“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me’” -Erma Bombeck
If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:37-39 NLT
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Mark 12:30-31 NLT
WHEN YOU ARE INTIMATELY CONNECTED WITH SOMEONE YOU HAVE A DEEP DESIRE TO DO WHAT THEY LOVE.
LOVING JESUS WITH ALL YOUR SOUL IS HAVING THE SAME DESIRES THAT HE DESIRED.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 NLT
WHEN WE ARE TRULY ALL IN WE ARE WILLING TO GO ALL OUT
1. BELIEVED
WHEN YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN SOMETHING IT COMPELS YOU TO DO CERTAIN THINGS.
2. CHARACTER
“No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us” 1 John 4:12 NLT
When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money. Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them. Acts 3:1-10 NLT
OUR CHARACTER IS A REFLECTION OF THE LOVE AND PURSUANT NATURE OF OUR GOD!
3. BOLDNESS
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you… Acts 1:8 NLT
“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?; So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.”Romans 10:14;17 NLT
“My heart is filled with bitter sorrow and unending grief for my people, my Jewish brothers and sisters.* I would be willing to be forever cursed—cut off from Christ!—if that would save them.” Romans 9:2-3 NLT
But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. Romans 5:8 NLT
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Romans 12:9-10
LOVE IS NOT SPOKEN, IT IS EXPERIENCED
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” Luke 5:18-20 NLT
ACCEPT THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
BUILD A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
SHARE YOUR PERSONAL STORY
GIVE A PERSONAL INVITE
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Mark 12:30-31
“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 ESV
ochuroma (okh-oo'-ro-mah); to fortify, a strong castle, a prisoner locked by deception.
DEMOLISHING THE STRONGHOLD OF THE MIND
1. IDENTIFY THE STRONGHOLD
“Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.” 2 Timothy 2:26 NLT
“When he (the devil) lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44 ESV
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
____ MATERIAL/FINANCIAL STRONGHOLD
____ ADDICTIVE/HABITUAL STRONGHOLD
____ PERSONAL/PHYSICAL STRONGHOLD
____ RELATIONAL STRONGHOLD
____ SPIRITUAL STRONGHOLD
2. ATTACK THE STRONGHOLD WITH GOD’S WEAPONS
A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. Proverbs 21:22 NIV
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 ESV
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants...These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions... Galatians 5:17 NLT
STOP AND PHYSICALLY ASK YOURSELF…
“WHY AM I FEELING WHAT I AM FEELING RIGHT NOW?”
“WHY AM I REALLY FEELING WHAT I AM FEELING RIGHT NOW?”
“WHY AM I REALLY FEELING WHAT I AM FEELING RIGHT NOW?”
STOP AND PHYSICALLY ASK YOURSELF…
“WHAT LIE AM I BELIEVING TO MAKE THIS FEELING TRUE?”
STOP AND PHYSICALLY PRAY
3. DESTROY STRONGHOLDS WITH GOD’S TRUTH
We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” 2 Corinthians 10:5 ESV
Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9 NLT
“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32
“So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36
One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Matthew 22:35NLT
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40 NLT
Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.” The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.” Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions. Mark 12:29-34 NLT
1. GOD MUST BE FIRST
The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. Mark 12:29 NLT
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Numbers 23:19 NLT
God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. James 1:17 NLT
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 NLT
Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation… Colossians 1:15 NLT
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Hebrews 13:8 NLT
As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades. But the word of the Lord remains forever.” 1 Peter 1:24-25 NLT
THE DEVIL WANTS US TO TRADE AWAY COMMITTED DISCIPLESHIP FOR A CONVENIENT CHRISTIANITY.
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT
Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. I am the Lord your God. So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. You must obey all my regulations and be careful to obey my decrees, for I am the Lord your God. If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the Lord. Leviticus 18:2-5 NLT
PROGRESSING IN GOD’S WILL IS ONLY ACHIEVED BY SURRENDERING YOUR WILL.
…not my will, but yours be done. Luke 22:42 NIV
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. Matthew 16:24-25 NLT
2. GIVE JESUS YOUR WHOLE HEART
And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart… Mark 12:30 NLT
A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Luke 6:43-45 NLT
YOUR HEARTS SOIL IS HARD
This message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, these leaders have set up idols in their hearts. They have embraced things that will make them fall into sin. Ezekiel 14:2-3 NLT
YOUR HEARTS SOIL IS SHALLOW
YOUR HEARTS SOIL IS CROWDED
YOUR HEARTS SOIL IS FERTILE
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. James 1:2-8 NLT
The thief’s (devil) purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. John 10:10 NLT
When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before. Luke 11:24-26 NLT
A GROWING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS IS INTENTIONAL, NOT ACCIDENTAL.
So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds.
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. Colossians 3:5-10 NLT
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT
SEED
You will always harvest what you plant. Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:7-9 NLT
YOU CAN’T GET YOUR EXTERNAL LIFE IN ORDER WHEN YOUR INTERNAL LIFE IS OUT OF ORDER.
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE OUTCOME WISHES WITH NO INPUT DISCIPLINES AND THEY WONDER WHY THEY ARE FRUSTRATED.
READING AND STUDYING THE BIBLE
CONFESSING SINS REGULARLY
SERVING IN THE CHURCH
PRAYING FOR AN UNBELIEVER AND THEIR GROWTH AND INVITING THEM INTO YOUR LIFE.
SOIL
“bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 NLT
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8 NLT
SEASON
Does a farmer always plow and never sow? Is he forever cultivating the soil and never planting?; The farmer knows just what to do, for God has given him understanding.; Isaiah 28:24;26
WE WANT INSTANTLY WHAT IS ONLY DEVELOPED THROUGH CONSISTENCY