Sermon Central
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Contending For Your Destiny: Leaving A Legacy Series
Contributed by Marty Boller on Nov 2, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: #3 of 3 teachings. There is a great need for Christians to awaken to the unique call & destiny awaiting all those who follow Jesus. Yet how many treasures of God’s Kingdom are never claimed because we try to remain civilians in a time of war?
We’ve been discussing the great need to CONTEND for YOUR DESTINY.Pick up the sword & FIGHT!
Promises from God...that cannot be fulfilled without YOUR ACTIVE, INTENTIONAL PARTICIPATION.
TODAY...I want to bring the point home personally….
WHY CONTEND? WHAT ARE WE CONTENDING FOR?
Paul puts it this way...
1Co 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for... THE PRIZE.
What PRIZE is Paul talking about here?
Salvation?
Heaven?
Riches here on earth?
What PRIZE are we contending for in this life??? What prize is Paul taking about???
YOUR DESTINY IN CHRIST! (Your future in God)
EVERY GOOD THING GOD HAS PLANNED FOR YOU IN THIS LIFETIME!
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
CAN YOU SEE IT? Once you lay your eyes on the BLESSINGS OF GOD He has for you on this side...all other earthly treasures grow dim.
Luther: A Mighty Fortress is Our God: Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever.
THE KEY ASPECT ABOUT YOUR DESTINY (future) IN CHRIST….
YOUR LEGACY in CHRIST.
Everyone in this room will leave a LEGACY. The real question is: WHAT TYPE OF LEGACY ARE YOU LEAVING?
Everyone has a circle of influence. 30,000 people is the average in a lifetime (John Maxwell)
There’s NO QUESTION you’re INFLUENCING PEOPLE. The question is WHAT TYPE OF INFLUENCE are you leaving?
OK Boller...you just lost me...you’re scratching your head
The yeah buts...
my kids are grown...it’s too late.
I’m divorced. I’ve already blown my chances.
I’m hardly able to keep my head above water...
You’re 53...I’m only 23...I don’t have to worry about it yet
Besides...MY DESTINY is about ME...not others.
Dr. James Dobson…
THREE THINGS THAT REALLY MATTER IN YOUR LIFE.
1. WHO DID YOU LOVE?
2. WHO LOVED YOU?
3. WHAT YOU DID FOR CHRIST?
These are the KEY issues about your Destiny in Christ, the questions worth CONTENDING FOR...FIGHTING FOR...the PRIZE.
Paul sees the battle...
1 Cor. 13:12-13 (MsgB) We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
FAITH HOPE LOVE
Closing Prayer
