God created for his pleasure

Revelation 4:11 (KJV) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and

were created.

Jesus worth our ransom

• Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV) 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

We must be directed

• Jeremiah 10:23 (ESV) I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

• Daniel 4:28-33 (ESV) 28 All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30 and the king answered and said, “Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?” 31 While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, “O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32 and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” 33

Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar. He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.

The King Restored

• Daniel 4:37 (ESV) Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.

The pattern

• God directs our steps• We have been bought with a price and belong

to Jesus.

Scripture is important

• 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Bible Authority

• Command• Acts 10:48 (ESV) And he commanded them to be

baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days. 2 Thessalonians 3:6 (ESV) Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

Bible Authority

• Example• Philippians 4:9 (ESV) What you have learned

and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

• 1 Corinthians 11:1 (ESV) Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

Bible Authority

• Example• Acts 20:7 (ESV) On the first day of the week,

when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight.

Bible Authority

• Necessary inference• Matthew 3:16 (ESV) And when Jesus was

baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;

• Down in water suggest submersion.