Taking Up Stakes
Living without limits for God’s glory
ILL- Elephant Intro
I tried to look brave, but inside, I was shaking in my sneakers as we stood within five feet of a six-ton elephant tethered outside the circus tent. I had seen elephants at the zoo before, behind iron bars, but this was different. My third grade mind didn’t understand the laws of physics, but somehow I knew that the short red and white stake "Jumbo" was chained to was no match for his strength. I can still see him in my mind, rocking back and forth and tugging against the stake, but never pulling it up.
My friends dad saw that we were scared so he assured us, "Do you know why such a little stake can hold a big elephant? When the elephant was little, he was chained to a stake just like that baby over there. When the elephant was a baby he pulled and pulled, over and over again, but it wouldn’t budge. Then one day he gave up. He decided it was no use; he was just not strong enough. And an elephant never forgets.
Even today, I find it fascinating that only one thing limits that six-ton elephant from getting where he wants to go- and it’s not a two foot stake. It’s a thought.
That elephant reminds me of myself. I think I often live within limits that come nowhere close to my full potential. Some are self-imposed- I try something, I fail, and I decide to avoid doing that again in the future- and some I’ve allowed other people to impose on me. A few people have tried to tie me down by saying, "You can’t do that!" or "I can’t see you in that role." And I’m sad to confess, some of those people succeeded. Staking me to the ground like an elephant.
In order for each of us to move toward becoming the person God created us to be and fulfill the purpose He created us to fulfill, we must pull some stakes and refuse to let limitations define us.
Think about this: I’m not what people think I am. I’m not what I think I am. I’m not even what I think others think I am. I am who Christ says I am.
Thomas Edison said "If we did all we are capable of doing, we would literally astonish ourselves."
I believe God wants us to live "stake free" lives.
Look at what Jesus says to believers (take a few moments and write out the two verses on your outline)
John 14:12 Jesus said "I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
Luke 18:27 Jesus said "What is impossible with men is possible with God." (salvation is impossible without God’s help...specifically without Jesus’ death and resurrection)
Ques: What areas in your life are you putting a limit on God because you’ve put a limit on yourself?
Charles Schultz once said "Life is like a ten speed bike. Most of us have gears we never use."
Here’s a few more quotes related to living without limitations
"He that is over-cautious will accomplish little" Johann Von Schiller, German poet
"The poor man is not he who is without a cent, but he who is without a dream." Harry Kemp
"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." Helen Keller
"What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?" Vincent Van Gogh
If you and want to start living life without limits for God’s glory, we must go back to the basics of the Christian life....Why are we here? What’s our purpose?
I’m not a huge fan of bumper stickers, but I like reading them. Have you ever seen the bumper sticker that says "Remember, the MAIN THING is to keep the main thing the main thing."
Business consultants have made this idea the cornerstone for how to build and manage a successful company. First, you figure out what the main thing is for your organization- why it exists. Next, you spell it out in a mission statement. And then you make every big and little decision with the main thing in mind.
Part of the value of a mission statement is that it helps companies distinguish the BEST things from all the GOOD things- especially when it comes to how they invest their time, talent, and treasure.
But the bumper sticker saying also applies to the life of every Christian. God’s Word tells us what the MAIN THING should be in our lives; it’s crucial that we keep it the main thing.
What is the MAIN THING according to Christ?
Turn to Mark 12:28-31
Once a teacher of the OT law asked Jesus, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
Maybe we could restate his question this way: "Of all the important things God has commanded us to do, what is the MAIN THING?"
"The most important one is this." Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength"
Loving God is the MAIN THING. In fact, this commandment, along with the one that immediately follows it- "to love your neighbor as yourself" -sums up all the other commandments!
We can be religious but not have a vibrant relationship with God. We can be diligent about trying to obey all of God’s commandments. We can be concerned about saying the right things, doing the right things, and knowing the right answers. But if what we do doesn’t flow our of an intimate, love relationship with God, it’s all in vain. Our life is missing the MAIN THING.
God addresses this in the OT through the prophet Isaiah, and Jesus echoes his words in the NT: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up of rules taught by men" (Isa. 29:13, Mt. 15:8) They were remembering the good thing (honoring God with their lips) but forgetting the MAIN THING (loving God with all their hearts). God, who looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7), saw full heads and busy hands, but empty hearts. Does He see the same when He looks at us?
When we keep the main thing the main thing, it changes our lives in many ways. For one thing, we shift from being ego-centered to Christ-centered. HE becomes our love focus. As a result, more of HIM shows up in the daily scenes and relationships of our lives.
In fact, the greatest gift you’ll ever give the world is your intimacy with Christ.
As great as you are, it’s HIM that other’s need. And the more you’ve been with HIM, the more of HIM they’ll get.
When we love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, it also changes what we do and how we do it. We’ll do things for love that we wouldn’t do for any other reason.
ILL- flying Emily to CA
At times, we do crazy, but wonderful, things for those we love. Think of the things you’ve done for a friend, relative, or that special someone in your life. The extravagance of your actions may have seemed excessive or undeserved to those looking on. But the wellspring from which your action overflowed was a heart full of love.
Our love for God will cause us to do things we would never do, in ways we would never do them, if we didn’t love Him. The people who have done great things for God are the people who’ve loved God greatly.
The most important life goal you and I must maintain is loving God. It’s the MAIN THING.
Now I want to give you some personal time; time between you and God to make some spiritual resolutions.
In application to what I’ve just shared, I want you to do three things:
1. List your stakes. How are you like the elephant? Have you told yourself lately or heard someone tell you, "You can’t do that!" Who really says you can’t? God? Someone else? Yourself? Is it really true according to God’s Word? What’s keeping you from being who Christ says you are?
2. What spiritual resolutions can you make this year that would glorify God?
3. Write down some practical ways you can achieve your spiritual goals.
Here’s an example:
One of your stakes may be the fear of telling others about Christ. A resolution may be to share the gospel with five people this semester. A practical way to achieve your goal would be to come to the NLT training (learn how to share your testimony and bridge) and commit to a Nav prayer group to have others join you in prayer for your friends.
Emily is going to share a few more examples for you; then we are going to give you 10 minutes to work on this alone.
