Lately, instead of listening to Ingrid Michaelson, I have been listening to Charles Stanley. Here’s a few jotted down highpoints that I have been reflecting on the past week.
Highest and most productive failure: new vision, new perspective.
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”-Luke 22:31
Whatever you think is your strongest point, be careful, because Satan has a bull’s-eye on it.
Why does Jesus let us fail? Why does He allow temptations in our lives? Choices? Trials?
He didn’t look at my life and save me on the basis of conduct; He saved me on the basis of our response to grace and the blood of Jesus.
God has something fantastic in mind.
How will I respond?
I can use every failure to increase influence and impact.
God saw that we would disobey Him, but he saved us anyway.
God prepares us for our greater service.
No sin is good, but it is about our response.
Flaw in Faith: confidence in ourselves, not on Christ.
To purify a heart means to break it.
Sift out qualities that are damaging: pride, selfishness, and independent spirit.
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”-Isaiah 40:8
“He tends His flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”-Isaiah 40:11
Tend and gather.
He hates sin-we are His prized possessions.
Why serve ourselves when we are so limited?
His followers are the only ones who worship Him.
He is the source of our strength. He will never show up late or tired.
Every single child has a set of wings. We will rise and succeed on the basis of our faith.
God wants us to soar, not sit. He wants us to rise above.
Who has had impact on your life?
Who are you impacting?
Many people love to impress, but you have an obligation to impact.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let you light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise you Father in heaven.”-Matthew 5:13-16
You ought… NO
You are… YES
We have a personal responsibility to impact those around us.
Impact=Collision
Changed, affected, and influenced, so that meeting you, knowing you, watching you is saying something to them they can’t escape. That’s how Jesus intended the world to know about Him.
“Make disciples of all nations.”
As you live out your life, impact the people around you with the truth you know.
The Roman government faced Christianity only to be conquered by the word of God.
Others may not like what they see, but often, it is what they don’t like that is what impresses them.
Live out your life, impacting those around as a result of what Jesus has done in us.
Not a suggestion, a command.
Jesus so impressed His disciples that they were willing to sink their lives to spread the message of eternal life.
Impact: determined by character of our life.
To change flavor of society, you have to be different.
Will we stand up for what is right, or will we be quiet and compromise?
STOP being conformed to the likeness of the world.
We determine how bright our light will shine.
Warning: salt being mixed with things to loose its power.
Light: pure, clear, make a difference, reveals that you might not see otherwise.
You don’t win by compromising.
Some will say, “I don’t like rejection”. Well, neither did Jesus. But He was willing to be rejected to save your soul for all eternity.
No comments:
Post a Comment