Find Your Place in 2016

2016-01-03 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Memory Verse:
Matthew 15:8
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

1. Read God’s Word Daily
2. Pray At Least 15 Minutes Daily
3. Have A Heart of Repentance
4. Find A Place To Serve Now
5. Look For Opportunities to Share Your Faith

How do we find our purpose, our place, in this world that is so full of distractions? Last week, we talked about the checklist for spiritual living. I encourage each of you to stick with that checklist, don’t let it drop or fall by the wayside. Stay committed to it and it will drive you to greatness. Today, I want to start 2016 with a conversation on how to fit. How do we find our place? And, once we do, how do we knock it out of the park. In other words, setting goals and making it happen.

1. P = Personality
Embrace Your Own Personality.  Celebrate the fact that God made you just the way you are. Know who you are.  Accept who you are.  And let God use you as you are.  Stop trying to be someone else.  You are exactly the person God wants you to be.  Accept yourself and enjoy your service.

Psa. 139:14a
I will praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

2. L = Learn
Learn About the One Who Made You.  Get to know Him. Too many Christians today never get to know God. They know about Him, they pretend they know Him, but they never truly know Him.

John 17:1-3
Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

3. A = Abilities
Discover the Abilities That God Has Blessed You With.  These are God-given gifts that should be used for His purposes.  Ministry, music, administration, business, serving. There are so many areas that God uniquely prepares us for ministry. Use your spiritual gifts and your abilities to carry out the work He has for you!

1 Cor. 7:7
For I wish that all men were even as I myself. But each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that.

Phil. 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

4. C = Connect
Connect with Other Believers.  God didn’t save you to become a spectator.  Nor did He give you gifts and abilities to keep them to yourself.  Find a need and meet it. Connect with other believers to be strengthened and encouraged. Connect your passion with a ministry where you can be fulfilled in your spiritual life.

Rom. 15:30-32
Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.

5. E = Experience
Experience God’s Best.  Don’t settle for a second-rate Christian life, when you can have God’s best right now.

Prov. 16:3
Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established.

Psa. 37:4
Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

It’s time to find your PLACE of service. As you begin this new year, you have the awesome opportunity to discover what God wants to do through you and develop into that person, OR, you have the opportunity to descend into Satan’s trap of complacency that he has laid for you. Become a leader. Become a person of significance in God’s Kingdom.
Matthew 15:8
These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

Principles for achievement

1. Never confuse movement with accomplishment
2. The Bridge between vision and accomplishment is discipline
3. Passion trumps obstacles
4. Embrace change