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DEUTERONOMY 18:13

"WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF ME?"

Intro: Becoming conscious of the Universe about me I become convinced of the fact that God
       exists. Man seems to be the highest order of creation, why?

I. WHAT DOES GOD WANT OF ME?  WHY DID HE CREATE?
        A. Question of primary concern and interest.
                1. Does life have a meaning or not? Purpose?
                        a. Why does life seem empty & unfulfilled?
                        b. Most physiological ills begin with frustration.
        B. God does have a plan for my life?
                1. To try to live apart from that plan leads to futility.
                2. The greatest, busiest life apart from God is empty.
                        a. Solomon lived a satiated life.
                                1. Wisdom.
                                2. Pleasure.
                                3. Works & possessions.
                                4. Wealth.
                        "And whatsoever my eyes desired, I kept not from them" - "Emptiness,
                        emptiness, all is emptiness & vexation".
                3. If you seek to leave God out of your life you're left with nothing.
        C. For my own good my own well being I must discover God's plan.

II. GOD'S IDEAL REQUIREMENTS ARE STATED IN THREE PLACES.
        A. Moses - Micah - Jesus
                1. "Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy God."
                2. "Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with God."
                3. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect".
        B. God requires perfection of me.
                1. Root word for sin -"missing the mark."
                2. Root word for perfection - hitting the mark.
                3. Standing in the ideal of Christ I become conscious of my guilt, I have
                   already missed.
                4. Even when I was trying to hit, I missed.
        C. I have failed God, I am a sinner. Is there any hope for me?
                1. The word Gospel means "good news."
                2. John 3:16.

III. WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF FAILING MAN?
        A. "What must we do to do the works of God?"
                1. This is a question of perennial interest.
        B. God has provided for my failures.
                1. He accepted the guilt of my weakness.
                2. He took the penalty of my sin.
                3. He died in my place, & God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.
        C. God now requires that I believe in His provision.
                1. "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him who He has sent".
                2. "That whosoever believeth in Him."

IV. WHEN I BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST WHAT HAPPENS?
        A. He comes into my life with power.
                1. "But as many as received Him to them gave power."
                2. He gives me ability to do what I could not previously do.
        B. He gives me a new nature.
                1. "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature".
                2. He imparts His nature to me.
        C. Through this new power & imparted nature I now discover grace to fulfill His will.
                1. God's ideal requirement remains the same. He now imparts to me the power
                   to obey.
        D. This ideal not achieved at once. "Brethren I count not myself to have
           apprehended neither am I perfect. "

My failures are now taken care of & I am on the right path and shall attain the goal . "Now
unto Him who is able."