The God Who Withholds?
Or the Real God Who Provides
Part of Counterfeits—Knowing the Real God
July 7, 2024

Greater Together is at Tusculum Tonight, July 7th

Members be sure to park next door at Shayne Elementary near the rear of the lot and use the path to walk through.

Matthew 7:6-12

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Is The Communication Getting Through?

For over a century, the Post Office had a department called the

Letter Office for mail which was truly undeliverable and indecipherable.

Some people question whether God might be withholding, and that either our

or God’s responses just aren’t getting through.

Regarding Pearls, Pigs, and Pups

Pigs had a reputation, both for being unclean, and for the fact that they didn’t

anything.
Dogs, and especially stray dogs, were known for being , growling at anyone friend or foe.

Your pearls are whatever is

to you.

As a child of God, sometimes you have to shake the

off your feet and move on.

Asking, Seeking, and Knocking

Prayer is not a form of

.

Our problem isn’t generally that we are too eager to ask for the

things, but that we aren’t eager enough to ask for the things.

07 The God Who Witholds July 7.010.png

This teaching isn’t about us expecting to receive everything we ask for, but that we could encourage those doubting, that God is listening, God is good, and God will

us.

“Expect great things

God.
Attempt great things God.”
William Carey, Missionary

To take seriously the demands of the Sermon on the Mount is also to take seriously God’s

to provide the help that we need.

Golden Rule Variations

Socrates: “Do not do to others what would anger you if done by others to you.”
Epictetus: “What you would avoid suffering yourself, seek not to impose upon others.”
Hinduism: “Do not do to others what you would not have them do unto you.”
Yoruba Proverb from Africa: “One going to take a pointed stick to pinch a baby bird should first try it on himself to feel how it hurts.”

Expressed as a negative principle, you could practice this teaching by doing

.
Jesus instead urges us toward .

Because life is

and our opportunities are fleeting, we should commit ourselves to what will honor God and people.