Go Beyond Part 3

I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn't have to destroy the land, but I found no one.

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Southpointe! We are on Part 3 of Go Beyond!

Here in our text this morning, The nation of the Jews is in a desperate condition. Their defense is broken down, and God is ready to rush in through the breach with vengeance.

But God doesn’t want to instead God looks for some one to fill the gap to save the nation. But no such man is to be found.

You see, it isn’t that nobody is unable to because God calls and God equip. But it boiled down to nobody want to and nobody would take the initiative.

Nobody wanted to go beyond!

Initiative is defined by Webster- The ability to get things started or done without needing to be told what to do.

How can it be applied to our Christian lives? Your spiritual growth and the effectiveness of God’s Work depend on it!

Elbert Hubbard: “What is Initiative? I’ll tell you: It is doing the right thing without being told.

But next to doing the thing without being told is to do it when you are told once.

While much longer, ponder this definition from Elbert Hubbard: “What is Initiative? I’ll tell you: It is doing the right thing without being told. But next to doing the thing without being told is to do it when you are told once.

And then there’s those who never do a thing until they are told twice: they get no honors and small pay.

“Next, there are those who do the right thing only when necessity kicks them from behind, and these get indifference instead of honors.

“Then, still lower down in the scale than this, we have the fellow who will not do the right thing even when someone goes along to show him how and stays to see that he does it: he is always out of a job, and receives the contempt he deserves…”

Initiative is a highly valued characteristic in the business world.

Those who are willing to “get the ball rolling” to “do the right thing without being told” are greatly appreciated in any organization.

An employer could not feel better than when his help exercise initiative.

Initiative is a highly valued characteristic in the business world. Those who are willing to “get the ball rolling” to “do the right thing without being told” are greatly appreciated in any organization. An employer could not feel better than when his subordinates exercise initiative. Every form of organization, including businesses, congregations, families, and even Feast sites, thrives when those involved have initiative.

Every form of organization, including businesses, congregations and families thrives when those involved have initiative.

Stop and think for a minute. Every organization has goals, with specific duties and plans to fulfill them. It takes courage, strength and the ability to go beyond.

It takes courage, strength and the ability to go “above and beyond.”

Ask yourself: “How does God see you living His Way of life and sacrificing for His Work?”

So, what about our Christian lives?

“As my ‘Boss,’ is God pleased to see that I do the right thing without having to be told multiple times?”

Ask yourself: “How does God see me living His Way of life and sacrificing for His Work?” “As my ‘Boss,’ is He pleased to see that I do the right thing without having to be told multiple times?”

Initiative and going beyond can and should be applied to every aspect of life. It will benefit you—as you apply initiative to growing in character—and God’s Work, which will become more effective as all of us apply initiative to our roles in it and the willingness to go beyond.

Before discussing practical applications, we must understand two great deterrents to our ability to apply initiative and go beyond.

FIRST, society has bred a culture of the opposite way of thinking.

Gone are the days when many were hard workers and applied initiative.

Today, people seemingly use all their energy to be sure that they do just enough to get by.

For example, when on the job, people often, after they “are on the clock,” take their time to start their workday.

But employers never see them move as fast as they do at quitting time.

Any thought of filling in for an extra 5 minutes—unpaid—is foreign to most employees’ thinking.

To do a little more—to go beyond—is practically unheard of.

People make it their goal to make everything easy.

They “deserve it all”—and do not feel the need to do anything beyond what is required of them.

We have to remember that the Church often reflects and takes on the attitudes of society. We have to be aware of the tendency in the world to do as little as possible and guard against it!

Now let’s look at these verses:

"You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

This leads us to number 2:

It is natural to want the easy way. Consider Christ’s words: The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way, But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult and only a few ever find it.

SECOND, it is natural to want the easy way. Consider Christ’s words: “Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and MANY there be which go in thereat…” ().

Where does this mindset come from? From human nature—Satan’s nature! Our goal is to become more effective for God, but Satan’s goal is to make us the least effective and least productive.

It is important to understand that using initiative and to go beyond is not easy! In fact, it takes a lot of energy, focus, time and thought.

In the book of Revelation, we see where Jesus is talking about Seven churches. One of those churches is the Laodicean church. And the number one thing that you will draw out of reading about it.

The church was was weak because of the lack of zeal or basically no zeal.

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

This church had lost it zeal, It had everything and didn’t need anything, and became lukewarm, this church wasn’t on fire for God and wasn’t refreshing in the Spirit of God, but lukewarm.

(, ).

(Tell the story about Old Unity and laying down)

Not willing to go beyond!! That’s good enough, Oh that is OK! They are just kids, It is just a small group, it is just a block party, It is just a bible study. But people will threw party and do all kind of great event and put everything they got in it but for God that’s Ok. Sad!

You and I must learn by example.

There are people who learn by example and people who learn the hard way.

With all of this in mind, the following basic principles and practical steps will guide you in exercising initiative in your life. We all must aspire to try harder to manage our own lives, support God’s Work, and move closer to our ultimate goal—becoming members of the God Family.

Learn by Example

Certainly, personal experience is a great teacher, but learning from the experiences of others is better.

There are people who learn by example and people who learn the hard way. Certainly, personal experience is a great teacher, but learning from the experiences of others is better.

Applying initiative and to go beyond to your life is directly related to this principle. By making it a goal to learn from others, you can avoid making some of the same mistakes.

If we do not learn from example, then we are making the choice to allow circumstances and trials to teach us.

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Like a parent cautioning his child not to touch a hot stove, God admonishes and teaches His children through examples in His Word. If we decide not to learn from these examples, then we will have to learn the hard way—and get “burned by the stove.”

Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

In , the apostle Paul discusses ancient Israel, and how their experiences are to be examples to all of us. Notice: “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted…Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples [examples]: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (vs. 6, 11; also see ).

We must set our mind to use God’s Word as examples to learn from. We must go above and beyond our own circumstances and/or trials and learn from others.

We must set our mind to use God’s Word as examples to learn from. We must go above and beyond our own circumstances and/or trials and learn from others.

We must set our mind to use God’s Word as examples to learn from. We must go above and beyond our own circumstances and/or trials and learn from others.

Do we go beyond in our part in God’s work?

Just like any father, God does not take joy in correcting His children. Of course, He does it because He knows it will help them.

How does God have to work with us? Is it mostly of an encouraging and exhorting nature or more often a correcting and rebuking one? When you hear sermons, do you set specific goals to apply them?

Now let’s understand two specific, practical areas in which we can apply initiative.

Do we show initiative toward God’s Work and go beyond? As members of God’s Church, we all play a vital role in His Work.

Our ultimate goal is to be Kings and Priests in the Kingdom of God. We are called to train for those positions—to qualify to rule galaxies, millions of angels and, most importantly, people.

God will not give authority to those who will not submit to authority. Likewise, He will not give us rulership over one city, let alone five, if we cannot manage our lives.

Ask yourself: “How am I doing in managing my life?”; “Am I allowing only circumstances to move me, or do I show initiative in managing my life?”

Consider. If you are able to show God that you can and will always manage your money, and that you will always rely on Him and be faithful in your tithes and offerings, then He may decide not to send you a test in that area. By simply pushing yourself to succeed in all of these areas, you will (1) improve your life and the lives of those around you, and (2) show God that you do not need “correction” in that area of your life.

Here is just the briefest thumbnail of some of the areas that we need to continue to manage: mind and attitudes, emotions, marriage and children, relationships, health and diet, time, priorities, finances, employment or schooling, and much more.

Consider. If you are able to show God that you can and will always manage your money, and that you will always rely on Him and be faithful in your tithes and offerings, then He may decide not to send you a test in that area. By simply pushing yourself to succeed in all of these areas, you will (1) improve your life and the lives of those around you, and (2) show God that you do not need “correction” in that area of your life.

Furthermore, learning and growing in the ability to manage our lives enables the ministry, headquarters and all of God’s Work to move forward, allowing the preaching of the gospel and the Ezekiel Warning to become more effective. As we individually learn and prod ourselves to manage our lives, the Work will advance!

Our Part in God’s Work

Do we show initiative toward God’s Work? As members of God’s Church, we all play a vital role in His Work.

One way that you can support the Work is by your fervent prayers. Do you pray about the Work daily? Do you ask God to directly support and strengthen all those in the Work?

Do you go into detail about the various needs that arise within the Work? Do you continually pray to “the Lord of the Harvest” for more laborers

Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

Truly, this is the age when the “laborers are few.” We all would like to see God’s Work move forward. To do that, we need more laborers—more leaders.

Now let’s talk about you as a laborer. The ministry is supported through tithes and offerings.

Do you find yourself giving when you are asked and reminded, or do you prod yourself to give more, always trying to go beyond?

Many of us also have the wonderful opportunity to support God’s Work by giving our time.

Do you take the time to serve those in need, without being asked?

Are you constantly aware of the example you are setting, always striving to do better?

Do you give in these areas with a cheerful heart?

You must each decide in your heart how much to give. And don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. "For God loves a person who gives cheerfully.

Do you give in all these areas with a cheerful heart ()?

For the rest of your life, determine to show initiative, applying the second law to success—Go beyond. Your character will greatly improve and God’s Work will grow.

Will you fill in the gap?

For the rest of your life, determine to show initiative, applying the second law to success—DRIVE. Your character will greatly improve and God’s Work will grow.

Remember this basic proverb: “A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished” (). Be determined to foresee these things and apply initiative now. It will pay off later.