Stay on track - 1
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2 – Stay on track = drive – even if it’s the slow lane
2 – Stay on track = drive – even if it’s the slow lane
Theme: Spiritual enthusiasm, motivation, spiritual “drive”
- unforgettable fire, passion, drive, zeal.
After you find that God DOES have a plan for your life
After you have found the ENTRANCE ramp to start your journey.
Now is the time to STAY on track until you reach your destination.
Along the way, you will be faced with many challenges to slow down, stop or even turn around, but if you will determine in your heart to fulfill God’s plan for your life, you will fulfill your destiny!
You may start out in the SLOW LANE of life, but consistency brings victory!
Stay FOCUSED on God’s Will – Kingdom FIRST
Stay FOCUSED on God’s Will – Kingdom FIRST
· We are all placed on this earth to live for God. Everything else in our lives stems from that truth.
· “On track” means to put God first
· I am a child of God serving as a ________.
What Do You Do?
God has called me in Jesus Christ. I am a lawyer, a salesman, or an accountant to earn a living,
· At this point on your journey, you have found God’s will for your life and have agreed to follow it seriously. You have taken the steps to find the right entrance ramp and now you find yourself on the highway of life. You should notice that there are many others driving along the same freeway as they too seek to fulfill God’s plan for their lives as well.
· This is kingdom living as it should be – many cars but no traffic jams!
· Everyone is moving along at full speed ahead!
· This is God’s plan for you and all His children – for us all to “make it to the other side”, just like Jesus did in order to minister to the needy and to freely give away what God had freely given Him.
Be “Driven” by Godly Ambition
Be “Driven” by Godly Ambition
· Ambition is desire for success
· Transmission analogy – get in gear!
· It’s time for the church to Shift in to DRIVE gear and move forward!
· This is what you were made for!
23 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Be ambitious for Christ
Godly ambition is not pride
humility does not mean UN-ambitious
Ambition and being DRIVEN will KEEP you on track –
· despite the many challenges you will face as you endeavor to finish your race in God.
· Godly ambition, fueled by knowing who you are in Christ, will keep you moving despite the naysayers, bad reports, challenging times, wet blankets, odds, doctor’s reports, family history, or public opinion
Too fast – Avoid the need for speed – competition
Too fast – Avoid the need for speed – competition
· If we lose focus of God’s TIMING for our lives, we can develop an unhealthy desire to “keep up” with the Jones’s
· We get ourselves into trouble when we get our eyes off the map and onto other drivers.
· Other drivers who seem to have nicer cars, going faster than you, GETTING AHEAD in life.
· Don’t allow your zeal for God turn into a competition with others. – such as the size of your house, bank account, family, church…
· If we’re not careful, we will find ourselves racing against our coworkers, neighbors, competition, businesses, national statistics that say where you should be by now, or parent’s expectations (even after they are gone).
· We do not need to PROVE anything to anyone – except God
· The outward behavior displays the inward attitude.
· A competitive spirit seeks to “Show the” who is the best, smartest, badd-est, most anointed, most successful, etc.
· Over zealousness can lead to compromise – lying, stealing, cheating
3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Don’t be OVERLY “Driven”
Don’t be OVERLY “Driven”
· It is good to be motivated and ambitious, but don’t let it get too far – even in ministry.
· There are dangers of becoming overly “Determined” in our attitude, impulsive in our decisions, obsessive in our behavior, preoccupied with the prize
· When driving, some people become obsessed with arriving at their destination –
· They are so fixated on the destination that they will not stop for anything along the way, including food, exercise, or even the bathroom.
· To them, the track becomes only a means to an end.
· As a result, they miss the scenery, and do not enjoy the journey.
· God wants us to enjoy everyday life!
· Finish your race with a smile on your face!
· Your race is important, but God is still on the throne!
· Self-exam: are you enjoying your journey with God?
Too slow – Coasting will Cost you – time
Too slow – Coasting will Cost you – time
· neutral – continue = don’t settle for coasting
· Neutral - coast through life
· Many believers seem to take a “neutral” position on even important topics of marriage, gender, salvation, and even who Jesus is
· Excuse 2 – tired – coasting – neutral – going through motions
· Church as usual
Illustration: Eli’s last days
Eli grew fat and vision grew dim
18 When the messenger mentioned what had happened to the Ark of God, Eli fell backward from his seat beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and overweight. He had been Israel’s judge for forty years.
Don’t doze off at the Wheel of Life
Don’t doze off at the Wheel of Life
Dozing – tired - Don’t grow weary
· Not every driver has their eyes glued to the road for the entire trip
· Hours have gone by
· As the miles wear on, the novelty wears off
· We are not as excited or as serious as we were when we first embarked on our journey with God.
· We start to relax – not as alert as we once were – becoming familiar with the sights and sounds, routes
· Our first warning sign is when we no longer notice the signs along the way that we use to look for when the route was new.
· Boredom and monotony begin to set in if we are not careful
· We begin to ask questions about our trip: are we there yet?
· If we are not careful and stay alert, we can begin to DRIFT off course
· Illustration: Coffee icon on dash
Self-exam – Is God shaking you to wake you?
9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
· A REST stop is ok – but don’t live there
· A rest stop allows you to pull over for a while without getting completely off the highway