Forward in Faith 2 - The Get on Track

1 – GET on track – start – entrance lane or ramp

Pastor. Lynette Hagan has said

“God has prepared great things for those who love him. But we must desire those things to receive them.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Get on the RIGHT track

Make sure you are in God’s will – His Vision vs your decision

He puts His desires in our hearts

We are to seek first His will – all other things will be added

Matthew 6:33 NLT

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

How Do You Find God’s Track for your life?

I would not recommend googling it.

Word

God speaks to you through a Scripture

Romans 12:2 NLT

2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Vision is found through Prayer

· God answers your questions of His will for your life – during prayer

· Holy Ghost daydreams today Are preparation for tomorrow’s ministry.

· Even if you don’t see it come to pass, keep planning for the next one.

· Even Smith Wigglesworth was not successful 100% of the time, but he kept trying and achieved results that we read about today.

Vision is found by following

Counseling, answering questions

By following someone else:

· God calls followers to continue the legacy of their predecessors

· Moses’s track of national deliverance was continued by his servant Joshua

· Elisha’s track on national MINISTRY was continued by his assistant Elisha – “poured the water”

· David’s national RULERSHIP was continued by his natural son Solomon

· Paul’s ministry was continued by his spiritual son, Timothy

Life Lesson: Get plugged in and don’t uproot yourself every time you get corrected!

Vision is found through Calling

· Listening to someone else

· A Missionary comes to your church, and you want to become one yourself

· Personal prophesy – you are the next pastor

· Counseling –

Vision is found throughProcess of elimination

· spiritual gifts tests – narrows the selection down

· temperament test – narrows the qualification down

We are to be called by God, not man

Illustration: Samuel hears God’s call

Samuel represents those who know their calling from a young age

1 Samuel 3:1–4 NLT

1 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. 2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?”

Tony Cooke: people go to church to be with their friends. Not the teachings…

Avoid selfish reasons for serving

1 – Not talked into it by your friends

Not to fulfill personal needs

2 – Laziness – Seemed like an easy job

3 – Selfishness – greed, titles, position, appearance, status

Desires to be a bishop – not for filthy lucre or to lord it over people – 1 Tim 3

4 – Insecurity – acceptance, affirmation, popularity, public approval (Saul)

5 – Not necessarily the family business

Samuel’s son’s corruption led to Israel rejecting God as their king in favor of voting in Saul by popular vote.

Samuel’s sons were not the people’s choice – Saul was not God’s choice

Saul was not God’s choice = God warned His people of all the bad things that the king they wanted would do to them and their families and nation. They wanted one anyways, so they got Saul

Result = everybody lost out on God’s Vision of the Lord being Israel’s only king

Conversely, David was called FROM his father’s sheep field by God to rule over Israel

Samuel wanted The tallest, oldest and strongest and most experienced – David’s oldest brother

1 Samuel 16:6–7 NLT

6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

But God wanted the youngest, smallest, weakest – runt of the litter –

God chose David because of his HEART

1 Samuel 16:11–12 NLT

11 Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” 12 So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.”

The right track can only be found the right way!