Priorities and Perspectives
Intro;
Have you ever thought. I wish I could change my life.
· Smoking.
· Drinking.
· Eating.
· Unfaithful.
Maybe you just need more…
· Motivation.
· Mature.
· Methods.
· Miracle/can’t do it on your own.
Good news for you today!
Principles we’ll see today. Change your life forever!
You will be more
· Motivation.
· Mature.
· Methods.
You will see Miracles in your life!
It’s easy.
· Change your priorities.
· What’s your reason.
· What’s your plan.
· What’s your purpose.
· Open your eye’s and look at things a little different.
Illustration;
Standing looking in the mirror. Didn’t like what I saw.
You can’t change everything.
You can change your priorities.
Before you can change your priorities.
You have to change your perspectives.
Your perspectives controls your priorities.
Standing on a bridge/Sweet hearts on the other side. You haven’t seen them in a year.
Your perspective changed.
So your priority changed.
Slide: Priorities and Perspectives.
Applying these principals to your life. When you change your…
· Perspectives.(Way you see life.)
· Perceptions. (What can you do with your life.)
· Participation. (Way you live life.)
Quote;
Many people don’t live their whole life.
If you apply these principles to your life. Your life will never be the same.
1. Put on new glasses. (Putting on new glasses changes your perspective.)
Have you ever put on someone else’s glasses.
Can’t see, might even have to have them lead your around.
Remember Paul. Road to Damascus.
· Leading crusade against Christians.
· Knocked off his horse.
· Blinded.
When he could see again/priorities changed.
He went from leading a crusade against Christians to living a life for Christ.
Because his perspective changed.
· Up on his high horse.
· Knocked to the ground.
· Many of you have been knocked to the ground.
· Keep getting up/knock down again.
Next time you get knocked to the ground.
Get up and “Put on new pair Glasses.”
Put on your Jesus glasses and see what God might do in your life.
Slide:
Acts 19: 11Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. NKJV
Our focus point on this passage is the miracles.
Gods power.
Paul hands.
Peoples problems.
When we see the Lord perform miracles/3 purposes in mind.
1. To show His compassion.
2. To show His truth.
3. To show His credentials.
Here we see Him showing His credentials.
· Handkerchiefs?
· Aprons?
God doesn’t need you to do His work.
God wants you to do His work.
God can’t use me. Keep messing up.
God can’t use me. I’m not good enough.
It is the power of God working in you and through you.
Not always for you.
With our new glasses we can see His compassion.
Healed the sick/diseases.
Cast out evil demons.
Through the hands of Paul.
When ever you see Gods handy work.
You see Satan’s opposing work.
Slide:
Acts 19:13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. NKJV
Itinerant Jewish Exorcist.
· Wandering Jews.
· Town to town.
· Casting out demons/healings for money.
· Priorities were self centered/motivated.
Seven son of Sceva.
· Sons of a Jewish high priest.
· Jewish exorcist./Sons of high priest.
We’re going to see the credentials of God.
v.13 they took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord over…
Key word is missing.
To call on the Lord.
These Jews/Exorcist
Wanted to use the power of the Lord for their glory.
Christians we use the Glory of the Lord, for our power.
If you want to change your life.
You have to change your priorities.
To change your priorities.
You have to change your perceptions.
From now on it’s not…
What can God do for me.
What can God do through me.
1. Put on new Glasses. (Changes your perspective.)
2. Change your direction. (Changes your perception.)
If you continue to do what you’re doing.
You’ll continue to experience what you’re experiencing.
Look what happened to these guys.
Slide:
Acts 19:15And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. NKJV
These men/holy men
Beat down by this demon.
The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know…”
“Ginosko”
to know by interaction/knew of Him/but knew Him.
The man leaped on them.
Overpowered them.
Prevailed against them.
When you Change your direction in the world.
You change your perception of the world.
What you wrestle with/war with is not yourselves/Satan.
Powers and principalities. Eph 6:12
See you fail.
Satan knows your sin.
Ginosko. If you don’t change your direction/overcome by deception.
Sin is just like this demon.
· Leaps.
· Overpowers.
· Prevails.
They ran out of the house naked and wounded. (exposes your weakness)
Slide:
Acts 19:17This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. NKJV
Fear fell on them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
They had a change in perception.
What’s in it for me.
Caused a change in directions.
Change in lifestyle/direction.
Wind down:
Slide:
Acts 19:18And many who had believed came confessing and telling their deeds. 19Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver. NKJV
They came confessing telling their deeds.
More like.
They continued…
· Coming.
· Confessing.
Want a change in your life?
1. Put on new Glasses. (Changes your perspective)
2. Change your direction. (Changes your perception)
3. Believe in the Lord.(Changes your participation)
If there is a proclamation.
There will also be participation.
· They believed.
· They confessed.
· They acknowledged.
That Jesus Christ Lord of their life.
If there is a proclamation.
There will also be participation.
Close:
Ready for a life change?
1. Change your Participating.
Participation is believing in the Lord.
2. Change your Perception.
Perception changes your direction.
3. Change your perspective.
Perspective changes the way you see things.
Illustration;
Dave at the zoo with son.