Title: Accomplishing Godly Goals Text: 1 Cor. 9:24-27 Here we are in our second week of talking about physical health as related to our overall theme of Living Well. Last week we explored the theme of the stewardship of our bodies. Just this week I read two new articles that came out in USA today that highlighted these findings. "Many people don't realize that bad diet and obesity causes 12 different cancers. Indeed it's the second leading cause of cancer in the United States. Tobacco accounts for 33% of all cancers in the U.S. And bad diet, obesity and physical inactivity account for 28%. "The risk of cardiovascular disease death increases exponentially as you increase your consumption of added sugar," says the study's lead author, Quanhe Yang, a senior scientist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention The principles that we are going to talk about today can be applied to almost any area of your life. So if you are in a place where you are concerned about your physical health then you will see how these apply. If you are concerned about something else such as your life in your job or career, school, spiritual life, or finances then you can apply these same truths to your life. Let's think about it. How many times in your life have you said, this is the year it s going to be different. You have good intentions for about two weeks and then nothing really ever changes. What does it really take to make permanent change in your life? All of the things that you want different in your health, your finances, your relationships, your marriage, your career. Whatever you want to pursue it will involve some type of goal. Goal Setting Is Like a Spiritual Discipline It requires intentional planning and follow through. A regime, and a direction Without direction we can wander aimlessly through life, letting others and our circumstances determine our future rather than us engaging God in prayer and discernment
Some people think, I m not going to plan; I m just going to trust God. I m not going to make any plans for my life. I m just going to kind of go with the flow. That's really not being more spiritual. I don't think God called us to be passive, He has called us to be trusting, but not lazy. Goal Setting Helps Me Focus 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NRSV) 24 Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. 25 Athletes exercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one. 26 So I do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; 27 but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified. It's interesting that we would look at this passage today about athletes. You've probably seen the stories coming out of the Olympics about various athletes who have overcome great odds to realize their Olympic dreams, or those Olympians who began to dream about the Olympics when they were as young as five years old. In This passage Paul is making his case for being diligent in matters of spiritual things particularly in this case of evangelistic zeal. Just a few verses earlier Paul declares 1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (NRSV) 22 To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. 23 I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings. This kind of determination, preparation, and discipline as compared to athletes in training is what is needed in any area of our lives that we want to see progress made. I certainly need more of that attitude when it comes to spiritual things, particularly evangelism.
Goals Stretch Me and Help Me Grow Dreams are good, but dreams don t do anything unless you wake up and go to work. There are dreams and then there are resolutions and then there are goals. The best of all is goals. A lot of people have dreams and don t do anything about it. They just keep on dreaming. Then other people set resolutions and there s nothing wrong with resolutions, but you ve got to have the other things behind it like a team, accountability, the power of the Lord, and things like that. It s to say, I want to do this, but a goal is a dream with a deadline. A goal says by the end of 2014, I m going to have this job, I m going to weigh this amount; I m going to have read this number of books. It s specific, it s measurable. I'm going to invite 10 people to church this year, I'm going to pray for 10 people who are far from Jesus this year; fast once a week. Goals Help Me Build Character #1 goal is to know, love, and serve Jesus. In other words to be a disciple of Christ Characteristics of Godly goals When I was a kid I would try and see how may coins I could put on my elbow and catch. A goal, but not really godly goal. 328 is the record by the way. 100 without any dropped. -bring glory to God -motivated by love -helps fulfill God's purposes in your life -Are achieved with God's power at work in us. One of the most underutilized strengths is the power of the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives. We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. That s why we fail at our resolutions. We don t depend on him. The Bible says, You will not succeed by your own strength or power, but by my Spirit says the Lord. The Bible says, Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, (all areas) Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
Conclusion Let's learn to Live Well... God s way, with God s power, and God s people. Achieving Godly goals is not about having the right formula or plan even though they are tools that help. Ultimately it is about being one with the our Savior. "I can do all things through Him who give me strength" Phil 4:13 John 15:4-5 (NRSV) 4 Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. *This sermon contains in part material found in the Daniel Plan program provided by Saddleback Church, Rick Warren Pastor
Additional scriptures I do not claim that I ve already succeeded or have already become perfect. I keep striving toward the goal for which Christ Jesus has won me to himself. Phil. 3:12 (TEV) Then we will be mature, just as Christ is, and we will be completely like him. Eph. 4:13 (CEV) The plans I have for you are plans to prosper you, not to harm you. They are plans to give you hope and a future. Jer. 29:11 (NIV) We plan the way we want to live, but only God makes us able to live it. Prov. 16:9 (MSG) You will NOT succeed by your own strength or power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. Zech. 4:6 (NCV) Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths. Prov. 3:5-6 (NLT)