SELFLESS—4

GRATEFUL IN THE GRIND

… whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

We live under the illusion that something around the corner matters more than what im doing right now.

That will Make the difference — Bring fulfillment crave.

for so much of my life, I've been pursuing what I want. My dreams, my passions, my goals, and whatever it is that I get, there's gotta be something else out there that's better than what I have right now.

EX: ministry - when i finish seminary, - start my on church...

- family - when i get married… when we have a baby .... in college

- vacation -

One day — Just around the corner — Will be that something - Achievement — Relationship— Possession — Vacation

But around every corner is simply another: Challenge — Goal — Dream — Perceived prize

Culture totally and completely feeds into this mindset, right?

What does every commercial, every advertisement, everything you see on social media, it all just kinda says gratify yourself, indulge yourself, get whatever you want. You deserve it. Treat yo self, right?

But Jesus … He said, if you want to be My disciple, you don't indulge yourself. You deny yourself.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV

31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Whatever you do, you do it for the glory of God.

When I look at so much of my life, if I'm really honest, whatever I do is mostly for me.

I want to do what makes me happy.

I want to do what makes me feel good.

I want to do what fulfills my dreams.

I want to do what fulfills my wants and desires.

what ever you do to really have meaning in life you do it for the glory of God.

I’m starting to realise - That the prize isn't out there, somewhere.

The prize isn't what you accomplish occasionally.

The prize is in what you do daily when you do it for the glory of God.

So I want to ask three questions and I'll tell you in advance that these questions are gonna become statements that are gonna drive everything that we talk about in our message today.

WHAT IF?

WHAT IF THE WORK IS THE REWARD?

WHAT IF THE PRIZE IS IN THE PROCESS?

WHAT IF YOU CAN BE GRATEFUL IN THE GRIND?

For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

1 Corinthians 15:9–10 ESV

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

but by the grace of God, you are now what you are not because you're good, but because He was good. Now you are becoming who He wants you to be, because His grace for you was not without effect.

V10 - “i worked harder than any of them...”

I don't think Paul was bragging. I don't think he was complaining. I think he was just stating the truth, matter of fact.

By the grace of God, I just worked hard. I've been so transformed by Jesus, because of who He was and what He did, I just got to work. Whatever I did, I was doing it for His glory.

I'm not bragging, but, you know, while other people went to bed, I probably stayed up a little later praying and strategising.

I got up a little earlier and got into the office, you know, really to do things right for God. When most desired comfort, I realized that following Jesus was not gonna be comfortable.

You know, I was beaten, had to go on. Shipwrecked, well, you just move on. One time I was bitten by a poisonous snake. I didn't like that, but I shook that thing off, you know, when I was in prison, I kept on working.

Paul was not wishing his current season away.

Wherever he was, he was all there. Whatever he did, he was doing for the glory of God. When he was in prison, he didn't say, one day, when I'm finally out of prison, then I can get back to doing what I'm called to do. No, he just said, whatever you do, I'm gonna do it for the glory of God.

If there's someone chained up to me, I'm gonna be a witness to that person right now. Give me a pen, give me some paper. I'm writing the Philippians a letter, 'cause they need it.

When he shipwrecked, do you know what he didn't say? Well, God let me down. I mean, I prayed for protection, and here I am, shipwrecked again.

Whenever Barnabas turned on him, he didn't go, oh, I can't take it anymore. Christians, you can't trust any of them. I'm leaving the Sunday School class because Barnabas hurt my feelings.

I don't have time for this. I'm not gonna get bitter , we still have work to do. Because whatever I'm doing I'm doing it for the glory of God.

THE THREE ENEMIES OF THE TRUE REWARD

The pillow: the seduction of comfort.

Better house—Car—Trip—Boss—Enough $ to take life easy.

God never called us to “easy”—Called us deny self—Take up or cross.

Easy never changed the world.

The shiny thing: the allure of constant distractions.

Notifications—Netflix suggestions (99%)—YouTube keeps running. Over-scheduled (3 years old), Comparing — Grass greener!

The towel: the perpetual temptation to quit.

Marriage — Getting finances together, — Christianity.

They didn’t appreciate me.

Not making that much of a difference.

This is just too hard.

You can throw in the towel—Use it wipe the sweat off your face.

and then you realize that

the Work is Reward the Prize is in Process and i can be Grateful in Grind

Selfish PASSION about us—God is calling us to Selfless PURPOSE.

passion followers purpose

Once you recognize you are serving God’s purpose — Passionate.

Think about Paul—Passionate about something - what he was not passion about was beaten and left for dead.

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

Acts 20:24 ESV

24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

my only dream is to full-fill God’s purpose

Purpose helps me feel passionate about ordinary things.

Something mundane — Something ordinary takes on meaning.

Whatever I do—Small, boring, insignificant.

Purpose: Paul gives us profound images.

Don’t run like someone running aimlessly. Not shadowboxing.

I Run with purpose in every step. (Corinthians)

everything I do I do it on purpose - Do it all for the glory of God

Prize isn’t when you get the promotion. New Car. Vacation.

Get discovered. Make the big bucks —

Prize is now! Whatever you do! this is the day the Lord has made i will rejoice in it!

Life isn’t about me—I deny myself daily—Follower of Christ.

Bold in Spirit—Speak boldly believe deeply.

Faithful in Service—Serving isn’t what I do—Servant.

Extravagant in generosity—Give—Don’t hold back—Lead way.

Daily—Life for you.

passion always follows purpose

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Work is the reward.

The prize is in the process.

Grateful in the grind.

Talk It Over

Pastor Craig mentioned three enemies of true reward: the pillow (comfort), the shiny thing (distraction), and the towel (quitting). Which do you need to fight most?

Read 1 Corinthians 10:31. What are some ordinary things you do that could actually be worship before God?

What good things are you tempted to quit? How can you let God’s purpose for it create passion in you?