs God fully supplies your needs when you make room for Him when you make room for Him in you life, Phil 4:19in you life, Phil 4:19• Room for every good work, 2 Cor Room for every good work, 2 Cor 9:89:8• Room to endure suffering and be Room to endure suffering and be victorious over it with faith and victorious over it with faith and good courage, 2 Cor 1:3-good courage, 2 Cor 1:3-77•Only the “self-sufficient” Only the “self-sufficient” arrogantly say, “Where is their arrogantly say, “Where is their God?” Psa 115:1-3God?” Psa 115:1-3