RESET: Heavenly Ambition

 RUN ON!   Aiming for the Prize 

 

Phil 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

 

Press – dioko (dee oko) – run, press, persecute, hunt, hasten

Lay hold – katalambano (ka-ta-lam-banno) – seize, arrive, acquire, grasp, catch, overtake

 

Reaching – epekteinomai (e-peck-tee-no-may)- stretch, extend, try hard, strain

 

I.               JESUS NEVER REBUKE HEAVENLY AMBITION

 

1.     He Just showed the qualifications 

Matthew 20:20-28

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. ²¹ And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” ²² But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to Him, “We are able.” ²³ So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” ²⁴ And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. ²⁵ But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. ²⁶ Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. ²⁷And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—²⁸just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 

Luke 9:46-50

Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. ⁴⁷ And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, ⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”

 

2.     The Cost

2 Tim 2:3-8

You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hardworking farmer must be first to partake of the crops. ⁷ Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

 

3.     The Path

1 Cor 9:25

And everyone who competes for the prize ¹is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for ^man imperishable crown

 

1 Cor 9:26

Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. ²⁷ But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

 

II.             STEPS TOWARD HEAVENLY AMBITION

 

1.     Want more of God and from God here and now

Phil 3:12-14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

 

2.     Strive to make it in

Phil 3:10-11

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

 

Luke 13:23-24

And He said to them, ²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

 

1 Cor 9:24

Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it

 

3.     Strive for a maximum heavenly Experience

Luke 6:19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

                        2 Tim 4:6-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

 

RESET: UPGRADE

This is a year for upgrade.  God wants to increase your operating system this year.  We are not going to end this year the same way we entered into it.

 

Ay time God is going to upgrade us there are things we must do to cooperate with him. I am going to talk about one of them today. We must upgrade our emotional Health.  We must learn to kick off Anxiety.

 

Phil 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; And the Peace of God Which Surpasses all understanding, will guard your Hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus

 

I.               WHAT IS ANXIETY

 

Anxiety Is a feeling of fear or apprehension about what's to come.  it is your body's natural response to stress. 

 

1.     FOUR TYPES OF CLINICAL ANXIETY 

 

a.     Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things. And find it difficult to control their worry. 

 

b.     Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a disorder in which people have recurring, unwanted thoughts, obsessions, that make them feel driven to do something repetitively (compulsions).

 

c.     Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) condition that's triggered by a terrifying event 

 

d.     Social Disorder- Fear of Public Speaking, Fear of clouds, 

Feeling of being watched

 

2.     CAUSES

 

a.     Differences in brain chemistry and function.

b.     Genetics. 

c.     Differences in the way threats are perceived.

d.     Working in High Stress Environment- job change.

e.     Change in living arrangements.

f.      Traumatic pregnancy and giving birth.

g.     Family and Relationship Problems.

 

3.     BIBLICAL CHARACTERS

 

a.     ELIJAH

b.     JONAH

c.     MARTHA

Luke 10:41

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

 

·      If You Are Depressed  -- You Are Living In the Past

·      If You Are Anxious  --  You Are Living In The Future

·      If You Are At Peace --  You Are Living In the Present 

 

II.             SPIRITUAL REASONS FOR ANXIETY

 

1.     Satan Wants to Immobilize you

 

a.     We must resist Him  

1 Cor 10:3-5

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

 

b.     Constantly Commune with Jesus

c.     Keep your mind stayed on him

d.     Live a prayer and fasted lifestyle

e.     Seek professional help if needed

 

 

NEW YEAR - NEW YOU

 

Rev 21:5

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

 

I.               GOD LOVES MAKING THINGS NEW

1.     He will do it in Eternity

Rev 21:5 

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful  

2.     He did it in Salvation

2 Cor 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new 

3.     He’s doing it for you now.

Isaiah 43:19

Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

II.              WHY THE NEW?

1.     The old is no longer producing desired results

Exo 16:17-21

Then the children of Israel did so and gathered, some more, some less. ¹⁸ So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one’s need. ¹⁹ And Moses said, “Let no one leave any of it till morning.” ²⁰ Notwithstanding they did not heed Moses. But some of them left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and stank. And Moses was angry with them. ²¹ So they gathered it every morning, every man according to his need. And when the sun became hot, it melted.

 

2.     You have outgrown the old

Josh 17:15

So Joshua answered them, “If you are a great people, then go up to the forest country and clear a place for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and the giants, since the mountains of Ephraim are too confined for you.”

 

3.     For His Use

Romans 12:1 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

 

III.            HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE NEW

1.     Let go of the past

Isaiah 43:18-19

“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. 

2.     Get yourself ready

Col 3:5-9

Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. ⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.

3.     Walk in the New

Col 3:10-14

and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. ¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.