Extreme Living At Your Work
Extreme Living – part 3
IF – you have your bible please TURN to Isaiah chapter 6…
In the year that King Uzziah died…
OKAY - let’s pause there for a moment… BECAUSE - there is a reason for Isaiah recording those 7 words… AND – we will miss that reason if we just read right over them. YOU SEE – Uzziah had been King in Judah for 52 years. He had been THE leader of God’s people since the time he was 16 years old. THINK ABOUT IT - most of the people in Judah had only known him as their king and he was a good king… SO – this was a time of doubt, a time of sorrow and a time for uncertainty in the nation of Judah…
QUESTION – what do God’s people need to know, what do they need to understand when they are going through times of hardship and uncertainty ANSWER – they need that even in the darkest and most uncertain times God is STILL seated on His throne.
In the year that King Uzziah died… I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."
At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Prayer…
TODAY – is week 3 in our message series EXTREME living… AND – as we begin I want to remind you once again of our definition of Extreme. Extreme; ‘existing in a very high degree, going to great lengths, exceeding the ordinary, the usual or the expected…’ The apostle Paul writes these words from a prison cell to the church in Philippi;
“Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news.”
CIRCLE - you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ…
YOU KNOW - I think that if Paul were here today he might word it this way… “Above all else you must LIVE EXTREME (you must exceed, the usual, ordinary and expected – in your church, home, work, walk & purity)… so that people will be so blown away by how you live that they will believe the good news and turn to God.”
NOW – I’m pretty confident that most of us here today SEE this truth (that we must live EXTREME)… BUT – the question I want to ask is… “Are you SEIZED by it.” SURE – you see… BUT – has this truth seized you, has it taken you captive, has overwhelmed and moved you to action? FRIENDS – have you been seized by the truth THAT our EXTREME God who sent His EXTREME Son to die in such an EXTREME way calls us… needs us, to LIVE EXTREME for Him?
Question are YOU… (and remember extreme living starts with you)… ARE - you living extreme at church, at Central…
• Is your service extreme?
• Is your hunger for the word extreme?
• Is your effort for unity extreme?
• Is your prayer life extreme?
• Is your giving extreme? “Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”
ARE YOU – seized by the truth that God calls you to LIVE EXTREME in His church? AND - are YOU living Extreme at home? (we talked about this last week)
Are YOU Practicing…
• Living patiently
• Being kind
• Being selfless
• Forgiving
• Believing IN… AND…
• Never quitting in YOUR home
GUYS – did you DO any thing different this week in your home - then you did the week before? (were you – more patient, more kind, less selfish? Did you take any practical step towards being more loving in your home?
MAN - I am so praying that we all get seized by God’s call to Extreme living… AND - please remember that this Extreme living is so not about us… It’s all about him… It’s all about bringing honor and glory to our God & Savior! It’s all about working together and struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news.”
This morning – as we continue in this series extreme living… We are going to talk about LIVING Extreme… in another important area of our lives… our work… QUESTION – what images come to your mind… what emotions do you feel when you think about work? Is it just a job to you… OR – is something more?
UNDERSTAND - what you do 40+ hours every week, whether in the home the school room or the workforce - matters to God......
QUESTION - do you feel, that what you during the week matters to God? Listen - it is important that you do, because when you feel that your work matters to God you will have a sense of dignity about your work, no matter what that work may be you will have a sense of destiny & purpose and you will have an inner motivation to be distinctive -- to excel - to rise above mediocrity...
ON - the other hand; if you feel that your work does not matter to God - that He is not concerned with what you do - you will not have nay motivation, to be distinctive; you’ll have no sense of purpose - AND therefore you’ll find it much easier to make moral compromises during the week.... "Hey it really doesn’t matter if I lie, come in late or work hard - it’s only a job, and hey they should pay be more anyway..."
TODAY - I want us to briefly consider some reasons why your work matters to God... My goal in our time together is to convince you of this truth, and then send you out to your work place with a renewed vigor, passion and purpose....First of all your work matters to God – BECAUSE;
God Is A Worker
LISTEN - from the opening pages of God’s word - it is obvious that our God is a worker... That he is a God who is busy, a God who is on the move.... The Psalmist writes; "...he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep..." - Ps 121:3
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The sky, water, land, trees, mountains, sun, moon, stars, fish, birds, animals, man -- NONE of what we see existed, THEN God spoke and it was.... (Think about that for a moment - what a mighty God we serve....) And in Gen 2:2; we read;
"By the 7th day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the 7th day He rested from all His work. And God blessed the 7th and made it Holy, because on it He rested from all the work of creating he had done..."
And David writes; "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands..." - Ps 19:1
"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.." - Ps 104:24
"Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them..." - Ps 111:2
Our God is a worker...and we, according to Genesis 1:26,27, are created in His own image... Therefore, since our God is a worker - we are to be workers... That is why God, after creating Adam (the first man), immediately put him to work in the garden;
"The Lord took the man and put him in the garden of Eden, to work and take care of it..." Jesus Christ, was also a worker;
"My food," said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish His work..." - John 4:34
Jesus said to them, "My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too, am working..." - John 5:17
NOW - before we leave here and move on to the next reason your work matters to God - let’s note 2 important things about the work habits of the Father & the Son.
Number one; they finished their work;
"By the 7th day God had finished the work he had been doing..."
"My food," said Jesus, is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish His work..."
They both finished their work. No car on the blocks & jobs half done for God and Jesus. They completed their work - now that is a good work ethic for us to apply to both our work in and out of the church.
Number 2 - They rested.....
God rested on what day? The 7th day....
Question - do you think Jesus Christ was a busy guy? He and His disciples had about 3 years to get a lot done... I MEAN - Jesus day planner was constantly jammed packed, but listen to what he said in Mark 6:31;
Then because so many people were coming and going they didn’t even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest...."
Any work addicts out there? It’s an easy trap to fall in to. One more evening at the office. One more hour before we go home. One more shift of overtime. One more load of laundry. One more phone call. One more project - and it can get to the point where we begin to feel guilty if we relax - or we even forget HOW to relax.
LISTEN - when you burn the candle at both ends you are not as bright as you think you are.
OKAY – your work matters to God because God is a worker… AND – a second reason your work matters to God (and this is really the heart of my message today) is because God wants to use your work as a center ring… FOR EXTREME LIVING…
UNDERSTAND – though vitally important and most definitely commanded & needed… EXTREME LIVING in the home and church has a rather limited audience.. BUT – on the other hand our audience at work and at school each week is HUGE! AND – on top of that you will spend so much time there (from age 18 to age 65 you spend 94,000 hours at work…) and in those same years ~ 2,500 hours in church…
God wants to use your work… what you do from Monday Friday as a CENTER RING for Extreme living.
Work Is ‘Center Ring’
There are 4 points in this section of your notes… AND – they are; the principle, the power, the practice and the purpose for living extreme in your work…
OKAY - the first point in your notes is, ‘The Principle’… BUT – before we go there I think we first (like we did last week…) NEED – to ‘quickly’ answer another question… What is ordinary, usual and expected in the work place today?
It’s ordinary and usual for workers TO…
• show up late
• not call when they are sick
• not give 2 weeks notice
• not always tell the truth (Just in case your boss catches you asleep at your desk, be ready to blurt out one of these excuses: They told me at the blood bank that this might happen; Whew! I must have left the top off the whiteout; I was testing the keyboard for drool resistance; boy, that cold medicine I took last night just won’t wear off; I wasn’t sleeping. I was trying to pick up my contact lens without my hands, Amen!)
• complain and have a bad attitude
• not work as hard when the boss isn’t around
• use time on the clock for personal stuff (phone calls, e-mail, surfing on the net)
• put in just enough effort to get by
• to eat up the day small talking with other workers
OKAY – that’s a little taste of the ordinary and usual… NOW;
The Principle…
FOR - living extreme in your work… The LORD IS your boss…
CHECKOUT – these two passages from BOTH the pen of Paul and the Spirit of God… NOW – Paul in these verses is specifically talking about the slave-master relationship… BUT – the principle here most definitely applies to the employee-employer relationship and I also think the teacher-student relationship.
Slaves, obey your earthly masters with deep respect and fear. Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ. 6Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. 7Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. – Ephesians 6:5-7 (NLT)
You slaves must obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Obey them willingly because of your reverent fear of the Lord. 23Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 24Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and the Master you are serving is Christ. 25But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites who can get away with evil. – Colossians 3:22-25
QUESTION – in that passage what is the context for the word evil? What does God consider evil.? Not obeying.. not working hard…
Serve them sincerely as you would serve Christ…
Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people….
Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
NOW - it may not matter to the people working with you - it may not even matter to the customers - but if anyone cares about your work and your performance, it is your boss... That is why workers straighten up and work harder, when the boss is around...or happens to pop in the room. Have you ever noticed that? Seen that? Done that?
LISTEN – the LORD is our true boss -- and since God is omni-present -- He is always around... YOU SEE - God, just doesn’t drop in occasionally… He’s always there.
UNDERSTAND - whatever you do (mange an office, program computers, market software, construct homes, teach in a school, work in a doctors office, or you are a student a school) - you must; Serve them sincerely, Work with enthusiasm, Work hard and cheerfully… BECAUSE - in reality you are working for the Lord.. He’s your boss!
It wasn’t the job he had wanted… It wasn’t the job that his family had planned for him. The environment was difficult. The location was so far away from his home and from those he loved. AND - the people he worked with were difficult (they didn’t believe what he believed, they worshipped other God’s, lived different lives, had different priorities…) AND BESIDES – all of that, this job wasn’t exactly a career move that he had volunteered for.
YOU SEE - when Daniel was just a youth he was taken captive by the Babylonians. AND - since he was BOTH good looking and smart he was put into an intense training program. AND - Daniel excelled in that program and in everything else that he did. He interpreted many of King Nebuchadnezzar dreams. Dreams that no one else in the empire could interpret. IN FACT - the king was so impressed with Daniel that he made him ruler of the entire province of Babylon and placed him in charge of all the wise men…
Some time later Daniel had to make another ‘involuntary’ career change. YOU SEE – The Persians came in and conquered Babylon… AND - when Darius The First, set up his new kingdom, Daniel was given a job as one of his administrators… Let’s pick up the reading at Daniel 6:3;
AGAIN – we have Daniel once more in a job that he did not want… QUESTION – what is Daniel going to do…? The ordinary, usual and expected… OR – is he going to live extreme in his work.
3Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and princes. Because of his great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. 4Then the other administrators and princes began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling his affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize. He was faithful and honest and always responsible. 5So they concluded, "Our only chance of finding grounds for accusing Daniel will be in connection with the requirements of his religion."
6So the administrators and princes went to the king and said, "Long live King Darius! 7We administrators, prefects, princes, advisers, and other officials have unanimously agreed that Your Majesty should make a law that will be strictly enforced. Give orders that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human--except to Your Majesty--will be thrown to the lions. 8And let Your Majesty issue and sign this law so it cannot be changed, a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked." 9So King Darius signed the law.
10But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
11The officials went together to Daniel’s house and found him praying and asking for God’s help. 12So they went back to the king and reminded him about his law. "Did you not sign a law that for the next thirty days anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human--except to Your Majesty--will be thrown to the lions?"
"Yes," the king replied, "that decision stands; it is a law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked."
13Then they told the king, "That man Daniel, one of the captives from Judah, is paying no attention to you or your law. He still prays to his God three times a day." 14Hearing this, the king was very angry with himself for signing the law, and he tried to find a way to save Daniel. He spent the rest of the day looking for a way to get Daniel out of this predicament. 15In the evening the men went together to the king and said, "Your Majesty knows that according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, no law that the king signs can be changed."
16So at last the king gave orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, "May your God, whom you worship continually, rescue you." 17A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel from the lions. 18Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting. He refused his usual entertainment and couldn’t sleep at all that night.
19Very early the next morning, the king hurried out to the lions’ den. 20When he got there, he called out in anguish, "Daniel, servant of the living God! Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?"
21Daniel answered, "Long live the king! 22My God sent his angel to shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in his sight. And I have not wronged you, Your Majesty."
23The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him because he had trusted in his God. 24Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions’ den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den.
25Then King Darius sent this message to the people of every race and nation and language throughout the world: "Peace and prosperity to you!
26"I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God,
and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed,
and his rule will never end.
He rescues and saves his people;
he performs miraculous signs and wonders
in the heavens and on earth.
He has rescued Daniel
from the power of the lions."
So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and the reign of Cyrus the Persian
FRIENDS – that’s living Extreme in your work! NO - it was NOT the job, location, environment OR the company that he would have chosen… AND YES - he had every reason to do the usual and the expected… YET – scripture says that Daniel…was faithful and honest and always responsible
I MEAN – even the King knew who Daniel was really working for… Did you catch what the King said when he got up early to check and see if Daniel was okay? "Daniel, servant of the living God! (not Daniel my servant) Was your God, whom you worship continually, able to rescue you from the lions?"
That’s awesome! AND – it makes we wonder how did the King know that? How did he know that Daniel worshiped and served God continually? AND – the answer is that Daniel lived Extreme in his work… faithful and honest and always responsible
I am sure others said to Daniel, “Daniel you are just an exile, this isn’t your country, the king doesn’t believe the way you do.. Why do you work so hard all the time? Why do you care so much?” “Because, I’m really serving my God.. I’m doing my best for Him. He’s my boss… He is the one I look to please as I work here in Babylon…
NOW - when you go to work this week – like Daniel you may feel like you are an exile in Babylon…(there’s a million other places you’d rather be…) BUT – just remember who your real boss is... the LORD! Who? The LORD!
OKAY – the principle for living Extreme in your work is – The Lord is your boss… NEXT…
The Power
For living Extreme in your work is… Focus
NOW – the word focus is defined as…. ”Close or narrow attention; concentration; To converge on or toward a central point”
QUESTION – is there power in being focused….? YOU BET - focus the light of the sun through a magnifying glass, and you can set a leaf on fire. FOCUS - light even more and it becomes a laser that can even cut through steel. YES - there is power in being focused. AND – not just in light… BUT – in people.
The movie Hoosiers is about a high school basket team from a small town in Indiana that goes all the way to the state championship… AND – when these kids from that small town walk into the big arena they are blown away…Their coach says to them; “Forget about the crowds, the size of the school, their fancy uniforms, and remember what got you here, focus on the fundamentals that we have gone over time and time again..”
LISTEN - every athlete knows the power of focus… FOCUS - is the power that;
• drives that little white ball straight down the fairway
• it’s what puts the round ball through the rim and the pigskin through the uprights
• it’s what keeps the feet of gymnasts like Carly Patterson on the 4 inch wide balance beam
FOCUS – is also the power behind the success of business. Armies and nations. AND BECAUSE – there is so much power in being focused… Our enemies… those who oppose us always try to get us to loose our focus…
(free throw & field goal… waves things… trying to get that kicker or guy standing on the line to loose their focus…)
Daniel lived Extreme in his work… AND – the power for that extreme living was his focus… (he never forget who he was and who he served) I MEAN – look what he did when the opposing team tried to distract him by having the King – make it against the law for 30 days to pray to anyone but the king
10But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home and knelt down as usual in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.
LISTEN – no matter what happened Daniel kept his focus, kept God as his center and served and worship him continuously even when working for a pagan king…
UNDERSTAND – when you go to work there are all kinds of (things, situations and people) that will try to get to loose your focus from the principle for extreme living in the work place… that the LORD is your boss. That like Daniel no matter where you are – you are serving Him. THINGS LIKE:
• Unfair treatment
• No recognition
• Back stabbing & glory stealing fellow workers
AND GUYS – at those times we must hear the voice of our coach… “Forget about the distractions, forget about the unfair treatment and lack of recognition… AND FOCUS – on the fundamental truth that you really are working for me.. I’m your boss”
AND - let me give you a focus point; (memorize this verse; say it to yourself as you walked into the door where you work and when situations and people try to steal your purpose..)
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
UNDERSTAND – that kind of focus will empower you to live extreme in your work…
YOU KNOW - God’s timing is so amazing… I MEAN – here I am preaching a message on living EXTREME in the work place… and this week for the first time in 13 years I am in a work place other than the church.. Serving tables at Apple Bees… ON – my day off on Monday and lunch time on Tuesday. (most of you know that because the giving is down here, that Laurie and I in addition to our full time hours at the church are working elsewhere so that we can reduce our pay here – we hope to reduce by 600-700 dollars a month… if people get part time jobs when money at home is tight then why not when money at the church is tight..)
I really don’t like it… Here’s what wrote in my journal on Aug 30th.
Good morning father! Today is a big day. I go to new territory for you. Today I will meet people who don’t know you. I will be tested in humility etc… part of me does not want to do this. But it’s for you. Help to shine for you. It’s not about me. Help me to do my work well and to reflect you and maybe even get to speak for you.
Let be honest I have to keep that FOCUS – if I am to live Extreme in that work place. Because; there has not been a Monday morning or Tuesday that I wanted to go.
The NEXT point in your notes is;
The Practice
For extreme ling in your work… Just Do It!
“Now that you KNOW these things you will be blessed IF you do them.”
- John 13:17
Do what your told
Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. – Colossians 3:22 (Msg)
• If they say be there at 7 am ready to go – be there
• If they say I want you to do it this way – do it that way
• If they say don’t do that – then don’t do that
• If they say no personal calls, cell phones or personal computer use – do what your told…
Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. – Colossians 3:22 (Msg)
Do your best
And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best
– Colossians 3:22 (Msg)
I THINK – that verse pretty much speaks for itself? AND – I think far too many workers… (even believers) do the minimum, just enough to get by?
QUESTION – you do your best at work? LISTEN – it doesn’t matter what your job is you have to do your best… AND – when you do you are living EXTREME in the work place. (and when you do, your true boss is pumped and proud of you)
(I study my menu, floor chart a home… I may not be the best server there but I will do my best)
AND GUYS – one more thing here… If are not doing your best you are stealing…
Have a positive attitude
…work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God (there’s that focus point again). – Ephesians 6:7 (Msg)
Do everything without complaining or arguing… - Phil 2:14
NOW – from my experience – complaining, arguing and not smiling are the usual attitudes of many workers today… LET ME – ask you a question is a person; did what they were told; did their best and had a positive attitude would their boss notice?
Be A Servant
“For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others”
- Mt 20:28
LOOK – for ways to serve others at work… (your boss, fellow employees, customers)… AND LIKE – Jesus (who washed dirty feet) be willing to do whatever it takes to serve someone else. At your work just don’t look out for your interests but also for the interests of others.
Show Respect
Servants, you must obey your masters and always show respect to them. Do this, not only to those who are kind and thoughtful, but also to those who are cruel. 19God will bless you, even if others treat you unfairly for being loyal to him. 20You don’t gain anything by being punished for some wrong you have done. But God will bless you, if you have to suffer for doing something good. 21After all, God chose you to suffer as you follow in the footsteps of Christ, who set an example by suffering for you. - 1 Peter 2:18-21 (CEV)
QUESTION – do you show respect to your boss? Does he or she feel respected by you? NOW – you may be THINKING, “they don’t deserve my respect, they are idiots..” YES – you may think that about your boss…. BUT – God says, show respect to them. Do this, not only to those who are kind and thoughtful, but also to those who are cruel.
The PRACTICE – for extreme living in the work place is JUST DO IT!
AND AGAIN – Daniel is an example of 5 of these just do it’s… he did what he was told,,, he did his best… had a positive attitude.. served others and showed respect (even though his boss was a pagan king who worshiped idols)
The Purpose
FOR – Extreme living is; To Be God’s Light
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
– Matthew 5:14-16
UNDERSTAND - there are so many people in our society who would never consider going to church on a Sunday morning… YOU SEE - that’s the day to go to the lake, work on the yard, wash the car, clean the house… sleep in. AND - besides most people in our world think that church is - boring, uptight and irrelevant....
SO HOW THEN – the message of God’s love & redemption - EVER going to reach them? WELL - God has a plan. It’s an awesome plan, an old plan… IN FACT – it’s been around for 1,000 of years. I – opened up this morning with a passage from the 6th chapter of Isaiah… REMEMBER…?
• THE NATION – is going through a difficult and uncertain time..
• God is still on His throne and He seated (he has everything under control)
• He sees the pain, the hurt and the needs of His people
• He wants them to know that He is still there, that he still loves and is still is in absolute and total control.
• And God the (Father, Son & Spirit)… SAY – who will go for us, who can we send…
• Isaiah – ‘send me’
QUESTION – how are people who are; lost, confused, lonely, doubting & hurting… I MEAN – for the lives of so many in our world it is the year Uzziah died (life is hard, they are hurting they have no where to turn..) QUESTION – how are people who will more than likely NEVER walk into a church going the good news – the awesome news of Jesus Christ…
WELL – God has a plan… YOU SEE - 5 days a week - 8+ hours a day, God has His people (those who know Him, Love Him, Been saved by Him) - God has His people going out to them - working beside them, working for them - being taught by them... LISTEN - God has his witnesses, He has His personal representatives going out to nearly every place in this world.... AND – when those people… WHEN – you and I live EXTREME in our work look out… BECAUSE - some amazing (some God stuff) is going to happen…
AGAIN – consider our man Daniel. He lived EXTREME as an exile in a foreign country… AND - the results were incredible… LISTEN AGAIN - to those words that Darius spoke…
26"I decree that everyone throughout my kingdom should tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.
For he is the living God, and he will endure forever.
His kingdom will never be destroyed, and his rule will never end.
He rescues and saves his people; he performs miraculous signs and wonders
in the heavens and on earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
LISTEN – if you are a Christian your number one purpose at work is NOT to get a pay check… BUT RATHER – to be a light for Christ. YOU – are a missionary 40+ hours every week. DON’T ALLOW – yourself to be distracted from these purpose.
NO – you may not like your job… AND - I’m not saying you can’t get a new one… BUT – while you are there you are on a mission from God… God knows where you are and he has SENT – you there to reach people for Him. AND FRIENDS – when you live EXTREME at your work you get a voice.
Howard Hendricks (a Christian author and bible professor) tells a story about a flight he was on. It was an American Airlines flight. He said the guy sitting in front of him was an absolute jerk. He was just being grumpy, and irritable, and rude; and rude to the stewardess and then he got drunk and he was even more rude.
And he said this stewardess was handling this guy with complete class--just poise, confidence, and she was polite and gentle and patient. He was just incredibly impressed how kind this stewardess was with this jerk. And he said, after about 20 minutes of this, she went back to the back of the plane, so he got up and went back to the galley to talk to her. And he said, "You know, I’m a regular flyer on American Airlines, I’m just so impressed at how you handled that irritable, rude guy. I would like to write a letter to those in authority at American Airlines to just thank them for your great service if you’d just tell me your name."
And she said, "Well, I thank you for that, sir, but you need to understand; I don’t work for American Airlines." He was kind of stumbled and said, "You don’t?" She said, "No, sir, I work for Jesus Christ--and He’s the one who helps me be patient with people." He said, after I picked myself up off the floor she started witnessing to me.
MAN – when I think of all the contacts that are made each week; by those in this room… I MEAN… we work with them, we work for them… we go to school with them, we are taught by them…
WHEN - I think of all the contacts that are made each week
• With lost and hurting people
• With people who so desperately need to experience the love of God
• With people who need to know that even in a world FULL of chaos there is a KING on the throne
• With people who are facing a Christ-less eternity…
I get pumped!!!!! BECAUSE – I know THAT IF we will just get seized by the truth that God calls us to LIVE EXTREME at work some amazing things… God things will happen… happen! And many people will come to Christ and experience NEW LIFE…
You are a missionary!
God desires to use you where you are – right now!
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
