Isaiah 45:9
Striving against God is a losing battle that invites disaster and rejects the only hope for eternal salvation.
Chuck Smith emphasizes that striving against God ultimately harms ourselves, as God desires a better path for our lives and loves us deeply, wanting us to be with Him eternally. He warns that resisting God invites disaster, as Christ is the only answer for our sins, and rejecting Him means rejecting our only hope. Smith highlights that fighting against God is futile, as He has rightful claims over us through creation, redemption, and preservation, reminding us of our weakness in comparison to His power.
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STRIVING WITH GOD
I. TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD IS TO FIGHT AGAINST YOUR OWN GOOD.
A. God has a better way for your life.
B. God always calls to a better way.
C. God loves us more than we can realize.
1. He wants us eternally with Him.
2. He gave His son so we might be.
II. TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD IS TO INVITE DISASTER.
A. Christ only answer for our sin.
1. Sins not forgiven by Christ must be punished in hell.
B. To reject Christ is to reject only hope.
1. God has made only ONE provision for our sins.
a. He refuses all substitutes good as they might be.
III. TO FIGHT AGAINST GOD IS TO FIGHT A LOSING BATTLE.
A. God has three claims on us.
1. He made us.
2. He sent His son to redeem us.
3. He has preserved us to accept His grace.
a. You owe your very existence.
B. Who is man to strive with God?
1. How pitifully weak we are beside Him!
C. To win is to lose!
Read Ezekiel 7:8,9.
Sermon Outline
- To Fight Against God
- To Fight Against God is to Invite Disaster
- To Fight Against God is to Fight a Losing Battle
- God has three claims on us
- Who is man to strive with God?
- To win is to lose!
Key Quotes
“God has a better way for your life.” — Chuck Smith
“Christ is the only answer for our sin.” — Chuck Smith
“To win is to lose!” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Recognize God's better way for your life and accept it.
- Acknowledge Christ as the only provision for your sins.
- Understand that fighting against God is a futile effort that will ultimately lead to loss.