Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Text: Philippians 4:11-13

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Getting Out Of Your Comfort Zone

Introduction:

WE ALL HAVE A COMFORT ZONE

AN AREA THAT IS OUR OWN PRIVATE SPACE

A SPACE WHERE NO ONE ELSE IS WELCOME

ANY INFRINGEMENT CAN CAUSE MAJOR DISASTER

GOD IS CALLING US TO LEAVE OUR COMFORT ZONE

I. THE HEBREW CHILDREN

 THEY WERE COMFORTABLE IN EGYPT

 THEY HAD HOUSES, LAND, SAFETY, SECURITY

 THEY HAD ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME

 BUT THEY WERE IN A LAND THAT WASN’T THEIRS

 GOD WAS CALLING THEM BACK HOME

 HE WAS CALLING THEM TO A PLACE THEY HAD LEFT 400 YEARS BEFORE

 A PLACE THAT NO ONE REMEMBERED.

II. THEY HAD TO LEAVE THEIR COMFORT ZONE

 OUT OF EGYPT THEY WANDERED INTO A WILDERNESS OF UNCERTAINTY

 PHAROAH SOON REALIZED HE WANTED ISRAEL BACK SO HE SETS OUT AFTER THEM

 ISRAEL IS CAUGHT

 MOUNTAINS TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT

 THE RED SEA IN FRONT

 PHAROAH IN BACK

 THERE’S NO PLACE TO TURN

 WHEN GOD CALLS YOU, THE WAY IS THERE,

WHETHER WE SEE IT OR NOT.

 THE UNCLAIMED PROMISE

 AFTER CROSSING THE RED SEA, THEY MAKE A 13 DAY JOURNEY TO THE

JORDAN RIVER

 HERE THEY DECIDE THEY CAN’T CLAIM THE PROMISE

 THEY END UP WANDERING FOR 40 YEARS

 THEY ACCUSE GOD OF LEAVIN’ ‘EM HANGIN’

III. GETTING OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE

 REQUIRES FAITH

 REQUIRES LOOKING BEYOND THE OBSTICLES AND THE OBVIOUS

 IT TAKES LOOKING BEYOND THE DARKNESS TO THE LIGHT

 WHEN WE LOOK THROUGH THE DARKNESS THAT SURROUNDS OUR LIFE WE SEE THAT GOD WAS THERE ALL THE TIME

 JOHN 14:18 - I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU COMFORTLESS: I WILL COME TO YOU.

 GOD DID NOT CALL US TO BE COMFORTABLE, HE CALLED US TO BE CONTENT.

 I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Philippians 4:11

 PAUL WAS AN EXPERT AT BEING OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE

 THERE IS NOTHING COMFORTABLE ABOUT BEING:

 SHIPWRECKED

 STONED

 BEATEN

 IMPRISONED

 SNAKE BITTEN

 LEFT FOR DEAD

 BEING IN CHAINS

 HE REALIZED HE DIDN’T HAVE TO BE COMFORTABLE, HE JUST HAD TO BE CONTENT

 HE REALIZED GOD HAD A PURPOSE

 IT’S TIME TO GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE

 WE NEED TO REALIZE THAT GOD’S CALLING DOESN’T ALWAYS PUT US IN A COMFORTABLE POSITION

 IT DOESN’T MAKE EVERYTHING ROSEY

 IT DOESN’T MAKE EVERYTHING PERFECT

 AND IT DOESN’T ALWAYS MAKE SENSE, BUT IT ALWAYS MAKES US BETTER

 IT ALWAYS BRINGS CONTENTMENT

 I’D RATHER BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND SAVED THAN COMFORTABLE AND LOST