CORE VALUES: EXERTING EFFORT . . .
NEW LIFE CORE VALUES • Sermon • Submitted
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· 11 viewsExerting Effort . . . to give our best in every opportunity.
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IMPERATIVES: #1 Determine Your Goal;#2 Pick A Point (It’s important to have a one point message. That way you only have one thing to remember.);#3 Create A Map (Me-We-God-You-We);#4 Internalize The Message (Tell a story that takes them on a journey) (Whether it’s a journey to your childhood home or a journey to a life-changing truth, it’s a story that will take you there.) (People make it difficult when they try to communicate points instead of telling a story.) (When you stand up and speak without notes and without having to read your sermon, you’re saying, “This is so important that it’s a part of me — and I think you should make it a part of you, too!”);#5 Engage The Audience;#6 Find Your Voice;#7 Find Some TractionPrayer, Checklist Questions: What do they need to know?Why do they need to know it?What do they need to do?Why do they need to do it?MAP:ME - Explain who you are and what you’re all about. Pastor in his church uses as introduction of idea or topic.WE - It takes me from what I’m thinking or feeling to what WE are thinking and feeling. I have to find an emotional common ground with them around the topic or idea of the message. My goal is to raise a felt need with as many people in the audience as I canGOD - where I take this emotional common ground I’ve established and introduce biblical truth into the discussion. Now I’m providing a solution to the need I just raised. Remember, we are not teaching the Bible to people; we’re teaching people the Bible. First, we connect with the people; then we move to the Bible.YOU - Once I’ve introduced God’s view on the subject as the answer to the need, it makes it easy for me to then ask, ‘What are you going to do about it? This becomes the application segment, and if I’ve followed my map well, instead of having to stir up interest in making the application, the application comes as a relief or it’s always the answer to a question they’re already asking. Communicate the challenge at a personal level because life-change is going to come when people apply the truth to their lives. You just go back, and everywhere you raised a need, now you make an application and make sure you don’t raise a felt need that you aren’t going to cover from God’s Word and answer with an application. The worst thing a communicator can do is overpromise and under-deliver. You’re building trust with your listeners. Not just trust in the information, but trust in the relationship.WE - the place to cast a common vision. A vision of what our lives, our church, and even our world would look like if only we would apply the truth of God’s Word. It’s the inspirational part of the message. My goal at this point is to inspire people to make a change. Sometimes being faced with God’s Word can leave the listener feeling defeated, if all they think about is how far they have to go. But, if I can give them a picture of what life will be like once they apply the truth, then they have a little hope.
GOAL: To help New Life to understand the Core Value of “Exerting Effort . . . to give our best in every opportunity.
GOAL: To help New Life to understand the Core Value of “Exerting Effort . . . to give our best in every opportunity.
POINT: Exerting Effort to give our best in every opportunity.
POINT: Exerting Effort to give our best in every opportunity.
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Douglas Malloch writes in his poem “Be The Best of Whatever You Are”
If you can’t be a pine on the top of the hill,
Be a scrub in the valley — but be The best little scrub by the side of the hill;
be a bush if you can’t be a tree.
If you can’t be a bush be a bit of the grass,
And some highway happier make;
If you can’t be a muskie then just be a bass --
But the liveliest bass in the lake!
We can’t all be captains, we’ve got to be crew,
There’s something for all of us here,
There’s big work to do, and there’s lesser to do,
And the task you must do is the near.
If you can’t be a highway then just be a trail,
If you can’t be the sun be a star;
If isn’t by size that you win or you fail --
be the best of whatever you are!
“The Will To Win” by Berton Braley
If you want a thing bad enough
To go out and fight for it,
work day and night for it,
give up your time and your peace and your sleep for it
If only desire of it
Makes you quite mad enough
Never to tire of it,
Makes you hold all other things tawdry and cheap for it
If life seems all empty and useless without it
And all that you scheme and you dream is about it,
If gladly you’ll sweat for it,
Fret for it, Plan for it,
Lose al your terror of God or man for it,
If you’ll simply go after that thing that you want.
With all your capacity,
Strength and sagacity,
Faith, hope and confidence, stern pertinacity,If neither cold poverty, famished and gaunt,
Nor sickness nor pain
Of body or brain
Can turn you away from the thing that you want,
If dogged and grim you besiege and beset it,
You’ll get it!
“Success” by Niderah
The road to success is not straight.
There is a curve called Failure,
A loop called Confusion,
Speed bumps called Friends,
Red lights called Enemies, and Caution lights called Family.
But if you have a spare called Determination,
An engine called Perseverance,
Insurance called Faith, and A driver called Jesus,
You will make it to a place called Success!!
All of these poems are written by people who at one point in their lives were digging deep for something in their lives. They were inspired by a dream, by a vision, by something that they really wanted to see happen desperately in their lives! They may have come from a tough life or maybe not, but one thing that I see is that they aspired to be the best that they could be for one reason or another. Maybe it was to be recognized . . . because they grew up not being recognized! Maybe it was just that they wanted to be an influence for someone . . . or maybe just because they wanted to actually be the best that they could possibly be during the time they were on this earth! But, whatever their reason . . . they understood something about Exerting Effort and wanting to be the best they could be!
When we think about giving our 100% best all of the time we quickly realize that philosophically that we really can’t because the moment that we start giving our 100% that number dwindles . . . unless we are Duracell battery that is plugged into a recharging source 100% of the time so that we really never drain but continue to work off of the continuous power that is coming in.
NO! It just can’t be! But we can give 100% of the allotted energy we have even though that is constantly dwindling! We can give the best that we have 100% of the time because it really originates from an attitude more than it does from the energy that is in our bodies!
You see in the definitions of the words “Exert” & “Effort” it doesn’t mention anything about the source of our energy but it does talk about “a force, an influence, or quality of physical or mental effort.” And it does talk about “a vigorous or determined attempt with strenuous physical or mental exertion.”
The Concise Oxford English Dictionary says that
Exert means to “apply or bring to bear (a force, influence, or quality), or to make physical or mental effort.
Effort is “a vigorous or determined attempt . . . with strenuous physical or mental exertion
(ME)
(ME)
As a pastor I am given instruction from the book of when it comes to my giving.
You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’ “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.
Speaking out of the OT in we see “the offerings that the Levites would render to the Lord . . . ‘the best and holiest part of everything.’ Never is God the happy recipient of shoddy gifts; his demands are of the very best that one has.”
God knows that we are human and that our energy, unlike His, will run out! We see this in every aspect of our lives!
For example; think about character qualities like patience. As we go through a day, if we have had a good nights rest, our patience can be very good at the beginning of the day dealing with people, situations, and so forth; but as the day goes on, and our energy level depletes, our patience may wane because our reserves are being depleted! Unlike us, God who has all power, His patience doesn’t wane . . . He puts up with our nonsense, our whining, our complaining, our falling, our sinning over and over again . . . giving us chance after chance to get it right!
Like so many other qualities in our lives . . . God still reigns victoriously because where our resources are depleted . . . His are not!
But, again, God is not talking about that in as much as He is talking about giving 100% of our best determined by an attitude of “GIVING OUR BEST IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY!”
(WE)
(WE)
What does that look like when we really get down to where the “rubber meets the road!” kind of thing! The reality of it!
Well, we know that we are all given 24 hours a day everyday of the week! We all get no more and no less! That’s just a no brainer!
How we spend that is really up to each of us as we determine! But, we all know the reality of outside pressures that impede upon our time, our energy, and so forth . . . and how we “deal with” or “handle” those outside pressures will determine our success of accomplishing what we set out to do!
What we all really come to is the question of how INTENTIONAL we set out to be with the time and energy allotted to us for the day given to us! We can easily go haphazardly through our day or we can set out . . . even the night before and begin to INTENTIONALLY lay out our day!
BUT! EVEN ALREADY WE FEEL THE TENSION RISING IN US!
YOU MAY BE SITTING THERE IN YOUR SEAT RIGHT NOW SAYING “PASTOR, IF YOU ONLY KNEW WHAT MOST OF MY DAYS LOOK LIKE!”
AND YOU KNOW . . . I GET IT! I REALLY DO! I have days like you are thinking about all of the time . . . WE ALL DO!
WHAT I’M ASKING FOR THE NEXT BIT OF TIME . . . IS THAT YOU GIVE ME YOUR ATTENTION TO SEE WHAT THE WORD OF GOD LAYS OUT FOR US!
MESSAGE
MESSAGE
(GOD)
(GOD)
“If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in another man’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.
You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’ “Say to the Levites: ‘When you present the best part, it will be reckoned to you as the product of the threshing floor or the winepress.
I believe the Word of God identifies at least 5 things for us to pay attention to when we think about EXERTING EFFORT to give our best in every opportunity!
The first is not even all about 1 person doing it all. No! It is an . . .
Organized Effort
When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to his own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and workmen by day.” Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.
It is an Organized Effort and it depends on more than just 1! In Nehemiah it speaks of the efforts of Nehemiah and the people with him rebuilding the walls! It speaks of their enemies efforts to derail the plan and how God frustrated the enemies plan . . . and how God gave them wisdom to deal with those things that were putting pressure on them! It speaks of this organized effort to finish the task at hand!
Guards by night and workmen by day! It speaks of a plan with a built in warning system of when the enemy might decide to attack that they would have ample warning to deal with the enemy and thwart their attacks! It was truly an organized effort to compete the task at hand!
We probably have all experienced something like this in our lives!
How many times are you going through the day at home and you get a last minute notification that someone unexpected is stopping over . . . and the house is a mess! We rally the troops (in our case it was our 6 children and the 2 of us) and we give instructions and directions and sure enough by the time the unexpected company arrived we had a clean house! IT WAS AN ORGANIZED EFFORT that did not depend upon 1 person! It took a group of people but the job or task at hand was completed successfully and victoriously!
You must present as the Lord’s portion the best and holiest part of everything given to you.’
We’ve seen this happen in this very church! I think of the Backpack Giveaway! There is no way on God’s Green Earth that 1 person can pull off an outreach that big and serve over 200 people by themselves! No, it takes a group of people . . . it takes an ORGANIZED EFFORT!
SECONDLY, IT TAKES . . .
Diligence in [our] Effort
“If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets them stray and they graze in another man’s field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field or vineyard.
When word came to Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it—though up to that time I had not set the doors in the gates— Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were scheming to harm me; so I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer.
What do I mean by “DILIGENCE IN [OUR] EFFORT? I mean that it takes constant & earnest effort, it takes care and caution, it means focused effort!”
Nehemiah thwarted the enemies efforts of distracting him from the work that he had set out to accomplish!
He said to them “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down!” He had his mind, his efforts, his energy, his resources focused on the task at hand!” He also knew what the enemies plan to distract and destroy was!
We also have that advantage! We know the plans that the enemy has to kill, steal, and destroy us in !
There are times when the Lord speaks to us and gives us discernment about things that will effect our focused purpose and tasks at hand . . . when the enemy is trying to derail us from what the Lord wants us to accomplish!
How many times does the things of this world step between us and the goals we have for our families (our sons & our daughters), our spouses, our co-workers, someone we are building a relationship with, some purposeful task that we have determined to accomplish because God laid it on our hearts! Maybe it is even a health issue that we know we have to achieve because if we don’t it will effect the quality of our lives!
God wants us to be DILIGENT IN OUR EFFORTS! He wants us to be CONSTANT & EARNEST in our EFFORTS! He wants us to take CARE AND CAUTION and be FOCUSED!
And when we are organized in our efforts, and we are diligent and focused . . . we need to be . . .
Inspired in our EFFORTS!
Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord. Then Haggai, the Lord’s messenger, gave this message of the Lord to the people: “I am with you,” declares the Lord. So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty, their God,
“I am with you!” These words were comforting and encouraging to a people oppressed by enemies and depressed by failing crops. Without God we can do nothing; with him all things are possible. The Lord stirred the spirits of the two teachers, Zerubbabel and Joshua, and of the people; and they began to work on the temple.
I know this . . . when inspiration comes . . . when the dream or vision comes . . . when we get laser focused and we see the picture of what can be reality . . . we can get excited about something and begin to run when God wants us to walk! We want the good so badly that many times we throw off all restraints to get there that we actually throw off reason also! This is why the next principal is so important!
Estimate the Cost — Ill-considered Effort
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’
We must consider our efforts! Estimate the cost! See if we have the resources to complete it! God is our strength!
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Beyond all of these things! It takes our . . .
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Highest Effort
and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I haven’t obtained it . . . but have I been made perfect . . . but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. . . . Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead . . . I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward!
ADDITIONAL PASSAGES, THOUGHTS, PRINCIPALS, TOPICS
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Do your best to come to me quickly,
Do your best to come to me quickly,
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter
“In accordance, respectively, with the measure of their individual capacities . . .
The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary Spiritual Gifts
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (Gk. ta pneumatika, the spiritual supply; charismata, “gifts”). A phrase used to denote the endowments bestowed by the Holy Spirit in the primitive church (1 Cor. 12:1), and the same as “gifts” (v. 4). A spiritual gift “means any extraordinary faculty, which operated for the furtherance of the welfare of the Christian community, and which was itself wrought by the grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in special individuals, in accordance, respectively, with the measure of their individual capacities, whether it were that the Spirit infused entirely new powers, or stimulated those already existing to higher power and activity (Rom. 12:6ff.)” (Meyer, Com., on 1 Cor. 12:1). These gifts included word of wisdom; knowledge; faith; healing; effecting of miracles; prophecy; distinguishing of spirits; tongues; and their interpretation (vv. 8–10). See under various heads.
(YOU)
(YOU)
What about YOU? Where are you at with having something to EXERT YOUR EFFORTS TOWARDS? Have you got a dream? Have you got a vision?
or BETTER YET! Has a dream got a hold of you? Has a vision got a hold of you?
Because once it has . . . there is nothing that will stop you! When God puts that “THING” inside of you . . . when it GRIPS the very essence of you . . . when it won’t let go . . . there is nothing that will keep you from accomplishing that “THING!”
Is there something deep inside of you that God is stirring up?
Do you have a picture of what God, and how God can really use you?
GOD HAS A PURPOSE FOR EVERYONE SITTING IN THIS ROOM TODAY!
YOU MAY NOT KNOW YOUR PURPOSE YET . . . BUT IF YOU EARNESTLY SEEK AFTER IT AND ASK FOR IT . . . GOD WILL SHOW YOU!
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer 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.
2:2
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
“If You Believe” By Abimbola T. Alabi
When your mind is set
On a splendid thing you want to do,
there are some who will shrug,
Like you don’t have a clue.
When you proceed,
Some will say it can’t be done
And that there is really no need
for you to take it on.
And halfway through,
Some may deem your progress small,
Or others will ask if what you’re doing
Is even worth while at all.
but when you succeed,
Then with flattering tongue,
The same folks will say they knew
that you’d do it al along.
Now, folks may mean well
when they say it can’t be done,
But then who is to lose
If they are actually wrong?
But it you take note of why
some doubt your point of view And stick close to those
Who see the strength in you,
If you put your faith in God,
No mater how tough it may seem,
If you work har, if you believe,
You will achieve your dream.
For what others think,
whether or not you’re strong or smart,
Sometimes, doesn’t really count
As what you believe in your heart.
(WE)
(WE)
Dream with me for a moment!
Spiritually speaking . . . God has a plan for you to be an OVERCOMER! He has a plan for you to make a mark on this earth!
It is in someone’s life! It is for an employer! It is for a customer! It is for a child! It is for a spouse! It is for someone you don’t even know!
But, He has a plan!
IT TAKES US EXERTING EFFORT TO GIVE OUR BEST IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BEGIN TO EVEN REALIZE WHAT THAT PLAN IS!
IT TAKES US EXERTING EFFORT TO GIVE OUR BEST IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BEGIN TO WALK THAT OUT IN OUR LIVES BY FAITH!
IT TAKES US EXERTING EFFOT TO GIVE OUR BEST IN EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BEGIN TO SEE THE REALITY OF THAT VISION OR THAT DREAM!
IT TAKES AN
ORGANIZED EFFORT
DILIGENCE AND FOCUS IN OUR EFFORT
US BEING INSPIRED IN OUR EFFORTS
US ESTIMATING THE COST IN OUR EFFORTS
OUR HIGHEST EFFORTS!
ADDITIONAL PASSAGES, THOUGHTS, PRINCIPALS, TOPICS
We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. Do your best to come to me quickly,
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
“In accordance, respectively, with the measure of their individual capacities . . .
The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary Spiritual Gifts
SPIRITUAL GIFTS (Gk. ta pneumatika, the spiritual supply; charismata, “gifts”). A phrase used to denote the endowments bestowed by the Holy Spirit in the primitive church (1 Cor. 12:1), and the same as “gifts” (v. 4). A spiritual gift “means any extraordinary faculty, which operated for the furtherance of the welfare of the Christian community, and which was itself wrought by the grace of God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, in special individuals, in accordance, respectively, with the measure of their individual capacities, whether it were that the Spirit infused entirely new powers, or stimulated those already existing to higher power and activity (Rom. 12:6ff.)” (Meyer, Com., on 1 Cor. 12:1). These gifts included word of wisdom; knowledge; faith; healing; effecting of miracles; prophecy; distinguishing of spirits; tongues; and their interpretation (vv. 8–10). See under various heads.