Chasing The Lion Pt3

We are continuing our look at Chasing our Lion-sized goals and dreams

We looked at allowing God to expand the size of our dreams

We also looked at the courage it takes to go after our lion-sized dreams

This week we look at the discipline it takes to become someone who can chase down lions

We will look at the sometimes long journey to your great moment of victory

David’s warriors achieved incredible things because:

They had been tried through many battles and stayed in the fight

This created warriors who were fearless because they knew THEIR power and GOD’S power

Eleazar was one such warrior

2 Samuel 23:9–10 HCSB

After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle, but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.

Plunder the Dead

Just a side note hear

Though the army retreated and David & Eleazar won the victory

They shared the victory plunder

David did not think this was wrong, even though they did not fight

The church is the same way

Few do the fighting(work) but everyone gets the rewards

The few that come to prayer meetings

The few that started small groups

The few that show up consistently

but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword.

Eleazar did two things:

He stood his ground

Sometimes you need to stop retreating

Stand your ground spiritually

He attacked the enemy

Nothing will come to us just by praying

Faith is most often expressed through an action

I believe this is the right decision therefore I will:

Go to University for it

Take a risk and say yes to an opportunity

I believe I should be in Canada for school

Therefore I will pay the money for the visa

I believe this church is doing the work of God

Therefore I will get involved with helping the church suceed

Therefore I will give a portion of my money to help the work be done

Eleazar did not become that kind of a courageous ferocious warrior overnight

Eleazar did not become that kind of a courageous ferocious warrior overnight

He had won and lost some battles to become what he was

David did not kill Goliath because he was lucky

He had already killed the bear and lion and knew what he could do in God’s power

It will take faith, courage and preparation

Prayer meeting is preparation

Studying scripture is preparation

Trying and failing is preparation

We need to be trained in how to handle the physical world we live in, its people and its challenges

Ephesians 6:10–12 NLT

A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

You may have a nasty employer who is not treating you properly

Do you beat them

Do you argue and complain to them

no

You pray that the spirit working through them trying to harm you is stopped

Your children are not living properly- drugs-alcohol

Do you scream and hollar at them? (does not work)

No pray that the spirit that lives in them is broken

We need to be trained in this kind of spiritual warfare

We need to be trained on how to be mature, strong, courageous Christians

Hebrews 5:13–14 NIV

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

In order for you and I to chase and capture our God sized dreams

Some examples

It will take faith, courage and preparation/Training

Prayer meeting is preparation

Studying scripture is preparation

Trying and failing is preparation

Being involved in church ministries and activities is training

Here are some examples of people who did amazing things

And how preparation was very much a part of the success

Some examples

Some examples

April 18th 1946 Jackie Robinson -first black player in Major League Baseball

Hit a three -run homer in his first game

George Shuba shaked his hand when he crossed home plate

show slide

George went on to play seven seasons for the Dodgers

1955 World Series Championship

George’s swing was said to be “as natural as a smile”

In off season George would practice by swinging a weighted bat 600 times a day

Did this for 15 years.....47,200 swings every winter!

There was nothing natural about it......

God may have given you a vision/goal

You may have the courage to Chase the lion sized dream

But will you be strong enough, prepared enough, mature enough to handle it.

We cannot just pray as if it depends soley on God

We also have to work as if it depends on us.

Work ethic & prayer ethic = success

Mark Batterson - Chase The Lion

Mark Batterson - Chase The Lion

put in slide of him

Before he wrote his first book (he has now written 11)

He read 3000 books

That’s one way to prepare before you write a book

Pablo Casals - World’s greatest Cellists

put in slide of him

He played in front of Queen Victoria when he was 22

He played in front of President Kennedy when he was 86

he is 96 years old and still practices 3 hours a day

When asked why he said “ I am starting to notice some improvement”

London Philharmonic Orchestra selected 50 of the greatest pieces of classical music

show slide

The List Included:

6 pieces by Mozart

To get these 6 spectacular pieces Mozart had written more than 600 pieces of music

5 pieces by Beethoven

To get these 5 great works, Beethoven created 650 pieces

3 pieces by Bach

Bach wrote more than a 1000 pieces

We live in a culture that celebrates 15 minutes of fame, but God honors a lifetime of faithfulness

Biblical examples:

Moses: Knew he was called to free his people

40 years of academic cultural training

40 years of surrendering to the complete opposite of his dream (obedience)

David knew he was called to be King

David waited over 20 years before he would be king of all Israel

Trained in war-waiting-humility-obedience

Joseph knew his family would bow down before him (pride)

decades before he would see it

He learned humility - trust in God’s plan

Genesis 50:20 NLT

You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

You need to trust that the path you are on, though difficult, will lead you to your destiny

So do your spiritual push ups

share the gospel with people

start a small group

start going to prayer meeting

go to mid-week bible study

Make sure you are spiritually strong

Call to salvation.......