Taking Responsibility For Your Life - Part 4

EMBRACE YOUR RESPONSE ABILITY

Am I taking responsibility for my life, really?

“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. Matthew 25:14-15 NLT

“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. Matthew 25:16-18 NLT

“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’  Matthew 25:19-20 NLT

“The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’  Matthew 25:21 NLT

“The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said, ‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’ Matthew 25:22 NLT

“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’  Matthew 25:23 NLT

“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ Matthew 25:24-25 NLT

“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ Matthew 25:26-27 NLT

“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.  Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 25:28-30 NLT

Everybody gets an uneven amount of opportunity.

Everybody gets held accountable for what they do with it.

We are responsible for our responses.

Great gifts mean great responsibilities; greater gifts, greater responsibilities!  Luke 12:48 MSG

Taking Responsibility For Your Life - Part 3

THIS IS NO TIME TO PRAY

Am I taking responsibility for my life, really?

Four generations later, your descendants will return here and take this land, because only then will the people who live here be so sinful that they deserve to be punished.  Genesis 15:16 CEV

But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the Lord. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the Lord was very angry with the Israelites.   Joshua 7:1 NLT

Joshua sent some of his men from Jericho to spy out the town of Ai, east of Bethel, near Beth-aven. When they returned, they told Joshua, “There’s no need for all of us to go up there; it won’t take more than two or three thousand men to attack Ai. Since there are so few of them, don’t make all our people struggle to go up there.”   Joshua 7:2-3 NLT

So approximately 3,000 warriors were sent, but they were soundly defeated. The men of Ai chased the Israelites from the town gate as far as the quarries, and they killed about thirty-six who were retreating down the slope. The Israelites were paralyzed with fear at this turn of events, and their courage melted away.   Joshua 7:4-5 NLT

Joshua and the elders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and bowed face down to the ground before the Ark of the Lord until evening. Then Joshua cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, why did you bring us across the Jordan River if you are going to let the Amorites kill us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side! Lord, what can I say now that Israel has fled from its enemies? For when the Canaanites and all the other people living in the land hear about it, they will surround us and wipe our name off the face of the earth. And then what will happen to the honor of your great name?"   Joshua 7:6-9 NLT

But the Lord said to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this? Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings. That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel itself has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.   Joshua 7:10-12 NLT

“Get up! Command the people to purify themselves in preparation for tomorrow. For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Hidden among you, O Israel, are things set apart for the Lord. You will never defeat your enemies until you remove these things from among you.  Joshua 7:13 NLT

It's not fair, but it's still true.

I can't be accepting of irresponsibility.

How do you know when you need to get up and do something?

    *if God has already addressed it in the Bible

    *if you're trying to pray your way out of something       you have behaved you way into

Bottom Line:

   *where do you need to get up and take responsibility?

   *where are you using prayer as an excuse for inactivity?

   *where am I using misguided compassion as an excuse?

Taking Responsibility For Your Life - Part 2

THE DISPROPORTIONATE LIFE

Am I taking responsibility for my life, really?

A principle is not good or bad.

Principle:  People reap what they sow.

God is not against you.

If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important. Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.  Galatians 6:3-5 NLT

If I focus on you, I will make excuses. 

If I focus on me, I will make progress.

Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.  Galatians 6:6 NLT

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galatians 6:7 NIV

Life is connected.  

Forgiveness doesn't erase this principle. 

God loves you so much that He let you know about this principle ahead of time and made it predictable.

You reap later and greater.

This principle is not fair.

God is not going to remove the principle.

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. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.  Galatians 6:8-10 NLT

So what do I do about that?
    -I'm going to quit blaming and excusing.
    -I'm going to begin to do the things I should have been doing all along.

Taking Responsibility For Your Life - Part 1

LET THE BLAMES BEGIN

Am I taking responsibility for my life, really?

What is rewarded is repeated.

Irresponsibility is not a neutral thing.

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Genesis 1:27 NLT

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”  Genesis 1:28 NLT

Then God said, “Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food.  Genesis 1:29 NLT

You are happiest when you are responsible.

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.  Genesis 3:8 NLT

Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”  Genesis 3:9 NLT

He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”  Genesis 3:10 NLT

“Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” Genesis 3:11 NLT

The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”  Genesis 3:12 NLT

Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” Genesis 3:13 NLT

What does irresponsibility always create?  _____________

There is nothing to be gained through blame.

Irresponsibility creates conflict within us.

This week:
    *Listen to your blame.
    *Listen to your self talk as it relates to blame.

What Does Easter Prove

WHAT DOES EASTER PROVE

What does it take to get you to believe something?

What difference does it make?

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead.  Matthew 16:21 NLT

But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.”  Matthew 16:22-23 NLT

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.  And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?  Matthew 16:24-26 NLT

Easter proves God is in control.
How much of life do you control?
Not being in control causes stress.

Easter proves God always keeps His promises.
*Most of us are not very excited about heaven. 

How do we get to heaven?

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.  
Romans 3:22 NLT

*God is interested in what you are facing now.

Are you frustrated with an area of your life?

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life...Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”  Matthew 11:28-29  MSG

What should our response be?
- Get to know God
- Learn  to trust Him

How do you know if we are trusting God?

When you start worshiping you stop worrying.

Inside-Out Way of Jesus - Part 3

EMPTIED TO BE FILLED

God loves to fill what's empty.

There's a difference between being full and being fulfilled.

Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations.  When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’  But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’  Luke 14:16-18 NLT

"A presumption of emptiness"

Consumerism is the idea that our success and happiness is directly related to our ever-increasing consumption of goods.

Some of us deal with emptiness by living in a constant state of consumption.

Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’  Luke 14:19 NLT

Another said, ‘I just got married, so I can’t come.’  Luke 14:20 NLT

Thanks, but no thanks.  My cup is full.

 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’  After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’  So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.  For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.’” Luke 14:21-24 NLT

Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.  Ephesians 5:18 NLT

So, how do we do that?

"God, empty me of me so I can be filled with you."

Inside-Out Way of Jesus - Part 2

HUMBLED TO BE EXALTED

Faith is an inside-out job.

The way to greatness is not up; it's down.

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:  “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.  Luke 18:9-10 NLT

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!  Luke 18:11 NLT

Things we might say or think that express this attitude:
*You're not going to talk to me like that.
*I'm not going to be the one to apologize.
*It's not me, it's you.
*It's not fair.
*Did you hear about...
*I don't need help.

When we focus on our faith on the outside:
    -We turn our faith into a performance.
    -We compare ourselves to others.
    -We put our confidence in our accomplishments.    

I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ Luke 18:12 NLT

God is not impressed with those who want to impress Him.

“But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’  Luke 18:13 NLT

I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”  Luke 18:14 NLT

When we humble ourselves, that draws God's attention.

You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.  Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to.  Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.  Philippians 2:5-8 NLT

Ways to humble myself:
- Voluntarily confess sin
- Give selflessly and anonymously
- Treat others better than myself
- Be willing to ask for help

Philippians 2:9-11 NLT

What credit do you get for kneeling when it's impossible to stand?

Inside-Out Way of Jesus - Part 1

BROKEN TO BE WHOLE

Jesus: I know you’ve been taught that it’s all about  what’s on the outside.  That’s not what it’s about.  It’s all about what’s on the inside, and it’s what’s on the inside that comes out.

Jesus wants:
    *authentic worship
    *an intimate relationship
    *brokenness

When Jesus looks at broken, He sees beautiful.

A sinful woman anoints Jesus’ feet - Luke 7:36-50

Who would you rather be in this story?

If you want to be made whole you’ve got to be broken.

The less you see it in yourself, the more you need it.

“The power of vulnerability.”  Brene Brown

God makes the broken whole through Jesus Christ.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,  a punishment for his own sins! But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.   Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT

We are made whole because He was broken.

The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, “Go down to the potter’s shop, and I will speak to you there.”  So I did as he told me and found the potter working at his wheel.  But the jar he was making did not turn out as he had hoped, so he crushed it into a lump of clay again and started over. Then the Lord gave me this message:  “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay?   Jeremiah 18:1-6 NLT

The very thing you wish was not true about you, if you let Me, can be turned into something beautiful. It’s more valuable than before.

God doesn’t work around our brokenness; He works through it.