Summer, 2004
Dakota Community Church
Going To The Next Level - 2
Review of last week:
Philippians 3: 7-17
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more; I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not 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. 13Brothers, 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, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.
There is no standing still in God!
- I cannot coast on last week’s sermon.
- We cannot as a church allow ourselves to bask in the “glory days”, or as a denomination.
- We must press on, we must follow God, and we must continue to grow.
“The road to the next level is always up hill.” – John Maxwell
A. Why do we want to stay put?
1. We forget the meter is running.
Time is this planets only non-renewable resource.
2. We lose interest.
When you lose interest in the game of life, you stop caring about personal growth.
3. We lack hunger.
4. We do not want to pay the price.
Going to the next level is a costly process and usually involves personal sacrifice.
This Week:
B. Why go to the next level.
1. We experience victory when we reach the next the level.
The human race was created for conquest! We need to win from time to time in order to stay fulfilled in our Devine purpose. Nothing sucks the life out of us like stagnation.
Genesis 1: 26-28
26 Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."
- Let them rule.
- Increase.
- Subdue the earth.
- Rule over every living creature. KJV (take dominion)
Psalm 118: 14-15
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
God is glorified when we reach the next level! We know his strength in us has done it, not we ourselves.
- At the next level the crowd cheers!
- At the next level moral is boosted!
- At the next level momentum becomes a factor!
Ill.
In 1962, Victor and Mildred Goertzel published a revealing study of 413 "famous and exceptionally gifted people" called Cradles of Eminence. They spent years attempting to understand what produced such greatness, what common thread might run through all of these outstanding people’s lives. Surprisingly, the most outstanding fact was that virtually all of them, 392, had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become whom they were.
- At the next level the abundant life is tangible.
John 10: 10
10The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
2. Growth is a requirement for reaching the next level.
We need to stretch ourselves; we need growth in order to stay healthy.
- Your education was not supposed to end after grade 12.
- Anything that is alive grows!
- You may need to read to reach the next level.
- You may need to join a gym to reach the next the level.
For certain you will not get there without growing in some very tangible way.
1Peter 2: 1-3
1Therefore rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and slander of every kind. 2Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, 3now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
2Peter 3: 17-18
17Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
2Thesselonians 1:3
3We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
Quotes:
God loves us the way we are but He loves us too much to leave us that way. — Leighton Ford
I am not where I need to be, but thank God I am not where I used to be. — Joyce Myers
C. How do we get to the next level?
Only one point: COMMITMENT.
- Commitment is the place of battle.
- Commitment separates the winners from the whiners.
- Commitment is the place where God reveals Himself. (In the Fire)
Three types of believers:
- The curious Christian: - Listens and sits.
- The convinced Christian: - Listens and says.
- The committed Christian: - Listens and serves.
2Chronicles 16: 9
9 For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.
When Julius Caesar landed on the shores of Britain with his Roman legions, he took a bold and decisive step to ensure the success of his military venture. Ordering his men to march to the edge of the Cliffs of Dover, he commanded them to look down at the water below. To their amazement, they saw every ship in which they had crossed the channel engulfed in flames. Caesar had deliberately cut off any possibility of retreat. Now that his soldiers were unable to return to the continent, there was nothing left for them to do but to advance and conquer! And that is exactly what they did. -Source Unknown.
- Commitment is the process of giving up personal rights.
Because I am committed to my wife I no longer fall asleep at night listening to my headphones.
Because I am committed to my boys I live in $1000 a month house instead of an apartment.
- Commitment is going from being self-centered to being others centered.
Matthew 5: 38-42
38"You have heard that it was said, ’Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I tell you do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one whom wants to borrow from you.
Question:
After church on Sunday do you usually think about what you received from the service or about what you contributed?
If you are going to move to the next level you will have to make some commitments.
- Amateurs produce when they feel like it, pros produce when they don’t feel like it.
Conclusion:
I challenge you to commit to:
- Pray,
- Practice,
- Discipline,
- Give,
- Manage your time,
- Share your faith,
- Break out of your comfort zone,
- Or anything else you need to do to:
GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL.
