Last week we introduced “Contending for Your Destiny”.
The premise is this…
1. God has wonderful promises for you & your household!
YOU have a destiny in Christ in this lifetime
2. Those promises won’t be answered without a battle.
3. God is looking for YOU to stand up & CONTEND with HIM for the promises!
A CALL TO WAR. A CALL TO ACTION.
Hobbits…Middle Earth…Good vs Evil
Just when evil looks to win…
KING ARAGORN "A day may come when the courage of men fails, when we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship, but it is not this day. This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth, I bid you stand!“
OPENING PRAYER
Ephesians 5: 15-16
“Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
OK, Boller…I realize this life in Christ is a battle! SO HOW DO I CENTEND? HOW DO I FIGHT? HOW DO I CONTEND FOR THE DESTINY GOD HAS FOR ME? What do I do??
The BIBLE is our guide when it comes to a STRATEGIC WARFARE PLAN.
B.I.B.L.E. Basic instructions before leaving earth.
Today, I want to cover with you…
THREE STRATEGIC MOVES in contending for your destiny
BIBLICAL-BASED MOVES in warring for your future
Strategic Move #1: Make a Daily Choice.
Joshua 24:15 If you decide that it’s a bad thing to worship God, then choose a god you’d rather serve --and do it today. Choose one of the gods your ancestors worshiped from the country beyond The River, or one of the gods of the Amorites, on whose land you’re now living. As for me and my family, we’ll worship God.
Not a single one day choice to follow Christ.
But a DAILY, MOMENT by MOMENT, SITUATION by SITUATION CHOICE for you & your family.
It’s easy to draw the line here in church on Sunday AM. Not so easy to do it when tempted to be a weenie on Wednesday @ work. As for me & my house, we will serve the Lord…more than a nice refrigerator magnet
Strategic Move #2: Follow the Leader.
John 5:19-20 So Jesus explained Himself at length. "I’m telling you this straight. The Son can’t independently do a thing, only what He sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does. The Father loves the Son and includes Him in everything He is doing.”
How much warfare do you want to handle on your own?
How wise & strong are you against an ancient enemy who knows your weaknesses?
Warfare? What about warfare…Do what Jesus did.
He didn’t hunker down in a church & command territorial spirits & principalities & powers over a city to leave in His name. He healed the sick, feed the hungry, cast out people’s demons, gave hope to the hopeless, encouraged us with simple good news that God is here to help & rescue US!
Strategic Move #3: Keep Pressing Forward.
Philippians 3:12-14 I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 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, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Faithfulness counts for everything. God is not looking for spiritual giants...but faithful servants. JUST KEEP SHOWING UP! Refuse to quit!
Tell Mother Theresa story…can’t pray for wisdom & clarity…but FAITHFULNESS!!
CONTENDING FOR YOUR DESTINY means you still show up tomorrow even when today wasn’t all that victorious!
Like Sam & Frodo…take the sword and move forward into your destiny.
CLOSING PRAYER
