Chasing The Lion Pt3
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We are continuing our look at Chasing our Lion-sized goals and dreams
We looked at allowing God to expand the size of our dreams
We also looked at the courage it takes to go after our lion-sized dreams
This week we look at the discipline it takes to become someone who can chase down lions
We will look at the sometimes long journey to your great moment of victory
David’s warriors achieved incredible things because:
They had been tried through many battles and stayed in the fight
This created warriors who were fearless because they knew THEIR power and GOD’S power
Eleazar was one such warrior
After him, Eleazar son of Dodo son of an Ahohite was among the three warriors with David when they defied the Philistines. The men of Israel retreated in the place they had gathered for battle, but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword. The Lord brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops came back to him, but only to plunder the dead.
Plunder the Dead
Just a side note hear
Though the army retreated and David & Eleazar won the victory
They shared the victory plunder
David did not think this was wrong, even though they did not fight
The church is the same way
Few do the fighting(work) but everyone gets the rewards
The few that come to prayer meetings
The few that started small groups
The few that show up consistently
but Eleazar stood his ground and attacked the Philistines until his hand was tired and stuck to his sword.
Eleazar did two things:
He stood his ground
Sometimes you need to stop retreating
Stand your ground spiritually
He attacked the enemy
Nothing will come to us just by praying
Faith is most often expressed through an action
I believe this is the right decision therefore I will:
Go to University for it
Take a risk and say yes to an opportunity
I believe I should be in Canada for school
Therefore I will pay the money for the visa
I believe this church is doing the work of God
Therefore I will get involved with helping the church suceed
Therefore I will give a portion of my money to help the work be done
Eleazar did not become that kind of a courageous ferocious warrior overnight
Eleazar did not become that kind of a courageous ferocious warrior overnight
He had won and lost some battles to become what he was
David did not kill Goliath because he was lucky
He had already killed the bear and lion and knew what he could do in God’s power
It will take faith, courage and preparation
Prayer meeting is preparation
Studying scripture is preparation
Trying and failing is preparation
We need to be trained in how to handle the physical world we live in, its people and its challenges
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
You may have a nasty employer who is not treating you properly
Do you beat them
Do you argue and complain to them
no
You pray that the spirit working through them trying to harm you is stopped
Your children are not living properly- drugs-alcohol
Do you scream and hollar at them? (does not work)
No pray that the spirit that lives in them is broken
We need to be trained in this kind of spiritual warfare
We need to be trained on how to be mature, strong, courageous Christians
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
In order for you and I to chase and capture our God sized dreams
Some examples
It will take faith, courage and preparation/Training
Prayer meeting is preparation
Studying scripture is preparation
Trying and failing is preparation
Being involved in church ministries and activities is training
Here are some examples of people who did amazing things
And how preparation was very much a part of the success
Some examples
Some examples
April 18th 1946 Jackie Robinson -first black player in Major League Baseball
Hit a three -run homer in his first game
George Shuba shaked his hand when he crossed home plate
show slide
George went on to play seven seasons for the Dodgers
1955 World Series Championship
George’s swing was said to be “as natural as a smile”
In off season George would practice by swinging a weighted bat 600 times a day
Did this for 15 years.....47,200 swings every winter!
There was nothing natural about it......
God may have given you a vision/goal
You may have the courage to Chase the lion sized dream
But will you be strong enough, prepared enough, mature enough to handle it.
We cannot just pray as if it depends soley on God
We also have to work as if it depends on us.
Work ethic & prayer ethic = success
Mark Batterson - Chase The Lion
Mark Batterson - Chase The Lion
put in slide of him
Before he wrote his first book (he has now written 11)
He read 3000 books
That’s one way to prepare before you write a book
Pablo Casals - World’s greatest Cellists
put in slide of him
He played in front of Queen Victoria when he was 22
He played in front of President Kennedy when he was 86
he is 96 years old and still practices 3 hours a day
When asked why he said “ I am starting to notice some improvement”
London Philharmonic Orchestra selected 50 of the greatest pieces of classical music
show slide
The List Included:
6 pieces by Mozart
To get these 6 spectacular pieces Mozart had written more than 600 pieces of music
5 pieces by Beethoven
To get these 5 great works, Beethoven created 650 pieces
3 pieces by Bach
Bach wrote more than a 1000 pieces
We live in a culture that celebrates 15 minutes of fame, but God honors a lifetime of faithfulness
Biblical examples:
Moses: Knew he was called to free his people
40 years of academic cultural training
40 years of surrendering to the complete opposite of his dream (obedience)
David knew he was called to be King
David waited over 20 years before he would be king of all Israel
Trained in war-waiting-humility-obedience
Joseph knew his family would bow down before him (pride)
decades before he would see it
He learned humility - trust in God’s plan
You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.
You need to trust that the path you are on, though difficult, will lead you to your destiny
So do your spiritual push ups
share the gospel with people
start a small group
start going to prayer meeting
go to mid-week bible study
Make sure you are spiritually strong
Call to salvation.......