1. If you spend your life racing for success you might just crash and burn
2. There’s more to this race than the lap we’re currently running.
Hebrews 12:1-3 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
3. The most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 “I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with PLEASURE to find out what is good.” But that also proved to be meaningless. 2 “LAUGHTER,” I said, “is madness. And what does pleasure accomplish?” 3 I tried cheering myself with WINE, and embracing FOLLY—my mind still guiding me with wisdom. I wanted to see what was good for people to do under the heavens during the few days of their lives. 4 I undertook great PROJECTS: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. 5 I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. 6 I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also OWNED more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. 8 I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the TREASURE of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, and a harem as well—the delights of a man’s heart. 9 I BECAME GREATER by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me. 10 I DENIES MYSELF NOTHING my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil. 11 Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was MEANINGLESS, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
2 Tim 2:6 “For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”
Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you; and surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Isaiah 14:13-14, “You said in your heart, I will ascend to Heaven. I will raise my throne above the stars. I will sit enthroned on the mount of the assembly of the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds. I will make myself like the Most High.”
When I focus on me everything else gets out of focus. 4 truths:
Prideful people end up LOOKING foolish
Judges 16:21 “Then the Philistines seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him down to Gaza. Binding him with bronze shackles, they set him to grinding grain in the prison.’
2. Prideful people end up losing friends
Proverbs 13:10 “Pride only leads to QUARRELS.”
Proverbs 28:25 “He that is proud at heart stirs up STRIFE”
3. Prideful people end up failing
Proverbs 16:18 “Pride leads to destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 18:12 “Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud.”
4. Humble people experience God’s favor.
James 4:6 “God opposes the proud but gives GRACE to the humble.”
I Peter 5:6 “HUMBLE YOURSELVES, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may LIFT YOU UP in due time.”
Luke 14:11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Jeremiah 6:14 “They dress the wound of my people AS THOUGH IT WERE NOT SERIOUS. ʻPeace, peace,ʼ they say, when there is no peace.”
Ephesians 4:26-27 “In your anger do not sin: DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN WHILE YOU ARE STILL ANGRY, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
2. You can’t win the battle on the OUTSIDE until you face the battles on the INSIDE.
Matthew 5:4 “Blessed are those who mourn, or they will be comforted.
If you don’t identify your losses your losses will become your identity
3.You don’t have to fight alone
Ecclesiastes 4:8 “There was a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
“For whom am I toiling,” he asked,
“and why am I depriving myself of enjoyment?”
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business! 9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor: 10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. “
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Scene 1 : the team comes in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lItXgmjKekQ
1. It’s hard to fly FORWARD if you are tied down by your PAST.
Luke 22:54-62 “Then seizing him, they led Jesus away and took Him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance but when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them.” A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, "This man was with him." But he denied it. "Woman, I don't know him," he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, "You also are one of them." "Man, I am not!" Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, "Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean." Peter replied, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times." And he went outside and WEPT BITTERLY.
But Jesus didn’t name Peter for what he DID, He named him for who he would BECOME.
He didn’t name him for his FAILURE but for his FUTURE!
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a NEW PERSON. The old life is GONE; a NEW LIFE has begun!”
3. Your BIGGEST SINS are not too big for GOD’S GRACE!
John 21:15 “Jesus said, “Simon Peter, Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” AGAIN Jesus said, Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes Lord, you know that I love you.” And Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” THE THIRD TIME, He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me? “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you.”
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, (God) is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
Romans 8:1 “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Scene 3: Time to let Go. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DttVBf3m7sc
