Those who believe in the Son of GOD have the testimony of God in them
~ 1 John 5:10a
Your lives are echoing the Master's Word…The news of your faith in God is out. We don't have to say anything anymore - you're the message!
~1 Thessalonians 1:8
GOD wants to speak to the world through you
· 2 Corinthians 2:17b
You may feel that you have nothing to share, but that's just the devil trying to keep you silent
· You have a storehouse of experiences that can be used to bring other's to Christ
§ 1 John 5:10a
Your Life Message has 4 parts
· Testimony - the story of how you began a relationship with Jesus
§ Peter tells us that we were chosen by God, "to do his work & speak out for HIM, to tell others of the night-&-day difference he made for you" - 1 Peter 2:9
□ This is the essence of witnessing - simply sharing your personal experiences regarding GOD
§ Sharing your testimony is an essential part of your mission on earth because it's unique
□ Your personal testimony is more effective than a sermon
¨ Unbelievers see pastors as professional salesmen
¨ They see you as a satisfied customer to they give you more credibility
§ Personal stories are easier to relate to than principles, & people love to hear them
□ Shared stories build a relational bridge that Jesus can walk across from your heart to others
§ Your testimony bypasses intellectual defenses
□ Many people won't accept the authority of the Bible will listen to a humble, personal Story
¨ That's why on 6 different occasions Paul used his testimony to share the gospel
§ The Bible says "Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness & respect" - 1 Peter 3:15-16
□ The best way to be ready is to write it out then memorize the main points. Divide it into 4 parts
¨ What my life was like before I met Jesus
¨ How I realized I needed Jesus
¨ How I committed my life to Jesus
¨ The difference Jesus has made in my life
§ You have many testimonies besides your salvation story
□ You have a story for every experience in which God has helped you
¨ Make a list of all the problems, circumstances, & crises that God brought you through
· Life Lessons - the most important lessons God has taught you
§ These can be about God, relationships, problems, temptations, etc…
□ Psalm 119:33
§ Sadly, we never learn from a lot that happens to us
□ Psalms 106:43
§ Proverbs 25:12
§ Write down the major life lessons you have learned so you can share them with others
□ Mature people develop the habit of extracting lessons from everyday experiences
□ Here are a few questions to get you started
¨ What God has taught me..
◊ From Failure?
◊ From a lack of money?
◊ From pain or sorrow or depression?
◊ Through waiting?
◊ Through illness?
◊ From disappointment?
¨ What have I learned from my family, church, relationships, my small group, & my critics?
· Godly Passions - the issues God shaped you to care about most
§ As you grow closer to God he will give you a passion for something he cares about deeply so you can be a spokesman for HIM in the world
□ It may be a passion about a problem, purpose, principle, or a group of people
¨ Whatever it may be you will feel compelled to speak up about it & do what you can to make a difference
§ You can't keep yourself from talking about what you care most about
□ Matthew 12:34
§ God gives some people a godly passion to champion a cause
□ It's often a problem they experienced personally
¨ Abuse, addiction, infertility, depression, a disease, or some other difficulty
§ God gives some people a passion to speak up for a group of others who can't speak for themselves
□ The Unborn, persecuted, poor, imprisoned, mistreated, disadvantaged, & those denied justice
□ The Bible is filled with commands to defend the defenseless
§ God uses passionate people to further his kingdom
□ HE gives us different passions so everything he wants done in the world will get done
§ You should not expect everyone else to be passionate about your passion
□ Never belittle someone else's godly passion
¨ Galatians 4:18
· Good News - the message of salvation
§ What is the GOOD NEWS?
□ Romans 1:17
□ 2 Corinthians 5:19
§ You must learn to love lost people the way God does
□ God never made a person he didn't love. Everyone matters to him
¨ 2 Corinthians 5:14
§ Whenever you feel apathetic about your mission in the world, spend some time thinking about what Jesus did for you on the cross
§ We must care about unbelievers because God does
□ Love leaves no choice
¨ 1 John 4:18
¨ If you're afraid to share the Good news, ask God to fill your heart with HIS love for them
§ [God] does not want anyone to be lost, but he wants all people to change their hearts and lives - 2 Peter 3:9
□ As long as you know 1 person who doesn't know Christ, you must keep praying for them, serving them in love, & sharing the Good News.
§ What are you willing to do so that people you know will go to heaven?
□ Invite them to church?
□ Share your story?
□ Give them this book?
□ Take them a meal?
□ Pray for them every day until they are saved?
§ Your mission field is all around you. Don't miss the opportunities God has given you
□ Colossians 4:5
Point to Ponder: God wants to say something to the world through me
Verse to Remember: 1 Peter 3:15b-16
Question to Consider: As I reflect on my personal story, who does God want me to share it with?
Purpose # 5: You Were Made For A Mission (Day 36: Made for a Mission)
In the same way that you gave me a mission in the world, I give them a mission in the world
~ John 17:18
The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me
~ Acts 20:24
God is at work in the world, & he wants YOU to join HIM
○ This "assignment" is called your mission
○ God wants you to have both a ministry in the body of Christ (church) & a mission in world
§ Your ministry is your service to believers
§ Your mission is your service to unbelievers
Your life mission is both shared & specific
○ One part is a responsibility you share with every other Christian
○ The other part is an assignment that's unique to you
"mission" comes from the Latin word for "sending"
○ Being a Christian includes being sent into the world as a rep. of jesus
§ John 20:21
Jesus clearly understood his life mission on earth
○ At 12 he said "I must be about my Father's business" - Luke 2:49
○ Twenty one years later, dying on the cross he said "It is finished" - John 19:30
§ These two statements frame a well-lived, purpose driven life.
§ Jesus completed the mission God gave him
The mission Jesus had while on earth is our mission now, because we're the body of Christ
○ What is that mission?
§ Introducing People to God
□ 2 Corinthians 5:18
○ God wants to redeem human beings from Satan & reconcile us to HIM so we can fulfill the 5 purposes he created us for
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR MISSION
○ Your mission is a continuation of Jesus' mission on earth
§ Study these 5 commissions of Jesus & you'll learn the details of your mission on earth
□ Matt 28:19-20
□ Mark 16:15
□ Luke 24:47
□ John 20:21
□ Acts1:8
§ In the Great Commission Jesus said "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you" - Matt 28:19-20
§ If you are a part of God's family your mission is mandatory. To ignore it would be disobedience
§ God holds you responsible for the unbelievers who live around you
□ Ezekiel 3:18
○ Your mission is a wonderful privilege
§ It's an incredible honor to be used by God
□ 2 Corinthians 5:18
§ Your mission involves 2 great privileges
□ Working with & Representing God
§ Jesus has secured our salvation, put us in his family, given us his Spirit and then made us his agents in the world.
□ 2 Cor 5:20
○ Telling others how they can have eternal life is the greatest thing you can do for them
§ It's criminal to withhold the way to forgiveness, purpose, peace, & eternal life
§ One problem long term Christians have is that they forget how hopeless it felt to be without Christ
□ We must remember no matter how contented or successful people appear to be, without Christ they are hopelessly lost & headed to eternal separation from GOD.
○ Your mission has eternal significance
§ It will impact the eternal destiny of other people so it's more important than any job, achievement, or goal you will reach during your life on earth.
§ The consequences of your mission will last forever
□ Nothing else you do will even matter as much as helping people establish an eternal relationship with God.
¨ This is why we must be urgent about our mission
◊ John 9:4
○ Your mission gives your life meaning
§ The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it - William James
□ Only the kingdom of God will last!
¨ This is why we must live purpose driven lives
§ If you fail to fulfill your God-given mission on earth, you will have wasted the life God gave you
□ Acts 20:24
□ There are people on this planet that only YOU can reach because of where you live & what God has made you to be
§ Start looking around your personal mission field and pray "GOD who have you put in my life for me to tell about Jesus?"
○ God's timetable for history's conclusion is connected to the completion of our commission
§ Today there's a growing interest in the second coming of Christ & the end of the world
□ Acts 1:7-8
§ Speculating on the exact timing of Christ's return is futile
□ Matt 24:36
§ What we do know is that Jesus will not return until everyone God wants to hear the Good News has heard it
□ Matt 24:14
§ It's easy to get distracted & sidetracked from your mission because satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith
□ He'll let you do all kinds of good things as long as you don't take anyone to heaven with you
□ The moment you become serious about your mission expect diversions
¨ When that happens remember this: Luke 9:62
WHAT IS COSTS TO FULFILL YOUR MISSION
○ You will be required to abandon your agenda and to accept God's agenda for your life
§ Luke 22:42
§ Romans 6:13b
○ If you will commit to fulfilling your mission in life no matter what it costs, you will experience the blessing of God in ways that few people will ever experience
§ There is almost nothing God won't do for those who are committed to serving the kingdom of God
□ Matt 6:33
Point to Ponder: I was made for a mission
Verse to Remember: Matthew 28:19-20
Question to Consider: What fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission that God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the Good news?
~ John 17:18
The most important thing is that I complete my mission, the work that the Lord Jesus gave me
~ Acts 20:24
God is at work in the world, & he wants YOU to join HIM
○ This "assignment" is called your mission
○ God wants you to have both a ministry in the body of Christ (church) & a mission in world
§ Your ministry is your service to believers
§ Your mission is your service to unbelievers
Your life mission is both shared & specific
○ One part is a responsibility you share with every other Christian
○ The other part is an assignment that's unique to you
"mission" comes from the Latin word for "sending"
○ Being a Christian includes being sent into the world as a rep. of jesus
§ John 20:21
Jesus clearly understood his life mission on earth
○ At 12 he said "I must be about my Father's business" - Luke 2:49
○ Twenty one years later, dying on the cross he said "It is finished" - John 19:30
§ These two statements frame a well-lived, purpose driven life.
§ Jesus completed the mission God gave him
The mission Jesus had while on earth is our mission now, because we're the body of Christ
○ What is that mission?
§ Introducing People to God
□ 2 Corinthians 5:18
○ God wants to redeem human beings from Satan & reconcile us to HIM so we can fulfill the 5 purposes he created us for
THE IMPORTANCE OF YOUR MISSION
○ Your mission is a continuation of Jesus' mission on earth
§ Study these 5 commissions of Jesus & you'll learn the details of your mission on earth
□ Matt 28:19-20
□ Mark 16:15
□ Luke 24:47
□ John 20:21
□ Acts1:8
§ In the Great Commission Jesus said "Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you" - Matt 28:19-20
§ If you are a part of God's family your mission is mandatory. To ignore it would be disobedience
§ God holds you responsible for the unbelievers who live around you
□ Ezekiel 3:18
○ Your mission is a wonderful privilege
§ It's an incredible honor to be used by God
□ 2 Corinthians 5:18
§ Your mission involves 2 great privileges
□ Working with & Representing God
§ Jesus has secured our salvation, put us in his family, given us his Spirit and then made us his agents in the world.
□ 2 Cor 5:20
○ Telling others how they can have eternal life is the greatest thing you can do for them
§ It's criminal to withhold the way to forgiveness, purpose, peace, & eternal life
§ One problem long term Christians have is that they forget how hopeless it felt to be without Christ
□ We must remember no matter how contented or successful people appear to be, without Christ they are hopelessly lost & headed to eternal separation from GOD.
○ Your mission has eternal significance
§ It will impact the eternal destiny of other people so it's more important than any job, achievement, or goal you will reach during your life on earth.
§ The consequences of your mission will last forever
□ Nothing else you do will even matter as much as helping people establish an eternal relationship with God.
¨ This is why we must be urgent about our mission
◊ John 9:4
○ Your mission gives your life meaning
§ The best use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it - William James
□ Only the kingdom of God will last!
¨ This is why we must live purpose driven lives
§ If you fail to fulfill your God-given mission on earth, you will have wasted the life God gave you
□ Acts 20:24
□ There are people on this planet that only YOU can reach because of where you live & what God has made you to be
§ Start looking around your personal mission field and pray "GOD who have you put in my life for me to tell about Jesus?"
○ God's timetable for history's conclusion is connected to the completion of our commission
§ Today there's a growing interest in the second coming of Christ & the end of the world
□ Acts 1:7-8
§ Speculating on the exact timing of Christ's return is futile
□ Matt 24:36
§ What we do know is that Jesus will not return until everyone God wants to hear the Good News has heard it
□ Matt 24:14
§ It's easy to get distracted & sidetracked from your mission because satan would rather have you do anything besides sharing your faith
□ He'll let you do all kinds of good things as long as you don't take anyone to heaven with you
□ The moment you become serious about your mission expect diversions
¨ When that happens remember this: Luke 9:62
WHAT IS COSTS TO FULFILL YOUR MISSION
○ You will be required to abandon your agenda and to accept God's agenda for your life
§ Luke 22:42
§ Romans 6:13b
○ If you will commit to fulfilling your mission in life no matter what it costs, you will experience the blessing of God in ways that few people will ever experience
§ There is almost nothing God won't do for those who are committed to serving the kingdom of God
□ Matt 6:33
Point to Ponder: I was made for a mission
Verse to Remember: Matthew 28:19-20
Question to Consider: What fears have kept me from fulfilling the mission that God made me to accomplish? What keeps me from telling others the Good news?
Day 35. God's Power In Your Weakness
We are weak…yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you
~ 2 Corinthians 13:4
I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.
~ 2 Corinthians 12:9a
God loves to use weak people
§ Everyone has weaknesses. In fact you have a bundle of flaws & imperfection
§ Physical
§ Emotional
§ Intellectual
§ Spiritual
§ You may also have uncontrollable circumstances that weaken you
§ Financial or relational limitations
§ The more important thing is what you do with these weaknesses
§ Usually we deny, defend, excuse, hide, &/or resent them.
□ This prevents GOD from using them the way he desires
God has a different perspective of your weakness
§ Isaiah 55:9
§ We think God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weaknesses for his glory
§ 1 Cor. 1:27
§ Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating his power through you.
God has never been impressed with strength or self sufficiency
§ In fact he's drawn to people who are weak and admit it
§ Matthew 5:3
§ The Bible is filled with examples of how God loves to use imperfect ordinary people to do extraordinary things in spite of their weaknesses
§ If God only used perfect people nothing would ever get done, because none of us is flawless
A weakness is not a sin or vice or a character defect that you can change (ie. Overeating or impatience)
§ It's any limitation that you inherited or have no power to change
§ Physical - handicap or chronic illness
§ Emotional - trauma scar, hurtful memory
§ Talent or intellectual limitation
§ God is never limited by our limitations.
§ In fact he loves putting his great power into ordinary containers
□ 2 Corinthians 4:7
HOW TO ALLOW GOD TO WORK THROUGH YOUR WEAKNESS
a. Admit your weaknesses
i. Own up to your imperfections
1) Stop pretending to have it all together
2) Instead of living in denial/making excuses take time to identify your personal weaknesses. (Make a list)
ii. Two great confessions in the NT illustrate what we need for healthy living
1) Peter said to Jesus "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" - Matthew 16:16
2) Paul said to an idolizing crowd "We are only human beings like you" - Acts 14:15
3) If you want God to use you, you must know who God is and who you are.
a) Many Christians, especially leaders, forget the second truth. We're only humans. If it takes a crisis for you to admit this, God won't hesitate to allow it, because he loves you
b. Be content with your weaknesses
i. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10a
1) At first this doesn't make sense, but contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God.
2) Why you should be content
a) It causes us to depend on God
i) 2 Cor. 12:10
ii) Whenever you feel weak . God is reminding you to depend on him
b) It prevents arrogance
i) 2 Cor. 12:7
ii) God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check.
One. A limitation can act as a governor to keep us from going too fast & running ahead of God
c) Encourages fellowship between believers
i) While strength breeds an independent spirit our limitations show how much we need each other
d) Increases our capacity for sympathy & ministry
i) We're far more likely to be compassionate & considerate of the weaknesses of others
ii) God wants you to have a Christlike ministry on earth
One. Others will find healings in your wounds
iii) Your greatest ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.
One. The things you're most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, & most reluctant to share are the very tools God can use most to powerfully heal others
Two. All God's giants were weak people
First. Moses weakness was his temper yet God transformed him into the "humblest man on earth" - Num 12:3
Second. Gideon's weakness was low self-esteem & deep insecurities but God transformed him into a "mighty man of valor" - Judges 6:12
Third. Abraham's weakness was fear but God transformed him into "the father of those who have faith" - Rm 4:11
c. Honestly share your weaknesses
i. Ministry begins with vulnerability
1) Paul modeled this in all his letters. He openly shared
a) His failures - Rm 7:19
b) His feelings - 2 Cor 6:11
c) His frustrations - 2 Cor 1:8
d) His fears - 1 Cor 2:3
2) Vulnerability is risky
a) You risk rejection, but the benefits are worth the risk.
i) Emotionally liberating - relieves stress, defuses fears, & is the first step to freedom
ii. God gives grace to the humble but many misunderstand humility
1) It's not putting yourself down or denying your strengths
2) It's being honest about your weaknesses
a) The more honest you are the more of God's grace you get & the more grace you get from others
iii. Vulnerability is an endearing quality; we're naturally drawn to humble people
1) Pretentious repels but authenticity attracts and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy
2) This is why God wants to use your weaknesses, not just your strengths
a) If people only see your strengths they get discouraged & think they'll never be able to do that
3) Our strengths create competition but our weaknesses create community
iv. At some point in your life you'll have to decide whether you want to impress people or influence them
1) You can impress from a distance but to influence you must get close, and when you do that they'll be able to see your flaws & that's okay
a) They most essential quality for leadership isn't perfection but credibility
d. Glory in your weakness
i. 2 Corinthians 12:5b
Point to Ponder: God works best when I admit my weakness
V2R: My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9a
Q2C: Am I limiting God's power in my life by trying to hide my weaknesses? What do I need to be honest about in order to help others?
~ 2 Corinthians 13:4
I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.
~ 2 Corinthians 12:9a
God loves to use weak people
§ Everyone has weaknesses. In fact you have a bundle of flaws & imperfection
§ Physical
§ Emotional
§ Intellectual
§ Spiritual
§ You may also have uncontrollable circumstances that weaken you
§ Financial or relational limitations
§ The more important thing is what you do with these weaknesses
§ Usually we deny, defend, excuse, hide, &/or resent them.
□ This prevents GOD from using them the way he desires
God has a different perspective of your weakness
§ Isaiah 55:9
§ We think God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weaknesses for his glory
§ 1 Cor. 1:27
§ Your weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating his power through you.
God has never been impressed with strength or self sufficiency
§ In fact he's drawn to people who are weak and admit it
§ Matthew 5:3
§ The Bible is filled with examples of how God loves to use imperfect ordinary people to do extraordinary things in spite of their weaknesses
§ If God only used perfect people nothing would ever get done, because none of us is flawless
A weakness is not a sin or vice or a character defect that you can change (ie. Overeating or impatience)
§ It's any limitation that you inherited or have no power to change
§ Physical - handicap or chronic illness
§ Emotional - trauma scar, hurtful memory
§ Talent or intellectual limitation
§ God is never limited by our limitations.
§ In fact he loves putting his great power into ordinary containers
□ 2 Corinthians 4:7
HOW TO ALLOW GOD TO WORK THROUGH YOUR WEAKNESS
a. Admit your weaknesses
i. Own up to your imperfections
1) Stop pretending to have it all together
2) Instead of living in denial/making excuses take time to identify your personal weaknesses. (Make a list)
ii. Two great confessions in the NT illustrate what we need for healthy living
1) Peter said to Jesus "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" - Matthew 16:16
2) Paul said to an idolizing crowd "We are only human beings like you" - Acts 14:15
3) If you want God to use you, you must know who God is and who you are.
a) Many Christians, especially leaders, forget the second truth. We're only humans. If it takes a crisis for you to admit this, God won't hesitate to allow it, because he loves you
b. Be content with your weaknesses
i. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10a
1) At first this doesn't make sense, but contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God.
2) Why you should be content
a) It causes us to depend on God
i) 2 Cor. 12:10
ii) Whenever you feel weak . God is reminding you to depend on him
b) It prevents arrogance
i) 2 Cor. 12:7
ii) God often attaches a major weakness to a major strength to keep our egos in check.
One. A limitation can act as a governor to keep us from going too fast & running ahead of God
c) Encourages fellowship between believers
i) While strength breeds an independent spirit our limitations show how much we need each other
d) Increases our capacity for sympathy & ministry
i) We're far more likely to be compassionate & considerate of the weaknesses of others
ii) God wants you to have a Christlike ministry on earth
One. Others will find healings in your wounds
iii) Your greatest ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.
One. The things you're most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, & most reluctant to share are the very tools God can use most to powerfully heal others
Two. All God's giants were weak people
First. Moses weakness was his temper yet God transformed him into the "humblest man on earth" - Num 12:3
Second. Gideon's weakness was low self-esteem & deep insecurities but God transformed him into a "mighty man of valor" - Judges 6:12
Third. Abraham's weakness was fear but God transformed him into "the father of those who have faith" - Rm 4:11
c. Honestly share your weaknesses
i. Ministry begins with vulnerability
1) Paul modeled this in all his letters. He openly shared
a) His failures - Rm 7:19
b) His feelings - 2 Cor 6:11
c) His frustrations - 2 Cor 1:8
d) His fears - 1 Cor 2:3
2) Vulnerability is risky
a) You risk rejection, but the benefits are worth the risk.
i) Emotionally liberating - relieves stress, defuses fears, & is the first step to freedom
ii. God gives grace to the humble but many misunderstand humility
1) It's not putting yourself down or denying your strengths
2) It's being honest about your weaknesses
a) The more honest you are the more of God's grace you get & the more grace you get from others
iii. Vulnerability is an endearing quality; we're naturally drawn to humble people
1) Pretentious repels but authenticity attracts and vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy
2) This is why God wants to use your weaknesses, not just your strengths
a) If people only see your strengths they get discouraged & think they'll never be able to do that
3) Our strengths create competition but our weaknesses create community
iv. At some point in your life you'll have to decide whether you want to impress people or influence them
1) You can impress from a distance but to influence you must get close, and when you do that they'll be able to see your flaws & that's okay
a) They most essential quality for leadership isn't perfection but credibility
d. Glory in your weakness
i. 2 Corinthians 12:5b
Point to Ponder: God works best when I admit my weakness
V2R: My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness - 2 Corinthians 12:9a
Q2C: Am I limiting God's power in my life by trying to hide my weaknesses? What do I need to be honest about in order to help others?
Day 34. Thinking Like a Servant (The Purpose Driven Life)
Think of yourself the way Christ Jesus thought of himself
Philippians 2:5
Service starts in your mind.
· Being a servant requires a mental shift
○ God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do
○ Attitudes count more than achievements
§ King Amaziah lost God's favor because "he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a true heart" - 2 Chronicles 25:2
· Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitudes
○ SERVANTS THINK MORE ABOUT OTHERS THAN ABOUT THEMSELVES
§ This is true humility: Not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.
□ Philippians 2:4
¨ This is what it means to "lose your life" - forgetting yourself in service to others.
§ When we stop focusing on our own needs we become aware of the needs around us.
§ Jesus "emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant" - Phil 2:7
□ You can't be a servant if you're full of yourself
□ It's only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered.
§ A lot of our service is self-serving
□ To get others to like us
□ Admiration
□ To achieve our own goals
¨ That's manipulation NOT ministry
§ Some people try to use service as a bargaining tool with God
□ Real servants don't use God for their purposes. They let God use them for HIS purposes
§ Self-denial is the core of servant hood
§ We can measure our servant's heart by how we respond when others treat us like servants.
□ What's your reaction when you're taken for granted, bossed around, treated inferior?
¨ Matt 5:41
○ SERVANTS THINK LIKE STEWARDS, NOT OWNERS
§ GOD owns it all
□ Servant hood and stewardship go together since God expects us to be trustworthy in both. (1 Corinthians 4:1)
§ To become a real servant you're going to have to settle the issue of money in your life
□
□ Luke 16:13
□ Living for ministry & living for money are mutually exclusive goals
□ Money has the greatest potential to replace God in your life
¨ More people are sidetracked from serving by materialism than by anything else.
◊ When Jesus is your Master, money serves you, but if money is your master, you become it's slave.
□ Wealth is not a sin, but failing to use it for God's glory is.
□ God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant
¨ Jesus talked more about money than he did about heaven or hell
◊ Luke 16:11
◊ How you manage your money affects how much God will bless your life
○ SERVANTS THINK ABOUT THEIR WORK, NOT WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING
§ Competition between God's servants is illogical for many reasons
□ We're all on the same team
□ Our goal is to make God look good, not ourselves
□ We've been given different assignments, & we're all uniquely shaped
¨ Gal 5:26
§ There's not place for petty jealousy between servants
□ Any time spent criticizing others is time that could be spent ministering
§ It's not our job to evaluate the Master's other servants
□ Romans 14:4
§ Neither is it our job to defend ourselves against criticism. Let God handle it
□ Follow the example of Nehemiah whose response to critics was simply "My work is too important to stop now and…visit with you" - Nehemiah 6:3
§ If you serve like Jesus you can expect to be criticized
□ The world and even much of the church, doesn't understand what God values.
¨ One of the most beautiful acts of love shown to Jesus was criticized by the disciples.
◊ Mary took the most valuable thing she owned (expensive perfume) & poured it over Jesus. The disciples called it "a waste" by Jesus called it "significant" (Matt 26:10) and that's all that mattered.
○ SERVANTS BASE THEIR IDENTITY IN CHRIST
§ Know they're loved and accepted by grace, so they don't have to prove their worth
§ Willingly accept jobs insecure people would consider "beneath" them.
□ John 13:3-4
§ If you're going to be a servant, you must settle your identity in Christ.
□ Only secure people can serve
□ Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others.
¨ They fear exposure of their weaknesses & hide beneath layers of protective pride and pretensions
§ "In order to be of service to others we have to die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring our meaning and value with the yardstick of others…thus we become free to be compassionate"
○ SERVANTS THINK OF MINISTRY AS AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT AN OBLIGATION
§ They enjoy helping people, meeting needs, and doing ministry
□ John 12:26
□ Hebrews 6:10
Point to Ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant
Verse to Remember: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus - Philippians 2:5
Question to Consider: Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?
Philippians 2:5
Service starts in your mind.
· Being a servant requires a mental shift
○ God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do
○ Attitudes count more than achievements
§ King Amaziah lost God's favor because "he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a true heart" - 2 Chronicles 25:2
· Real servants serve God with a mindset of five attitudes
○ SERVANTS THINK MORE ABOUT OTHERS THAN ABOUT THEMSELVES
§ This is true humility: Not thinking less of ourselves but thinking of ourselves less.
□ Philippians 2:4
¨ This is what it means to "lose your life" - forgetting yourself in service to others.
§ When we stop focusing on our own needs we become aware of the needs around us.
§ Jesus "emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant" - Phil 2:7
□ You can't be a servant if you're full of yourself
□ It's only when we forget ourselves that we do the things that deserve to be remembered.
§ A lot of our service is self-serving
□ To get others to like us
□ Admiration
□ To achieve our own goals
¨ That's manipulation NOT ministry
§ Some people try to use service as a bargaining tool with God
□ Real servants don't use God for their purposes. They let God use them for HIS purposes
§ Self-denial is the core of servant hood
§ We can measure our servant's heart by how we respond when others treat us like servants.
□ What's your reaction when you're taken for granted, bossed around, treated inferior?
¨ Matt 5:41
○ SERVANTS THINK LIKE STEWARDS, NOT OWNERS
§ GOD owns it all
□ Servant hood and stewardship go together since God expects us to be trustworthy in both. (1 Corinthians 4:1)
§ To become a real servant you're going to have to settle the issue of money in your life
□
□ Luke 16:13
□ Living for ministry & living for money are mutually exclusive goals
□ Money has the greatest potential to replace God in your life
¨ More people are sidetracked from serving by materialism than by anything else.
◊ When Jesus is your Master, money serves you, but if money is your master, you become it's slave.
□ Wealth is not a sin, but failing to use it for God's glory is.
□ God uses money to test your faithfulness as a servant
¨ Jesus talked more about money than he did about heaven or hell
◊ Luke 16:11
◊ How you manage your money affects how much God will bless your life
○ SERVANTS THINK ABOUT THEIR WORK, NOT WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING
§ Competition between God's servants is illogical for many reasons
□ We're all on the same team
□ Our goal is to make God look good, not ourselves
□ We've been given different assignments, & we're all uniquely shaped
¨ Gal 5:26
§ There's not place for petty jealousy between servants
□ Any time spent criticizing others is time that could be spent ministering
§ It's not our job to evaluate the Master's other servants
□ Romans 14:4
§ Neither is it our job to defend ourselves against criticism. Let God handle it
□ Follow the example of Nehemiah whose response to critics was simply "My work is too important to stop now and…visit with you" - Nehemiah 6:3
§ If you serve like Jesus you can expect to be criticized
□ The world and even much of the church, doesn't understand what God values.
¨ One of the most beautiful acts of love shown to Jesus was criticized by the disciples.
◊ Mary took the most valuable thing she owned (expensive perfume) & poured it over Jesus. The disciples called it "a waste" by Jesus called it "significant" (Matt 26:10) and that's all that mattered.
○ SERVANTS BASE THEIR IDENTITY IN CHRIST
§ Know they're loved and accepted by grace, so they don't have to prove their worth
§ Willingly accept jobs insecure people would consider "beneath" them.
□ John 13:3-4
§ If you're going to be a servant, you must settle your identity in Christ.
□ Only secure people can serve
□ Insecure people are always worrying about how they appear to others.
¨ They fear exposure of their weaknesses & hide beneath layers of protective pride and pretensions
§ "In order to be of service to others we have to die to them; that is, we have to give up measuring our meaning and value with the yardstick of others…thus we become free to be compassionate"
○ SERVANTS THINK OF MINISTRY AS AN OPPORTUNITY, NOT AN OBLIGATION
§ They enjoy helping people, meeting needs, and doing ministry
□ John 12:26
□ Hebrews 6:10
Point to Ponder: To be a servant I must think like a servant
Verse to Remember: Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus - Philippians 2:5
Question to Consider: Am I usually more concerned about being served or finding ways to serve others?
Day 33. How Real Servants Act
Whoever wants to be great must become a servant
○ Mark 10:43
You can tell what they are by what they do
○ Matthew 7:16
We serve God by serving others.
The world defines greatness in terms of
○ Power
○ Possessions
○ Prestige
○ Position
Jesus measured greatness in terms of SERVICE, not status.
○ God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you
While knowing your shape is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important.
○ Without of servant's heart, you'll be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain
Or be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting some needs
○ God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in way's we're not shaped
§ Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape
§ Your secondary service is wherever you're needed @ the moment
○ Your shape reveals your ministry but your servant's heart will reveal your maturity
§ Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.
A SERVANT'S HEART
○ Real servants make themselves available to serve
§ No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him - 2 Tim 2:4
○ Real servants pay attention to needs
§ Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what's good for everyone, especially for the family of believers - Gal 6:10
§ Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can - John Wesley
○ Real servants do their best with what they have
§ Don't make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances
§ If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done - Ecc 11:4
§ God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are.
○ Real servants do every task with equal dedication
§ You'll never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane, it's a vital part of your character curriculum.
□ If you think you're too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You're really a nobody. - Gal 6:3
§ Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid
□ Feet washing, helping kids, fixing breakfast, & serving lepers
○ Real servants are faithful to their ministry
§ Servants finish their tasks, fulfill responsibilities, keep promises, and complete commitments
§ Faithfulness has always been a rare quality -(Psalm 12:1; Pvb 20:6; Phil 2:19-22)
○ Real servants maintain a low profile
§ When Christ shows up again on this earth , you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity - Col 3:4
P2P: I serve God by serving others
V2R: If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded - Matt. 10:42
Q2C: Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me?
○ Mark 10:43
You can tell what they are by what they do
○ Matthew 7:16
We serve God by serving others.
The world defines greatness in terms of
○ Power
○ Possessions
○ Prestige
○ Position
Jesus measured greatness in terms of SERVICE, not status.
○ God determines your greatness by how many people you serve, not how many people serve you
While knowing your shape is important for serving God, having the heart of a servant is even more important.
○ Without of servant's heart, you'll be tempted to misuse your shape for personal gain
Or be tempted to use it as an excuse to exempt yourself from meeting some needs
○ God often tests our hearts by asking us to serve in way's we're not shaped
§ Your primary ministry should be in the area of your shape
§ Your secondary service is wherever you're needed @ the moment
○ Your shape reveals your ministry but your servant's heart will reveal your maturity
§ Anyone can be a servant. All it requires is character.
A SERVANT'S HEART
○ Real servants make themselves available to serve
§ No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him - 2 Tim 2:4
○ Real servants pay attention to needs
§ Whenever we have the opportunity, we have to do what's good for everyone, especially for the family of believers - Gal 6:10
§ Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can - John Wesley
○ Real servants do their best with what they have
§ Don't make excuses, procrastinate, or wait for better circumstances
§ If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done - Ecc 11:4
§ God expects you to do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are.
○ Real servants do every task with equal dedication
§ You'll never arrive at the state in life where you're too important to help with menial tasks. God will never exempt you from the mundane, it's a vital part of your character curriculum.
□ If you think you're too important to help someone in need, you are only fooling yourself. You're really a nobody. - Gal 6:3
§ Jesus specialized in menial tasks that everyone else tried to avoid
□ Feet washing, helping kids, fixing breakfast, & serving lepers
○ Real servants are faithful to their ministry
§ Servants finish their tasks, fulfill responsibilities, keep promises, and complete commitments
§ Faithfulness has always been a rare quality -(Psalm 12:1; Pvb 20:6; Phil 2:19-22)
○ Real servants maintain a low profile
§ When Christ shows up again on this earth , you'll show up, too - the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity - Col 3:4
P2P: I serve God by serving others
V2R: If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded - Matt. 10:42
Q2C: Which of the six characteristics of real servants offers the greatest challenge to me?
Day 32. Using What God Gave You (The Purpose Driven Life)
Since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed & marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead & be what we were made to be.
○ Romans 12:5
God deserves your best.
He shaped you for a purpose, & expects you to make the most of what you have been given.
DISCOVER YOUR SHAPE
○ Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out & do whatever the Lord wants you to - Ephesians 5:17
§ Begin by assessing your gifts & abilities
□ Take a long honest look at what you're good
□ Ask other people for their candid opinion (Spiritual gifts & natural abilities are always confirmed by others)
□ The best way to discover gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service.
§ Consider your heart and personality
□ Make a careful exploration of who you are & the work you have been given, & then think yourself into that - Galatians 6:4b
§ Examine your experiences & extract the lessons you have learned
□ Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with Him - Deuteronomy 11:2
□ We rarely see God's good purpose in pain or failure or embarrassment while it's happening. Only in hindsight do we understand how God intended a problem for good.
ACCEPT AND ENJOY YOUR SHAPE
○ Gratefully accept the way God has fashioned you
§ What right have you, a human being, to cross examine God? The pot has no right to say to the potter: "Why did you make me this shape?' Surely a potter can do what he likes with the clay!" - Romans 9:20-21
§ Be sure to do what you should , for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else - Galatians 2:7-8
□ Satan will try to steal the joy of service from you in a couple of ways
¨ Tempting you to compare your ministry with others
¨ Tempting you to conform your ministry to the expectations of others
§ The Bible warns us to never compare ourselves with others
□ Do your own work well, & then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others - Galatians 6:4
¨ You'll always be able to find someone who seems to be doing a better job & you'll become discouraged
¨ You'll find someone who isn't as effective as you and you'll get full of pride
◊ Either attitude will take you out of service and rob you of your joy
► In all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point - 2 Corinthians 10:12b
¨ You'll find that people who don't understand your shape for ministry will criticize you & try to get you to conform to what they think you should be doing. Ignore them.
◊ Avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations, & seek only God's commendation - 1 Corinthians 10:12-18
KEEP DEVELOPING YOUR SHAPE
○ Jesus' parable of the talents illustrates that God expects us to make the most of what he gives us
§ We're to . . .
□ Cultivate our gifts & abilities
□ Keep our hearts aflame
□ Grow our character & personality
□ Broaden our experiences
§ . . . So we'll be more effective in our service.
□ Keep on growing in your knowledge & understanding - Philippians 1:9
□ Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you - 2 Tim 1:6
○ If you don't utilize the abilities & skills God has given you, you'll lose them.
§ Take the talent from him & give it to the one who has the ten talents - Matt 25:28
○ Use the ability you've got & God will increase it
§ Be sure to use the abilities that God has given you . . . Put these abilities to work - 1 Tim 4:14-15
DAY 32
P2P: God deserves my best
V2R: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed & who correctly handles the word of truth - 2 Tim 2:15
Q2C: How can I make the best use of what God has given me?
○ Romans 12:5
God deserves your best.
He shaped you for a purpose, & expects you to make the most of what you have been given.
DISCOVER YOUR SHAPE
○ Don't act thoughtlessly, but try to find out & do whatever the Lord wants you to - Ephesians 5:17
§ Begin by assessing your gifts & abilities
□ Take a long honest look at what you're good
□ Ask other people for their candid opinion (Spiritual gifts & natural abilities are always confirmed by others)
□ The best way to discover gifts and abilities is to experiment with different areas of service.
§ Consider your heart and personality
□ Make a careful exploration of who you are & the work you have been given, & then think yourself into that - Galatians 6:4b
§ Examine your experiences & extract the lessons you have learned
□ Remember today what you have learned about the Lord through your experiences with Him - Deuteronomy 11:2
□ We rarely see God's good purpose in pain or failure or embarrassment while it's happening. Only in hindsight do we understand how God intended a problem for good.
ACCEPT AND ENJOY YOUR SHAPE
○ Gratefully accept the way God has fashioned you
§ What right have you, a human being, to cross examine God? The pot has no right to say to the potter: "Why did you make me this shape?' Surely a potter can do what he likes with the clay!" - Romans 9:20-21
§ Be sure to do what you should , for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else - Galatians 2:7-8
□ Satan will try to steal the joy of service from you in a couple of ways
¨ Tempting you to compare your ministry with others
¨ Tempting you to conform your ministry to the expectations of others
§ The Bible warns us to never compare ourselves with others
□ Do your own work well, & then you will have something to be proud of. But don't compare yourself with others - Galatians 6:4
¨ You'll always be able to find someone who seems to be doing a better job & you'll become discouraged
¨ You'll find someone who isn't as effective as you and you'll get full of pride
◊ Either attitude will take you out of service and rob you of your joy
► In all this comparing and grading and competing, they quite miss the point - 2 Corinthians 10:12b
¨ You'll find that people who don't understand your shape for ministry will criticize you & try to get you to conform to what they think you should be doing. Ignore them.
◊ Avoid comparisons, resist exaggerations, & seek only God's commendation - 1 Corinthians 10:12-18
KEEP DEVELOPING YOUR SHAPE
○ Jesus' parable of the talents illustrates that God expects us to make the most of what he gives us
§ We're to . . .
□ Cultivate our gifts & abilities
□ Keep our hearts aflame
□ Grow our character & personality
□ Broaden our experiences
§ . . . So we'll be more effective in our service.
□ Keep on growing in your knowledge & understanding - Philippians 1:9
□ Kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you - 2 Tim 1:6
○ If you don't utilize the abilities & skills God has given you, you'll lose them.
§ Take the talent from him & give it to the one who has the ten talents - Matt 25:28
○ Use the ability you've got & God will increase it
§ Be sure to use the abilities that God has given you . . . Put these abilities to work - 1 Tim 4:14-15
DAY 32
P2P: God deserves my best
V2R: Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed & who correctly handles the word of truth - 2 Tim 2:15
Q2C: How can I make the best use of what God has given me?
Day 31. Understanding Your Shape (The Purpose Driven Life)
You shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother's womb.
○ Psalm 139:13
Only you can be you. God designed us so that there are no duplications.
○ That means that no one else on earth will EVER be able to play the role God planned for you. If you don't make your unique contribution to the Body of Christ, it won't be made.
§ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts…different ways of serving…[and] different abilities to perform service. - 1 Cor 12:4-6
○ SHAPE: APPLYING YOUR ABILITIES
§ Abilities are natural talents you're born with.
§ When God wanted to create the Tabernacle and all the utensils for worship, he provided artists and craftsmen who were shaped with the "skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts to make artistic designs…and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship "-Exodus 31:3-5
□ Today God still bestows abilities so people can serve him
§ All are abilities come from God
□ Even abilities used to sin are gifts from God, just misused/abused
□ God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well - Rom 12:6a
§ Every ability can be used for God's glory
□ Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. - 1 Cor 10:31
□ The Bible is filled with examples of abilities God uses for his glory:
¨ Artistic, architectural, administering, baking, boat making, candy making, debating, designing, embalming, embroidering, engraving, faming, fishing, gardening, leading, managing, masonry, philosophizing, machinablity, inventing, carpentry, sailing, selling, being a soldier, tailoring, teaching, WRTING literature and poetry
¨ There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service - 1 Cor. 12:6
◊ God has a place in his church where your specialties can shine AND make a difference
§ What I'm able to do, God wants me to do
□ To discover God's will for your life, you should seriously examine what you're good at & not good at.
□ God will never ask you to dedicate your life to a task you have no talent for, but the abilities that you do have are a strong indication of what God wants you to do with your life.
□ Your abilities aren't given just to make a living. They're for your ministry
¨ God has given each of you some special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings - 1 Peter 4:10
○ SHAPE: USING YOUR PERSONALITY
§ Don't try to mimic anyone else's ministry
□ When you're forced to minister in a manner that is "out of character" for your temperament, it creates tension & discomfort, requires extra effort & energy, & produces less than the best results.
§ Learn from the examples of others, but filter what you learn through your own shape.
§ When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction, & fruitfulness.
○ SHAPE: EMPLOYING YOUR EXPERIENCES
§ To determine your shape for serving God, examine ATLEAST 6 kinds of experiences from your past.
□ Family experiences: What did you learn growing up in your family?
□ Educational experiences: What were your favorite school subjects?
□ Vocational experiences: What jobs have you been most effective in & enjoyed most?
□ Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful times with God?
□ Ministry experiences: Have you served God in the past?
□ Painful experiences: what problems, hurts, thorns, & trials have you learned from?
¨ God uses this the most to prepare you for ministry
¨ God never wastes a hurt!
¨ Your greatest ministry will come out of your greatest hurt
¨ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us - 2 Cor. 1:4
¨ The very experiences you've resented/regretted most are the experience God wants to use to help others.
◊ People are always more encouraged when we share how God's grace helped us in weakness than when we brag about our strengths.
► 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
DAY 31
P2P: Nobody else can be me.
V2R: God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings - 1 Peter 4:10
Q2C: What God-given ability or personal experience can I offer to my church?
○ Psalm 139:13
Only you can be you. God designed us so that there are no duplications.
○ That means that no one else on earth will EVER be able to play the role God planned for you. If you don't make your unique contribution to the Body of Christ, it won't be made.
§ There are different kinds of spiritual gifts…different ways of serving…[and] different abilities to perform service. - 1 Cor 12:4-6
○ SHAPE: APPLYING YOUR ABILITIES
§ Abilities are natural talents you're born with.
§ When God wanted to create the Tabernacle and all the utensils for worship, he provided artists and craftsmen who were shaped with the "skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts to make artistic designs…and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship "-Exodus 31:3-5
□ Today God still bestows abilities so people can serve him
§ All are abilities come from God
□ Even abilities used to sin are gifts from God, just misused/abused
□ God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well - Rom 12:6a
§ Every ability can be used for God's glory
□ Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. - 1 Cor 10:31
□ The Bible is filled with examples of abilities God uses for his glory:
¨ Artistic, architectural, administering, baking, boat making, candy making, debating, designing, embalming, embroidering, engraving, faming, fishing, gardening, leading, managing, masonry, philosophizing, machinablity, inventing, carpentry, sailing, selling, being a soldier, tailoring, teaching, WRTING literature and poetry
¨ There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service - 1 Cor. 12:6
◊ God has a place in his church where your specialties can shine AND make a difference
§ What I'm able to do, God wants me to do
□ To discover God's will for your life, you should seriously examine what you're good at & not good at.
□ God will never ask you to dedicate your life to a task you have no talent for, but the abilities that you do have are a strong indication of what God wants you to do with your life.
□ Your abilities aren't given just to make a living. They're for your ministry
¨ God has given each of you some special abilities, be sure to use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings - 1 Peter 4:10
○ SHAPE: USING YOUR PERSONALITY
§ Don't try to mimic anyone else's ministry
□ When you're forced to minister in a manner that is "out of character" for your temperament, it creates tension & discomfort, requires extra effort & energy, & produces less than the best results.
§ Learn from the examples of others, but filter what you learn through your own shape.
§ When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction, & fruitfulness.
○ SHAPE: EMPLOYING YOUR EXPERIENCES
§ To determine your shape for serving God, examine ATLEAST 6 kinds of experiences from your past.
□ Family experiences: What did you learn growing up in your family?
□ Educational experiences: What were your favorite school subjects?
□ Vocational experiences: What jobs have you been most effective in & enjoyed most?
□ Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful times with God?
□ Ministry experiences: Have you served God in the past?
□ Painful experiences: what problems, hurts, thorns, & trials have you learned from?
¨ God uses this the most to prepare you for ministry
¨ God never wastes a hurt!
¨ Your greatest ministry will come out of your greatest hurt
¨ He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us - 2 Cor. 1:4
¨ The very experiences you've resented/regretted most are the experience God wants to use to help others.
◊ People are always more encouraged when we share how God's grace helped us in weakness than when we brag about our strengths.
► 2 Corinthians 1:8-10
DAY 31
P2P: Nobody else can be me.
V2R: God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to use them to help other, passing on to others God's many kinds of blessings - 1 Peter 4:10
Q2C: What God-given ability or personal experience can I offer to my church?
Day 30 - Shaped For Serving (The Purpose Driven Life)
Your hands shaped me and made me.
○ Job 10:8
The people I have shaped for myself will broadcast my praises
○ Isaiah 43:21
You were shaped to serve God.
○ Each of us was uniquely designed to do certain things
○ You are the way you are because you were made for a specific ministry
§ We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works - Eph. 2:10
□ You aren't an assembly-line product, mass produced w/o thought. You're a custom designed, one-of-a kind, original masterpiece.
□ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body & knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous. - Psalm 139:13-14
○ Not only did God shaped you before your birth he planned every day of your life to support his shaping process
§ Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. - Psalm 139:16
□ This means nothing in your life is insignificant, God uses it all to mold you for your ministry
○ God never wastes anything. He wouldn't give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences UNLESS he intended to use them for his glory.
§ By identifying and understanding these factors you can discover God's will for your life
§ You're a combination of many different factors. S.H.A.P.E
HOW GOD SHAPES YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY
· Whenever God gives you an assignment, he ALWAYS equips you with what you need to accomplish it. This custom combo of capabilities is your S.H.A.P.E:
○ Spiritual gifts
○ Heart
○ Abilities
○ Personality
○ Experience
· SHAPE: UNWRAPPING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
○ God gives every believer spiritual gifts to be used in ministry (Rms 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:8-15; 1 Cor. 7:7)
§ You can't earn your SG or deserve them - that's why they're gifts!
§ Neither do you get to choose which gifts you'd like to have. God determines that
□ It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have - 1 Cor. 12:11
§ Your spiritual gifts weren't given for your own benefits but for the benefit of others!
□ A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church - 1 Cor. 12:7
· SHAPE: LISTENING TO YOUR HEART
○ Heart is used in the Bible to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have.
§ Your heart represents the source of all your motivations - what you love to do and what you care most about.
○ As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person - Prov. 27:19
§ Your heart reveals the real you - what you truly are, not what others think you are or what circumstances force you to be.
§ Your heart determines why you say the things you do, feel the way you do, & act the way you do (Matt. 12:34; Psalm 34:7; Pro. 4:23)
○ God has given you a unique emotional "heartbeat" that races when you think about the subjects, activities, or circumstances that interest us. Instinctively we care about some things and not others and these are clues to where you should be serving.
§ Another word for heart is passion.
□ There are certain subjects you feel passionate about, some experiences turn you on. These reveal the nature of your heart
○ Don't ignore your interests. Consider how they might be used for God's glory!
○ Repeatedly the Bible says "serve the Lord with all your heart" -Deu 11:13; 1 Sam. 12:20; Rms 1:9; Eph. 6:6
§ God wants you to serve him passionately not dutifully.
§ People rarely excel at tasks they don't enjoy doing or feel passionate about.
□ God wants you to use your natural interests to serve Him and others
○ How do you know you're serving God from your heart?
§ Enthusiasm - no one has to motivate or challenge or check on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment!
§ Effectiveness - passion drives perfection. Don't waste your life in a job that doesn't express your heart
DAY 30
P2P: I was shaped for serving God
V2R: God works thru different men in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all - 1 Corinthians 12:6
Q2C: In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?
○ Job 10:8
The people I have shaped for myself will broadcast my praises
○ Isaiah 43:21
You were shaped to serve God.
○ Each of us was uniquely designed to do certain things
○ You are the way you are because you were made for a specific ministry
§ We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works - Eph. 2:10
□ You aren't an assembly-line product, mass produced w/o thought. You're a custom designed, one-of-a kind, original masterpiece.
□ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body & knit me together in my mother's womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous. - Psalm 139:13-14
○ Not only did God shaped you before your birth he planned every day of your life to support his shaping process
§ Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. - Psalm 139:16
□ This means nothing in your life is insignificant, God uses it all to mold you for your ministry
○ God never wastes anything. He wouldn't give you abilities, interests, talents, gifts, personality, and life experiences UNLESS he intended to use them for his glory.
§ By identifying and understanding these factors you can discover God's will for your life
§ You're a combination of many different factors. S.H.A.P.E
HOW GOD SHAPES YOU FOR YOUR MINISTRY
· Whenever God gives you an assignment, he ALWAYS equips you with what you need to accomplish it. This custom combo of capabilities is your S.H.A.P.E:
○ Spiritual gifts
○ Heart
○ Abilities
○ Personality
○ Experience
· SHAPE: UNWRAPPING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS
○ God gives every believer spiritual gifts to be used in ministry (Rms 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12; Eph. 4:8-15; 1 Cor. 7:7)
§ You can't earn your SG or deserve them - that's why they're gifts!
§ Neither do you get to choose which gifts you'd like to have. God determines that
□ It is the one and only Holy Spirit who distributes these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have - 1 Cor. 12:11
§ Your spiritual gifts weren't given for your own benefits but for the benefit of others!
□ A spiritual gift is given to each of us as a means of helping the entire church - 1 Cor. 12:7
· SHAPE: LISTENING TO YOUR HEART
○ Heart is used in the Bible to describe the bundle of desires, hopes, interests, ambitions, dreams, and affections you have.
§ Your heart represents the source of all your motivations - what you love to do and what you care most about.
○ As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person - Prov. 27:19
§ Your heart reveals the real you - what you truly are, not what others think you are or what circumstances force you to be.
§ Your heart determines why you say the things you do, feel the way you do, & act the way you do (Matt. 12:34; Psalm 34:7; Pro. 4:23)
○ God has given you a unique emotional "heartbeat" that races when you think about the subjects, activities, or circumstances that interest us. Instinctively we care about some things and not others and these are clues to where you should be serving.
§ Another word for heart is passion.
□ There are certain subjects you feel passionate about, some experiences turn you on. These reveal the nature of your heart
○ Don't ignore your interests. Consider how they might be used for God's glory!
○ Repeatedly the Bible says "serve the Lord with all your heart" -Deu 11:13; 1 Sam. 12:20; Rms 1:9; Eph. 6:6
§ God wants you to serve him passionately not dutifully.
§ People rarely excel at tasks they don't enjoy doing or feel passionate about.
□ God wants you to use your natural interests to serve Him and others
○ How do you know you're serving God from your heart?
§ Enthusiasm - no one has to motivate or challenge or check on you. You do it for the sheer enjoyment!
§ Effectiveness - passion drives perfection. Don't waste your life in a job that doesn't express your heart
DAY 30
P2P: I was shaped for serving God
V2R: God works thru different men in different ways, but it is the same God who achieves his purpose through them all - 1 Corinthians 12:6
Q2C: In what way can I see myself passionately serving others and loving it?
PURPOSE # 4: YOU WERE SHAPED FOR SERVING GOD (29. Accepting Your Assignment)
We're simply God's servants…Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do: I planted the seed, Apollos watered the plant, but it was God who made the plant grow.
○ 1 Corinthians 3:5-6
It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.
○ Ephesians 2:10
I glorified You on earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned me to do.
○ John 17:4
You were put on earth to make a contribution to make a difference with your life.
You were created to ADD to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back. This is God's 4th purpose for your life and it's called your MINISTRY or service.
DETAILS OF MINISTRY
○ You were created to serve God
§ [God] has created for us a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10b
□ These "good deeds" are your service.
□ Whenever you serve others in any way, you're actually serving God (Colossians 3:23-24; Matt. 25:34-45; Eph. 6:7) and fulfilling one of your purposes
□ Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. - Jeremiah 1:5
§ You were placed on this planet for a special assignment
○ You were saved to serve God
§ It is HE who saved us and chose us for HIS holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan. - 2 Tim 1:9
□ God redeemed you to do his "holy work"
□ You're not saved by service, but for service
§ In God's kingdom you have a place, purpose, role, and function to fulfill. This gives your life great significance and value.
§ Jesus died on the cross to purchase your salvation
□ God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God. - 1 Cor 6:20
§ We don't serve God out of fear or duty BUT out of joy and deep gratitude for what He's done for us. We owe Him our lives
§ Thru salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future secured
□ Because of God's great mercy...Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service. - Romans 12:1
§ Our loving service to others shows that we're truly saved
□ Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life - 1 John 3:14
□ If I have no love for others, no desire to serve others, and I'm only concerned about my needs, I should question whether Christ is really in my life.
○ You were called to serve God
§ He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose. - 2 Tim 1:9
§ You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you. - 1 Peter 2:9
□ Anytime you use your God given abilities to help others you are fulfilling your calling.
§ One reason why you need to be connected with a church family is to fulfill your calling to serve other believers in practical ways
○ You are commanded to serve God
§ Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, didn't come to be served, but to serve and to give my life - Matt 20:28
§ For Christians service IS NOT optional
§ Serving and giving sum up God's fourth purpose for your life
As we mature in Christ the focus of our lives should increasingly shift to living a life of service
PREPARING FOR ETERNITY
At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God and he is going to evaluate how well you served others with your life.
○ Each of us will have to give a personal account to God - Romans 14:12
You're only fully alive when you're helping others
○ If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live - Mark 8:35
SERVICE AND SIGNIFICANCE
You're going to give your life for something - make sure it has a lasting significance.
○ Service is the pathway to REAL significance. Thru ministry we discover the meaning of our lives
§ Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body - Romans 12:5
○ As you serve in God's family, your life times on eternal importance
§ I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less…because of what you are a part of. - 1 Cor 12:14a
○ WHAT MATTERS IS NOT THE DURATION OF YOUR LIFE, BUT THE DONATION OF IT. NOT HOW LONG YOU LIVE, BUT HOW YOU LIVED
If you're not involved in any service or ministry what excuse have you been using?
○ Abraham was old
○ Jacob was insecure
○ Leah was unattractive
○ Joseph was abused
○ Moses stuttered
○ Gideon was poor
○ Samson was codependent
○ Rahab was immoral
○ David had an affair and all kinds of family problems
○ Elijah was suicidal
○ Jeremiah was depressed
○ Jonah was reluctant
○ Naomi was a widow
○ John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least
○ Peter was impulsive and hot tempered
○ Martha worried a lot
○ The Samaritan woman had several failed marriages
○ Zacchaeus was unpopular
○ Thomas had doubts
○ Paul had poor health
○ Timothy was timid
○ BUT GOD USED EACH OF THEM FOR HIS SERVICE, AND HE'LL USE YOU TOO IF YOU STOP MAKING EXCUSES
DAY 29
P2P: Service is not optional
V2R: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10
Q2C: What is holding me back from accepting God's call to serve him?
○ 1 Corinthians 3:5-6
It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others.
○ Ephesians 2:10
I glorified You on earth by completing down to the last detail what you assigned me to do.
○ John 17:4
You were put on earth to make a contribution to make a difference with your life.
You were created to ADD to life on earth, not just take from it. God wants you to give something back. This is God's 4th purpose for your life and it's called your MINISTRY or service.
DETAILS OF MINISTRY
○ You were created to serve God
§ [God] has created for us a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10b
□ These "good deeds" are your service.
□ Whenever you serve others in any way, you're actually serving God (Colossians 3:23-24; Matt. 25:34-45; Eph. 6:7) and fulfilling one of your purposes
□ Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. - Jeremiah 1:5
§ You were placed on this planet for a special assignment
○ You were saved to serve God
§ It is HE who saved us and chose us for HIS holy work, not because we deserved it but because that was his plan. - 2 Tim 1:9
□ God redeemed you to do his "holy work"
□ You're not saved by service, but for service
§ In God's kingdom you have a place, purpose, role, and function to fulfill. This gives your life great significance and value.
§ Jesus died on the cross to purchase your salvation
□ God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God. - 1 Cor 6:20
§ We don't serve God out of fear or duty BUT out of joy and deep gratitude for what He's done for us. We owe Him our lives
§ Thru salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning, and our future secured
□ Because of God's great mercy...Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service. - Romans 12:1
§ Our loving service to others shows that we're truly saved
□ Our love for each other proves that we have gone from death to life - 1 John 3:14
□ If I have no love for others, no desire to serve others, and I'm only concerned about my needs, I should question whether Christ is really in my life.
○ You were called to serve God
§ He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose. - 2 Tim 1:9
§ You were chosen to tell about the excellent qualities of God, who called you. - 1 Peter 2:9
□ Anytime you use your God given abilities to help others you are fulfilling your calling.
§ One reason why you need to be connected with a church family is to fulfill your calling to serve other believers in practical ways
○ You are commanded to serve God
§ Your attitude must be like my own, for I, the Messiah, didn't come to be served, but to serve and to give my life - Matt 20:28
§ For Christians service IS NOT optional
§ Serving and giving sum up God's fourth purpose for your life
As we mature in Christ the focus of our lives should increasingly shift to living a life of service
PREPARING FOR ETERNITY
At the end of your life on earth you will stand before God and he is going to evaluate how well you served others with your life.
○ Each of us will have to give a personal account to God - Romans 14:12
You're only fully alive when you're helping others
○ If you insist on saving your life, you will lose it. Only those who throw away their lives for my sake and for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live - Mark 8:35
SERVICE AND SIGNIFICANCE
You're going to give your life for something - make sure it has a lasting significance.
○ Service is the pathway to REAL significance. Thru ministry we discover the meaning of our lives
§ Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body - Romans 12:5
○ As you serve in God's family, your life times on eternal importance
§ I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less…because of what you are a part of. - 1 Cor 12:14a
○ WHAT MATTERS IS NOT THE DURATION OF YOUR LIFE, BUT THE DONATION OF IT. NOT HOW LONG YOU LIVE, BUT HOW YOU LIVED
If you're not involved in any service or ministry what excuse have you been using?
○ Abraham was old
○ Jacob was insecure
○ Leah was unattractive
○ Joseph was abused
○ Moses stuttered
○ Gideon was poor
○ Samson was codependent
○ Rahab was immoral
○ David had an affair and all kinds of family problems
○ Elijah was suicidal
○ Jeremiah was depressed
○ Jonah was reluctant
○ Naomi was a widow
○ John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least
○ Peter was impulsive and hot tempered
○ Martha worried a lot
○ The Samaritan woman had several failed marriages
○ Zacchaeus was unpopular
○ Thomas had doubts
○ Paul had poor health
○ Timothy was timid
○ BUT GOD USED EACH OF THEM FOR HIS SERVICE, AND HE'LL USE YOU TOO IF YOU STOP MAKING EXCUSES
DAY 29
P2P: Service is not optional
V2R: For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do. - Ephesians 2:10
Q2C: What is holding me back from accepting God's call to serve him?
Day 28. It Takes Time (The Purpose Driven Life)
Everything on earth has its own time and its own season.
○ Ecc. 3:1
I am sure that God who began a good work within you will keep right on helping you grow in his grace until his task within you is finally finished on that day when Jesus Christ returns.
○ Phill 1:6
There are NO shortcuts to maturity
○ Spiritual growth like physical growth takes time.
○ While we worry how fast we grow, God's concern is how strong we grow. He views our life from and for eternity so there's no hurry.
○ Our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like him - 2 Cor 3:18b
WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG?
○ We are slow learners
§ We often have to relearn a lesson 40 or 50 times to really get it. Sometimes we revert to our old ways, which is why we need repeated exposure.
○ We have a lot to unlearn
§ While you were given a brand new nature at the moment of conversion, you still have old habits, patterns, and practices that need to be removed and replaced.
○ We're afraid to humbly face the truth about ourselves
§ You can't grow w/o a humble, teachable attitude
○ Growth is often painful and scary
§ There's no growth w/o change
□ There's no change w/o fear or loss
¨ There's no loss w/o pain
◊ Every change involves a loss of some kind
§ You must let go of old ways in order to experience the new
□ We fear these losses, even if our old ways were self defeating, because like a worn out pair of shoes, they were at least comfortable and familiar
○ Habits take time to develop
§ Your character is the sum total of your habits
□ You must practice Christ like character to develop it.
¨ It takes time! There are no instant habits
◊ Practice these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress - 1 Tim 4:15
¨ Repetition is the mother of character and skill. These character building habits are called "spiritual disciplines"
DON'T GET IN A HURRY -How to cooperate with God in the process
§ Believe God is working in your life even when you don't feel it.
□ Everything in earth has its own time and its own season - Ecc 3:1
§ Keep a notebook or journal of lessons learned
□ Not a diary of events, but a record of what you're learning
¨ Insights & life lessons God teaches you about him, yourself, life, relationships, etc
□ Record these so you can review/remember and pass them on to future generations
□ Review your spiritual journal regularly to spare yourself unnecessary pain and heartache
¨ It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off - Heb 2:1
§ Be patient with God and yourself
□ Great souls are grown through struggles and storms and seasons of suffering
¨ Don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed - James 1:4
§ Don't get discouraged
□ These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, don't despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day! - Habakkuk 2:3
□ A delay is not a denial from God
REMEMBER HOW FAR YOU'VE COME AND NOT JUST HOW FAR YOU HAVE TO GO. YOU'RE NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO BE BUT NEITHER ARE YOU WHERE YOU USED TO BE.
Day 28
P2P: There are no shortcuts to maturity
V2R: God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again. - Philippians 1:6
Q2C: In what area of my spiritual growth do I need to be more patient and persistent?
Image from www.deviantart.com "Expression of maturity" by elifercan
Day 27. Defeating Temptation (The Purpose Driven Life)
Run away from anything that gives you the evil thoughts - but stay close to anything that makes you want to do right.
○ 2 Tim 2:22
Remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you're tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.
○ 1 Cor. 10-13
There is a way out
You may feel that a temptation is too overpowering for you to bear, but that's a lie from Satan.
God has promised NEVER to allow more on you than he puts within you to handle it. He does not permit ANY temptation that you could not overcome.
However you have to do your part by practicing these...
4 Biblical Keys to Defeat Temptation.
1. Refocus your attention on something else
i. Nowhere in the Bible does it say "resist temptation" it says "resist the devil", which is VERY different
ii. Instead we're told to REFOCUS OUR ATTENTION because resisting a thought doesn’t work.
1. It only intensifies our focus on the wrong thing and strengthens its allure.
a. Every time you try to block a thought out of your mind, you drive it deeper into your memory. By resisting you're actually REINFORCING
2. Don't fight the thought, just change the channel of your mind and get interested in another idea
iii. The battle for sin is won OR lost in your mind.
1. Whatever gets your attention will get you.
a. I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust upon a young woman - Job 31:1
b. Keep me from paying attention to what is worthless - Psalm 119:37a
c. We naturally move toward whatever we focus our attention on (power of suggestion).
d. The more you think about something, the stronger it takes hold on you.
iv. Temptation begins by capturing your emotions. What gets your attention arouses your emotions. Then your emotions activate your behavior, & you act on what you felt
1. Ignoring a temptation is far more effective than fighting it
a. Sometimes this means physically leaving a tempting situation
b. Spiritually, your mind is the most vulnerable organ
i. To reduce temptation, keep your mind occupied with God's Word and other good thoughts (principle of replacement)
ii. You overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)
iii. Fix your thoughts on Jesus - Hebrews 3:1
iv. Fill your mind with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. - Philippians 4:8
v. If you're serious about defeating temptation you MUST MANAGE YOUR MIND AND MONITOR YOUR MEDIA INTAKE
1. Be careful how you think, your life is shaped by your thoughts - Proverbs 4:23
2. Don't allow trash into your mind indiscriminately. Be selective.
2. Reveal your struggle to a godly friend or support group
i. You are better off to have a friend that to be all alone - If you fall, your friend can help you up. But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble - Ecc. 4:9-10
ii. If you're stuck in a cycle of good intention-failure guilt, YOU WILL NOT GET BETTER ON YOUR OWN!
1. Some temptations are only overcome with the help of a partner who prays for you, encourages you, and holds you accountable
iii. God's plan for your growth and freedom includes other Christians.
1. Authentic, honest fellowship is the antidote to your lonely struggle against those sins that won't budge
a. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed - James 5:16
iv. Satan wants you to think that your sin and temptation are unique so you won't get help
v. The reason we hide our faults is pride. We want others to think we have everything "under control".
1. Truth is whatever you can't talk about is already out of control
2. If you could handle it on your own, you would have already done so. Willpower and personal resolutions are enough.
a. Some problems are too ingrained, habitual, and big to solve on your own.
3. Humble yourself so you can get better.
a. God sets himself against the proud, but he shows favor to the humble. So humble yourselves before God. - James 4: 6-7a
3. Resist the Devil
i. After humbling yourself and submitting to God, DEFY THE DEVIL
1. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you - James 4:7
ii. HOW DO YOU RESIST THE DEVIL?
1. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God - Eph. 6:17
a. ACCEPT GOD'S SALVATION. WITHOUT CHRIST WE'RE DEFENSELESS AGAINST THE DEVIL
i. If you're a believer Satan can't force you to do anything. He can only suggest
b. USE THE WORD OF GOD AS YOUR WEAPON AGAINST SATAN
i. Jesus modeled this when he was tempted in the wilderness. Every time Satan suggested a temptation, Jesus countered by quoting a Scripture. HE DIDN'T ARGUE WITH SATAN. He simply quoted Scripture from memory.
ii. There is power in God's Word, and Satan fears it. That's why memorizing Scripture is absolutely essential to defeating temptation.
iii. MEMORIZE ON SCRIPTURE A WEEK FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!
4. Realize your vulnerability
i. God warns us to NEVER GET COCKY AND OVERCONFIDENT; THAT'S THE RECIPE FOR DISASTER.
1. The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond care. - Jeremiah 17:9
a. That means we're good at fooling ourselves. Given the right circumstances, any of us are capable of any sin. Never let down your guard and think you're beyond temptation.
2. Don't carelessly place yourself in tempting situations. Avoid them (Proverbs 14:16)
a. It's easier to stay out of temptation that to get out of it
i. Don't be so naïve and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence - 1 Corinthians 10:12
DAY 27
P2P: There is always a way out
V2R: God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it - 1 Corinthians 10:13b
Q2C: Who could I ask to be a spiritual partner to help me defeat a persistent temptation by praying for me?
Image from www.deviantart.com "Temptation" by greendc11
Day 26. Growing through Temptation (The Purpose Driven Life)
***THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST CHAPTERS OF THIS BOOK! EVERYONE READ THIS. COPY,PASTE, AND PRINT IT OUT. PUT IT IN YOUR WALLET YA PURSE....MEMORIZE IT. IF I WOULD'VE HAD THIS WRITTEN DOWN AND ON MY PERSON I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE A LOT OF THINGS.....***
Happy is the man who doesn't give in and do wrong when he is tempted, for afterwards he will get as his reward the crown of life that God has promised those who love him.
○ James 1:12
On the path to spiritual maturity, even temptation becomes a stepping-stone RATHER than a stumbling block when you realize that it is just as much an occasion to do the right thing as it is to do the wrong thing. Temptation simply provides the choice.
THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
· Love
· Joy
· Peace
· Patience
· Kindness
· Goodness
· Faithfulness
· Gentleness
· Self-control
God develops the fruit of the Spirit in your life by allowing you to experience circumstances in which you're tempted to express the exact opposite quality!
HOW TEMPATION WORKS
All temptations follow the same pattern…..
1. Satan IDENTIFIES a DESIRE inside of you.
i. Sinful - revenge or controlling others
ii. Legitimate/normal - to be loved, valued, treasured
iii. Temptation starts when Satan suggests (with a thought) that you give in to an evil desire, or that you fulfill a legitimate desire in a wrong way OR at the wrong time.
1. ALWAYS BEWARE OF SHORTCUTS
2. Temptation always starts in your mind, not in circumstances
a. Mark 7:21-23
b. James 4:1
2. Satan tries to GET YOU TO DOUBT WHAT GOD has SAID ABOUT THE SIN
i. Is it really wrong? Did God really say not to do it?
ii. Didn't God mean this prohibition for someone else or some other time.
iii. Doesn't God want me to be happy
iv. Hebrews 3:12
3. Deception
i. Satan is incapable of telling the truth. Anything he tells you is untrue OR a half-truth
ii. Satan offers his lie to replace what God has already said in his Word.
iii. A little sin is like being a little pregnant: It will eventually show itself
4. Disobedience
i. You finally act on the thought you've been toying with in your mind
1. What began as an idea gets birthed into behavior
2. You'll give in to whatever got your attention
3. You believe Satan's lies and fall into the trap that James warns about
a. James 1:14-16
OVERCOMING TEMPTATION
· Refuse to be intimidated
○ You'll never outgrow temptation
○ In a sense consider temptation a compliment
§ Satan doesn't have to tempt those who are already doing his evil will; they're already his
§ Temptation is a sign that Satan hates you, not a sign of weakness or worldliness. It's a normal part of being human and living in a fallen world.
○ 1 Cor. 10:13
○ It's not a sin to be tempted. It only becomes a sin when you give in to it.
§ You can't keep the Devil from suggesting thoughts, BUT you CAN choose not to dwell or act on them
□ For example, many people don't know the difference between physical attraction/sexual arousal, and lust. THEY'RE NOT THE SAME
¨ Attraction and arousal are the natural spontaneous God given responses to physical beauty WHILE lust is a deliberate act of the will.
¨ Lust is a choice to commit in your mind what you'd like to do with your body. Attraction isn't lust until you begin to dwell on it.
○ The closer you grow to God, the more Satan will try to tempt you
§ Sometimes when you're praying, Satan will suggest a bizarre or evil thought just to distract you and shame you. Don't be alarmed or ashamed, realize that Satan fears your prayers and will try anything to stop them. Treat the thought as a distraction from Satan and immediately refocus on God.
· Recognize your pattern of temptation and be prepared for it
○ There are certain situations that make you more vulnerable to temptation than others.
○ You need to identify them because Satan surely knows them!
§ He knows exactly what trips you up, and is constantly working to get you into those circumstances
§ 1 Peter 5:8
○ Ask yourself
§ When am I most tempted?
□ What day of the week? What time of day?
§ Where am I most tempted?
□ Work, home, neighbors house, bar, airport, motel, out of town?
§ Who is with me when I'm tempted?
□ Friends? Coworkers? A crowd of strangers? When I'm alone?
§ How do I usually feel when I am most tempted?
□ Tired? Lonely? Bored? Depressed? Under stress? When I've been hurt or worried? After a big success or spiritual high?
§ Avoid those situations as much as possible
□ The Bible tells us repeatedly to anticipate and be ready to face temptation
¨ Matt. 26:41
¨ Eph. 6:10-18
¨ 1 Thess 5:6,8
¨ 1 Peter 1:13; 4:7; 5:8
□ Eph. 4:27
□ Wise planning reduces temptation
¨ Proverbs 4:26-27
¨ Proverbs 16:17
· Request God's help
○ God wants you to ask him for assistance in overcoming temptation
§ Psalm 50:15
James 1:12
DAY 26
P2P: Every temptation is an opportunity to do good
V2R: God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. - James 1:12
Q2C: What Christ like character quality can I develop by defeating the most common temptation I face?
Image from www.deviantart.com "Temptation" by blackimage9
Day 25. Transformed by Trouble (The Purpose Driven Life)
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
○ 2 Corinthians 4:17
God has a purpose behind every problem.
He uses circumstances to make us more like Jesus than he depends on our reading the Bible. Because we face circumstances 24/7
We felt we were doomed to die & saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us. - 2 Cor 1:9
You'll never know that God is all you need until God is all you've got.
We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son. - Romans 8: 28-29
UNDERSTANDING ROMANS 8:28-29
· "We know" : Our hope is based on the truths that God is in complete control
· "that God causes" : There's a Grand Designer behind everything
· "everything" : God's plan for your life involves ALL that happens to you - mistakes, sins, hurts, illness, debt, disasters, divorce, & death
· "to work together" : The events in my life work together in God's plan
· "for the good" : God brings good out of the bad
· "of those who love God and are called" : this promise is only for God's children
· "according to his purpose" : The purpose is that we become like his Son. Everything God allows to happen in my life is permitted for that purpose!
BUILDING CHRISTLIKE CHARACTER
· These troubles come to prove that your faith is pure. This purity of faith is worth more than gold. - 1 Peter 1:7a
· When you've been refined by trials, people can see Jesus' reflection in you
○ Under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. - James 1:3
RESPONDING TO PROBLEMS AS JESUS WOULD
· Remember that God's plan is good
· Rejoice and give thanks
○ "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"- 1 Thes. 5:18
· Refuse to give up
○ Let the process go on until your endurance is fully developed, and you will find that you have become men of mature character…with no weak spots - James 1:3-4
DAY 25
P2P: There is a purpose behind every problem.
V2R: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. - Romans 8:28
Q2C: What problem in my life has caused the greatest growth in me?
Image from www.deviantart.com "T for Trouble" by midwest-complex
Day 24. Transformed by Truth (The Purpose Driven Life)
People need more than bread for their life; they must feed on every word of God.
○ Matt. 4:4
God's…gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need.
○ Acts 20:32
Spiritual growth is the process of replacing lies with truth
○ Sanctify them by the truth: your word is truth - John 17:17
§ Sanctification requires revelation
§ Through the Word we are put together & shaped up for the tasks God has for us - 2 Tim. 3:17
○ God's Word is ALIVE
§ The word's that I have spoken are spirit & are life - John 6:63
§ When God speaks, things change
§ God decided to give us life through the word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things that he made - James 1:18
§ The Bible is far more than a doctrinal guidebook
□ Generates life
□ Creates faith
□ Produces change
□ Frightens the devil
□ Causes miracles
□ Heals hurts
□ Builds character
□ Transforms circumstances
□ Imparts joy
□ Overcomes adversity
□ Defeats temptation
□ Infuses hope
□ Releases power
□ Cleanses our minds
□ Brings things into being
□ Guarantees our future forever
§ You should consider it as essential to your life as food.
§ God's Word is the spiritual nourishment you must have to fulfill your purpose.
ABIDING IN GOD'S WORD
· To be a healthy disciple of Jesus, feeding on God's Word must be your first priority.
○ If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine. - John 8:31
· I must accept its authority
○ Must become the authoritative standard for my life
○ The compass I rely on for direction
○ The counsel I listen to for making wise decisions
○ The benchmark I use for evaluating everything
○ The Bible must ALWAYS have the 1st & LAST word in my life
○ Every word of God is flawless - Pro. 30:5
○ Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching & helping people & for correcting them & showing them how to live - 2 Tim. 3:16
○ I believe everything that agrees with the Law & that is written in the Prophets - Acts 24:14
· I must assimilate its truth
○ Receive it
§ Listen and accept it with an open, receptive attitude
§ Consider carefully how you listen - Luke 8:18
§ Every time you feel like you're not learning something from a sermon check your attitude, because God can speak through the most boring teacher IF you're humble and receptive
□ In a humble (gentle, modest) spirit, receive & welcome the Word which implanted & rooted in your hearts contains the power to save your souls - James 1:21b
○ Read it
§ He should keep it with him all the time and read from it every day of his life - Deu. 17:19a
○ Research it
§ Ask questions of the text and write down your insights
§ Truly happy people are those who carefully study God's perfect law tat makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what God's teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy. - James 1:25
○ Remembering it
§ Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise - Col. 3:16a
○ Reflect on it
§ Meditate on the Word - focused thinking! Like worrying but positive
· I must apply its principles
○ We must become "doers of the word" - James 1:22
○ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. - John 13:17
○ We avoid personal application because it can be difficult or even painful
§ The truth will set you free, but first it may make you miserable
§ God's Word
□ Exposes our motives
□ Points out our faults
□ Rebukes our sin
□ Expects us to change
○ The best way to become a doer is to always write out "ACTION STEPS" as a result of reading or studying or reflecting
§ Personal - involving me
§ Practical- something I can do
§ Provable - with a deadline to do it
DAY 24
P2P: The truth transforms me
V2R: If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed; and you shall know the truth, & the truth shall make you free. - John 8:31-32
Q2C: What has God already told me in his Word that I haven't started doing yet?
Image from www.deviantart.com "Bible" by BunnySprinkle
Day 23 - How We Grow (The Purpose Driven Life)
God wants us to grow up… like Christ in everything.
○ Ephesians 4:15a
We are not meant to remain as children
○ Ephesians 4:14a
Nothing shapes your life more than the commitments you choose to make.
○ Your commitments can develop or destroy you, but either way they will define you. Tell me what you are committed to, & I'll tell you what you'll be in 20 years. We become what we're committed to.
HOW I'll GROW
a. God's part & My part
i. Christ likeness is the result of making Christ like choices and depending on the spirit to help me fulfill those choices.
ii. I must begin to act in new ways, I'll need to let go of some old routines, develop some new habits, & intentionally change the way I think.
1. The holy Spirit will help me with these changes
a. Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it's god who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. - Phil 2;12-13
b. Change my autopilot
i. To change your life, you must change the way you think.
1. Behind everything you do is a thought.
2. Every behavior is motivated by a belief
3. Every action is prompted by an attitude
a. Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts - Proverbs 4:23
b. Let god transform you into a new person by changing the way you think - Romans 12:2b
c. There must be a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes - Eph. 4:23
4. Stop thinking immature thoughts - self centered/seeking
a. Stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be like adults. - 1 Corinthians 14:20
b. Those who live following their sinful selves think only about things that their sinful selves want - Romans 8:5
5. Start thinking maturely - Focus on others not me
a. The Christian life is far more than creeds & convictions; it includes conduct and character. Our deeds must be consistent with our creeds, & our beliefs must be backed up with Christ like behavior
b. We should think of their good & try to help them by doing what pleases them.. Even Christ didn't try to please himself - Romans 15:2-3a
DAY 23
P2P: It is never too late to start growing.
V2r: Let god transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of god - what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. - Romans 12:2b
Q2c: what is one area where I need to stop thinking my way, and start thinking God's way?
Image from www.deviantart.com "Culture Box" by mygeneration
Day 22- Purpose 3: You were Created to Become Like Christ (The Purpose Driven Life)
Let your roots grow down into Christ and draw up nourishment from Him. See that you go on growing in the Lord and become strong and vigorous in the truth.
○ Colossians 2:7
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son…we see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him
○ Romans 8:29
Aspect of Being made "In God's Image"
○ Spiritual Beings - our spirits will outlast our bodies
○ Intellectual - we can think, reason, and solve problems
○ Relational - Can give and receive real love
○ Moral Consciousness - can discern right from wrong (which makes us accountable to god)
All people possess part of the image of god, BUT the image is incomplete and has been damaged or distorted by sin. God sent Jesus to restore the full image we have lost!
The full image of God looks like JESUS CHRIST!
Christ likeness is all about transforming your character not your personality
God wants you to develop the Kind of Character Described in:
1. Matt 5:1-12
2. Gal 5:22-23
3. 1 corin 13
4. 2 peter 1:5-8
GOD'S SPIRIT WORKING IN YOU
It's the holy spirit's job to produce Christ like character in you
○ 2 Corinthian 3:18b
1. We must cooperate with the holy spirit's work
○ Releases his power the moment you take a step of faith
○ Obedience unlocks god's power
§ God waits for you to act first. Don't wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy spirit, & it's how your character develops
○ 3 responsibilities in becoming like Christ - Eph 4:22-24
i. Choose to let go of old ways of acting
1. Eph 4:22
ii. Change the way you I think
1. Eph 4:23
2. Romans 12:2
iii. "Put on" the Character of Christ By developing new godly habits
1. Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; how you habitually act
2. Eph 4:24
2. God uses his word, people, & circumstances to Mold us
a. All 3 are indispensable for character development
i. The word provides the truth needed for growth
ii. God's people provide the support we need to grow
iii. Circumstances provide the environment we need to practice Christ likeness
3. Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of Growth
a. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it's a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of my life
i. Eph 4:13
b. I am a work in progress
Day 22
P2P: I WAS CREATED TO become like Christ
V2R: As the spirit of the lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. - 2 Corinthians 3:18b
Q2C: In what area of my life do I need to ask for the Spirit's power to be like Christ today?
○ Colossians 2:7
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son…we see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him
○ Romans 8:29
Aspect of Being made "In God's Image"
○ Spiritual Beings - our spirits will outlast our bodies
○ Intellectual - we can think, reason, and solve problems
○ Relational - Can give and receive real love
○ Moral Consciousness - can discern right from wrong (which makes us accountable to god)
All people possess part of the image of god, BUT the image is incomplete and has been damaged or distorted by sin. God sent Jesus to restore the full image we have lost!
The full image of God looks like JESUS CHRIST!
Christ likeness is all about transforming your character not your personality
God wants you to develop the Kind of Character Described in:
1. Matt 5:1-12
2. Gal 5:22-23
3. 1 corin 13
4. 2 peter 1:5-8
GOD'S SPIRIT WORKING IN YOU
It's the holy spirit's job to produce Christ like character in you
○ 2 Corinthian 3:18b
1. We must cooperate with the holy spirit's work
○ Releases his power the moment you take a step of faith
○ Obedience unlocks god's power
§ God waits for you to act first. Don't wait to feel powerful or confident. Move ahead in your weakness, doing the right thing in spite of your fears and feelings. This is how you cooperate with the Holy spirit, & it's how your character develops
○ 3 responsibilities in becoming like Christ - Eph 4:22-24
i. Choose to let go of old ways of acting
1. Eph 4:22
ii. Change the way you I think
1. Eph 4:23
2. Romans 12:2
iii. "Put on" the Character of Christ By developing new godly habits
1. Your character is essentially the sum of your habits; how you habitually act
2. Eph 4:24
2. God uses his word, people, & circumstances to Mold us
a. All 3 are indispensable for character development
i. The word provides the truth needed for growth
ii. God's people provide the support we need to grow
iii. Circumstances provide the environment we need to practice Christ likeness
3. Becoming like Christ is a long, slow process of Growth
a. Spiritual maturity is neither instant nor automatic; it's a gradual, progressive development that will take the rest of my life
i. Eph 4:13
b. I am a work in progress
Day 22
P2P: I WAS CREATED TO become like Christ
V2R: As the spirit of the lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more. - 2 Corinthians 3:18b
Q2C: In what area of my life do I need to ask for the Spirit's power to be like Christ today?
Image from www.artisanartsonline.com "The Cruxification" by Anthony Armstrong