“You will not do incredible things without an incredible dream.” ~ John Eliott
Get in the Game!
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." ~ Teddy Roosevelt
Why You are Not Happy
Abrham Lincoln asserted, “Each man’s happiness is his own responsibility.”
Sensing the Spirit’s Movement
Jonathan Edwards said, "The task of every generation is to discover in which direction the sovereign Redeemer is moving, then move in that direction."
1 Chronicles 12:32 says, “The sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”
5 Kinds of Guidance
According to Psalm 32:8 God guides; but, what kind of guidance does He offer?
Divine Guidance “I”
Promised Guidance “will guide”
Personal Guidance “you”
Specific Guidance “in the way”
Optional Guidance “you should go”
How to be Blessed
Hearing God minus Obedience equals Deceived (James 1:22)
Hearing God minus Obedience equals Danger (Matthew 7:24-27)
Hearing God plus Obedience equals Blessed (John 13:17)
Consider the shallowness of saying, “I went to church today.” Making this claim sounds like the summon bonum is church attendance. While attending a place of worship is certainly desirable, let us acknowledge that merely hearing a sermon is not enough. In fact, if once listens to a Bible-based message without putting it into practice they are kidding themselves and putting themselves at risk.
Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
God’s word should be put into our minds and mouths, and then into put into action!
Staying Enthused in Your Impossible Ministry
According to 1 Peter 5 a preacher, in addition to standing up front and presiding, is to simultaneously do two things
Take care of the people of God, this is the essence of a pastor
The flock near you
Keep an eye on the big things, a guardian, keeper, this is the meaning of overseer
Watch out for danger
Guide them to good pastures
Peter then instructed the pastors how to do the impossible task of service and leadership, being a helper and a leader.
Show enthusiasm (willingly and eagerly). But how can I be passionate? Remember the following:
We serve the the flock that belongs to God
We serve the church that was purchased with the blood of Jesus, Acts 20:24
We serve the church where the Holy Spirit has appointed us
We serve the church for which we will be judged
Set the example
Good shepherds lead from the front
We are to serve the church like Jesus serves us, 1 Peter 2:25
Conclusion
We have a divine calling
We have a divine stewardship
We will have a divine judgment
We have divine inspiration
Four Ways to Feel Good about Yourself
Matthew 3 ends with the Heavenly Father announcing, “This is My Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus probably felt good about Himself. He had been baptized and was about to launch His public ministry. Then in chapter 4 the devil came crashing in with his temptations. Here are four ways to feel good about yourself, three devilish and one divine.
PLEASURES, v 3
POWER, v 6
POSSESSIONS, v 8-9
PROMISES, v 17
Worldly substitutes are short-lived (1 John 2:16-17). Jesus rejected the devil’s temptation. He knew the best and most enduring way to feel good about oneself is take God at His word and believe what He has said about you.
Prolonged Intimacy with God
David is considered the best of the Hebrew kings. How did he get to be such a great king? Psalm 27:4 gives us insight into his remarkable inner life.
One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple (Ps 27:4).
David wanted prolonged intimacy with God. “That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.” We should have a similar ambition. We should have communion with God, not just on Sundays, but everyday. Like Enoch we should walk with God. Like Paul instructed, we should keep in step with the Spirit.
Why is prolonged intimacy with God so important?
For the purpose of worship, “that I may behold the beauty of the Lord.” Like Solomon in the Song of Solomon we should be enraptured with our love for God. Smitten. Amazed. Ecstatic. Being lost in love with God is the best way to rise above the distasteful distractions of the world. Adoring God is how to increase faith.
For the purpose of guidance, “and to inquire in his temple.” We need the Lord’s wisdom for all of the many situations we face at home, work, school, and society. Gaining God’s perspective is how we renew our minds.
How do we attain prolonged intimacy with God?
Prioritize prolonged intimacy. Be single-minded. Don’t pursue many things. Make prolonged intimacy your one and only thing. David said he was after just, “One thing.”
Pray for prolonged intimacy. “I have desired of the Lord.”
Pursue prolonged intimacy. “That will I seek.” The Christian life requires faith and works. Enjoying prolonged intimacy with God will take effort, planning, and discipline.
Constant communion with God should be the aim of every born again believer. Like the branch and the vine described by our Lord in John 15, we want to be so intimately connected with God that we have enduring faith and fruitfulness.
The Healing of a Nation
Numbers 21:4-9
On their way to the Promised Land the Hebrews sinned and suffered God’s judgment (verses 4-6). Their predicament is similar to what America is currently experiencing.
How does a nation get back on the right path and enjoy God’s blessings again?
THERE MUST BE REPENTANCE OF SIN, v 7 “we have sinned”
THERE MUST BE FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE, v 8-9 see John 3:14-15