SUGGESTIBILITYSUGGESTIBILITY

PSALM 23: PSALM 23: “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD , “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD , I SHALL NOT LACK…I SHALL NOT LACK…””

We ultimately associate pain with change. The pain does not come from the We ultimately associate pain with change. The pain does not come from the change. The pain comes because we did not change; we were not ready.change. The pain comes because we did not change; we were not ready.

1 Corinthians 10:7-81 Corinthians 10:7-8 says it this way, "And do not become idolaters as were some says it this way, "And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to of them. As it is written, 'The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to

play.' " When they were no longer focused on the journey, when they were going play.' " When they were no longer focused on the journey, when they were going nowhere, they sat down and looked for something to fill their sense of lack.nowhere, they sat down and looked for something to fill their sense of lack.When we stop moving we lose motivation, direction, purpose and restraint.When we stop moving we lose motivation, direction, purpose and restraint.

Too often when we sense dissatisfaction we look outwardly.Too often when we sense dissatisfaction we look outwardly.

We think that external change will satisfy the inner longings of the heart. This We think that external change will satisfy the inner longings of the heart. This is when people make irrational, destructive, and impulsive decisions, move, is when people make irrational, destructive, and impulsive decisions, move, change jobs, change mates or change churches. When they arrive at a new change jobs, change mates or change churches. When they arrive at a new external place, there is a short time of excitement and distraction from the external place, there is a short time of excitement and distraction from the

inner longings, but all too soon those pangs of dissatisfaction return.inner longings, but all too soon those pangs of dissatisfaction return. External change can never satisfy internal dissatisfaction.External change can never satisfy internal dissatisfaction.

Jam 1:13Jam 1:13 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one.

Jam 1:14Jam 1:14 But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). by his own evil desire (lust, passions).

Jam 1:15Jam 1:15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. when it is fully matured, brings forth death.

No one gets up one day and says I will go and commit some sin that will destroy No one gets up one day and says I will go and commit some sin that will destroy my future and steal all my hopes and dreams. Before we commit sin we need to my future and steal all my hopes and dreams. Before we commit sin we need to

get to a place that we believe this sin will meet a certain need in my life.get to a place that we believe this sin will meet a certain need in my life.

We don’t commit sin to create problems, we commit sin to solve problems.We don’t commit sin to create problems, we commit sin to solve problems.The emotional state that so distorts our thinking is the state of lack.The emotional state that so distorts our thinking is the state of lack.Before we look to sin to meet our need we must first feel the need.Before we look to sin to meet our need we must first feel the need.

We must have the feeling of lack. Tenacity is not victory. Tenacity and willpower We must have the feeling of lack. Tenacity is not victory. Tenacity and willpower are using the best of our own abilities they will last as long as we do not get are using the best of our own abilities they will last as long as we do not get

weary. Willpower means that we are still torn inwardly. We may not be doing it weary. Willpower means that we are still torn inwardly. We may not be doing it outwardly but when our emotions get the better of us we will give in to it.outwardly but when our emotions get the better of us we will give in to it.

Identification is no 1 in temptation. Our unbelief in the Love of God drives us to Identification is no 1 in temptation. Our unbelief in the Love of God drives us to sin. God does not drive you HE leads you. He is our shepherd not our tyrantsin. God does not drive you HE leads you. He is our shepherd not our tyrant

Psalm 23 “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD ……I SHALL NOT LACK…”Psalm 23 “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD ……I SHALL NOT LACK…”MSG - GOD, meant shepherd ….I don’t need a thingMSG - GOD, meant shepherd ….I don’t need a thing

The same is true for a human life. If we don’t know what we want, or where we The same is true for a human life. If we don’t know what we want, or where we are going, the story is boring. And worse, the protagonist makes terrible are going, the story is boring. And worse, the protagonist makes terrible

decisions.decisions.

If I offered you a penthouse condo in New York City worth millions and If I offered you a penthouse condo in New York City worth millions and stipulated that in order to claim it you had to drive across the country, would stipulated that in order to claim it you had to drive across the country, would

you be tempted by the offer of a run-down shack in the Midwest? The only way you be tempted by the offer of a run-down shack in the Midwest? The only way you’d be tempted by that is if I hadn’t offered you the condo.you’d be tempted by that is if I hadn’t offered you the condo.

When we don’t know where we are headed in life, we are vulnerable to When we don’t know where we are headed in life, we are vulnerable to temptation. A good character in a good story knows what they want…temptation. A good character in a good story knows what they want…