• God’s leadership of us demands we KNOW HIM and TRUST

Psalm 37:3 (NLT), Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Luke 8:11-15, ¹¹ This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. ¹⁴ The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

Why Blessing is Stolen

1. Satanic spirits rob us of potential blessings. (Luke 8:12)
2. Handling tests wrong rob us of potential blessings. (Luke 8:13)
3. Handling our hearts wrong rob us of potential blessing. (Luke 8:14)

How to Overcome a Drifting Heart

Hebrews 2:1-3, ¹ We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. ² For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, ³ how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?

Drift – pararrhueo – to carelessly drift off course

Ephesians 3:20-21; Leviticus 16; Deuteronomy 33:2; Acts 7:53; Hebrews 7:27

1. Don’t trust CULTURE.

Hebrews 2:1, We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.

Romans 12:2, Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

2. Don’t trust COMPANIONS.

1 Corinthians 15:33, Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

How to Develop a Trusting Heart

1. Fix your Thoughts on JESUS.

Hebrews 3:1-2, ¹ Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. ² He was faithful to the one who appointed him . . .

1 Timothy 1:18-19, ¹⁸ Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well, ¹⁹ holding on to faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.

Psalm 24:4-5

2. Welcome the HOLY SPIRIT’S Work.

Hebrews 3:7-8, ⁷ So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, ⁸ do not harden your hearts . . .

3. Connect within a GODLY COMMUNITY.

Hebrews 3:12-13, ¹² See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. ¹³ But encourage one another daily . . .