Starting strong, finished wrong

Starting strong, finished wrong
Scoreboards remember only who finished strong
Life is not a sprint its a marathon
Building friendship, marriage, relationship with God, investing, doing business is not a sprint, it's a marathon

Sampson - man of strength
Judges 13-24-25
He was strong but he was weak, impulsive, disobedient, no self control
When you choose the person in your life is the biggest desicion in your life which will spell between happiness and misery
Delilah- needed sampson not love him
There is a difference between needed and loved
Sampson started strong, finished wrong

2 things you need in life
Capacity- ability, skill
Character- who you are, your ethics

Short term success are based on capacity
Long term success must have a character

Formula to have a longterm impact
Your character is a multiplier of your capacity

Negative character loses faith

Temptation
Sex
Money
Power

Dream as if you will live forever
- focus on thefinish line
Live as if you will die today
- the finish line can happen today

God promises He will not forsake you
Press on towards the finish line

Original Pinoy Mindset 3

DI PWEDE ANG PWEDE NA!

(WHEN GOOD ENOUGH IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH)

 

Mindset - things that we do not think much about it but we do it anyway.

-          Set in the mind

Pwede na – contentment

Ø  Be contented with something given

Ø  Material things

To give all – to be excellent

Ø  Doing something

Ø  Do not settle for second best

Ø  Give best with everything

Pwede na applied to things you have – contentment

Pwede na applied to things you do – excellence; give our best

Effects of mediocracy (pwede na) – slow progress; inferior products

Daniel 6:3

Exceptional quality – excellent spirit (like the wind you don’t see it but it is there)

Ø  Excellence – you can’t see but you see tangible results

Ø  Hard to grasps but results are tangible

Daniel 1: 1-8

Ø  If there is a person in the bible who has an excuse not to be excellent, it will be Daniel because he is a captive

Ø  Excellent spirit is what’s with you regardless of circumstance

Daniel

Ø  Resolved not to be defiled

Ø  Followed the Leviticus diet

King

Ø  To be healthy, you must eat from the King’s table (Daniel 1:10)

Ø  To defile culture – do not eat from king’s table

Culture – gives food you cannot swallow

Excellence – challenge yourself against yourself

Daniel – challenged the world on the standards of the WORD

Daniel 1: 20

Ø  Giving the best in all in every matter

Ø  Not to be excellent spiritually but in every matter mentally, physically and emotionally

Ø  We cannot attain perfection but if we chase after it, we might just get excellent

Proverbs 22:29

                Excellence is being mindful of details

                Every matter and every detail

Daniel 1:8

                Have a heart – ways to excellence

                Excellence is not sustainable without a heart

Original Pinoy Mindset 2

UTANG NA LOOB!

Mindset - things that we do not think much about it but we do it anyway.

-          Set in the mind

Do good (period) – Utang na loob (inner being)

§  You never know when to pay it in full

Deliver – expect something in return

·         Expectation exceeds political, legal, moral, emotional, financial manners (manipulative)

Receiver – looking for ways to payback

·         Enslaved by utang na loob/burden

·         Should not be in a place of bondage where you don’t have a choice

Bondage  vs. Freedom to give

·         A favor no matter how small, is a debt we must never forget since no money can ever fully repay it

Romans 13: 8 – continuing debt

-          We are indebted to each other

-          Obligation to love one another

-          Forever debt (continuing receiver)

GIVER

1.        Galatians 6:9 – do good to everyone

2.      Do it without manipulating

3.      Sowing and reaping

4.      Bless not curse

5.      Love causes you to do good

TIME – “chronos" time itself

                “chyros” timing

·         When you expect something, don’t expect it from a person but from God

(in God’s time)

RECEIVER

1.        Always look for opportune time to return

2.      You should not be doing good in bondage of returning something

3.      Do good because you want to do good

*** Just do good not because you want something in return ***

NO STRINGS ATTACHED

Romans 5:8

 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Do good not because you want to but because you have the heart to do so

Original Pinoy Mindset 1

GRAB, DON'T CRAB!

Mindset - things that we do not think much about it but we do it anyway.

-          Set in the mind

Crab Mentality – Tall poppy syndrome

-          Social leveling attitude

-          Effort to pull down

James 4: 1-10

1.       Look into your heart – desires that battle within you

2.       Covet – desire eagerly something; unlawfully

Envy vs. Covetousness

Jealousy – guarding what you want that you have

Envy – wanting what someone does have

Covet – connote something you desire but you have to break the law to get it.

3.      The focus is not on the desire  but on the way you get what you want – nothing was broken lawfully but in your heart, you have already sinned

4.      Bitterness – defiles many

5.      God gave us a spirit that envies intensely (designed to desire God )

6.      Grace of God – humble yourself before God

Humility – is not the absence of confidence but it is confidence in the right place

How to be humble (James 4:7-12)

a.      Submit yourself to God

b.      Resist the devil

c.       Come near to God

d.      Wash your hands

e.      Purify your heart – the world has desynthesize  us to sin

f.       Grieve, mourn and wail – be sensitive to sin that surrounds us

g.      Humble yourself

Faster, Higher, Stronger Part 3 PRIZE

PRIZE


Philippians 3:14 - The desire to win
Hebrews 12:1-2 - Fix our eyes on Jesus
II Timothy 4:2 - Preparation
I Corinthians 3:13-15 - The test
I Corinthians 9:24-25 - Getting the Prize


The Crown:

1. Crown of Righteousness - II Timothy 4:8
2. Crown of Joy - I Thessalonians 2:19
3. Crown of Glory - I Peter 5:4
4. Crown of Life - James 1:12

Faster, Higher, Stronger 2 PERSEVERANCE

PERSEVERANCE

(Romans 5:3-5; Hebrews 12:1-2)

• Ø  Unlike any other race, the race in Christian life is not to compete with one another but to finish the race
• Ø  Finishing the race = PERSEVERANCE
• Ø  No one can run the race for us
• Ø  We are on a race called LIFE

LIFE – comes from a Greek word “zuke/bios” which means everyday existence

-          “Zuwe” means the way, the truth, to live

Existing – just making it through the day.

·         There is more to life than merely existing

·         We are here not to start the race but to finish the race

 

Hebrews 11 – is the chapter of Hall of Faith

Things that hinder:

1. 1.       Mindset
2. 2.       Distraction
3. 3.       Habits
4. 4.       Encumbrances
5. 5.       Sin

Faster, Higher, Stronger Part 1 PREPARATION

PREPARATION

(II Timothy 2:13)

·         Can we see the dreams and visions in our lives?

·         Is there something that is hindering dreams and visions in coming to pass?

GOD GAVE US WISDOM TO SEE THE DREAMS AND VISIONS (I Corinthians 9:23-24)

ü  Through training and discipline, we become victorious. Be motivated to work in the right direction.

ü  It is more tiring to miss than to hit

3 ways to be disqualified

1.       Running in the wrong way

Ø  Earthly things hinders (Hebrews 12:1)

Ø  We are not in competition with one another

2.       Don’t compete according to rules

Ø  II Timothy 2:5

Ø  I Corinthians 10:1-2

Ø  I Corinthians 3:5

3.       Lacking spiritual discipline

Ø  We must be spiritually strong

Ø  God’s dream and vision motivates us to live spiritually disciplined lives

Ø  Proverbs 29:18

Ø  The more you see it, the more it gives restraint

Sacrificial Giving

Stewardship - more than money

1. God is our treasure
2. Be smart, wise and prudent
3. Be rich in good work - generous
4. Generous and cheerful giving
5. Sacrificial Giving

Luke 21: 1-4

• giving that hurts
• it pains the giver

1. 3 wise men (Matthew 2:1-12)

Ø  The first step to sacrificial giving does not hurt because they are wealthy

2. Shepherds

Ø  Giving time, energy to seek and worship the Lord

3. Story of Joseph (Matthew 1:18-25)

Ø  Giving reputation, name and fame to obey God

4. Story of God (John 3:16)

Ø  Giving most precious possession, His son

5. Story of Jesus (Mark 10:45)

Ø  Giving our life  (1 John 3:16)

SACRIFICIAL STAIRWAY

God does not measure our giving by the size of our gift but by the size of sacrifice

The Shrewd Steward

Luke 16:1-15

• Using material wealth properly
• Manager is not commending the steward for his "dishonesty" and shrewdness

Shrewdness - idea of keen awareness; sharp intelligence and resourceful

PRINCIPLES

• Make proper and wise use of all material resources entrusted to us
• Use them shrewdly to invest in people's lives with view of eternity and must be warned of its possible trap to draw us away from true (spiritual ) richness
• Be faithful in all material richness entrusted to us for they are not rightfully yours
• We must acknowledge God's ownership with everything in this world including our lives, talents and resources (1 Titus 2:9-10; 1 Timothy 6:17-19)

God is the master of all (Luke 16:12)

• You cannot serve masters at the same time

God is the owner of everything

• Strength and wisdom to get wealth ( I Chronicles 29:12 )
• Acknowledge Him to gives to us (Deuteronomy 8:18)

God hates anything we highly esteem in this world

• Justify yourself in the sight of man but God knows your heart
• Use wisely worldly wealth for God's glory
• Be faithful stewards of God's resources
• Serve God above all

Integrity and Honesty

I Samuel 12:1-5 ; Psalm 78:70-72

Integrity - state of being complete and unified
             - from the word "integer"
             - implies wholeness as a person

Person of Integrity

• living rightly
• not divided
• being a different person in different circumstances
• words, deeds, attitudes motives match up

I am who I am, no matter where I am, and who I am with.

HOW?

1. Walk intimately with God - read and live daily in His word
2. Live by the Holy Spirit in order to live a life "above reproach" - overcome human tendencies to compromise and do evil and live life pleasing to God.
3. Cultivate honesty and trustworthiness in small or big things 

Integrity

I - Involve God in your decisions and actions


N - Nurture your intimacy with God


T - Trust in God when faith is put to a test


E - Evaluate your own standing before God and man


G - Go to God and make right with HIM

R - Restore your relationship with people


I - Implant the "Fear of God" in your heart


T - Think of Christian virtues


Y - Yield not to temptation

The Attitudes and Actions of A Heavenly Man (Woman)

AUDIENCE: Ephesians Church
 Timothy 6:17-19


 1. What should be the attitude of a rich person?

• not to be arrogant
• not to put their hope in wealth
• put your hope in God

Being rich should not change you. Being rich does not make you more superior.

Matthew 13:22; Mark 4:19

• Riches can deceive.
• Riches give a sense of superior worth that is not really true.

2. Do not count on your riches

• it can disappear overnight (uncertain) Matthew 6:19-20

It is foolish to count riches for security, protection and power/

3. Remember: It is God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy

• God is the giver
• God allows wealth to come

How do we enjoy riches?

 

     By making somebody happy with them

• Use them in a way that others are helped and blessed

Timothy 6:18      COMMANDS

1. Do Good - use riches in a way that helps people
2. Be rich in good deeds - be personally involved in things that are good and helpful
3. Be generous and willing to share - Matthew 10:8b

Timothy 6:19     

GREAT RESULTS

    

APPLICATION

1. We should not think highly of ourselves because we have more.
2. Do not put trust in any material riches for they are temporary and not dependable.
3. Strive to be rich in good deeds.
4. When God entrusted His riches to the world, sharing a portion is not an option but a command. 

Spoken Word: Crown of Life by Judah Paolo

Another way to share God's word.