Building Dynamic Faith Lesson 5: Today Counts

A. WHAT’S YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?

1. Salvation. “The Lord is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (I Peter 3:9).

2. To grow spiritually. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (I Thess. 4:3, NASB).

3. To properly use your spiritual gifts. “Everyone has the gift God has granted him” (I Cor. 7:7, NEB).

4. Knowing God’s will. “When you discover your life purpose, you are playing an important part in lifting up His name, advancing His kingdom and accomplishing His will. As you come to understand God’s unique calling for your life, you will be asked to exercise your faith and vision along the way, because the Bible makes it clear that “the righteous man shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17).

5. To make today count towards your life’s purpose.

B. DR. CLYDE NARRAMORE’S THREE QUESTIONS TO DR. FALWELL

1. What would you try to do if you thought you might succeed?

2. What goals would you set if you knew you could not fail?

3. What sacrifice are you willing to make to accomplish the goal?

(What can you do today to carry out the above? ___________________________________________________.

C. STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF PLANNING

1. What is the strength of yesterday?

a. Teaches us what doesn’t work.

b. Makes us change or repent.

c. Reinforces correct actions.

d. That we got through it.

e. That we are smarter and better.

f. Makes us feel good, i.e., positive reinforcement.

2. What are some dangers of living in the yesterday?

a. We are constantly frustrated with today.

b. We are not preparing for the future.

c. We live unfulfilled lives.

d. We are not growing today.

3. What is the strength of tomorrow?

a. Motivates us to action.

b. Gives meaning to life.

c. Dreams of satisfaction.

d. Dissatisfaction with present conditions.

4. What are some dangers of living in the tomorrow?

a. We forget to make the most of today.

b. We live today in a “fantasy world.”

c. We forget to prepare to get there.

d. We make goals that are unrealistic.

5. What is the most repeated thought in Hebrews 3:7-15? “So then, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘If you hear God’s voice today, do not be stubborn as you were when you rebelled against God, as you were that day in the desert when you put him to the test. There your ancestors put me to the test and tried me, says God, even though they saw what I did for forty years. For that reason I was angry with those people and said, ‘They are always disloyal, and refuse to obey my commands.’ I was angry and made a solemn promise: ‘they shall never come in and rest with me!’ My brothers, be careful that no one among you has a heart so bad and unbelieving that he will turn away from the living God. Instead, in order that none of you be deceived by sin and become stubborn, you must help one another every day, as long as the Today in the scripture applies to us. For we are all partners with Christ, if we hold on firmly to the end the confidence we had at the beginning. This is what they say: ‘If you hear God’s voice today do not be stubborn as you were when you rebelled against God.”

6. What did the children of Israel do in the wilderness to offend God? Unbelief leads to fear, leads to disobedience.

7. What should the children of Israel have done in the wilderness? Belief leads to confidence leads to obedience.

8. How should we relate to one another? Be positive. “Encourage one another, as long as it is called today” (3:13).

9. What three steps can we do today? “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares [us,] and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of [our] faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1-2).

a. Lay aside sin – today.

b. Fix our eyes on Jesus – today.

c. Run with confidence – today.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.