The First Steps
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You may wish to turn in your bibles to 1 Timothy
Key Scripture: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (NKJV)
Last Sunday morning my sermon had three points:
1. God has a plan
2. He will succeed
3. We have an opportunity to participate
By the end of the service we had concluded that most of us were in one of three possible places and needed God to:
1. Show us what He wants us to do
2. Get us ready to do it
3. Open the door
Since last Sunday, so many of us have sensed God at work in us. Others returned to the business of life and even though we were unaware, God was nonetheless working on us & around us, without us even knowing. How can this be? Did I fail to mention:
God has a plan and He has included you. Your opportunity is coming.
What we face in life, the bountiful blessings, along with the Tests and trials are designed to work for us, not against us. (2 Corinthians 4:17)
When God sent His angel, Gabriel, to Mary, (Luke 1), and announced to her that God had a plan and that He had included her, her response was to simply: Mary offered herself up to the plan of God.
She may not have realized God was so serious and that He took her response ,“Be it unto me according to Your word.“, very seriously.
The plan of God, like a seed, entered into Mary’s life and, although it took some time and some change on her part, she eventually …
The same thing happened to Joseph, her fiancée, it was tough and embarrassing at one point, then really a blessing at another, but through it all, he allowed God to be the both the author and the finisher of his faith. (Hebrews 12:2) Like Joseph, Your life should be a script that only God could write and only God could produce
The Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy, to be faithful to God‘s plan and be content to allow God time and room to work that plan.
Point #98 God is working on you, to work in you, so He can work through you.
Point #38 What you are going through may not be punishment for the past, but positioning for the future.
Point #179 It’s not what you are going through, but what you are going to that matters most.
Point #154 God does not have to first seek your permission before He upsets your plans.
Have you found 1 Timothy 6 (NIV)
3 If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching,
4 he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions
5 and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.
6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.
8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.
9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.
Paul is saying, Timothy, don’t be overcome with the pursuit of success, rather Find Satisfaction by Discovering Your Purpose and Pursuing Your Destiny
God has a plan and it includes you.
Destiny is your opportunity to participate in God’s plan.
The First Two Steps
1 Timothy 6:6 ¶ But godliness with contentment is great gain.
If godliness with contentment is gain, then godliness with discontentment is moot, and ungodly discontentment is great loss
Step 1: Decide To Be Godly … It’s A Choice
* It’s a choice not to be ungodly
Cuss; lie; cheat; steal; fornicate; get drunk; do drugs
Step 2: Learn To Be Content
Remember Our Key Scripture: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Look more closely at that passage in context:
11b For I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Even become godly and content … make it your goal, Jesus will help.
