Carry Your Cross: Sacrifees

Introduction

New series

The pastoral Team, spent a day fasting and praying for this new series and in our discussion many themes arised like discouragement from challenges young people are facing and were prayful and in our discussions we concluded there so much transitions happening in this stage of peoples life that it can produce so much discouragement. We felt to we needed to courage pur people to face them, by carrying there cross and overcome with the help of God.

Story

In the story of david a man who since a young age faced many trails and pain but God was with him and evenually becomes king and one day when he was suppose to go to war with his men he doesnt and maybe he was discouraged or maybe he thought whats the purpose we dont know but in that moment he sees a women bathing and he sleeps with her and he later finds out shes pregent so his afriad so he gets his husband murdered. What stood out to me in the story is when David stop engaging in the war or his purpose and where there is no purpose there is no sacriffe and displine. Its our responsiblity to discern the will of God for our lifes and make the proper sacriffess towards them.

The Why

People lack ambition, purpose and daily meaning in there life

Romans 12:1–2 NIV

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Making Sacrifee requires a discernment of Gods will

Makuing sacrifee for Holy Ambition

Making Sacrifee need to be of qaulity

Transition

How do we discern Gods will for our Life?

Sacriffes require a purpose

Pastoral Observation

I seen people hyperfocus on one dimination of your life and neglect another parts of there life and you see the pain in there lifes. I have seen people hyperfocus on there work or school but neglect there relationship with God and His Church.They feel lonely and they wonder why when trails and suffering comes why there is no one is there. I have seen the oppsite where people hyperfocus on ministry and they neglect there finiacials, family and work.. They cant pay there bills and what ive come to understand is people lack discernment on Gods will .. The truth is Gods will and vision for your life is wholisic its not just one diminational.

Parents

Your parents will for your life isnt just one thing they want you to be great in school, great in characer, great husband , great mother and in the same way Gods will for our lifes is multidemitional. We need to search the scriptures and ask whats Gods will God will at my job, Whats Gods will for my health, Whats Gods will for my marriage, Whats Gods will for the ministry he want you serve in. The word of God is a manaul for life and if were ignorant of his word we will be ignorant of his will and if we ignorant of his will we wont make the proper sacriffees nessery.

Story birck layers

It was early morning and two construction worker showed up to start work, The first man full of life and excitement and the second man lacked movatation and lacked intersted. When both were asked why the second man didnt know why he was laying bricks day to day and seemed meaningless. The second man said 50 years from now this building with be a beauitful church. The things he was doing day to day was connected to the vision of building the church. The point is do you see your day to day life meaningless or is what you do day to day connected to the will of God for your life. If you dont make that connection You wont make the proper sacriffes nessacry.

Qoute

C.s Lewis in his book history and edcaution makes shares how after his conversion much of his day to day life didnt change expect how he sees his day to day life changed. He says for the christian there is not spartion between seclular and Sacurite. The if we eat, work, study, we do it for the glory of God.

Application

If your in a season where you if lost and dont have movitation, just observe what you do day to day and fill it with meaning by ask whats Gods will for all i do. All i do from like work family marriage school whats does God vision for this in my life what does his word say about it. You have to start with the why.

Sacrifees for Greatness

Stories

When i was in grade 5 i decided i wanted to go to nba that was my will for my life, i remember running home afterschool and practicing my dribbling in the basement and i did that for years because i wanted to go to the nba. All that years of sacriffee didnt get me to the nba but i made the senior team in grade 7 and became mvp in grade 9. i didnt get to the nba but it taught me the importance of ambition. Then i became a christian in some ways i lost my ambition and some of it had to go becuase it was selfself ambiton i lost the deisre to be great at something. I want to read you guys a passage.

Teaching on greatness

Luke 22:25–27 ESV

And he said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves.

Jesus didnt take away there ambition, he just made it holy,

Jesus didnt take away there desire for greatness but he refined greatness as service

Jesus philophy is greatness is service ,God calls you to service to service yourself, to serve your family, to service at work, to service in ministry, The greatest are servants you can be in all that God wills for your life. Seek greatness be the best student, be the best worshoip leader, be the best employe or manager, be the best husband and father, be the best be great have a holy ambition in all the Gods will is for your life. ultimate its for his glory.

Biniam Story

My friend Biniam, he was great at witnessing but he also worked faithfully at work for the lord. There was a season where he didnt have much and he asked me in the beginning opf the year to e transfer him 20 dollars and he prayed he found a job. In this job because he worked ard he got promoted three time and one day this man asked him if he would allow him to steal a part for farm and he would pay him half the amount. Biniam frustrated reported to the manager, the manger so pleased he promotated him to be the excutive manger and he paid for his honeymoon and give him a home. I remember see all this happen in one year and in reflect it taught me that where you are be faithful to the lord because his the one who promotes you.

Transition

Make qaulity sacriffes in the things Gods wills for your life you will be reward in this life or the life to come

Sacriffes require quality

Stories

in the cain and abel story we see one is a farmer and a shephard, they both go to God to offer make sacriffees and were told in the narrative that one gave qaulity offering and the another it wasnt of high qaulity. God reawrds abel because of his sacriffe and cain get envies so he calls him to the feild and he kills him.

Teaching God rewards qaulity sacrifees

What this taught me is God rewards quality sacrifees, he rewards us for everything we do for his glory. s. God doesnt judge the qaulity of the sacrifee based on colour or gender but on the qaulity of the sacrifee for his will and Glory.

Society rewards Quality Sacriffes

Scoiety rewards quality sacriffes thats why you go to the best doctors, read the best books, watch the best movies its because you reward there sacriffes.

Jesus tells us he will reward our sacriffes

JSalvation is a gift but rewards are earned Jesus rewards you for all the sacriffes you have make to glorify him and he will rewards in the new creation.

worship team come

Transition

Paul says things like i worked harder then all the apostles but not I but the grace of God with me. you see

Grace promotes qaulity sacriffee for the Will of God in your life.

Poems

"Living Sacrifice"

In surrender, we find our truest worth, As living sacrifices upon this earth. Renewing our minds, transformed within, Seeking God's will, abandoning sin. Our bodies, temples of the Holy One, Dedicated to His work, until life is done. Not conformed to this world's empty chase, But renewed by grace, embracing His embrace. With hearts aflame, we offer our all, Responding to the Savior's loving call. No longer driven by selfish desires, But consumed by love, that never tires. In service and kindness, our lives will shine, Reflecting the light of the One divine. For as living sacrifices, we bear His name, His love, our guide, our eternal flame.

Poetry

by Violet KingThe way may seem hard, The road may be rough - To endure to the end You have to be tough, But try to stand firm, Be positive too! Your faith can be strong, And you will win through. You won't be alone - No, never my friend, The burden is shared, Right down to the end. Our Father in Heaven, And Jesus, our Lord Are waiting to give you Your eternal reward.

Application

We going to open the alter if you need to surrender things in your life that are hindering Gods will in your life

Closing prayer

Thank you you reards every good thing we have and will do for your name come lord Jesus