Recognizing Our Part
Walking In Victory • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsEncourages us to seek our success not in stuff, but in pursuing God’s Kingdom.
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Introduction
Introduction
Today we finish our series on Walking In Victory. There are so many different thoughts that went through my mind concerning this message, it was hard to nail down anything specific. What I want you to know this morning is that the Lord is vigorously pursuing His portion and He is patiently waiting for us to pursue ours.
When we consider what our portion truly is in comparison to what the Lord has done, is doing, and will continue to do for our benefit, for our success, for our victory; we have the easier part for sure.
Matthew 6:
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,
yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’
For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I. Seek first the kingdom of God
I. Seek first the kingdom of God
A. All material provision comes from God.
Behold, to the Lord your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it.
To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
The economy changes. Success is fleeting. But when we get success through God, it’s from one who “does not change like shifting shadows.”
Just as the birds’ and the flowers’ provision comes from God, so the best of things for us come from God.
Maslow’s Hierarchy vs. Jesus’ command.
How many people know about the five levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Physiological Needs
Physiological Needs
The basic physiological needs are probably fairly apparent—these include the things that are vital to our survival. Some examples of the physiological needs include:
Food-Water-Breathing-Homeostasis
In addition to the basic requirements of nutrition, air and temperature regulation, the physiological needs also include such things as shelter and clothing. Maslow also included sexual reproduction in this level of the hierarchy of needs since it is essential to the survival and propagation of the species.
Security and Safety Needs
Security and Safety Needs
As we move up to the second level of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the requirements start to become a bit more complex. At this level, the needs for security and safety become primary. People want control and order in their lives, so this need for safety and security contributes largely to behaviors at this level.
Some of the basic security and safety needs include:
Financial security-Heath and wellness-Safety against accidents and injury
Finding a job, obtaining health insurance and health care, contributing money to a savings account, and moving into a safer neighborhood are all examples of actions motivated by the security and safety needs.
Together, the safety and physiological levels of the hierarchy make up what is often referred to as the basic needs.
Social Needs
Social Needs
The social needs in Maslow’s hierarchy include such things as love, acceptance, and belonging. At this level, the need for emotional relationships drives human behavior. Some of the things that satisfy this need include:
Friendships-Romantic attachments-FamilySocial groups-Community groups-Churches and religious organizations
In order to avoid problems such as loneliness, depression, and anxiety, it is important for people to feel loved and accepted by other people. Personal relationships with friends, family, and lovers play an important role, as does involvement in other groups that might include religious groups, sports teams, book clubs, and other group activities.
Esteem Needs
Esteem Needs
At the fourth level in Maslow’s hierarchy is the need for appreciation and respect. When the needs at the bottom three levels have been satisfied, the esteem needs begin to play a more prominent role in motivating behavior.
At this point, it becomes increasingly important to gain the respect and appreciation of others. People have a need to accomplish things and then have their efforts recognized.
In addition to the need for feelings of accomplishment and prestige, the esteem needs include such things as self-esteem and personal worth. People need to sense that they are valued and by others and feel that they are making a contribution to the world. Participation in professional activities, academic accomplishments, athletic or team participation, and personal hobbies can all play a role in fulfilling the esteem needs.
People who are able to satisfy the esteem needs by achieving good self-esteem and the recognition of others tend to feel confident in their abilities. Those who lack self-esteem and the respect of others can develop feelings of inferiority.
Together, the esteem and social levels make up what is known as the psychological needs of the hierarchy.
Self-Actualization Needs
Self-Actualization Needs
At the very peak of Maslow’s hierarchy are the self-actualization needs. "What a man can be, he must be," Maslow explained, referring to the need people have to achieve their full potential as human beings.
According to Maslow’s definition of self-actualization:
"It may be loosely described as the full use and exploitation of talents, capabilities, potentialities, etc. Such people seem to be fulfilling themselves and to be doing the best that they are capable of doing... They are people who have developed or are developing to the full stature of which they capable."
Self-actualizing people are self-aware, concerned with personal growth, less concerned with the opinions of others, and interested fulfilling their potential.
If we attain to our basic needs, but we don’t fulfill our higher purpose—then our life has been a waste (vs 25b)
Example: The Mercedes in the gas station. You may have the nicest car, but you’re so worried about feeding it gas that you never take it out and drive it. We can be the same way if we worry so much about meeting our basic needs, but never leave the gas station and accomplish our higher purpose.
B. We must therefore attain success through God’s prescribed method.
1. God’s method of seeking success is to not seek it at all.
2. We must seek God—not things… and he will give us the things! It’s a matter of trust!
, Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
a. God is very much interested in our trust for him. If everything he told us to do made sense, then we wouldn’t have to trust him.
b. We can “reason” or “think” together about what would make us successful… but God says that we should not lean on our own understanding. Even when it contradicts our logic, we must trust that his ways are right.
c. In all your ways—the reason so many people don’t find the Christian walk working for them like it should, is they try to go about it half-heartedly. God’s ways work! But only when we follow them completely.
d. We spend so much time in life wondering where to go and what to do… b/c life throws curveballs at us. But God promises that if we trust in him and follow his ways that he will make the way in front of us straight:
No confusing twists and turns…
Making a road straight also meant removing obstacles in the roadway to make it travelable.
C. We cannot hold back from God, in order to attain success. If we do so, we’ll cut ourselves off from the source of our success.
1. Church is important. If you’re too busy for the House of God, you’ll never find success.
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
II. And his righteousness
II. And his righteousness
A. There is a lot of talk about prosperity in Pentecostal churches. I’m not here to promise you that being a Christian will make you rich. But where the Bible does talk about material blessings, it’s not about “name it and claim it” or anything else, it’s about RIGHTEOUSNESS.
B. When we are living right, we enter into a new kind of life, where our every action is directed by the Lord, who desires nothing but good for us.
The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way;
though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.
NLT, “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand. Once I was young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken, nor seen their children begging for bread.”
C. It’s not that we’re signing a contract with God to become millionaires when we start living right. In fact, if we’re still thinking about the things, then we’re trying to serve 2 masters, which is impossible. But we begin to dwell in a new area of blessing.
C. It’s not that we’re signing a contract with God to become millionaires when we start living right. In fact, if we’re still thinking about the things, then we’re trying to serve 2 masters, which is impossible. But we begin to dwell in a new area of blessing.
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.
O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!
Better is one day in your court, than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. 12 O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
III. Jesus did not tell us not to work toward achievement
III. Jesus did not tell us not to work toward achievement
A. The Bible condemns laziness.
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
Without having any chief, officer, or ruler,
she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.
B. It’s a matter of priorities. We must put the Kingdom and righteousness first. (Example: Agabus’ medicine & breakfast) The love and hate that Jesus talks about with money is not emotional hate. It’s hate that says that something that is less important gives way to something more important. What is important to you?
B. It’s a matter of priorities. We must put the Kingdom and righteousness first. (Example: Agabus’ medicine & breakfast) The love and hate that Jesus talks about with money is not emotional hate. It’s hate that says that something that is less important gives way to something more important. What is important to you?
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn,
Matthew
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done.
“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.
Come trust Him more deeply today, allow every weight to be removed. Let there be no restrictions in your relationship to your Heavenly Father this morning!