EggShells Part 1

Eggshells

Introduction: EggShell story.

It is futile to try to glue the eggshell back together. It has no value. You were never intended to stay in that environment.

Some of you are living your life trying to glue eggshells back together together. You are trying to appease people that are no longer a part of your life, trying to change situations that cannot be changed. It is time to move on, let go, rise to your purpose, walking into your future.

If you are walking on eggshells, it means it is time for you to spread your wings and fly.

God Intends for Us to Change

Luke 19:12–28 NIV84

He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ “But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ “ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ “Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’ “His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’ “Then he said to those standing by, ‘Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’ “ ‘Sir,’ they said, ‘he already has ten!’ “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ ” After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

Faithful Service to the Lord results in promotion from the Lord.

Spoiler Alert: Promotion Means Change.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV84

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

God’s purpose is to CHANGE us to be more like Jesus.

Living things grow.

Growth means change.

Change produces discomfort.

Life requires growth.

Growth requires change.

Life requires change.

Life requires discomfort.

To resist or to refuse to change is to eventually die.

There is no relationship in your life that should remain static. Every relationship has to change to facilitate growth.

-Dog with collar on its neck that was too small.

Sometimes people do not want to see us change, because it forces a change in our relationship with them.

If you are 40 years old and your momma is still picking out your clothes for you, you both have problems. She wants a baby and you don’t want to grow up.

I have watch in ministry as God began to bless and promote a person and their peers could not accept their leadership. So they would literally leave an organization rather than submit to the leadership of a peer.

But the reality is this- you cannot survive in the egg. You will die there. You were never meant to stay in that egg. God intends for you to grow, learn, walk, fly, mate and reproduce. And you cannot do any of those things if you stay in that egg.

Ultimately God’s intention is to change us so that we are more like Jesus. This involves:

Increased intimacy: First and foremost God wants us to know Him and love Him more. In fact, He wants this so much that He is willing to remove anything from our lives that is hindering us from knowing and loving Him. Because He knows that knowing and loving Him is what is best for us.

Improved character:

Increased capacity: Equipping us with greater vocational skills

Increased faith: We do not know that He can provide for us and protect us in the wilderness until we have walked in the wiilderness.

7 Reasons God May Lead us into Transition

Reward

Refine

Refresh

Release

Reassign

Redirect

Reprove

Sea Turtles climb on shore, dig a hole and lay 50-100 eggs at a time. After they have laid the eggs, they cover them up and leave. And in the darkness, buried deep in the sand, inside of those eggs, the baby turtles begin to develop. They grow. And for awhile they all just sort of lay there still in the darkness. But finally one of the seaturtles gets restless and begins to move, which causes another to move, until soon the whole nest is a writhing motion of baby seaturtles, climbing out of their shells, digging their way to the surface and then racing to the ocean.

When I read that I got excited, because that is how the Body of Chist is supposed to be. When one person gets excited about the Lord and starts running after God, then others get stirred and soon the whole group starts running after God.

And you cannot get close to the Lord and not be changed.

The first step in thriving through transition is to understand the growth process.

Stages Of Spiritual Growth

Conception

Formation

Transition

Fruition

Conception: Unity creates life. When people align with divine purpose, God uses us to bring spiritual life to others. Spiritual life begins in a person when they are born again, joined to Christ, separated from sin.

Formation: Becoming in hiding the person of our calling

Transition: Breaking out of the temporary boundaries God used to develop to seek out the environment in which we can fulfill our destiny. Breaking out of the egg into the light of day and the freedom of life

Fruition: Engaging in those purposes and projects for which we were created, called and anointed by God.

Sometimes God Has To Move Us To Move Us

Growth Catalysts

Frustration

Mistreatment

Frustration: with yourself, with the status quo, with a situation

Mistreatment:

Frustration: Confined by artificial boundaries

Seasons of Change

Signs of Change

Strategies for Change

Challenging Relationships