More or Less: All In
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Recapp
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bold witness
faithful service
We think that there is something around the corner that will be better
we are waiting for another moment or point in our lives
Wishing the current season away
waiting for the next one to come
an achievement
possession
vacation
relationship
expecting something to fulfill me
We are pursuing what we want
dreams
passion
goals
Culture feeds this mindset
gratefy your self
get what you want
you deserve it
TREAT YOUR SELF
Jesus said it differently
If you want to be my disciple DENY YOURSELF
Take up your cross...
Don’t treat yourself
Deny yourself
Apostle Paul
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
laundry
errands
Much of my life is mostly for me
I do what makes me happy
feel good
my dreams
my desires
The prize isn’t out there somewhere
not in what you do occasionally
BUT
what you are doing daily
when you do it for the glory of God
What if...
The work is the reward
The prize is in the process
you can be grateful in the grind
This happens...
When you do it all for the glory of God
Apostle Paul humbly says
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
BUT by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me was not without effect
Some of you:
You have not always been good
but the grace of God was not without effect in you either
God has changed you...
Some of you have not always been good
but the grace of God has not had effect
because you have not allowed it into your heart
GOOD NEWS
you are at the right place at the right time
God’s grace is being extended to you today
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
The ESV Study Bible Chapter 15
God’s grace did not lead to passivity, however, for it prompted hard work on Paul’s part.
I worked harder
I wasn’t any good
the grace of God has transformed me
because of that I have worked hard
but it wasn’t me it was the grace of God at work thru me
I don’t think that he was bragging
I don’t think that he was complaining
I think that he was just stating the facts
Because of God’s grace upon me
I have given it a full effort to be obedient
Think of the sacrifices that Paul made
and then he says this
some people went to bed
he was up late
praying and planning
up earlier than the rest to get a start on the day
beaten
moved on
Ship wrecked
moved on
bitten by a poisonous snake
shook it off and moved on
others took the short cut
I always tried to do the right thing
memorized a lot of God’s Word
stored it in my heart
(wrote a lot of NT)
In prison
didn’t stop working
went in cities without any Christians
start churches
lead people to faith
build up leaders
He was never wishing his current season away
where ever he was- he was all there
whatever he did- he did for the glory of God
When in prison he didn’t say
when I get out
then I can do something
He took every opportunity
shared with people that he had contact with
wrote a letter to the Philippians
to encourage them
When ship wrecked
didn’t get upset at God
God let me down
I prayed for protection
He kept on going
thank God that we are alive
He must not be done with me yet
let’s get going
Barnabas turned on him
he didn’t drop out of church because someone did something wrong towards him within the church
leave the church
abandon faith
He knew that there was still work to do
and that every thing that he was doing was for the glory of God
For YOU:
working your 40
changing diapers
Do good with what you have in this season
make the best of it
work harder
for the glory of God
When we do this we will one day see that the
WORK IS THE REWARD
THAT THE PRIZE IS IN THE PROCESS!
in every day life
doing normal things
you can be grateful
3 Enemies to the true reward:
3 Enemies to the true reward:
1. the seduction of comfort
better home
bigger
nicer
new counter tops
add a pool
get a garage
Nicer car
one with heated seats
convertible
then I will be happy
Enough to take it easy
GOD NEVER CALLED US TO EASY
HE CALLED US TO DENY OURSELVES
EASY NEVER CHANGED THE WORLD
But the seduction of comfort tries
2. Constant distractions
phone is constantly sending me notifications
what did they post on facebook
(youtube just sent me an alert that a video that I would like is now available)
have to keep our kids so involved
Chasing these interruptions
never find true joy or fulfillment
3. Temptation to quit
marriage is difficult
no longer in love
not worth it
throw in the towel
get finances in order
car is broken again
get a loan/charge it
(because we never prepared for a bad day but we were to willing to go out to eat more than we should have, buy too many new clothes, shoes, ect.)
Christianity
went to church twice
read my Bible for two minutes
asked God to help me
and He still didn’t come to my rescue
It’s time to quit
I’m under appreciated
It’s too hard
throw in the towel
YOU CAN THROW IN THE TOWEL OR
PICK UP THE TOWEL TO WIPE THE SWEAT FROM YOUR BROW
and get back in the daily grind
living in this moment for the glory of God
The work is the reward
The prize is in the process
you can be grateful in the grind
Some then think that I am saying that we need to have passion
the problem with passion is that it doesn’t always
lead us to God
Selfish passion is all about us
THERE IS A HIGHER CALLING
more of Him
less of me
purpose drives us to passion
even when we are doing what we don’t want to in life
but God still has a purpose for us in these circumstances
Paul- had lots of passion; he is like the rest of us
maybe he loved music
maybe he wanted a nice house
big family
sports horse (convertible)
vacation
I don’t know for sure:
I do know that his passions were not
to be put in prison
beaten
left for dead
THOSE WERE NEVER HIS PASSIONS
Rather than pursuing selfish passions
He sought for more of Jesus in his life
Led him to say...
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
my only dream is to live in God’s purpose
make Jesus known
share the Good News
Purpose helps make the ordinary passion filled
even if it’s boring
seems insignificant
Some experienced that this morning:
holding door open
helping someone with coffee
nursery changing a diaper
running the media slides
taking up tithes & offering
at dinner with your family you’ll be pouring over with the love of Jesus because your passion for your purpose thru Jesus
Paul says I’m not running like someone running aimlessly
have a direction
Not boxing into the air
I’m in a real spiritual battle
I run with purpose in every single step
wake up saying TODAY IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE
whether it’s an exciting day or a small normal day
Know that you can bring glory to God in this day
you are not running aimlessly
but with God’s purpose in every step
directed by your spirit
encouraged by your Word
loving people where ever I go
We can walk into a room and change the mood
lift people up
with the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead
living within me
I am an ambassador for the Most High God
Each step ON PURPOSE
GIFT
LIFT OTHERS UP
LOVE OTHERS
on purpsoe
because we don’t do anything half heartedly
but do everything as unto the Lord
people won’t believe what we are capable of because the remember what we’ve done before
BUT
by the grace of God, I am what I am,
because of what He has done for us
we work hard
not on our own but by the grace of God
INVITATION:
Some feel like...
Driving kids around like a taxi driver
fighting to keep marriage together
stuck in a job that you don’t love
and somehow passion follows our purpose
Prize
not in promotion
fancy car
vacation
discovered
make more money
Prize is now & here
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE
& B/C OF THE GRACE OF GOD
I WILL REJOICE & BE GLAD IN IT
Life is not not about me
not treating myself
but denying myself
leads us to being bold in witness
shapes us into people who are servants for Jesus
WE CAN EXPERIENCE GOD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MUNDAINE
work is the reward
prize in the process
grateful in the grind
who is tired of wishing away my life waiting for something greater?
God give me purpose
To find joy in serving You
help me to not quit
not get distracted
not to seek comfort but to seek You and You alone
need to be transformed by His grace & forgiveness
turn from sins & to Him