Archive for July, 2006

Being Content When it Doesn’t Make Sense

Sunday, July 30th, 2006

Read at beginning of service:

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

INTRODUCTION

(Read text: Philippians 4:10-23)

A Russian woman lived with her husband & two children in a very small hut. Her husband?s parents lost their home & she had to take them in. Unbearable. In desperation, she went to the village wise man, whom she knew had solved many, many problems. “What should I do?” she begged. “Do you have a COW?” asked the wise man. “Yes,” she replied. “Then bring her into the hut too. And come back and see me in a week,” said the wise man. A week later she was back. “This is utterly unbearable!” she said. “Do you have any CHICKENS?” asked the wise man. “Yes,” she replied. “What about them?” Bring them into the hut too, and come back and see me in another week.” “Now you?re really out of your mind,” she said. Nevertheless, still awed by his reputation, she did as he asked. A week later she returned. “This is absolutely impossible!” she said. “Our home is a mess.” “All right,” said the wise man, “take out the chickens.” The next week she reported that without the chickens it was definitely better, but still a miserable situation. “All right,” said the wise man, “now take out the cow. That will settle your problem.” And it did. Without the chickens and cow the woman, her husband, the children, and his two parents got along quite peacefully. (quoted in the message “Learning Contentment” by Roddy Chestnut)

Sometimes we don?t know how well off we really are until we know how worse it can get! Today I?m going to speak on something that Paul wrote that I believe is a major key to knowing the peace of God in your life. Sadly enough this attitude that Paul talks about is one that seems incredibly elusive to the average person in our part of the world. Even among Christians. Paul talks about contentment. And isn?t it ironic that though we live in one of the most prosperous nations on the face of the earth in the history of the world this attitude is still one that people struggle with.

The main emotion of the adult American who has had all the advantages of wealth, education, and culture is disappointment. (John Cheever, from Leadership Journal)

Contentment is all about being satisfied. The word content means to “be enough”, “to suffice” and has to do with being at peace or okay with what is available.

Are you a contented person? Now be honest, are you satisfied with yourself & with your life? Are you content with your job? Do you look forward to going to work? Do you love the people you work with?

How about your marriage? Are you happy? Do you & your spouse get along well all of the time, part of the time, or just some of the time? Maybe you?re single & you think, “If only I were married, then I would be happy.” Maybe you?re married & you think, “If only I were single again.”

What about your body? When you get up in the morning & look in the mirror do you say, “Oh God, I am fearfully & wonderfully made. Thank you, Lord.” Or do you look in the mirror & say, “Now there?s a scary sight, help me Lord!”

Are you happy with your income? Do you feel like you?re paid what you?re worth? The average income of a major league baseball player is over a million dollars a year. Of course, some baseball stars are making many millions a year. But most ballplayers are “struggling” along, making only $300,000 to $400,000 a year. Are you satisfied with your salary?

The Apostle Paul wrote while he was in a Roman prison these words,

Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

“I have learned the secret of being content,” it seems to me that Paul deserves a hearing. He?s getting old. He doesn?t have any money where he once was rich. His health is beginning to decline ? he once was strong. He?s in prison ? he once was free. Yet he says, “I have learned the secret of begin content”.

Now I don?t know if you?ve noticed or not but when somebody mentions the phrase, “I?ve got a secret” people tend to listen a little more closely! In this case, Paul?s secret is certainly worth listening closely to. You see Paul clearly recognized the importance of contentment. As he went to write this letter he was in prison awaiting either release or execution. The church at Philippi, which he helped found, was entering into a time of persecution. Paul wrote this letter as an encouragement to them to bear up under the trials they were about to face and keep an attitude of joy. He continually pointed them to his own life as an example of how to rejoice in the midst of pressure and uncertainty. Paul had learned what it meant to be content no matter what and wanted to teach the Philippians how to cultivate the same mindset.

Before I go into what Paul writes about the secret of being content in any and every situation I think its important I talk about the enemies of contentment ? I?ll call them the dissatisfactors.

ENEMIES OF CONTENTMENT

Dissatisfactor #1: Unrealistic Expectations

Some of you have parents who grew up during the depression & had very little. And when they married & had children, they didn?t want them to be as deprived as they were. So they worked hard to get what they had.

But today we look around and find people of younger generations including mine getting married and wanting everything that took their parents and grandparents years to accumulate, immediately! The level of expectations has changed & many people today just expect to be able to live the lifestyle they want immediately.

Sometimes people get married and then discover their spouse is not perfect. They go to work and discover that their boss is not ideal. Then there are times when the discovery is made that your friends measure up short.

Then there are people who become Christians, thinking that Christians have it all together and that becoming a Christian will make them perfect too. But they find out that that?s not the case. They?re still attacked by temptations and Christians do make mistakes and mess up from time to time. So there is a disappointment and lack of contentment simply because of unrealistic expectations.

Unrealistic Expectations can affect a lot of different areas in life ? whether it?s your expectations of others, yourself, things you own, organizations, vacations, your job etc. Now I?m not saying that it isn?t good to have expectations, or dreams, or goals. What I am saying is that when they are unrealistic you are set up for disappointment and discontent.

Dissatisfactor #2: Unnoticed Blessings

We live in one of the most affluent nations in the world. We have more possessions, more freedoms, more opportunities than almost anyone else. And yet, overall, we?re among the most unhappy people on the face of the earth and our suicide rate is extremely high.

Think about some of the things we have or that we want are they necessities or luxuries? A car? Television? One or more than one? VCR? Stereo? What about that super deluxe weed whacker garden trimmer? Or the quiet, efficient, ultra powerful dishwasher? We want all those things.

And yet Paul writes about himself and the early Christians in 1 Timothy 6:8

1 Timothy 6:8 (NIV)

8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Today we have a whole lot more than just food and clothing and many are still not content because they forget their many blessings.

Dissatisfactor #3: Uncontrolled Ambition and Unfulfilled Purpose

Now the Bible does not condemn ambition. It encourages us to be ambitious and to strive for excellence in the sight of God. And there is the key. You see when ambition is uncontrolled, or when it simply fuels our own ego, it becomes evil. James writes,

James 3:16 (NIV)

16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Time magazine reported that a mugger held up a woman at gunpoint and demanded her money. But when she only had $12.50 in her purse he became very angry. Then he saw her checkbook and insisted that she write him a check for $300. The next day they arrested him when he tried to cash that check. (quoted in “Are You Content” by Melvin Newland)

Seems like a stupid thing to do doesn?t it? And yet, uncontrolled ambition can sometimes dull our thinking to the point we aren?t even sane. Uncontrolled or selfish ambition becomes the enemy of contentment.

In Luke 12, Jesus tells about the rich farmer who had a bountiful harvest, more than ever before. But instead of thinking about others, he said, “I?ll build bigger barns. And I?ll say to myself. “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?”

Hebrews 13:5 says,

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have?

The Bible is clear that we are to be content with what we have. We are to be ambitious, but ambitious for the right things ? the things of God ? not the things of man. God has made us for a purpose and gifted us with talents and abilities to accomplish that purpose. When that purpose goes unfulfilled or your talents/abilities are misdirected through selfish uncontrolled ambition then discontent rules

Dissatisfactor #4: Unconfessed Sin

Ultimately the biggest enemy of contentment is sin. Now I?m sure if we thought about it, each one of us could come up with a big list of things that we might classify as sin. However, I think that if left to ourselves some of us may have different lists. There may be things that one person considers a sin that another person doesn?t. Or at the very least many of our lists would have varying degrees of sin. You know, things that we think are worse than other.

A lot of the differences will be a result of different backgrounds, values/beliefs, and experiences in life. I think one common thing among all those lists however, would be the general impression that sin is something bad, and something undesirable. Ultimately, however, God has the final say in what sin is. The biblical definition of sin in my understanding is anything that is an affront to the character and work of God and contrary to the creator?s intended purpose for mankind. The truth is, unconfessed sin is the leading cause of discontentment in our world today because sin chains people.

Oh sure, there?s a lot of sin that gives pleasure ? but the pleasure is short-lived and paves the way for discontentment. Here?s the thing. If you actually sat down and came up with a list of things you would classify as sin there most likely will be some things that fit the biblical definition of sin that some people won?t include in their lists because it?s a practice in their own life. I can pretty much guarantee you that those unconfessed sins are a source of great discontentment.

Proverbs 14:12-13 (NIV)

12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. 13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief.

SUMMARY: unrealistic expectations, unnoticed blessings, uncontrolled ambition, unconfessed sin.

Now let?s look at Paul?s secret of being content in any and all situations. His first lesson,

SECRETS OF CONTENTMENT

Satisfactor #1: Affirm Christ as the Centre of your life.

The verse I?m about to read is one of the most quoted in the entire Bible. Sadly, it?s often taken out of context and people come to think of it like Popeye?s trusty can of spinach.

Read verse 13

Philippians 4:12-13 (NIV)

12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

If you read verse 13 without verse 12 and all that comes before it you might look at Jesus like a super vitamin! You might think that you can go out and run a marathon without training just because you?re a Christian. Hey, go try it. I dare you. Taken by itself, you might conclude that you could perform surgery or pilot a plane or run for prime-minister successfully because God will empower you to do it. You?d be wrong. That?s not what these verses taken together are telling us.

Paul?s point is that no matter what circumstances he faces, God?s power is available to help him be content in them. There?s no can of spinach to help you beat up Brutus here. Yes, God does empower us in miraculous ways sometimes, but don?t use this verse as a proof text to go out and do superhuman feats!

What God gives us is maybe even more miraculous than lifting a car over our heads. He gives us the ability, the strength, the power to be content no matter what situation we face. We are only able to do this as we affirm Christ as the centre of our lives.

When you read certain sections of Paul?s letter to the Philippians you can?t help but notice the value he place?s on having an intimate knowledge of and relationship with Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:8-9 (NIV)

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

Paul initiated this relationship by Recognizing the depravity of sin and the sufficiency of Christ to take care of it

In another letter that Paul had wrote he described his awareness of the work of sin in his own life,

Romans 7:15-25 (NIV)

15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.

There is only one solution to the problem of sin in our lives and that is the work and person of Jesus Christ. When you confess your sin and believe in Jesus Christ as the one who died and rose to life again you open the door to His grace, and mercy, and forgiveness in your life. Paul says in the next chapter,

Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Not only is sin dealt with but you are free to experience this life-giving relationship with God.

Jesus said to his disciples,

John 10:10 (NIV)

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

The more you die to yourself and live to Christ ? the greater your contentment will be. Paul considered the most important pursuit of his life to be his relationship with Jesus and making Him the centre of your life.

Satisfactor #2: Cherish the blessings in your life.

Philippians 4:10-11 (NIV)

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.

When Paul initially began his missionary expeditions, churches like the one at Philippi enthusiastically supported him. They sent him money, supplies, and whatever help he needed. By this time in his life, lots of that initial enthusiasm died down and the resources dried up. Some estimate that it had been as long as ten years since the Philippian church had helped Paul in any way. Now suddenly they send Epaphroditus to help Paul out, but Epaphroditus gets sick and almost dies. He becomes more of a burden to Paul than a source of strength.

Despite all these let downs, notice Paul?s attitude toward the Philippian believers. Not once does he lay a guilt trip on them. Not once does he moan about how they dropped the ball in the past. Never does he criticize them for the feeble helper they sent. No instead, he thanks them. “I?m so happy that you thought about me.” He recognized that for all those years of silence the Philippian church simply had no opportunity to help him. They just weren?t able.

Paul focused on the things he had and the love and care behind them. He cherished it all and it reinforced his joy and sense of contentment.

How opposite his attitude is from the typical response of some folks when they perceive that the church has let them down. There have been times as a pastor where I have seen people focus on what they?re failing to receive rather than being grateful for what they have. I have heard when people have complained about how much they feel as though the church has forgotten them and doesn?t care but then I know that isn?t true. There were so many things that were being done for them in their lives, that were demonstrations of the care that is present, yet that didn?t matter because they were focused on what they didn?t have. (unnoticed blessings)

Contentment only comes when you take stock of what you do have ? the people and the things in your life ? and cherish them or are grateful for them. You can only do that when you?re willing to think the best about people and their motivations.

If you consistently focus on what you don?t have and all the failed expectations in your life, contentment and joy will be an impossibility for you. We are flawed, sinful human beings. We will drop the ball and actively hurt one another from time to time. When you?re on the receiving end of the hurt, failure or disappointment the question is “What are you going to do with it?”

Paul was able to get past it because he “learned” the secret of contentment. It wasn?t a natural ability but one he had been taught. He intentionally responded by looking at the positive, trusting people, forgiving their failures and cherishing the blessings in his life.

Satisfactor #3: Nullify selfish pursuits

In this next section of his letter to the Philippians I want you to notice how concerned Paul is with their well-being. If you pay close attention you?ll notice he shares with them another secret of contentment.


Philippians 2:1-4 (NIV)

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

I want you to consider this statement?every blessing we have in our lives is a channel through which we can bless someone else. The only way this truth can take root however is when we learn to nullify our own selfish pursuits and in humility look not only to our own interests but also to the interests of others. Yes, it?s important to cherish and be grateful for the many blessings we have in life ? but we must be careful that we don?t become possessive of those things. Contentment comes not only through being grateful for what you have but also through passing it on. This is where the importance of Christ as the centre of your life is so crucial ? because this cannot be done without the power of God to enable us to do it.

Paul learned to be content by nullifying his selfish desires and pursuits. He intentionally chose to focus on what God was doing through him and other people.

Think deeply and honestly for a moment about the direction of your life. What?s the focal point of your thoughts? What are the major pursuits that take up your time? What do you spend your money, time and talents on? Contentment and joy are only possible when you surrender it all to God?s plan.

This poem by a confederate soldier, written more than a hundred years ago says it all:

I asked for health that I might do greater things,

I was given infirmity that I might do better things?

I asked for riches that I might be happy,

I was given poverty that I might be wise?

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men,

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God?

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life,

I was given life that I might enjoy all things?

I got nothing that I asked for but everything that I hoped for.

Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am among all men most richly blessed.

(quoted in “Contentment 101″ by Joel Smith)

SUMMARY: dissatisfactors – unrealistic expectations, unnoticed blessings, uncontrolled ambition & unfulfilled purpose, unconfessed sin.

Satisfactors ? Affirm Christ as the centre of your life. Cherish what you?ve been given. Nullify selfish pursuits.

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Getting in On the Creator’s Work

Sunday, July 23rd, 2006

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Read at beginning of service:

2 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV)

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

INTRODUCTION

Every now and then I come across statements that are used often in Christian circles but when I think about it are really things I wish we would be more careful in saying. One of those statements is?”God wants to use you”. To me the word “used” can be a bit negative. At least it is without explanation. Why? Well for one, we live in a very “user” oriented world. In this context there?s the sense of “using” something for personal gain ? in some cases when that something is “used” it is then discarded because it becomes useless. In other cases something is used over and over again until it is worn out. When talking about using tools, instruments, medication, food etc. it?s just a descriptive verb. However in it?s most negative contexts the word “used” is associated with being taken advantage of. How many of you have ever said (or heard someone say), “He/She used me!”

Now with that being said, let?s really think about the statement, “God wants to use you”. You see where I think we need to be careful about what we say sometimes? I mean how many husbands would dare say, “yeah I want to use my wife.” Or wives say, “I want to use my husband”. It smacks full of egocentric bullying and sounds incredibly selfish. So when we say, “God wants to use you” there can be this immediate association with how God is out to use people for His own personal gain and then they?re discarded or that we are just brainless “tools/instruments” in God?s hands. The sad thing is ? there are people who believe that.

Of course for the most part, when Christians use that statement that?s not really what we mean. What we really mean is that God wants to work in and through your life to transform you, to influence others through you, and to glorify His name. Is this for His benefit? Yes ? but the difference is, it?s also for your benefit. When God “uses” us it doesn?t deteriorate us but instead enriches us. The people God “uses” experience great blessings in their lives and are a great blessing to others and bring great blessing to God. In a real sense, God is blessed when we are blessed.

I believe that seeking to be “used” by God is really endeavoring to partner with His work. And friends, His business is the best thing we could ever be a part of.

People all over the world can testify to the richness of their lives when they “get in” on the creators work. Recently there has been an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a revival at Bethel Pentecostal Church in Sarnia Ontario. Some of the reports that I?ve been reading coming from the revival are really exciting. People getting healed. Lives being transformed ? and you know what the cool thing is? It?s not just happening in the church building. What?s really inspiring for me when I read about this is what?s happening in ordinary people?s lives who are getting in on what God is doing. Let me just share one example ?

At the beginning of June Candice, a 17-year-old girl had a broken hand. Some of the youth who were attending revival services went to her high school and were praying for healing for students at the school. Candice was healed through their prayers and went to church on a Thursday night to check it out. At church God convicted her of sin in her life and she dedicated her life to Christ.

The next day (Friday) at school a friend complained of pain in his ear, and she prayed for him. The power of God touched the young man and healed his ear.

On Saturday Candice joined an outreach team in Canatara Park to share her faith. That night as a result of the Word of God she had heard preached, she went home and filled two garbage bags with drug paraphernalia, alcohol, clothes, posters, and other things that she believed were strongholds in her life. She has completely turned her life around, has been set free from bondage and is stepping out in power and authority for the cause of Christ. (originally published on the website of Bethel Pentecostal Church, Sarnia, Ontario, June 2006)

This is exciting! And that?s just one example of many of the kinds of things God is doing as they partner with Him in His work. What does the Bible say is the fruit of his kingdom?

But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control? –Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

I?ve got to ask you the question, who wouldn?t want to be a part of something like this? Who wouldn?t want to partner with our creator in His work to advance His kingdom, and see His power at work? Who wouldn?t want to experience the fruit of the Spirit in their lives? Hopefully there is a kernel of desire awakened in your spirit to partner with God in the incredible work he?s doing. If so, then I want to share with you 5 keys to inviting the powerful work of God through your life.

Embrace the Dream – Believe that God wants to work in through you.

This is so important ? until you actually believe that God wants to work through you it isn?t going to happen. If you are going to be used by God, you will have to believe that God will use you. God has already made it abundantly clear in His word that His desire from day one has been to work in and through man to accomplish His greatest works.

In the beginning, He set Adam and Eve over the rest of His creation and Adam even named the animals. He walked with them and talked with them. What do you think they were talking about?

Reading through the Old Testament you?ll find story after story of how God took ordinary people and accomplished great things through them.

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, and Timothy was timid. That is quite a variety of misfits, but God used each of them in his service.

(The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren, p. 233)

Something is common in every story of a person used by God is that they first must come to a place where they embrace God?s dream for them ? where they actually believe ? “Hey! God wants to use me!”

Discover the hangups – Realize/recognize that He can?t use you unless sin/pride is dealt with

There is a problem however and that problem is sin. At it?s root sin is simply that state of pride that declares “I don?t need God. I am God” With that delusion everything moral is a matter of relevance and the door is closed to God?s blessing in our lives.

At it?s utter core all sin is traced to the single characteristic of pride. That is why the greatest hindrance to God working in your life is pride!


James 4:6 (NIV)

6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

The more you die to yourself and live to Christ the more “useable” and effective you are for God?s work.

Every single one of us have “hang ups” in life that we pride fully hold on to. Things that we might say are off limits. Friends if you really want to be used by God you have to surrender everything to him. Everything. All your hang-ups ? everything. It?s not just all the bad things ? but it means all the good things as well ? there must be nothing that you hold back from God. Why is that? Because anything you say is off limits becomes an issue of pride.

So before you can be used by God you need to ask Him to show you all those hang-ups in your life. To show you the sin in your life. To show you the pride in your life. And He will. We need to pray the prayer of David,


Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

It?s a simple truth ? Holy God can?t partner with Sinful and Prideful Man. Until we realize and recognize the sin/pride in our own lives we?ll never make it to/follow the next principle.

Repent of Sin and Release Your Hang-ups – Signing up for the adventure

Once you are aware of your sin and your prideful hang ups two things need to happen ? we confess our sins, and release our hang-ups.

I want to make something clear in case you?ve got it all wrong ? becoming a Christian isn?t just about praying the sinner?s prayer or raising your hand when the speaker invites you to respond. Becoming a Christian involves receiving instant change and commitment to a process. There are two things that happen when a person becomes a Christian:

Instant Change

They receive forgiveness for their sins and receive the life of Christ in exchange for their old life of the sinful self-nature apart from Christ. There is spiritual awakening that takes place where we are made whole and perfect before God. On the spiritual side of things we are no longer slaves to sin, and it?s bad fruit.

Process of Transformation

However, while there is this “instant” change that takes place there is also a process in which that change is worked into our physical, emotional, and mental lives. Paul calls this process “working out your salvation”

Philippians 2:12-13 (NIV)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed–not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence–continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

It?s like a blind man who?s been blind from birth. All of a sudden He is healed and instantly he can see! However, he still needs to go through the process of learning everything he?s seeing and working that change into his life.

That?s where commitment comes in and frankly a lot of Christians get stuck on the commitment part because the process can be hard at times.

The key is availability – when you commit to the process of the “working out of your salvation” then you are making yourself available to God?s work. When you say and believe with your heart, “You know what, this isn?t some passing fad or fancy?this isn?t a ?trial-run??I?m in this for the long haul.”

Here?s the cool thing. When you confess your sin, your pride, and release your hang-ups ? God doesn?t leave you alone to the process of transformation in your life. Did you catch what Paul said? “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose!” The truth is, you can?t do it on your own.

Philippians 1:6 (NIV)

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I love what Rick Warren shared to a group of leaders about Moses, he said this,

Remember how God told Moses to throw down his staff? When he did, what happened? When he did, the staff became a snake, a living entity. Then he told him to do what? That’s right! Pick up the snake. At that moment, it became again an inanimate object. Warren said that the staff, when first held in the hands of Moses, represented his identity as a shepherd. It represented his income as one who was paid to take care of his father-in-law’s sheep and goats. It represented his influence. It was the instrument with which he guided and protected the flocks entrusted to him. And it even represented his infirmities, his broken dreams, failures of the past and sense of inadequacy for the future. When he was willing to lay down his identity, his income, his influence and his infirmities before God, the staff came alive with potential for the future. And when he picked it back up, it was no longer just a shepherd’s staff. It was known as the “rod of Moses.” When this uniquely gifted man, humbled by life, let go of all he had, laying the staff humbly before God, he was able to pick it up and, with God’s help, begin, at age 80, what was the most productive era of his life

Getting in on the agenda ? spend quality time with God.

The purpose of this principle can be restated in this little nugget that you can remember: Spend more time with God and God spends more time with you. To see God?s powerful work in your life and to understand His unique purpose for you requires getting in on His agenda through prayer and absorbing His word.

Matthew 4:1-2 (NIV)

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

Jesus started his ministry after a forty day fast in the desert where he encountered temptations from Satan. What is true of all great men and women used by God is the passionate love they have for Him and the time they spend with Him.

Any ministry done that is not birthed by a relationship with Jesus Christ, a personal encounter with the Holy Spirit, is counterfeit before God?s eyes. And hear me, success in religious activity does not constitute being used of God. Someone may minister to thousands, be a world known minister and still not be truly used of God. Being popular in religious circles didn?t impress Jesus Christ during his ministry. He rebuked the religious spirit every time he faced it.

On the flip-side even the seeming most insignificant things can be given incredible importance when a person spends quality time with God and gets to know HIS Agenda!

What does spending quality time with God entail? Reading the Bible, Praying, and making a point of meeting with Him.

What happens when you do this? What happens is you begin to recognize the voice of the Spirit of God. You begin to learn His agenda for your life and are more aware of His direction in the areas He wants you to partner with Him on.

Here?s something else to remember: Finding out what God is doing and getting in on it is much easier than trying to figure out what you think God should be doing.

Ephesians 5:8-11 (NIV)

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

Obey God-given opportunities – put some rubber on the road.

As you get in on God?s agenda by spending quality time with Him specific focuses and interests will begin to surface that capture your attention. As you make yourself available to him opportunities will present themselves for you to experience His hand at work. Then you are simply faced with the choice of whether you will act on those opportunities or not.

A couple important things to remember though:

  1. Not every good opportunity is God-given.

Sometimes even the most logical and obvious chances that present themselves can be things that aren?t what we should be doing. How do you learn the difference? Hint?I?ve already told you (Spend Quality Time with God). Bring every opportunity to God before acting on it and then go where your gut leads you. If you are spending quality time with God, and if you are willingly surrendered to His will your “gut feeling” is going to be the direction of the Holy Spirit. God speaks to everyone in a unique way folks so for me to give a formula for hearing the voice of God is pointless. What I can tell you is that as you spend time with God you?ll learn to recognize His voice in your life. (Share about David inquiring of the Lord in 2 Samuel 5)

2 Samuel 5:24 (NIV)

24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.”

2. Just because something seems insignificant doesn?t mean it is.

Friend?s God doesn?t always use us in huge flashy ways. In fact, it is much more likely that the majority of His work in your life will be in the small unnoticed stuff. One story that quickly comes to mind is an event in the life of Christ. It?s a story that some of you are probably familiar with ? and one that illustrates this perfectly. One of the greatest miracles of Jesus recorded in the New Testament is His feeding over 5000 people with a little bit of food equivalent to a couple of McDonald?s Value Meals. Let?s zoom in on a section of that story in John:

John 6:5-9 (NIV)

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

A little boy had in his possession something seemingly insignificant that day that ended up being instrumental in one of Jesus? greatest miracles. I want to caution you, don?t ignore the small barley loaves and small fish in your that show up in your life because you don?t think it?s important to God! Sometimes the right word, or the right act at the right time, in the right place can have a powerful kingdom impact in eternity.

CONCLUSION – Living HIS Lead.

Do you know who has the lead role in the play of your life? You do! But never forget who the director is. The director gives you cues and instructions on playing your part. Following His prompting can mean the difference between a stellar performance or a grating show. There is nothing better than being involved in the incredible and extraordinary work of God and it can happen when you Live His Lead.

So in closing this morning I invite some of you to embark on the most challenging, yet-rewarding adventure of your life as you embrace the life God has for you in Christ and welcome His work in and through you. And to those of you already embarked I encourage you to keep believing that God can use you, release those hang-ups that are revealed by His spirit, commit to the outpouring of His grace in every area of your life, continue to find and treasure quality time with God where you “get in” on His agenda, and finally, put the rubber to the road when those God-given opportunities come your way!

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